Ten years ago, it seemed as if the Western Athletic Conference was doomed, having lost half of its membership and most of its prestige. Ten years later, the WAC is celebrating back-to-back appearances in the Bowl Championship Series and a College World Series title.
Commissioner Karl Benson, who presided over the split and the rebuilding, can rightfully smile.
"You look at the last 18 months and what has transpired starting in Glendale (where Boise State defeated Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl)," Benson said, "... it has allowed the WAC to get national recognition and notoriety. The WAC is back on the front page."
With the WAC's annual Football Preview set for Wednesday and Thursday in Salt Lake City, we talked to Benson, the subject of our weekly summer question-and-answer series, about the league's past and its future.
Question: When you look back on those days 10 years ago when eight teams split off into the Mountain West, did you ever think the WAC could reposition itself as quickly and as well as it has?
Answer: I have to admit there were times when I wondered if we would be able to survive. There were schools that were trying to get into the Mountain West and could we afford to take another loss. Fortunately, the Mountain West elected to stay at eight, at least originally. Fresno State and Hawaii were trying to position themselves for the Mountain West along with UTEP. We caught a break there early that the Mountain West didn't go to nine.
In June of '99, a year after the announcement, we added Nevada to go to nine teams. I actually recommended at that time that we add Boise State to go to 10. There was a little bit of reluctance to do anything real aggressive. (The league added Boise State and Louisiana Tech later that year after TCU left.)
... We've been able to add a Nevada, to add a Boise State, to kind of fill the holes and both those programs have delivered. Nevada on the basketball side and Boise State on the football side.
Q: Do you see the WAC expanding?
A: The WAC membership today has distinguished itself. We've re-established ourselves as the second-most recognized conference in the West behind the Pac-10. That's not saying the WAC is better top-to-bottom than the Mountain West. It's just saying that the WAC that has history in the West is back being recognized because of Boise State, because of Hawaii, because of now Fresno State.
... I don't sense that there would be any membership change in the next 3-5 years. We're a nine-team league. The Mountain West is a nine-team league. Unless something happens around us. I don't sense that either the WAC or Mountain West is ready to make any changes.
Q: Can you talk about the reported contract extension with ESPN?
A: I really can't. We've been in discussions. We're close. It's just trying to finalize some of the last details. ... I've always been a very strong proponent of ESPN. They've treated us very well the last several years in terms of appearances and exposure. I think we all recognize the value that they provide. We're certainly not looking at any place else to take our product.
Q: Can the WAC make it three-for-three this year in terms of BCS appearances?
A: On paper, Fresno State has the type of schedule that, if they win early, they could certainly get the attention of the pollsters and the national media. Boise State has the history over the last five years and they have nonconference opponents that if they win at Oregon, again would put them on centerstage. Does it take an undefeated WAC team? I don't necessarily think it does. ... The national media is going to give a Fresno State or Boise State more respect today than they did two years ago.
Q: That hasn't changed with Hawaii's blowout loss in the Sugar Bowl?
A: I don't think so. Georgia could have easily beat any team in the country that night.
Q: The WAC scheduled Fresno State and Boise State as the season finale for both teams. Are you hoping that game has the same implications as last year's Boise State-Hawaii game did?
A: The rivalry that has been created between Fresno State and Boise State is very, very intense, and I think that again the predictions and prognosticators are all looking at that game as perhaps another BCS appearance for the WAC. It could come down, like it did last year with Boise State-Hawaii, that the winner of that game goes to the BCS. It's set up again this year if both Fresno State and Boise State are able to win tier nonconference games and go into that last game, it could truly be a couple of top-10 teams.
Brian Murphy: 377-6444
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