4/29 El Paso Article

[champion110]

This is far from over. While some rumors might be correct, the Presidents meeting tomorrow might change everything. Plus, UTEP certainly hasn't been told anything. If UTEP hasn't been told, I don't think ANYTHING is for sure. I will continue to hold on to hope:



UTEP could leave WAC soon

Darren Hunt
El Paso Times

Benson


Stull


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said Wednesday it's possible that UTEP, the WAC's senior member, could receive a formal invitation to join Conference USA as soon as this weekend.

"Everybody knows that the Conference USA board of directors is meeting on Friday and their agenda has to do with membership," Benson said Wednesday from Phoenix, where he was attending Bowl Championship Series meetings along with UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull. "I know that Conference USA is considering both UTEP and Louisiana Tech. But everything else is still just pure speculation at this point."

Talk radio and newspapers from Fresno, Calif., to Ruston, La., have pointed the past two weeks to UTEP as Conference USA's choice for a 12th school, over Louisiana Tech and North Texas. UTEP officials, who did not return calls Wednesday, could be faced with a decision on whether to leave the WAC within the next few days.

Despite published reports, Stull and Conference USA athletic directors have denied that UTEP to Conference USA already is a done deal. Stull said late last week that UTEP had "not been officially informed of anything by Conference USA."

"I don't know what their process is exactly," he said. "But they aren't including us in it right now. They could recommend anything, but there's only one group that makes the final decision, and that's the (board of directors)."

Stull would not speculate on what UTEP's answer to Conference USA would be, if an invitation is extended this week. But he did offer a few criteria for the decision.

"The major issues would be the volatility of the league, the future of the league, travel expenses, potential revenues and television exposure," Stull said. "And one thing that everybody is concerned with in terms of the WAC is the volatility of the league."

Conference USA buy-in fees also are of consideration. They're expected to be $1 million up front and another $1 million deducted from league revenues the next several years.

"Anybody that changes leagues, there's going to be a buy-in," Stull said. "But if that's the right decision for the next 20 years, that's what you do."

Darren Hunt may be reached at dhunt@elpasotimes.com; 546-6168.

[dawg80]

But notice how EVERYTHING is phrased. It's ALL from UTEP's point of view. Nowhere does any article say: Tech is expected to be invited to CUSA. It's ALL about UTEP. Nowhere in this article does UTEP say, if invited they'll decline, etc...

This article does nothing to shed any light on Tech's hopes.

Folks, some of you are standing on the deck of the Titanic saying: it hasn't sunk yet. Some of us have already taken to the lifeboats. If she stays afloat, the lifeboats can return. But it won't work the other way 'round.

[Tech77]

If you have followed similar situations over the years, you'd have to conclude the deal is all done except for the formality. This has the classic earmarks. The only thing that could maybe keep this from happening would be the main WAC schools signing a pact to remain together for a specified period of years, and I just don't see that happening.

Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson said Wednesday it's possible that UTEP, the WAC's senior member, could receive a formal invitation to join Conference USA as soon as this weekend.

"Everybody knows that the Conference USA board of directors is meeting on Friday and their agenda has to do with membership," Benson said Wednesday from Phoenix, where he was attending Bowl Championship Series meetings along with UTEP Athletic Director Bob Stull. "I know that Conference USA is considering both UTEP and Louisiana Tech. But everything else is still just pure speculation at this point."

That the WAC commissioner is just as desperate for hope as the rest of us does not make me feel any better.

Despite published reports, Stull and Conference USA athletic directors have denied that UTEP to Conference USA already is a done deal. Stull said late last week that UTEP had "not been officially informed of anything by Conference USA."

The key word there is "officially." He didn't say anything about what's going on UNofficially. Do you really think any conference would extend a public invitation to any school without finding out the answer first?

"The major issues would be the volatility of the league, the future of the league, travel expenses, potential revenues and television exposure," Stull said. "And one thing that everybody is concerned with in terms of the WAC is the volatility of the league."

He may as well have added, "Three out of four ain't bad." UTEP is scared to death of the WAC breaking up, and he was sure to point that out. Everybody expects CUSA's next TV deal to be better than the WAC's (why, I have no clue), and that combined with the bowls makes CUSA more profitable. Being in a mainly Central & Eastern time zone-based conference increases a Western school's exposure right off the bat, just from game start & end times.

Conference USA buy-in fees also are of consideration. They're expected to be $1 million up front and another $1 million deducted from league revenues the next several years.

"Anybody that changes leagues, there's going to be a buy-in," Stull said. "But if that's the right decision for the next 20 years, that's what you do."

Yeah, he seems real concerned about that....

Guys, I hate to sound like a jerk, but unless Benson manages to pull an elephant out of his butt, you're kidding yourselves.

[OLDBLUE]

Folks, some of you are standing on the deck of the Titanic saying: it hasn't sunk yet. Some of us have already taken to the lifeboats. If she stays afloat, the lifeboats can return. But it won't work the other way 'round.

Sorry, I've neither heard nor felt any "THUD". Bad analogy.

[glow=yellow:f797c249be]IT AIN'T YET ! ! ![/glow:f797c249be]

[champion110]

Well, the truth of the matter is that IF we get in, those of us that continued to believe will be extremely happy that we did. IF we do not get in, we will be in agony like the rest of you.

If we do not get in, a life boat won't save you. It will be the same outcome no matter what.

How were you feeling in the last 5 minutes of the Oklahoma State Game year before last? My feeling, although shocked, was "there is still a chance".