If you're a Fresno/Nevada fan....

[ERCougar]

was this the right move?

It may be too early to tell, but I still can't figure what they're thinking. Sure, the WAC is headed nowhere, but really, neither is the MWC, particularly if you think BYU's leaving. What are your long-term ambitions anyway? Do you really think BCS is in your future? You're a decent mid-level program and no one is talking about you in any other possible context. Now you just put $5 million on the table for the chance to move from one crappy conference to another. And you missed the deadline to do it next year, so you're about to spend another full year in the former crappy conference as a lame duck. Your timing sucks and the move sucks.

If I'm a Fresno/Nevada fan, particularly a donor, I'm pissed.

[falafel]

I think I'd be pleased, or at least not displeased, with the move. The WAC has some truly horrible teams at the bottom of their conference. The MWC has a few bad teams, but none are as bad as the dregs of the WAC.

[EuropeanFootballMale]

I'm not, but I'm probably thinking that the MWC is a better conference long term and I'd be worried that BYU is just palling around with the WAC for a few years waiting for a big conference.

[ERCougar]

Is it worth $5 million? Why not wait until next June?

Also...if BCS is what you're looking for, both Hawaii and BSU have proven you can do it in the WAC. They're not doing anything in the MWC.

[creekster]

Is it worth $5 million? Why not wait until next June?

Becasue if they waited until next June BYU would have been gone. This way they might stay. If the story about BYU haveing an agreement ot play both of these schools in the future is socrrect, they were acting with inside info on BYU's move and knew full well the effect their decision might have on BYU.

[SloanHater]

As both a Fresno and Nevada fan I love the jump. The MWC has gained a ton more national respect and credibility than the WAC will ever have. I especially love the move as it dampens the excitement of Smurf Turfers.

$5 mil is a small price to pay.

[pellegrino]

As an both a Fresno and Nevada anybody but BYU fan I love the jump. The MWC has gained a ton more national respect and credibility than the WAC will ever have. I especially love the move as it dampens the excitement of Smurf Turfers completely screwed BYU's plans.

$5 mil is a small price to pay.

fixed that for you

[SloanHater]

fixed that for you

That's not a fix, that's an overhaul.

...

[SloanHater]

Is it worth $5 million? Why not wait until next June?

Also...if BCS is what you're looking for, both Hawaii and BSU have proven you can do it in the WAC. They're not doing anything in the MWC.

Sounds familiar.

[Hot Lunch]

I don't know how the $5 million is going to play out but as fan, it is the right move no question.

You just moved to a better conference in the two major sports (all sports). No question it is the right move as of right now for both schools.

[BoylenOver]

If ESPN really is building a super (non-AQ) conference, and Nevada and Fresno are a part of it (which they should be), leaving the WAC makes all the sense in the world.

Sharing a conference with their natural rivals doesn't hurt, either.

[landpoke]

was this the right move?

It may be too early to tell, but I still can't figure what they're thinking. Sure, the WAC is headed nowhere, but really, neither is the MWC, particularly if you think BYU's leaving. What are your long-term ambitions anyway? Do you really think BCS is in your future? You're a decent mid-level program and no one is talking about you in any other possible context. Now you just put $5 million on the table for the chance to move from one crappy conference to another. And you missed the deadline to do it next year, so you're about to spend another full year in the former crappy conference as a lame duck. Your timing sucks and the move sucks.

If I'm a Fresno/Nevada fan, particularly a donor, I'm pissed.

Dude, seriously, go to bed. You're a step away from pushing a shopping cart with all your possessions down the street yelling random vulgarities @ passersby.

[New Mexican Disaster]

Dude, seriously, go to bed. You're a step away from pushing a shopping cart with all your possessions down the street yelling random vulgarities @ passersby.

What...you don't want any competition?

[shoganai]

I think a few things happened...

-Some how, some way, Thompson convinced FSU and UNR that BYU was likely to abandon its plans and stay if they blew up the WAC.

-I don't think any of the three parties thought very much information about how this all went down would leak. That was a serious miscalculation. I think Thompson believed he could paint a pretty picture. When he was done talking, everyone knew he was dodging. The next day, Benson showed what a real commissioner sounds like, and the USU president had no problem throwing his former colleagues under the bus.

-FSU and UNR did not fully research what will happen if BYU still jumps (which I think it will). Thompson may have thrown them some bogus numbers. Maybe they just didn't ask the right questions. If BYU does go, the MWC payout will be horrendously slashed. TV deals will be scrapped and the new deals will be pitiful by comparison. Don't plan on ESPN being very interested. $5mil buyouts are rapidly coming due and they're now splitting revenue 10 ways instead of eight or nine.

In summary, UNR and Fresno made what appears to be the smart move at first glance, but they didn't fully think it through. I think these WAC teams have been desparate to get into the MWC for so long, that when the invite finally came they jumped mostly out of fear of loss.

When the dust settles, I think it's very likely they'll find that, while the level of competition is better, they didn't improve their financial situation at all, and are no closer to the BCS than they were before.

[YOhio]

The next day, Benson showed what a real commissioner sounds like, and the USU president had no problem throwing his former colleagues under the bus.

Seriously? I thought Benson sounded like a madman.