Posted on: Monday, December 10, 2001
UH 'attractive' to Mountain West
| • | UH working on extension of June Jones' contract |
| • | O'ahu prep linemen commit to UH |
By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer
Brigham Young University athletic director Val Hale said he thought Hawai'i would make "an attractive candidate" for membership in the Mountain West Conference.
Speaking prior to the Warriors' 72-45 demolition of the Cougars Saturday, Hale said competitiveness of its teams, its level of fan support and long-time ties with the Mountain West schools would make "Hawai'i somebody we would have to look very closely at when the issue of expansion comes up. There's no question Hawai'i would be very attractive for a number of reasons."
However, Hale said there are no current plans to expand the eight-member conference, which is made up of schools that left the Western Athletic Conference July 1, 1999. "It is up to the presidents (of the Mountain West schools) to decide when we might expand," Hale said.
So far, Hale said, "all discussion about expansion on our (the athletic director) level has been unofficial."
Speculation about the Mountain West Conference comes as UH president Evan Dobelle is scheduled to meet Wednesday with coaches of the 19 athletic teams UH fields to seek their input on whether the 10-member WAC remains the most viable affiliation for the future.
Coaches in some sports have already pushed the idea of going independent or joining other conferences, including the Mountain West.
UH played two Mountain West schools in football this year — beating Air Force and BYU — and plays two more next year, BYU and San Diego State.
There is sentiment among Mountain West football coaches to add one more team for balanced scheduling purposes. With the eight-team format, schools alternately have a 4-3, 3-4 imbalance in home and away games. The issue will increase in importance if an NCAA proposal that would mandate minimum levels for Division IA membership in several areas, including scheduling, is passed next year. Under the proposal schools would have to play a minimum of four home games each year against Division IA members.
