MWC to decide on expansion soon

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Mountain West Conference expects to announce a decision on expansion by the end of this month and a week from today could be D-Day, a spokesman said yesterday.

"We should know something in eight or nine days," said Javan Hedlund, MWC spokesman. "That is (commissioner) Craig's (Thompson) goal."

Whether the eight-team conference adds to its original membership figures to hinge on what the Texas Christian University Board of Trustees does next week.

Either way, it is unlikely the University of Hawai'i will receive an invitation.

TCU emerged as the favorite expansion target of MWC presidents and athletic directors last year, although Hawai'i, Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada and Texas-El Paso were discussed early.

The TCU trustees are scheduled to meet Jan. 30 and decide whether they would accept MWC membership and under what conditions. TCU's chancellor and athletic director are expected to recommend in favor of accepting an invitation, according to people familiar with the process.

A TCU official would not say whether MWC membership was on the agenda.

The MWC Board of Directors has reportedly given Thompson the go-ahead to negotiate a deal with TCU under certain circumstances. But Hedlund said no offer has yet been made. Hedlund said he didn't know when the MWC Board of Directors would meet next.

If TCU were to remain in Conference USA, it is unlikely the MWC would add another school immediately.

Even if the MWC added only TCU, the realignment could still have repercussions for Hawai'i and the Western Athletic Conference. If it loses TCU, C-USA has said Louisiana Tech is one of the schools it is considering as a replacement. WAC officials have said they would consider Idaho or North Texas as possible replacements.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.