Already on life support following the defections of Boise State, Nevada, Fresno State and Hawaii, the WAC’s tenuous status was further threatened by news earlier this week that San Jose State has an interest in bolting the conference for the Mountain West.
Now comes word that yet another school may be looking to ditch the WAC for the MWC.
Given the uncertainty swirling around their current league, Idaho athletic director Rob Spear tells the Spokane Spokesman-Review, by way of the Idaho Statesman, that nothing is off the table for the school’s conference future.
“We are exploring all avenues and this includes the Mountain West,” Spear told the paper.
If as believed the MWC is looking to expand from what will be 10 teams in 2012 to 12 football schools, Idaho would likely be far down on the conference’s to-do list. Still, it’s yet another sign that the WAC is on the thinnest of ice, at least when it comes to football, and it’s slowly edging closer to when, not if, the plug is pulled.
Even the WAC’s commissioner realizes that his conference is currently at the mercy of the rival MWC.
“Unfortunately, we’re kind of held at bay until the Mountain West makes their decision,” Karl Benson told the San Antonio News Express. “Obviously there are WAC schools that might be on the list. It’s something we have to recognize as a possibility. We are certainly hoping there isn’t any further deletion.”
Unfortunately for the future of his conference, any hope Benson holds may be a false one.