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This topic comes up at least once a year, and I wrote on expansion about a year ago. This new talk comes from ESPN blogger Graham Watson and from Boise radio host Paul J...

More Expansion Talk: Boise State to Join the Mountain West?

by Jeremy (Senior Writer)

17

1422 reads

Breaking News

November 12, 2008

College Football, Mountain West Football, WAC Football, Boise State Football, Breaking News
This topic comes up at least once a year, and I wrote on expansion about a year ago. This new talk comes from ESPN blogger Graham Watson and from Boise radio host Paul J. Schneider, who said, "Boise State president Bob Kustra received an invitation from the Mountain West to join the league."

The Mountain West and Commissioner Craig Thompson deny this report, and throw a jab at Boise State in the process.

“My personal opinion is that they probably wouldn’t be 12-0,” Thompson said. “Take nothing away from Boise State, but I don’t know that they would go undefeated against the top four teams that are vying for the conference championship.”

Way to go Commish. Toss a backhanded compliment to a team the league wants to bolster their football presence and attempt to gain an automatic bid for a BCS game. No need to go into details—just go and read my post last year on this topic, because not much has changed.

The only thing is that the MWC will not discuss expansion until this summer because of a halt on any expansion talk, but I would not be surprised if this conversation took place about Boise joining the MWC.

Why would Boise State want to join the Mountain West? Currently they are far and away the best team in the league nearly every year and win conference titles and have better exposure from the WAC taking over the MWC slots for ESPN games. Plus being in a tougher league would make it more difficult to go to a BCS bowl every few years.

On the other side, the money that the Mountain West gets from their TV deal with CBS College Sports is more than ESPN, and the geographical fit is there, as well as the chance to be in a higher profile league.

If Boise ever does join the MWC, then the league should just go to 12 teams and try to get Fresno State, and then either Tulsa or Houston, so that the coaches have more access to Texas and Northern California for recruiting, and to increase their TV viewers.      

Author Poll

Should the MWC add Boise State

  • yes
  • no
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

Should the MWC add Boise State

  • yes

    86.9%
  • no

    13.1%
  • Total votes: 236
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comments (17) write a comment »

  1. I'd like to see Boise State join a BCS conference. They are really that good. Plus, who doesn't want to see blue turf more?

    1. Pac-10 wants nothing to with expansion, so the MWC should take them

  2. Thompson should realize that Boise State has never lost to a MWC foe. That includes wins over BYU and Utah. I would agree, based on the lase few years, Boise State would have tougher games in the MWC, but based on the recent past I see no reason that would leave me to believe BSU could not dominate the MWC.

  3. If I were to ever meet Thompson, I'd shake his hand, introduce myself as a Lobos fan, and then kick him where it hurts most.

  4. JT...your dreaming if you think Boise would dominate the MWC... TCU and Utah would both beat Boise on a neutral field or their home fields. I would give Boise the edge if they played BYU,Utah and TCU all at home, but that's a pretty big difference from beating up on Utah State, San Jose State, Hawaii and Idaho State. No disrespect to Boise, because I think they'd be fantastic for the MWC, but you guy's up in Boise need to put down the crack pipe if you think your going to walk into the MWC and dominate.

    1. Karl so right, Boise State should easily finish in the top 4 every year and compete for a conference title every. But dominate I dont think so.

  5. Boise State would and Could never dominate The MWC. They would win it every now and then. But if you look at Boise States past they have not faired well on the road against BCS schools and they have never played teams of the quality of this years BYU, Utah, or TCU at home or on the road. (I know these school were down in the past ala when Boise played them) And for those of you saying we beat Oregon, don't forget they squeaked by them with the 3rd and 4th string freshman playing QB and they haven't been the team worthy of their early season rankings. But BYU TCU and Utah have shown to be very good teams. Also don't forget Air Force is 8-1 so far. Boise Better accept the invite other wise it shows they know they can't compete when playing better competion year after year so they can get into a BCS game every now and then with out being challenged.

  6. Yea BSU isn't that good this year. There 9 & 0 Record against mediocre (at best) oponents doesn't lend itself much respect. I mean forget the fact that they have outscored their mediocre oponents 326 - 93. Who cares that they are ranked 2nd for Points Allowed and 10th for Total Defense in the NCAA. And of course it dosen't make any difference that these numbers are are being achieved by a BSU team that contains only 18 Seniors and 9 Juniors on their entire roster. Nah.. their not that good. Thats what Oklahome thought back in 2006 too. (oops they were mistaken)! The fact is this... In the event BSU ends up in the MWC next year, they will be serious contenders for the title of MWC Champion.

  7. BOISE STATE FOOTBALL !!!!!!! Enough said.

    1. The earliest BSU could join the MWC is in 2010 since they need a years notice to leave the WAC, and I would not be surprised if they did what TCU did their first year in the league and win it. I am confident that BSU would win their share of titles and be very competitive but I dont think they would dominate like they have in the WAC winning multiple conference titles in a row.

  8. boise state would DOMINATE the mwc. last time i checked oklahoma is slightly better than utah byu tcu or wyoming.

  9. All you MWC homers always want to talk about the WAC Conference when trying to compare BSU to your teams. Are we comparing the teams or Conferences? The MWC is tougher, no argument, but don't break your arms patting your backs about your "power conference". I believe you still have Wyoming, San Diego State, New Mexico, Colorado St. and a UNLV that was killed against Nevada. I'll give you Air Force this year but they have a good team about as often as Hawaii. Lets face it, You have 3 great teams and that is it, and Boise State has beat them over and over again on the BLUE and yes, on the road. You say we beat you in your down years which only confirms my point that TCU, BYU, and Utah are streaky and not consistant. Boise State will have gone undefeated in 2004, 2006 and 2008 and had two - one loss seasons since 2002. Even in this, your best Conference year ever, BYU just got by a 0-10 washington team and looked mediocre in several other games. Utah needed two of the greatest comebacks of the year to get by Oregon State and TCU and barely got by a 3-8 Michigan team. Everyone wants to give credit to TCU for playing Oklahoma, but It's not like it was a close game. I agree the word dominate is not appropiate but I assure you Boise State is just getting better and better. It was only four years ago we built a practice facility, we just added a huge press box and our stadium and will be expanding again in two years. Chances are we don't go undefeated in the MWC but I think a one loss team wins the Conference in most years. I'm sure in the year 2020 You'll wonder what you were thinking by inviting BSU in your conference.

    1. Mark the WAC is weak and Air Force has been better historically then Hawaii Air Force should end up with 18 wins in the past two seasons.

      The WAC has Utah State, Idaho and New Mexico State all who have combined for 7 wins. Those close wins for Utah against Oregon State and TCU, well Oregon State could be going to the Rose Bowl and TCU just had the 2nd ranked defense in the nation.

      Where is the credit for beating good teams on a game winning drive. Also, I do not hear the same when Texas Tech beat Texas on a last drive as being not a good win.

      The truth is Boise State would be a threat from year one to win the MWC every year but I do not think they would be able to have the same type of dominance that they had in the WAC.

  10. Hey Matt, You're right about the "road" win in Oregon with their QB situation but other than our fumble on the 6 yard line it's not their QB that allowed us to hang 42 on them with a freshman QB playing in his third start and first road game. But if you're going to give us an (*) next to our Oregon win with their QB situation keep in mind it was 35-7 with 3 min in the fouth quarter before we went into our prevent defense with our starting safety and corner back out of the game (injury and ejection for personal foul) in the 4th quarter. You know what "Prevent defense is right? It's the defense that Michigan, Oregon State, and TCU went into that allowed you to have 3 miracle comeback wins. As long as we're talking about marginal wins, explain Utah's 3 point win against New Mexico? Are you kidding me? They actually had the ball and a chance to win when time expired. I know New Mexico plays in the all powerful MWC, but aren't they 4-8? Boise State, Utah, and BYU are all overrated, but the only reason you're ranked above BSU is pre-season love in the rankings. So far the only good win Utah has is a TCU win and thank god for Utah fans you got them at home or we wouldn't even be talking.

  11. isn't Boise State like 13-0 against the MWC? And didn't they hand utah their worst home loss ever at their homecoming a few years back? We all now Boise State wouldn't dominate the MW like they do the Wac, but anyone who thinks they wouldn't be serious contenders, no matter where they played their games, have memory issues.

  12. I wanna see this:

    Boise St. and Utah St. to MWC
    San Diego St. to WAC

    1. No way the MWC would want Utah State.

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About the Author Jeremy (senior writer)

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