Post by CrimsonPhantom on Jul 26, 2012 13:05:02 GMT -7
NMSU AD "surprised" by comments
By Jason Groves jgroves@lcsun-news.com
Posted: 07/25/2012 05:39:15 PM MDT
LAS CRUCES - The Mountain West Conference as a landing spot for New Mexico State was virtually eliminated on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at Mountain West media day in Las Vegas, MWC commissioner Craig Thompson cited a lack of interest for a television market as deterrents for the league to add NMSU and fellow Western Athletic Conference survivor, Idaho.
"We've informed them that they will not be members of the Mountain West," Thompson said. "Go on with Plan B whatever Plan B may be."
The news caught NMSU athletics director McKinley Boston somewhat off guard.
"I was not aware that he had said that so surprised I guess would be the statement," Boston said.
Boston said the last time he had spoken with Thompson was during the Final Four in April.
"I haven't talked to him so I don't know what that means," Boston said. "Maybe he shared it with the president (Barbara Couture) but not with me in any communication. It's hard to speculate what he means."
Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton spoke last week about a possible merger between the Big Sky and WAC that would keep the WAC alive as a non-football league.
"We haven't had a real summary yet to see where that is," Boston said.
The Mountain West has 10 football schools for each of the next two years. Thompson said there were no plans from Mountain West presidents to extend to more than 10 football schools. Boise State and San Diego State leave after this season, but current WAC schools
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Utah State and San Jose State join the MWC in 2013.
"We are trying to figure out what makes us an attractive member to any conference," Boston said. "That's a constant work in progress. (Thompson) said it so I'm sure he had a reason he's saying it. It's hard to respond."
Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
From- www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_21156742/mountain-west-not-an-option-new-mexico-state
By Jason Groves jgroves@lcsun-news.com
Posted: 07/25/2012 05:39:15 PM MDT
LAS CRUCES - The Mountain West Conference as a landing spot for New Mexico State was virtually eliminated on Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters at Mountain West media day in Las Vegas, MWC commissioner Craig Thompson cited a lack of interest for a television market as deterrents for the league to add NMSU and fellow Western Athletic Conference survivor, Idaho.
"We've informed them that they will not be members of the Mountain West," Thompson said. "Go on with Plan B whatever Plan B may be."
The news caught NMSU athletics director McKinley Boston somewhat off guard.
"I was not aware that he had said that so surprised I guess would be the statement," Boston said.
Boston said the last time he had spoken with Thompson was during the Final Four in April.
"I haven't talked to him so I don't know what that means," Boston said. "Maybe he shared it with the president (Barbara Couture) but not with me in any communication. It's hard to speculate what he means."
Big Sky Conference commissioner Doug Fullerton spoke last week about a possible merger between the Big Sky and WAC that would keep the WAC alive as a non-football league.
"We haven't had a real summary yet to see where that is," Boston said.
The Mountain West has 10 football schools for each of the next two years. Thompson said there were no plans from Mountain West presidents to extend to more than 10 football schools. Boise State and San Diego State leave after this season, but current WAC schools
Advertisement
Utah State and San Jose State join the MWC in 2013.
"We are trying to figure out what makes us an attractive member to any conference," Boston said. "That's a constant work in progress. (Thompson) said it so I'm sure he had a reason he's saying it. It's hard to respond."
Jason Groves can be reached at (575) 541-5459. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.
From- www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_21156742/mountain-west-not-an-option-new-mexico-state