Nine is enough for the Mountain West Conference and a commissioner who sounded weary after all the conference changes and some bizarre scenarios of the last few weeks.
After Utah left the MWC on Thursday for the Pac-10, MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said despite receiving calls a day earlier from 10 institutions eager to replace the Utes, “We are done.”
Citing other commissioners who proclaimed the end of expansion, Thompson said, “I think our endeavor in terms of expansion is over for the time being.”
Utah will play one season in the MWC and start Pac-10 play in 2011, which could put pressure on Colorado to move up a season. CU is scheduled to start Pac-10 play in 2012.
Asked Thursday what it would take for the Buffs to start playing in the Pac-10 in 2011, CU athletic director Mike Bohn said it’s being discussed with Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and Pac-10 boss Larry Scott.
“We’re working with Commissioner Beebe and Commissioner Scott on those details,” Bohn said. “It’s not appropriate to get into those scenarios until all the partners are involved in the process.”
Scott said Thursday there are a number of logistics to work through, including whether the expanded Pac-10 will form divisions in football and play a conference championship game.
Thompson admitted that Utah’s departure could impact the MWC’s television contract with Versus/CBS College Sports/The Mtn. All contracts come up for review with the loss or addition of institutions. The MWC retains a lock on the Salt Lake City market with BYU and adds Idaho’s market with Boise State.
Remaining a nine-school conference will solve some of the potential issues raised last week when Boise State joined for a possible 10-school league in 2011. For example, Thompson said there was a split on whether to play nine conference games or the current eight.
Thompson’s teleconference followed the big announcement in Salt Lake City. Utah’s news conference looked like a virtual replay of the one in Boulder last week when Colorado joined the Pac-10.
The Rose Bowl committee handed out roses, the administration spoke glowingly of academic missions, and Scott cracked a joke about ski teams.
However, praise for the current conference sounded more heartfelt. Veteran Utah athletic director Chris Hill said: “I would like to acknowledge my friends in the MWC. I have great respect for them as a conference.”
Utah was a charter member of the WAC in 1962 and Mountain West in 1999.
“I don’t (anticipate hard feelings),” Thompson said. “Everybody’s professional. Given the similar opportunities, probably everyone else in the MWC would have taken the opportunity to go to the Pac-10.”
He added that “both sides will end the relationship on a high note.”
Unlike the CU-Nebraska series, which is likely to end, Hill confirmed that the rivalry with BYU will continue as a nonleague game.
“We very much enjoyed playing in the MWC,” Utah president Michael Young said. “It has been a great conference for us to grow, develop and thrive.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
