As expected, the Mountain West officially added Hawaii in football only for a 10-school conference starting in 2012.
With the fourth addition from the WAC since June, the next question is further expansion for a potential league playoff.
“We’re interested but we’re not actively looking,” MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said Friday through league spokesman Javan Hedlund.
MWC presidents met in Las Vegas on Friday to vote on the Hawaii membership. Less than a month ago, the MWC announced it would explore adding Hawaii.
The MWC is getting the WAC’s tri-champs — Boise State, Nevada and Hawaii — plus Fresno State. The next logical step would shift to Texas for a TCU replacement in Lone Star State markets. SMU, Houston and UTEP would be possible targets in Conference USA.
Coming out of Friday’s meeting, Thompson said television negotiations are ongoing, given the drastic changes in MWC markets.
Utah and BYU leave the MWC next season, with TCU packing for the Big East in 2012. Starting now, MWC football coaches can start telling recruits they will go to Hawaii twice in their careers.
Also to be determined is whether members would play an eight- or nine-game league schedule in 2012. There now are eight league games, which drop to seven next year only.
Hawaii’s invite is football- only. It is expected to move its other teams into the Big West.
Although WAC commissioner Karl Benson tried to keep Hawaii, he said early Friday “it is what it is” in anticipation of the vote. The University of Denver’s move to the WAC won’t be impacted, but the league will be left with seven football members in 2012 barring further additions.
Thompson said in a statement: “Hawaii’s outstanding football program and television value fit perfectly with the MWC’s strategic initiative of the future direction of the conference.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
