I'm going to sit here and blog about the Mountain West and the Western Athletic Conference because writing a column about what's going on, seems to be pointless. I've already written at least 1,000 words that you will never see because the story is changing so quickly. Literally, I just heard an update behind me about a source confirming something that would completely change my column again. The new age of media and communication make it hard to keep up.
Let's recap what's happened, for those of you who don't have time to sit around all day like me and follow this stuff online. And remember, this is all from today ...
[Update: The thing I heard from behind me is now online ... Fresno State has accepted an offer to join the Mountain West Conference in 2011.]
1. ESPN's Andy Katz (who used to be a reporter here at the Fresno Bee many years ago) reported this morning (Wednesday) that BYU was considering leaving the Mountain West, going independent in football and joining the WAC in other sports, much like Notre Dame does with the Big East.
2. The big news out of Katz' story -- for Fresno State interest, at least -- was that the remaining schools in the WAC had all signed a $5 million buyout clause after Boise State left for the MWC. Bee reporters called sources all morning, but could not get anyone to confirm that. I got a call from a reporter in Boise who said reporters at the Idaho Statesman had been calling sources and had not yet gotten the $5 million buyout confirmed either.
3. The Salt Lake Tribune then reported the BYU move was a done deal, that BYU would be independent in football for 2011, and joining the WAC in all other sports.
4. In the afternoon, the Mountain West put out a news release saying it had invited Fresno State and Nevada to join the conference.
5. Not long after, both Nevada and Fresno State both put out releases saying the were honored and seriously considering it.
6. At 4 p.m., reporters here at the Bee had multiple sources saying Fresno State would join the Mountain West for 2011. Those sources could not confirm Katz' reporting of the $5 million buyout clause.
See what I mean? So now Fresno State has scheduled a news conference in 27 minutes and I've got to drive across town. Hopefully it will stop my head from spinning.
I have to wonder...what ever happened to loyalty? And what about getting an invite the second BYU takes a powder? The MWC doesn't want Fresno. It doesn't want Nevada.
I say shove the offer and stay put. How long before SDSU and UNLV made the move back to the WAC?
What goes around, my Fresno, comes around. Don't feel the least bit slighted when there's another realignment an you are left out in the cold.