Waiting For The Fallout

Good morning, University of Idaho. It’s Sept. 9, 1999. Do you know which conference you’ll belong to in 2001? 2002?

Didn’t think so.

The latest wave of conference hopscotch centers on the Western Athletic Conference, which could lose Texas Christian and Southern Methodist to Conference USA as early as next week.

This development dovetails with Big West football schools’ growing apprehension toward joining a proposed Sun Belt Conference.

The result could be a WAC-Big West union - with Idaho left on the sidelines.

Be forewarned that we’re making educated guesses here. Considering the dozens of variables at work, none, some or all of this could happen. Conference landscapes can change by the hour.

But here are some logical scenarios. If the WAC loses TCU and SMU, it could add one or two (and the winners are Boise State and Utah State, in that order), or five (BSU, USU, New Mexico State, perhaps North Texas and one of the following - Southwestern Louisiana, Louisiana Tech, Northeast Louisiana or Arkansas State, with Tech the probable leader in the clubhouse). A five-team addition would geographically balance the WAC with two divisions, a six-team West and a six-team East.

Sorry if it sounds gloomy, but it’s a real possibility Idaho could be left out. Idaho, Boise State and Utah State are in the pool of western candidates. The Vandals are likely last on the list. Idaho could be facing a not-so-distant future with archrival BSU playing in a bigger, better conference. This would be devastating for Vandals fans, not to mention fund raising, morale, etc.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson acknowledges Boise State is No. 1 on the invitation list, but he hasn’t ruled out the Vandals as a possible member. The Boise-based Humanitarian Bowl gives the Broncos a trump card.

If TCU and SMU leave the WAC, Benson stressed the need to retain an “East-West balance.” Enter a combination of North Texas, New Mexico State and one of the Louisianas to pal around with Rice and Tulsa.

Idaho’s best hope: The Sun Belt picks off Rice and Tulsa, or Fresno State leaves the WAC for the new Mountain West. Fresno’s departure might create the only WAC vacancy Idaho can fill.

Idaho athletic director Mike Bohn is keeping every option open. While waiting for the dominoes to fall, he details Idaho’s intention of playing in a I-A conference.

Should the WAC stay as is, Big West football schools are exploring yet another avenue. There have been discussions, including some held last week in Denver, of adding a school, possibly Louisiana Tech, which has turned down an invitation from the Sun Belt.

Conference reorganizing is on the horizon. Boise’s sitting pretty. Idaho’s squirming.

Panhandling

Some not-so-important statistical data for Saturday’s Idaho-Auburn football game:

For six straight years, Auburn has sold out its 74,000 season tickets and 71 suites. Idaho needs to sell a total of 68,000 tickets for four home games to reach a I-A attendance requirement.

The Idaho-Eastern Washington game in the Kibbie Dome in 1998 drew 10,495 fans. Auburn’s home game against Appalachian State last week drew 10,000, too. That was the number of hits on Auburn’s Web site providing live updates.

A reporter down South with abundant spare time weighed media guides for the 12 SEC schools. Total weight, 16 pounds. Florida’s guide, two pounds, including 49 pictures of Steve Spurrier. Idaho’s guide is 132 pages, its biggest book by a longshot. Auburn? 292 pages.

Good thing the game isn’t played on paper or in the stands. Prediction: Auburn 27, Idaho 17.

I’m going to put this as gently as I can: Coeur d’Alene High football coach Shawn Amos NEEDS A WIN. NOW.

After watching CdA lose to Lakeland 21-19 Friday night, I chatted briefly with the crestfallen coach. He has grown weary of hearing that his team is improving (which it is). He craves an actual victory instead of a moral one.

His Vikings are taking baby steps forward. There are three or four wins on the schedule and, for Amos, the sooner they arrive, the better.

From the how-quickly-they-forget file: A Seattle AP writer recently noted that quarterback John Freisz is an ex-Seahawk. So is John Friesz.

From the geographically-impaired department: If not for an alert set of eyes proofing a page in Kansas State’s women’s basketball media guide, the Wildcats would have faced the University of Idaho, located in Moscow, Iowa. Lucky for K-State, it isn’t a road game.

Grad school

Post Falls’ Darin Blood struggled at Triple-A Rochester. The left-handed pitcher finished 0-4 with an 8.66 ERA for the Baltimore Orioles affiliate.

Rumor du jour

Former North Idaho College wrestling coach John Owen was close to becoming the coach at Central Valley High in Spokane, but he opted to remain at University High as an assistant to his brother, Don. Owen’s son, Tommy, is a junior at U-Hi and it might have been difficult for the younger Owen to transfer.

Central Valley made overtures toward Owen after former NIC wrestler Brett Racicot resigned. Owen didn’t bite this time, but we suspect he will in the near future.