The WAC is on the way

A brilliant light began to shine on the Western Athletic Conference last Wednesday. Conference Commissioner Karl Benson announced that the WAC’s contract with ESPN will extend through April 2017.

According to a WAC press release, this extension is a direct result of the performances of conference teams during the past 20 months. These include Boise State’s Fiesta Bowl victory in 2007 and Hawai’i’s Sugar Bowl appearance in January of this year. Fresno State gave an exceptional performance when they dominated the 2008 College World Series tournament, eventually being named champion. FSU was the first team to earn the status of champion as an unranked team and titanic underdog. Many sports critics hail it as the biggest collegiate athletic upset in history.

The WAC is emerging as one of the “premier college sports conferences in the country,” Benson said.

The final football match-up between BSU and Hawai’i during 2007 was the most viewed game on ESPN 2 last season.

“The people of Ruston [Louisiana] experienced the power of ESPN this weekend,” Derek Dooley said.

Dooley is Louisiana Tech’s head football coach and athletic director. His team was prelude to the announcement with a victory over Mississippi State, a member of the revered Southeastern Conference.

What does this mean for the WAC?

The answer is simple: coverage. The agreement will bring more than 300 regular season games and 45 championship events.

College football fans will now see 16 games per season instead of eight. Ten or more of those will be broadcast on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. Every school will make at least one appearance on one of the networks.

Men’s basketball will jump four times the former exposure with six regular season games on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2 including three conference match-ups. ESPNU will show at least six regular season games and one quarterfinal game from the conference tournament.

Women’s sports will expand their horizons with the inclusion of the basketball, softball and volleyball programs on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. Their exposure will grow with six events this season, seven next season and eight during the 2010-11 season.

“This deal will finally get the WAC’s men’s basketball teams the type of national exposure it deserves,” Benson said. “And finally, for the first time ever, women’s basketball regular season games will be aired on the ESPN networks along with the championship contests for volleyball and women’s basketball.”

“This exposure will expand the knowledge of WAC athletics across the nation. Exposure equals rankings,” BSU men’s basketball coach Greg Graham said.

“This is something that we will be looking forward to,” Graham said.

The WAC’s success has created a demand for further coverage around the nation. Fans of college sports on all levels are eager about this conference/network marriage will offer.

“We at ESPN are excited about the future of the WAC in the future of ESPN,” Senior Vice President Burk Magnus said.

Magnus included thanks to many including BSU Athletic Director Gene Bleymaier for his “guidance, leadership and friendship.”

“We are pleased to continue our partnership with ESPN as this new agreement provides more visibility and exposure for our programs,” BSU President Bob Kustra said. “The WAC and ESPN will both benefit under this new contract.”

The Broncos will make their 2008 ESPN debut Oct. 1 when they face coach Dooley and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Bronco Stadium.

KIRK BELL/Sports Coordinator

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