WAC Commissioner lauds student senate resolution

COURTESY/BRONCO SPORTS Karl Benson

Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson praised the recently proposed ASBSU resolution during the Boise State football game against New Mexico Saturday.

The Broncos have dominated the WAC, winning seven of the last eight titles, including the 2005 shared title with Nevada.

After an undefeated finish last season, they were left out of the large and well paying BCS bowl games and instead, played TCU in the smaller Poinsettia Bowl.

“A BCS bowl game makes a huge impact on the economy and results in a higher quality education,” Johnson said. “Last year we gained less than a million when a bigger bowl could have generated much more for the university.”

According to ESPN, if the Broncos are selected by the BCS to play in a bowl game, it will mean a $4.5 million payout. A total of $228 million was paid to colleges and universities last year.

Benson agrees that money is a motivating factor.

“This is a market-driven system,” he said. “But Boise State has already proven themselves on the field. If given a chance, they will prove they can deliver both ways.”

Since the writing and subsequent passing of the resolution, Johnson has received criticism for the strong wording. Some fear it may have a negative impact on BCS officials.

“Phrases like ‘a severe breach in professional decorum’ and ‘a history of outrageous discrimination’ have produced unexpected consequences,” Johnson said. “I didn’t mean to alienate or give officials the wrong impression.”

He said his intentions were to motivate change and give them something to consider.

“The impression is given that undue preference is given to the affluent, wealthy, and established college football programs,” he said. “Boise State is still new to this while other teams have been around for decades.”

ESPN sports writer Graham Watson commended Johnson for his passion but said it appears to be a preemptive strike.

A posted response on her Twitter page reads, “I love their fervor, but it’s essentially this: In anticipation of us getting shafted, here’s a preemptive fist shake, BCS!”

“If they go undefeated with either BYU or Utah, one of the MWC teams will get an automatic nod,” Watson said. “And BSU could be on the outside looking in whether they deserve to be or not.”

Johnson said the controversy was not expected and he didn’t realize his resolution would spark such passion and interest.

“The strong wording was not meant to be a potential threat to negotiations, as some perceive,” he said. “I have learned a lot, but if I had it to do over, I would still draft the proposal. It‘s all about defending the students.”

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