The WAC That Almost Was

[JCorona]

https://www.deseret.com/platform/am...ject-byu-mountain-west-conference-karl-benson


It doesn’t mention UTEP but does say “a leak from officials at a third conference — Conference USA — tipped off Thompson and eventually scuttled the whole enterprise.” Which I assume is Stull and UTEP.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

Rumor was that once the WAC had picked the teams they wanted from the MWC, they wanted to “trade” LaTech to CUSA for UTEP.

It’s too bad it didn’t happen. Hindsight is always 20/20 though.

 

[Minerforlife]

Rumor was that once the WAC had picked the teams they wanted from the MWC, they wanted to “trade” LaTech to CUSA for UTEP.

It’s too bad it didn’t happen. Hindsight is always 20/20 though.

Would have never happened. Stull hated Carl Benson.

 

[NoNCAAWinsSince1992]

Would have never happened. Stull hated Carl Benson.

Humor me. Why did Stull hate Benson?

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

Would have never happened. Stull hated Carl Benson.

Wasn’t there some beef going back to when UTEP was winning under Price or Nord? I don’t remember the exact issue but I thought Benson visited a bunch of member schools but not UTEP when UTEP was crushing it in football.

 

[Dmanminer]

Don’t remember either but I do recall Benson not liking Utep.

 

[UTEPMiners8106]

Don’t remember either but I do recall Benson not liking Utep.

I wish I remember, but we’re talking 14-15 years ago. I’m sure Kappy remembers.

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

Wasn’t there some beef going back to when UTEP was winning under Price or Nord? I don’t remember the exact issue but I thought Benson visited a bunch of member schools but not UTEP when UTEP was crushing it in football.

Not sure about that but I believe something like that did happen.

I do remember that in 2004 when UTEP accepted membership in cusa but had to wait until 2005 to compete there, Stull made public comments that he was concerned about some of the new wac members. I'm sure he was referring to Idaho and NMSU. I think the opportunity to be in the same conference with SMU and Houston was very attractive to him as an AD.

After that season Benson was trying to get UTEP to accept one of the WAC bowls, I believe in San Jose at the time. It was a failing bowl and Stull managed to get UTEP into the bowl in Houston vs Colorado. Benson was pissed about that and the San Jose bowl people were pissed too and stated that what was the value of conference tie ins if teams could just go anywhere they wanted.

 

[Cube Jack]

Not sure about that but I believe something like that did happen.

I do remember that in 2004 when UTEP accepted membership in cusa but had to wait until 2005 to compete there, Stull made public comments that he was concerned about some of the new wac members. I'm sure he was referring to Idaho and NMSU. I think the opportunity to be in the same conference with SMU and Houston was very attractive to him as an AD.

After that season Benson was trying to get UTEP to accept one of the WAC bowls, I believe in San Jose at the time. It was a failing bowl and Stull managed to get UTEP into the bowl in Houston vs Colorado. Benson was pissed about that and the San Jose bowl people were pissed too and stated that what was the value of conference tie ins if teams could just go anywhere they wanted.

Didn't Karl Benson try to get UTEP back in the WAC and offer LA Tech as a "trade" about 10 years ago?

I believe the Silicon Valley Classic folded after the year you mentioned. I forgot about that

 

[MinerInWisconsin]

Didn't Karl Benson try to get UTEP back in the WAC and offer LA Tech as a "trade" about 10 years ago?

I believe the Silicon Valley Classic folded after the year you mentioned. I forgot about that

Yes, according to this article that was Bensons plan.

https://www.minerrush.com/2010/8/29/1657749/report-the-wac-tried-to-trade-for