5/29/23
Sources: Big 12 Continues Expansion Talks With Gonzaga Ahead of League Meetings
https://www.si.com/college/2023/05/29/big-12-meetings-expansion-gonzaga-uconn
5/22/23
Should Gonzaga jump to the Big 12 or stay in the WCC until the realignment dust settles?
5/12/23
Andy Patton discusses his dream realignment scenarios for Gonzaga, Pac-12 and the WCC:
3/18/23
Andy Patton discusses GCU and WCC with Kyle McDonald of WAC Hoops Digest
3/15/23
Gonzaga to Big 12 “inevitable…signing on in a few weeks” per Stewart Mandel
3/8/23
3/5/23
2/23/23
“Gonzaga in search of a bidding war“
https://www.ksl.com/article/50585984/canzano-gonzaga-in-search-of-a-bidding-war
2/1/23
Big 12 meeting to discuss Gonzaga (among other topics) and WCC still without a commissioner since November:
11/28/22
SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL “Hoop Dreams: A 64-team super conference that doesn’t rely on football”
https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Journal/Issues/2022/11/28/Opinion/Sutton.aspx
11/16/22
Gonzaga meets with Big 12 again
11/13/22
Nevarez discussed WCC two weeks before leaving for MWC
https://www.extrapointsmb.com/gonzaga-big-12-pac-12-rumors-realignment-update-wcc/
https://www.extrapointsmb.com/exclusive-wcc-commissioner-interview-expansion-ncaa-tournament/
11/9/22
“What will happen if Gonzaga leaves the WCC?”
11/3/22
Comment: With Gonzaga being courted by the Big East, a desperate Pac-12, and now the Big 12, it’s no longer a matter of “if” but “when” they are leaving. Consider this, when was the last time Few or its AD publicly endorsed the WCC? Now that future Big 10 members UCLA and USC have eliminated any consideration that league affiliation from west coast schools must be somewhat regional in this new version of college athletics, geography is no longer a point of emphasis. Question is, as D-1 continues to splinter into another division through conference realignment, what can USF do to guarantee they will not be left out?
11/2/22
7/19/22
According to Midwest freelance writer, Gonzaga to Big East (no mention what conference Olympic sports would be played):
7/3/22
Latest conference realignment scenario/rumors. As always, TV/football-driven obviously.
https://www.johncanzano.com/p/canzano-pac-12-gut-punch-comes-with?sd=pf
6/30/22
USC and UCLA to the Big 10
5/17/22
If California bill becomes law it could destroy “non-revenue” sports
https://footballscoop.com/news/new-details-california-bill-sb-1401-change-college-sports-forever
5/16/22
Coach Kelvin Sampson on the existing chaos of college athletics
5/9/22
DI Board of Directors issues name, image and likeness guidance to schools
5/7/22
SO, ALL THOSE WHO LOVE TO RIP THE NCAA NOW WANT NCAA TO FIX NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS?
5/4/22
College Leaders Urging NCAA to Enforce New NIL Guidelines, Or Else
https://www.si.com/college/2022/05/06/nil-chaos-leaders-urging-ncaa-new-guidelines
4/30/22
When under-the-table cheating becomes public and now legal pay-to-play
4/28/22
3rd party “bag men” now control college basketball and football with pay-to-play:
4/27/22
“College Power-Brokers Poised to Turn NCAA Upside Down“
https://www.si.com/college/2022/04/27/ncaa-new-transformation-committee-changes
4/25/22
“Jack Swarbrick sees a great split coming in college athletics”
https://footballscoop.com/news/notre-dame-ad-jack-swarbrick-great-split-coming-college-athletics
2/14/22
D1 360: “What Will Happen With WCC Expansion?”
12/14/21
ESPN’s College Basketball Realignment Tracker
11/16/21
After 8 years in the MVC, Loyola-Chicago moving to the A-10:
11/3/21:
10/1/21
With MWC holding off AAC, the stoking of the MWC-Gonzaga expansion fire resumes.
9/30/21, Kentucky Sports Radio reporting Murray State to follow OVC rival Belmont to the MVC:
9/30/21
“Realignment has trickle-down effect”
College basketball: Realignment has trickle-down effect
9/28/21
9/28/21
“Belmont Changes Valleys”
Belmont Changing Valleys
9/25/21
“Belmont Is Moving to the Missouri Valley Conference”
Belmont Is Moving to the Missouri Valley Conference
9/16/21
Comment: Will the following MWC Olympic programs be looking for homes? (A missing point by both CBS and FootballScoop writers: AAC has an ESPN contract while the MWC has a lesser deal with CBS Sports Network. A fact not lost by athletic departments.)
“American reportedly has expansion targets”
9/11/21:
Comment:
One paragraph from this subscription-based story shows it is clear that requiring strictly “faith-based private institutions” for league membership is not sustainable to survive in D1 anymore. Especially considering the current model is not truly inherent to the WCC as it once included UNLV, San Jose State, Fresno State, UCSB and Nevada.
“BYU’s move to the Big 12 raises questions for the future of Gonzaga and the rest of the WCC”
Full story:
9/10/21:
Comment:
One very incorrect statement by Dan Dickau. Everyone in the football world since 2010 knew Texas and Oklahoma were likely gone once Big 12’s media rights expired in 2024. (They came within hours of leaving 11 years ago.):
Dickau said: “Who would’ve thought the Big 12 would’ve got poached the way they did the last couple months?”
“Exploring the future for Gonzaga and the West Coast Conference without BYU”
Full story:
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/sep/10/west-coast-complication-exploring-the-future-for-g/
WCC issues statement:
9/9/21:
“Here’s what BYU reportedly would pay the West Coast Conference in exit fees”
MWC issues statement tonight on realignment. What dominos will be next to fall?
“BYU is about to jump to the Big 12, leaving the WCC and the Zags without its main competition”
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2021/sep/09/grip-sports-byu-about-leave-wcc-leaving-conference/
9/8/21:
“Realignment Strikes! Part 3: Going Forward”
Let’s Go DU: “Impending BYU Exit Opens The Door To West Coast Conference Membership For Denver”
9/3/21:
BYU leaving has been the worst-kept secret for a month. Will any local media member interview WCC Commissioner Gloria Nevarez? Considering BYU’s exit has always been considered temporary, does the WCC have a ready-made plan?
BYU invite could possibly come next week with membership in 2022?
9/2/21:
BYU to Big 12 imminent?
Comment:
BYU’s move appears imminent as Big 12 football is desperately attempting to keep “autonomous” status with the other four big-budget football leagues. All sports or “football-only” appears to be the only question. Either way, it’s been unprecedented to see an ungrateful BYU fanbase detest its very own conference, especially considering the WCC saved BYU from being a member of the WAC 11 years ago. Former MWC brethren, SDSU fans’ 2010 comments regarding insufferable and sanctimonious behavior from BYU followers proved to be spot on and prescient. Big 12 fans will soon get the pleasure of seeing their conference be the target of crazed finger pointing, at fault for every BYU failure, strictly because they don’t win as much as they believe they deserve.
Perhaps BYU’s membership is worth having them and their local media denigrate the WCC and fellow programs at every turn? Although, AD Tom Holmoe has shown WCC appreciation, very few others have echoed him. A reluctant member, BYU has brought a national following and greater ESPN interest to the WCC. Regardless, if a full exit, the only issue that matters for the WCC is how this effects Gonzaga, who campaigned for BYU. What is the next move for the conference? Will anyone interview commissioner Gloria Nevarez?
(If “football-only” or if BYU is surprisingly spurned by the Big 12 for the second time in 5 years, expect a scorned BYU to have an even more abhorrent and condescending attitude towards the WCC. The only school in the nation to sabotage their conference affiliation while actively in it.)
8/27/21:
BYU likely target #1 for revamped Big 12
https://www.on3.com/news/big-12-forms-committee-explore-expansion-immediately-byu-texas-tech/
https://www.thescore.com/wcbk/news/2193759/report-big-12-seriously-discussing-adding-byu
8/24/21:
Alliance between big-budget football leagues will further damage non-conference basketball scheduling opportunities from slim to almost nothing:
8/10/21:
“Steve Alford: Mountain West ‘can’t stay status quo’ in conference realignment”:
7/28/21:
“Big 12 commissioner alleges ESPN conspired with SEC, American to lure teams from conference”
“Big 12 believes ESPN-financed American is attempting to grab eight remaining members with Texas, Oklahoma leaving for SEC”
7/27/21:
“The SEC’S Master Negotiating Stroke That Paved The Way For Texas And Oklahoma“
“College coaches, executives: OU, Texas just the first domino to fall as NCAA loses more ground”
“Greg Couch explains how the SEC’s acquisition of Texas and Oklahoma plans to overthrow the NCAA”
“Mountain West issues statement on potential conference expansion, future moves”
Hilltop Hoops Bulletin Board: USF Dons Basketball findings 