My Advice to the Mountain West Conference: It's Time to Expand

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

They did it.  The Mountain West Conference (MWC) conformed and signed their contract with the BCS.  They did it begrudgingly, but they did it nonetheless.

On the surface, it would be easy to call the conference a group of sell-outs, but in reality they had no choice.  The BCS really does hold all the cards in terms of power and money, and with their recent partnership with ESPN/ABC, the Mountain West Conference could not risk being left out in the cold.

It appears as though the conference may have finally figured out how to play their cards against the BCS, however.  In recent years, the members of the MWC have made negative public comments and attacked other conferences such as the Big East when they felt they were being slighted.

Now, though, the personal attacks seem to have subsided.  With that the perception of the conference has gone from whiny children who were mad about not getting their way, to now being looked upon as sympathetic figures who are not being treated justly by the bigger, more powerful bullies in college football.

A SEAT AT THE TABLE

Whether the decision to back off of the negative public commentary was a conscience one or not is debatable, but it has worked regardless of its intent.  And in all honesty, it would make sense for the Mountain West to try and gain allies within the BCS as opposed to try and alienate themselves from the BCS' current members.  Who should the MWC be looking to befriend?  Well the Big East of course.

Now it may sound crazy, but no other conference in the country comes under the constant scrutiny that the Big East endures.  Talking-Head-Blowhards such as ESPN's Colin Cowherd attack at every opportunity, lying in wait to exploit any perceived weakness shown by the maligned Big East.  If ever a conference needed a friend, it is definitely the Big East.

So why partner up with the Big East? 

Well, for starters, the Big East occupies the largest collective group of television markets in the entire country.  The whole reason for the Atlantic Coast Conference's raid on the Big East in 2003 was commissioner Jim Swofford's greed and covetous desire to take over the northeastern television markets and eliminate competition.

However, the Big East has survived and is still a full-fledged member of the BCS, something that the MWC desperately wants like to be a part of.  The Big East has a seat at the table, and if the powers that be in the MWC were smart, they would try to align themselves with the Big East instead of trying to make an enemy of them.  They have done this in the past several years with their unprovoked jabs at the Big East in the media.

By partnering with the Big East, they essentially give themselves a voice at the table and have someone speaking on their behalf, bringing their concerns to the other BCS members when BCS meetings are held.  Yes, every conference gets its opportunity to sit in on certain meetings and are allowed representatives to the BCS, but those opportunities are still limited.

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