To People Mired in Tradition, What More Will It Take?

ESPN has placed an interesting poll on its website.  The poll reads “Did Utah’s win over Alabama change your opinion of the Mountain West?”  Options include: 1 – I am now convinced it’s a BCS-level conference.   2 – I already thought it was a BCS-level conference.  3 – I still don’t think it is a BCS level conference.  

It is interesting to note that current results of this young poll indicate that the country is split on whether the Mountain West is at the BCS-level.  Forty-three percent indicate at this time that they still do not think that the Mountain West is at the level of the BCS.  That number is higher in the area of the SEC and Pac 10.  Even Alabama right now, after having their backside handed to them overwhelmingly, does not consider the Mountain to be at the BCS level. 

This begs the question, what more does the Mountain West have to do to gain further respect?  I mean let’s break this down. 

This year, the Mountain West ended the season with three teams in the top 25, what other conference did this?  The Mountain West was 10-5 against BCS schools.  The Mountain West was 6-1 in the Pac 10 this year with Utah beating an Oregon State team that beat the mighty USC and nearly won the conference. The Mountain West’s top team, an undefeated Utah, was invited to play in the Sugar Bowl. 

Pundits and prognosticators predicted that Utah would fail and some even suggested that they may fall as hard as the Warriors of Hawaii.  The result was not only Utah winning but actually completely manhandling a team that was one quarter from going to the National Championship game. 

Some bring up the question who did they play?  The conference had 15 games scheduled against BCS teams.  That is a significant number when you consider that most BCS schools try to avoid playing teams from the Mountain West.  Look at that SEC for example.  How many non-conference games are against strong opponents?  I guess if you consider the Citadel a strong opponent then a few. 

Their non-conference schedule is weak and as a whole is weak.  They know that the Mountain West puts out some solid teams year in and year out and they don’t want to have any part of it. 

Others will try to point out that those at the bottom of the Mountain West are so bad that they pull the conference down.  Well, that is an interesting perspective when you consider the fact that the second-worse team in the Mountain West defeated one who is just below the middle of the pack in the SEC (Wyoming vs. Tennessee). 

Does that not demonstrate that perhaps the Mountain West’s worst are as good as any other conferences worst?  Now let’s look at the top.  Few conferences in the nation boast a stronger top three than the Mountain West.  Utah, TCU, and BYU round out a formidable group that have proven they can compete with anyone in the nation.  Now, think about it for a minute, does anyone really consider the Mountain West weaker than the Big East or the ACC? 

Bottom line, the Mountain West has proven that they are a legitimate conference, arguably one of the strongest two or three in the nation.  Sure, they have some teams that did not do well this year, but name a conference that did not have teams that had a down year.  Granted, this poll shows that many are changing their minds and giving the Mountain West the credit it deserves, but will it be enough? 

If two BCS bowl wins in four years without an automatic bid does not garner attention who knows what will.  How many BCS bowl wins does the Big East or the ACC have during that time period? And they have an automatic bid. 

The problem is that money drives the BCS and it does not want to share.  The Pesky Utes have become a thorn in the side of the BCS and it wants nothing more then for the Utes to just go away.  Problem is they keep coming back better each time.  Eventually, they are going to have to do something about the thorn and the conference from which it comes.