WAC Football Preview (Video Update No. 4)

WAC Football Preview (Video Update No. 4)

WAC Football Preview (Franchione's Plan)

Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson briefly touched on Texas State head coach Dennis Franchione having a "plan" to ease scheduling in 2012 and possibly 2013 for the remaining schools. Benson didn't want to steal Franchione's thunder, declining to comment further.

Well, Franchione's plan was to have each team in the WAC play a "travel partner" twice, with the second game not counting towards conference standings.

So, Texas State would play UTSA twice in 2012, once in San Marcos and once on the road. Whatever game was second, wouldn't count toward conference standings, but would be tacked onto the overall tally.

It's an interesting thought for sure.

WAC Football Preview (Video Update No. 3)

WAC Football Preview (Video Update No. 2)

WAC Football Preview (Hawaii AD Jim Donovan)

Spoke with Hawaii AD Jim Donovan about the scheduling fiasco earlier this month as well as the future for the Warriors. Here is the interview...

Hawaii AD Jim Donovan by smdrtyler

WAC Football Preview (Karl Benson speaks)

• Benson said this is a year of transition, but the WAC knows how to handle it.
• Rumors of Utah State leaving the WAC have "no substance."
• Benson hopes to find two schools to make a move, either from the FCS to the FBS or current FBS member in the current WAC footprint to join the conference.
• Benson said the WAC needs to "get through this stage" of having seven football-playing schools.
• "Right now, we're going to take some time off [from looking for new teams]," Benson said. "Beginning in January, going through the first of April, my United Airlines miles will increase significantly. I guess you can call that recruiting."
  
• Due to NCAA mandates, the WAC only has one bowl tie-in beginning in 2012.

WAC Football Preview (Video Update No. 1)

WAC Football Preview (Part 1)

So this is Las Vegas.

After two flights, a short delay in Denver and a cab ride, I'm finally settled into the Orleans Hotel right off The Strip. Outside my window, I can see Sin City beckoning, but right now, it's all about coverage of the 2011 WAC Football Preview, and more importantly, Texas State.

For the Bobcats, this is their first chance to impress the WAC. Texas State couldn't have sent a better ambassador in head coach Dennis Franchione. Fellow media members and officials from the WAC have nothing but positive things to say about him.

Franchione will talk with the print media Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. and I'll try to have it broadcasting via uStream at that time. You can also find it on the WAC's web site shortly after completion.

Stay tuned for more photos, stories and videos from the 2011 WAC Football Preview.

College Football: Franchione speaks on Hawaii

Texas State head coach Dennis Franchione loves coaching against the Hawaii Warriors. In fact, Franchione is the only coach in college football history to bring three different teams to Honolulu and walk out with a win each time.

With six wins, there wasn't a doubt in Franchione's mind that he wanted another crack at Hawaii to get number seven in the near future.

"I'm the guy that brought it up [to Texas State Director of Athletics Dr. Larry Teis]," Franchione said after delivering a keynote at the first Bobcat Club luncheon of the season. "With the postseason being up in the air in 2012, I thought it would be a treat to our players, fans and a good game for us."

Then Franchione took a peek at the Bobcats' schedule in 2012.

"It looks pretty demanding," Franchione said. "If we added that game, it would have been tough on our guys. Then to cut out another week of recruiting, I don't know if we should do it right now. I would like to do it in the future, but I'm not sure if 2012 was the correct time."

Once Franchione decided against the game, which would have begun a three-game, away-home-away series with the Warriors, Teis pulled out of talks with Hawaii AD Jim Donovan.

While Franchione would like to get a crack at the Warriors in the near future, Donovan's remarks to the Honolulu Star Advertiser lead one to believe there won't be another opportunity.

"We won't be working with Texas State anytime in my tenure," Donovan told the paper.

When told of that, Franchione simply responded, "That's his prerogative. There will be another AD someday."

College Football: Potential series with Hawaii scuttled

According to the Hawaii Star Advertiser, a potential away-home-away series with the University of Hawaii was recently thrown into the trash.

The Warriors were left with an open spot in their 2012 schedule and Texas State, due to its transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision, won't be able to reach a bowl, thus allowing it to play 13 games in the regular season.

When the Bobcats upped the asking price for the game, UH complied, however, it soon went for naught.

At least Texas State will get an opportunity to play the Warriors other sports, right? Well, not UH athletic director Jim Donovan is gone.

"We won't be working with Texas State anytime in my tenure," Donovan told the Star Advertiser.

You can read the story here — Franchione knows how to put the hurt on the Warriors