Quotes about how Nevada could benefit by losing to UH

http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071106/SPORTS06/711060353/1018

Asked about how their bowl chances would actually improve if they lose to UH, Nevada coach Chris Ault said:
"We don't look at the system. We don't care about the system. All we care about is the opportunity to play Hawaii." (Reno Gazette Journal)

RGJ Note: "In Nevada's case, if a WAC team were to qualify for a BCS bowl game, as Boise State did last season, then that would guarantee that a fourth WAC team, assuming at least four become bowl eligible (minimum six victories) would get a bowl bid. A fourth bowl bid is possible if a WAC team doesn't crash the BCS party, but it's not guaranteed.

Nevada (5-4, 3-2) is in fourth place in the WAC (the conference has three bowl tie-ins) with three games remaining following a bye this week. After hosting Hawaii (8-0, 5-0), the Wolf Pack visits San Jose State (3-6, 2-3) on Nov. 24 and then hosts Louisiana Tech (4-5, 3-3) on Dec. 1.

So, if the Pack loses to Hawaii and wins its other two games, and Hawaii wins out, Nevada is all but guaranteed a spot in a bowl game. Of course, Hawaii must first beat Fresno State this Saturday and then Boise State and Washington (all three in Honolulu) for that to become reality."


About how nothing can be done about this ethical dilemma in the current system, Karl Benson said:
"It's a fair question. It's a by-product of the system. ... I don't think the current bowl system is going to be tweaked in the near future. I don't think in the existing system we could ever get away from that (possibility) happening." (RGJ)

About how teams can knock fellow conference members out of BCS contention, Benson said:
"We're always going to be faced with the possibility of conference teams knocking a team out of contention. And, yes, there is financial implications. But I don't think you're ever going to see a team not perform at its highest level and attempt to win that game regardless of what it might mean to the conference." (RGJ)

About how every WAC Athletic Director except for Fresno's will be cheering for UH to beat Fresno, Benson said:
"I think it's safe to say, more than likely on Saturday, that there will be eight (WAC) athletic directors that are probably going to be rooting for the University of Hawaii and one, the athletic director at Fresno State, rooting for his own team." (RGJ)