ESPN Q&A with WAC commissioner Karl Benson

Asked about his concerns about how the Pac-10 and Big 10 expansions could affect the WAC, WAC commissioner Karl Benson said:
"There's always going to be a trickle down, the question is what happens above you and what moves are above you that then force decisions." (ESPN)

Asked if the WAC has looked at expanding their conference, Benson said:
"I've always been a proponent that a 10-team league is better for better for basketball, nine team is better for football, but that if I had my druthers, I would rather work with a 10-team league than a nine-team league." (ESPN)

Asked about how he prepares for Boise State (BSU) possibly leaving the WAC and if they have pieces in place to adjust things if BSU decides to leave, Benson said:
"There's a limited number of current FBS schools within the WAC footprint, but history has always shown that there's upward mobility in the West. Whether it was the Big West schools joining the WAC or the Big Sky schools joining the Big West that ultimately joined the WAC. All you have to do is look at the current WAC membership and see where they've been. History shows that there's movement in the West. Outside of the Pac-10, there's certainly been changes in the Western landscape and any Pac-10 movement will certainly affect both the WAC and Mountain West." (ESPN)

Asked if he thinks that the MWC will try to get WAC teams if they lose teams due to expansion, Benson said:
"Or do the Mountain West teams become the next choices for the WAC?" (ESPN)

Asked if he sees some teams swapping conferences if there is a trickle down effect, Benson said:
"I don't think it's a matter of swap. I would hope that the WAC would have value and benefits that not only the Mountain West members might look at, but there's other schools within the WAC footprint that belong to other conferences, too, right now. I think the ESPN piece that the WAC can deliver is tremendous value." (ESPN)

Asked how much he's been in contact with BSU in terms of what its future plans are regarding the MWC, Pac-10 or any other possible suitors, Benson said:
"Boise State administration has been very honest and forthcoming with their long-term desires. My job is then to provide all of our members with the best possible resources when it comes to television and bowls and postseason opportunities in all sports. And Boise State is certainly benefited from their membership in the WAC since 2000. The WAC has obviously benefited from Boise State. But I would hope that if and when an invitation comes that there would be an evaluation made that's in the best interest of the university, and there would be recognition that the WAC has provided Boise State very well." (ESPN)

Asked what are the types of things that BSU has told him, Benson said:
"I can't speak for the university." (ESPN)

Asked what is the next step for the WAC to make it more attractive and give it that leg up, Benson said:
"I've said several times that while we've had success at the top with three BCS appearances, and we could have very easily had a fourth in four years, we need to get stronger both in the middle and in the bottom half of the league. I think that we've seen improvement in Idaho and Utah State and New Mexico State. We need to see the traditional WAC -- Fresno State, Hawaii -- programs deliver. We've seen Nevada and San Jose State have success. I think the bottom line is that we need more top 50 teams from top to bottom and we need to eliminate the teams that are in the 90 to 120 range. The Mountain West has certainly had two great seasons of three teams in the top 15 and that that has allowed them to separate themselves at this juncture. We need that second and third team in the Top 25 and we need more teams in the top 50." (ESPN)

http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/19951/chattin-with-wac-commish-karl-benson