Should the Pac-12 close up shop, it won’t be the first time the country’s western most conference decided to disband.
The league’s predecessor, the Pacific Coast Conference, operated from 1915-59 and included Cal, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Washington State, Stanford, Idaho, Southern California. Montana and UCLA.
The Grizzlies left the league in 1950. The rest remained until the end.
The PCC disbanded in 1959 after a load of cheating took place, which was ironic considering that much like today, the west coast league thought of itself as upholding the highest standards in terms of the rules. Turns out, multiple slush funds existed. Academic improprieties were common and multiple programs were as dirty as it gets in terms of violating the rules of the sport.
This caused a rift that lasted almost a decade as Cal, Washington, UCLA, Southern California and Stanford former what would become the Pac-12 eventually (it was originally called the Athletic Association of Western Universities) and initially blocked admission to several of its former conference mates.
Eventually, though, Washington State was allowed in (1962) with Oregon and Oregon State following in 1964. Idaho saw the writing on the wall as they were not competitive in the old PCC and opted not to pursue membership. In 1968, the league renamed itself the Pac-8, it added Arizona and Arizona State from the WAC in 1971 and became the Pac-10. Then, Utah and Colorado came on board in 2011 and we have what is now known as the Pac-12.
With UCLA and Southern Cal now bound for the Big Ten and Colorado heading back to the Big 12, there are existential questions about the current league. This will hold particularly true if Oregon and Washington were to bolt for greener pastures and the other three “corner” schools (Utah, Arizona State and Arizona) align with the Big 12.
Chances are, the remaining four programs (Cal, Stanford, Oregon State and Washington State) could decide to head their separate ways.
Unlike the late 1950s, though, there is no scandal. The hubris of the Pac-12 presidents, along with bad leadership, is what is causing this implosion. It’s great to want alignment academically with your fellow schools in athletic conferences, but those days are long gone in the sport overall. The Pac-12 presidents turn their nose up at potential members that could help the league survive because of what is essentially a theory or opinion- academic reputation. The same thing happened in the Atlantic Coast Conference before Maryland bolted for the Big Ten a decade ago. Then, it was not picky in terms of the perceived rep and went with Louisville. West Virginia, one of the 25 winningest programs in the history of college football, is beyond a great fit that belongs in the ACC. Yet they are now a former outpost in the Big 12, which has given them company in the east with Cincinnati and UCF coming on board.
The Pac-12 presidents need to drop the act and admit that it is what it is in college sports these days. If the folks that run Cal and Stanford don’t want that, perhaps it is time to drop down a level or two and compete that way. That would be a shame because through the years both programs have been more than just relevant from time to time. But you can’t cling to that “ole chap” way of thinking when the reality of college football is now setting in.
Should the worst happen and the two northwester powers jump and the remaining corner schools jump. I am adding San Diego State (southern California), UNLV (large growth market) and Boise State (ditto) immediately to get back to seven. I am not so sure that they should not of added those three already. Then, I am looking east. I am inviting the University of Nevada (Reno) for No. 8, Colorado State University (9), the University of Wyoming (10) and then I am talking my old friend Montana into moving up to FBS and joining as the 11th member. I will round out this league with the University of Hawaii to get to 12.
If that sounds like raiding the Mountain West, it definitely is. It is also the long game. You have multiple flagship colleges in growing areas of the country in this mix. None of these places have big reputations, but sometimes you have to take a chance on potential and build it.
That would save the sport from not having a true west coast presence, which is needed. This sport needs a league on the west coast, even if other leagues have expanded out there.
Drop the act, bite the bullet and hand multiple good universities in good growth areas, along with some flagships, the opportunity of a lifetime and the league can survive for five years or so and thrive in 10.
Nobody blinked when the Big 12 added Houston, Cincinnati and UCF the Group of 5. Now they have a product that has lapped the Pac-12. The potential of those western schools that I just mentioned needs to be enough for the Pac to grow with and they are. Get it done or die.
