Thunder Dan To Grand Canyon University

Canyon Crazies... Meet Thunder Dan... (thanks, gculopes.com)

So, this is what happens when you go from the NAIA to the WAC...

The same thing happened to Paul Westphal as a first step to coaching when he took over the NAIA school a long time ago. And you all know where the coaching track after that...

Now, with Jerry Colangelo the Special Assistant to the President at GCU- effective March 8th, Dan Majerle gets to work on his coaching chops and, probably, make sure that he doesn't stray far from the Colangelo Way...

The HQ questions Grand Canyon's move to the WAC with the heat of a thousand suns...
Pun unintentional...

But we get it...
Get hammered in some sports, and make sure you can compete in others that could be big money-makers for the school...

Majerle takes over for Russ Pennell who resigned all of three days ago...
And don't be surprised if the Antelopes find a way to play in a larger barn than the 2,000 seat gym they play in now- that Colangelo has a say in as to the location... and, maybe, even a past relationship...

Here's the announcement...
((HT: GCU Athletics))

Now, That's A Season Opener... Some Basebrawl For Your Weekend...

((HT: KCRA-TV, Sacramento))

Sacramento State and UC-Riverside were in the state capitol for the season opener for the home team...

And, what's a season opener without some swinging...
FOSG Gulstan Dart takes the lead...


Sacramento State second baseman Andrew Ayers, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, and two UC Riverside players (Eddie Young and Drake Zarate) will be suspended for four games each for what went down...

Them's the rules by the folks in Indianapolis...

Big East Raids Conference USA: Gets E.Carolina and Rutgers (UPDATED With WAC Movement)

All hail the Big East!

We aren't sure this necessarily would be classified as "Galactic Realignment", but the Big East made a move on Monday to keep themselves at least viable for the immediate future.

That move is adding East Carolina and Tulane to the mix. And it should be noted East Carolina is only bringing their football team.

The move makes up for the loss of Rutgers to the Big 10 and supplements the Big East maneuver to become the "New" Conference USA. We say that because noted powers SMU, UCF, Memphis and Houston, all C-USA teams are heading to the Big East/West.

It should be noted that the Big East will lose their "Automatic" BCS status in 2014. They will be a part of the "Group of 5" in the new playoff system with the Sun Belt, Conference USA, the MAC and the Mountain West. The best/highest ranked team in that group; will have a shot at the playoff. A shot, not a guarantee.

Here's coverage from WNCT-TV on the East Carolina end...


PM UPDATE: And in another part of global realignment, the Western Athletic Conference (or what's left of it...) is adding Grand Canyon and losing the University of Denver to the Summit- after one season...

How's that for stability...??? And they need to find another school quickly to keep their automatic bid in the post-season tourneys...

Grand Canyon joins Cal State-Bakersfield, Idaho, New Mexico State, Seattle and Utah Valley in the WAC starting in 2013-14.

That just screams "power conference..."
((HT: Azfamily.com))

Where's The Offense? BYU Over Utah State 6-3

Talk about a contrast in college football last Saturday we were treated to the West Virginia – Baylor game that ended up 70-63 and you wondered if anyone played defense.

Friday night BYU defeated Utah State 6-3 and now you wonder what happened to the offenses.  Heck this is a score you expect from the defensive dominant SEC than out west where the offenses are known to explode.

Those of us are old enough to remember when BYU put a lot of points on the board and put up some ridiculous offensive yards.  1946 was the last time the Cougars won a game scoring six points.

This was a game that featured more punts (13) than total points (9).

The only touchdown of the game was Taysom Hill’s three yard pass to JD Falslev in the second quarter.

I think I lost a couple years off my life because of the stress, but any way you get a win, we come out smiling.”  BYU defensive back Preston Hadley said.

“It was a fantastic game and an excellent rivalry game.” BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We are lucky, and I’m glad that we won. I’m fortunate to coach this team.”

Here’s the highlights.  (Thanks BYU-TV Sports)

 

Idaho, NMSU Screwed In New Mountain West Idea, Heading To Big Sky Country...?

((HT: CFT/Kercheval))

Ben Kercheval over at CFT has word from Mountain West Conference commish Craig Thompson that Idaho and New Mexico State can find another home when the football-playing members of their old conference, the WAC, except for them move over to the MWC.

The Mountain West is getting Boise State (except for football), Fresno State, Hawaii and Nevada from the WAC. San Jose State and Utah State will join the MWC in 2013.

Brian Murphy of the Idaho Statesman was at Thompson's state of the state where the Commish said: "We've informed them that they will not be members of the Mountain West. Go onto Plan B whatever Plan B may be..."

Conference USA...? Division I-AA...?

Interesting...

Thompson also said that he'd be interested in having an audience with Texas schools for their futures like UTSA, Texas State, and UTEP...

But he's also happy right now with ten schools...

Idaho has talked to the Big Sky Conference about every sport other than football and the Big Sky is interested in that notion. There's another thought that the Vandals could go independent as well...
((HT: KBOI-TV Boise))