Ault and The One Factor Nobody is Discussing

[ord_buckeye]

In my humble opinion, the greatest underlying issue regarding Ault's future is not how the team did this year nor how it might do next year. It relates to the impending conference shake ups. Nevada has three options:


Pac 10 expansion--a serious longshot
Join an expanded MWC--the realistic option
Screw things up and find itself in what's left of the WAC.


Let's be honest. Unlike the Big Ten, there are no academic consortium considerations to MWC expansion. It's about football and becoming an AQ conference and nothing more. Whack Ault and make a poor hire, and Nevada will just come across as another mid-major changing coaches every few years. Personally, I think Ault's continued presence represents a stability in the program that makes Nevada more attractive not less. Be interested to hear the opinions of others closer to Reno.

[slowhiteguy]

In my humble opinion, the greatest underlying issue regarding Ault's future is not how the team did this year nor how it might do next year. It relates to the impending conference shake ups. Nevada has three options:


Pac 10 expansion--a serious longshot
Join an expanded MWC--the realistic option
Screw things up and find itself in what's left of the WAC.


Let's be honest. Unlike the Big Ten, there are no academic consortium considerations to MWC expansion. It's about football and becoming an AQ conference and nothing more. Whack Ault and make a poor hire, and Nevada will just come across as another mid-major changing coaches every few years. Personally, I think Ault's continued presence represents a stability in the program that makes Nevada more attractive not less. Be interested to hear the opinions of others closer to Reno.

I agree. No need to dump Ault. But if this program doesn't make a step forward, the pressure will mount for him to step down. He needs a signature win. He needs to win another bowl game.

[NevadaBlueDawg]

I agree. No need to dump Ault. But if this program doesn't make a step forward, the pressure will mount for him to step down. He needs a signature win. He needs to win another bowl game.

I agree w/ your point about the bowl game, and I'll add that the guy needs a coaching seminar when it comes to leading his team to victory over the big boys, most notably when they're having mediocre seasons (or worse) like Mizzou, Notre Dame, SMU and Colorado State...all of which handed us our asses.

[Packmike]

In my humble opinion, the greatest underlying issue regarding Ault's future is not how the team did this year nor how it might do next year. It relates to the impending conference shake ups. Nevada has three options:

Pac 10 expansion--a serious longshot
Join an expanded MWC--the realistic option
Screw things up and find itself in what's left of the WAC.



Do you really think the Pac 10 or MWC is going to knock on our door to add us after the complete lack of fan representation at our bowl yesterday? I don't - I also think the WAC will be fine out of the next round of shake ups, with or without Boise

[buzzt14]

Do you really think the Pac 10 or MWC is going to knock on our door to add us after the complete lack of fan representation at our bowl yesterday? I don't - I also think the WAC will be fine out of the next round of shake ups, with or without Boise

I think part of the lack of fan rep has to do largely with the economy. Nevada has been hit pretty hard and a short notice Christmas trip to Hawaii isn't cheap.

[Packmike]

I think part of the lack of fan rep has to do largely with the economy. Nevada has been hit pretty hard and a short notice Christmas trip to Hawaii isn't cheap.

No doubt, I wonder if there is some source to see a complete list of school tickets sold for their bowl games. To see where Nevada compared.

[CAHUSKY]

I think part of the lack of fan rep has to do largely with the economy. Nevada has been hit pretty hard and a short notice Christmas trip to Hawaii isn't cheap.

The Hawaii bowl is by far the worst bowl for fans. Flights are brutally expensive, hotel availability is virtually non-existent and those that are available are really, really pricey. Nevada football and Hawaii are two of my favorite things but when you consider cost and spending Christmas away from your family its a ludicrously difficult trip to make. NO team travels well to this bowl which is why they want Hawaii playing every year.

PS. actually, maybe New Mexico is a worse bowl for fans just because the place sucks.

[ord_buckeye]

Do you really think the Pac 10 or MWC is going to knock on our door to add us after the complete lack of fan representation at our bowl yesterday? I don't - I also think the WAC will be fine out of the next round of shake ups, with or without Boise

I've always felt that the Pac 10 was a huge longshot for Nevada. I also think that, depending on what the Big Ten and Pac 10 do to the Big 12, the MWC could get picked apart for B12 replacements. That leaves the stronger WAC and MWC programs to combine. What's left out will essentially go back to being 1-AA.

Also, I don't think attendance at the Hawaii bowl in this economy is going to be that big of a factor in decisionmaking that'll happen a couple of years from now.