PULLMAN, Wash — There is a lot to be decided when it comes to the future of Washington State University athletics. Following the departure of ten teams from the Pac-12 and a legal battle, WSU and Oregon State University remain the two schools running the conference.
WSU Athletic Director Pat Chun sat down for an interview to discuss what happened with the Pac-12 and what's next for the Cougs. Below is excerpt of that conversation with KREM 2's Tim Pham.
Where would you say the current state is of Cougar athletics right now?
I would start that college athletics is a roller coaster, to use your analogy, for everybody involved. So whether you're at the highest resource schools, or at Washington State, Eastern Washington University, Idaho, Gonzaga, we are in a state of uncertainty and volatility.
We're in a window where the legal system is actually defining what our model is going to look like.
You know, it really is a reminder that change is constant in college athletics. We believe as we're probably headed into, really, the most combustible time of change in the history of college athletics, that ironically, what happened to Oregon State and Washington State may position us correctly, because it gives us gives us time and some resources that we can have some certainty on what we want to look like. And then whatever the model is, we can opt into that model at whatever point that is.
Take us back to August, when the dominoes really started to fall, when the majority of the departing schools left. What was happening behind the curtain? Tell us what was happening behind the scenes for Washington State?
The stakes were always gonna be highest for Washington State and Oregon State because we were two schools that needed the Pac-12 to continue and thrive. You also recognize that the way college athletics was shifting, that TV dollars are motivating schools on where they go from a conference standpoint, and unfortunately, for all of us, and for the entire West Coast, the Pac-12 essentially went away as we knew it.
So I mean, you know, the whole thing I'd argue was behind the scenes. And it gets to a point, and I've been very public about it... it's a great example of, you know, terrible leadership, failed vision, inability for universities to hold sacred... something like a conference and work together.
Was the goal to rebuild the Pac-12 back in August, or now, or was the goal to find a new conference home for WSU?
The goal has always been to do what's best for Washington State. And in this environment, we believe the best thing for Washington State is to position us where all options are available. And we're available for all options.
I want to talk about the partnership with the Mountain West and the WCC. Does it almost feel like speed dating in a way? Does it feel like you're kind of sampling things out to see what fits? Or tell us more about that?
I haven't heard that analogy of speed dating. So, that's a good one. Although we know we know them pretty well. So it wouldn't be a first date by any stretch of the imagination.
I think there's a couple things when you look at the agreements we made with both the Mountain West and the WCC.
One, a need. Scheduling football games is problematic. They're scheduled five to 10 years in advance.
So from a football standpoint, we'll go into next year with a unique schedule. We'll technically have one conference game and 11 non-conference games.
So that's the unique thing about the football schedule, but it fills a need from a football standpoint, but it allows us to engage in dialogue as we try to figure out, you know, are there any long-term possibilities with the Mountain West and we'll figure that out.
WCC there was a need as well. Thankfully... they were looking at this as an opportunity as well.
What has happened with football has impacted all these other sports. Regionality is something that's important. There's no functional need to travel, some of your sports, multiple time zones... for a conference game.
A lot of changes in the schedule for football next year, but one noticeable change is Apple Cup will be played a lot earlier. What are you hearing from the alumni and fan base about the Apple Cup? Did they want to continue the tradition?
I start with our student-athletes first. And to be a part of a sacred rivalry is important.
When you talk to former football players, that played for Washington State, I have yet to meet one that wasn't adamant that we have to play them
I tell everyone, 'Everybody's right.' I fully understand the hostility toward U DUB. I will put myself in that category with all the hostility toward U DUB. But that's one reason not to play him. There's a dozen reasons to play them, we owe it to our student-athletes.
Ticket renewals recently opened up what interest are you seeing right now?
Where I'm gauging everything is on past behavior, and this past year we're up in football ticket revenue, men's basketball ticket revenue, women's basketball ticket revenue, volleyball ticket revenue, baseball's tracking steadily forward.
I think we're looking at this as, I know, it's different and it's going to be a change, but man Cougs love supporting Cougs and Cougs understand there's a bigger picture here going on. So I think we're cautiously optimistic just because we've had back-to-back years of increases with all of our ticket sales.
Cougs understand there's something, you know, game day is something different here in Pullman. And it's what separates Washington State from other schools.
WSU recently announced a tuition increase. Is there any relation to what's going on with athletics?
I think it's probably more relation to what's going on with the rising costs of higher education around this country.
RAW INTERVIEW: Pat Chun sit down interview with KREM 2's Tim Pham
DOWNLOAD THE KREM SMARTPHONE APP
DOWNLOAD FOR IPHONE HERE | DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID HERE
HOW TO ADD THE KREM+ APP TO YOUR STREAMING DEVICE
ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching for KREM in the Channel Store.
Fire TV: Search for "KREM" to find the free app to add to your account. Another option for Fire TV is to have the app delivered directly to your Fire TV through Amazon.
Apple TV: Search "Spokane News from KREM" in the Apple store or follow this link.
To report a typo or grammatical error, please email webspokane@krem.com.