New league trims list of candidates

The eight schools that are leaving the Western Athletic Conference to form their own league are closing in on a commissioner as well as a name.

At least five potential finalists have surfaced from a list of nine. The new league's transition committee will meet today and Thursday at the MGM Grand to conduct interviews and submit a conference name to the presidents council.

Among the candidates expected to be interviewed are former California and Miami, Fla., athletic director Dave Maggard, who currently works for Turner Sports; NCAA senior vice president Tom Jernstadt; Big Ten assistant commissioner Kevin Weiberg; Sun Belt commissioner Craig Thompson; and Host Communications marketing director Mark Kidd.

Sources said one or two other candidates could be interviewed. But the transition committee hopes to have the final list down to three by week's end, and bring those finalists back for a second round of interviews.

As for the name of the league, it appears the word "Mountain" is going to be incorporated. With six of the eight schools residing in the Mountain time zone, there has been growing sentiment to reflect that in the new conference's name.

There is a push to call the new league the "Mountain Pacific Conference." However, that name already is used by the "Mountain Pacific Sports Federation," which oversees several nonrevenue sports involving West Coast leagues, including the Pac-10 and the Big West.

Several of the breakaway eight schools are comfortable with "Mountain West Conference," one of three names that has been test marketed. If the Pac-10 does not allow the new league to go with Mountain Pacific, it will likely opt for Mountain West, according to sources within the new league.

But the thrust of the next two days at the MGM will be on finding a commissioner. The new league needs a point man to negotiate with the various bowl games and television networks.

The new commissioner would be entrusted with those tasks immediately. He also would have a say as to where the new league will be headquartered.

Seven cities, including Las Vegas, submitted formal proposals to be the new league's home. That topic could be discussed Thursday but is third on the priority list behind the commissioner and the name.

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