.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........

The potential cancellation of college football in the fall could create a nightmare scenario for the other sports in the Mountain West Conference.

“If there’s no college football this fall, there’s very little likelihood there will be any other sports because 85% of revenue derived in college athletics comes from the sport of football,” MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said in a video released by the league on Monday.

The coronavirus pandemic wiped out all NCAA spring sports and spring football, and the restrictions have put the college football season in limbo with doubt growing each day.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip

................................................................

Thompson talked about a few COVID-19 related topics during the video, which was the first of two parts. The second part will be released Tuesday and will focus more on football.

Despite the cancellation of spring sports, the MWC is set to get through the fiscal year, which ends June 30, “in pretty good shape, although there are some financial issues,” Thompson said.

He cited funding scholarships for seniors who return for an extra season of eligibility next spring among the challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic shutting down activities.

The MWC member schools took “a huge hit,” because of the cancellation of the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, Thompson said.

“Each of our institutions probably lost seven figures, in excess of a million dollars,” he said.

The MWC was fortunate to complete its conference tournaments, he added.

“I’m optimistic that we’re going to be seeing 97, 98% of our proposed distribution to our membership will be intact because we did get our tournament in,” he said.

He also spoke of possible ways to save money to prevent universities from cutting a sport.

He used baseball as an example that the season could have fewer games.

“Maybe being creative in ways when you go play a baseball or softball game (on the road), you play a doubleheader —fewer trips,” he said.

Thompson also talked about cutting costs for the MWC budget, possibly putting an end to football and men’s basketball media days in person, and instead making it virtual.