Between the hash marks, the Big West is coming off one of its finest seasons and the majority of its teams appear better than their 1998 predecessors.

	AROUND THE BIG WEST
	Arkansas State Boise State Idaho Nevada	New Mexico State North Texas Utah State

Idaho was rated No. 112 out of 112 Division I-A schools by one national magazine prior to last season. But the upstart Vandals won nine games, captured the conference championship on a daring two-point conversion and took down 16-point favorite Southern Mississippi 42-35 in the Humanitarian Bowl. The Hum Bowl, in its second year of existence, made solid gains in attendance and, more importantly, TV ratings.

Go figure. Just don't spend too much time trying to figure out the nomadic Big West, which has had more makeovers than Madonna, mainly because it's at the bottom of the conference food chain out west.

Yet, despite the endless alterations to membership, the conference has been remarkably resilient. The Big West has managed to land on its feet, find a way to play respectable football and produce a future NFL starter nearly every season.

But now, the conference may be faced with reinventing itself on somebody else's terms. The light at the end of the tunnel for the Big West is being flashed by the Sun Belt. That yet-to-be-formed conference's birth date for football is 2001, which could dovetail with the demise of the Big West's gridiron sponsorship.

"We're at a point where people need to go visit with their boards and presidents and get an idea where they are on their campus, then come back in September to give us a yea or nay," Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said. "I think people are understanding that this is the best opportunity to be successful.

"Everybody would love to be in the Big 12 or SEC, but absent that reality people are saying 'if we have an opportunity to play for a bowl and postseason honors for our players, then this is better for me.' Then, if they have aspirations to go somewhere else, their best chance is to come in and dominate the league."

The Sun Belt has a working 10-team model that would bring together several independents, several current Sun Belters and Big West schools bobbing in a sea of uncertainty. It's far from a done deal, but it appears to satisfy many of the needs of those involved.

"I want to help all 11 of my schools (including six basketball schools based in California) find their futures," Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell said. "There's no question the five Big West schools are committed to playing I-A football and it's very important to their institutions."

It's possible current Big West members New Mexico State and North Texas could join the Sun Belt in all sports. Arkansas State, already in the Sun Belt in everything but football, is another likely full-time member.

		It's a two-team race again between Idaho and Nevada. Idaho shocked everyone last year by beating Southern Mississippi in the Humanitarian Bowl, and the Vandals just don't get much respect. I think they will repeat in the conference this year, although Nevada has a shot. Whether it's Idaho or Nevada, whichever team doesn't win the conference will have a pretty good argument that they're a better team than one of the bowl teams out of the WAC. Another thing that stands out about the Big West is big paydays. The schools have lined up games against some national powerhouses. Did they do so for the money? Or for experience? Boise State is playing at UCLA. Idaho is going to Auburn. Nevada travels to Oregon. And what is Utah State doing going to Georgia? Also, North Texas will go to LSU. Can this conference keep scheduling these big-time teams and make money, and what will be the impact on the Big West schools? There's an injury factor from the pounding they'll take, and a travel cost that may have some impact on teams as the season goes along. The conference has a couple of solid players, led by Nevada quarterback David Neill, who threw 29 touchdown passes last year as a freshman, and Idaho quarterback John Welsh, who's got a talented receiver in Ryan Prestimonico.

To bolster the new conference, Idaho, Boise State and Utah State would be invited as football-only members. Scheduling is yet to be determined, but one scenario has each team playing three rivalry games every season and four other conference foes on a rotating basis.

Of course, the Sun Belt's plans could go up in smoke if the WAC or Mountain West shuffle their memberships. Big West schools, aside from North Texas and perhaps New Mexico State, have every intention of finding a permanent home closer to their backyards.

"For some people, it's a band-aid," Waters said. "I don't think anybody thinks Idaho, Boise and Utah State will be there forever. For now, it certainly takes care of their needs."

And some of the Sun Belt's, too. If the Big West schools come, so does the Humanitarian Bowl. The Sun Belt is optimistic about an eventual tie-in with the new Mobile Alabama Bowl. Two two bowls and 10 teams. . . not too shabby for a fledgling conference.

As for the upcoming Big West season, Idaho and Nevada are the darlings of the pollsters. Each has 19 starters returning, each has 10 back on offense, each has a fine quarterback (Nevada's Neill, Idaho's John Welsh).

Nevada has history on its side -- a 58-23 thrashing of Idaho last season and a 42-23 humbling of the Vandals two years ago. "Going in, Nevada's the team to beat," Idaho coach Chris Tormey said. "We will be right there and New Mexico State is underrated."

The Vandals are coming off a magical season and show no signs of a let down. Boise State has a load of returning talent, including a fine thrower in Bart Hendricks.

And for something completely different, there is the added twist of two conference games involving non-conference opponents. New Mexico State's date with UTEP and Arkansas State's tango with Southwestern Louisiana will be registered on the Big West W-L ledger.

In other words, all the makings for another unpredictable, entertaining season of Big West football are in place. "For schools of our size," Tormey says, "we stack up pretty well."

For how long they stack up together is anybody's guess because the Big West figures to become a basketball-driven, California-based conference. Ironically, that's similar to how it all began in 1969 as the then-Pacific Coast Athletic Association. The big difference? Back then, the conference was formed primarily for football reasons.

Go figure.

Jim Meehan covers the Big West for the Idaho Spokesman-Review.