and other major conference members left and the conference was gutted. Then Utah St. finally got a shot in the MWC .... shortly after BYU, Utah, and TCU left and the the conference was "gutted" (not as bad as the WAC was). Then Utah St. finally gets a shot in the PAC-12, after nearly all the teams (including Utah) left and the conference was completely gutted.

I seem to be sensing a pattern here.