Big Sky Change?

[Chex]

With Sac State leaving the Big Sky, there are rumors about the conference expanding or staying put that Brett Hein wrote in the Standard-Examiner a few days ago. Since this forum has been extremely silent, I thought I would bring it up to get opinions.

Most of me thinks Sac State pulled an SUU and jumped without a plan. Big West basketball is a lateral move (maybe slightly up), but assuming PAC or MWC would take them in football was a bridge too far and now their waiver was rejected and their headed to FCS Independence. If Big Sky had any pride (they don’t), they would discourage teams from scheduling them and SUU.

Part of me admires Sac State, they are trying to elevate their program while Weber State is content coasting into bottom conference dweller. The Wildcats have a basketball facility ready for PAC or MWC. A little fund raising and they could improve football facility ready for either (such as PAC is made up of now). I mostly like the idea of staying FCS and playing for a title…but now that football program is decimated, playing in a reconstituted MWC or PAC (long shot) sounds good.

Of course Weber State has no ambition, so I won’t waste time on talking more about that.

I know softball is in a rough spot, but I’m in favor of conference staying same with no expansion and merging for that sport. If they do expand, take Utah Tech and not SUU. I’d take a D2 in Washington or Oregon before taking SUU.

 

[the dan]

I hope the Big Sky can find a way to stand pat. Adding SUU or UTU does not make the conference better. I’d argue it makes the conference the worse.

Is it possible to add an affiliate softball member?

 

[AlumniWSU]

I'll jump in with an opinion or two just for a little noise making on this quiet fan board (understand why though, what's to get excited about right now looking at Wildcat FB/BB?)

The Big Sky scheduling is easier in football & basketball with even member #s; for that reason alone there needs to be one new addition. It is possible to get affiliate members for softball & men's golf. On adding, it's just who & UTU, it's arguable, but then I myself like the thought of more instate members, even SUU who burned a bridge, yes. On Facebook-WSU fans, comments are several, but the thought of Weber joining the teetering WAC or the thought that WSU would be an attractive invite to FBS Mtn. West or PAC12 is laughable!! Aside from lacking ambition, Weber has neither the $$ nor fan support to even be considered. With a little fund raising you say, LOL!

Mock Sac. State all you want but the ambition & move up marketing has raised approx. $50M from boosters, NIL support, the CA deep pockets with ambition, etc. They aren't getting any invites for football yet, but the Big West in non-FB & with all those fellow Cal. members, aside from UVU now, is a great fit. my two cents worth

 

[Chex]

I'll jump in with an opinion or two just for a little noise making on this quiet fan board (understand why though, what's to get excited about right now looking at Wildcat FB/BB?)

The Big Sky scheduling is easier in football & basketball with even member #s; for that reason alone there needs to be one new addition. It is possible to get affiliate members for softball & men's golf. On adding, it's just who & UTU, it's arguable, but then I myself like the thought of more instate members, even SUU who burned a bridge, yes. On Facebook-WSU fans, comments are several, but the thought of Weber joining the teetering WAC or the thought that WSU would be an attractive invite to FBS Mtn. West or PAC12 is laughable!! Aside from lacking ambition, Weber has neither the $$ nor fan support to even be considered. With a little fund raising you say, LOL!

Mock Sac. State all you want but the ambition & move up marketing has raised approx. $50M from boosters, NIL support, the CA deep pockets with ambition, etc. They aren't getting any invites for football yet, but the Big West in non-FB & with all those fellow Cal. members, aside from UVU now, is a great fit. my two cents worth

Point taken on a little fundraising…certainly people of my economic background can’t contribute, but there are some alumni with deep pockets. Wyoming and Air Force football stadiums aren’t exactly Taj Mahal’s of football. Really, if Weber State could add seats on the south end, it wouldn’t be too much to make it accommodating for FBS low level football. The Dee is fine for MWC or current PAC.

UVU is first in enrollment followed by Utah and BYU, but Weber State is 4K behind BYU and U of U and will probably overtake them in 5-10 years as affordability becomes more of an issue.

If the University had ambition and put some planning, they could make a play every bit as well as Sac State. I see more people all over the state wearing Wildcats gear all the time. There are more fans than you think (can’t blame them not donating or attending given the current dumpster fire that is Weber State).

I couldn’t even afford to get a ticket to see BYU or U of U for a single game, let alone take my family. Honestly, I wouldn’t even care to due to the realignment and greed of both Universities and high school teenagers; I can’t even stomach watching that crap. The P5 ESPN empire will price themselves out of a market who can only afford to go to UVU or Weber State games. There will be more interest as time goes on for UVU, Weber State, UTU, etc. I think interest in BYU and Utah will wane.

Hell, I’ll just settle on getting coaches and an AD who can get the Wildcats playing for Big Sky titles and aren’t there to coast until they retire, but there is the capability to make a play to go bigger, just no appetite or leadership to do it.

I wouldn’t have left the Big Sky if I were Sac State until the invite was in hand as they may be an FCS Independent now…and the Big Sky could ostracize them from western FCS teams (but won’t). I do tip my hat to them…at least they are trying to improve their conditions.

Still a solid no on SUU, would only take UTU but would prefer to stay same. Nine conference football games (uneven home and road a slight problem), but would only leave three games to schedule and would play every team in the conference.

 

[AlumniWSU]

Yes, some good points. I bet there are lots of those standing by fans that surely agree with WSU needing to do the things to return to proud winning ways & having the ambition, like Sac St, to think big. One can easily see that only some admin retirements will bring that about!

The Big Sky staying as is does make sense in football (it's the driver now days) because there's more changes coming (the SE article mentioned UC Davis is heading to Mtn West & soon elevating it's football), so as is that would then allow the rest of the BSC to be able to play each other. If it's adding a full time member, who fits in any better than UTU, & they want to join? Any better (doable) choices?? Anyone?

NO to joining the sinking WAC, a proponent said the WAC is rated higher in basketball, well guess what, the power members providing that are leaving the fold! The WAC has teetered before & seems to be a revolving door for members who soon look elsewhere. SUU is worried where to go & the BSC bridge has been burned.