-
Hi Guest, want to participate in the discussions, keep track of read/unread posts, upgrade to remove ads and more? Create your free account and increase the benefits of your BigSkyFans.com experience today!
Big West lifts expansion moratorium
- Thread starter SJHornet
- Start date
I think this is more for Hawai'i. I don't think the rest of the Big Sky is going to let us move from full membership to associate membership for football only.
Not according to the way I read it. Not sure how a current CSU school doesn't "fit the current membership" and "share their intercollegiate athletic values and goals." This will definitely make things interesting. Bakersfield could also be making a run at it as well.
I could see a scenario that played out with Sac State supporting the Cal Poly and Davis associate membership, expressing an interest in having a similar arrangement after the Big Sky increased its full membership. Which it did with the additions of UND and SUU. Without Sac State, the Big Sky would still have 10 full members. And now, the Big West with this announcement. It doesn't make sense that the Big Sky would add Poly and Davis for football while simultaneously oppose Sac State having the same arrangement.
As for the Big West, I could easily see them expand to 10 to 12 teams; Sac State, CSUB, and Hawaii. A number of conferences have 12 or higher; A-10/14, the Atlantic Sun/11, Big East/16, and Southland, Southern, Colonial, Sunbelt, Northeast with 12.
As for the Big West, I could easily see them expand to 10 to 12 teams; Sac State, CSUB, and Hawaii. A number of conferences have 12 or higher; A-10/14, the Atlantic Sun/11, Big East/16, and Southland, Southern, Colonial, Sunbelt, Northeast with 12.
SJHornet
Active member
The way I see it:
Most Likely: Hawaii
Likely: CSU Bakersfield
Potential: Sac State, Utah Valley
Long Shot: San Jose State, New Mexico State, Idaho
Imagination Land: Cal Poly & UC Davis going to bolt to the Sky
I think the growing speculation coming out of Honolulu has forced the BWC to prepare for the potential of including Hawaii. Hawaii is too prestigious a program to pass on for a mid-major conference, much like BYU and the WCC. I think the Texas additions really pissed off the Warriors. I have a feeling they wanted the WAC to stay closer to the Pacific and let LA Tech bolt. Instead Benson appeased LA Tech and alienated Hawaii (and SJSU). Again, just what I think. Plus I’m pretty sure the MWC isn’t very interested in the islands.
CSU Bakersfield is now a full D1 program. They are looking for a conference, and I think this time the BWC may extend an invite their way. The Great West is a dying conference, and they have no chance of getting into the WCC or Big Sky. If Hawaii is added I can see Bakersfield added as well.
Us and Utah Valley are both very likely candidates IMHO. Utah Valley is in need of a new conference as the Great West is sinking faster than the Titanic. If you remember, months ago Wanless made comments that he’d be interested in BWC membership for Olympic sports. I see either 1) Utah Valley getting an invite to make the conference 12 if Hawaii and CSUB come, 2) Sac State getting an invite to the BWC and Utah Valley getting an invite to the Sky to give the BWC 12 and keep the Sky at 11 (maybe 12 with Seattle), or 3) Hawaii staying put or going somewhere else and Sac State, Utah Valley and CSU Bakersfield all coming in to make it 12.
I can almost see SJSU Idaho or NMSU coming to the BWC if Hawaii goes independent. I think SJSU could go independent as well as the conference is stretching towards the south now. NMSU and Idaho are a bit longer shots, but the “New Hawaii-less WAC” may cause them to reconsider their conference positioning. I can also see any of the three of them dropping football. (I can also see Idaho going back to the Sky with its tail between its legs).
Cal Poly and Davis to the Sky… Just a stretch.
Most Likely: Hawaii
Likely: CSU Bakersfield
Potential: Sac State, Utah Valley
Long Shot: San Jose State, New Mexico State, Idaho
Imagination Land: Cal Poly & UC Davis going to bolt to the Sky
I think the growing speculation coming out of Honolulu has forced the BWC to prepare for the potential of including Hawaii. Hawaii is too prestigious a program to pass on for a mid-major conference, much like BYU and the WCC. I think the Texas additions really pissed off the Warriors. I have a feeling they wanted the WAC to stay closer to the Pacific and let LA Tech bolt. Instead Benson appeased LA Tech and alienated Hawaii (and SJSU). Again, just what I think. Plus I’m pretty sure the MWC isn’t very interested in the islands.
CSU Bakersfield is now a full D1 program. They are looking for a conference, and I think this time the BWC may extend an invite their way. The Great West is a dying conference, and they have no chance of getting into the WCC or Big Sky. If Hawaii is added I can see Bakersfield added as well.
Us and Utah Valley are both very likely candidates IMHO. Utah Valley is in need of a new conference as the Great West is sinking faster than the Titanic. If you remember, months ago Wanless made comments that he’d be interested in BWC membership for Olympic sports. I see either 1) Utah Valley getting an invite to make the conference 12 if Hawaii and CSUB come, 2) Sac State getting an invite to the BWC and Utah Valley getting an invite to the Sky to give the BWC 12 and keep the Sky at 11 (maybe 12 with Seattle), or 3) Hawaii staying put or going somewhere else and Sac State, Utah Valley and CSU Bakersfield all coming in to make it 12.
I can almost see SJSU Idaho or NMSU coming to the BWC if Hawaii goes independent. I think SJSU could go independent as well as the conference is stretching towards the south now. NMSU and Idaho are a bit longer shots, but the “New Hawaii-less WAC” may cause them to reconsider their conference positioning. I can also see any of the three of them dropping football. (I can also see Idaho going back to the Sky with its tail between its legs).
Cal Poly and Davis to the Sky… Just a stretch.
superhornet
Active member
While HI has history in the Big West, I highly doubt they join under current leadership (read: Dumb-Dumb Dennis). He spent ten years getting to his wet dream of the Cali Bus League (getting rid of NMSU, Idaho, HI, Utah State, N IL, LA Tech, and SW LA). The most likely target (and a bone of contention with BW fans still not happy with the contributions of Riverside) is Bako. They would likely accept the return of SJSU if approached (but the only way that happens is if the WAC completely crumbles). I highly doubt they approach Sac. The league leadership MIGHT look favorably on a Sac-initiated candidacy (the fans would not), but that, obviously, requires permission from Doug Fullerton and the Sky presidents, which may well not be forthcoming. UVU, Idaho, and NMSU have next to no chance at all.
