GREAT WEST MERGER

[n.ogdencat]

I know that this was brought up a few months ago, and has been talked about routinely by the forum members, but I really think if the WAC does in fact pick up PSU and SAC (laughable, who cares about the size of the city they are in...what have they done for the Sky? Wasn't that the whole reason they got into the Sky in the first place?) then I really think that the Sky could become stronger. SAC hurts the Sky every year in Basketball RPI and their football program isn't much better (even though I think they will be decent to good this year).

As for the Great West options...Most of us know that SUU has far better facilities than most of the present members of the Sky (The Centrum is legit). Also, having another state school in the conference would be great for Weber, instate rivalry's bring in money.

Another option for the Sky would be to bring in the Dakotas. Yes this option would expand travel, but on the plus side, these programs woud instantly be competitive in the Sky's money sports, something Sac has never done, and really improve the general appearance of the Sky, while also expanding the range of the conference.

Finally, there are some really good FCS programs California. I wouldn't want to try the Northridge approach again, but SLO or Davis would be excellent additions. I'd like USD/UCSD (which school is it...torros?) but they don't have scholarships. Oh, the duders on Egrizz have said that Central Washington would be a good addition for a DII sooo. Who knows.

What do you all think?

 

[SWeberCat02]

After what was a crazy few weeks, I think we've seen all the conference expansion we are going to see for awhile. And I still have a hard time believing that any WAC expansion would include anyone other than Montana. As far as the Sky expanding, I don't think that will happen anytime soon, as there really aren't any schools that would accept an invite that are worth inviting. The Sky shouldn't expand just to expand. It would have to make the conference better. And I've said it before and will say it again: Cal Poly and UC-Davis will never join the Sky for anything other than football. Why would they? Outside of football, they are in an all California conference. And the Sky seems intent on having all conference schools participate in all or most sports. San Diego and Southern Utah won't make the conference stronger, only weaker. San Diego is a small private school that gives no athletic scholarships and the weakness of Southern Utah speaks for it's self. Ditto for South and North Dakota. South Dakota St would strengthen the conference but they and North Dakota St aren't going to leave the Missouri Valley for a weaker Big Sky that would mean much more travel.

 

[Big Z1]

If you are looking at DII schools, why not bring in Dixie?

 

[WILDCAT]

The Big Sky conference needs to be a little more flexible and let certain only sports members in, The Great West is I think 1 team short of a football autobid, if the Big Sky would allow it, Im sure Cal Poly and UC Davis would jump for a chance to be a football only member of the Sky ( if the wac didnt take them first ), Southern Utah would be a full member of course, Are the Dakota's Div 1 in basketball? If not they can be football only members. That would give us asuming Montana stays 14 football members and 2 separate divisions, with the addition of SUU in b-ball that would give us a solid 10 team conf. But, I've heard rumors that the Sun Belt B-Ball conf is trying to push Denver out, The Big Sky would be a perfect fit for basketball only member Denver, but that would give us 11 teams and we'll still have the 1 game a week deals, but so what, lets expand. Come on Big Sky it wouldnt hurt to be more flexable, you did it once with Gonzaga and once with Northridge, it wont hurt to do it again.