Guess its time to discuss the Big Sky/WAC merger talk

[Green Cookie Monster]

http://www.scribd.com/doc/76523914/Exhibit-3-Big-Sky-Constitution-and-Operating-Rules" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

As of July 1st, looks like Sac State will be a long-term member of the Big Sky.
$1,000,000 exit fee for teams wanting to leave the conference.

 

[SDHornet]

Not a big hurdle imo. If we decide to leave the BSC, it will be to an FBS conference that will net us at least that much per year for TV payouts. Basically all that entire exit fee does is forfeit some of that first years worth of new revenue on the way out. Sac State would never cut the check, the new conference would and Sac State would repay it via future revenue forfeiture.

 

[broncosnhornets]

well then, maybe it's safe to say that as long as we are at the fcs level, we will be in the big sky?

 

[Green Laser]

well then, maybe it's safe to say that as long as we are at the fcs level, we will be in the big sky?

What other options are there for FCS Football?

 

[scooter]

Not to dampen the spirits of SDHornet, or any other hornet faithful, but the reality is that none of us (and I include my Vikings) are moving to FBS with the way the universe is aligning itself. The super-conferences are about to come to fruition and when that happens it is more likely that FBS programs will be scrambling to find an appropriate FCS conference to latch on to. My hope is that the Big Sky becomes an FCS super-conference and all of our programs can stay in the mix!

I guess we don't see you until 2013. Good luck this season, and I hope you guys stay healthy.

 

[SDHornet]

Good post, and I agree the major BCS conferences are gobbling up the lions share of the TV money and other revenues. I don't think any FBS programs will be looking to FCS for an answer, but there could be a reclassification of D-1 football that brings together the non-BCS programs and the top tier FCS programs.

 

[superhornet]

Good post, and I agree the major BCS conferences are gobbling up the lions share of the TV money and other revenues. I don't think any FBS programs will be looking to FCS for an answer, but there could be a reclassification of D-1 football that brings together the non-BCS programs and the top tier FCS programs.

I'm thinking that I'd like that idea, but the lower-tier FBS schools probably won't go for it. Personally, though (realizing that the same problem would exist), I would like to see that accompanied by a relegation of lower-tier FCS programs to D-II (like UNC, although I know that their hoops success would be an argument against it).

 

[Green Laser]

Good post, and I agree the major BCS conferences are gobbling up the lions share of the TV money and other revenues. I don't think any FBS programs will be looking to FCS for an answer, but there could be a reclassification of D-1 football that brings together the non-BCS programs and the top tier FCS programs.

I'm thinking that I'd like that idea, but the lower-tier FBS schools probably won't go for it. Personally, though (realizing that the same problem would exist), I would like to see that accompanied by a relegation of lower-tier FCS programs to D-II (like UNC, although I know that their hoops success would be an argument against it).

Of course if the NCAA ever went back to letting a school be Division 1 in other programs and Division 2 in football it would work. IMO demanding that a school be D1 in all programs killed a lot of good D2 football programs like Santa Clara and St. Marys.

 

[superhornet]

There is a caveat to that, GL. Schools are still allowed a D-I "marquee sport" (non-football, of course) with all other sports lower. That "marquee sport" is usually hockey, some (like Johns Hopkins) do it with lacrosse. If that could be extended to allow everything EXCEPT football at D-I with football lower, that might help some programs, although I don't think the players would like it very much, and neither would the fans. Who wants to watch the football team play Humboldt (say) on a regular basis while the hoops team is playing Stanford and Weber? Conferences might not like it, either. But in terms of cost containment, it could provide a benefit for struggling schools, as lower-division conferences are usually a bit more compact, and therefore have lower travel costs.

 

[SJHornet]

Its been all over the WAC and FCS message boards today.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_21113344/big-sky-emerges-potential-lifeline-wac

Essencially the Big Sky would not really merge but form a sort of alliance in which the Big Sky would loan out teams to keep the WACs autobid alive. One football umbrella and two olympic sport conferences. I'm sure the WAC or Big Sky would also have an umbrella soccer and baseball league.

Interesting idea, but I think it's going to be a very difficult sell. Also sets up the question of who goes where and will they want to.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Baseball and soccer would be nice.

Branding could be confusing. There is already confusion between FCS and FBS add this into the mix and :roll:

Adding Idaho is a no brainer. I think NMSU will prostrate themselves before the FBS world begging for admission. Anywhere.

I wouldn't mind adding UI and NMSU for football too.

 

[SDHornet]

I don’t see this happening, just too many moving pieces and too much work to be done for a group of people (university presidents, AD’s, etc) who no doubt want to keep their cush jobs as easy as possible.

Basically to keep the auto-bid alive, current BSC programs would have to leave to join the WAC. I agree with the importance of keeping the WAC auto-bid alive, but I don’t see how anybody would want to stick their program out on a limb and into unstable waters by joining the WAC. Unless any departing schools can get a free no questions asked re-admittance back to the BSC if the WAC completely disintegrates, then maybe this could work.

The 2013-14 WAC lineup is as follows:

• • Boise State – WAC commish Hurd has indicated they are all but gone to the Big West
  • New Mexico State – gone whenever a spot opens in the MWC, CUSA, SBC
  • Idaho – same as NMSU, only they are a last resort if a FBS conference is absolutely desperate for a football member, they would be a great 12 member in the BSC for Oly sports or all sports
  • Seattle –gone to the WCC if Gonzaga decides to allow them to be invited
  • Denver – not wanted by the WCC due to geography, could probably go to a Mid-Western Oly sport conference if need be
  • Bako – currently Indy, not sure why they haven’t been invited yet but they are one of the few available schools out west who are in need of a conference
  • Utah Valley – currently GWC which doesn’t have an auto-bid so it is basically Indy, highly likely to get a WAC invite if that conference decides to try to stay alive
  • Whoever else the WAC can find

This was just with a hoops mindset; add in all the other sport auto-bids and this idea gets even messier.

 

[SDHornet]

BSU to the BW for Oly sports:

Boise State will pay a $2.5 million entry fee in five annual installments and an initiation fee of $50,000. The school also will pay a travel subsidy estimated at $750,000 per year.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/20...anBroncoBeat+(IdahoStatesman.com+Bronco+Beat)

Pretty meager payment considering BSU was desperate to find a home for Oly sports, they had no other Oly conference options, and the BE football TV deal payout speculation is at $10M per team per year. The BW got completely owned in this one. :lol:

 

[SJHornet]

BSU to the BW for Oly sports:

Boise State will pay a $2.5 million entry fee in five annual installments and an initiation fee of $50,000. The school also will pay a travel subsidy estimated at $750,000 per year.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/20...anBroncoBeat+(IdahoStatesman.com+Bronco+Beat)

Pretty meager payment considering BSU was desperate to find a home for Oly sports, they had no other Oly conference options, and the BE football TV deal payout speculation is at $10M per team per year. The BW got completely owned in this one. :lol:

So, how long till Boise bails for yet another conference?

 

[SDHornet]

Bako and Utah Valley to the WAC.
http://www.wacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10100&ATCLID=205708247

This move basically indicates that WAC football is dead (officially). The WAC will also sponsor men’s soccer since it will be losing football and the NCAA requires a men’s sport to be sponsored in its place (this means the MPSF soccer conference is done for). The WAC did what it needed to do to stay a viable Oly sports conference but that essentially means Idahlol and NMSU will turn over every last rock to find a home for football.

This will no doubt push Idalol into Fullerton’s arms and they will likely be the 12th full member of the BSC some time around 2014. This will allow the BSC to be split into divisions for men’s and women’s hoops as well as volleyball (assuming they want to split into divisions). A divisional split will reduce the travel burden but will force Wanless to find more OOC games.

The good news about the WAC additions is this will likely keep WAC baseball alive so Hornet baseball will not become homeless after the upcoming season ends.

SJH, any thoughts? You are our realignment pulse finder.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

It will be interesting to see what happens after our 3 year contract is up with the Big West for men's soccer.

 

[SDHornet]

It will be interesting to see what happens after our 3 year contract is up with the Big West for men's soccer.

We’ll either go after WAC affiliate membership (they would probably take us) or Pac-12 affiliate membership (they will lose SDSU as a member). Either way I think soccer will find a home so long as they keep playing well (they are off to a 4-0 start in BW play ).

 

[SDHornet]

This will no doubt push Idalol into Fullerton’s arms and they will likely be the 12th full member of the BSC some time around 2014. This will allow the BSC to be split into divisions for men’s and women’s hoops as well as volleyball (assuming they want to split into divisions). A divisional split will reduce the travel burden but will force Wanless to find more OOC games.

And there is it is:

The Idaho Vandals will announce a Football Bowl Subdivision independent football schedule for 2013 later today and will move its other sports programs to the Big Sky in 2014-15, Athletic Director Rob Spear told the Idaho Statesman on Friday.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/20...ule_today_move_other_sports_big#storylink=cpy

Expect Vandal football in the BSC when their FBS Indy experiment fails. :nod:

 

[StungAlum2]

This will no doubt push Idalol into Fullerton’s arms and they will likely be the 12th full member of the BSC some time around 2014. This will allow the BSC to be split into divisions for men’s and women’s hoops as well as volleyball (assuming they want to split into divisions). A divisional split will reduce the travel burden but will force Wanless to find more OOC games.

And there is it is:

The Idaho Vandals will announce a Football Bowl Subdivision independent football schedule for 2013 later today and will move its other sports programs to the Big Sky in 2014-15, Athletic Director Rob Spear told the Idaho Statesman on Friday.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/20...ule_today_move_other_sports_big#storylink=cpy

Expect Vandal football in the BSC when their FBS Indy experiment fails. :nod:

I thought it was wrong to allow CP and the farm extension in as affiliate members and I feel the same about Idaho. It sends the wrong message to the rest of the conference and creates unfair advantages for them as well as they have more exposure in different markets which may give them recruiting advantages in the future.

It also allows affiliate members to save money while full member BSC schools cannot, at least not the same way. TOTAL BS!

 

[DrMike]

i think now that Davis and Poly have made the football-only leap into the BigSky, Sac should consider the same option and go BigWest for non-football. its a much better fit than the BigSky. Having the Hornets in the BigWest for soccer has been a nice addition -> i would think the baseball program would LOVE to play in California vs. UC's and CSU's (UC-Honolulu? CSU-Oahu?), instead of the WAC. sure would boast the Causeway rivalry in non-football sports and that would enhance the rivalry in ALL sports.

there is no possiblity of a California school moving up to FBS (Davis, Sac or Poly); i'm more concerned about how those 3 compete at the FCS if the state budgets continue to get tighter and tighter.