Intriguing development. Congrats to UOP. This move is certainly going to improve the exposure of their program. This recent vacancy is going to leave a lot of intriguing questions. Will the BWC expand further? If so, how many will the BWC take in? And, Who is interested in joining the BWC?
I think the last question is an interesting one. I doubt anyone would disagree that Bakersfield was on the phone with commissioner Dennis Ferrell as soon as UOP's announcement hit the web. They need a conference, and the BWC has to be their dream conference (BSC perhaps their alternative dream). I see San Jose State as another potential suitor. There is no secret SJSU wants in the MWC/MWCUSA. One potential possibility is that they will be let in as a football-only member. That leads them straight to the BWC doorstep. I think they would be a shoe-in having connections (old rivalries) with many of the existing members, were a founding member, they are a CSU and they bring the SF Bay Area market. Fresno is another suitor should the Big East football only membership come about. I don't like Fresno State, but I would have to admit they'd be let in in a heartbeat. Grand Canyon University is also a possibility. They want to go DI, and they have some great facilities (and are some what in the footprint). Boise may also be interested, but I do not see them getting a serious look unless they were to agree to subsidize travel.
As for Sac: I sincerely hope we are in contact with the BWC about the vacancy. We are an outlier in the BSC with no local rivals. Its a great football conference for us now that Poly and Davis are members, but we participate in other sports and we are all alone in our footprint. The move will save the school a massive amount of money in travel and will create significantly more interest as "local(ish) schools" become our conference mates. We've already been invited as soccer members, so our ties are already there. Now we need to let them know the rest of our sports are worth the invite. The WAC is going to die, its just a matter of time. This will leave our baseball team and gymnastics squad homeless. I think gymnastics will land on their feet in the MPSF or Pac 12 (pun intended). If we could get in to the BWC we will find ourselves in one of college baseball's power conferences. We've won numerous BSC championships in recent years and were BSC overall champions last year. This can't have escaped the attention of the BWC, and can only help our chances. If we could work out a lease with the new arena, and maybe renovate the Nest, our facilities will be top of the conference.
I'd say we have a great shot, but our membership would probably hinge on what happens with SJSU and Fresno. If one of them gets an invite I think we become #12. SJSU or Fresno would become Poly's travel mate and we would be Davis' (and solidify the Sacramento media market for the BWC). If both go to the BWC, we are stuck in the BSC. I don't see them going to an uneven 13. If neither get an invite, I could potentially see us getting in with Bakersfield or GCU.
I really hope we end up with the CP/UCD deal. It would be the dream scenario. If we end up staying in the BSC, I think we need to pressure Fullerton into adding Bakersfield for a travel mate. Another crazy scenario would be to convince Davis into going full-time BSC. It could see it happen if the BWC doesn't add another Northern California school. Davis would still be closer to their rivals than Sac is currently, but maybe they feel snubbed and would find it beneficial to be our travel partner (probably a little too far fetched, I know).
Anyway, its another "we will see" situation. Here's to the possibility of a Sac State BWC invite! (sorry for the lengthy paragraphs)
