If ever there was a time...

[superhornet]

...to push for the CP/UCFE treatment, this is it.

UOP just announced in The Record today that they are bailing out of the Big West in 2013 for the West Coast Conference. That leaves a BIG gap up here in the North. The Extension will have no travel partner, a role Sac could easily fill. The catch is that Sac will have to budget for just about every sports team to go to new Big West acquisition Hawai'i. That, however, is probably not a big deterrent compared to a mostly Cali schedule.

So, is this the time to make the push many of you have wanted for so long? If we're going to do it, I think the time is NOW. Strike while the iron is hot!

http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120328/A_SPORTS/203280315

 

[SDHornet]

• 1. Congrats to Pacific. They jumped to a conference that is more fitting for them and has a much greater prestige factor to it than the BW.
  2. BSC probably wouldn’t let us out.
  3. UOP leaving the BW gives them an even number of members. (10 with SDSU & Hawaii in the 2013-14 season)
  4. CP will be the farm extension’s travel partner.
  5. Hawaii subsidizes travel which was the only way the BW let them in for Oly sports.
  6. When the WAC dies, SJSU will be given a spot in the BW and thus a travel partner for the farm extension.
  7. If Fresno State is invited to the Big East for football, they will probably park their Oly sports in the BW giving them 12 members.

:twocents:

 

[superhornet]

That makes a lot of sense, SD.

Just like here, I am the anomaly on the UOP board. I was the only one to disagree with the move; in fact, I argued against it for a LONG time. It may benefit boys hoops, and AD Ted Leland is on record as saying that catering to boys hoops is his raison d'etre at UOP. I'm not convinced that it benefits the rest of the athletic program (particularly girls VB), but catering to the cash cow (if there IS such a thing) seems to be the trend of the future.

While CP seems a bit far for UCFE's travel partner (at least to me), the rest of what you say seems right on the ball. I doubt that Fresno will get that invite, but it would make SOME sense to have a team to pair with SDSU in Cali for the Big East. If anyone has a shot, it's probably Fresno; San Jose is a joke.

The only question I would have about the WAC dying, though, is what happens to Sac baseball and gymnastics? The only thing I could think of right now is associate membership in the Big West for baseball and MPSF for gym. MPSF will probably re-admit Sac in a heartbeat. (I hope Davis realizes that the only reason they've won the MPSF in gym the last couple of years is because the Hornets have been in the WAC.) I'm not so sure about the Big West letting Sac in for baseball. We could be in for indy status, which will suck, to say the least.

 

[SJHornet]

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)

 

[superhornet]

I dunno about that, SJ. Bako would kill our RPI....

 

[SJHornet]

I dunno about that, SJ. Bako would kill our RPI....

True, but they are still new to division one. Give them time. Besides, we aren't really in a position to be talking about RPI. I think our regional concerns should out weigh issues of stature at this point.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

I dunno about that, SJ. Bako would kill our RPI....

RPI in every sport fluctuates from year to year. It's how we'll you do in OOC games that determines RPI levels. Pure and simple. Hell, UCR in a lot of sports kills people's RPI but I don't hear how much howling about that!

The only way we can do the BWC/BSC football is if the rest of the BSC allows it and I don't think they have told us we can, otherwise we would have.

 

[josephpoint]

Curious as to what Sac State brings to the BSC that we would not be given a chance to move to the Big West in all sports but football? We have 3rd largest attendance in football and are competitive and that would remain in place and a few BSC non CA schools would still need to visit here once a year. If we moved all sports to the Big West to join our men's soccer should that become a potential possibility why might the BSC block that. And can they? We are the out lyer schcool not in the BCS foot print, no BSC travel partner, and guessing no BSC school in all sports considers us a rival. And BSC schools would not need to travel to CA outside of football. Would we be missed?

 

[SJHornet]

Curious as to what Sac State brings to the BSC that we would not be given a chance to move to the Big West in all sports but football? We have 3rd largest attendance in football and are competitive and that would remain in place and a few BSC non CA schools would still need to visit here once a year. If we moved all sports to the Big West to join our men's soccer should that become a potential possibility why might the BSC block that. And can they? We are the out lyer schcool not in the BCS foot print, no BSC travel partner, and guessing no BSC school in all sports considers us a rival. And BSC schools would not need to travel to CA outside of football. Would we be missed?

I think the Big Sky's only issue would be basketball. If UND was to leave it would create an odd number of teams (even thouh its the case currently). If they stay, no biggie. We also provide them with a large media market. I really don't think it would be that big of an issue, but you never know. I remember Fullerton had mentioned he didn't want Sac to have the same deal Poly and Davis got when he invited them, but that may have changed. We are a major outlier and could save the Big Sky teams travel costs. (I guess its good to be wanted) Should we get an invite they couldn't block it, but we'd have to pay a hefty exit fee, and i guess we could face the possibility of finding ouselves with no fotball conference ifthey were to be petty. The main issue is: does the Big West want us? We are potentially going up against some pretty stiff competition (depending on certain scenarios), and there is no guarantee they are even going to expand. I think we have a good chance, but only time will tell.

 

[Green Laser]

I think that a presence in California is important to the Big Sky schools for recruiting purposes. I don't think the BSC would want to give up it's exposure to California's Media market and recruiting pool if they could help it. That is a big reason why Sac State and Northridge were admitted in the first place.

 

[josephpoint]

Appreciate the thoughts.

Reading the BCS fan boards over the years it does not seem that Sac state would be missed by the other BSC schools if we got a chance to move to the Big West.

Would be so nice to be in a conference of California schools. And remaining in the BCS in football is of course desireable at this time with Davis and Poly now with us. Two conference rivals at last in football and mens soccer. At last we have rivalries again. And a chance to see the Hornets away from home without jumping on a plane. How sweet that is.....

 

[superhornet]

Many fans at other schools are either football-centric, so that our numerous Sky titles in other sports are meaningless to them. Others are jingoistic for those sports, so they can't wait to kick us out the door so THEY can win a title for a change.

In any case, from the league's POV (not necessarily the league's fans), it makes more sense to hold Sac hostage than setting us free does. Additionally, Big West fans feel the same way about Sac as those Sky fans do: the Hornets are barely one step above slime as far as they're concerned. They're holding a Sac 1-2 record over UCR in VB over our heads, completely ignoring our 11 consecutive Sky titles in that sport. The BWC fans don't know what they're talking about as far as I'm concerned.

 

[SDHornet]

Fortunately for everyone involved the fans have no say in what happens one way or another.

 

[SJHornet]

Fortunately for everyone involved the fans have no say in what happens one way or another.

That's true. We can all live happily in speculationville. :mrgreen: