Interesting Possibility

[BroadwayVik]

1. Recently, the Big West kicked out both Idaho and Utah State in basketball because they wanted a California only conference, even after Utah State had represented the conference well in March Madness. They did add Hawaii because, well, its Hawaii. If there was a way to make Portland (the city) as appeasing as Hawaii, I doubt we would be having this discussion. We could write our ticket anywhere.

The questions we probably need to ask ourselves, then, are:

(1) Is Portland more appealing to Golden Staters than Moscow, Idaho or Logan, Utah?
(2) What would we have to offer the California schools that would make them want us as an "outside-of-California" member.
(3) Might they like us in the role of "travel partner" for Hawaii? They have an odd number of members right now (9).

2. No one is satisfied with being in the WAC which is why I think Bakersfield is the most logical choice when the BWC opens itself up to expansion (2-3 years). They've only recently moved up from DII which is why they aren't in the conference yet.

Is CS-Bakersfield a lock for expansion? Are there certain factors that would render them misfitted? If there is room for three more teams, could Portland State be among them even if CSUB were taken as an expansion choice?

3. Sac State is perfectly fine staying in the Big Sky for basketball. They have no inclination (from what I'm hearing) about moving to the BWC or anywhere else for that matter.

I would think CSUS would eventually be interested in continuing to play football in the big sky but opting for Olympic Sports in the BWC, like its Causeway rival, UCD does. Perhaps they need some more time to prepare their facilities.

4. As far as wine, California has always viewed Oregon wine as "inferior". Always had, always will. I mean, come on. Californians would not know a good thing if it bit them in the butt.

There is nothing "inferior" about Oregon wines. They are colder weather wine products similar to those grown in similar environs in France. Pinot Noir requires a longer maturation time. California is too warm for it. The soils in Yamhill County make Oregon Reisling among the best. UC-Davis teaches viticulture and they know Oregon has the right kind of soil and weather conditions to best grow these kinds of wine grapes.

 

[Pounder]

(2) What would we have to offer the California schools that would make them want us as an "outside-of-California" member?

Hawaii subsidizes travel for Big West Conference schools as part of the 2011 entry arrangement. BTW, Hawaii is quickly approaching the realization that they may not be able to afford it and everything else they do. There's been talk about shutting down football THERE. :shock:

I have every reason to believe the Big West would ask the same of Portland State. I have every reason to believe that it wouldn't pay for itself here.

I would think CSUS would eventually be interested in continuing to play football in the big sky but opting for Olympic Sports in the BWC, like its Causeway rival, UCD does. Perhaps they need some more time to prepare their facilities.

Prepare? The snow job of an arena proposal? The only reasons Sacramento State isn't totally worse off than Portland State are close proximate rivals and space on campus to have their own facilities. They're not really quality facilities, either (I prefer Stott to their gym).

BTW, I could defer to Paul Giamatti's character in Sideways on Pinot Noir, but it's so much easier to defer to Virginia Madsen's.

 

[martymoose]

Regardless, we're not drinking any f*cking merlot.

 

[BroadwayVik]

Sideways looks like a fun movie. Beautiful backdrop scenery.
Gonna have to check it out......... Santa Barbara.


Here are two fairly recent news stories on Sac's State's propsed arena. Remind you of anything?:

Video: http://www.kcra.com/news/students-push-for-a-new-arena-at-sac-state/29312662
Read: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/city-beat/article3527675.html

$219 tuition hike seems too much of a sacrifice for each student to make. Quite a few seem willing, though.


Here is a story related to the possibility of Hawaii dropping football:

http://www.mwcconnection.com/2014/8/18/6043893/hawaii-drops-football-ben-jay

If Hawaii were to drop football, it would limit its intercollegiate activities to Olympic Sports, which it already plays in the Big West Conference. They would no longer be a football-only member of the MWC. I would think it would be good now for PSU to mimic Cal Poly and UC-Davis by competing primarily in the BWC and being a football-only member in the big sky.