Is this the week for a WAC invite?

[OldHornet]

Anyone hear how we are progressing with funding for the two obviously required facilities? That has to be the biggest hangup, if they were already under construction it would be more compelling.

Destination 2010 was supposed to bring a tremendous upgrade to our athletic facilities, beyond the BAC. An arena and stadium were two of the keys to that growth, but to date there doesnt seem to be any progress. It would be great if we at least had fund raising campaigns directly tied to those projects - but we don't even see a realistic plan that builds on the 2010 "BS".

HHD, you seem to be plugged in to the football program - any word on a real stadium project?

I think the lack of a staduim and arena will keep up from moving up - if we had those it would be a no brainer.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Anyone hear how we are progressing with funding for the two obviously required facilities? That has to be the biggest hangup, if they were already under construction it would be more compelling.

Destination 2010 was supposed to bring a tremendous upgrade to our athletic facilities, beyond the BAC. An arena and stadium were two of the keys to that growth, but to date there doesnt seem to be any progress. It would be great if we at least had fund raising campaigns directly tied to those projects - but we don't even see a realistic plan that builds on the 2010 "BS".

HHD, you seem to be plugged in to the football program - any word on a real stadium project?

I think the lack of a staduim and arena will keep up from moving up - if we had those it would be a no brainer.

I agree, without a solid plan and on-going public fundraising this was just a futile attempt to flush out more qualified prospects. Without a definitive plan for the stadium and the Hornet box gym we are dead in the water.

 

[Hammerhead Dad]

There is a plan, there just isn't the money yet, but the President is working on that and just had a major fundraiser at Angelo Tsakapoulos' home last Friday. The plan is to rebuild the west side with a modern press box and luxury suites, then the arena, then the east side. Arena deal may be a public partnership with a developer, but financing is impossible right now. We are doing pretty well given the economy and our state's budget crisis. I haven't seen us cut any sports like the Aggies.

 

[OldHornet]

There is a plan, there just isn't the money yet, but the President is working on that and just had a major fundraiser at Angelo Tsakapoulos' home last Friday. The plan is to rebuild the west side with a modern press box and luxury suites, then the arena, then the east side. Arena deal may be a public partnership with a developer, but financing is impossible right now. We are doing pretty well given the economy and our state's budget crisis. I haven't seen us cut any sports like the Aggies.

Great info HHD, any timing details on the plan? Is there a target date for the first phase of the stadium? Why not a broader campaign aimed at the 100k+ alumni in the area? Smaller donations from a large base can generate serious dollars.

 

[SDHornet]

No worries SF. It seems like all the conference realignment talk has come to a dead stop. This does not mean that Sac State should stop positioning itself for an invite in the future. I think Gonzales and Wanless should prepare as if they are going to get an invite from the WAC…i.e. don’t stop fund raising, making media announcements, and continue to keep the attention and excitement around the athletic department which can hopefully lead to continued facility improvements. Also the NCAA changed its rules so a FCS school can not move to FBS without an invite from a conference.

The MWC will not, I repeat, WILL NOT invite a FCS move up for their expansion. They are pursuing an elusive BCS automatic berth. They will not jeopardize that by inviting an FCS school to water down their conference. Plus there are plenty of other schools they could add who would love to be in the MWC (Houston comes to mind).

Anyone have a link to this Fresno radio interview by Benson?

And I agree there definitely needs to be a plan regarding the facilities. Hornet Stadium is big enough to at least allow us to be considered for an invite, but there needs to be a plan to replace it with something bigger and better. With respect to Hornet Gym, Gonzalez and Wanless just need to follow up with the fund raising for the events center and make it happen (I know, easier said than done).

 

[superhornet]

In general, that's true, SD. However, I highly doubt that an App to MWC move could be seen as watering down the conference. The one big thing in my mind mitigating against such a move is that given App's location, it would stretch the MWC into the Sun Belt. For THAT reason, it won't happen.

I point that out to say that there ARE FCS teams out there that could make a case for jumping without "watering down" a conference. Perhaps not many, but they do exist.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

There is a plan, there just isn't the money yet, but the President is working on that and just had a major fundraiser at Angelo Tsakapoulos' home last Friday. The plan is to rebuild the west side with a modern press box and luxury suites, then the arena, then the east side. Arena deal may be a public partnership with a developer, but financing is impossible right now. We are doing pretty well given the economy and our state's budget crisis. I haven't seen us cut any sports like the Aggies.

Exactly. The economy really put a bite in the plans for Destination 2010. I think if the economy hadn't gone south in 2005 (1 year into Dest. 2010), then we'd have the arena by now and at least the west side of Hornet Stadium done.

 

[SDHornet]

In general, that's true, SD. However, I highly doubt that an App to MWC move could be seen as watering down the conference. The one big thing in my mind mitigating against such a move is that given App's location, it would stretch the MWC into the Sun Belt. For THAT reason, it won't happen.

I point that out to say that there ARE FCS teams out there that could make a case for jumping without "watering down" a conference. Perhaps not many, but they do exist.

It's watering down the conference as far as a BCS berth is concerned. But I agree, very few FCS teams would compete at the FBS level right out of the gate.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

But I agree, very few FCS teams would compete at the FBS level right out of the gate.

Especially on a 11-12 game schedule. Depth would be an immediate issue.

 

[Hammerhead Dad]

I've heard through some pretty good sources (not my son - he won't tell me anything)) that we are seriously being considered for the WAC and are one of two teams being very seriously considered. I would say that right now, we have about a 70% chance we get an invite. I do not know who the other team is that is also being seriously considered. I've also heard that mid July there is a WAC meeting and that a decision possibly could be made around then.

 

[Hornut]

I've heard through some pretty good sources (not my son - he won't tell me anything)) that we are seriously being considered for the WAC and are one of two teams being very seriously considered. I would say that right now, we have about a 70% chance we get an invite. I do not know who the other team is that is also being seriously considered. I've also heard that mid July there is a WAC meeting and that a decision possibly could be made around then.

This is great news! Considering everything presented during our discussions, all logic points to Sac State. Sac State has the money, facilities, and potential growth to be successful. Additionally, I know my friends and I would do a lot more traveling with the team given the opportunities presented by being a WAC member, especially the three schools in our metropolitan region. I am sure we would have to have a damn good argument for a guys trip to Hawaii.

 

[superhornet]

I've heard through some pretty good sources (not my son - he won't tell me anything)) that we are seriously being considered for the WAC and are one of two teams being very seriously considered. I would say that right now, we have about a 70% chance we get an invite. I do not know who the other team is that is also being seriously considered. I've also heard that mid July there is a WAC meeting and that a decision possibly could be made around then.

This is great news! Considering everything presented during our discussions, all logic points to Sac State. Sac State has the money, facilities, and potential growth to be successful. Additionally, I know my friends and I would do a lot more traveling with the team given the opportunities presented by being a WAC member, especially the three schools in our metropolitan region. I am sure we would have to have a d@mn good argument for a guys trip to Hawaii.

You talking about an argument for the wifey?

:rofl:

As for me, you guys can have that trip. I hate the place. And their stadium is worse than ours. Or, at least it was when I went there in the '90s while I was in the Navy....

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

This is great news! Considering everything presented during our discussions, all logic points to Sac State. Sac State has the money, facilities, and potential growth to be successful.

ARCO must be in the discussion, no way the Nest and Memorial could be taken seriously. How much money has been committed for these facilities? I know the smoke signals just went up for support, but here is my layman's estimate.....

Half stadium renovation, ala Cal Poly......$25M
Event Center/Arena, ala SJSU........$55M
Other half of stadium.....$13M

That's $93M. HD, what's it gonna take to get the other 30% approval?

This is an awesome set-up and something that would be KA....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Field

 

[Hammerhead Dad]

This is great news! Considering everything presented during our discussions, all logic points to Sac State. Sac State has the money, facilities, and potential growth to be successful.

ARCO must be in the discussion, no way the Nest and Memorial could be taken seriously. How much money has been committed for these facilities? I know the smoke signals just went up for support, but here is my layman's estimate.....

Half stadium renovation, ala Cal Poly......$25M
Event Center/Arena, ala SJSU........$55M
Other half of stadium.....$13M

That's $93M. HD, what's it gonna take to get the other 30% approval?

This is an awesome set-up and something that would be KA....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Field

I believe the number I heard for our western stadium side is $22M. We could hold off on the other side for a few years. The arena # is about $40M, but there is a proposal to double or triple the existing gym, so I guess we'll see what happens. I really don't know any specific answers.

 

[Hammerhead Dad]

I've heard through some pretty good sources (not my son - he won't tell me anything)) that we are seriously being considered for the WAC and are one of two teams being very seriously considered. I would say that right now, we have about a 70% chance we get an invite. I do not know who the other team is that is also being seriously considered. I've also heard that mid July there is a WAC meeting and that a decision possibly could be made around then.

This is great news! Considering everything presented during our discussions, all logic points to Sac State. Sac State has the money, facilities, and potential growth to be successful. Additionally, I know my friends and I would do a lot more traveling with the team given the opportunities presented by being a WAC member, especially the three schools in our metropolitan region. I am sure we would have to have a d@mn good argument for a guys trip to Hawaii.

You talking about an argument for the wifey?

:rofl:

As for me, you guys can have that trip. I hate the place. And their stadium is worse than ours. Or, at least it was when I went there in the '90s while I was in the Navy....

Gee, I guess we should apply to have the NFL pro-bowl here then.

 

[superhornet]

I can't believe this. UOP fans are pooh-poohing this almost as bad as other Sky schools are. I'm finding myself (Mr. Anti-FBS) defending a Sac candidacy.

Cr@zy.

 

[the Rat]

Why don't those with their Unbelievably Over Paid degrees first worry about bringing back football? And for those other Big Sky peeps, does their derision of Sac State moving up mean they actually want to keep us in the conference? Have they evolved?

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Who gives a shite about UOP, besides you SH. Strike that Tiger Casey.

 

[superhornet]

Why don't those with their Unbelievably Over Paid degrees first worry about bringing back football? And for those other Big Sky peeps, does their derision of Sac State moving up mean they actually want to keep us in the conference? Have they evolved?

But true....

 

[superhornet]

Who gives a shite about UOP, besides you SH. Strike that Tiger Casey.

Angus cares enough about UOP to remind me that he was on the only two Hornet teams ever to beat UOP....