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Mountain West invites Fresno and Nevada, WAC implications?

I think it is wise to sit tight right now. The WAS, as someone cleverly put it, may not even conceptually exist by September. If BYU stays with MWC or leaves, there is the possibility that C-USA looses 1 or 2 teams to MWC. In turn, C-USA picks up La Tech and the WAS is short another team. I am curious as to your reasoning on UTEP, as I can't imagine any reason as to why they would leave C-USA for the WAS. For the MWC? yes.

This idea, expressed in the morning's Bee, about Big West adding football came out of left field. I can't imagine NMSU, Idaho, or a Utah State would be interested as it seems regressive. Where would they play their other sports? You might as retain current WAC members and add get UTSA and Texas State.
 
the Rat said:
I think it is wise to sit tight right now. The WAS, as someone cleverly put it, may not even conceptually exist by September. If BYU stays with MWC or leaves, there is the possibility that C-USA looses 1 or 2 teams to MWC. In turn, C-USA picks up La Tech and the WAS is short another team. I am curious as to your reasoning on UTEP, as I can't imagine any reason as to why they would leave C-USA for the WAS. For the MWC? yes.

This idea, expressed in the morning's Bee, about Big West adding football came out of left field. I can't imagine NMSU, Idaho, or a Utah State would be interested as it seems regressive. Where would they play their other sports? You might as retain current WAC members and add get UTSA and Texas State.
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It may be wise, but we may never get another shot (at least in the next 10-20 years). Strike while the iron is hot.
 
When I say sit tight, I mean don't publicly reveal your hand. The athletic directors for Sac State, Cal Poly, and Davis are singing the same tune. It doesn't mean the phone lines aren't burning up right now.

Interesting about the Texas focus. If the WAC were to add UTSA and Texas State, there would be an added incentive for North Texas to join WAC too. With New Mexico State, La Tech, and three Texas schools, you are looking at another "Sun Belt" conference, not a "western" conference. Or, have two divisions:

UTSA
UNT
Texas State
New Mexico State
La Tech

SJSU
Utah State
Idaho
Hawaii
Sac State
UCD
Cal Poly
 
UC Davis athletic director Greg Warzecka said the Aggies, who play football in the Great West Conference and other sports in the Big West Conference, were watching the shifting landscape with interest.

"Things are changing almost every other hour," he said. "Adding a Football Championship (Subdivision) school like Davis, Montana or Cal Poly doesn't help (the WAC).

"We're going to watch where we can associate our football program. We are definitely on his (Benson's) radar."
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Fvcking WOW!!! “the farm extension” administration has absolutely no clue. WTF does Warzecka mean adding three FCS school’s won’t help the WAC?!?! I’m definitely glad we have a guy like Wanless analyzing this. Here is his quote:

But the loss of geographic rivals Fresno State and Nevada alters the dynamic.

"That changes the landscape considerably, in my opinion," said Hornets athletic director Terry Wanless, who said he hadn't talked with WAC officials Thursday and was noncommittal about his school's intentions.

"The first thing you have to look at is, can they (the WAC) continue to exist? We're just always looking to improve the depth of our program. Whether we stay in the Big Sky or at some point in time consider other options, it's premature to really say.

"Today's a new day. I think you have to be progressive."
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I have read that UTEP is losing money playing eastern-based CUSA teams. Kinda like La Tech being in the western based WAC. If UTEP were added it would give a close partner to NMSU and add a filler for La Tech. Add TXST and there is a nice four team block.

East WAC:
La Tech
TXST
NMSU
UTEP
UNT, Lamar, ULL

West WAC:
Sac State
SJSU
Hawaii
Idaho
Cal Poly, UCFE, Montana

I think if presented, Sac State should fall over itself to accept. Strike while everything is forefront hot. Delay will only cause defeat.
 
What exactly do we get by moving up? Prestige? no. Positive income flow? no. Increased fan support because we are playing Utah State or a UTSA? no. Where does the money come from for facilities? It might get us featured on ESPN's weekly Bottom 10. Someone, anyone, sell me on this.
 
Increased media coverage in our own hometown for a change. Look, we would struggle out of the gate initially in the WAC, just like we did in the Sky. Though, now that we have decent facilities, I don't think the struggle will be as bad as it was in 1996-97. I think alone playing SJSU and Hawai'i every other year at home will help. We would also be able to maybe draw Nevada to come down and play, hell Im for 2-for-1 deals with them. The facilities that the players care about are now in. All the other facility improvements will come as the team takes off and wins at that level.

Another thing, UTEP's current president and AD have something up their rear's about being in the same conf. as NMSU. As long as they are in their positions, they will not be in the same conference as the NM Aggies. Boy if you add ucd to the WAC, you could almost rename it the Aggie Conference
 
the Rat said:
What exactly do we get by moving up? Prestige? no. Positive income flow? no. Increased fan support because we are playing Utah State or a UTSA? no. Where does the money come from for facilities? It might get us featured on ESPN's weekly Bottom 10. Someone, anyone, sell me on this.
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Don't forget the possibility of hosting regional FBS schools at home even if they are in the MWC (SJSU, NEV, and FSU).
 
the Rat said:
What exactly do we get by moving up? Prestige? no. Positive income flow? no. Increased fan support because we are playing Utah State or a UTSA? no. Where does the money come from for facilities? It might get us featured on ESPN's weekly Bottom 10. Someone, anyone, sell me on this.
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Definately no money at the FCS level.
Perception wins (public or private).
Sac State will never be in a 'prestigious' conference because we belong to the CSU.
More fan support than playing ISU, UNC and EWU.
Money has already been provided by students to build a 6,000 seat arena.
If we don't take this our perceived better peers will, namely UCFE and CP.
Supposedly there is a drive afoot to raise money for the stadium refurb (according to hammerhead dad).

Without a defendable, visible game plan for an arena and stadium refurb, I say stay in the Big Sky. Under no circumstances do I want Sac State to join the WAC and play in the current Hornet's Nest and existing stadium. I don't want us to become another Idaho where 15yrs later we are in the basement trying to finance facility upgrades. Either have a public plan, for accountability, on facility growth or stay put.
 
I think the Bee story, is just throwing out ideas. Why would the Big West start football? 2 Big West schools play football. They would have to add four more schools to form a conference. Sac St. for sure. Portland St and Southern Utah? The Big West is an All CA conference, would they want PSU and SUU?
 
Green Cookie Monster said:
the Rat said:
What exactly do we get by moving up? Prestige? no. Positive income flow? no. Increased fan support because we are playing Utah State or a UTSA? no. Where does the money come from for facilities? It might get us featured on ESPN's weekly Bottom 10. Someone, anyone, sell me on this.
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Money has already been provided by students to build a 6,000 seat arena.


Without a defendable, visible game plan for an arena and stadium refurb, I say stay in the Big Sky. Under no circumstances do I want Sac State to join the WAC and play in the current Hornet's Nest and existing stadium. I don't want us to become another Idaho where 15yrs later we are in the basement trying to finance facility upgrades. Either have a public plan, for accountability, on facility growth or stay put.
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Yes, money was provided by students to build an arena and Gonzo, took that money and built the football house, instead of an arena. There will not be anymore money from students unless there is another vote. Think students are going to want to raise their fees?
 
JackHornet said:
Green Cookie Monster said:
the Rat said:
What exactly do we get by moving up? Prestige? no. Positive income flow? no. Increased fan support because we are playing Utah State or a UTSA? no. Where does the money come from for facilities? It might get us featured on ESPN's weekly Bottom 10. Someone, anyone, sell me on this.
Click to expand...

Money has already been provided by students to build a 6,000 seat arena.


Without a defendable, visible game plan for an arena and stadium refurb, I say stay in the Big Sky. Under no circumstances do I want Sac State to join the WAC and play in the current Hornet's Nest and existing stadium. I don't want us to become another Idaho where 15yrs later we are in the basement trying to finance facility upgrades. Either have a public plan, for accountability, on facility growth or stay put.
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Yes, money was provided by students to build an arena and Gonzo, took that money and built the football house, instead of an arena. There will not be anymore money from students unless there is another vote. Think students are going to want to raise their fees?
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No, the Broad fieldhouse was built with private money. Here is the breakdown....

Gonzo raised $25M in private funds. $10M from Spanos, $12M from Pepsi, $2M from Eli Broad and $1M from another single donor.

The students voted to tax themselves $110/semester if Gonzo could raise $25M, which he did. The Broad cost $12M. The Well cost $77M, which is paid for entirely by student fees. This $77M was to include a 6-8,000 seat arena.

Where is the other $13M from the private donations?
 
No, the Broad fieldhouse was built with private money. Here is the breakdown....

Gonzo raised $25M in private funds. $10M from Spanos, $12M from Pepsi, $2M from Eli Broad and $1M from another single donor.

The students voted to tax themselves $110/semester if Gonzo could raise $25M, which he did. The Broad cost $12M. The Well cost $77M, which is paid for entirely by student fees. This $77M was to include a 6-8,000 seat arena.

Where is the other $13M from the private donations?[/quote]

I have it on good word that the remaining 13 million is apart of the Pressbox upgrade being talked about at this time. Unsure how the arena will get built. There is also talk of a Refurbished 4,000 seat hornets nest in the works.They are working on alot of things under the radar.
 
SJHornet said:
We don't have a winning tradition in the Big Sky.
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I think Colberg, Dedini, Neff, and Raske would beg to disagree with you, SJ....

Track, particularly on the girls' side, has traditionally done well in the Sky. Girls soccer won the Sky Tournament in '07, and therefore made the NCAA Tournament. And if you don't know what the girls volleyball team did under Colberg the entire freaking time we've been in the Sky (up until the last year or two), then you'd better do some research. Sac State DOES have a winning tradition in the Big Sky.

It just doesn't happen to be in football (though we did have some success while Charles Roberts was here).
 
Green Cookie Monster said:
No, the Broad fieldhouse was built with private money. Here is the breakdown....

The students voted to tax themselves $110/semester if Gonzo could raise $25M, which he did. The Broad cost $12M. The Well cost $77M, which is paid for entirely by student fees. This $77M was to include a 6-8,000 seat arena.

Where is the other $13M from the private donations?
Click to expand...

That $77m clearly did not include the arena since ground has no been broken and there is no funding for the arena.

That $25m was going towards that $77m. It did not supplement it. Once Gonzo raised $25m, he was able to charge students the entire $110/semester fee increase. Before that, students were paying about $25/semester.
 
Super Hornet said:
SJHornet said:
We don't have a winning tradition in the Big Sky.
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I think Colberg, Dedini, Neff, and Raske would beg to disagree with you, SJ....

Track, particularly on the girls' side, has traditionally done well in the Sky. Girls soccer won the Sky Tournament in '07, and therefore made the NCAA Tournament. And if you don't know what the girls volleyball team did under Colberg the entire freaking time we've been in the Sky (up until the last year or two), then you'd better do some research. Sac State DOES have a winning tradition in the Big Sky.

It just doesn't happen to be in football (though we did have some success while Charles Roberts was here).
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I was talking about the big two, football and basketball. My bad for not clarifying. We have certainly been a contender in our other sports.
 
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