New round of conference instability/shake-up

[SJHornet]

Not exactly basketball related, but I guess it could be. Several media sources are reporting the WAC has lost 4 members and may finally be dead. UTSA and LA Tech have landed in the CUSA and SJSU and Utah State look like they've finally been invited to the Mountain West. This leaves many teams with no conference. Idaho may actually be a potential all sports cantidate for the Big Sky. Their AD had recently said they were open to the possibility of returning to the FCS. But for many of the other schools, they will be looking for a new conference, and potentially looking to start/salvage a WAC oly sports conference.

Most of these schools are going to be fighting for few available open slots. The possibility still remains that the remaining schools (or most of them) may try to keep the WAC alive as a non-football conference. If they decide to go it alone, I can see schools like Bakersfield, Utah Valley and Sac State as potential targets. The footprint wouldn't change all that much from the Big Sky. It would put the majority of our sports in one baske tand open up for the possibility of a new lucrative tv package. The question is, would we be interested? This may be a far-out scenario but I was wondering what everyone else thought. Obviously this is all based on speculation.

 

[superhornet]

Thanks for the update, SJ.

I can't see how jumping into a WAC mess further exacerbated by defections would help us. If the WAC goes I-AAA as you intimate, we would have to find a place to park the football team. Resurrecting the always volatile Great West or going indy just doesn't stir my tea, so to speak. I'm content to stay in the Big Sky, either for all sports or as a place to park the football team while we move applicable sports to the Big West. As far as the backwash of the explosion of the WAC, I wouldn't mind seeing Idaho and SJSU drop to the Sky. That might be the impetus required to push UND and possibly UNC to the Summit or MVC. Bako might jump at that because their dream of getting in the Big West has been quashed, at least for the time being. Big West schools are afraid of getting another UC Riverside. UVU would be better served pushing for either the Big Sky or the Summit.

Lucrative TV package? I'm not sure I buy that for a denuded WAC.

This, of course, is personal opinion and not Gospel. GCM, SHA, and SD may have divergent opinions, and a full selection of views would be quite appropriate here, if they are not tired of the :dead: syndrome.

 

[SJHornet]

Thanks for the insight SH. Argument certainly makes a lot of sense. I myself hold a great deal of reservations about any move to a conference with the WAC name on it. My train of thought was mainly based on the idea of seperating ourselves from the Montana dominated direction of the Big Sky. Should the WAC be re-born as an oly sport conference it could have some potential to offer us something new with the possibility of growth and reaching the potential our market has. It most likely wont and will be picked apart until NMSU and Idaho are the last ones left, begging the Sky for a seat at the table. But I figured I would dream a little

I think the dream of a Big West membership may be just that, a dream, unless SDSU decides to abort the Big East experiment like many are starting to whisper about. Even then we will be fighting to get in and lucky if were to happen. The Big Sky ain't bad, and I don't want it to be construed as me being a Big Sky hater. As the DI landscape in the west contracts, the Big Sky's influence and competitiveness increases. The new Tv deal and continuous Montana-centric nature ruffled my feathers a tad.

 

[superhornet]

I hadn't heard anything about SDSU reneging on the Big East as TCU did. That would certainly make more sense. But would that also necessarily mean reneging on the commitment to join the Big West for non-football sports?

Food for thought....

 

[SDHornet]

Thanks for the update SJ. A couple of things:

• 1. Finally the WAC is done. Thank God we can officially end the WAC “move up” talk. :clap:
  2. Fullerton’s prediction came true. The BSC is now the 3rd conference out west behind the Pac-12 and a watered down MWC for football. MWC lost a lot of prestigious hoops schools so being 3rd behind a struggling Pac-12 and WCC isn’t too far out of the hoops discussion either.
  3. As far as considering any other conference, football is (and has been) driving the bus. Any move that jeopardizes scheduling for football shouldn’t even be considered. Having said that, any move to an Oly sports WAC is a non-starter.
  4. The WAC won’t get a lucrative TV deal with only Oly sports. The BSC landed the Root TV deal because of football, nothing else.

It’s funny how things work out. In hind sight, a move to the WAC last year would have been a complete disaster. WAC schools (well at least their posters) have ragged on Sac State for our “wait and see” type of attitude but that mind set has saved us from complete embarrassment and certain disaster. We could easily have been in the same perilous situation as Idalol, NM State, and a lesser extend TX State had we made a “move up” to the WAC. Hats off to Wanless for keeping a pulse on the situation and not making a hasty decision many of us fans would have made had it been our call.

 

[SJHornet]

I hadn't heard anything about SDSU reneging on the Big East as TCU did. That would certainly make more sense. But would that also necessarily mean reneging on the commitment to join the Big West for non-football sports?

Food for thought....

Its a rumor floating out there. Apparently the Aztecs were under the impression that the BE would create a larger western footprint than they did and add Fresno or UNLV. When it didn't come to fruition and the BW came out with a scheduling plan they didn't like, the program began to re-examine their decision. Supposedly the SDSU athletic director asked the MWC how feesable a return would be. Don't know to what extent they are true or not.

 

[SDHornet]

Its a rumor floating out there. Apparently the Aztecs were under the impression that the BE would create a larger western footprint than they did and add Fresno or UNLV. When it didn't come to fruition and the BW came out with a scheduling plan they didn't like, the program began to re-examine their decision. Supposedly the SDSU athletic director asked the MWC how feesable a return would be. Don't know to what extent they are true or not.

I have yet to meet an Aztec fan who is happy with the BE and BW moves made by SDSU. BW voted to force all members to play a full conference slate so SDSU will have less open spots open for meaningful OOC games to boost its weak BW hoops RPI and resume’. Basically SDSU threw all its hard work its hoops program has done over the past decade right in the trash with a move to the BW.

For football the only positive is the infusion of cash the BE TV contract will provide. BSU is SDSU’s only “regional” rival in the BE and SDSU will be forced to land regional OOC games to try and lure casual fans to the Q. Rutgers, UConn, etc have no appeal here on the left coast. Had the Aztecs stuck it out in the MWC, they could have had instant in-state rivalries in Fresno State (a renewed rivalry many Aztec fans were looking forward to) and SJSU along with nearby (relatively speaking) Nevada to go along with their established conference rival UNLV. That would have been in addition to the solid hoops conference the MWC has become. SDSU is in a serious bind if their decision to bail on the MWC doesn’t work out.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Its official. SJSU and USU formally accepted into the Mountain West. Conference USA has accepted LA Tech, FIU, UNC-Charlotte, UTSA and North Texas.

In one way, glad we didn't make the move. On the other hand, we have had football a hell of a lot longer than UTSA and Charlotte (who is starting football in 2013). It kinda pisses me off that we did for a while have a shot at trying to be with SJSU, Fresno and Nevada. Looks like we will be FCS and Big Sky for a very long time.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Its official. SJSU and USU formally accepted into the Mountain West. Conference USA has accepted LA Tech, FIU, UNC-Charlotte, UTSA and North Texas.

In one way, glad we didn't make the move. On the other hand, we have had football a hell of a lot longer than UTSA and Charlotte (who is starting football in 2013). It kinda pisses me off that we did for a while have a shot at trying to be with SJSU, Fresno and Nevada. Looks like we will be FCS and Big Sky for a very long time.

Why does it piss you off? Playing in a 1200 seat HS gym and having a temporary stadium will never get us noticed. Like I've said, Gonzo has disappeared since the faculty vote of no confidence. Maybe in reality they know something about Gonzo we don't.

Why don't we have a public campaign that attempts to raise funds? Doing nothing will get you nothing.

I am an alum of TX State too, it has been refreshing to experience the growth they are enjoying. Sac has been talking about growing for over 20yrs. Quite frankly I am tired and so over the lack of progress.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Its official. SJSU and USU formally accepted into the Mountain West. Conference USA has accepted LA Tech, FIU, UNC-Charlotte, UTSA and North Texas.

In one way, glad we didn't make the move. On the other hand, we have had football a hell of a lot longer than UTSA and Charlotte (who is starting football in 2013). It kinda pisses me off that we did for a while have a shot at trying to be with SJSU, Fresno and Nevada. Looks like we will be FCS and Big Sky for a very long time.

Why does it piss you off? Playing in a 1200 seat HS gym and having a temporary stadium will never get us noticed. Like I've said, Gonzo has disappeared since the faculty vote of no confidence. Maybe in reality they know something about Gonzo we don't.

Why don't we have a public campaign that attempts to raise funds? Doing nothing will get you nothing.

I am an alum of TX State too, it has been refreshing to experience the growth they are enjoying. Sac has been talking about growing for over 20yrs. Quite frankly I am tired and so over the lack of progress.

I seriously doubt the faculty vote had anything to do with it. Come on, we all know that those things are just meaningless circle-jerks by a bunch of crybaby professors who are now threatening to go on strike (and I say fire their asses if they do!!!).

It pisses me off because while we have started to make some headway in facilities (in and around the stadium and it wouldn't take much to hide the facade of the stadium shell), and we still have an arena in town to play at if needed be (having a good reason like being in a WAC/MWC-type of conference).

I agree about the fundraising campaign. It should have started by now. But I think being FCS and in the economy still in Sacramento (not necessarily California) has not begun to turn around (i.e. government town) that this is the prime reason a fundraising campaign has not gotten off the ground. YMMV.

 

[SDHornet]

Both of you bring up good points. Had the economy collapsed 2 years latter than it did I believe the events center would have been built. Gonzo did have some money raised that probably disappeared when the economy went bust. However nothing has been done and there has been no public plan since then to raise facility funds and that lack of vision falls on Gonzo and Wanless. I think all the CSU athletic departments are more focused on survival more than anything else given the ongoing budget mess. Had we moved to the WAC during all this reshuffling we would be completely fvcked right about now.

 

[iSac]

I honestly glad for SJSU to get this oppty. For football, the greater strength of the MWC vs the WAC should help them gain relevance in the Bay Area vs the Pac-12 schools.

Its official. SJSU and USU formally accepted into the Mountain West. Conference USA has accepted LA Tech, FIU, UNC-Charlotte, UTSA and North Texas.

Looks like we will be FCS and Big Sky for a very long time.

Very true, SHA.

 

[SJHornet]

Quick update: only rumors at this point, but word is App State And NMSU are going to the Sun Belt. Looks like WAC is finally dead. Also looks like Idaho may be Sky bound due to simple fact they have no where else to call home. Their AD has not hidden the fact a return to FCS is an option. And more interestingly the BE commish resigned. The Basketball schools are rumored to be trying to form their own conference. Looks like Boise is going to be scrambling again. The MW has also apparently told SDSU and Boise they can re-join if they want. I think SDSU returns with their tail between their legs. They are finally realizing that they were a pawn in Boise and the BE's game to try and get to a national championship.


I guess this could open up Big West talk again. We need a baseball conference and who knows what kind of turmoil is around the bend.