Sac State to Big Sky softball

[Green Cookie Monster]

http://www.hornetsports.com/sports/softball/release.asp?release_id=9743" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Another nail in the Sac State to WAC discussion. We should mop the floor with the BSC softball teams. Can you say another Sac State dynasty in Big Sky Championships?

 

[SDHornet]

I like it. :nod:
From the article:

The conference winner will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament immediately, as recently-passed NCAA legislation eliminated the two-year wait period for the berth as long as the conference has already been established.

Not sure if the PCSC had an automatic berth or not but this is a good move.

 

[superhornet]

It says that the Griz plan to sign up, too, in 2014 or 2015. There could be a problem with that: scheduling. Unless they build a dome, they might have to play a barnstorming-type schedule, getting all the road games out of the way up-front, and closing the season all at home. This would be due to weather concerns. That's why they haven't had baseball up to this point.

Overall, though, SD is wrong. This isn't a good move. This is an OUTSTANDING move. :nod:

The more sports we consolidate under the Big Sky banner, the better, because travel costs become a known quantity, as will film liasing. The only other move I would have considered would have been softball to the Big West. This is better, though.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

I like it. :nod:
From the article:

The conference winner will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament immediately, as recently-passed NCAA legislation eliminated the two-year wait period for the berth as long as the conference has already been established.

Not sure if the PCSC had an automatic berth or not but this is a good move.

Yes the PCSC has an auto bid. We won it back in 2008.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Big Sky will have an AQ, the conf has spent the last two years in the waiting period so that when theconference officially starts play all will be good.

Really a shock as joining the Big Sky for softball will INCREASE the travel costs compared to playing in the almost entirely California based PCSC. Instead of LA, Santa Clara, San Diego we will now be at UNC, ISU, UND, etc.

 

[SactoHornetAlum]

Big Sky will have an AQ, the conf has spent the last two years in the waiting period so that when theconference officially starts play all will be good.

Really a shock as joining the Big Sky for softball will INCREASE the travel costs compared to playing in the almost entirely California based PCSC. Instead of LA, Santa Clara, San Diego we will now be at UNC, ISU, UND, etc.

Yes it will. Im sure it has Coach Strahan in knots about it.

 

[Kadeezy]

Could the BSC be trying to add the minimum number of sports for all schools to create an FBS Big Sky?

 

[SDHornet]

Could the BSC be trying to add the minimum number of sports for all schools to create an FBS Big Sky?

Not rational under the new NCAA guidelines that were passed recently. Any new FBS conference will have to have its members play 7 years (or something like that) before it would be an FBS recognized conference. So no bowls and no NCAA revenues for 7 long and expensive years. This rule is what will keep the WAC from ever dying. The WAC is the only path to the FBS for western FCS programs.

Everyone needs to keep in mind that this move is probably not optional. We are full members of the BSC and if they decide to sponsor a new sport, I believe all full members are obligated to join it so long as the school sponsors a program for said sport. Even if Wanless and the softball coach wanted to stay PCSC, they probably didn’t have the choice. The good news is BigSkyTV will probably webcast all BSC games so this will add exposure for the program and allow interested alums and supporters to follow the program more closely. The bad news is obviously the travel as stated earlier. Either way I am sure softball programs hemorrhage money at every university that sponsors it.

 

[Green Cookie Monster]

Could the BSC be trying to add the minimum number of sports for all schools to create an FBS Big Sky?

I just dont ever see ISU, EWU, UNC and maybe NAU at the FBS level. They are in small towns/markets and dont have the revenue potential to sustain a competitive FBS program.

Once UM and MSU drop back to being 3-8 programs once they move up, their main revenue source (ticket sales) will drop precipitaciously making them ripe for being over extended financially.