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What will the Conference Expansion Fall out be for NAU?
- Thread starter dbackjon
- Start date
king
Active member
not sure, I don't think it will have any effect on NAU. I think NAU is staying put in the Big Sky and so are the remaining members. I hear that the WAC may try and recruit some Big Sky schools to fill in the vacated spot left by Boise State, but the only two schools being mentioned are Montana and Sacramento State. I personally don't believe for a second Montana will go anywhere. There is too much Montana has to do in order to join the WAC (adopt new sports ect.) Sacramento State is more "ready" than Montana, so they are the more likely candidate, but in the end will we really miss Sacramento State from the Big Sky? Whatever is happening in the other conferences will have little effect on the Big Sky, let alone on NAU.
Although with all this new construction and renovations going on at the University, I wonder if NAU is the one that might make the move to a bigger conference??? hmmmmm.....No...I don't think so.
Although with all this new construction and renovations going on at the University, I wonder if NAU is the one that might make the move to a bigger conference??? hmmmmm.....No...I don't think so.
Limited effect on NAU is my guess. NAU's facilities, not in all cases but some, aren't up to snuff for a move up. The Lumberjacks wouldn't meet the required attendance expectations that another conference (i.e. WAC or something similar) expects either.
Generally, NAU has a pretty strong athletics program as they continue to come in top 1-3 for the cup thing competition between Big Sky schools. They don't dominate in football, which could be the one sport to bring in any money. As much as it hurts to admit, the support just isn't there from the community. Love what the Jack Pack has done to stir up interest from the students but it will have to happen on a grander level student, community and state-wide in order for any kind of move to happen at any point.
Montana is as ready as any FCS football team to move up. Facilities are pretty good and support at the gates is fantastic. Their womens bball is strong and their mens bball is looking up. That being said, they're not ready to dominate FBS schools in hoops anytime soon. After living up there, I just don't see the state of MT okaying the financial expenditures necessary in such financial times as we are in.
Sacramento State's a mystery to me as I've never been on their campus and can only go by hear say that I've read elsewhere. Sounds like their facilities aren't top notch. I know they have a good track and field squad and volleyball team, if I remember correctly. Their football team has improved but will get brutalized by the WAC even with Boise St. gone. Their womens basketball team looked pretty good last year but their mens team is still pretty bad. They'll be the red-headed stepchild in the WAC for a while if they move up.
Gotta think that the reason they're on the inside position for moving up is location, location, location. They're close to all those other Cali. WAC schools. And, in theory, they're a toehold in a bigger tv market like Sacramento although I'd have to guess that the Raiders, A's, Warriors and Cal/Stanford take precedence over Hornet Sports (kinda like Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Suns and ASU/UofA do so in Flagstaff).
If UM leaves, Big Sky football will be weaker and will suffer. I have no doubt about that. Big Sky basketball will continue to be competitive without the Griz. Limited effect if Sacramento State leaves the Big Sky.
The spectre looming over Lumberjacks sports is in regards to cuts by the Board of Regents for athletic funding. If the state can get away with cutting anything at the education level, they will do it. That's been the case in both prosperous and recession-riddled times since I've lived in Arizona.
Generally, NAU has a pretty strong athletics program as they continue to come in top 1-3 for the cup thing competition between Big Sky schools. They don't dominate in football, which could be the one sport to bring in any money. As much as it hurts to admit, the support just isn't there from the community. Love what the Jack Pack has done to stir up interest from the students but it will have to happen on a grander level student, community and state-wide in order for any kind of move to happen at any point.
Montana is as ready as any FCS football team to move up. Facilities are pretty good and support at the gates is fantastic. Their womens bball is strong and their mens bball is looking up. That being said, they're not ready to dominate FBS schools in hoops anytime soon. After living up there, I just don't see the state of MT okaying the financial expenditures necessary in such financial times as we are in.
Sacramento State's a mystery to me as I've never been on their campus and can only go by hear say that I've read elsewhere. Sounds like their facilities aren't top notch. I know they have a good track and field squad and volleyball team, if I remember correctly. Their football team has improved but will get brutalized by the WAC even with Boise St. gone. Their womens basketball team looked pretty good last year but their mens team is still pretty bad. They'll be the red-headed stepchild in the WAC for a while if they move up.
Gotta think that the reason they're on the inside position for moving up is location, location, location. They're close to all those other Cali. WAC schools. And, in theory, they're a toehold in a bigger tv market like Sacramento although I'd have to guess that the Raiders, A's, Warriors and Cal/Stanford take precedence over Hornet Sports (kinda like Cardinals, Diamondbacks, Suns and ASU/UofA do so in Flagstaff).
If UM leaves, Big Sky football will be weaker and will suffer. I have no doubt about that. Big Sky basketball will continue to be competitive without the Griz. Limited effect if Sacramento State leaves the Big Sky.
The spectre looming over Lumberjacks sports is in regards to cuts by the Board of Regents for athletic funding. If the state can get away with cutting anything at the education level, they will do it. That's been the case in both prosperous and recession-riddled times since I've lived in Arizona.
