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Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
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LUSportsFan Offline
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Post: #81
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-20-2020 08:48 PM)edinburger Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 06:10 PM)LUSportsFan Wrote:  I'd probably drive. Driving from Edinburg to Sam Houston State and to Lamar are both about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour shorter than a flight to Seattle. You wouldn't have to worry about airline connections, either.

Even with flying, it's not quite that bad. Sam Houston State is 50 miles from Bush Intercontinental; about the same distance as New Mexico State from El Paso International (49.7 miles). Lamar is 79 miles away. Those drives should be around 1 hr 10 minutes to 1 1/2 hrs one way (2 hrs 20 min to 3 hrs roundtrip) according to experience and Google Maps. Knock off at least one hour from the 4 hr round trip. Now, if someone really screws up and builds the schedule to hit the peak of the Houston rush hour, it could be a nightmare. That's on the travel scheduler.

The drives to and from Houston Hobby are about the same except maybe more traffic for Sam Houston State, 80 for SHSU and 88 miles for Lamar. For Lamar, the main reason Jack Brooks Regional airport doesn't have more commercial flights than it does is because it is so convenient to drive to either Bush or Hobby. It only took me about 15 to 20 minutes longer to drive from Beaumont to the airports when I lived there as it did when I lived in west Houston. (Just double checked Google Maps to make sure my memory was correct. 04-cheers)
If you are lucky enough to have connections with DFW to Beaumont or are flying charter, Jack Brooks Regional airport is only 7 miles from campus.

I may be missing something, but I'd take a 1 hour flight and a little over an hour drive over a 6 1/2-7 hr flight. Even the 400-450 mile drive all the way from Edinburg on a 75 mph highway is not bad, especially for someone used to Texas distances.

OK, got to admit that in my younger days I thought people who flew McAllen-DFW were wusses. I'd jump in my no-A/C pickup and arrive 8 hours later with manly pride and the genuine smell of a ... vaquero. Now I fly it unless it's a week+ trip and I need to have the car.

You might be right that SHU and Lamar are in bus range. But I do have to say that if you make Edinburg to Beaumont in 7 hours you've got a giant bladder, a top-end radar detector, and nerves of steel.

I was just using the Google Maps estimates. I've found them to be pretty close to my driving, and I follow the speed limits. Today, it says a typical trip between the Montagne Center in Beaumont and the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg would be a 424 mile trip taking from 6 hrs to 7 hrs 20 minutes. Admittedly, I do have to make a lot more short stops than I did in my younger days so it may take me longer now. I may the be exception. I drove back and forth from Houston to just below Tulsa every week for a little over a year when my wife was helping her mom through some health issues. A 7 hour trip was routine for me back then.

It has been over 10 years since I went to the Valley, but I had the pleasure of going down there several times back in the day for my job to visit E&P field offices in Halletsville, Victoria, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, and Harlingen. The trip got easier every time I traveled down there because of all the highway improvements, especially comparing them with my first trip down there in the early '80's. Maybe things have changed since I retired, but all those trips were before the speed limit was raised to 75 mph.

Flying would be easier, but I think a road trip would be feasible.
(This post was last modified: 08-21-2020 11:06 AM by LUSportsFan.)
08-21-2020 10:15 AM
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PojoaquePosse Offline
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Post: #82
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-20-2020 11:15 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 02:30 PM)PojoaquePosse Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 01:30 PM)edinburger Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 11:21 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  
(08-18-2020 08:01 PM)Todor Wrote:  the WAC is dynamic and the schools in the WAC are dynamic. Nothing is happening with BSC schools or within the conference. The Southland is geographically stuck and monetarily stuck. No reason for anyone with aspirations to look at either.

If you all want to talk about aspirations and potential for WAC teams, I will accept that as an answer. How long do the Presidents and ADs hold out for those two things though? When budgets are looked at and scrutinized years later, sending the volleyball team to Seattle and Los Angeles won’t look too good, when you could send them to Huntsville and Beaumont, TX instead. I think you Tarleton and RGV fans that are saying you’re better off in the WAC than the Southland are fooling yourselves.

If the SLC was expanding by 2 teams, UTRGV and Tarleton would be the first two schools to put their names in for consideration.

In the past there have been some presidents (no longer with us) and ADs (no longer with us) who hinted they wanted to be in the SLC. I think that's long gone. Maybe if there was football but there isn't football and won't be anytime soon.

Three points:

1. Don't look at maps, look at plane tickets. Seattle/LA $158 today, but it's an in-city bus trip. Houston $97, but then there's 4 extra round trip hours of charter bus to Beaumont or Huntsville, maybe an overnight stay for the driver. Could be almost a wash.

2. As an employee (not in athletics), I'll let you in on a secret I've been hiding to avoid inflating egos here: in our academic planning meetings NMSU is often on the short list of places we are aspiring to be like. Their level of research and program offerings is where we want to be, and their demographics are closer to ours. No one here longs to be like Sam Houston or Stephen F. Austin, fine places but serving a different kind of population with different kinds of goals. We like to think we're already past them (whether it's true or not is a different question).

2. Already multiple generations of students and alumni vested in the WAC. The Texas rivalry thing doesn't seem to work: very low turn out for OOC games against SLC opponents, on the other hand we get decent attendance for important WAC games.

Nice insights, burger. Much appreciated.

I will go out on a limb and say that NMSU "aspires" to several schools in the MWC/ConfUSA both academically and athletically. I think we feel that we are closer to them in both regards than we are to the schools in the WAC. That is why folks on harp on the fact that NMSU needs to leave the WAC.

Personally, I am grateful for the WAC for giving us a home and allowing our crown jewel, MBB, to continue to shine. But I long for the days that we have all of our sports in one FBS conference.

If NMSU was great in football, year in and year out, they may get invitations to a football conference. But, that hasn't happened. TCU and Utah both got into P5 conferences, because they were very good/great in football over an extended period of time.

As long as New Mexico is in the MWC, NMSU will never get into the MWC. Utah St always longed to be a MWC member, they finally got an invitation, but only after Utah and BYU left. Samething for NMSU.

UTEP being so close, also hurts NMSU. If UTEP ever leaves CUSA, they would more than likely add Texas St. instead UTEP. That way, no schools west of Denton Texas, in Texas.

Professor obvious...
08-21-2020 10:20 AM
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DoubleRSU Offline
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Post: #83
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-20-2020 11:04 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 11:21 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  
(08-18-2020 08:01 PM)Todor Wrote:  the WAC is dynamic and the schools in the WAC are dynamic. Nothing is happening with BSC schools or within the conference. The Southland is geographically stuck and monetarily stuck. No reason for anyone with aspirations to look at either.

If you all want to talk about aspirations and potential for WAC teams, I will accept that as an answer. How long do the Presidents and ADs hold out for those two things though? When budgets are looked at and scrutinized years later, sending the volleyball team to Seattle and Los Angeles won’t look too good, when you could send them to Huntsville and Beaumont, TX instead. I think you Tarleton and RGV fans that are saying you’re better off in the WAC than the Southland are fooling yourselves.

If the SLC was expanding by 2 teams, UTRGV and Tarleton would be the first two schools to put their names in for consideration.

Why would the SLC, currently at 13 teams expand by two more? They are a one bid basketball conference, and will be hard pressed to ever be a two bid conference.

They’re not. It was hypothetical and no matter what some people here say, TSU and RGV would go to save on travel costs, along with TSU football having a home.
08-21-2020 10:26 AM
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Vulpes88 Offline
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Post: #84
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-21-2020 10:26 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  
(08-20-2020 11:04 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 11:21 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  
(08-18-2020 08:01 PM)Todor Wrote:  the WAC is dynamic and the schools in the WAC are dynamic. Nothing is happening with BSC schools or within the conference. The Southland is geographically stuck and monetarily stuck. No reason for anyone with aspirations to look at either.

If you all want to talk about aspirations and potential for WAC teams, I will accept that as an answer. How long do the Presidents and ADs hold out for those two things though? When budgets are looked at and scrutinized years later, sending the volleyball team to Seattle and Los Angeles won’t look too good, when you could send them to Huntsville and Beaumont, TX instead. I think you Tarleton and RGV fans that are saying you’re better off in the WAC than the Southland are fooling yourselves.

If the SLC was expanding by 2 teams, UTRGV and Tarleton would be the first two schools to put their names in for consideration.

Why would the SLC, currently at 13 teams expand by two more? They are a one bid basketball conference, and will be hard pressed to ever be a two bid conference.

They’re not. It was hypothetical and no matter what some people here say, TSU and RGV would go to save on travel costs, along with TSU football having a home.

Future realignment could cause two to four SLC schools to leave, would open up slots. Or WAC gets FBS or FCS.
08-21-2020 10:41 AM
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HawaiiMongoose Offline
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Post: #85
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
One thing at a time. Trade Chicago State for West Texas A&M and go from there.
08-23-2020 07:56 AM
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TexanFan Online
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Post: #86
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-23-2020 07:56 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  One thing at a time. Trade Chicago State for West Texas A&M and go from there.

I listened to a podcast this week and it was an interview with the West Texas AD and Football HC. The AD isn’t happy with the leadership in D2 but he said in 5 to 10 years they might consider moving up. They are happy in D2 for now.
08-23-2020 08:14 AM
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TexanFan Online
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Post: #87
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-21-2020 10:26 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  
(08-20-2020 11:04 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  
(08-19-2020 11:21 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  
(08-18-2020 08:01 PM)Todor Wrote:  the WAC is dynamic and the schools in the WAC are dynamic. Nothing is happening with BSC schools or within the conference. The Southland is geographically stuck and monetarily stuck. No reason for anyone with aspirations to look at either.

If you all want to talk about aspirations and potential for WAC teams, I will accept that as an answer. How long do the Presidents and ADs hold out for those two things though? When budgets are looked at and scrutinized years later, sending the volleyball team to Seattle and Los Angeles won’t look too good, when you could send them to Huntsville and Beaumont, TX instead. I think you Tarleton and RGV fans that are saying you’re better off in the WAC than the Southland are fooling yourselves.

If the SLC was expanding by 2 teams, UTRGV and Tarleton would be the first two schools to put their names in for consideration.

Why would the SLC, currently at 13 teams expand by two more? They are a one bid basketball conference, and will be hard pressed to ever be a two bid conference.

They’re not. It was hypothetical and no matter what some people here say, TSU and RGV would go to save on travel costs, along with TSU football having a home.

The reason given by Tarleton for moving up was raising our institutional profile as it was never about athletics. So what is best for our athletics isn’t what is driving our decisions. There is nothing in the SLC which raises our profile. We are at the same academic level as the schools there and there are four or five schools there which can’t improve due to financial constraints. The WAC has one apparently. The vast majority of the schools here are in the same boat as us as they are also raising their profile by improving their academics. We already are known in the geographical area covered by the SLC so no help with recruiting students there. The WAC gives us access to Seattle, Phoenix, Chicago, Utah and California. The WAC much better helps us raise our institutional profile than the SLC which is why we would much rather be here than there.
08-23-2020 08:24 AM
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Itinerant Texan Offline
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Post: #88
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
Remember folks, Tarleton and Coach Reisman have been involved with D1 feasability studies, courtships/break-ups, game scheduling agreements, and "potential" to "probable" to "imminent" invites with the SLC since 2005. Had we stayed on Coach Reisman's path, I have no doubt a Tarleton/SLC marriage would have eventually happened. For years that was the only option you had as a D2 moveup in Texas. And to be fair, it makes sense when you just look at it on a map. But the marriage is off now, and it likely won't ever happen, because there is no reason for it to. We're in a much better situation in the WAC, and I think we (Tarleton & A&M) will make the most of it. Don't be surprised if we see more A&M schools come on board over the next few years to help button-up and stabilize this conference for good.

Tarleton President Hurley:

"They (A&M Chancellor Sharp & Co.) see this as an opportunity to enhance our research scope. They also see this as an opportunity to get us into new media markets that expand our kind of broad message. And we need to tell the Tarleton story more broadly. Texas is, growing no doubt. This state is growing. But every other state is coming into Texas now to recruit our students. So not only do we have to really fight everybody to protect and keep our own students, but we have to start thinking about recruiting students from other states to backfill. And so, by going into California and Utah and Arizona and Seattle and those places, and Chicago, that we get to play in the WAC, that just really exposes the great things beyond athletics. And from day one, I’ve said, this is not about athletics. This is about raising our institutional profile, in particular, our academic pedigree."

"And Dr. Dottavio, my predecessor, established a panel led by our former CFO, Dr. Richardson, that really went through all the necessary steps. They had faculty engagement, staff engagement, student engagement. Of course, Russell came in and continued to pour over the data and update the data, you know, looking at all conferences, not just the WAC, but three or four other conferences that could be viable for this institution. And at the end of the day, we trusted our consultant. We trusted our faculty and staff, the leaders that had really been kind of engulfed in this process the last three to five years. And we felt like the timing was right. The WAC was poised to invite us and we just felt like the iron was a little too hot not to strike."

Tarleton President Dr. Hurley breaks it down like a fraction why we finally left the SLC negotiating table and went with the conference that offers much more upside:

https://athleticdirectoru.com/video/tran...es-hurley/
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2020 10:40 AM by Itinerant Texan.)
08-23-2020 10:29 AM
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dancingNMSUaggie Offline
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Post: #89
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-18-2020 01:51 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  There isn't 1 school is this version of the WAC that wouldn't move to a stable conference. The WAC is the home of the misfits and homeless. I can bet not one school actually wants to be in the conference. If Seattle, Cal Baptist or Grand Canyon were ask to be the 12th member of the Big West they would jump at it in a heartbeat.

The Big Sky isn't taking anyone, its a bloated conference as is, that needs to split in half.

If Chicago State was even halfway decent and on stable ground they would be in the Summit or Horizon, but they aren't so they are where they are. Bakersfield and UMKC have already pulled up and left.

The Southland is in the same boat as The Big Sky, they are already bloated and probably shouldn't have taken on Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word and New Orleans. The should have stopped at Central Arkansas and Corpus Chrisiti in 2006 and said that was it.

Someone that finally gets it. Thank you.
08-23-2020 12:14 PM
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Itinerant Texan Offline
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RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-23-2020 12:14 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  
(08-18-2020 01:51 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  There isn't 1 school is this version of the WAC that wouldn't move to a stable conference. The WAC is the home of the misfits and homeless. I can bet not one school actually wants to be in the conference. If Seattle, Cal Baptist or Grand Canyon were ask to be the 12th member of the Big West they would jump at it in a heartbeat.

The Big Sky isn't taking anyone, its a bloated conference as is, that needs to split in half.

If Chicago State was even halfway decent and on stable ground they would be in the Summit or Horizon, but they aren't so they are where they are. Bakersfield and UMKC have already pulled up and left.

The Southland is in the same boat as The Big Sky, they are already bloated and probably shouldn't have taken on Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word and New Orleans. The should have stopped at Central Arkansas and Corpus Chrisiti in 2006 and said that was it.

Someone that finally gets it. Thank you.

The Southland is not as "stable" as it appears on paper. Dig deeper. ACU and UIW could be next to rejoin Tarleton in the WAC and link up with the other privates. A move like that might entice San Diego. I believe UIW is already playing WAC soccer.
08-23-2020 12:55 PM
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IWokeUpLikeThis Offline
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Post: #91
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-18-2020 01:51 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  There isn't 1 school is this version of the WAC that wouldn't move to a stable conference. The WAC is the home of the misfits and homeless. I can bet not one school actually wants to be in the conference. If Seattle, Cal Baptist or Grand Canyon were ask to be the 12th member of the Big West they would jump at it in a heartbeat.

The Big Sky isn't taking anyone, its a bloated conference as is, that needs to split in half.

If Chicago State was even halfway decent and on stable ground they would be in the Summit or Horizon, but they aren't so they are where they are. Bakersfield and UMKC have already pulled up and left.

The Southland is in the same boat as The Big Sky, they are already bloated and probably shouldn't have taken on Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word and New Orleans. The should have stopped at Central Arkansas and Corpus Chrisiti in 2006 and said that was it.

Finally, someone who understands how realignment and university presidents work.
08-23-2020 04:01 PM
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NMSUPistolPete Offline
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Post: #92
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-23-2020 04:01 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  
(08-18-2020 01:51 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  There isn't 1 school is this version of the WAC that wouldn't move to a stable conference. The WAC is the home of the misfits and homeless. I can bet not one school actually wants to be in the conference. If Seattle, Cal Baptist or Grand Canyon were ask to be the 12th member of the Big West they would jump at it in a heartbeat.

The Big Sky isn't taking anyone, its a bloated conference as is, that needs to split in half.

If Chicago State was even halfway decent and on stable ground they would be in the Summit or Horizon, but they aren't so they are where they are. Bakersfield and UMKC have already pulled up and left.

The Southland is in the same boat as The Big Sky, they are already bloated and probably shouldn't have taken on Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word and New Orleans. The should have stopped at Central Arkansas and Corpus Chrisiti in 2006 and said that was it.

Finally, someone who understands how realignment and university presidents work.

As I have said before, I don't think these three private school's athletics demands align with the California public schools. GCU, CBU, and Seattle would rather be in the WCC if given the opportunity. Furthermore, with an 11 team conference, it allows the Big West to play a 20-game conference schedule; where every team plays one another twice. Adding another team would cause the conference to split into two division; creating an imbalance in strength of conference schedules; depending on which division is stronger. For regional (bus league) conferences, the ideal number of conference members is 9,10, or 11; with 10 being optimal. The only reason to expand membership beyond 11 is to form two more regional divisions; reducing travel when the conference is too expansive in area like the WAC (Seattle to Chicago to Edinburg). There are some advantages to having a large footprint conference like recruiting and having more media markets but travel cost must still be addressed (for the poorer conferences). Nevertheless, I do not see the Big West expanding membership (out of California) unless the school could "really" help the conference financially. I think if the WAC Commissioner can add three more schools which helps the conference make more sense travel wise, it might finally stabilize the permanently. I think West Texas A&M would be a no brainer if they ever decide to make the move up to division 1.

[Image: 2020-WAC-Map.png]
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2020 05:33 PM by NMSUPistolPete.)
08-23-2020 05:08 PM
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RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
Pete, you've left out one important detail about an 11 team Big West - Hawaii's travel expenses actually increase due to still having to pay for eight members' flights, and now they add flights of their own every year to San Diego and Bakersfield.

Because of the Hawaii factor, and because there's still lukewarm feelings about Bakersfield, 11 is NOT ideal. In this instance the number is 12. That allows for balanced divisions, restores ooc flexibility and decreases Hawaii's expenses.

Just for kicks, let's say Boise State returns. Now you can go North/South with one non-CA member in each division. It's a fair balance imo.

And if I'm not mistaken, once upon a time GCU was slumming with UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Riverside and Cal State Bakersfield.
08-23-2020 05:31 PM
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NMSUPistolPete Offline
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RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-23-2020 05:31 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Pete, you've left out one important detail about an 11 team Big West - Hawaii's travel expenses actually increase due to still having to pay for eight members' flights, and now they add flights of their own every year to San Diego and Bakersfield.

Because of the Hawaii factor, and because there's still lukewarm feelings about Bakersfield, 11 is NOT ideal. In this instance the number is 12. That allows for balanced divisions, restores ooc flexibility and decreases Hawaii's expenses.

Just for kicks, let's say Boise State returns. Now you can go North/South with one non-CA member in each division. It's a fair balance imo.

And if I'm not mistaken, once upon a time GCU was slumming with UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Riverside and Cal State Bakersfield.

The Big West made its' bed long ago. They are a California bus league. They added Hawaii with the hopes it would elevate the conference. But that has not really happened. The Big West has Hawaii over a barrel. Without interest from the MWC, Hawaii has nowhere to go. They will pay whatever the Big West demands just to have a home. The same is the case with Hawaii and MWC football. Right now, the Big West has a balance of power between UC and CSU schools. So unless, a none UC or CSU school can really enhance the BWC's fortunes, I don't see the BWC moving off of 11 members. Bakersfield is the red headed step child, but they were added in order to qualm the CSU schools about the addition of UC San Diego. If not for football, Sacramento State would have been the logically addition over CSUB. I think the Big West Commissioner would rather the BWC be at 10 members right now but the addition of Hawaii throws off the California school balance. In the WAC, GCU is a big fish. Moving to the BWC would put them at odds with the California school alliances. CBU is trying to follow in GCU's footsteps about building up their athletic programs. I think there is a bond between the two schools. The BWC might be able to steal Seattle U. from the WAC because of locale but they don't really add any financial benefit to the conference other than Hawaii's travel cost. I think the BWC would ideally like to add another state public school from outside California. But I doubt any school would agree to the same (paid) travel terms that Hawaii accepted to join the BWC. And I contend that if Boise State were really considering moving its Olympic sports out of the MWC, they would seriously consider the WAC and Big Sky as likely options in addition to the Big West... all are far fetched. Boise State is not going anywhere. It was all Boise bluster over the change in MWC payout model. They want to keep their biggest piece of the pie.
(This post was last modified: 08-23-2020 09:51 PM by NMSUPistolPete.)
08-23-2020 05:55 PM
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RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-23-2020 05:55 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  
(08-23-2020 05:31 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Pete, you've left out one important detail about an 11 team Big West - Hawaii's travel expenses actually increase due to still having to pay for eight members' flights, and now they add flights of their own every year to San Diego and Bakersfield.

Because of the Hawaii factor, and because there's still lukewarm feelings about Bakersfield, 11 is NOT ideal. In this instance the number is 12. That allows for balanced divisions, restores ooc flexibility and decreases Hawaii's expenses.

Just for kicks, let's say Boise State returns. Now you can go North/South with one non-CA member in each division. It's a fair balance imo.

And if I'm not mistaken, once upon a time GCU was slumming with UC Davis, UC San Diego, UC Riverside and Cal State Bakersfield.

The Big West made its' bed long ago. They are a California bus league. They added Hawaii with the hopes it would elevate the conference. But that has not really happened. The Big West has Hawaii over a barrel. Without interest from the MWC, Hawaii has nowhere to go. They will pay whatever the Big West demands just to have a home. The same is the case with Hawaii and MWC football. Right now, the Big West has a balance of power between UC and CSU schools. So unless, a none UC or CSU school can really enhance the BWC's fortunes, I don't see the BWC moving off of 11 members. Bakersfield is the red headed step child, but they were added in order to qualm the CSU schools about the addition of UC San Diego. If not for football, Sacramento State would have been the logically addition over CSUB. I think the Big West Commissioner would rather the BWC be at 10 members right now but the addition of Hawaii throws off the California school balance. In the WAC, GCU is a big fish. Moving to the BWC would put them at odds with the California school alliances. CBU is trying to follow in GCU's footsteps about building up their athletic programs. I think there is a bond between the two schools. The BWC might be able to steal Seattle U. from the WAC because of locale but they don't really add any financial benefit to the conference other than Hawaii's travel cost. I think the BWC would ideally like to add another state public school from outside California. But I doubt any school would agree to the same (paid) travel terms that Hawaii accepted to join the BWC. And I contend that if Boise State were really considering moving its Olympic sports out of the MWC, they would seriously consider the WAC and Big Sky as likely options in addition to the Big West... all are far fetched. Boise State are not going anywhere. It was all Boise bluster over the change in MWC payout model. They want to keep their biggest piece of the pie.

I agree with everything stated here. I see the Big West staying at 11 for the foreseeable future.
08-23-2020 08:25 PM
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Lopes87 Offline
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Post: #96
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
Watch the WAC gunna make a play for Hawaii Oly sports so they can can a league footprint as far west as Honolulu as far north as Seattle as for east as Chicago and far south as USA/Mexico boarder.
08-23-2020 08:41 PM
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chargeradio Offline
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Post: #97
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
If the WAC wants FCS football, the obvious solution is to take the Four Corners schools from the Big Sky: Southern Utah, Northern Arizona, Weber State, and Northern Colorado. Seattle then becomes a non-football member of the Big Sky.

WAC: California Baptist (no football), Grand Canyon (no football), Northern Arizona, Southern Utah, Dixie State, Weber State, Utah Valley (no football), Northern Colorado, Tarleton State, New Mexico State (FBS), UTRGV (???)

BSC: Seattle (no football), Portland State, Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Sacramento State

You can put the two Big West schools wherever. If UTRGV starts FCS play, Weber State could even stay in the Big Sky.

If the Big Sky doesn't cooperate, the WAC should go after Central Missouri, Central Oklahoma, West Texas A&M, and Texas A&M Commerce. The Texas schools would probably be the easiest sells, although the WAC might be the best and only shot at D-I for UCM and UCO short of more turmoil in the Summit League. Perhaps a cooperative agreement with the Summit on FCS football could be beneficial for both conferences long-term.
08-23-2020 09:29 PM
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theultimateaggie Offline
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Post: #98
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-23-2020 08:14 AM)TexanFan Wrote:  
(08-23-2020 07:56 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  One thing at a time. Trade Chicago State for West Texas A&M and go from there.

I listened to a podcast this week and it was an interview with the West Texas AD and Football HC. The AD isn’t happy with the leadership in D2 but he said in 5 to 10 years they might consider moving up. They are happy in D2 for now.

Could you point me in the direction of that AD interview?
08-24-2020 09:30 AM
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dancingNMSUaggie Offline
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Post: #99
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
I’m just glad the WAC is actually resembling a western conference. It’s a shame Metro State didn’t join. With the exception of the state of Colorado the teams now are from all the states the old Wac has teams from with the exception of Chicago State.
08-24-2020 10:03 AM
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Itinerant Texan Offline
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Post: #100
RE: Is Dixie St destined for the Big Sky?
(08-24-2020 10:03 AM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  I’m just glad the WAC is actually resembling a western conference. It’s a shame Metro State didn’t join. With the exception of the state of Colorado the teams now are from all the states the old Wac has teams from with the exception of Chicago State.

Expanding the footprint into the State of Colorado, home of WAC HQs, I think Colorado Mesa and Colorado Mines would be nice targets to replace Chi State. Both are stong at the D2 level and sponsor football.
(This post was last modified: 08-24-2020 11:13 AM by Itinerant Texan.)
08-24-2020 10:13 AM
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