(09-13-2020 05:13 AM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(09-12-2020 03:49 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  Bakersfield got into the Big West because the CSU’s forced it as a condition of voting in UC San Diego. UC/CSU balance is the reason Bakersfield got in. If it wasn’t about balance, CSUB would’ve been taken in earlier or UC-San Diego would’ve been voted in without them.

Correct. UC San Diego and Cal State Bakersfield were a package deal to appease both the UC and CSU schools. So, much so that Cal State Bakersfield had to wait to enter the Big West until UC San Diego was ready to make the move to D1. Cal State Bakersfield was on UC San Diego's timeline for the move to D1. Subsequently, Cal State Bakersfield had to play two more seasons in the WAC until they could make the jump to the Big West. So, again Cal State Bakersfield could not get into the Big West without having a UC counterpart and vice versa for UC San Diego. It is just my opinion but I think the Big West will remain at 11 members for the foreseeable future. They have five UC schools, five CSU schools and Hawaii. All schools play each other twice in a round-robin (20 conference games and 8 to 11 non-conference per schedule). If there is ever a 12th member, it would need to be a school that does not disrupt the balance of power between the ten California school; much like Hawaii.

So, UC San Diego never turned down the WAC. The WAC simply let it be known if they did not get an invite to the Big West, the WAC would be willing to give UC San Diego a D1 home; similar to the situation with Tarleton State and the Southland Conference.

With regards to Metro State and Colorado Mesa, the WAC sent out feelers to check if either school was interested in moving up to D1. At this time neither school felt comfortable with the financial demands needed to make the D1 move. A feasibility study was conducted and they concluded their infrastructures were still lacking. Cal State Los Angeles was also conducting a D1 feasibility study, but their conclusions haven't been made public.