I've been an advocate for a west allsports division since the west additions were added . It would give those programs a place to keep all of their Olympic sports.
BB schools can be divided up with the schools west of the east coast added to west division during BB season. IE Marquette,Depaul,ND,UC,UL to the west during BB.

(02-25-2012 12:09 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Just doesn't seem like a good fit to me.

Every team that has been added thus far has added at least one of the following: 1) great football, 2) great basketball, 3) great market. I don't see any of that in Fresno.

Didn't Fresno State play USC step for step in the first half of that particular game in '04 or '05? (I don't remember the exact year.) I mean I agree they haven't always been good, but they've had their moments.

(02-25-2012 12:15 PM)GeminiShamrock Wrote:  

(02-25-2012 12:09 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Just doesn't seem like a good fit to me.

Every team that has been added thus far has added at least one of the following: 1) great football, 2) great basketball, 3) great market. I don't see any of that in Fresno.

Didn't Fresno State play USC step for step in the first half of that particular game in '04 or '05? (I don't remember the exact year.) I mean I agree they haven't always been good, but they've had their moments.

Not that I remember, but you may be right. Honestly, I may not know enough about Fresno to make the call, but that in and of itself says something.

What do you think? Do you want them?

(02-25-2012 12:18 PM)Kronke Wrote:  

(02-25-2012 12:15 PM)GeminiShamrock Wrote:  

(02-25-2012 12:09 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Just doesn't seem like a good fit to me.

Every team that has been added thus far has added at least one of the following: 1) great football, 2) great basketball, 3) great market. I don't see any of that in Fresno.

Didn't Fresno State play USC step for step in the first half of that particular game in '04 or '05? (I don't remember the exact year.) I mean I agree they haven't always been good, but they've had their moments.

Not that I remember, but you may be right. Honestly, I may not know enough about Fresno to make the call, but that in and of itself says something.

What do you think? Do you want them?

In front of Air Force or UNLV, no. In front of, say, San Jose State? Yes, because of more consistency in football. (But that's off the top of my head.)

Well, sure. We should just sit and wait out AFA. They aren't going anywhere, so there's no risk, and I think getting Navy on board was a big feather in the BE's cap in eventually getting AFA to join.

(02-25-2012 12:22 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Well, sure. I think we should just sit and wait out AFA. Getting Navy on board was a big feather in the BE's cap in eventually getting AFA to join as well.

Agreed. I just think we need a plan B, C, D, and E in case A (Air Force) doesn't work out. Also, it wouldn't hurt to have another school in our division that's located at or near California, hence UNLV as plan B and Fresno State as plan C.

(02-25-2012 12:22 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Well, sure. We should just sit and wait out AFA. They aren't going anywhere, so there's no risk, and I think getting Navy on board was a big feather in the BE's cap in eventually getting AFA to join.

The risk is one never knows what the MWC/CUSA/Alliance will do in regards to new contracts/bylaws, payments and TIME to leave a new association and/or conference...whereas in all likelihood, it will never be cheaper and easier for AFA then now.

Future contracts might make it much, much harder for AFA to just "jump ship" and unlike WVU, I doubt they will break/hold hostage their old or new conf...and that alone might be a deterrent once the new alliance/conf is formed.

That's why the Big East wanted them NOW...as it will only get harder (and more expensive) for AFA to jump at a later date.

^ Good point, I stand corrected in that regard.

(02-25-2012 07:10 AM)KnightLight Wrote:  

(02-25-2012 01:17 AM)SteveAztec Wrote:  It is the true rival of San Diego State and has been for decades.

Prior to last season, San Diego State played only 1 football game vs Fresno since 1999.

Fresno still might be a good candidate for football only...but if Big East makes a move (latest moves have titled to the basketball side), I wouldn't be surprised if UNLV becomes the first all-sports invite from the West, especially if UNLV gets their new on-campus stadium development project approved (plus major upgrades to their 18,000 seat plus Thomas & Mack Center).

Even in Vegas' worst recession in a long, long time...their lights still shine bright...especially for many from the Midwest/East Coast.

Fresno State has always been San Diego States true rival. When they split away in difference conf.'s, the rivalry was taken away for years.

There is a lot history between these two teams that was revived last year at Qualcomm Stadium.

Some of the most intense football games I have ever seen in person have been with Fresno State over the years.

(02-25-2012 08:23 AM)UConn-SMU Wrote:  Fresno may or may not be a logical choice, but I can tell you that it doesn't move the needle at all in the Northeast. It would be nice to have two California schools, like we have two Florida schools and two Texas schools.

I agree that we need to add two more western schools. The problem is that there aren't any great candidates after Boise, SDSU, Air Force, and BYU.

The top priorities in the West are still Air Force and BYU. We need to pursue them until they tell us that they will never join the Big East.

Fresno State doesn't move the needle in the North East, but remember we are all learning about each other here.

In the West, Fresno State would be a much better choice than Air Force. And if you look at the records of BYU and Fresno State over the last 15 years or so, Fresno State has been better.

On top of that the Fresno fan base is large and they support like no other in California. To me the Fresno State fans are the most rabid and supportive in the entire State.

(02-25-2012 11:44 AM)BSUTOP25 Wrote:  Why do so many on this board think BYU is the cream of the crop? What major bowl game have they ever won ... Aside from the joke NC they won in 1984 by struggling to beat a .500 Michigan team? So they have a big stadium, so freaking what? The truth is they would likely come into this conference and before too long start acting like they owned the place. They are just like Paris Hilton in that they may look pretty on the outside but in reality they're high maintenance and have done NOTHING of substance to earn their noteriety. My personal choice would be UNLV, Colorado State, or Fresno before the evil Borg.

Agree, top to bottom Fresno State is a better program than BYU and has the same type of community support as BYU.

I also believe Fresno State has a higher winning % than BYU over the last 15 years and has played tougher schedules than BYU.

Some of you SDSU fans are talking me into supporting a Fresno bid. I still like AFA better - not because I necessarily think they're a better team than Fresno, but because having 2/3 of the service academies helps the Big East in ways that no single team can. But the idea of the Cards playing a game in California every year does sound good. (Not that I'm likely to travel to Fresno to see one of them.)

(02-25-2012 12:09 PM)Kronke Wrote:  Just doesn't seem like a good fit to me.

Every team that has been added thus far has added at least one, and often two of the following: 1) great football, 2) great basketball, 3) great market. I don't see any of that in Fresno.

Here is my take from the West Coast on my hated rivals Fresno State...

1. Football very good. Conistently better than most in the West. Much better over the last 20 years than the Aztecs and much better than UNLV. Equal if not better to BYU and better than Air Force.

2. Very good basketball. Down a bit right now, but consistently pretty darn good.

3. Great Market. Huge fan base. Tons of TV's in Fresno and a surprising amount not far from Fresno.

(02-25-2012 12:49 PM)SmallVoice Wrote:  Some of you SDSU fans are talking me into supporting a Fresno bid. I still like AFA better - not because I necessarily think they're a better team than Fresno, but because having 2/3 of the service academies helps the Big East in ways that no single team can. But the idea of the Cards playing a game in California every year does sound good. (Not that I'm likely to travel to Fresno to see one of them.)

Yeah, that's why I think we should try to get Air Force again before moving on to UNLV or Fresno State. The point is to have a contingency plan in place if Air Force declines us again.

(02-25-2012 12:49 PM)SmallVoice Wrote:  Some of you SDSU fans are talking me into supporting a Fresno bid. I still like AFA better - not because I necessarily think they're a better team than Fresno, but because having 2/3 of the service academies helps the Big East in ways that no single team can. But the idea of the Cards playing a game in California every year does sound good. (Not that I'm likely to travel to Fresno to see one of them.)

Hey, you have to fly to Fresno State for a game. There is nothing like being an opposing fan in your colors, and having beer thrown all over you.

Intense fans in one way...Super supportive...And also a element of trouble that will keep you on edge the entire time you are in the Stadium.

(02-25-2012 12:58 PM)SteveAztec Wrote:  Hey, you have to fly to Fresno State for a game. There is nothing like being an opposing fan in your colors, and having beer thrown all over you.

Intense fans in one way...Super supportive...And also a element of trouble that will keep you on edge the entire time you are in the Stadium.

Couldn't be as bad as attending a game in Morgantown. At least people in the Central Valley marry outside their immediate families.

More on the city of Fresno. It is called the Fresno/Madera area and close to 1 Million people live in that area...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_California
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Fresno State facilities...

http://www.gobulldogs.com/trads/fres-facilities.html
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Fresno State Athletic History...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresno_State_Bulldogs

Boise and Fresno play for a Milk Can trophy that was created by our local communities. As a BSU fan i whole heartedly support adding Fresno. The Vally they are in is a huge market. The 2 hour drive area that surrounds them adds up to be the 16 biggest market. The most of the people who live there are somewhat the country people of california. Or hicks for lack of a better term. They are sports crazy to say the least.

And we now play Fresno State for the Oil Can.

Hey Fresno State...The Oil Can resides in San Diego!!!!

I like the idea of a California pair, to compliment our Florida pair and Texas pair.

Behind Air Force, Fresno State would be a good addition.

Fortunately, we can wait on Air Force (2015) and by then Fresno State, UNLV, and Colorado State, can create separation from one another with success in the alliance.