RE: Purdue Fort Wayne to Horizon
NoCo is not leaving the Big Sky. They don't have many students or athletes from the Summit zone (not counting Colorado which is their home state). But they do have a number of athletes from the Pacific Coast, especially California.
But Baseball and Women's Swimming are affiliates in the WAC. Sac State of the Big Sky also has Baseball in the WAC, while Idaho and Southern Utah also have Women's Swimming in the WAC.
Here is the Baseball team home state breakdown:
9 Colorado, 9 Washington (1 went to a Sacramento JuCo), 2 Nevada, 1 each Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Wyoming, Louisiana (!)
That doesn't fit the Summit, but it does fit the Big Sky and WAC.
Basketball: 7 CO, 1 CA, 1 NV, 1 TX, 3 Int'l, ... 1 SD
Football: 53 CO, 14 TX, 9 CA, 5 FL, 3 OK, 2 GA, 2 NC, 1 each (WA, OR, UT, WY, NE, KS, IL, TN)
None of that fits the Summit. It's locals, Texas and California and West, with a good Southern contingent in Football.
There is no reason for NoCo to go Summit. And certainly not over the Big Sky. Baseball show the WAC a better fit based on roster, with the Seattle series probably the most important from a recruiting standpoint.
The Summit should think instead about Augustana and/or starting Football to get out of their baseball problem (SIU-E would also help)
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