UC Riverside has talked about dropping their entire athletics department! Yes, it's the last option, and unlikely. But, if they did drop athletics, that could open a spot in the Big West. While CBU doesn't fit the Big West model, there are always schools in conferences are that outliners, Hawaii is the only school not in CA, Northwestern is the only private school in the Big 10, BYU is 3-4 times larger than any WCC school, I wonder if UCR drops athletics, if the Big West would invite CBU!

(09-07-2020 11:52 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  UC Riverside has talked about dropping their entire athletics department! Yes, it's the last option, and unlikely. But, if they did drop athletics, that could open a spot in the Big West. While CBU doesn't fit the Big West model, there are always schools in conferences are that outliners, Hawaii is the only school not in CA, Northwestern is the only private school in the Big 10, BYU is 3-4 times larger than any WCC school, I wonder if UCR drops athletics, if the Big West would invite CBU!

For a religious non research school to join the BW they would need to pony up cash and like you mentioned BW and CBU don't match up well. I could see San Jose St moving into that spot and going indy with football before anyone from the WAC joins the BW. NMSU to the BW would make the most sense rn.

If UC-Riverside dropped, Big West would ask UC-Santa Cruz first, imo. UC's #1 priority would be to keep parity with the CSU's, since UC's did CSU's a solid admitting Bakersfield in exchange for UC-San Diego. UC-Santa Cruz is also AAU. St Thomas' D3 waiver opens a pathway.

(09-08-2020 12:14 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  If UC-Riverside dropped, Big West would ask UC-Santa Cruz first, imo. UC's #1 priority would be to keep parity with the CSU's, since UC's did CSU's a solid admitting Bakersfield in exchange for UC-San Diego. UC-Santa Cruz is also AAU. St Thomas' D3 waiver opens a pathway.

You and I are of the same mindset. If UC Riverside were to drop its athletic programs, the other "UC" schools would want another UC school to replace Riverside in order to maintain the balance of power between the UC and the CSU schools in the Big West. The only UC school available to add to the conference would be UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs; if they have the money to booster their athletic programs. Until then, the BWC would stay pat at 10 members.

UC Merced NAIA has scholarships rn and UC Santa Cruz would have to add scholarships as they are D3.

(09-08-2020 04:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 12:14 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  If UC-Riverside dropped, Big West would ask UC-Santa Cruz first, imo. UC's #1 priority would be to keep parity with the CSU's, since UC's did CSU's a solid admitting Bakersfield in exchange for UC-San Diego. UC-Santa Cruz is also AAU. St Thomas' D3 waiver opens a pathway.

You and I are of the same mindset. If UC Riverside were to drop its athletic programs, the other "UC" schools would want another UC school to replace Riverside in order to maintain the balance of power between the UC and the CSU schools in the Big West. The only UC school available to add to the conference would be UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs; if they have the money to booster their athletic programs. Until then, the BWC would stay pat at 10 members.

Spot on, guys. Keeping the parity between UC and CSU is priority #1 and trumps everything else.

(09-08-2020 12:14 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  If UC-Riverside dropped, Big West would ask UC-Santa Cruz first, imo. UC's #1 priority would be to keep parity with the CSU's, since UC's did CSU's a solid admitting Bakersfield in exchange for UC-San Diego. UC-Santa Cruz is also AAU. St Thomas' D3 waiver opens a pathway.

Santa Cruz has no interest to move to D1. UC Merced is much more likely to move up to NCAA D2. Currently they are NAIA with their 7-10 year old athletics program.

(09-09-2020 10:15 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 12:14 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  If UC-Riverside dropped, Big West would ask UC-Santa Cruz first, imo. UC's #1 priority would be to keep parity with the CSU's, since UC's did CSU's a solid admitting Bakersfield in exchange for UC-San Diego. UC-Santa Cruz is also AAU. St Thomas' D3 waiver opens a pathway.

Santa Cruz has no interest to move to D1. UC Merced is much more likely to move up to NCAA D2. Currently they are NAIA with their 7-10 year old athletics program.

That's why the Big West will stay pat at 10 members; if Riverside bows out. There is no UC school ready to move up currently and there is no reason to expand the conference in the meantime. When either Santa Cruz or Merced is ready to move up to D1, then their will be a push from the UC schools to expand the BWC again. More likely to happen, the other UC schools will try to talk Riverside into continuing their athletic.

(09-08-2020 04:39 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(09-08-2020 12:14 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  If UC-Riverside dropped, Big West would ask UC-Santa Cruz first, imo. UC's #1 priority would be to keep parity with the CSU's, since UC's did CSU's a solid admitting Bakersfield in exchange for UC-San Diego. UC-Santa Cruz is also AAU. St Thomas' D3 waiver opens a pathway.

You and I are of the same mindset. If UC Riverside were to drop its athletic programs, the other "UC" schools would want another UC school to replace Riverside in order to maintain the balance of power between the UC and the CSU schools in the Big West. The only UC school available to add to the conference would be UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs; if they have the money to booster their athletic programs. Until then, the BWC would stay pat at 10 members.

Please come back the Sun Belt.