Good interview with the cats AD and he touches a bit on conference re-alignment.
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Pam State applying to go FBS Independent
- Thread starter dirtysoup
- Start date
As a Sac St supporter, can you expand on why you think the jump is a good thing financially, or even feasible? I don't get the logic, but you seem in support of it. I'd love to hear the argument in favor
It's literally "if we build it, they will come" and nothing else.
They don't have any guarantees from any conference, and could be in FBS purgatory for years. They would probably already have an FBS invite if they were an east coast team, but the west coast is a completely different beast.
For the true fans' sake, I hope it works out for them.
IdaGriz01
Well-known member
The re-constituted Pac-12 now has a lot of teams with "state" in the name. I can easily see Sac State getting an invite if they can show (afford) a strong commitment to upgrading their football program. (FWIW: Some projections claim that Gonzaga is joining too. Maybe so, but I very much doubt that they plan to re-sponsor football.)
Kadeezy
Well-known member
The problem here is that, by their own admission, the money they would need to do that is contingent on them getting an invite. It's complete circular reasoning that requires entry into a major FBS conference (specifically the Pac-12).
Do you think these prospective donors are going to want to foot the bill to build all this stuff if they just sit as an independent? It has to work out, otherwise they are completely screwed.
GrizGeneral
Well-known member
Not a projection, Gonzaga announced it. https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events...-accepts-invitation-to-join-pac-12-conference. But you're correct, they will not have football.
GrizGeneral
Well-known member
High risk, high reward move. Considering the media market, I think it will probably work in time. If winning was all that mattered, NDSU would have been FBS a long time ago. It's media markets that matter. Sac State is going to have to: 1) Get the funding to build the stadium, which they currently do not have a price tag for, 2) win enough games to make themselves appear semi-competitive, and 3) tread water until the Pac 12 invite.
But worst case scenario for them, even if Pac 12 isn't an option, they probably can get into MWC with time, and especially if they took a reduced share initially. MWC added NIU in football only (average of 12K fans per game). The bar is not that high. MWC conference also has a deal with UC Davis where they have all of UC's sports besides football, and if they add another FCS team, it has to be UC Davis first. Clearly the MWC is contemplating the addition. If MWC is seriously entertaining that, then adding UC Davis and Sac State actually makes a lot of sense.
But worst case scenario for them, even if Pac 12 isn't an option, they probably can get into MWC with time, and especially if they took a reduced share initially. MWC added NIU in football only (average of 12K fans per game). The bar is not that high. MWC conference also has a deal with UC Davis where they have all of UC's sports besides football, and if they add another FCS team, it has to be UC Davis first. Clearly the MWC is contemplating the addition. If MWC is seriously entertaining that, then adding UC Davis and Sac State actually makes a lot of sense.
The thought I’m having… some of you noticed Sonoma State dropping all athletics and the statewide cuts behind that. Most probably know about the current federal administration cutting EVERYTHING to pay for tax cuts for rich people.
Sac State going independent just doesn’t make sense… unless they’re saying “screw it.” If the athletic department is getting threatened anyway, just go for it. See if FBS leaves you with enough fundage to survive, because the death of the AD is capable of happening regardless.
Sac State going independent just doesn’t make sense… unless they’re saying “screw it.” If the athletic department is getting threatened anyway, just go for it. See if FBS leaves you with enough fundage to survive, because the death of the AD is capable of happening regardless.
This isn't true. They have to consider inviting UC Davis before any other FCS school, but they are not required to extend an invitation to them over any other FCS school.
Ut-Grizfan
Well-known member
Wish we were a bit more aggressive in trying to move up, along with MSU, a bit dissapointing to see other FCS teams once again do it while we do nothing.
However Sac does have alot of positives (top 20 TV market, regional opponent, alot of promised $$ etc.) to both the MWC and PAC, I could see them signing a scheduling alliance with either or both or them joining either Conference in a few seasons. Granted the promised $$, facility upgrades and overall athletics improvement has to happen.
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I’ve been to Kings games. Some of the best fans im NBA. Even when they sucked. Sacramento is a sports town. There is a population that could support this. It’s a risk but doable.
Sac State's chances of getting into an FBS conference at all are via the Independent route. Really all they need to do is build it, settle in as an independent for a few seasons, and then that invite will certainly come from the PAC-12. The PAC is going to want to see that investment from Sac State before making any offer.
mthoopsfan
Well-known member
What's the high reward?
IdaGriz01
Well-known member
Yep. "Back in the day" (I grew up about 50 miles north of Sacto), they were big fans of minor league (Pacific Coast) baseball. These days, the "River Cats" regularly lead the minor leagues (Triple-A) in attendance. FWIW: The city has a deal with the (not)Oakland A's to host their games until the A's stadium is ready in Las Vegas. I expect they will do well there.
They've publicly said that a lot of the money they'd need to build what they want to build is contingent on getting into a conference (specifically the pac-12).
If building it is required to get into the pac-12, but the money to build it isn't there unless they get into the pac-12, it seems there's a bit of a problem lol
Better to do nothing like UM. But it’s great to watch Montana kids play Northern Colorado.
Dude stop. I guarantee you if this were UM you and just about everybody else here would not be thrilled about this. It’s outrageously expensive, it’s completely unrealistic and everybody would be livid that UM failed to get into a conference and were homeless in FBS.
You’re the only one here that bitches that UM does nothing when I’ll once again reiterate to you that you’re making assumptions. You have no idea what’s going on behind the scenes. And I’ll bet you $100 they’ve done more than you realize they have. Quit being a douche.
Hey, it’s worked out well for UMass…..
