Outsider Take on the Big Sky

[EWURanger29]

It will resolve itself pretty quickly. The continued mismanagement of things in Pullman has moved a lot of $upport to EWU. They will be in MWC very soon. The further development of the riverfront campus will continue to eat away at WSU.

Uhh.. no. Washington State = very wealthy Pac12 institution with large post-grad programs. EWU = Commuter college with a shallow post-grad program.

WSU is not a "very wealthy" Pac-12 institution. It's not a leap to say that they are most likely the poorest of the 12. It's the TV money that separates them...without that, they are more akin to a MWC school than a USC or Oregon.

Additionally, EWU is not a "commuter college"...Portland State, Boise State, Sac State...those are commuter colleges. EWU may have been more that way back in the 80's and 90's, and maybe up until about 10 years ago, but in 2014 roughly 80% of the students either reside on campus or in Cheney. Trust me, there's a huge difference between present day and when I went there back in the 90's. A recent policy which made it mandatory for Freshman to live on campus their first year probably has something to do with that, but the University is investing in the Cheney campus vice sinking money into the Spokane campus. At almost 14k students (and growing), it's the fastest growing University in the State. What's really needed is improvement in facilities...it'll take us longer than some schools to make that happen, but once it does I think we'll be positioned pretty well. I hope it happens within the next 5 years or so, because nobody wants to go back to playing games at Joe Albi, which is a very realistic possibility if we want to stay relevant once the split happens.

 

[EWURanger29]

It will resolve itself pretty quickly. The continued mismanagement of things in Pullman has moved a lot of $upport to EWU. They will be in MWC very soon. The further development of the riverfront campus will continue to eat away at WSU.

Uhh.. no. Washington State = very wealthy Pac12 institution with large post-grad programs. EWU = Commuter college with a shallow post-grad program.

Better look again. The decision as to whether or not the new med school will belong to UW or Eastern has not been made, however between Rockwood and Providence who will be responsible for the clerkships, there is a lot of pressure to make it Eastern. WWAMI is pushing for it also. The final decision is being stretched.

While WSUs enrllment woes continue, Eastern is setting records. There is also close to 5 mil in giving that has shifted of late. There is huge pressure as more athletic dollars move to Eastern from the wealth in th Palouse to overhaul the athletic department. I don't believe EWU has been a commuter College in 20 years.

I believe the medical school decision is between UW and a WSU campus in Spokane, but the rest of what you mention is pretty spot on.

 

[grizindabox]

It will resolve itself pretty quickly. The continued mismanagement of things in Pullman has moved a lot of $upport to EWU. They will be in MWC very soon. The further development of the riverfront campus will continue to eat away at WSU.

Uhh.. no. Washington State = very wealthy Pac12 institution with large post-grad programs. EWU = Commuter college with a shallow post-grad program.

Better look again. The decision as to whether or not the new med school will belong to UW or Eastern has not been made, however between Rockwood and Providence who will be responsible for the clerkships, there is a lot of pressure to make it Eastern. WWAMI is pushing for it also. The final decision is being stretched.

While WSUs enrllment woes continue, Eastern is setting records. There is also close to 5 mil in giving that has shifted of late. There is huge pressure as more athletic dollars move to Eastern from the wealth in th Palouse to overhaul the athletic department. I don't believe EWU has been a commuter College in 20 years.

You do understand that a WSU and not EWU are pushing for the medical school in Spokane

 

[PDXGrizzly]

I say bring UNLV in so we have another bottom feeder team but what a great place to go for an away game.
We should split the conference into two groups, a North/South. Then the winner of each plays a last game for the BSC title. Otherwise we are going to have the issue that is facing us right now almost every year.

1. UNLV would never move to FCS
2. Only way the BSC could have a conference championship is to do away with bye weeks for all teams.

Something needs to change on the NCAA side. The Big Sky is not the only conference with this problem. Now that the NC game is in January, it should be doable to push play offs back a week so that the larger conferences can have campionships (like the SEC or PAC-12, or the MAC, ACC, BIG-12, the list goes on)

This allows for true conference champions and more reliable seeding. But it's the NCAA and they defy logic.

But this is not an NCAA issue, it is a problem that the BSC brought upon themselves and must deal with it. There are many conferences that have a manageable number of teams and probably don't want to push the playoffs back. The NCAA is not going to change it just because the BSC decided to get to big for its britches.

I thought that the NCAA doesn't let conferences with championship games participate in the playoffs.

 

[grizindabox]

1. UNLV would never move to FCS
2. Only way the BSC could have a conference championship is to do away with bye weeks for all teams.

Something needs to change on the NCAA side. The Big Sky is not the only conference with this problem. Now that the NC game is in January, it should be doable to push play offs back a week so that the larger conferences can have campionships (like the SEC or PAC-12, or the MAC, ACC, BIG-12, the list goes on)

This allows for true conference champions and more reliable seeding. But it's the NCAA and they defy logic.

But this is not an NCAA issue, it is a problem that the BSC brought upon themselves and must deal with it. There are many conferences that have a manageable number of teams and probably don't want to push the playoffs back. The NCAA is not going to change it just because the BSC decided to get to big for its britches.

I thought that the NCAA doesn't let conferences with championship games participate in the playoffs.

They are letting the FBS do it.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Something needs to change on the NCAA side. The Big Sky is not the only conference with this problem. Now that the NC game is in January, it should be doable to push play offs back a week so that the larger conferences can have campionships (like the SEC or PAC-12, or the MAC, ACC, BIG-12, the list goes on)

This allows for true conference champions and more reliable seeding. But it's the NCAA and they defy logic.

But this is not an NCAA issue, it is a problem that the BSC brought upon themselves and must deal with it. There are many conferences that have a manageable number of teams and probably don't want to push the playoffs back. The NCAA is not going to change it just because the BSC decided to get to big for its britches.

I thought that the NCAA doesn't let conferences with championship games participate in the playoffs.

They are letting the FBS do it.

Yep. But those are the guys with all the money, and the championship games bring in that much more. So the NCAA keeps its paws off.

Would a CAA or BSC championship game bring in a lot of money? I rather doubt it. (Think about how many first-round games in the playoffs don't make s**t.) So money is not going to be a factor ... and a playoff game would royally screw up the scheduling.

More to the point: Whenever the subject comes up, it's always mentioned that the SWAC does not have an automatic bid because they DO have a championship playoff.

 

[grizindabox]

But this is not an NCAA issue, it is a problem that the BSC brought upon themselves and must deal with it. There are many conferences that have a manageable number of teams and probably don't want to push the playoffs back. The NCAA is not going to change it just because the BSC decided to get to big for its britches.

I thought that the NCAA doesn't let conferences with championship games participate in the playoffs.

They are letting the FBS do it.

Yep. But those are the guys with all the money, and the championship games bring in that much more. So the NCAA keeps its paws off.

Would a CAA or BSC championship game bring in a lot of money? I rather doubt it. (Think about how many first-round games in the playoffs don't make s**t.) So money is not going to be a factor ... and a playoff game would royally screw up the scheduling.

More to the point: Whenever the subject comes up, it's always mentioned that the SWAC does not have an automatic bid because they DO have a championship playoff.

It has more to do with when the SWAC plays their championship...they insist on having it Thanksgiving weekend. The BSC could get the ok to play a chipper, but it would have to be the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. In doing this, all BSC teams would have to go without a bye to fit a full schedule of games in the weekends available.

 

[AllWeatherFan]

What are they going to call the Big Sky Conference when UM and MSU inevitably depart for the MWC?

The Small West?

 

[CDAGRIZ]

But this is not an NCAA issue, it is a problem that the BSC brought upon themselves and must deal with it. There are many conferences that have a manageable number of teams and probably don't want to push the playoffs back. The NCAA is not going to change it just because the BSC decided to get to big for its britches.

I thought that the NCAA doesn't let conferences with championship games participate in the playoffs.

They are letting the FBS do it.

Yep. But those are the guys with all the money, and the championship games bring in that much more. So the NCAA keeps its paws off.

Would a CAA or BSC championship game bring in a lot of money? I rather doubt it. (Think about how many first-round games in the playoffs don't make s**t.) So money is not going to be a factor ... and a playoff game would royally screw up the scheduling.

More to the point: Whenever the subject comes up, it's always mentioned that the SWAC does not have an automatic bid because they DO have a championship playoff.

I'm sitting here trying to determine what the NCAA does besides take what it didn't earn in exchange for membership in a completely unnecessary organization.

 

[grizindabox]

I thought that the NCAA doesn't let conferences with championship games participate in the playoffs.

They are letting the FBS do it.

Yep. But those are the guys with all the money, and the championship games bring in that much more. So the NCAA keeps its paws off.

Would a CAA or BSC championship game bring in a lot of money? I rather doubt it. (Think about how many first-round games in the playoffs don't make s**t.) So money is not going to be a factor ... and a playoff game would royally screw up the scheduling.

More to the point: Whenever the subject comes up, it's always mentioned that the SWAC does not have an automatic bid because they DO have a championship playoff.

I'm sitting here trying to determine what the NCAA does besides take what it didn't earn in exchange for membership in a completely unnecessary organization.

That is exactly what they do..

 

[CDAGRIZ]

They are letting the FBS do it.

Yep. But those are the guys with all the money, and the championship games bring in that much more. So the NCAA keeps its paws off.

Would a CAA or BSC championship game bring in a lot of money? I rather doubt it. (Think about how many first-round games in the playoffs don't make s**t.) So money is not going to be a factor ... and a playoff game would royally screw up the scheduling.

More to the point: Whenever the subject comes up, it's always mentioned that the SWAC does not have an automatic bid because they DO have a championship playoff.

I'm sitting here trying to determine what the NCAA does besides take what it didn't earn in exchange for membership in a completely unnecessary organization.

That is exactly what they do..

Got it. Thanks. Sounds legit.

 

[AZGrizFan]

Yep. But those are the guys with all the money, and the championship games bring in that much more. So the NCAA keeps its paws off.

Would a CAA or BSC championship game bring in a lot of money? I rather doubt it. (Think about how many first-round games in the playoffs don't make s**t.) So money is not going to be a factor ... and a playoff game would royally screw up the scheduling.

More to the point: Whenever the subject comes up, it's always mentioned that the SWAC does not have an automatic bid because they DO have a championship playoff.

I'm sitting here trying to determine what the NCAA does besides take what it didn't earn in exchange for membership in a completely unnecessary organization.

That is exactly what they do..

Got it. Thanks. Sounds legit.

It is. I'm starting my own association that's going to require all teams to be members too.

 

[mtgriz]

What are they going to call the Big Sky Conference when UM and MSU inevitably depart for the MWC?

The Small West?

The Prairie Schooner Conference.

 

[JayLarson]

EWU couldn't move up, what is their average attendance??

 

[CDAGRIZ]

EWU couldn't move up, what is their average attendance??

Definitely not enough. But they have to compete with the mighty WSU for fans, and there are tens of thousands of people who would readily go to Cheney on Saturday but for the show in Pullman.

 

[Ursa Major]

EWU couldn't move up, what is their average attendance??

Definitely not enough. But they have to compete with the mighty WSU for fans, and there are tens of thousands of people who would readily go to Cheney on Saturday but for the show in Pullman.

That's like given the choice between picking jock itch or athlete's foot...

 

[CDAGRIZ]

EWU couldn't move up, what is their average attendance??

Definitely not enough. But they have to compete with the mighty WSU for fans, and there are tens of thousands of people who would readily go to Cheney on Saturday but for the show in Pullman.

That's like given the choice between picking jock itch or athlete's foot...

True. But to think that if WSU didn't exist, those would be WSU fans would flood Cheney on Saturday is ridiculous. The C17 is a fixed quantity.

 

[Ursa Major]

EWU couldn't move up, what is their average attendance??

Definitely not enough. But they have to compete with the mighty WSU for fans, and there are tens of thousands of people who would readily go to Cheney on Saturday but for the show in Pullman.

That's like given the choice between picking jock itch or athlete's foot...

True. But to think that if WSU didn't exist, those would be WSU fans would flood Cheney on Saturday is ridiculous. The C17 is a fixed quantity.

Recently added SAT question:

A) WSU is to the Pac 12 conference as Northern Colorado is to the Big Sky conference.
B) WSU is to the Pac 12 conference as Portland State is to the Big Sky Conference.
C) WSU is to the Pac 12 conference as Southern Utah is to the Big Sky Conference.
D) All of the above.

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

If we had a conference championship...Cat-Griz would no longer be the last game of the year...IDK how I feel about that.

 

[JayLarson]

So are you saying that you prefer the Griz to not make the playoffs ever BadLands?