9-Game Big Sky Schedule Idea on Hold

[Mvemjsunpx]

One NoDak's football cold war with NDSU thawed, their departure was just a matter of time. That was probably the only thing keeping them in the Big Sky in the first place.

Seattle U, Denver, and Grand Canyon are all private schools (with 2 of them Christian), so none of those are likely to even be asked.

Utah Valley would be the best option for a non-football member, and CSUB would be #2. I'd be surprised if NMSU considered a Big Sky invite since they've never been I-AA/FCS and they still have a healthy football rivalry in FBS (unlike Idaho). I guess the Aggies could join as non-football, but I don't know how popular that would be since they'll likely never come in for football and they aren't geographically close to any other Big Sky team.

[SuperHornet]

I really don't want to see a glorified juco in the Sky, Venus....

[SDHornet]

One NoDak's football cold war with NDSU thawed, their departure was just a matter of time. That was probably the only thing keeping them in the Big Sky in the first place.

Seattle U, Denver, and Grand Canyon are all private schools (with 2 of them Christian), so none of those are likely to even be asked.

Utah Valley would be the best option for a non-football member, and CSUB would be #2. I'd be surprised if NMSU considered a Big Sky invite since they've never been I-AA/FCS and they still have a healthy football rivalry in FBS (unlike Idaho). I guess the Aggies could join as non-football, but I don't know how popular that would be since they'll likely never come in for football and they aren't geographically close to any other Big Sky team.

Seems par for the course for the small minded BSC. GCU pours tons of funds into athletics, a member like that would make everyone else step up their game. Also getting more time in front of Phoenix (or Seattle) recruits bring even more value to the rural BSC members.

[Mvemjsunpx]

One NoDak's football cold war with NDSU thawed, their departure was just a matter of time. That was probably the only thing keeping them in the Big Sky in the first place.

Seattle U, Denver, and Grand Canyon are all private schools (with 2 of them Christian), so none of those are likely to even be asked.

Utah Valley would be the best option for a non-football member, and CSUB would be #2. I'd be surprised if NMSU considered a Big Sky invite since they've never been I-AA/FCS and they still have a healthy football rivalry in FBS (unlike Idaho). I guess the Aggies could join as non-football, but I don't know how popular that would be since they'll likely never come in for football and they aren't geographically close to any other Big Sky team.

Seems par for the course for the small minded BSC. GCU pours tons of funds into athletics, a member like that would make everyone else step up their game. Also getting more time in front of Phoenix (or Seattle) recruits bring even more value to the rural BSC members.

Grand Canyon is way too dubious of an institution. Not only are they the only for-profit in Division I, they're nonsensically a for-profit Christian school. I suspect the school is, to some extent, a fraud and might end up with the same fate as ITT Tech. At any rate, I think GCU is toxic & the Big Sky would be making a mistake in even considering them.

Seattle U and Denver obviously don't have GCU's drawbacks, but I don't really see much upside with them either. They are in big cities, but they aren't big schools and their fan support is tepid even by Big Sky standards.

[SDHornet]

Seems par for the course for the small minded BSC. GCU pours tons of funds into athletics, a member like that would make everyone else step up their game. Also getting more time in front of Phoenix (or Seattle) recruits bring even more value to the rural BSC members.

Grand Canyon is way too dubious of an institution. Not only are they the only for-profit in Division I, they're nonsensically a for-profit Christian school. I suspect the school is, to some extent, a fraud and might end up with the same fate as ITT Tech. At any rate, I think GCU is toxic & the Big Sky would be making a mistake in even considering them.

Seattle U and Denver obviously don't have GCU's drawbacks, but I don't really see much upside with them either. They are in big cities, but they aren't big schools and their fan support is tepid even by Big Sky standards.

You're falling for the stale talking points big education typically spews. It's 2016, even "public" institutions are "for profit". It all depends on the views of the BSC presidents. I have personally heard Nelsen say that many large universities operate no different that GCU. If enough BSC Presidents feel the same way then a GCU invite could be possible.

[Wildcat Ryan]

Grand Canyon is way too dubious of an institution. Not only are they the only for-profit in Division I, they're nonsensically a for-profit Christian school. I suspect the school is, to some extent, a fraud and might end up with the same fate as ITT Tech. At any rate, I think GCU is toxic & the Big Sky would be making a mistake in even considering them.

Seattle U and Denver obviously don't have GCU's drawbacks, but I don't really see much upside with them either. They are in big cities, but they aren't big schools and their fan support is tepid even by Big Sky standards.

You're falling for the stale talking points big education typically spews. It's 2016, even "public" institutions are "for profit". It all depends on the views of the BSC presidents. I have personally heard Nelsen say that many large universities operate no different that GCU. If enough BSC Presidents feel the same way then a GCU invite could be possible.

I honestly think that if the Big Sky gets another oly sports member that it will be the Wolverines of Utah Valley. And I wouldn't even be surprised if the Sky and UVU were already in discussions should UND leave for the Summit.

[SuperHornet]

I'll vote for Mines....

[SDHornet]

I honestly think that if the Big Sky gets another oly sports member that it will be the Wolverines of Utah Valley. And I wouldn't even be surprised if the Sky and UVU were already in discussions should UND leave for the Summit.

I would be surprised if they are currently in talks with UVU. Would be a bad add considering who else is on the table...but I guess I wouldn't be shocked given the way the BSC operates.

[Wildcat Ryan]

I honestly think that if the Big Sky gets another oly sports member that it will be the Wolverines of Utah Valley. And I wouldn't even be surprised if the Sky and UVU were already in discussions should UND leave for the Summit.

I would be surprised if they are currently in talks with UVU. Would be a bad add considering who else is on the table...but I guess I wouldn't be shocked given the way the BSC operates.

Thing is UVU is dead center of the Big Sky geographic footprint, + they have expressed interest in creating football (which is something Bakersfield and Grand Canyon probably wouldn't be able to bring to the table) allowing the Big Sky to 14 football members........eventually. And that may actually be one of the conditions to allowing them in.

I too want the Big Sky to look around and take the best option possible, but if the Big Sky does extend an invite it'll probably be to UVU.

[kalm]

Grand Canyon is way too dubious of an institution. Not only are they the only for-profit in Division I, they're nonsensically a for-profit Christian school. I suspect the school is, to some extent, a fraud and might end up with the same fate as ITT Tech. At any rate, I think GCU is toxic & the Big Sky would be making a mistake in even considering them.

Seattle U and Denver obviously don't have GCU's drawbacks, but I don't really see much upside with them either. They are in big cities, but they aren't big schools and their fan support is tepid even by Big Sky standards.

You're falling for the stale talking points big education typically spews. It's 2016, even "public" institutions are "for profit". It all depends on the views of the BSC presidents. I have personally heard Nelsen say that many large universities operate no different that GCU. If enough BSC Presidents feel the same way then a GCU invite could be possible.

There's no doubt we need education reform but for-profits aren't the answer. They represent a billion dollar industry with well healed political connections and lobbyists (see Mitt Romney) that swindle. It's a far bigger scam...

[SuperHornet]

Grand Canyon is way too dubious of an institution. Not only are they the only for-profit in Division I, they're nonsensically a for-profit Christian school. I suspect the school is, to some extent, a fraud and might end up with the same fate as ITT Tech. At any rate, I think GCU is toxic & the Big Sky would be making a mistake in even considering them.

Seattle U and Denver obviously don't have GCU's drawbacks, but I don't really see much upside with them either. They are in big cities, but they aren't big schools and their fan support is tepid even by Big Sky standards.

Ex-squeeze me?

Any private school is by its very nature a "for-profit" institution. The entire basis of the WCC is private Christian schools (or at least private schools that have a history of being such). Notre Dame (as much as I dislike them) have had incredible success across the sports spectrum as a Christian school. And no-one can deny the success Liberty has achieved in recent years. Any attempts to denigrate these schools as a voc-ed school just out for your money are bogus at best. And GCU HAS had some recent athletic success in recent years, having recently made the post-season in men's hoops. (There was one season a few years back where they hosted UOP, another school with a religious past, in the CIT.)

[Mvemjsunpx]

Grand Canyon is way too dubious of an institution. Not only are they the only for-profit in Division I, they're nonsensically a for-profit Christian school. I suspect the school is, to some extent, a fraud and might end up with the same fate as ITT Tech. At any rate, I think GCU is toxic & the Big Sky would be making a mistake in even considering them.

Seattle U and Denver obviously don't have GCU's drawbacks, but I don't really see much upside with them either. They are in big cities, but they aren't big schools and their fan support is tepid even by Big Sky standards.

Ex-squeeze me?

Any private school is by its very nature a "for-profit" institution.

Um… no. Just no.