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I noticed that UCSD have also applied, which means the program must now become funded at a minimum of 80% which is 10 spots. Hawaii also.

Should provide some interesting changes to the Big West schedule and they would probably have to go to a two division format with a championship series.

http://www.bakersfield.com/new...r-Big-West-admission

THE BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN

As expected, Cal State Bakersfield has formally applied for membership to the Big West Conference.

According to Big West Conference Commissioner Dennis Farrell, in a story posted Thursday on the Honolulu Advertiser sports web site, CSUB, the University of Hawaii and UC San Diego all submitted information to be considered for membership by Wednesday's deadline.

CSUB has targeted the BWC as its preferred conference home since it began the process of moving from NCAA Division II to NCAA Division I in 2006. CSUB currently is a Division I independent.

Hawaii, the Advertiser reported, is in serious talks for its football program to join the Mountain West Conference, but it hopes to participate in the BWC for all other sports. Football is not a BWC sport. Hawaii hopes to be in the MWC and BWC for the 2012-13 school year, the newspaper reported.

The Big West Council is scheduled to meet next Wednesday to review information provided by the three prospective members and may make a recommendation to the Board of Directors (presidents and chancellors of BWC member schools) at that time, the Advertiser reported
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That's an amazing step up for UCSD especially. As I recall several years ago they had a referendum that students voted on to fund athletic scholarships ($500) for each athlete in order to participate in D2 athletics. It was a hard sell then but obviously the admin, faculty, and students must be supportive of this move up to D1.

Looks like great news for the Big West overall from a baseball standpoint.
Given what has/is happened with the program at Cal and the current state of funding here in California (being broke); this is a real surprise that in my mind does not make sense. Given the schedule that UCSD has played the past few years; I would not be surprised if their operating cost would likely double, if not more with such a change. Also, the last time I was in SD my recollection was their field was not "top notch."
Last edited by ILVBB
I just checked their website to see if there was any mention of it, but nothing. I know they have been talking about going to D1 for some time. They have raised $200K of the $450K they need to add lights, which is ahead of some other Big West programs. Their field looks OK from Google Earth, but it is difficult to really tell much.

Their schedule would expand by 15 games, but most of the big west travel is up the road so their travel budget would not change much, I am not sure how they account for the scholly $$, but don't think these are cash costs.

They have always run their program like a D1 (and the results show) so it may not be that big of a change. It certainly will help their ability to recruit talent, right now they seem like they get a lot of D1 step downs and Jr College kids.
This is a great move for the BWC. A very good non-football conference... a great baseball league. I'll be very happy to see Hawai'i get out of the geographically-challenged WAC. It makes so much sense for them to eliminate non-football travel to states further inland. As for football, it doesn't look like the MWC will get an automatic BCS bid anytime soon, but it's a step up from the WAC.
I'm just a little surprised that SJSU doesn't pursue a similar deal to get into a better conference. With all of their traditional rivals leaving, the WAC sure won't be the same.
One thing is for sure, nobody in the BWC will be complaining about the baseball facility in Honolulu. I've seen most of the parks in that conference-- the Les matches up very well. Cool
Lights are going in at UCSD as we speak, new plans have been drawn for a upgraded team room/batting facility. New designs for seating area also have been drawn up.

But most important, they have a academic program that fits in with the other UC/CSU mix that the conference has and the athletic programs fit nicely. The Women's S0ccer team just took second in DII championship.
Last edited by Homerun04

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