Possible Conference Expansion.

College athletics is always changing. The last twenty years have seen many schools left conferences, chasing the almighty dollar. So let's take a look at possible expansion for the Big West and West Coast conferences.

Big West:

Currently the Big West has nine schools, all in California. The Big West thinks small, so they will only admit schools in California. In terms of scheduling, a nine team conference is a nightmare, with one team always having the night off, from BW competition. Also some schools have to make two trips up north, to Pacific and Davis, instead of one trip. That means schools are spending more money than they need to.

I will list schools the Big West may look to add, as their 10th member. But a few things to keep in mind. Schools will be in CA. Schools must sponsor all seven BW priority sports, M & W soccer and basketball, baseball, softball, women's volleyball. Schools need to make some sort of geographic sense. The Big West has five LA area schools. Travel partners should be UOP-Davis, SB-CP, then a rotation of the five LA area schools.

Cal State Bakersfield-Bake will be a full D-1 member on July 1, 2010. They would be a perfect geographic fit; travel partners with Northridge. Nice facilities. The only game in town, no competition with other schools, like in the LA area.

In strictly a women's basketball point of view, they would be a very strong contender for the BW championship.

But Bake made the move up to D-1 about five years ago and they still haven't gotten an invitation from the Big West. Why? Bake's men's basketball is terrible. They would be a RPI drain on the BW. While they play in a nice off campus arena, they don't draw jack. 2,000 fans in a 10,000 seat arena is nothing. 2009 was Bake's first year for baseball. They of course struggled, so they would be an RPI drain. They barely have a baseball facility; they have the field, dugouts, and some bleachers. Otherwise, they have a long way to go before calling it a stadium.

My prediction: Bakersfield is the BW's last resort option for a 10th member.

Sac. St.:

They have all the BW priority sports. But terrible facilities. Basketball plays in a 1,500 seat high school gym. Both teams are terrible. In WBB, Sac St hasn't finished a season with double digits wins in over a decade. Though they may reach that level this year.

Students voted for an arena but Sac St president did a bait and switch, instead spending the money on building a football field house, instead of an arena.

The only way Sac St would come into the Big West is, they either drop football or decide to go independent in football, like Cal Poly and UC Davis. Ok, both CP and Davis are in the Great West for football. But the Great West won't be a conference, after a couple schools move to other conferences.

Sac St would only come into the BW, if they can no longer afford all the travel cost of being in the Big Sky. Even though there is a budget crunch in CA, Sac St is staying on course with the Big Sky.

In terms of travel partners, Sac St. doesn't make sense with any school. Adding Sac. St to the BW, means three teams in Northern California. The likely travel partner would be Northridge.

My prediction: Sac. St. has football fantasies and they won't drop out of the Big Sky.

San Jose St.- Former BW member, now a member of the WAC. They would have to drop football in order to come back to the BW. But they seem to be focused on making their football program as strong as possible. The money from Boise St BCS team, will help.

Good facilities. But both basketball teams have struggled of late. Though their men's team is having a turn around season, this year. But the women's program is terrible. They maybe looking for a new coach soon.

As with Sac St., adding San Jose St. would mean three Northern California teams in the Big West.

My prediction- Not happening. San Jose St. won't drop football within the next 5-7 years. So they won't be come members of the Big West.

WCC:

The WCC will only add small private schools. I also believe they will add two schools to make ten. Since nine schools makes for tough scheduling. The WCC currently has eight schools, all schools are on the West Coast, meaning all schools are in states that touch the Pacific Ocean. I know Cal Stat Long Beach alums and fans are too stupid to understand that point.

Seattle and Denver are two private schools. Seattle is making the move back up to D1. They are Washington so, geographically they make sense.

Denver will be kicked out of the Sun Belt Conference because they don't sponsor enough sports. While Denver is a western school, they aren't on the West Coast. I doubt Denver will be invited.

My prediction:

This may seem like a very long shot, but I could see this happening:

Seattle will be admitted into the WCC, it is only a matter of when.

UOP will be the other team admitted to the WCC. Why? UOP has a very good men's program and a good arena. Travel partners in the WCC will be LMU-Pepperdine, UOP-St. Mary's, USF-Santa Clara, Seattle-Gonzaga and Portland-USD.

If UOP does get into the WCC, then what school would the BW add?