Interesting to think about who would come into the WCC. My comment about Seattle being a Jesuit college did not mean to infer that the WCC is a jesuit conference, rather that Seattle and Regis are the only two western jesuit colleges (of the Association of Western Jesuit Colleges) that are not already playing in the conference. Since Regis is DII that leaves Seattle as the only Jesuit college able to join the WCC. I don't think the conference has any private or christian requirements, but all the schools are christian. The travel to Denver does seem to be a bit much compared to all other travel, but the trip from Gonzaga to San Diego is about the same. What about schools like UCSB or Portland State?
I guess a little history is in order. there have been a lot of teams drop in and out of the WCC since it was founded in the early 50's Pacific, San Jose State, CS Fresno, USCB, Nevada, UNLV, and Seattle were all early members. At one point the Cal system schools decided to get big, play football, and formed the Big West with other Cal school and Pacific went with them. Seattle dropped out of D1, the Nevada schools went their own way, and some schools like Portland, San Diego, Pepperdine, and Gonzaga came into the conference the 70's. Some WCC schools do play football, but not at the D1 level, I think. Then the conference stayed the same for over 30 years. I don't think it was particularly Catholic, Christian, or even a religious thing, more a demographic alignment. Portland, for instance, probably has as many or more students who don't call themselves Catholic than do. The big Public schools went one way, the relatively small private schools went another. (Portland, BTW, is by far the smallest, and would remain so if any of the new schools came in. ) Portland State isn't a fit there, because it's the largest school in Oregon (yes, bigger than Oregon or Oregon State), plays Football, and doesn't play other WCC sports. there's also a question of facilities, which aren't very good. Their Basketball arena is about the size of a HS gym and the other facilities aren't a whole lot better. Besides, it's largely a commuter school, and probably doesn't have much in common with the rest. Pacific now wants out of the Big West because it's not a fit with them. I think they want to go big time football, don't they? Pacific would be pretty close to the size of many of the other WCC schools at 7-8K I also think mention of Nevada coming back was made a few years ago, but I don't hear that much anymore. Of course I didn't ask, either. Denver is only a little bigger than the current members, I think it was originally methodist, but I think it's state affiliated or at least non-sectarian now, but did you know the official corporate name is still Colorado Seminary?
Thanks for the background -- great info. Adding UCSB and UOP would be great for the league... or at least the way I see it. Cal Poly would be another great add, but they are a big time football school so I'm assuming that wouldn't mesh well with the rest of the league. I haven't heard they want to go big time football, but its a possibility, however, they may want to take a long hard look at San Jose State and the struggles that school is having trying to compete at D1.
Haha Well, not now, but several BW schools are talking about going 1-A Cal Poly has an expansion into the 20-25K range in the next few years in its master plan. That's not a lot smaller than some of the BIG10 schools. and I'm not sure about each school in the BIG West. that might better be discussed by someone who knows that conference. I do know that they dropped Football as a conference a few years ago and that some of that conference want to re-enter 1-A or are playing football elsewhere. The ones that do will form a conference (I vaguely remember something about a merger) and others will leave or do another merger. I'm pretty sure things won't stay as they are.
Football is huge at Cal Poly and the school would never give it up. You don't have to be a big D1 program to have a program that is "huge" to the campus and community.
Cal Poly and UC Davis are the only Big West schools that currently play football. To join I-A a school has to average 15,000 in home attendance over a two year period. Cal Poly's stadium will have 22,000 seats next year, which is about the same as three of the most recent schools to join I-A (FIU, FAU and WKU). UC Davis has plans to expand their stadium to 30,000 seats, but I'm not sure what the status of that is.
I initially would rule out Denver just because currently all the schools are in states that border the Pacific Ocean. I know it's not the purpose of the conference name or anything, but I think it's sweet that all the West Coast Conference schools are in states that are actually the west coast. Cal Poly would be a good fit. They love their football as does USD. Would help build a rivalry between the schools in that, sure, football isn't major but the game could bring bragging rights across the institution as the "WCC champs". Santa Barabara is the only other Big West school I could see that's a great fit. A big pickup for men's soccer, hardly a letdown in women's soccer and will be solid in every other sport as well. I also think Seattle would be an intersting school - definitely a department that looks to be on the rise. Portland State doesn't seem like a WCC school to me, whatever that means.
So, we're settled, UCSB and Cal Poly join the league. Any other major issues this group needs to solve? We seem to work quickly!
Cal Poly is trying to join the WAC, not the WCC. This is due to football. The WAC is FBS (formally Division I-A) and Cal Poly currently plays as a FCS (formally Division I-AA). It will all come down to football.