Are we in Big Sky Country? No thank God. How far is Sac State fromBozeman, Montana? I don?t know the exact distance, give me a break it?sfreaking Montana. But I do know it?s in another time zone. So why arethe majority of our sports? programs (both men and women?s) members ofthe Big Sky Conference? Here are nine schools that are currently membersof the Big Sky Conference: Eastern Washington, Weber State, CSNorthridge, Northern Arizona, Portland State, Idaho State, MontanaState, University of Montana, and of course the buzzing Hornets of SacState. See the point? Besides CS Northridge (whom is scheduled to leaveto the Big West Conference next year) there are no other schools fromCalifornia.

Sure I know Sac State isn?t a powerhouse program that can demand anyconference it wants, but surely we are on a different level then whenthe school joined the Big Sky in 1996. In 1996, Sac State was just happyto belong to a Division I conference. Now with highly touted recruitsjoining the programs and coaches that expect to win, optimism is at anall-time high.

We should eighty-six the Big Sky and all its excessive travelling infavor of the Big West Conference.

I can hear all you cynics now; what a myopic idea, he?s crazy, we can?tjust walk right into the Big West. Well actually, we just might be ableto. I heard through sources close to the men?s basketball program thatthe Big West is actually developing a plan to have an all Californiaconference that will hopefully include Sac State.

How will this benefit the sports? programs you ask?

For starters, have you seen the caravan of travelling Hornet fans ataway games? No you haven?t, because it does not exist. When the Hornetshit the road it is literally the team against the opponent?s wholestate. I?m not blaming the fans this time because, let’s face it,Eastern Washington and Montana State are not that close. You can?t jumpin your Civic and bust a road trip real quick, calling Southwest wouldbe more realistic. Yet, on the other hand, road trips to such schools asthe University of Pacific, Cal Poly SLO, and Long Beach State would bemore probable.

Another bonus is the fact that the Big West is held in a higher regardnationally then the cold Big Sky. ESPN currently has a contract tobroadcast Big West Conference basketball games nationally, but the samecan?t be said of the Big Sky. Sportscenter highlights of Rene Jacque ona breakaway slam-dunk would be refreshing wouldn?t it? The nationalrecognition would be a huge recruiting tool.

The switch to the Big West would also be more cost effective. Are youlistening President Donald Gerth? A more regional conference woulddecrease the need for plane travel in exchange for cheaper bus charters.Not only would the travel costs decrease but student-athletes wouldbenefit as well. Less travel means less class time missed. That woulddefinitely help the student-athletes in their studies.

Let?s take the time to thank the Big Sky Conference for letting us in tothe world of Division I conferences. But now is a golden opportunity forSac State to graduate to bigger and better things. The baseball andsoftball teams are already competitive members of the Big West andhopefully Sac State’s other sports will follow. An invitation to the BigWest would help Sac State build something that is lacking-tradition andnatural rivalries. Similar to the Causeway Classic in football, a localrivalry would do wonders for the programs. Currently it is impossiblefor any type of rivalry to form; it?s kind of hard when all youropponents reside in a different state. This is California; whereeverything bad is good, where we barbecue for any occasion, we can dothis. Sac State administrators should cut through any red tape that mayexist and get it done, Hornet athletics needs this desperately.