I agree with your attendance point, I think it’s telling that Davis is getting similar numbers to them (and would imagine could be slightly better with an FBS move). I think us being in SJSU’s conference could be really good for both schools in forming a rivalry. I don’t necessarily see the smaller capacity as the worst thing ever (considering it’s similar to NDSU now). Getting a stadium similarly sized to SJSU and we could probably hover similarly or higher. Even with that attendance SJSU has been a pretty good competitor in the MW too and been able to recruit well. I think it speaks to the playing level and quality of facility no matter the size. That new addition you can say what you want about but seems to mirror the Davis move with building our new athletic training center next to the stadium.

I think adding Davis for football could be one of the most positive additions for Reno and SJSU

I think the SJSU renovation was spot-on what they needed and looks great. They adjusted to the reality of their situation.

The UCLA game, assuming it holds, is going to be mighty interesting. Lots of Ags in the area. I know a lot who'd go.

I'm in agreement with a small capacity at Aggie Stadium. I think the planned renovations are right on target for what we need.

I've always thought our issue was getting students and alums to love football (and the gameday experience in general). UM, MSU, NDSU and the entire South love football and their gameday experience. If there is no passion for the experience itself, it really hard to show up for stuff consistently. Davis has shown the ability to show up for select major events (Stanford basketball 2005, D2 Break-the-Record Nights, Causeway football, as examples).

The potential is definitely there. And I think we will experience some really cool stuff at Davis in our lifetimes.

agreed! I think an Aggie stadium with 17k-20k capacity should be the target, at least to initially join the MW and expand the stadium.

So…with Sac St going to the MAC how do we feel?

https://x.com/rossdellenger/status/2022379289820147998?s=46

we will be in the MW by 2028-2030 once we start or finish stadium expansion. If coaches on the team are retweeting things about Davis being in the MW for football, the team is talking about that as the goal, and plans to expand the stadium are already mapped out, I’d imagine sac moving is a bit of a motivator but not majorly. We will be there, just taking a smarter approach than throwing 15 million to join ANY conference. We are in a good spot. I think the sooner the better honestly.

One coach.

And a few years lead time for Sac St. to have the Sac market to itself.

I have lots of thoughts on this and did a real deep dive on Sac leadership and financial condition. They seem to think they can attract out of state tuition payers with this move. Not a snowball's chance in hell that brand awareness pays off the costs to the school of moving to the MAC.. Wouldn't be surprised if we see SacSt relegated back to the FCS as a cost saving measure in 5-10 years. Also, I was under the impression their new stadium/FBS entry funding was contingent on a PAC12 invite?? Did that change under the radar? Lots of things not adding up. Don't be surprised if SacSt is asking tax payers to foot the bill here soon. Doesn't seem to be popular amongst the student base who care at all about academics either.

The MAC would not/isn’t the same draw as the MW. Also, I’m sure people said the same stuff when sac went to d1 first before Davis but it ended up okay. I think sac has the space for 2 markets. + Davis has a large alumni base.

As long as we join the MW soon, I wouldn’t be worried. 5-10 more years of FCS and we might have more of an issue if sac is successful.

We are probably the only school looking to move up that’s giving all the reasons we can’t instead of providing and creating the why we can and will be successful.

Sounds like the MAC Council of Presidents can vote this down (?)

How do I feel? I know how I'd feel if Davis was paying $15 million to join a conference like the MAC. :death:

Before you go crazy with the MW talk, just keep in mind the conference might not even exist as it does now when the next TV deals are negotiated. The conference realignment isn't close to being done. There are real geographical and financial problems out there in college football that need to be fixed. All I'm saying is be patient. Who knows maybe in 2030...Stanford, Cal, UCLA....all are looking for a new home...and they might be looking for a high academic school in a growing TV market is all I'm saying.

I feel good about where we are, and the direction we're headed.

When the news broke about UCD joining the MW in all sports but football (except those the MW doesn't sponsor) and with an option to join the MW in football, my memory is that most of the contributors to this site were positive, regardless of what Sac State was doing, or attempting to do at the time..

That was followed by a facilities plan designed to benefit several sports in addition to football. Again, my memory is that most everyone here on AST were pretty pleased. Critiques were mostly quibbles about things in the concept drawings that posters felt could be improved.

Rocko DeLucca and Gary May were pretty universally lauded for moving in the right direction and in a well thought out manner to elevate the whole athletic program.

What's changed? Sac State moving to the MAC? NDSU moving to the MW?

Sac State seems that maybe, after shooting themselves in the foot for several months, they MIGHT actually get to FBS. Which is no more than they said they wanted from the get go. Few of us here at AST thought the Hornets going FBS was a bad thing for them or us. We mostly questioned their approach, as contrasted with ours. Additionally, Sac State is paying a lot more for a whole lot less, all things considered. Few of us here seem to think the MAC is on a level with the MW or PAC 2.0, which were Sac's original "sure things". For another, UCD will be receiving media money for a few years while Sac won't. And, if the MAC doesn't work, they'll probably have a hefty exit fee to move somewhere else. Finally, Sac will have the same problem with the Big West that UCD had. DeLucca talked about it at one point and a couple of people here have mentioned it. Except for Cal Poly, Sac will be the only BW school that has to support a football program. And an FBS program eats even more resources than an FCS program. At all the other schools, resources that Sac devotes to football can support basketball, soccer, baseball, etc. Worse, the other schools AND the conference don't consider football and its need in their decision making. Are we really envious?

NDSU going FBS is a shoe that has been waiting to drop for a long time. In addition to winning 10 of the last 15 FCS championships, the Bison have 5 D2 championships and 3 "small college" national titles. NDSU has been a big dog forever; the surprise is that it's taken them so long to go FBS. Doing so, as many here have noted helps our chances for a national championship in the short term. Longterm, it likely improves the MW as a football conference, which may make the conference more viable, and more desirable, if and when UCD goes FBS.

As Sailorgabe keeps pointing out, the world of college athletics isn't done changing. There's obviously plan in place, one that probably was well considered, and which I assume will be under continual review as the changes keep taking place.

So, yeah, I still feel good.