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Post by aztecalum on Sept 27, 2011 7:37:05 GMT -8
It amaze me with all it's assets (250K alumni, home to some of the wealthiest people on the planet, home to one of the best cities in the world, SDSU has not mustered up the political support to be a major player on the west coast? When it comes to conference realignment, the consideration of dropping D1 football, etc. we don't have support from local movers and shakers in the San Diego community? SDSU being in a BCS conference is good for the San Diego business community. Looking at the attached article makes me wonder why SDSU does not have same type of political support? www.newsobserver.com/2011/09/27/1520816/ecu-recruits-hunt.html
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Post by 1611Luginbill on Sept 27, 2011 7:58:02 GMT -8
I think it is mostly because SDSU is one of maybe 45 public 4 year colleges in the state. It's hard for a state government to play favorites among 45 siblings.
As far as the link you posted is concerned, it is easier for the state government in California to simply mandate cuts, rather than seek out new opportunities to make major college sports profitable and revenue neutral to the state.
In smaller states, where there may be less than a handful of major 4 year colleges, the sports programs are a source of pride and state identity. In CA? Not so much.
As far as local support, I think SDSU gets some local support. It basically does not benefit politicians that much to champion SDSU's causes. In some cases, it actually would hurt a politician to support all things SDSU.
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Post by aztecs76 on Sept 27, 2011 8:03:23 GMT -8
Winning solves so many issues.....!!
Go Aztecs..!!
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Post by k5james on Sept 27, 2011 8:06:41 GMT -8
Frankly, I don't care. I don't want us to "Baylor" our way into the big time.
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Post by aztecfankrishnan on Sept 27, 2011 8:11:33 GMT -8
I think it is mostly because SDSU is one of maybe 45 public 4 year colleges in the state. It's hard for a state government to play favorites among 45 siblings. As far as the link you posted is concerned, it is easier for the state government in California to simply mandate cuts, rather than seek out new opportunities to make major college sports profitable and revenue neutral to the state. In smaller states, where there may be less than a handful of major 4 year colleges, the sports programs are a source of pride and state identity. In CA? Not so much. As far as local support, I think SDSU gets some local support. It basically does not benefit politicians that much to champion SDSU's causes. In some cases, it actually would hurt a politician to support all things SDSU. This is all true. In addition, there are two other major colleges in San Diego. Thus, many of the political leaders aren't SDSU graduates. Throw in all the transplants and it's a much different situation then most cities outside of CA. With that said, I'm suprised the SDSU alumni aren't more vocal? There are scores of multi-millionaire graduates of SDSU, but they don't seem to support the sports programs like other schools and many of the major big time donors to the sports programs aren't even graduates of SDSU.
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Post by azteca on Sept 27, 2011 8:53:43 GMT -8
I have to disagree that most of San Diego's leaders aren't San Diego State grads. The entire Board of Supervisors are Aztec alums, as well as the Mayor of San Diego. That's some pretty strong clout. I just don't think many of them are rah, rah types except to climb on the bandwagon(see basketball)every so often.
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Post by Fishn'Aztec on Sept 27, 2011 9:05:18 GMT -8
You have a lot of detractors from the UC system in the background. The UC elitists will rag on SDSU in any way to protect the SoCal recruiting area. The last thing they & their buddies in the NW want is a fully competitive (AQ/BCS) SDSU recruiting on an equal footing with them. It's not hard to see & they can say what they want but this is a lot of it!
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Post by AztecSports95 on Sept 27, 2011 9:14:28 GMT -8
The Mayor supports us
;D
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Post by aztecalum on Sept 27, 2011 9:28:12 GMT -8
Not sure i buy the argument Calif has so many schools politicians cannot hitch their wagon to one school? In North Carolina alone their are 17 schools in the North Carolina university system and scores of private schools (Duke, Wake Forrest, Davidison, Elon, etc.). In this case two NC governors have pledged their support to lobby for ECU to join a BCS conference. ECU is one of the few D1 football schools in NC non in a BCS conference and everyone see the financial and academic benefits of joining a BCS conference. Of course UNC, Duke, North Carolina State, Wake Forrest would not want them to join the Big East as recruiting will become tougher but political support over shadows what those schools may say privately. News came out today the Conn Gov is talking to the ACC. I hope the new president of SDSU can build political relationships the university can leverage in the future?
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Post by aztecfankrishnan on Sept 27, 2011 9:49:00 GMT -8
You have a lot of detractors from the UC system in the background. The UC elitists will rag on SDSU in any way to protect the SoCal recruiting area. The last thing they & their buddies in the NW want is a fully competitive (AQ/BCS) SDSU recruiting on an equal footing with them. It's not hard to see & they can say what they want but this is a lot of it! This is very true, which is why political support from San Diego politicians is critical to stand-up against these forces. Mayor Sanders has little clout outside of San Diego. Where are the San Diego based CA state Senators and SD based state and federal Congressmen/women? I have never heard any of them stand against the injustice of the BCS on SDSU's behalf. We all know they have other worries, but college football is big business and they should be protecting SD's interests.
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Post by bearfoot on Sept 27, 2011 9:52:05 GMT -8
For one thing, there are plenty of "important folks" on campus that would be happier if the athletic program went away.
I'd bet at most other schools, not in Cali, the campus is pretty united.
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Post by bearfoot on Sept 27, 2011 9:58:11 GMT -8
Not sure i buy the argument Calif has so many schools politicians cannot hitch their wagon to one school? In North Carolina alone their are 17 schools in the North Carolina university system and scores of private schools (Duke, Wake Forrest, Davidison, Elon, etc.). In this case two NC governors have pledged their support to lobby for ECU to join a BCS conference. ECU is one of the few D1 football schools in NC non in a BCS conference and everyone see the financial and academic benefits of joining a BCS conference. Of course UNC, Duke, North Carolina State, Wake Forrest would not want them to join the Big East as recruiting will become tougher but political support over shadows what those schools may say privately. News came out today the Conn Gov is talking to the ACC. I hope the new president of SDSU can build political relationships the university can leverage in the future? North Carolina is way way different than Cali. But, I guess that is obvious. This isn't a political section, but it is clear that there are way more Donna Fry types, (build a park, not a Super Bowl stadium) in Cali, than is Carolina.
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Post by GothamCityRogue on Sept 27, 2011 10:21:35 GMT -8
Not sure i buy the argument Calif has so many schools politicians cannot hitch their wagon to one school? In North Carolina alone their are 17 schools in the North Carolina university system and scores of private schools (Duke, Wake Forrest, Davidison, Elon, etc.). In this case two NC governors have pledged their support to lobby for ECU to join a BCS conference. ECU is one of the few D1 football schools in NC non in a BCS conference and everyone see the financial and academic benefits of joining a BCS conference. Of course UNC, Duke, North Carolina State, Wake Forrest would not want them to join the Big East as recruiting will become tougher but political support over shadows what those schools may say privately. News came out today the Conn Gov is talking to the ACC. I hope the new president of SDSU can build political relationships the university can leverage in the future? As you know, California has two university systems; The CSU and UC. CSU system is composed of 23 institutions. This system alone outnumbers the NC system. Add another 10 from the UC, 33. Nearly double the number of the public system of NC. Next up are the privates. Let's start with the State's more famous private Us: USC, Stanford, Cal Tech, Sta. Clara, St. Mary's, LMU, USF, USD, Pepperdine, Whittier, Occidental, Redlands...you know what? There are just way too many to count and list. (For the record, that number was already up to 45. I didn't come close to including all the Liberal Art colleges and religious colleges in the state, way too many) Now, do you see why you should buy the fact the mass number of higher education institutions weakens support for one school specifically. The argument is very valid. There are so many alumni politicians from universities/colleges from all over the State that there is no solidification for any one school. If anything, the UC's draw the most support from our politicos.
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Post by GothamCityRogue on Sept 27, 2011 10:24:41 GMT -8
P.S. also, look at population totals for the entire state of NC. I wouldn't be surprised if it's population size equaled that of S.D. and L.A. counties combine. That will tell you why two governors of NC have had time to get involved in the politics of conference realignment, upgrading, re-evaluation whatever.
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Post by AztecSports95 on Sept 27, 2011 10:24:43 GMT -8
You have a lot of detractors from the UC system in the background. The UC elitists will rag on SDSU in any way to protect the SoCal recruiting area. The last thing they & their buddies in the NW want is a fully competitive (AQ/BCS) SDSU recruiting on an equal footing with them. It's not hard to see & they can say what they want but this is a lot of it! This is very true, which is why political support from San Diego politicians is critical to stand-up against these forces. Mayor Sanders has little clout outside of San Diego. Where are the San Diego based CA state Senators and SD based state and federal Congressmen/women? I have never heard any of them stand against the injustice of the BCS on SDSU's behalf. We all know they have other worries, but college football is big business and they should be protecting SD's interests. Mayor Sanders has little clout outside of San Diego. No?
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Post by GothamCityRogue on Sept 27, 2011 10:32:52 GMT -8
SDSU is a destination school for thousands. I know, I'm an admissions advisor for a local CSU. And unlike other CSU's in major metropolises (L.A., S.F., Sac and S.J.) SDSU over shadows it's UC and private neighbors. Cal State L.A. is shadowed by UCLA and USC. Sac St by UC Davis. SFSU by UC Berkeley (UCSF not so much since it's a grad school only) SJSU by UCSC and Stanford. It is surprising that SDSU doesn't get much more political support. But it really all comes down to your administration and head honcho.
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Post by AztecSports95 on Sept 27, 2011 10:41:06 GMT -8
I don't understand this thread. How do you KNOW there is no political support? How do you KNOW they have not approach the local deligation about reaching out for them. The article referenced in the original post on this thread talks about a former politician who is now a lawyer that ECU is going to HIRE to help them. He's not using his political weight for the good of the region. He's making a buck.
A lot of the things that go on in these situations - conference realignment, jumping conferences, etc. - have to be done quietly. People on this board criticizing the administration for things in which they really have very little knowledge is such a tired act.
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Post by azteca on Sept 27, 2011 11:11:22 GMT -8
I may be mistaken here, but ti seems to me that President Weber reached out to the community on a continuing basis, which was almost totally lacking with previous presidents. Let's hope the new guy continues that and takes it up a couple more notches!
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Post by aztecalum on Sept 27, 2011 11:28:17 GMT -8
Certainly not comparing NC to Calif, too obvious they are different in many ways. The point i was making is that NC has 5 division I football programs (UNC, Duke, NCSU, Wake Forrest & ECU) and only ECU is not in a BCS conference. ECU has gone on record they want to join the Big East and have enlisted the former Gov (yes he works for a lobby) and the CURRENT Gov to support them. Speaking of politics, ECU did NOT have a medical school or dental school 20 years ago but due to political support fought the NC legislature and had both approved. Btw, yes UNC was against this happening. Just surprised politicians that represent a region as large as San Diego have not been more public in their support for SDSU?
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Post by 1611Luginbill on Sept 27, 2011 11:32:05 GMT -8
Just surprised politicians that represent a region as large as San Diego have not been more public in their support for SDSU? I'm not surprised at all. It doesn't help them politically to support SDSU on real important issues. It doesn't help them to champion SDSU.
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