PSU Magazine Winter 1995

Why is PSU considering joining the Big Sky Conference? The move is being considered because of scheduling difficulties for PSU's individual port teams, and opportunity. P U's athletics program has acted as an independent in titution, requiring each team to develop its own schedule with teams throughout the country. This is costly and has failed to produce natural rivalries that could spur increased community interest in PSU sports. The opportunity comes because the Big ky Conference is losing a key member-Boise State University-on July 1, 1996. University of Idaho also has indicated its intention to leave the conference, causing Big Sky officials to seek new members. What is the Big Sky Conference, and what schools are represented? The Big Sky is an eight-member Division I (Division I-AA in football) athletics conference based in Boise. Founded in 1963, it now con ists of Boise State Univer ity, Eastern Washington University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University, University of Montana, Montana State University, Northern Arizona Univer ity, and Weber State University. What will it cost PSU to join the Big Sky? PSU Athletics Director Randy Nordlof estimate it would cost PSU an extra $1.2 million to $1.4 million per year. How is PSU making its decision about the Big Sky, and what's the timetable? PSU President Ramaley has formed a 14-member committee of faculty, staff, administrators, students, and outside community members. The committee will conside r all options for PSU athletics-joining the Big Sky conference is just one of several. The committee is under direction to consider the financial feasibility of joining the Big Sky without using additional University funds or tudent fee revenues. Committee recommendations will be given to the PSU Intercollegiate Athletics Board (IAB) by mid-February. If PSU does decide to apply to the Big Sky Conference, it would not do so before June 1, 1996, Nordlof ha said. Admittance requires two-thirds vote of Big Sky member institutions. What sports are required for all Big Sky member schools? Big Sky core ports for men are: footba ll, cross country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track, tennis. For women: cross country, basketball, indoor and outdoor track, vo lleyball, tenni . PSU would have to add basketball, indoor track and tenni among its men's sport , and indoor track among it women's ports. Several Big Sky chools have sports that other Big Sky members do not. For examp le, Montana State has a rodeo team, and Northern Arizona has a swimming and diving team. PSU has men's baseball and women's softball, but most Big Sky schools do not. How does PSU's athletics budget compare to other Big Sky schools? According to figures compi led by the PSU Budget Office, PSU's Department of Athletics budget was $3.23 million for 1994-95. That compares to $3.83 million for University of Idaho, and $4.82 million for the University of Montana. Each Big Sky school computes its athletics budget differently, so it's difficult to make direct comparisons. University of Idaho's $3.83 million operational budget does not include out-of-state waiver for student ath letes, for example. Idaho State's 1994-95 budget is about $3.5 million, which includes $1.2 million in state appropriations. How does PSU match up to other Big Sky schools in terms of enrollment and football stadium capacity? Among current Big Sky schools, P U's 14,428 enro llment would place it second to Northern Arizona (18,500) and just ahead of Boise State (14,250). Other enrollments are: Weber tare (14,000), Idaho State (11,513 ), Idaho (11,448), Montana (10,615), Montana State (10,600), and Eastern Washington (8,000). Boise State's Bronco Stadium is the largest in the Big Sky, with a capacity of 22,600. Civic Stadium, where PSU plays its footba ll games, has 20,000 permanent seats, with the capability to seat another 10,000. All other Big Sky schools have stadiums with capacities of 17,500 or less. D 8 PSU Magazine PHOTO RY JERRY HART Jack Garrison, co-chair of the Big Sky Option committee schools share with PSU common philosophies of education and ervice to their communities. They're all go d institutions and all are important to their states." By hav ing a link to Portland , she notes, Big Sky schoo ls would have better connections to their alumni, many of whom have relocated to the Portland area. Ramaley also sees a fo rtified athletics program as a means of helping PSU recruit more underrepresented minorities fo r both PSU academic and athletics programs. "Student-athletes are some of the best ambassador for recruiting uch people to PSU. They can talk about what it takes to go to college. They can peak to young people in ways the rest of us can't," she says. Ramaley and thousands of others with a vital interest in PSU athletics hope to reach common ground by February, o PSU sports can embark a more clear, concise path. "As time moves on ," says Big Sky commiss i ner Stephenson, "I think PSU and the Big ky will find that we have m re in common than we originally thought." D (Brian White is a staff writer in PSU's Office of Public Relations.)