Long Beach State Athletics!: Re: Hawaii & the Moutntain West

No threat...they are out after the 2025-26 season, unless both parties agree to continue. From the articles I've read, UH wants those 4 programs to continue in the Big West but probably without travel subsidies or at least a reduction in them. Big West presidents will likely vote on that issue.

But, if they can't strike a deal with the Big West, can they entice Pepperdine to join the Big West? That would mean all the schools are in So Cal and maintain their stature in MVB.

Or, would they have 2 years to add a 6th member like the PAC2 (in football) and still retain their auto bid? Maybe another So Cal school could start up MVB (I'm looking at you Aztecs, LMU or USD) and become the 6th member...

Previous Message

the Mountain West is flush with cash. Hawaii likely getting exit fees pays, no travel subsidies. i.e. a short term financial decision.

1) Water Polo. No big deal. Hawaii is good, but so what, Big West still has more than 6 teams, and the auto-bid gets easier. WOuld not be a good move for Hawaii to leave. Big West should continue to have Hawaii pay affiliate fees, and travel subs. Good luck in one of those other conferences to them if they leave, lol

2) Beach VB. Prefer Hawaii stays, but again not a big deal, the Big West has 6 teams to qualify for an auto bid. Beach VB is a tournament based sport anyway. the path for the auto-bid gets easier for Beach and Poly, and maybe one of the other programs. Big West position should be to continue to have Hawaii pay affiliate fees

3) MVB. this is the tricky one. What if Hawaii threatens to leave if they make demands? Again, I'd say go pound sand. As it is Hawaii hosts disproportionate BWCTs in Hawaii, that needs to stop now, Hawaii could go to the MPSF, leaving the Big West with not enough teams to qualify. SO unless the BIg West could convince a MPSF team to join, then all the Big West teams would apply to the MPSF which would be that horribly too big conference again or maybe Hawaii would try to prevent them from joining, lol. Hopefully Hawaii stays, and agrees to Big West affiliate terms. With the landscape of college sports and direction of things, I don't think the Big West should bend over for any demands Hawaii might make of any sport. The Mountain West will not end up being stable anyway, and enjoy the trips to Wyoming and El Paso vs. flying in to LA all the time.