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Date Posted: 23:53:19 11/11/01 Sun
Author: GauchoFreg
Subject: Re: Grass Roots - or - initiated by school
In reply to: BMF 's message, "Grass Roots - or - initiated by school" on 17:15:37 11/11/01 Sun

I think both of you are on the right track on understanding the current status of the BW in hoops and other sports, and what potential it has. Alumni support & involvement is critical and if you look at the schools really only USU is strong in this area. Of all the other schools I really feel that UCSB has the most potential to achieve similar support and become a much greater athletic power. Of course I am biased to an extent but I also have some concrete reasons for this:
1. Unlike most schools in the Big West, UCSB is not a commuter school and Isla Vista is definitely a college town. The importance of this is when you live on or near your university and the entire town revolves around the school, the relationship with the school becomes much stronger, leading for greater chance for support after graduation.
2. UCSB is the only sports option in their area. Unlike the LA area schools which have to compete with UCLA & USC, plus pro teams, for sports fans, the Gauchos are the only show in town. When they were good ten years ago, they had no problem selling out the T-Dome. If they can compete, there is at least great potential to get local support.
3. The school itself; Top 50 in academics in US News Report, on the beach, the women; definitely an assett for recruiting.

Again, the reasons above are why I think UCSB has the POTENTIAL to be a very strong athletic program in non-football sports year in and year out, they aren't there now.
Some reasons I think they aren't there:
1. The bigger sports fans (that will provide support as alums) tend not to go to UCSB or other Big West schools, they go to the UCLAs, Utahs, etc.
2. UCSB still is weaning itself off the anti-establishment, anti-sports mentality it had in the 60s & 70s. See the Cal Bears and how great their football team has been since the 1950s.
3. Lack of tradition. Nice little run in the late 80s/early 90s, that's it.
4. Lack of a major arena. Although the Thunderdome is near & dear to my heart and is still far & away the loudest (not to mention funnest) sports arena I've ever been in, as for recruiting, it still has a very gym-like feel and just doesn't shout Big Time to a potential recruit.
5. The Big West itself. Since UNLV left, no team has made a real splash on the national scene. Not certain, but I don't think we've even had a sweet 16 team since Vegas.

I feel that eventually UCSB will be consistently in the top three of the conference sharing time with USU, Long Beach, Pacific, & UCI.

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