Big West commissioner Dennis Farrell wears neutral black when on the sidelines with conference brass like UCR’s Brian Wickstrom in the blue windbreaker. Photo courtesy of the Big West Conference.
Much like the dad in a house full of occasionally squabbling siblings, Big West Commissioner Dennis Farrell has seen his league settle down after a couple of proposed adoptions came and went. At one time Farrell’s alma mater San Diego State was coming in, along with Boise State (both were former BWC partners), and Hawaii.
With no football in the current BWC lineup, it would have been an awkward wedding that eventually never happened. Result was that both schools had to forfeit their deposits (tortured analogy—contracts for the photographer, caterer, band and rings). That bill was for $3.3 million which will get whacked up by the nine remaining members.
Farrell and his family have a long connection to the LBC, including both his wife and brother graduating from Long Beach State and even his grandpa who had a grocery store on Signal Hill back in the 1920’s.
The Big West is just one of 32 NCAA conferences and most have undergone some sort of realignment. Talking to the dinosaurs of the Long Beach Century Club recently the Commish admitted, “We’ve certainly had our fair share of fun over the last three years.” While the football issue derailed Boise and SDSU the good news was that the BWC was still able to collect exit fees from the two schools and despite the loss of Pacific to the WCC, the conference treasury gained $3.3 million dollars. Not a life changing amount but a nice cushion, albeit a one time infusion since Farrell says the league is happy at the number nine preferring to focus on what the coaches say they want, more TV.
The deals now include to be determined ESPN broadcasts, a 20-game annual package with Fox Sports, a ESPN3 package to offer 60 events annually to provide events digitally through that service plus their home grown Big West TV which shows one camera angles on volleyball, soccer, and some not yet selected basketball games. That would raise the number of games televised annually from about 13 to about 90.
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DUSTING THE NAPKIN—The marketers at the Beach get up early and go to bed late trying to figure out how to sell more seats, especially for events in the rows, aisles and bleachers of the iconic Pyramid. Volleyball had their best gate in a long time drawing 2,421 for the match against Hawaii with Fox Sports West TV to boot. The crowd was bolstered by the tee-leaf waving folks wearing green. Good news for the cash box but bad news in the box score– 25-11, 25-21, and 25-16 all Rainbow Wahine. The Beach did get back the twin blondes in the middle, Bre Mackie and Haleigh Hampton. , Alas the layoff hurt the “hustle and flow” and even good work by Delainey Aigner-Swesey and Chisom Okpala (each had nine kills for Long Beach State (8-8, 1-2 Big West) could stem the tide…
Working our way up the ‘Mid food chain, the women’s basketball team will host a pre-season party in the Pyramid on Friday, October 25, with food from the friendly sponsor Naples Rib Company. The event is $20 per person and includes all-you-can eat/drink live entertainment from former 49er and musician Lakin Saucedo, personal facility tours with the women’s basketball team and coaches. RSVP, to former player and new director of operations Tipesa Moorer at (562)985-2210.
The gentlemen of hoop are still rehearsing “Kumbaya, My Lord” looking for happiness and team work that went MIA last year. One new ticket wrinkle is collection of tickets called the “Revenge Plan” to inspire the home against teams that beat the Beach last season, the matches on Dec. 3 vs. Creighton, Dec. 19 vs. USC, and Jan. 9 vs. UC Irvine.
Also on the calendar is the 49er Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Long Beach Arena on Tuesday, November 12. Inductees include Troy Tulowitzki, the late great George Allen, softball NCAA champion coach Patty Gasso (she did it at Oklahoma) and first of the CWS participants from LBSU, the 1989 Dirtbags. To purchase tickets or a table of 10 or call (565) 985-7976.
The Niner Men’s Basketball Alumni Game & Black/Gold Scrimmage is up next coming on Saturday, October 19 in the Pyramid… Alumni Game at 11AM, Black/Gold Scrimmage at 12PM. Doors open at 10AM, free to the public. The first game of the season and the “Homecoming Athletics BBQ” is November 9.
STARS AND SCORES—the SIDs have a new player of the Week: Maeva Razakasoa from Women’s Tennis. She was the Flight A winner in the inaugural Beach Tennis Fall Invitational, defeating teammate Ebba Unden in a thrilling 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 match.
It was another empty weekend for Women’s Volleyball (8-8) when they Lost vs. No. 6 Hawai’i, 3-0. Junior Chisom Okpala had nine kills on .412 hitting with five blocks against the Rainbow Wahine. This week they make the Thursday to Saturday drive to CSUN and UC Davis.
Same half and half work for women’s Soccer (7-5-0, 1-1-0 Big West) who lost to Cal Poly on Friday night in their opening match of conference play. The final score ended 2-0 in favor of the Mustangs. On Sunday the women rebounded with a 2-1 win over U.C. Santa Barbara. The goals came from Senior Jessika Oseguera and Junior Taylor Nelson. The games over the weekend brought the Beach’s record to 7-5 overall and 1-1 in Big West Conference play. Jessika Oseguera and Taylor Nelson both scored their first goals of the season in the win at UCSB.
This week the lone contest is vs. UC Davis on Thursday, 7PM at George Allen Field.
Baseball notes are dwindling since the big four or Dirtbag lore, Evan Longoria, Troy Tulowitzki, Jered Weaver and Danny Espinosa are done for the year. Recruiting however continues and pitcher Trevor Hall, a star from the Cypress HS team that won last season’s Southern Section Division 2 championship will sign a letter of intent the Beach next month. –DR. DAN