<p>The key to SDSU realizing its potential appears to be held by UCSD. What I mean is Pac-10 affiliation. WA, OR, AZ are included in addition to the large population areas of California (the Bay Area & Los Angeles). Both San Diego and Sacramento remain as viable contenders for 11th and 12th spots.</p>
<p>The NCAA wants nothing more than the Pac-10 to expand to include two more teams. They want two divisions that vie for a conference championship at the end of the football season to generate huge television revenues. San Diego has a far more legitimate claim to these spots than does Sacramento.</p>
<p>I think SDSU senses it should be in the Pac-10 but is not because UCSD is not. The Pac-10 universities in states outside California follow the pattern of UW+WSU, UO+OSU, UA+ASU. Those inside California follow the pattern of [UC University]+[Private University]. But the only viable private university in San Diego is a catholic university already a member of the WCC. San Diego can likely follow the pattern of the universities outside California by having UCSD+SDSU. </p>
<p>SDSU by itself lacks sufficient legitimacy to gain admission to the Pac-10. But combined with UCSD, they both become viable candidates, certainly more than UC-Davis and Sacramento State. San Diego is much larger and richer than Sacramento and can develop the athletics programs at UCSD far more quickly than can UC-Davis. It is all a matter of the will to do so. Right now, UCSD has D-II athletics. They would need to develop quickly. Do they have the fan base? Will UCSD support athletics programs and make themselves viable? Do they will to become like UCLA athletically so that SDSU (CSU) can become like WSU, OSU, and ASU?</p>
<p>The only sport that I would follow would be football, and SDSU's football team has been far from spectacular in my recent memory. Maybe being in a more competitive/well-known conference will bring/keep more talent in San Diego.</p>
<p>Other than that, you may be on to something. Take it and run with it to someone who may do something about it.</p>
<p>Completely agree that SDSU's potential as a reputable university is hinged on its PAC-10 affiliation. I know President Weber is fervently pushing the football program and that if they have a good 2009 season, expect BIG THINGS in the future (i.e. possible PAC10 admission).</p>
<p>So a lot of it depends on how this next football season goes, but for other sports, I know their Mens Soccer team is already in the Pac10, and that the baseball team has Stephen Strasburg, who is the NUMBER ONE ranked pitcher in ALL of college baseball, and the Mens Basketball team is on their way to being in the March Madness Tournament, so the school is headed in the right direction.</p>
<p>The trolley also helped a lot, as well as the ARC/Aquatic Center.</p>
<p>So I think the reason SDSU is so popular (most undergraduate applications recieved in the entire country, only behind UCLA) is because of its quality of life. Maybe UCSD has better academics, but life is more than just that and I think that's what people realize and more people apply to SDSU than anywhere else in the country (RIGHT behind ucla). It's got a good balance between academics and social atmosphere.</p>
<p>So yeah, expect big things for SDSU. I've always thought they had the potential to be a powerhouse sports school like Ohio State or Florida State. If they start WINNING some games, they will gain admission to PAC 10, and once in the PAC 10, the recruitment possiblities will be endless.</p>