San Diego State joins the Big West and other Cal Poly Tidbits

On Monday, the Big West Board of Directors announced that San Diego State would join the conference for all non-football sports. This move came less than a week after the Aztecs announced the move to the Big East Conference for football.

The addition of SDSU should have fans in San Luis Obispo excited for a few reasons. San Diego State brings notoriety for basketball prowess — their Steve Fisher led basketball team made it to the Sweet 16 a year ago — but for Mustangs baseball fans, it also means seeing Tony Gwynn’s baseball team in San Luis Obispo every other year. Incidentally, Gwynn’s Aztecs will be in San Luis Obispo for a four-game series March 23-25, 2012.

In Monday’s news conference, Director of Athletics Don Oberhelman, a former member of the San Diego State athletic department had some interesting comments.

Video courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics

Head Basketball Coach Joe Callero also said he was excited at the prospect of having SDSU in the mix. He also discussed the success of Matt Titchenal. Best quote of the night – “He might have earned himself a starting spot.”

Video courtesy of Cal Poly Athletics

Road Trippin

While the men’s team has a few home games in December, Faith Mimnaugh’s women’s team is in the midst of a month-long road trip, playing six straight games on the road (including a road game at San Diego State December 21). The Mustang women next play at home on New Year’s Eve against rival UC Santa Barbara in their Big West opener.

SIDE NOTE – Who in the Big West scheduled a rivalry game on New Year’s Eve? And then “they” schedule the men’s UCSB home game on Tuesday the 2nd. The women don’t even get to play their UCSB game when there are students around and the men get to play on a Monday night the day after the New Year. Maybe with another year of success Cal Poly will get a less-raw deal in Big West scheduling.

The Cal Poly men next play tomorrow (Wednesday) night at home vs. NAIA Menlo College before a road trip to Fresno State and DePaul (Chicago).