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Ten reasons to change CSUB to 'Bakersfield State'
| Wednesday, Oct 11 2006 5:35 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, Oct 12 2006 3:11 PM
Reclassifying to Division I was a bold step for Cal State Bakersfield.
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Now, it’s time to take an even bolder one.
Bakersfield State.
Huh? What’ya think? Let it roll off the tongue.
B-a-k-e-r-s-f-i-e-l-d S-t-a-t-e.
The Cal State University chancellor’s office has no regulations in place that prohibit such a change, so why not? Cheer the Gold and the Blue of BSU!
You say it’s a lot of BS, and I say, “yes, now you’ve got it!” Bakersfield State.
Tack on “Roadrunners” and it really sounds pretty cool.
A clear identity is a current topic of discussion at Cal State Bakersfield, as it makes its way through its first year of the four-year reclassification process. Second reference acronym in newspaper stories, on radio, TV and over public address systems is of particular concern because as the Division I schedule builds, CSUB will be traveling to parts of the country unfamiliar with exactly what a CSUB is. Until you get to UCLA or UNLV status, acronym references are best kept out of circulation.
It’s not uncommon for sports information departments to issue memos informing the media of specific ways in which the university teams should be and should not be referred as. References to teams at the University of Southern California, for instance, include USC, Southern California, So. California, Troy and Trojans, but not Southern Cal. I suspect soon there might be such a memo coming out of the CSUB SID office PDQ, FYI, that could deep-six the acronym CSUB as a reference. Choices on the table are CS Bakersfield, CSU Bakersfield, doing nothing and Bakersfield State, although I get the sense that Bakersfield State is getting lip service at best. And BSU? Probably none at all, for obvious reasons.
Nevertheless, here’s 10 reasons why Bakersfield State ought to be the No. 1 choice, why tomorrow it ought to be retrofitted into the university’s letterheads, signs, uniforms, posters, and er. . . uh, fight song:
• It’s time. Bakersfield State boldly announces the university’s presence in NCAA Division I.
• Bakersfield State provides unique identity, separates the university from the indiscernible cluster that is the 23-school California State University system.
• Cal State University Bakersfield is not a name that’s exactly drawing droves of students to campus.
• Leaves no doubt who the university is. Particularly important now that the school’s name will be appearing on score crawls on ESPN and other sports news channels.
• Presents an air of confidence.
• Fits the vision set forth by university President Dr. Horace Mitchell.
• Can be a recruiting benefit, not a hindrance. Nebraska gets good football players because it has a history of great football teams, not because Lincoln is a garden spot. Same can be true here, where more than half the sports have a history of winning. Besides if a kid is foolish enough to think he or she is coming out to the beach just because Cal or California precedes Bakersfield in the name, that kid might not be worth recruiting.
• You don’t want an influential kid from Duke in ten years saying, “yeah, we got our butt kicked by Cal State . . uh, I forget.”
• It’s media friendly. Bakersfield State is clean, clear and serviceable as a first reference and in all subsequent references. And if you don’t make it clear, some lazy PA announcer, scribe, broadcaster or all three will simply settle on “Cal State.”
• City-first option has worked out pretty well for Fresno State, Long Beach State, San Diego State, Chico State, Sacramento State, Cleveland State, Boise State, Jacksonville State, Portland State and yes, Bemidji State.
Changing its name is not something I’d suggest every state school do. Dominguez Hills State. No. Stanislaus State. No. Change the name of the city, maybe.
And some universities seeking extraordinary students and athletes have done the right thing taking their city host’s name out of consideration. Normal, Ill., home of Illinois State, comes to mind.
Now if after all these good reasons you still think Bakersfield State is a lot of BS, I can’t disagree with U.