coachacola

Having a lame duck coach after a couple of years sure is working out great for Georgia State!  This basically gives Woodard and his new coaching staff a few years to win.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1295332" timestamp="1349790682"] [quote author=AggiesAreWe link=topic=104387.msg1295257#msg1295257 date=1349782299] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=104387.msg1295205#msg1295205 date=1349751733] Sagrin has Lamar 126 ending last year SFA 168 SELA 303 SHSU 288 NSU 323 No way, except SFA a possible maybe, to improve to 126 or better. Lamar lost 4 starters, but those guys are equal to the talent coming in. [b]Lamar should be slightly better even with younger and less experienced players.[/b] [/quote] I disagree. I think at the beginning of the season they will not be as good as last year's team, which these rankings are based on, therefore why they are "preseason" rankings. I do believe though that Lamar could be better than last year's team by the end of the season. [/quote]Last years team was not good. The coaching was the differences. Last years team didn't make the SLC tourney the year before. Last years team was athletic, but not smart. The team that ended Lamar season was much younger, less athletic, however much smarter. Knight is bringing in smart players. We will see a different style of basket that we are use to in this area and in the SLC. [/quote] The people who do preseason rankings don't care about all that.  They spend 5 minutes looking at who's returning from the year before, maybe see if there's any big name transfers coming in, and that's it.  If Lamar was in one of the power conferences then these reviewers would spend the time looking into all that, but that's not the case so these rankings don't mean much. Also, half the team will be freshmen so until they prove something why do they deserve to be considered conference contenders?  I think they'll be good come conference but you never know.  Pat Knight also lost a couple of assistants so maybe the coaching won't be as good.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="1291401" timestamp="1349467474"] How about us filling the 16K we have first. What was the attendance number last home game, 8K? I believe that was very generous.  ::) [/quote] Well, Texas State had crummy attendance in the SLC but they expanded their stadium and are now in the Sun Belt.  Expanding is necessary some time in the future if Lamar is ever to go FBS, not saying they should do it now. As a side note, I watched a few minutes of the Arkansas State at Florida International game last night on ESPNU.  FIU has 50K students and they only had maybe 5K total at the game and now they going to the CUSA.  Is the CUSA really going to be much better than the Sun Belt in a few years?

[quote name="Javelina" post="1291304" timestamp="1349460521"] I actually like the expanded PU stadium pic [/quote] That's about 30K with minimal end zone seating.  I think they could squeeze 40K with end zone seats and a small upper deck on both sides.  It was originally designed for 50K but the Montagne Center limits that, but 40K would still be plenty big for the forseeable future.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1291121" timestamp="1349448545"] Georgia Southern is moving to FBS, here is GSU stadium plans [Hidden Content] Lamar, we are staying with Woodard and the SLC. [/quote] So Georgia Southern is going FBS because someone posted some cheap stadium renderings on the internet?  That must mean Lamar's going FBS too because look below: [img][Hidden Content]]

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="1288886" timestamp="1349198492"] Wasn't Lamar in the Sun BELT  a few years ago with basketball. LU could not hang with Sun Belt [/quote] Does 14 years count as "a few years ago"?  Budget-wise, Lamar was in terrible shape way back then, not anymore.  But none of that really matters. Georgia State is going to the Sun Belt and their 3rd year football program is doing worst than Lamar's.  They are 0-5 and their big name coach is now a lame-duck coach.  What matters most is the market.  But if the Sun Belt wants to or has to expand, they are down to medium-sized markets and Lamar fits that profile, plus fills the gap between Texas State and the rest of the western teams.

I think this was the smart thing to do.  Showing the Lamar game over UT/WVU probably would have pissed more people off at Lamar football than actually promoting the football program.  Aren't there some alternate digital channels they can show the Lamar game on live?  This is 2012 for chrissakes, there's many ways to broadcast football games.

[quote]Sunbelt fans...correction.[/quote] Big difference! Their opinions don't matter when it comes to expansion.  What do the Presidents of the Sun Belt schools think of Lamar?  That's what matters.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1284162" timestamp="1348846911"] [quote author=Green Menace link=topic=103497.msg1284143#msg1284143 date=1348845863] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=103497.msg1284135#msg1284135 date=1348845442] [quote author=Wreckem2011 link=topic=103497.msg1283741#msg1283741 date=1348798069] Where are the WAC, Sunbelt, MWC invites ? [/quote]As frustrating and desperate I want the invite, an invite today would be a Sunbelt invite. An invite in early half of 2013  could be a MWC invite. Go ahead and laugh. Lamar has already given Woodard a FBS salary. [/quote] Nothing wrong with the Sun Belt.  Looking pretty stout this season. [/quote]Then why is UNT leaving?  lol Lamar football is not good and won't be good for a while under a passive Woodard, therefore Lamar needs to consider what is best for MBB...AKA keeping Pat Knight here as long as possible. SBC football....low ranking MWC football....low ranking SBC MBB....low ranking  19th of 30 conferences MWC MBB...High ranking  8th Lamar in the MWC would play 3-4 games on national tv every season. SLC and SBC, NONE. Pat Knight would stay more than 10 years at Lamar in the MWC. In the SBC, maybe 5. SLC, he is gone in 3 years. [/quote] Pure speculation on what Pat Knight would do if Lamar was in the MWC or how much Lamar would be on tv.  Also, MWC is ranked 8th now, maybe not in 5 years. Also, football is driving expansion.  Basketball would be a lot better in the MWC, but Lamar has very little control over that and Lamar has to think how football will be affected if they change conferences. If Lamar does end up in the MWC, it'll be after all the "name" schools leave and it'll be a shell of it's former self.  I still say Lamar will end up in the Sun Belt within 5 years.

LU wins by at least 10.  SELA can't run the ball, they are worse than LU in that category.  It's probably going to be raining so SELA will have a harder time throwing the ball.  McNeese had several starting linebackers and DBs out in the 2nd half against SELA, that's when SELA made their comeback.  SELA's defense has improved somewhat but Lamar's is better this year.  Also this is a LU home game, no way does SELA win this one.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1282865" timestamp="1348708483"] [quote author=Javelina link=topic=103497.msg1282504#msg1282504 date=1348678619] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=103497.msg1282398#msg1282398 date=1348670846] [quote author=Javelina link=topic=103497.msg1282280#msg1282280 date=1348659130] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=103497.msg1282244#msg1282244 date=1348631439] How do you determine if 20k, 30k, 35k, 40k, 80k is the best stadium size for Lamar? [/quote] Wyomings Stadium 29,181, New Mexico Stadium 39,224, La Tech 30,600, thats where I got that number from but stadium capacity is not my decision the have never asked what I think about Lamar football [/quote]Beaumont metro is bigger than 2 of those 3. We have space and population for 40k. What do you think of ULL 50k stadium plans? [/quote] How long has it taken for them to be able to expand to possibly fill a 50K UNLV?  add as needed but if PU does get expanded i say start with 30K and go from there thats all.  Im a LU Alumni and want LU football to compete with the best and to have the best facilities as well but its a proccess IMO.  Personally I think LU should have expanded it to 25K when they renovated it cause i believe we could put 25K in the stands now but they need to quit televising home games or atleast black them out if its not a sell out. [/quote]Expanding to 30k, then 35k, then 40k cost more money than expanding 1 time. Lamar should go 41k in a 1 time project. I agree. Had Lamar gone to 25k when football started, Lamar would average 22k right now. I think LU should put in small set of wrap around seats around the north end zones. Call these seats the 'dirty bird section' for loud screaming fans....students. This could be done at minimum cost, Lamar has no vision. [/quote] Lamar is barely able to afford the $29 million they spent on renovating the stadium and building the athletic complex.  Private donations had to pay for at least quarter of that.  No way would they have been able to expand to 41k.  Sure, in the long run in may cost less, but that doesn't matter one bit if it's unaffordable now. And why would Lamar be averaging 22K now?  There was less than 14K at the Langston game.  Did 9K stay away because there were only 3K empty seats available and they didn't want to fight over them?

[quote name="UNLV" post="1279209" timestamp="1348345108"] [quote author=WOS95 link=topic=103497.msg1279169#msg1279169 date=1348341270] unlv...im sure if u were to write a big donation check, the Lamar administration would be more than happy to hear what ideas you have for the school... [/quote]ULL facing huge budget cuts in a poor state will build a 50-60k stadium to grow ULL and keep it competitive. Lamar, nothing. Lamar fans, make excuses for this do nothing attitude at Lamar. It's as if Lamar brought back football then declared job is done. There is no talk, no plans, nothing to get excited about at Lamar. Well maybe Pat Knight MBB. Other than that, nothing.I read about exciting new developments at other schools, I like to read ad brag about something exciting at Lamar. [/quote] You should get out more UNLV.  Lamar is winding down a $125 million capital campaign.  I guess in your mind since it was not a billion dollar campaign it's a failure.  Lamar spent almost $30 million on the stadium and athletic complex just a couple of years ago.  I bet Dr. Simmons is hoarding the other $70 million, that's why Lamar didn't expand the stadium to 50K.  Are you going to attend the public meeting about the Lamar master plan that includes development along Rolfe Christopher Drive and the other plans to make the university into a destination campus? And why do you NEVER answer the question that everyone keeps asking?  I think because you cannot put your money where your mouth is.  Do you actually think the people who post here are millionaires that refuse to give to Lamar?  Why don't you step from behind that keyboard and convince some rich people to donate to Lamar instead of complaining to us?

UTSA barely beat South Alabama, only beat Texas A&M-Commerce 27-16, and beat a bad Georgia State team.  UTSA's opponents are 1-8 this season, and that 1 win is South Alabama's 9-3 win over Nicholls State.  UTSA, South Alabama and Georgia State aren't exactly tearing up the football world.  Georgia State lost 33-6 at home to FCS school South Carolina State and their "big name" coach is quitting after this year.  But those 3 schools are going FBS so that does give them a recruiting advantage over Lamar.  As far as how good UTSA is, they'll start 4-0 when they beat NW Oklahoma State today, then it's all FBS opponents after that and a home game with McNeese.  I bet McNeese beats them easily.

[quote name="skipmeister" post="1275846" timestamp="1348064155"] I hope we can vote to choose the right people when it is time coming in early November! I am sick and tired of this country going in the wrong direction! If I had to run for office, so help me gosh, I will! [/quote] If you vote for either Obama or Romney then you're not voting for the right people.  These two guys are very similar on most of the issues: Crony Capitalism?  Check Big Deficits? Check Big Wars? Check Drone attacks on foreign countries? Check Government involvement in healthcare? Check Continuing the War on Drugs? Check Eroding Civil Liberties? Check

Here's my take: Athletics.... 1. Major renovation of the Montagne Center. Basketball practice facility. [b][i]Part of the master plan but Lamar needs some big time donors to step up and fund this.[/i][/b] 2. Expand Cardinal stadium to 40k [i][b]Probably first expand to 25 to 30k if there's a need and money for it.[/b][/i] Campus 1. Massive car garage [i][b]Dr. Simmons recently said it wasn't cost effective.[/b][/i] 2. multi-story classroom building and offices. UNLV enrollment jumped significantly.... [i][b]New science building coming in a few years.  Brooks-Shivers about to be remodeled for offices.[/b][/i] 3. More dorms [i][b]Probably happens within 5 years.[/b][/i] Academics 1. Law school [i][b]No way, already too many law schools and not enough demand for lawyers.[/b][/i] 2, Medical school. doctor shortage coming..,, [i][b]Good luck with a medical school.  Nursing is another matter, expand on that.[/b][/i] 3. Energy Research facility [i][b]Research is a priority, that will keep increasing at Lamar.[/b][/i]

Dr. Chargois earned both his bachelors degree and doctorate degree from Lamar so I can understand him being on the committee.  I'm not sure how dedicated Dr. Thomas would be to Lamar.  I think he's more interested in the money and the power than what's best for Lamar.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1272312" timestamp="1347717696"] He wouldn't get it, but if he did, Lamar would be a slam dunk for FBS., [/quote] If he got it, Lamar would a slam dunk for corruption!!

[quote name="UNLV" post="1258465" timestamp="1346550817"] If Lamar can't compete in football, change the coach. But don't punish Pat Knight and Tidwell and other teams  by not going MWC.  Roc and Woodard, geeez. I told yall about both. [/quote] I do agree with you on that!!

I think Lamar's ready for the Mountain West now!

[quote name="UNLV" post="1255973" timestamp="1346430945"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=101078.msg1255849#msg1255849 date=1346424854] Future SBC member Georgia State got killed at home by a so-so South Carolina State team.  I read that the SLC's vast majority of FBS wins are against SBC teams. Back to the MWC, looks like the Big East may try to get Navy for it's 14th football team which would leave the MWC untouched.  If Navy goes BE then does the MWC stay put for a while at 10 schools?  Maybe go to 12 with a combo of Texas State and New Mexico State and Lamar could take Texas State's spot in the Sun Belt.  Still many possibilities over the next few years. [/quote]Knock Knock Knock Cola, you mean BYU. LOL. Navy is already in the BE for 2015. If the MWC goes untouched, it could still be Lamar and Texas st. NMSU is not close enough to travel partner with Texas st. MWC is still saying no to NMSU.MWC taking Texas st and Lamar would shut SBC out of Texas football. This would be the goal. Texas st is still an island in the SBC, keep that in mind. [/quote] Meant to say Army, but yes, BYU is probably their main target, but I don't think they grab a MWC team.  I also think it's a long shot that the MWC will go after Texas State and Lamar. But your point about Texas State being on an island is valid.  If you read the Sun Belt board it seems the western football schools are little unhappy with the balance of power, they want another western football school.  I think if they go 14/12 Lamar will be one of those schools.

Future SBC member Georgia State got killed at home by a so-so South Carolina State team.  I read that the SLC's vast majority of FBS wins are against SBC teams. Back to the MWC, looks like the Big East may try to get Navy for it's 14th football team which would leave the MWC untouched.  If Navy goes BE then does the MWC stay put for a while at 10 schools?  Maybe go to 12 with a combo of Texas State and New Mexico State and Lamar could take Texas State's spot in the Sun Belt.  Still many possibilities over the next few years.

[quote name="vobserver" post="1254824" timestamp="1346353228"] The 'new' MWC is at best only marginally better than the Sun Belt.  When you factor in travel; the SBC is much better for Lamar, particularly in the non-revenue sports. As a Cajun fan, I would love to add Lamar and NMSU to the Sun Belt and go to divisions.  The renewal of the UL/LU rivalry in basketball and baseball would be great. [/quote] I think Sun Belt is the preferred conference for both fans and the administration, but right now seems like the Sun Belt isn't too interested in either Lamar or New Mexico State.  But looking at the map of the Sun Belt, there's only 4 football playing schools west of the Mississippi so adding Lamar and NMSU would balance things out.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1254585" timestamp="1346335228"] [quote author=WOS95 link=topic=101078.msg1254564#msg1254564 date=1346333222] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=101078.msg1254323#msg1254323 date=1346293125] [quote author=WOS95 link=topic=101078.msg1253883#msg1253883 date=1346253836] i know this is off topic..and if we change conferences im ok with that..as most fans probably will be ..but i think attendance is down some because of the 50-0 beatdowns we had to endure last year...im just not under the impression that SETX cant fill a 16000 seat stadium, regardless of opponent, unless the team is really terrible...i made every home game last year..and the team just wasnt very good... [/quote]Flawed logic. Texas st has Texas Tech at their home, UL-Monroe has Baylor. Do you honestly think Lamar would be having attendance drops if Texas Tech and Baylor was coming to Beaumont instead of Langston and Mcmury?  honestly? [/quote] if we had those games on the schedule great and attendance probably would be high, so i agree with you there...but thats only 2 games out of 6 home games...what about the other 4 home games..do u honestly think that if our team is not good more people will attend just because we played baylor and texas tech? [/quote]Yes. If Lamar stinks but is playing a Baylor or Tech at home, more people will attend than if Lamar was good but playing Langston. [/quote] Playing FBS teams in Beaumont will always draw more fans than D2 or NAIA teams, but those are early non-conference games.  The question is can Lamar draw fans against teams like New Mexico, Colorado State and Utah State when they are having bad years?  Since playing FBS football is a lot more expensive than at the FCS level, the attendance needs to be a lot better than if they stay in the SLC and play home games SFA, SHSU, NW State, etc.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1253648" timestamp="1346205798"] I don't throw darts at a conference map then declare Lamar is going there. 6 months ago I would have said anyone is crazy to think Lamar is going to the MWC. Things have changed. All over the net they are saying the MWC is screwed. Consensus is Texas st and ? gets the invite. Nobody knows who the ? is. The clues are: 1. No Idaho 2. No NMSU 3. No non-football 4. Texas schools.  2 or more. I think the ? is Lamar. [/quote] If the MWC does lose some schools and they have to reload they can always pick up Idaho and/or NMSU.  Even though the MWC may want to get back into Texas, I doubt they'll chose Lamar just because they are in Texas.  The WAC needed 8 teams to survive and they still chose not to invite Lamar.  Rumor was the western schools didn't want another eastern football school in the WAC, now those schools (SJSU and Utah State) are in the MWC.

When Denver was in the Sun Belt they were sending their teams all the way to Florida.  I don't think it matter what conference they are in they still have to travel a lot.  I guess if the money if right then AFA could join the BE for football and put their other teams in PL.  I just think that's a long shot but you never know. But I still don't see the remaining MWC schools inviting Lamar, no matter what we think about it.  If they refuse to take New Mexico State then there's no way they want Lamar.