coachacola

[quote name="UNLV" post="1219078" timestamp="1336274754"] [quote author=puddin tane link=topic=99695.msg1219003#msg1219003 date=1336258932] if i could double smite ya UNLV I would...you were THE voice for the WAC--or shall we call it--R.I.P. WAC not saying it would be the best thing in the world..but incarnate word--in san antonio--is one of the fastest growing colleges in the state..w/ Tom Benson throwing big money their way..and if i remember..they out played us..hired larry keenan...planning big things.. [/quote]If Lamar had joined the WAC 1 year ago, Lamar press conference to join the Sunbelt or CUSA would have been yesterday. Most likely the Sunbelt because the Sunbelt needs a school near Houston. Stay tune.... [/quote] Since markets are driving conference expansion it does put Lamar at a disadvantage, but the Sun Belt would probably like to have at least a tiny presence in the Houston market and their only two choices at the moment are Lamar and Sam Houston.  If the Sun Belt wants 12 football schools, do they add 2 more eastern schools and leave Texas State on an island, or does Lamar step up and offer the Sun Belt (1) a small piece of the Houston market, (2) another football school in Texas, and (3) more balanced east/west divisions?  Right now it's unknown if Dr. Simmons still wants to take Lamar to the Sun Belt like he said he wanted to last year.

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="1216899" timestamp="1335898193"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=99600.msg1216886#msg1216886 date=1335896311] SDSU and Boise should stay in the MWC. ECU should go to the Big East. Marshall should go back to the MAC. Lamar should go back to the Sun Belt. Simple as that! [/quote] I like it Coach but I don't think they want us and I am afraid it is as simple as that.  By the way the BRI board must be down I can't get on there. [/quote] The link to the forum has changed so go to the home page first.

SDSU and Boise should stay in the MWC. ECU should go to the Big East. Marshall should go back to the MAC. Lamar should go back to the Sun Belt. Simple as that!

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1216053" timestamp="1335678893"] I've been saying it for 2 years....the WAC is dead [/quote] It's not really dead, the Mountain West is essentially the WAC if you look at the schools in it.  It's being reported the SJSU and Utah State will be joining soon. And I agree with NorthoftheBorder, it's more an issue of markets than anything else.  Why else would UTSA be going to the CUSA?  But I hope Dr. Simmons is working behind the scenes right now talking to the Sun Belt and some big donors so Lamar can get an invite.  It doesn't have to be an immediate invite, but one for a year or two from now when Lamar is in a better position to join.

Texas State will probably get a Sun Belt invite next to replace North Texas.  That puts them about 7 hours from their nearest conference mate.  Georgia Southern and Appy State appear to be wanting to join the Sun Belt.  Will the Sun Belt leave Texas State stranded out west while they expand eastward?  New Mexico State is way out west (another 10 hours from San Marcos), so I doubt they would get an invite.  Maybe Texas State and the western Sun Belt schools push for Lamar and UTA to join, which would practically put the Sun Belt in the big markets of Texas (UTA would balance out UALR as non-football members).  I think it's a long shot of that happening, especially since no one at Lamar has said a word about going FBS in over a year.

Georgia State, UTSA, and Texas State all have enrollments over 30K so they are financing their move to FBS with student fees.  Lamar doesn't have that luxury so it would be more of a challenge, but it can be done.  If La Tech, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette can compete in the Sun Belt then Lamar could too, but it won't happen overnight.  I think at a minimum Dr. Simmons would need to have some big donors step up to help fund the move to FBS.  If UNT, FIU, and possibly a few more Sun Belt schools leaving for the Alliance, we'll see if Lamar rolls the dice and tries to get into the Sun Belt.

[quote name="Titletown2" post="1208481" timestamp="1334071878"] If Lamar was to go FBS they would have to double the size of Umphrey Stadium. All the FBS conferences want your stadium to have at least 30,000 - 35,000 capacity. You will also have hire more coaches and substantially increase the coaching salaries. I don't think Lamar is willing to do that. I do think think the Montagne Center and Vincent-Beck would be good enough facilities for the WAC or Sun Belt. [/quote] The Sun Belt has a couple of stadiums that only hold about 25K.  Here's what I think Provost Umphrey Stadium would look like if expanded to 30K.  It would be one nice stadium if the do expand it. [img][Hidden Content]]

[quote name="UNLV" post="1208513" timestamp="1334074035"] With Lamar's mentality, we could only dream about playing with the big boys like UL-Monroe, ULL, La Tech, Troy or a Texas st. Little Lamar can only dream. [/quote] You keep saying Lamar's mentality is the problem.  Did you already forget that Lamar tried to get into the WAC last year and was denied?  How is that Lamar's fault?  And how is it Lamar's fault that the Beaumont DMA is only ranked 140th?  You keep saying over and over that it's Lamar's fault while ignoring all the other factors. BTW, going independent would kill the football program.  No big-name opponents will come play in a 16K stadium in Beaumont.  UTSA has a big domed stadium in a major market, they can pull that off, Lamar cannot.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1208266" timestamp="1334022846"] Cola stop buying into what you read on other forums. Lamar needs to go FBS now because the current realignment will fall apart in a few years. The new conferences won't have any interest in FCS schools. [/quote] All I'm saying is that conferences are going after schools in big markets, not matter how good or bad they are.  East Carolina averages close to 50K per football game in a nice BCS sized stadium, but the Big East invited Memphis, SMU and Houston instead.  They not even close the the east coast, but they have large markets. UTA was invited to the WAC because they are in DFW, and now they might go to the Sun Belt to balance out UALR in basketball.  They are in a big market so they get the invite.  Georgia State only won 3 games last year in football but they are now in the Sun Belt because of Atlanta. I'm just being realistic about Lamar's chances of going FBS.

Lamar tried to get into the WAC but the western WAC schools said no, now the WAC is falling apart.  The CUSA/MWC alliance will probably take a few WAC schools, maybe even UTSA, who was visited by those two conference last week. These days it's about market size and the Beaumont DMA is ranked 140 so FBS conferences are not begging Lamar to join them.  It's naive to think that Lamar could have joined the WAC last year or the Sun Belt today, they are just not at the top of the list.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1206530" timestamp="1333587432"] Lamar sits around going duh duh duhhhh.... [/quote] It's been quiet on the Lamar front regarding going FBS, but that might be due to them waiting to see what happens.  Not getting invited to the WAC looks like a good thing right now so being patient isn't necessarily a bad thing.  Benson, the Sun Belt commish, has said they are still considering FCS schools from Texas to Florida, so even with them adding Georgia State, the Sun Belt may still have 3 or 4 spots open this summer.

Lamar's RPI is now at 127, 6th best in the conference.  They are also 5-4 against top 50 teams, as good as anyone in the conference.  It's been a strange season where they look good one day and just terrible the next, maybe due to all the new players.  We'll see if they have it in them to turn it around for the conference tourney.

[quote name="kcat-fan" post="1194731" timestamp="1331297941"] Hummmmm.... wonder what his plans are. ??? [/quote] Rumor is he'll be the receivers coach at Lamar.

[quote name="BadMedicine" post="1196254" timestamp="1331586895"] [quote author=ndn2016 link=topic=97389.msg1196241#msg1196241 date=1331583755] Hate to sound like a whiner. I've worked for 1.40 /hr,but $125,000 wont pay for their travel expenses. Which leads to another beef of mine. Go to Dayton and win then you get to travel to NC and play them in a 'home' game while NC gets to hang round their home court for 3 days and get ready. Why not make LU  or Vermont wear ankle weights during the game too. Hey I am the eternal optimist, stay till the bitter end, hope against hope kind of guy. It will be a historical win comparable to the shot by Laetner?sp and the win by NC state if they(LU or Vt.) beat NC. [/quote] Wow!!! Travel costs more than $125,000??  Is BISD scheduling this trip??? [/quote] I believe the NCAA pays travel expenses.

[quote name="badndn" post="1195966" timestamp="1331516702"] [quote author=82 5A State Champs link=topic=97389.msg1195931#msg1195931 date=1331509444] I'm really proud for Lamar, this year, but I'm sorry, if you win your conference, you should be automatically in the Tournament. What is this "play in" BS? Lamar has 23 wins! The last time they made the tournament, they got in with a 15-15 record! This is totally disrespectful to Lamar, IMO! The NCAA selection committee is a joke, plain and simple......and I hope Lamar crushes Vermont! [/quote] Last time LU made the tourney there was no playin game. And LU was the 64th seed then! Yes LU has 23 wins, but who did we beat and we lost 11 to teams like Nicholls!!! [quote author=coachacola link=topic=97389.msg1195953#msg1195953 date=1331514158] But what I don't get is how Norfolk State and Detroit get 15 seeds when neither team won the regular season, just their tourneys.  Neither team really has a marquee win, but they do have some solid wins which Lamar does not.  I think what hurt Lamar is going 0-6 against top-100 teams and having some bad losses in conference (like to Nicholls State). [/quote] Lamar was the 3 seed in the SLC! The committee got it right. Take off your Cardinal Red glasses and you will see it. I happen to agree that the AQ's should not have to play in these extra games, but until they change the rules it will be what it is. The rule will never change since its not in the best interest of the NCAA power conferences (where the big money is). Now lets focus on Vermont! Should be a great matchup. [/quote] I didn't say Lamar should be a 15 seed instead of those two teams.  I was looking at the RPIs and records and was wondering why they were 15 seeds over some of the 16 seeds.

South Florida plays California after Lamar plays Vermont so that should give our players extra motivation to win.  As far as the question about pat knight, of course he'll be back next year.  No way does he bail on his first class of recruits.  He still has a lot to prove and with his own players.  How long he does stay will probably depend a lot on how successful he his and how well Lamar takes care of him.

These are no longer considered "play-in" games.  Lamar will get credited for a tournament win if they beat Vermont.  But what I don't get is how Norfolk State and Detroit get 15 seeds when neither team won the regular season, just their tourneys.  Neither team really has a marquee win, but they do have some solid wins which Lamar does not.  I think what hurt Lamar is going 0-6 against top-100 teams and having some bad losses in conference (like to Nicholls State).

There are dozens out there: [Hidden Content]

[quote name="Javelina" post="1191992" timestamp="1330838412"] When was the last time the Southland had three 20 win teams? UTA and Lamar are there and SFA has 19 [/quote] Three SLC teams won 20 games in 2007-2008 when Lamar went 13-3 in conference and won 19 games.  That was an odd year because Lamar started 3-6 and those 3 wins were against non-D1 teams.  Also that season all those teams played 4 non-D1 schools, this year UTA only played one and LU just 2.  Hopefully we'll see a 25-7 UTA team against a 22-11 LU team in the SLC tourney final on ESPN2!

Rumor is Chuck Langston will hired as director of football operations at Lamar.

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="1187736" timestamp="1330464873"] [quote author=Ruckdad link=topic=96729.msg1187688#msg1187688 date=1330459289] Knight is already in the D1 ranks! There is no pot to stir, and I think UH is happy with Dickey to this point despite the mediocre results this season. [/quote] I think he meant *major* D-1 [/quote] Is UH basketball considered "major" D-1 these days?  ;D

Pat Knight is on ESPN's PTI with Kornheiser and Wilbon.

If Pat Knight wins 20 games maybe Lamar should name a street after him!!

I guess the good news is that the bottom 6 teams are so bad it's almost impossible for Lamar not to make the SLC tourney, but after losing to Nicholls, does it even matter?

[quote name="McNeese72" post="1175017" timestamp="1328812022"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=95700.msg1174745#msg1174745 date=1328759296] The Ragin Cajuns are looking for a 6th home game.  They were working a deal with McNeese but that fell through.  I think that would be just as good or better than a game against La Tech. [/quote] Every thing was done with a contract with the Cajuns except the signatures and then, from what I hear, the Head Coach said, "No way".    And, now we are back looking for a game.    :( Doc [/quote] Maybe if you guys stopped beating ULL they would play you again!  ;D