TexasTerror

Another SLC team... Lamar #72 Northwestern State #66

UNLV...question... What happens if LTU, NMSU, USU or Hawaii leave the WAC? A Salt Lake Tribune writer was told by Karl Benson that nothing is keeping them from jumping ship. Will there still be room in the WAC for FCS schools like TXST, Lamar or UTSA? Or will the league just fold?

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="828527" timestamp="1282406710"]I am really not sure, had a few beers since the mid '90's. ;)[/quote] While I'm asking - when did 'walk off' come into major use in baseball? Seems like it's been the last 5-10 years..

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="828521" timestamp="1282405660"]Since when is a legacy counted only in 6 years? ::) Maybe it should read "Recent History". Legacy kind of sends the wrong message. [/quote] MidMajority.com has only been around for the length of their analysis. The term "mid-major" is actually very new and does not have a true lengthy "legacy" to it. Any idea when that term came into being?

[quote name="UNLV" post="828490" timestamp="1282400082"]What ranking is SHSU?[/quote] They only did a top 100 and are counting their way down...so SHSU could still be ranked. After second look, they are doing this based off the last SIX years. If that is the case, SHSU should be ranked pretty strongly based on our winning percentage, 20-win seasons and conference statistical leaders... Would think SHSU would potentially be the highest-ranked... FYI - CollegeHoopsNet has SHSU as the #2 team in the SLC this year in their top 144 countdown. Last year may have been the first year in which the SLC had two teams in what I recall and glad to say we will this year too.

Just got a tweet that you guys are #72 as far as the "Legacy Countdown" on Mid-Majority. Think this does with mid-major programs who have historically done well in the NCAAs... [Hidden Content]

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="827968" timestamp="1282328088"]Lamar can do this.  We can take this program big time.  I'm betting Jimmy Simmons has big asperations.[/quote] Difference is that Georgia State is equal to Lamar. Today in the Georgia State timeline for adding football is the same as today for Lamar. This school and yours are at the same juncture, with one breaking barriers at the FCS level for national pub.

The WAC as it stands now...glad to see someone being absolutely frank! [quote]Championships in this depleted WAC? It's like winning the three-legged race at fifth-grade field day. Here's a ribbon. Move along. Football championships in this WAC won't earn you a BCS spot or even a Top 25 ranking. [b]The league, which just two years ago claimed to be No. 1 among non-BCS leagues, is likely No. 5 now.[/b] Basketball titles will still earn you an NCAA Tournament berth - and maybe a No. 13 seed. [b]Respect for the league will be at an all-time low, no matter who commissioner Karl Benson digs up as additional members.[/b] Texas State? Texas-San Antonio? UC Davis? Cal Poly? Are you rushing to buy season tickets for those opponents or watching New Mexico State-Texas State on television? That tearing sound you hear is ESPN ripping up its paltry television contract for an even smaller one. [b] "We need to be realistic about what will happen with the ESPN package," said Spear, who also must factor in less lucrative bowl arrangements, fewer NCAA basketball tournament units and less BCS money. "The revenue for us is a concern."[/b] The biggest concern.[/quote] Read more: [Hidden Content]

[quote name="UNLV" post="827897" timestamp="1282320448"]La Tech can't leave the WAC for 5 years without paying a $5 million exit fee. La tech is already struggling financially. Tech is probably begging Karl Benson to build a eastern division around Tech...Lamar, Texas st, UTSA, Ark st, and ULL. UNT is next in line for CUSA.[/quote] 1) La Tech and any other WAC schools (outside of Nevada and/or Fresno State) do not have to pay the exit fee. Benson said so on his press conference. 2) La Tech would love to see a WAC Eastern Division formed, but would prefer C-USA. Problem is, if Hawaii or another school moves, it negatively impacts the WAC's ability to gain an automatic bid. [quote author=UNLV link=topic=71805.msg827897#msg827897 date=1282320448]WAC has an ESPN TV deal, the money from this deal will help out greatly in travel cost. An Eastern division will also limit travel. This could work out very well for LU.[/quote] The WAC's current deal with ESPN has a clause that they have the right to negotiate. Without Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State, the deal will be far less attractive. Even from a basketball standpoint, the league has lost most of its appeal. That money won't help much from ESPN. [quote author=UNLV link=topic=71805.msg827900#msg827900 date=1282320745]Terror, the California schools you mentioned face huge budget cuts. Montana is the only likely school to join the WAC.[/quote] The California schools can make FBS work if they have to. They have ample room to cut sports in order to bring down the budget and a more 'western' league would be really affordable for them. Montana is conducting a study and has no interest in FBS per the last study. I figure that is the same today. [quote author=UNLV link=topic=71805.msg827900#msg827900 date=1282320745]A side note...Utah st rejected a MWC offer. If BYU remain MWC, Utah st will join the MWC and the WAC will fold. Unlikely, but it is possible.[/quote] Utah State rejected the bid because they would have had to pay the fee. They would not today if they were to leave, just like all the other schools. [quote author=coachacola link=topic=71805.msg827923#msg827923 date=1282322784]I think La Tech's decline is due mostly to the all the traveling their teams must do.  What Tech does is related to the direction that the WAC takes.  If the WAC tries to stay a western conference then it makes no sense for Lamar to join and La Tech will probably try to find a home in the CUSA.  I've read the UNT wants no part of the WAC due to all the travel and middle of the night flights back to Denton.  I think we're all in agreement that the WAC only makes sense if they invite a group of Texas schools.[/quote] La Tech's decline is because they went to a conference in which schools have budgets nearly twice the size of theirs. With travel the way it is for LTU compared to the others, it further cripples their budget. You are right about UNT and that remains the same. They would take the Sun Belt as is over a WAC that adds TXST and UTSA. They've looked down upon those schools in the past. LTU has as well, but will either have to stomach it in the WAC or in the SBC. The SBC is the cheaper option and will make them more competitive - best going there.

On the front of ESPN Magazine, plenty of other coverage on the ESPN networks... And the latest, a story on the front of the NCAA Football section, that is also AP (and was consequently picked up all over nationally)... [Hidden Content] I do not think I've seen this unprecedented coverage for an FCS start-up...

[quote name="coachacola" post="827867" timestamp="1282317837"]Lamar's budget for '08-'09 was $8.2, before the athletic fee kicked in.  For the current year ending now I bet the budget was around $11 million.  This coming year with ticket sales and other football related income I bet the budget will be over $12 million.  In 3 or 4 years if they are in the WAC the budget should top $15 million, probably just enough to get by.[/quote] La Tech's budget was $16M and they did not do so hot. Most of the other schools are in the upper 20s and could conceivably cut sports while not losing much of their budget, just making them stronger... [quote author=coachacola link=topic=71805.msg827867#msg827867 date=1282317837]The WAC only makes sense for Lamar if there's 4 or 5 eastern based teams, like La Tech, NMSU, UTSA and Texas State.  Long term you could see the WAC turn into a southwestern-based conference if schools like Hawaii and SJSU leave.  It will also be a nice step up as far as basketball goes which would probably help attendance with the likes of La Tech, NMSU and Utah State on the schedule every year. [/quote] I think the WAC goes back to its Western roots. Whether that future plan includes schools like Cal Poly, Sacramento State, UC-Davis, Montana, etc. remains to be seen. It just seems the more viable option with schools like Utah State, San Jose State and Hawaii still around...

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="827809" timestamp="1282313666"]I agree with UNLV on this point for sure.  Invites the a FBC conference will not come around very often and if you pass it up, you may not get another chance.  I hope Jimmy Simmons is priming the pump of the major donors in anticipation that the "cards" may fall into place and LU get a chance to move up. [/quote] That was the lone point UNLV was right on... There were be much more limited opportunities to move up. His thoughts on conferences was a bit off base, but then again - we're talking about UNLV!

UNLV, you are the leader of the blind... Which Sun Belt schools would go to the WAC? North Texas turned them down when they were a much more impressive league. ULL and ULM do not have the financial means to play in a spread out WAC. They barely compete in the SBC! If anything, La Tech - despite bad blood - will get over it and join the SBC (perhaps along with New Mexico State). La Tech' would get taken care of in expansion with nearby teams in Texas (TXST, UTSA) - but they know what's in front of them. Cheaper to play in the Sun Belt, a chance to be competitive in all sports and quite frankly - the WAC is weaker than the SBC now (and all the media is confirming it!).

[quote name="CardAmbassador" post="826860" timestamp="1282152801"]Since in your opinion there is so little information to go by on Ray Woodard lets wait till 2 or 3 years down the road to pass judgement.[/QUOTE] That's what I keep saying... [quote author=CardAmbassador link=topic=71720.msg826860#msg826860 date=1282152801]I count 37 players who are not freshmen of those 25 appear to be Juco about half listed as sophomores half listed as juniors. The rest are from either FBS or FCS schools varying from sophmores to seniors. [/quote] 63 full scholarships (equivalency sport mind you) available...wonder how many scholarships the 37 (now 38 with Beard) account for? Either way, we'll have to wait and see...

[quote name="Javelina" post="826780" timestamp="1282147567"]I hope the arguing is over because I am tired of reading the same thing over and over, lets wait till October 2nd and see who's method works better!!! [/quote] Oct. 2 won't be a good assessment either... We're talking about long-term stability and growth of a program. If anything, SHSU could conceivably be YOUNGER than the Lamar program! Perhaps in four, five years - we'll see which first-year head coach did it right! The old Texas Terror assistant Woodard or the energetic, proven winner Fritz...

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="826732" timestamp="1282139511"]Who are you kidding TT? "I hope for your program's sucess". C'mon, you know that you "hope that Lamar falls flat on their faces" with this program.[/quote] AggiesAreWe - I want the SLC to have the optimal amount of postseason bids, especially since the playoffs is expanding. If Lamar goes 3-0 (or 4-0 in the years 12 games are allowed) in out of conference play, it only benefits the league. Do I want you guys to fall flat on your face in SLC play? Eh, don't matter much to me, as long as ALL the league schools are contributing to the GPI in out of conference! [quote author=ForeverADog link=topic=71720.msg826748#msg826748 date=1282142319]Terror, I wasn't referring to our OC. I was referring to your logic that it is stupid to have so many JUCO players. One good year in the past 6 is not a program I want to model my program around. I like our strategy in recruiting. You keep all your unproven freshmen coming and so will the losses. Mix in some JUCO players and its much less of a chance you miss on those prospects. [/quote] It is fine to mix in JUCOs, but 50% of Lamar's scholarship players are FBS/FCS or JUCO transfers. Just seems like overkill. But hey, to each their own. I've stated my bit and we're going in circles. It is a waste of my typing and yours. Will be hard to prove for the next 3-5 years who is right, who is wrong. And you guys keep harping on me for the negatives, but let's face reality and things we can prove... 1) the hiring of Woodard was not the "sexy hire" that you guys built the position up to be 2) entering the SLC in '11 is a year earlier than any of the new FCS upstart programs as far as entering conferences Most of the other things you have done have been solid as far as start-up (though I disagree with the "you know what", but we're done arguing/debating the merits of that one)...

[quote name="badndn" post="826702" timestamp="1282134612"]And you did all that with a two year transfer at QB!!! Imagine that. ;D[/quote] A two-year transfer? Where did you and UNLV go to school? You guys use as many "fuzzy numbers" as George W. Bush! Dustin Long was only in Huntsville for a year. [quote author=badndn link=topic=71720.msg826704#msg826704 date=1282134824]Also don't forget if you go out your first year and give scholarships to nothing but incoming freshman to fill your team, you are killing yourself in recruiting the next several years.[/quote] There is a way to do it... Didn't Woodard seek out advice from others? I think that's why he wanted a lot of JUCO/FBS guys, but I think he took it to the extreme! Of course, all Woodard knows is JUCO ball and I hope for your program's success, that the FB program is not going to become a lot like your MBB program...

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="826697" timestamp="1282133226"]Well I'm personally glad we aren't following Sam's method. They haven't even been that good in recent years. [/quote] You are following Sam's methods... Lamar hired SHSU's old head coach and the reason was that he would bring consistency to the offense from the previous OC that you hired...yep, you guys are implementing the offense that took our program south! Prior to your OC's regime, we were in the Division I semifinals (2004) and had we beat Northwestern State in the regular season, we would have been hosting Montana for the second time that year (beat the then-No. 1 Grizzlies in Huntsville in September) in the semifinals instead of going to Missoula in the semifnials...

[quote name="Javelina" post="826520" timestamp="1282085623"]I have no problem with a start up pragram bringing in JUCO and transfer players.  It is better than Having a team full of freshman getting their butts kicked week in and week out and killing the confidence.[/quote] That is why most programs build their way up into being ready for a conference. See every other FCS program that in the last 5-10 years that has played at least two years of football before playing in a conference... Lamar is speeding the process up on many fronts. In five years, we can come back to see if it was the smartest move. With Billy Tubbs no longer associated with the program, wonder what changes we'll see...

[quote name="bigred360" post="826510" timestamp="1282084273"]So you aren't going to build your team around a RB or QB?  ::)[/quote] Surely won't have half or more of the two deep stem from JUCO and FBS transfers...

Mentioned the Rivals rank, yet did not gloat about it nor make it seem like my program legitimately had a top 10 ranking by Rivals for recruiting class, let alone annually...  :P Also, SHSU has added their share of transfers, but they are not building a program around them. Funny enough, most of the transfers that have come in have all four years of eligibility left after redshirting as a freshman at an FBS program. I'm optimistic that 50% of our roster is not JUCOs and FBS transfers, like that in Beaumont. We may even have a younger team than the Cardinals! That wouldn't surprise me...

If this camp worked, your mascot may be nearing in-season shape at this point... ;) [quote]Robert Boudwin, better known as the Rockets mascot Clutch, brought his mascot expertise to eager learners Saturday at the first Fantasy Mascot Camp at Toyota Center. Mascots included participants from area high schools, middle schools, Lamar University, the University of Houston, corporate mascots from Chick-fil-A and mascots from the minor league and professional levels. Out of the 36 campers, ages varied from 12-year-old Samuel Paul Davis , who came all the way from Oklahoma to attend, to 38-year-old Armando Reyes. [/quote] [Hidden Content]

No one mentioned the best thing Billy Tubbs did before he left and very pertinent to the subject... You guys are in the SLC East this year!

[quote]WYLIE COLLEGE  [/quote] Should be Wiley College!  ;)

[quote name="CardAmbassador" post="822307" timestamp="1280606813"]With that said though, he is very combative when it comes to LU in particular, [b]I promise you TT was trashing LU long before football came back. We have to defend ourselves, and we end up lashing back at SHSU because that is TT's alma mater. [/b]Honestly I wish all the Southland schools especially the TSUS ones success, the more recognition we can get as individuals the more we can gain as a conference and a University System. [/quote] Only because you guys provide EXCELLENT material to talk smack towards!  :P On the bright side, I allow you guys to dig deep into our web site to find information, because I don't make it readily available like you do with recruiting rankings and other tidbits.