UNLV

I dont like it. I preferr LU over that name.

LU average almost twice as many people than any other SLC school, but that is not good enough. SHSU in a much smaller market is out performing LU attandance fans per population. We have fickle fans who wants to see a winner. I admit being extremely frustrated going to the Delta st/LU game expecting free chicken. Not only did I not get my free chicken, we lost to Delta st. I love Coach Tubbs, I love what he is doing to LU, but he didn't put an exciting team on the floor last year. I think Coach Roc team has the potential to put LU attendance above 7,000. Don't expect these numbers early in the season, but if he wins and wins big, 3,000 will trickle up to +7,000. The key is to win big. Nobody in this area wants to see LU losing at home or winning 72-68, fans here like the 106-75 wins.

The county is clueless when it comes to Ford Park. Ford Park could be a huge profit maker if it was built right and ran right. The county is screwing Ford Park the same way they screwed up the SETX regional airport. I wish Beaumont would take control of both.

That depends, if a Carrier Dome is built, I doubt LU alone could do a project of that size alone, it would be a joint project with the City and maybe BISD. It would go downtown. It would not be empty in the winter, because the city would use it as a convention center/civic center after the current civic center is raxed. If LU remains I-AA, then the current stadium is ok for I-AA. However if LU wants to build a I-A stadium alone, I build in that area between LU and MLK. LU would need to buy those old homes, raze them. However keep in mind, a small percent of students actually go to the games. Even at UNLV we had few students attend the games so the stadium shouldn't be built for students, but rather for economics. BTW, UNLV plays at the Silver Bowl which is way across town. We had to catch the bus to go to the games.

I'm sure one of the nations top recruiter, who was sure to get a big name offer, I'm talking about ROC.

A few years ago coach Tubbs mentioned Barry Switzer at LU. I would prefer Dodge over Switzer, but it's nice to hear coach Tubbs thinking big.

LOL, and I thought my idea was grand. 1. A football field next to Exxon-Mobile is not a good Idea 2. Part of the deal says Ford park cant host basketball. 3. Nothing wrong with the Montagne, it just needs sprucing up. Maybe rename it the Billy Tubbs center. Agree, day time football. Start I-AA before moving to I-A. LSU or UT sometimes wants to take a conservative road before Conference. A nearby I-A team would be perfect. I bet if LU was playing I-A right now, UT would be playing LU instead of -I-AA SHSU. Todd Dodge would go with a head coach job at LU before UT offensive coordinator. A good head coach will get an upper big name school head coach job before a coordinator.

I dont see this area getting excited about playing SFA, SHSU, or powerhouse McNeese. I-A is a proven winner here, I-AA is a proven loser here.

If LU wants to make a move into a better conference during the big 2010 conference shake-up, LU needs a I-AA team on the field the fall of 08. With plans for an I-A move in 2010. So I say fall of 08 or fall of 09.

Ok, lets hear your solution.

I believe it's coming. I know it will be I-AA. The question is will LU invest in a I-A team after a couple of years as I-AA.

Not in all cases, but sometimes build it, they will come works. Look at a few preseason games, especially the last and first, the crowds arent that big. It would be great press for the Texans to play 1 preseason game in the Exxon-Mobile dome. I think LSU and others would come to Beaumont if: 1. LU was I-A 2. First class stadium 3. a crowd 4. money is right.

Denis, would not the conference I mention be a better conference than SLC? Would not Houston, San Antonio, Tulsa, Corpus Christi, Denton-DFW, Lafayette, and New Orleans markets be a huge plius over the SLC small towns? And no, none of the teams are powerhouse basketball or football. However this doesn't have to be the case forever. LU, UH, Tulsa, LA-tech has ll been top 25 before in basketball, it could happen again. Look at Gonzago and Creighton. It's noit impossible. Coop, LU lost football through corruption. That year board members were doing bad things with LU money. Students having sex with Instructors for grades. A rape, a murder. LU was awful in those days.

PAC-10 is getting pressured by California to invite Fresno st and San Diego.

The big donor would be Mr $40 billion a year profit Exxon-Mobile. Ofcourse the stadium would be called the Exxon-Mobile Dome.

Oh yeah, one more thing, Todd Dodge as LU coach would pack them in.

There use to be support, even for the Gators. The trouble with the drillers and Wildcatters is this stupid boycott of ford park. I know several ppl who refuse to go to ford park. I wonder what percent of population feels this way. Anyway, back to LU. For LU to have a successful football program, LU needs to do this: 1. I-A 2. New stadium 3. recruit regional 4. Bring in at least 1 big name. How will LU bring in a big name or build a stadium? A join project between LU, BISD, City of Beaumont, and Exxon-Mobile to build a mini-dome stadium....Downtown. How to sell to the public? 1.A dome stadium could protect from west nile. 2. Hurricane shelter 3. BISD, LU, and City could split 3 way maintanance...saving money 4. City could lure Texans pre-season game or restart the black college bowl games. Visiting fans will stay in hotels and eat at restaurants bringing in tourist money. 5. off season, bring in the soccer version of AFA. No weather problems indoors. 6. No need for city to build convention center, after they tear down the civic center. 7. Events too big for Ford Park 8. Beaumont could then host a few high school playoff games. 9. A&M or LSU might consider a Beaumont visit to such a mini dome stadium. 10 KDFM weather team could use our dome to show an example of how much rain we had...lol.

The community would support LU football in this conference.

lol...I dont think anyone thought UT, Baylor, Arkansas, or A&M would consider rejoining that league. However I do believe Conference USA will break up after a few key members leave. Those remaining members will want something better than the Sunbelt. LU needs to start up football to be considered for a conference upgrade in 2010. One website has UT and Aggies rejoining Arkansas in the SEC. This will leave 2 spots for Big 12 expansion. MWC wants to expand, they have their eye on the WAC and UH. iF UTEP can't get the big12 invite, they might rejoin the WAC. LA-tech is suffering from travel in the WAC. Anyway, I could post a 50 dozen scenarios, the point is a new conference could emerge from all this. UTSA LA-tech Rice LA-laf North Texas Tulsa Maybe UH Arkansas st TAMCC...depends on football Lamar...depends on football Tulane SMU maybe USM