YouCanUseaMint

I don't want to get too into it with the OP, but I'll offer a Texas State fan's assessment as to why this jump makes sense. 1. You already schedule body bag games with BCS teams, why not collect a higher paycheck? Sometimes 2-3 times the amount? 2. Consider your peers, academic wise. How do you like being associated with Nicholls St, Southeastern LA, Prison U, Stephen F Austin, TAMU-Corpus? Do you feel they are at LU's level for academics? Or would you rather be associated with Utah State, University of Idaho, San Jose State, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, University of Denver? A handful of these WAC schools are the best, second, or third best academic schools in their respective state. 3. To be frank, if you go WAC you would be choosing the worst FBS conference available (football wise). Some see this as a bad thing, but I see it as an opportunity. What better way to grow and transition your program than in a conference with schools who already aren't that much better than yourself? 4. TV opportunities and exposure are much greater in an FBS conference and judging by TV ratings of the FCS national championship, any one of the toilet bowls garners more attention than the game currently held in Frisco (and toilet bowls aren't incredibly hard to get into). 5. You'll see an increase in quality of OOC opponents coming to play you at home. At Texas State (since last Nov), we've already scheduled Texas Tech, Navy, Nevada, and Wyoming in San Marcos with much more to come! I think in Lamar and Sam Houston's cases, it's a matter of not being left behind. And while I am quick to harp on Prison U's desire, I completely understand it. I don't want to even think of the replacements the Southland selects should another school or two leave the conference for either budget reasons (LA) or conference realignment (SHSU/LU).

[quote name="basketball25" post="977275" timestamp="1299243439"] [b]Texas can afford  to do that!!![/b] Look at there program compared to lamars, playing in the big 12 and southland is totally different  those games don't hurt Texas!!! [/quote] I actually agree here.. You have to look at overall SOS, not just ooc SOS. Texas State schedules big teams for ooc because conference competition isn't ranked high at all. In order to get a little respect, you have to earn it.

[quote name="time2time" post="977098" timestamp="1299208094"]  Finally RPI may be wonderful, but TxState had a strong RPI last season and they did not make "THE" tournament but Lamar did. [/quote] Texas State didn't make the tournament last year because of the games dropped to Nicholls. We were on the bubble rpi wise, but when all said was done after a loss to Lamar, we were edged out by other teams on the edge.

[quote name="bigred360" post="975365" timestamp="1299093771"] Personally, I'll take Texas State fan's over SFA any day. [/quote] I'd almost take anyone over SFA...

[quote name="Bearkat25" post="975338" timestamp="1299091415"] [quote][/quote][quote author=YouCanUseaMint link=topic=79479.msg975132#msg975132 date=1299045118] [quote author=Bearkat25 link=topic=79479.msg974907#msg974907 date=1299029739] I really do hope that you guys jump over to the WAC and beat the heck out of Texas State for being so arrogant! Ever since they joined the WAC their fans have been overly arrogant on fan message boards! If only they woud realize that they weren't the first choice to join the WAC. If you guys join and we don't just know that you've got one bearkat on your side! [/quote] [b]How are we arrogant again?[/b][/quote] Not all Texas State fans are arrogant just some of you.  It seems like Texas State is always looking down on LU and SHSU. Whether its academics, athletics or even LU potentially joining the WAC I always hear, “We are trying to get away from those schools. They aren’t our peers!”  But, it could just be a small few that makes everyone look bad though…. [/quote] Actually, a number of Texas State fans want Lamar in the WAC. Much rather them over Utah Valley or CSU Bakersfield. Can't say the same about Sam, but don't take it personally. It's like you get all excited that you're leaving for greener pastures only to have the same dead grass follow you there. See Boise and the MWC. Once they get there; Utah, TCU, and BYU bolt only to be replaced with Hawaii, Reno, and Fresno. And don't try and act like there hasn't been hatred on yall's side either. Now on Academics, I'll still say Texas State deserves flagship, but I can also recognize engineering is better at Lamar, while CJ and golf instruction is better at Prison U. :)

[quote name="Bearkat25" post="974907" timestamp="1299029739"] I really do hope that you guys jump over to the WAC and beat the heck out of Texas State for being so arrogant! Ever since they joined the WAC their fans have been overly arrogant on fan message boards! If only they woud realize that they weren't the first choice to join the WAC. If you guys join and we don't just know that you've got one bearkat on your side! [/quote] How are we arrogant again?

[quote name="jdcurran" post="961340" timestamp="1296922796"] If you read the chatter on SHSU's board it is very possible they could move up.  I would rather just see LU move up solo, but at the same time I am not against any school trying to better themselves.  In fact that is what they are supposed to do. [/quote] "Moving up" isn't a decision that's made overnight. Sammie State isn't ready, nor do I think they will ever be.

[quote name="JJWooten" post="955242" timestamp="1296076144"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=78804.msg955224#msg955224 date=1296074082] If there were an actual "Toilet Bowl" it would get better TV ratings than the FCS championship game! [/quote] I bet a of people turned in during the halftime of TAMU-LSU to watch one of the best FCS comebacks of the decade. Can you name any of the teams that played in the early December games? I know I can't and they were on Primetime ESPN. [/quote] Come on JJ, you can't deny the "Toilet Bowl" still offers more recognition, nationally and regionally. More fans come to the game and more people watch the game on ESPN, regardless of if it's on a Tuesday night or not. Not too long ago, I came across last year's FCS National Championship Nielsen rating (UM-Villanova) and a couple of days later, Nielsen released their ratings for this year's bowl games. The FCS NC garnered a 1.3 rating. Notice that is lower than any of this year's bowl games.. [img][Hidden Content]] And how many actually attended the NC game in Frisco? Wasn't it something like 13k? That's about what Texas State draws at a home game!

Just last season, Rice had a home game with UT at Reliant.. Now, I don't know if they got a paycheck or if it was a 2-1 deal where the one game UT traveled to was Reliant.

[quote name="bigred360" post="948125" timestamp="1295030993"] Can we raise the money for travel, salaries and renovation and new construction to be competitive in the WAC? [/quote] The beauty of living in Texas is if you can't afford it, you can go ask the students  ;)

[quote name="1KatKiller" post="948109" timestamp="1295030158"] Check out these head coaching salaries for the WAC by USA today.  Rumor is that Mark Hudspeth at USL got 350-375K with incentives as well. Following are the WAC coaches' salaries, according to USA Today report: $450,000 — Sonny Dykes, Louisiana Tech; $403,820 — Mike McIntyre, San Jose State; $375,000 — DeWayne Walker, New Mexico State; $354,400 — Gary Andersen, Utah State; $350,000 — Dennis Franchione, Texas State; $263,187 — Robb Ankeny, Idaho; $200,000 — Larry Coker, UTSA. Any ideas on where Coach Woodard would rank here if the jump is made? [/quote] Isn't he getting 130-140K? Budget for assistants would have to increase as well. We nearly doubled our budget for assistants from $400K to $800K -$1 mill

[quote name="bigred360" post="948088" timestamp="1295028082"] Do you guys see SHSU coming if Lamar leaves for the WAC as they really need two more schools? [/quote] Nope. Remember, this league still has western schools.. We need to be thinking about who we can be adding in the Utah-New Mexico-California triangle (that is if UNT, Montana/MontanaSt, UCD, etc don't come calling back).

Also, consider the change in academic standing of your peers [u]WAC[/u] Texas State Texas - San Antonio Utah State Denver San Jose State Idaho Louisiana Tech New Mexico State [u]Southland[/u] Nicholls State Northwestern State McNeese State Sam Houston State Stephen F. Austin State Central Arkansas Southeastern LA Texas - Arlington Texas A&M - CC

[quote name="JJWooten" post="940913" timestamp="1293949603"] [quote author=YouCanUseaMint link=topic=78052.msg940910#msg940910 date=1293948832] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=78052.msg940888#msg940888 date=1293943278] In a few weeks the NCAA will decide if the WAC can keep their auto-bid to the basketball tourney.  If that doesn't pass then I doubt Lamar would join the WAC.  After that obstacle then Lamar has to figure out how to increase it's budget because they'll have a hard time being successful with a $11 million budget.  It needs to be at least $15 million to keep up with the other teams in the WAC. There's also the issue of facilities.  The Montagne Center will fit right in the WAC although a new scoreboard would be nice.  Vincent-Beck is about to be renovated so that's a plus.  I think the softball field is planned for 2013, which would mean they would start softball about the same time they'd start transitioning to FBS, so that would take care of the title 12 requirements. The football stadium holds 16K so it needs to be expanded if Lamar goes FBS.  Let's say Lamar announces they'll join the WAC in 2013, they'll  be bowl eligible in 2015.  That would give them about 4 years to expand the stadium.  This gives them time to finish the other renovations. I don't think Lamar wants to stay in the SLC long term but if they join the WAC they'll still play a few more years at the FCS level before moving up.  We'll see what happens. [/quote] I know my opinion doesn't matter, but Lamar is the only Texas team I want elevated with us and UTSA into the WAC. Yall would solidify an eastern division with TXST, UTSA, LU, LATECH, and NMSU. What's enrollment at these days? Student fees are an easy fix for the budget if your enrollment is decent enough.. it's what's bank rolling us to FBS [/quote] And LU will be a team that TSU-SM can actually beat in that division.  ;D ;D [/quote] You're right. Maybe I need to reconsider SFA so we can keep our annual win  ;)

[quote name="coachacola" post="940888" timestamp="1293943278"] In a few weeks the NCAA will decide if the WAC can keep their auto-bid to the basketball tourney.  If that doesn't pass then I doubt Lamar would join the WAC.  After that obstacle then Lamar has to figure out how to increase it's budget because they'll have a hard time being successful with a $11 million budget.  It needs to be at least $15 million to keep up with the other teams in the WAC. There's also the issue of facilities.  The Montagne Center will fit right in the WAC although a new scoreboard would be nice.  Vincent-Beck is about to be renovated so that's a plus.  I think the softball field is planned for 2013, which would mean they would start softball about the same time they'd start transitioning to FBS, so that would take care of the title 12 requirements. The football stadium holds 16K so it needs to be expanded if Lamar goes FBS.  Let's say Lamar announces they'll join the WAC in 2013, they'll  be bowl eligible in 2015.  That would give them about 4 years to expand the stadium.  This gives them time to finish the other renovations. I don't think Lamar wants to stay in the SLC long term but if they join the WAC they'll still play a few more years at the FCS level before moving up.  We'll see what happens. [/quote] I know my opinion doesn't matter, but Lamar is the only Texas team I want elevated with us and UTSA into the WAC. Yall would solidify an eastern division with TXST, UTSA, LU, LATECH, and NMSU. What's enrollment at these days? Student fees are an easy fix for the budget if your enrollment is decent enough.. it's what's bank rolling us to FBS