YouCanUseaMint

[quote]UTSATailgaters has confirmed that UTSA Head Football Coach Larry Coker, Athletic Director Lynn Hickey and some of her administration staff will , in fact, be meeting with WAC Commissioner Karl Benson tomorrow at WAC headquarters in Denver, Colorado. UTSATailgaters has confirmed with at least two sources that this is in fact is a sales pitch to the WAC, as UTSA pushes onward in their sky rocketing ascension to FBS status. Back in July, UTSATailgaters had a one-on-one interview with WAC Commissioner Karl Benson, and he made it no secret that the WAC had UTSA on it's radar and that the UTSA was a very attractive program. Fast forward a couple of months, and several defections later, and the WAC has been left scrambling to salvage the conference.  It appears that Benson and company are full throttle to save the conference, by talking to UTSA - and RunnerNation is standing on edge to see what comes of this meeting. The sources went on to say that a formal invite has not been extended yet and there is no specific deadline of when the WAC wishes to hand out it's invitations. Since our interview with Karl Benson, all sorts of pros and cons were mentioned in joining the WAC. One huge thing not to forget, the WAC signed an extension with ESPN back in 2008 guaranteeing over 300 athletic events being televised on the four letter network, with 45 championship events as well, through 2017. Two other schools that were confirmed by these same sources that have been prominently mentioned to be very high on the WAC's list, are Montana and Montana State. Stay tuned, RunnerNation...[/quote] Definitely interesting.. though I think Texas State is already a step ahead of UTSA. I know all of us bobcatfans are hoping the WAC does a Texas two-step soon.

[quote name="UNLV" post="846413" timestamp="1284397120"] [quote author=YouCanUseaMint link=topic=72367.msg846381#msg846381 date=1284393561]To those who are against the move, you all have very good points on why this does not make sense. Will revenues increase? They could, but probably not. Will travel expenses increase? Absolutely - especially if the WAC is your preferred destination. Could you become the next ULM? You very well could, even more so if you don't do something about increasing your budget. But at the end of the day, if your goal is to see healthy FBS/BCS programs play on your turf (which will have an extreme boost to school pride and identity), you are out of luck. [/quote]Why do you not use this to oppose Texas st moving up? [/quote] Because if you read the first paragraph, I don't think Texas, California, or Florida can produce an FCS team like App St. and I would like to see name opponents come to Bobcat Stadium which ain't happening at FCS.

Just for the record, I am not against LU moving up. I just want TXST to be one of the last teams to make the move (for selfish reasons). We are in a similar boat here in San Marcos in that if we want to raise the level of prestige of Texas State, we can't keep playing marginal FCS football. Not sure about Lamar, but we have shown in FCS, having more money will not give you more wins. Texas, California, and Florida are all football states with many FBS programs, which is why you don't see consistent top-rate FCS programs out of these three. My beef with many on here is it seems like you want to transition NOW. All I am saying is this stuff takes time. At all times, even outside of expansion season, Lamar needs to be doing EVERYTHING it can to make itself pretty for the dance. Upgrade your facilities, increase your budget, work on community support, etc. Once you are done with construction for one project, don't let the momentum stop. Announce another project and quickly find funding. To those who are against the move, you all have very good points on why this does not make sense. Will revenues increase? They could, but probably not. Will travel expenses increase? Absolutely - especially if the WAC is your preferred destination. Could you become the next ULM? You very well could, even more so if you don't do something about increasing your budget. But at the end of the day, if your goal is to see healthy FBS/BCS programs play on your turf (which will have an extreme boost to school pride and identity), you are out of luck.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="845961" timestamp="1284345669"] [quote author=YouCanUseaMint link=topic=72367.msg845444#msg845444 date=1284305975] Where is all of the hate coming from? Sure we don't have the best attendance, but we aren't going to get into an FBS conference with a top-rate FCS stadium. Trust me, I wish we could get more than 13,700 for a Division 2 team, but we aren't there yet. Though, a positive note is that all but one of our premium suites are sold. [/quote] you want [b]LOVE[/b] on a Lamar board? that will come right after a group hug with Slam Houston and pigs flying..... [/quote] Slam Houston? Lol. Why do you care what goes on at Prison U again?

SELU is a solid team, but the real question for your game is their QB situation. Can't speak to their stadium and game day atmosphere though - never been.

[quote name="UNLV" post="844453" timestamp="1284215462"]This is what get at me. UTSA and Texas st joining the WAC helps stabilize the WAC. However getting more schools in the region like LU, ULL, UNT, Ark st, etc etc would be better than UTSA and Texas st alone. Therefore Texas st should be cheering on a LU invite but yet our Texas st friend here is not smart enough to understand this logic. Must be a bobcat IQ thing. [/quote] No doubt more regional teams would help us out. But, if the whole freaking Southland moves to the WAC with us, then it would not be worth it - might as well stay FCS. If Lamar moves up, Sam won't want to be left behind.. and then we are back where we started.

Where is all of the hate coming from? Sure we don't have the best attendance, but we aren't going to get into an FBS conference with a top-rate FCS stadium. Trust me, I wish we could get more than 13,700 for a Division 2 team, but we aren't there yet. Though, a positive note is that all but one of our premium suites are sold.

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="844069" timestamp="1284176709"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=72726.msg843968#msg843968 date=1284175037] Going FBS is more of a long term goal than a short term goal.  A year or two ago Dr. Simmons said it probably wouldn't happen while he was president of LU.  Then just this past year either him or the AD said they were looking to go FBS in 4 or 5 years.  It's all about money so Lamar still needs to be talking to FBS conferences behind the scenes, even if they don't plan on moving up for a while. [/quote] Absolutely, positively right Coachacola.  And if the right deal comes up, then the powers that be need to be in a position to move.  That means that they should be having meaningful discussions with the money power broker supporters now so that they could be lining up the proper support in case the right opportunity opens up.  That said, one of the best things that can also happen is that this first team surpasses any expectations for a start up program and really generates and maintains major support from the Golden Triangle.  [b]Lets don't let a SWT alum try to throw water on our parade.[/b] [/quote] ::) What is Lamar doing to prepare for FBS? Just me, but it sounds like yall want the invite before the hard work...

Why would Lamar even talk to the WAC? This isn't an overnight deal. At Texas State, we have been pumping money into this ordeal since 2008. The only reason why we MIGHT go FBS sooner than later is because a conference is desperate for survival. Has Lamar even conducted a feasibility study?

[quote name="HoopInsider_Cooper" post="839642" timestamp="1283661022"] [font=Courier]SW Texas State still want to play with the big boys? Houston could have scored 150 on them.[/font] [/quote] I love the trash talk from a start-up program.. You're right, they could have scored 150; they have an incredible offense and a Heisman candidate QB. What did you expect?