coachacola

Bob West has an article today with Roc saying he likes having James come off the bench.  Roc also said James was in the doghouse earlier year. [Hidden Content]

[quote name="puddin tane" post="943339" timestamp="1294332836"] besides a possible bowl game on espn 2 in front of 11,000 people in a 60,000 seat stadium... what is a benefit of joining the wac?  a bunch of teams, far away, that people in se texas could care less about. its the worst FBS conference in the nation...why is it soooo much better than the southland? [/quote] More exposure, more respect, ability to schedule home football games against Sun Belt, CUSA, MWC, and other FBS conference schools, more money, etc.  Outside of McNeese, SFA and SHSU, does SETX really care about the SLC?  How about the prospect of more D2 schools moving up to the SLC to play Lamar?  I'm not sure the gets everyone in SETX excited!

[quote name="TexasTerror" post="943238" timestamp="1294324774"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=78316.msg943219#msg943219 date=1294323659]Lynn Hickey, the UTSA AD, is still on the committee so we'll see how much pull she has.  I would imagine Lamar would decline an invite it the WAC lost their auto-bid.  Since the meetings are next week we won't have to wait much longer on a decision.[/quote] The committee does not make the decision... the NCAA states that they committee makes the recommendation to a higher-up governing body... My question is whether the committee submitted a favorable report to the higher-ups on the subject. [/quote] That's a good question.  I believe the original intent of this rule was for new conferences, not for existing conferences that are losing members.  But since it all boils down to money they may not mind taking away the auto-bid from the WAC to increase everybody's else slice of the pie.

[quote name="TexasTerror" post="943190" timestamp="1294319726"] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=78316.msg943117#msg943117 date=1294283015]A weak WAC makes it easier for Lamar to get in a ESPN Bowl game.[/quote] Not really... the WAC has lost almost every one of its bowl agreements. It will have one left with the remainder being secondary agreements. [quote author=geezer link=topic=78316.msg943139#msg943139 date=1294286006] In another thread Coachcola posted that the NCAA would determine in a few weeks if the WAC would keep its AQ to the BB tourney.  Based on what would they loose it.  Looking at the conference standings they currently have nine teams this year and even if they are loosing three they will be picking up two with TS-San Marc and UTSA.  There are already AQ conferences with eight teams.[/quote] Based on the current rules, they would lose it... This has some more on it... [Hidden Content] ... and the general thought is it will not change. [/quote] Lynn Hickey, the UTSA AD, is still on the committee so we'll see how much pull she has.  I would imagine Lamar would decline an invite it the WAC lost their auto-bid.  Since the meetings are next week we won't have to wait much longer on a decision.

I believe Mike James came to Lamar with some baggage so that could be affecting his playing time.  But Roc recruited this guy, baggage and all, so why sign him then keep him on the bench?

[quote name="mffl" post="943158" timestamp="1294288970"] Still waiting!! [/quote] ESPN must want a lot of highlights!  :D

Pomeroy has LU men winning 81-80 but I have my doubts that they can win.  Women win big.

The WAC will be holding meetings in San Antonio later this month so any offer would probably happen after that.  The WAC will find out soon if they retain their auto-bid, so I bet Lamar wants to wait until that issue is cleared up before making a decision.  Simmons has to be tight-lipped until something is official because they still have to deal with the SLC.

Not so fast says Simmons ... [quote]“They have not contacted me,” Lamar president Jimmy Simmons said. “We had mentioned before that we’d be open to anything that would give us the ability to change direction and move up. At this point, until they make a definitive offer, there’s nothing to discuss.” “I haven’t talked with anyone,” added Lamar athletic director Larry Tidwell.[/quote] [Hidden Content]

[quote name="77" post="942924" timestamp="1294260345"] Texas State fired their coach this year anybody know if they have hired yet? [/quote] Not yet.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="942952" timestamp="1294263335"] besides the auto invite to play eastern or western michigan in the Beefo'Brady bowl...whats the point of this conference?? crappy football, baseball, basketball southland or sunbelt [/quote] The WAC has better football, baseball and basketball than the Southland, even without the departing schools.  The Sun Belt doesn't have any openings so that's not an option.

Meet Lamar’s Mike James, the New Human Microwave [Hidden Content]

I'm guessing Lamar will try to line up some more big donors to help fund this.  The football stadium will need to be expanded within 5 years if they want to be in a FBS conference.  They are scheduled to start renovating Vincent-Beck this year I believe, then build a softball field in a year or two, then they could expand the football stadium in stages after that.  The Montagne Center needs a new scoreboard otherwise it's WAC worthy.  Also, coaches salaries will need to be increased.  But all this can be done over 4 or 5 years, not all at once.

From the Honolulu Star Adviser: [quote]For 2012, the WAC football lineup currently includes Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Texas State, UTSA and Utah State. And speculation has the WAC looking at multiple schools from the Football Championship Subdivision, including Lamar. It might also revisit Seattle University as a nonfootball member. Benson declined to discuss prospective candidates, but said Texas is in the WAC's "footprint" and "we're not going to rule out anyone in our footprint." Lamar, located in Beaumont, Texas, restored football for the 2010 season after a 20-year absence. The Cardinals competed in the Southland Conference, along with Texas State. UH is scheduled to play Lamar Sept. 15, 2012.[/quote] [Hidden Content]

The SLC is ranked 31st out of 32 conferences.  Lamar should win out until they get to the NCAA tourney. [Hidden Content]

[quote name="Sgt Rey" post="941520" timestamp="1294083684"] [quote author=AggiesAreWe link=topic=77914.msg941406#msg941406 date=1294069539] WVU wasn't the only school that recruited JJ for QB. Baylor, Michigan, Kentucky, TCU, along with many others wanted Jeremy at QB. [b]I understand that Briles is still wanting JJ at Baylor to be his next QB. ;)[/b] Sleepy, like you said, I'll take those guys knowledge over these wannabee's on here. ;) [/quote] So, would you as a coach change what you have built?  Do you change what was working?  Do you change your program to accommodate someone who will probably transfer after one year?....It doesn't take a sharp knife to know when he left WV, it wasn't to come to Lamar.....unless you tell me otherwise, JJ will most likely be at Baylor in 2012. not sure who the wannabee comment was for.....don't know too many on here....we're the football guru's that came up with "Da'Butch" and things like that... ;D [/quote] JJ would have to sit out a year if he transfers to Baylor.  Plus, if JJ's not good enough to start at QB at Lamar over a walk on player, then why would Baylor want him as their starting QB after sitting out a year?  Also, Baylor is likely to recruit another very good QB and JJ could very well be in the same situation as WVU and be the 2nd or 3rd string QB.

[quote name="BLUEDOVE3" post="941500" timestamp="1294080025"] [quote author=Javelina link=topic=78200.msg941480#msg941480 date=1294077194] with that being said how many people do we think will leave after the womens game? [/quote]With that being said, how many do you think will rush to Hamburger DEpot for tickets? Just give me the burger please 8) [/quote] I've heard their burgers are pretty good.  Should I try Hamburger Depot the next time I come to town?

I think they are going to spend over $3 million in renovations so that must include new seating and other nice features.

That was excellent win with another big game coming up against Houston at home.  The SLC is really weak so they should only lose a couple of games at the most in conference play.

Don't good coaches make adjustments at halftime?  These are average teams that are beating Lamar.  Although I want this team to win, I'm afraid they'll win just enough games that they'll stick with Roc a few more years.  Roc has one of largest budgets and salary in the SLC so there's no excuse for him not be winning 20+ years every year.

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.

The person that talked to Benson in that interview posted something interesting about Lamar on another forum: [quote]This is just my opinion - nothing concrete - but I think Lamar is who Benson alluded to. I have a pretty decent source that told me Lamar made a very inconspicuous showing at the WAC presentations in Dallas earlier this year, and they have an extremely competent administration that likes to keep their cards (punny, huh?) close to their vest. It really makes sense for them. Beaumont would love the attention and they're in an extremely fertile recruiting ground. I don't see what SHSU or SFA brings that Lamar wouldn't trump.[/quote] [Hidden Content]

I think Dr. Simmons has made it pretty clear that Lamar will try to go FBS in the next couple of years.  That doesn't mean they definitely will but if everything falls into place then we'll see Lamar make the jump.

Only SFA is having a good year so Lamar will probably win about 7 or 8 conference games and then lose in the 1st round of the SLC tourney.

[quote name="Cat22" post="940226" timestamp="1293809368"] Good crowd last night, probably the largest so far this season.  Hope it continues to increase with each game. [/quote] The box score listed the attendance at 1164, not bad at all.  I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the season the women are drawing more fans than the men's team.