coachacola

[quote name="UNLV" post="1014418" timestamp="1306455344"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=84481.msg1014320#msg1014320 date=1306433748] I think almost everyone, including myself, would prefer Lamar in the Sun Belt over the WAC.  I just don't see that happening at the moment because they already have 12 members and don't seem to be looking for replacements.  But there's always the possibility of a big shakeup, and it's anybody's guess if and when that happens. The NCAA has practically guaranteed the WAC will survive because they can always invite more FCS schools to fill any holes.  I think right now the WAC has a little bit of breathing room so the western schools are stalling to see if they can get some Montana and/or Cali schools to join.  I just think it'll be a lot easier for Lamar to jump conferences once they get into a FBS conference.  If Lamar joins the WAC it's probably going to be a 12 or 14 team conference with divisions so travel won't be that bad. [/quote]The Sunbelt has 11 members with 10 playing football. The goal is 12 playing football with national tv championship game. The WAC won't find enough western schools to form a 12 or 14 school conference. The WAC is more likely to fold or become a regional conference with another name. Maybe something like this La Tech UNT ULL Ark st Lamar Texas st UTSA NMST Call it the Big 8 Every school would get 3 money games per year. [/quote] I could see something like that happening.  I think La Tech, UTSA, Texas State and NMST would stick together and join up with the western Sun Belt teams if the Sun Belt split in half.  I doubt they would stop at 8 but get 12 football schools although I have no idea where the other 4 would come from. 

I think almost everyone, including myself, would prefer Lamar in the Sun Belt over the WAC.  I just don't see that happening at the moment because they already have 12 members and don't seem to be looking for replacements.  But there's always the possibility of a big shakeup, and it's anybody's guess if and when that happens. The NCAA has practically guaranteed the WAC will survive because they can always invite more FCS schools to fill any holes.  I think right now the WAC has a little bit of breathing room so the western schools are stalling to see if they can get some Montana and/or Cali schools to join.  I just think it'll be a lot easier for Lamar to jump conferences once they get into a FBS conference.  If Lamar joins the WAC it's probably going to be a 12 or 14 team conference with divisions so travel won't be that bad.

The WAC needs 8 football schools by 2014 so they have to get at least one more school.  From what I've read the western schools don't want all eastern schools joining the WAC, and divisions are preferred by all.  So once the WAC gets a couple of western schools to join then the eastern schools will want at least one more eastern football school for divisions.  There's no guarantees but I think it'll happen in a few years.

The WAC isn't going to crash.  If no western schools join then that leaves room for Lamar, SHSU, and others.  It's just a matter of time before the WAC morphs into a southwest conference.  If Lamar wants to go FBS then they join the WAC, unless there's a major shakeup among the conferences then there's more opportunity for Lamar. A few months ago Tidwell said he thinks there's going to be some major changes coming to the CUSA, Sun Belt and other conferences.  I think there's a good chance that will happen.  Either way, Lamar has a another year or two to prepare for a move to a FBS conference.  It could be the WAC, the Sun Belt, who knows, but it's probably going to happen.

[quote name="badndn" post="1011502" timestamp="1305567638"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=84214.msg1011418#msg1011418 date=1305556922] [quote author=badndn link=topic=84214.msg1011400#msg1011400 date=1305554113] I've always thought a WAC move was silly, but a move to the Sunbelt is a no brainer. UNT, ULL, ULM, ArkSt., all close. [/quote] Lamar probably has to go to the WAC first to have any chance to get to the Sun Belt. [/quote] If ULM can get into the Sunbelt...LU can...I've read where the Florida teams are looking to go CUSA. [/quote] The Sun Belt was desperate back then so they took ULM.  The Sun Belt can afford to be picky now.  But of course, all bets are off if the Sun Belt gets raided. Right now the WAC is dysfunctional with the western schools blocking Lamar for now until they either get invited to the MWC are they find a few western football schools (not likely).  Either way, Texas State and UTSA want Lamar in the WAC so it'll probably happen next year and the WAC will be a lot more travel friendly.

UNLV, you have LU in this "new" SLC.  Are you expecting LU to stay FCS for a while?

[quote name="badndn" post="1011400" timestamp="1305554113"] I've always thought a WAC move was silly, but a move to the Sunbelt is a no brainer. UNT, ULL, ULM, ArkSt., all close. [/quote] Lamar probably has to go to the WAC first to have any chance to get to the Sun Belt.

[quote]So where are these long time rivalries?[/quote] When it comes to football, Lamar really didn't have any back then.  Not winning much was a big part of the problem, but also the SLC just wasn't that great of a football conference back then outside of McNeese.  Then leaving the SLC and having the football team play as a D1-AA independent practically guaranteed the program would fail. Lamar's kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place.  If they stay in the SLC then there's a good chance that as soon as they build a good rivalry with say SHSU or SFA. one of them will jump to FBS (SHSU is already talking about it).  If Lamar moves to the WAC. more than likely it'll be temporary destination or half the teams will leave again (and again and again) and no good rivalries will get built. I am hoping Lamar can slowly advance, maybe something similar to what TCU has done.  When they got dumped along with SMU, UH and Rice, they've managed to jump around and make it to a BCS league.  Boise State is attempting to do the same.  The odds are against Lamar big time, but the other choice is to stay in the SLC and have moderate success but for the most part be invisible to almost all college fans outside of SETX.

If the team is bigger, stronger and deeper (which they should be) then 6 wins is not out of the question.  A few injuries and/or bad luck could mean only 4 wins.  This year should tell us exactly how good of a coach Woodard is.  I wonder how long LU will give him to win, especially if a move up to FBS happens in the next 2 or 3 year?

This is not the 70s and 80s.  Lamar is no longer a newbie to D1 like back then.  But by staying in the SLC the schools that want to better themselves move on and more D1 newbies join up (see TAMU-CC and Central Arkansas).  Actually half the teams in the SLC now were not even D1 when Lamar was, and now two of them are moving on up to a FBS conference before Lamar (Texas State and UTSA).  I just don't see the attraction of getting left behind while previous conference mates get more attention and are perceived as better schools because of that.  Unless Lamar wants to be an Ivy League type school then athletics does matter.

[quote name="UNLV" post="1009240" timestamp="1305215030"] [quote author=1KatKiller link=topic=84175.msg1009232#msg1009232 date=1305214158] well, since you brought it up first...I'm hearing U of H to the big east. [/quote]Me too. Hopefully before July 1st. [/quote] Actually that makes sense.  The UH fan base don't seem to care that much about the CUSA.  Big East teams would probably draw better in Houston than CUSA teams plus they'd re-unite with TCU.  If they join the Big East, UH should hire a big time basketball coach and play a lot of their games in the Toyota Center.  Like LU, they can't return their BB program back to the glory days.

The PAC 10/12 commissioner mentioned a week or two ago that he thinks there's a lot of alignment/expansion on the horizon in the next year or two.  The MWC may still end up taking Utah State and/or San Jose State.  The WAC needs to get to at least 8 football schools by 2014.  A lot of the BCS schools want more FBS teams so they can rack up more wins and get bowl eligible. I've also read that the NCAA is unhappy that the FCS playoffs is a money loser.  There's really no incentive to force schools to stay at the FCS level if they want to move up and have the money. Lamar now has an extra year or two to build up the football program and the whole athletic department before jumping to FBS.  The WAC is probably the way to go but one raid of the SBC will open up that conference too.

To get invited to the WAC, 4 out of the 5 remaining schools have to vote yes.  San Jose State and Utah State are the ones holding out.  Next year Texas State, UTSA and Denver get to vote and they want Lamar in the conference.  Lamar will probably get invited next year because the WAC does need 8 football schools by 2014. SJSU and USU want in the MWC badly but can't get in.  They want more western schools in the WAC but that's not happening either, so they are stalling.  The NCAA basically said with their recent ruling that the WAC will be around for a while and that's the path to take from FCS to FBS football.  The WAC will probably expand to a 12 or 14 team conference (with east/west divisions) over the next few years and Lamar will more than likely be a part of that.

[quote]Doesn't look good for the home team, but with six games left, they might be able to squeeze into the tourney.[/quote] I thought the basketball season was already over?  Oh wait, this is baseball.... ;D

[quote name="aries456" post="1006392" timestamp="1304647781"] [quote author=ShlyKBMT link=topic=83964.msg1006148#msg1006148 date=1304633838] SEBaseball.com Houston Regional Host: Rice 1. Rice (CUSA at large) 28-16 #22 4. Stephen F Austin (SLC Automatic) 30-13 #108 2. Oklahoma (B12 at large) 29-13 #18 3. Louisiana (SBC at large) 26-19 #53 [/quote] UL-Lafayette likes to call themselves the University of Louisiana.  The fans of UL-Monroe like to argue with them over that! Louisiana? [/quote]

With the subject line of "help!" I thought maybe Gilligan started posting here.  ;D Between all those injuries to the starting pitching and a punchless offense I doubt they'll make any kind run like they did last season.

6-7 Brazier and 6-8 Brown are on the roster for sure next year. I think 6-11 Osas and 6-7 Harris will not back next year so they do need a few more big guys, even if they aren't great players.

[quote name="TexasTerror" post="1004876" timestamp="1304357274"] Nothing is official until there is a press release, press conference, etc. The source coachacola referenced to has thrown tons of crap against the wall with most of it not sticking. That's a credible response from me! [/quote] I saw it on the internet so it must be true!  ;D I think LU would want SHSU in the WAC with them.  That helps cut down travel expenses and gives them a rival which is part of the criteria Dr. Simmons was looking for in a FBS conference.  FCS football (along with the SLC) is dying a slow death so there's not much point in staying put.  I wouldn't be surprised if there was pressure from the TSUS to have all 3 schools FBS.

According to someone on the Scout WAC board, both Lamar and SHSU have been invited: [Hidden Content]

Nikko Acosta is 6-9 from Florida Gulf Coast CC. [Hidden Content]

Lamar was still D1-A when they beat Baylor.  Lamar dropped down to 1-AA the next year.

Do you have some inside info UNLV?

[quote name="Ruckdad" post="1002816" timestamp="1303917382"] [quote author=hipster link=topic=83639.msg1002772#msg1002772 date=1303912275] D1 are u kidding me!!!! [/quote] Hipster - you do know that Lamar plays D1 football, right? [/quote] Maybe Hipster thinks Treadway isn't D1 material?  I can't tell by his glib answer.

Is he D1 material?  I didn't see him listed on any recruiting sites.

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="999669" timestamp="1303250400"] Still playing the 4 non D1 schools. But looks like a pretty solid schedule. [/quote] I think Knight said those were already scheduled so Lamar is stuck with those games.