UNLV

The Lamar rule; Must win before moving up unlike other schools that move up when losing or not having a football program.

It's hard to sell Ruston more than Beaumont. It's hard to sell Lamar because of the FCS. I wouldn't worry about that too much because all these new FBS and start-ups are diluting the talent pool. Advantage Lamar. And once Lamar show some wins, selling Lamar and Beaumont becomes easier. We can only wait to see what Lamar does. We most likely will know within a week.

It doesn't seem like you are in the minority. Lamar can win at FBS or FCS or DIII if the program is built correctly. I would rather see Lamar whipping La Tech or UNT in football, basketball, all sports than to see Lamar whipping Houston Baptist. You must think of other sports too. Budget cuts will hurt the LA. schools so expect Lamar, ORU, and SFA to dominate basketball in the Cupcake SLC. However outside the SLC Lamar will get whipped....Vermont. A better league brings better talent. The SLC is ranked 27 out of 31 conferences. One and done in the NCAA. Now one and done in the play in game. When Lamar was in the Sunbelt, I was living in Las Vegas. Lamar got serious press time. Lamar was on the boards at the sportbooks in all the casinos, even the small ones. Now they say Lamar who? 

Lamar has been small time for more than a decade. What is so exciting about Lamar since leaving the Sunbelt? yet you guys want more of this small time.

SHSU, Lamar, and maybe SFA, one of these schools will get the call from the Sunbelt. Very soon.

Benson continue to mention SHSU and east Texas for expansion. I wonder if he means SFA and SHSU.

The clues are there, you just need to put them together. 1. Student fees went up at Lamar 2. Woodard gets a raise that looks like a transition raise but not full FBS. 3. Benson mention both SHSU and Lamar to balance all the eastern adds. 4 Sunbelt needs representation near Houston 5. CUSA mentioned going 16. Lamar might get in that 16 or CUSA raids the Sunbelt which leads to the Sunbelt needing members. Before I get attacked on the CUSA. La Tech is 68 miles from Shreveport 400k MSA. Beaumont/PAT MSA 400k is 76 miles from Houston 6,300k MSA. I call that attractive to a CUSA who also needs a western public school near Houston.

[quote name="77" post="1221910" timestamp="1336923030"] Those teams I'am sure have no desire to play Lamar untill they can establish a winning program. It would be a pay day for Lamar but I cant see the benefit for them.jmo. [/quote]Oklahoma St is already on Lamar schedule, so is Texas AM. Also those teams would not play Lamar if Lamar could beat them.

[quote name="ShlyKBMT" post="1221839" timestamp="1336877887"] I think the Sun Belt would be a good move but I'm not seeing a big increase of fan support with it. LU fans are already showing their ho hum attitude with football. A LOT of empty seats last year. And if the weather is too chilly, hot, or rainy they don't exist. And this is coming from a proud Lamar Cardinal. [/quote]Baylor is going to UL-Monroe, Okie st went to ULL. Bring those teams to Beaumont, you will get a full stadium. No one gets excited over Nichols st. I agree with green. Look at what Pat Knight did with basketball. Woodard is boring.

Lamar may not have the luxury to wait. Besides a few schools are moving to FBS with less football play than Lamar. We should know in 2 weeks.

Lamar has the highest attendance for basketball. ORU will have a higher numbers once they join the SLC.

It is hard to get excited when you face the possibility of playing HBU, Nichols st, SLC. Not too fun if this is the best Lamar can do. We are at the top of our food chain already. 

the attendance BB title of the Southland to ORU... [Hidden Content]

Lets hope Lamar don't screw this up. The Sunbelt needs a school in/near Houston. Lamar/SHSU/HBU. CUSA needs a western school and might need a public school in/near Houston.

If Lamar is destined for the Sunbelt, announce it already. I am all realignment out. However more may be coming including BIG 12 expansion, Big East expansion or split, CUSA and Sunbelt might lose members. Lamar needs to get in the mix.

[quote name="coachacola" post="1220405" timestamp="1336666233"] I hear the CUSA wants to expand past 14 teams but we won't see Lamar going there.  The WAC is pretty much dead as a football conference.  What other conference is there besides the Sun Belt? Conference movement is stopping after this year, but Lamar definitely needs to be ready to jump at anytime.  The window of opportunity won't stay open very long, but they probably have another year or two before to decide. I don't think Lamar moves up to a FBS level unless Dr. Simmons has the backing of some big donors to help finance the move.  I think they need some commitments to help pay for stadium expansion before they commit to going FBS. [/quote]CUSA is going 16. So far CUSA is very heavy on the eastern side so western schools are needed. Keep in mind ULL or an Ark st are very low on the academic pole as is most Sunbelt schools. Texas st could have been that western school but for UTSA. CUSA needs something closer to Houston.

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="1220392" timestamp="1336664506"] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1220388#msg1220388 date=1336664175] North, If Lamar wants to move, Lamar needs to act soon. The conferences want all FCS to move up quickly as to shake off that FCS image fast. Cola, I disagree with your timing and conference. Lamar can go FBS for 2013 if the invite is before July. I don't think any conference will allow to Lamar snail pace it's way in. Lamar is not that attractive. Also the conference may not necessary be the Sunbelt. Sam Houston might get the Sunbelt call. [/quote] Alright so now give us your best prediction of what conference you think it will be if not the SBC.  I am thinking that it will be the SBC or no FBS for LU at this time. [/quote]That is what I thought a few days ago in my rants. I think LU can go FBS without it being the Sunbelt. SETX is more than big enough to support a FBS and the gravy on top would be 6 million people 1 hour away. SETX and Houston talent needs a public school option for this non-sunbelt conference. SETX/Houston talent not going to the UH or Big 12 need a local FBS option and this conference might be willing to let Lamar serve as that option. All I'm saying is the Sunbelt is not Lamar's only option as I once believed.

North, If Lamar wants to move, Lamar needs to act soon. The conferences want all FCS to move up quickly as to shake off that FCS image fast. Cola, I disagree with your timing and conference. Lamar can go FBS for 2013 if the invite is before July. I don't think any conference will allow to Lamar snail pace it's way in. Lamar is not that attractive. Also the conference may not necessary be the Sunbelt. Sam Houston might get the Sunbelt call.

Lamar might be making a conference move soon. Notice I didn't say which conference.

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="1219325" timestamp="1336376129"] Its not about the grades for these conferences. Its about the size of the markets. [/quote]Ruston is not NYC II. All I'm saying is Rice doesn't necessary hold the Houston market. Maybe a nearby public school recruiting Houston talent can help give interest in CUSA to Houston.

Cola the same can be said of CUSA. Does Rice really fill in for CUSA for Houston? 99.9% of Houston talent can't make the grade to get into Rice.

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1219003" timestamp="1336258932"] if i could double smite ya UNLV I would...you were THE voice for the WAC--or shall we call it--R.I.P. WAC not saying it would be the best thing in the world..but incarnate word--in san antonio--is one of the fastest growing colleges in the state..w/ Tom Benson throwing big money their way..and if i remember..they out played us..hired larry keenan...planning big things.. [/quote]If Lamar had joined the WAC 1 year ago, Lamar press conference to join the Sunbelt or CUSA would have been yesterday. Most likely the Sunbelt because the Sunbelt needs a school near Houston. Stay tune....

[quote name="WOS95" post="1219000" timestamp="1336258627"] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=99695.msg1218993#msg1218993 date=1336257375] You make jokes as Lamar sinks. Everyone else moves up the ladder, Lamar always finds a way to move down. [/quote] Lamar is not sinking [/quote]The Southland is sinking. Lamar is part of the Southland. Lamar is sinking. Southland BB was ranked 27th. Several years ago the Southland averaged a 22 ranking. The Southland champion was destroyed by Vermont.

You make jokes as Lamar sinks. Everyone else moves up the ladder, Lamar always finds a way to move down.

Now that Lamar is officially bone-headed stuck in the Southland, who will be invited to the 27th worse conference? The big market with Incarnate Word? Abilene Christian? Texas A&M-Commerce?  the A&M part might fool people into thinking Lamar is big time. UTPA?