TexasTerror Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Posted June 5, 2008 That is why I'd think it would be easier for us to move up to FBS faster. Of course, you are a guru of that stuff. I'd just say thats common sense but I know there is a lot more to moving up to FBS which you probably know. Basketball is part of the equation, but outside of the numbers in the stands, I can't say that Lamar has really established itself as a school to be reckoned with in basketball. SHSU isn't there either, so don't even bring up comparison. What's the marquee win? The conference as a whole needs to improve -- which is what the coaches are working on (I'll post that on here after this post) and the schools themselves need to push for more postseason berths, which will increase the chances of a school having the added fuel to add to football for an FBS move. Football is where it's all at. A successful football program, on the field and off of it, can really shape your image for FBS. The chance is there for Lamar. My concern is that after the year or few when the newness wears off, if Lamar can not produce Ws in what is truly a tough conference to compete in (and is only getting tougher with more schools from all over raiding Texas talent), what will be of the support?
Guest coachacola Posted June 5, 2008 Report Posted June 5, 2008 What did La-Monroe have that SHSU is lacking? This: your picture is not showing... what is it? It's a photo of UL-Monroe's 30K stadium. That's what SHSU was lacking.
TexasTerror Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Posted June 5, 2008 It's a photo of UL-Monroe's 30K stadium. That's what SHSU was lacking. The one that only fills when Grambling comes to town? Take out their home opener against Tulsa and the contest against Grambling (which was 30k strong), they averaged 10,377. Their big rivalry game in Lafayette only drew in 8,045 by the way. Big stadiums are nice, but if I can yell across the field of play to ask UNLV where he wants to go post-game to eat meat pies, that obviously doesn't do much.
UNLV Posted June 5, 2008 Report Posted June 5, 2008 What did La-Monroe have that SHSU is lacking? This: your picture is not showing... what is it? It's a photo of UL-Monroe's 30K stadium. That's what SHSU was lacking. I just looked at ULM website. I love their 08 schedule.
Guest abovetherim Posted June 5, 2008 Report Posted June 5, 2008 Well, La-Monroe did get a national televised basketball game at home this year versus USA (they got their tails kicked but still). I think SHSU would have to make major improvements to Bower Stadium to move up to FBS. Look at Bowers Stadium- http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=1275265 And look at another thread at the new Cardinal Stadium... (after renovations). Cardinal Stadium will blow Bowers Stadium away. Recruits will be attracted to all of the new energy and fan support surrounding Lamar Football. It will be a success, I think at least. Either way, I think Lamar's fan support across the board in sports blows Sam Houston's away. LU is about to get a new baseball complex that will be the best in the conference. Once the athletic offices move into the new football facility there are talks of a men's basketball practice facility in the Montagne. And the reason all of this will happen and Lamar will be successful, is because of Administration. I look forward to all of this stuff happening and Lamar owning the SLC for 5 years until we move to a bigger conference. It will happen eventually if we keep heading down the path we're going. Looks like we are getting some of the same information. 1. Renovated baseball facility 2. The athletic administration moving to the new field house. 3. A new practice facility for the men and women basketball program with a approximate cost of $7 million. TT, about the better facilities getting better results, just take your baseball program. If you didn't build a very nice baseball complex I highly doubt you'd have Coach Johnson and all the success on the diamond which came with him.
TexasTerror Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Posted June 5, 2008 TT, about the better facilities getting better results, just take your baseball program. If you didn't build a very nice baseball complex I highly doubt you'd have Coach Johnson and all the success on the diamond which came with him. I think the talent was there, it just took Coach Johnson. Do not believe Coach Rupp was the man and Skeeters had been around a long time, the game was changing and he may not have been the right one in terms of keeping up with the changes... Having Coach Johnson did bring the $1M donation and his contacts have helped throw more $$$ into the program... Also think a change in coach upgraded our football program too. Randleman was class all the way, but we needed a change of pace...
Guest abovetherim Posted June 5, 2008 Report Posted June 5, 2008 No sir, you may follow volleyball but I keep up with baseball and the SLC. Coach Johnson recruited over half the current team. I'll gladly post the roster and highlight the guys he recruited.
TexasTerror Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Posted June 5, 2008 No sir, you may follow volleyball but I keep up with baseball and the SLC. Coach Johnson recruited over half the current team. I'll gladly post the roster and highlight the guys he recruited. He didn't recruit many of the seniors that made the 2007 team's success happen including our pitching rotation (and our 'Stopper of the Year'). And even before that, with Rupp, I think we had some serious talent -- just the wrong coach to actually make it work. Johnson made a huge difference, but as I said -- we had the talent before hand. The facilities weren't there under the previous regime.
Guest abovetherim Posted June 5, 2008 Report Posted June 5, 2008 You are correct about 2007, I was thinking 2008. In 2007, Coach Johnson only had one recruiting class and it was "late in the game" if I remember correctly when he was hired for him to hit the recruiting trail.
TexasTerror Posted June 6, 2008 Author Report Posted June 6, 2008 Figured UNLV would enjoy this from the La Tech main man... Tech coach Dooley on ULM: 'We don't view them as a target' Posted 6/3/2008 11:35 AM CDT on thenewsstar.com BASTROP -- Louisiana Tech football coach and athletics director Derek Dooley gave a presentation on the future of Tech athletics last night, and was asked whether his program will schedule games against ULM in the future. With the two schools separated by just a 35-minute drive on I-20, ULM makes the most sense for Tech when it comes to developing a year-in, year-out regional rivalry. But Dooley didn't seem too interested in locking up a home-and-home series. "In my mind, we're much more elite," Dooley said. "We play in a more elite conference. We don't really acknowledge Northeast. We don't view them as a target, and we don't compete for players." While most of that is true -- the WAC, with two BCS representatives in the last two years, is a more elite football conference than the Sun Belt -- Dooley's assertion that ULM and Tech don't compete for players is odd. Tech doesn't compete for players with most of its scheduled opponents. Dooley isn't about to take players away from Hawaii, or Ole Miss, or Fresno State, or San Jose State. It's hard to see how Tech wouldn't benefit from playing ULM. A home game at Joe Aillet Stadium is sure to be well-attended, given the close proximity of the two schools. Travel costs for a trip to Monroe would be non-existent compared to a WAC game in Hawaii. And if one of Dooley's main goals as athletics director is to establish a better "brand identity" for Tech, wouldn't a regional rivlary be a good start? Can you name Tech's No. 1 rival? (Crickets chirping...) (Uncomfortable silence) Whatever Dooley chooses to call that school down the road -- be it ULM, Northeast, Ulm, UL-Monroe, or something else -- Tech vs. ULM would make for a great football event in NELA, whether Tech wins by 50 points or five.
UNLV Posted June 6, 2008 Report Posted June 6, 2008 No I didn't enjoy it. Lamar and Tech, former rivals, same size, Tech is elite, Lamar is small time.
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