Academics matter, but are often just an excuse. I didn't buy into comments the Tulsa president made about academics recently. Coming from a school that seems likely to abandon the company of Rice for the company of Boise State, these struck me as disingenuous (and probably code for something else).

I don't think endowment per se matters that much. You need resources. That may or may not take the form of "endowment." It's equally valid to look at facilities, alumni giving, budget, etc.

(01-21-2013 01:37 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 01:32 PM)billings Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  in football realignment discussions. Fat lot of good it's done us.

only matters to the PAC and the BIG

And ACC


*See WVU

Even the ACC is slipping. They just let UL in and they're ranked lower academically than WVU by some accounts. Also still struggles with a commuter school perception. Timing was completely wrong for WVU. I think they would've gotten into ACC over UL.

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  in football realignment discussions. Fat lot of good it's done us.

you need to do what SMU and Tulsa did. Speak Loudly about academics and grant wholesale waivers for mens football and basketball. Tulsa is a hair away from APR violations and the president is talking down towards other members of CUSA

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  in football realignment discussions. Fat lot of good it's done us.

That's because you don't use that money to invest in athletics nor do your students openly support athletics in an adequate manner. Rice has nobody to blame but themselves on that one. You could easily market academics similar to how we market "Tier One status" or perhaps even better than that.

Rice in-fighting makles UH's job even easier.

(01-21-2013 02:56 PM)Cougar Paws Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  in football realignment discussions. Fat lot of good it's done us.

That's because you don't use that money to invest in athletics nor do your students openly support athletics in an adequate manner. Rice has nobody to blame but themselves on that one. You could easily market academics similar to how we market "Tier One status" or perhaps even better than that.

Rice in-fighting makles UH's job even easier.

Pot calling the kettle black...you guys were a much better program in the 80's...that is reality...maybe you should give captain stubing a call since you missed the boat as well...love the crayfish position with some of the schools today

(01-21-2013 02:49 PM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  in football realignment discussions. Fat lot of good it's done us.

you need to do what SMU and Tulsa did. Speak Loudly about academics and grant wholesale waivers for mens football and basketball. Tulsa is a hair away from APR violations and the president is talking down towards other members of CUSA

I think we'll see Tulsa's APR improve the further away we get from the Todd Graham era. Bill Blankenship seems to be more of a stickler for academics. At least I hope so. There's not a whole lot of wiggle room as it stands.

A friend of mine started his college career at a juco. The instructor for one of the classes opened the first class by asking the students about the perceptions of the education they would receive there vs. regional four year schools or other name schools. After the class mostly downgraded what they would be learning the instructor told them, "You will use the same book that is used for this class at Harvard and when you finish you will have learned the same things the class at Harvard has learned. I know Harvard uses this book because I wrote this book."

He had retired to the area and wanted to teach part-time and no longer wanted to do research.

While I think there are certainly benefits to name institutions with great reputations, I suspect the differences in education aren't as vast as those institutions want us to believe, especially those institutions that have embraced massive class sizes.

(01-21-2013 03:03 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  Pot calling the kettle black...you guys were a much better program in the 80's...that is reality...maybe you should give captain stubing a call since you missed the boat as well...love the crayfish position with some of the schools today

0-12, directional school and stuck in CUSA. Please hush.

(01-21-2013 05:59 PM)Cougar Paws Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 03:03 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  Pot calling the kettle black...you guys were a much better program in the 80's...that is reality...maybe you should give captain stubing a call since you missed the boat as well...love the crayfish position with some of the schools today

0-12, directional school and stuck in CUSA. Please hush.

says the school who had a losing record, who is stuck in houston, where everyone cares more about UT, A&M, Tech, OU, LSU, OSU and others... Please hush.

(01-21-2013 06:06 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  says the school who had a losing record, who is stuck in houston, where everyone cares more about UT, A&M, Tech, OU, LSU, OSU and others... Please hush.

UT Branch campus aka UT-Juarez, 99% admissions rate, barely part of Texas, not wanted by the nBE or the MWC. Hasn't been to a bowl game in about 10 years. Worst recruiting class out of all FBS Texas schools. You hush too.

(01-21-2013 03:55 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  A friend of mine started his college career at a juco. The instructor for one of the classes opened the first class by asking the students about the perceptions of the education they would receive there vs. regional four year schools or other name schools. After the class mostly downgraded what they would be learning the instructor told them, "You will use the same book that is used for this class at Harvard and when you finish you will have learned the same things the class at Harvard has learned. I know Harvard uses this book because I wrote this book."

He had retired to the area and wanted to teach part-time and no longer wanted to do research.

While I think there are certainly benefits to name institutions with great reputations, I suspect the differences in education aren't as vast as those institutions want us to believe, especially those institutions that have embraced massive class sizes.

Arkstfan, you are exactly correct! The two variables are
1 the quality of the student coming in, and
2 the social and business networks going out.

ASU, WKU, and (fill I the blank), we all offer essentially the same coursework ( from the same books!). The differences are the intellectual ability of the student and how "connected" they are when they start looking for a job. We have WKU grads that are competing with the so-called best, as I am certain you do at ASU. Folks, all you C-USA schools are in the same academic boat the rest of us are in. You have good students that excel, average students that are...... average, and some that barely make it through.

(01-21-2013 06:11 PM)Cougar Paws Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 06:06 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  says the school who had a losing record, who is stuck in houston, where everyone cares more about UT, A&M, Tech, OU, LSU, OSU and others... Please hush.

UT Branch campus aka UT-Juarez, 99% admissions rate, barely part of Texas, not wanted by the nBE or the MWC. Hasn't been to a bowl game in about 10 years. Worst recruiting class out of all FBS Texas schools. You hush too.

lol, Juarez probably follows UTEP more than houston follows houston.

(01-21-2013 05:59 PM)Cougar Paws Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 03:03 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  Pot calling the kettle black...you guys were a much better program in the 80's...that is reality...maybe you should give captain stubing a call since you missed the boat as well...love the crayfish position with some of the schools today

0-12, directional school and stuck in CUSA. Please hush.

It is 'funny' to me that the same people who politically hate the rich and powerful jump on the bandwagon of the rich and powerful of the academic and athletic world.
The little 'directional' school educates teachers who in turn educate leaders of business and politics. These alumni are very important I think we would all agree, but do not have the resources in most cases to create huge academic endowments. I am proud of my 'little directional' school and what it has accomplished and I am sure some of you can't wait to rid yourselves of that little thorn in your side, especially those who had 'BCS' shaved in the side of their head.

(01-21-2013 06:19 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  lol, Juarez probably follows UTEP more than houston follows houston.

Only if they live long enough to see the whole season...

(01-21-2013 06:24 PM)Cougar Paws Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 06:19 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  lol, Juarez probably follows UTEP more than houston follows houston.

Only if they live long enough to see the whole season...

well, if they live through one season, that will be more than what houstonians support uh

(01-21-2013 12:54 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:52 PM)wh49er Wrote:  I chuckle when people start threads about the people who bring up academics endowment.

That makes me chuckle.

Academics and endowment? I'm smart enough not to discuss my endowment in a public forum!

(01-21-2013 06:51 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:54 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:52 PM)wh49er Wrote:  I chuckle when people start threads about the people who bring up academics endowment.

That makes me chuckle.

Academics and endowment? I'm smart enough not to discuss my endowment in a public forum!

Reminds me of a quote from blazing saddles - "they said you was hung".
"And they was right"

(01-21-2013 03:16 PM)Nice Guy Eddie Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 02:49 PM)bladhmadh Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 12:34 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  in football realignment discussions. Fat lot of good it's done us.

you need to do what SMU and Tulsa did. Speak Loudly about academics and grant wholesale waivers for mens football and basketball. Tulsa is a hair away from APR violations and the president is talking down towards other members of CUSA

I think we'll see Tulsa's APR improve the further away we get from the Todd Graham era.

Glad to see a hint of how we also think Todd Graham is best viewed from the rear view mirror.

(01-21-2013 06:13 PM)Dudleytop Wrote:  

(01-21-2013 03:55 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  A friend of mine started his college career at a juco. The instructor for one of the classes opened the first class by asking the students about the perceptions of the education they would receive there vs. regional four year schools or other name schools. After the class mostly downgraded what they would be learning the instructor told them, "You will use the same book that is used for this class at Harvard and when you finish you will have learned the same things the class at Harvard has learned. I know Harvard uses this book because I wrote this book."

He had retired to the area and wanted to teach part-time and no longer wanted to do research.

While I think there are certainly benefits to name institutions with great reputations, I suspect the differences in education aren't as vast as those institutions want us to believe, especially those institutions that have embraced massive class sizes.

Arkstfan, you are exactly correct! The two variables are
1 the quality of the student coming in, and
2 the social and business networks going out.

ASU, WKU, and (fill I the blank), we all offer essentially the same coursework ( from the same books!). The differences are the intellectual ability of the student and how "connected" they are when they start looking for a job. We have WKU grads that are competing with the so-called best, as I am certain you do at ASU. Folks, all you C-USA schools are in the same academic boat the rest of us are in. You have good students that excel, average students that are...... average, and some that barely make it through.

A friend's kid had law school acceptances from Arkansas, Arkansas-Little Rock, Washington U in St. Louis and Georgetown and wanted advice on where to go.

The last two are incredible schools but he was thinking of going to school and coming back to Arkansas to work. I told him if he was SURE he wanted to be in Arkansas then he needed to go to UA or UALR because the network of people he would meet would serve him well and if he needed to work while in school he needed to be at UALR because there were more clerk opportunities and for someone who appeared to be a top student those would create the best chance of being at a top Arkansas firm.

Now if he were open to living anywhere, I'd have told him to think what his interest was then choose the stronger in that field between Washington and Georgetown.

The social networks matter.

I figure we're at the bottom of the realignment rationalization barrel when we start tossing endowment size around.

tulsa : "pardon me while I whip this out"

nBE : "ooo, tulsa, your endowment is sooooo BIG".

Rice : "hey! WTF!?!? that's nothing!"