Wasn't there noise about them and (weirdly) the MVC a few months ago?

There was indeed. Not sure what made that weird. It definitely would be a better fit than the Belt.

Sounds like the WAC is going to be a big influence with the Texas schools added.
Not having football in a FCS conference isn’t as bad as being in a FBS conference with the greater money discrepancy.

(09-03-2021 05:34 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

Good news for UTA:

This spring they qualfied for the Texas National Research University Fund, joining Texas Tech, Houston and UT Dallas.

https://reportcenter.highered.texas.gov/...lity-2021/

"This report provides an update to the Comptroller and the Texas Legislature on the
progress institutions are making on all eligibility criteria. The report also identifies institutions
that meet or will meet the minimum requirements to become eligible to receive distributions
from the NRUF. The information is summarized below:
• Eight universities are designated as emerging research universities in the THECB’s
Accountability System: Texas State University, Texas Tech University, The University of
Texas at Arlington, The University of Texas at Dallas, The University of Texas at El Paso,
The University of Texas at San Antonio, University of Houston, and University of North
Texas.
• Texas Tech University and University of Houston data are not included in the report, as
both institutions met eligibility in Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 and began receiving distributions
from the NRUF. Each institution received $16.3 million for the 2012-13 biennium, $17.9
million for the 2014-15 biennium, and $16.9 million for the 2016-17 biennium. The
University of Texas at Dallas data are not included in the report, as the institution met
eligibility in FY 2018 and also began receiving distributions from the NRUF. Each of the
three institutions received $15.4 million for the 2018-19 biennium and $8.2 million in FY
2020.

• The University of Texas at Arlington reported restricted research expenditures above the
threshold of $45 million in FY 2019 and 2020. In addition, for both fiscal years, the
institution fulfilled the following four of six optional criteria required for NRUF eligibility:
o Criterion 2: Doctor of Philosophy Degrees Awarded
o Criterion 3: Freshman Class of High Academic Achievement
o Criterion 4: Institutional Recognition of Research Capabilities and Scholarly
Attainment
o Criterion 5: High-Quality Faculty.
The University of Texas at Arlington fulfilled a sufficient number of required criteria for
two consecutive years and is eligible for fund distribution in FY 2021, pending a required
audit by the State Auditor’s Office in FY 2021...."

(09-03-2021 05:52 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  There was indeed. Not sure what made that weird. It definitely would be a better fit than the Belt.

Its weird because its not a good add for the MVC.

(09-03-2021 06:24 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-03-2021 05:52 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  There was indeed. Not sure what made that weird. It definitely would be a better fit than the Belt.

Its weird because its not a good add for the MVC.

It is only for one sport, but doesn’t Dallas Baptist play baseball in the MVC?

(09-03-2021 06:43 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  

(09-03-2021 06:24 PM)PicksUp Wrote:  

(09-03-2021 05:52 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  There was indeed. Not sure what made that weird. It definitely would be a better fit than the Belt.

Its weird because its not a good add for the MVC.

It is only for one sport, but doesn’t Dallas Baptist play baseball in the MVC?

They do

I wonder if the success they have had with DBU has led them to want a greater Texas presence

(09-03-2021 06:12 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  Sounds like the WAC is going to be a big influence with the Texas schools added.
Not having football in a FCS conference isn’t as bad as being in a FBS conference with the greater money discrepancy.

Can’t see the WAC being interested unless UTA commits to restarting football.

(09-03-2021 06:54 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

(09-03-2021 06:12 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  Sounds like the WAC is going to be a big influence with the Texas schools added.
Not having football in a FCS conference isn’t as bad as being in a FBS conference with the greater money discrepancy.

Can’t see the WAC being interested unless UTA commits to restarting football.

So leave a conference with FBS football and an auto-invite for a conference just starting football and some HOPING to be able to go FBS in the future?

This tells me they are afraid the Sun Belt could be seriously raided.

(09-03-2021 05:34 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

So it's a study on what is the likely limit of student fee increases which the student body would pass via referendum. Got it.

I think this benefits the Sun Belt potentially. I'd prefer they go back to 12 all sports members. Even go with 2 FCS teams could help more than non football schools can.

(09-03-2021 06:54 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

(09-03-2021 06:12 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  Sounds like the WAC is going to be a big influence with the Texas schools added.
Not having football in a FCS conference isn’t as bad as being in a FBS conference with the greater money discrepancy.

Can’t see the WAC being interested unless UTA commits to restarting football.

Not sure why that would matter the WAC has quite a few non football schools. UTRGV may solve the additional football school needed and UTA would fill the other Texas spot the WAC is looking at to split into divisions.
Besides, we the FBS realignment that will follow, NMSU could be moving on shortly.

UTA's got two open football stadiums within a mile of the campus, three if you count the big one (but don't...)

(09-03-2021 07:54 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  So it's a study on what is the likely limit of student fee increases which the student body would pass via referendum. Got it.

Right. The study will lay out the cost of starting an FCS football team and how much they would have to tax the student body to pay for it. And the study will recommend the option that the school administrators prefer.

If the school administration wants to make the case for football, then the study will say that if they start football their conference options are awesome, future donations will skyrocket, and no one will mind a student fee increase that will take effect after the current students have graduated.

If the school administration doesn't want football, then the study will say their conference options are at least as good without football and that the required fee increase for football would be so large that students would revolt.

(09-03-2021 05:49 PM)Bogg Wrote:  Wasn't there noise about them and (weirdly) the MVC a few months ago?

Not really weird when you think about it. UTA probably has the best basketball facility in the Sunbelt conference. UTA has had some recent success in basketball and might be trying to establish their identity as a basketball school. The Sunbelt is a horrible basketball conference and the Missouri Valley Conference is a historically strong basketball conference.

An older story, but some background on this. Les Miles mentioned (doesn't sound like FCS).

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/one-got-away-gerry-mecca

(09-03-2021 10:10 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-03-2021 07:54 PM)Renandpat Wrote:  So it's a study on what is the likely limit of student fee increases which the student body would pass via referendum. Got it.

Right. The study will lay out the cost of starting an FCS football team and how much they would have to tax the student body to pay for it. And the study will recommend the option that the school administrators prefer.

If the school administration wants to make the case for football, then the study will say that if they start football their conference options are awesome, future donations will skyrocket, and no one will mind a student fee increase that will take effect after the current students have graduated.

If the school administration doesn't want football, then the study will say their conference options are at least as good without football and that the required fee increase for football would be so large that students would revolt.

There was a certain sarcasm in my words as I have worked on two campus referendums for recreation facilities.

with instability on the horizon with the AAC, the MVC is going to hold out for a wichita reunion. Though highly unlikely, we can afford to wait, our 2nd best team, who was far worse than our best team, just got an at large bid this year, no need to rush and add UTA in these realignment prone times. No inside sources, but i can promise this.