Not headed back until 2023. So football schedules are not impacted

https://lamarcardinals.com/news/2022/4/8...rence.aspx

(04-08-2022 10:56 AM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

Interesting the map at the end still shows Incarnate Word.

Not sure if interesting or just a bad job.

I for one Lamar fan think this is almost as bad a move as the one from the Sunbelt back to the Southland was. Lamar changed University Presidents last June and the AD took a leave of absence in January and resigned in March. Obviously, the new President decided to listen to a few donors as opposed to doing what truly is in the Athletic Departments best interest if Lamar ever wants to improve its brand. Maybe if the WAC ever actually decides to transition to FBS and McNeese is interested in going FBS the two of them will beg the WAC for invites. I don't see any current FBS conferences wanting either one.

(04-07-2022 10:26 PM)rtist Wrote:  And to think a few years ago there were rumors that Lamar wanted to upgrade to the FBS level; guess those plans have been nipped in the bud....assuming they ever existed to begin with.

Lamar is not only the most “FBS ready” of the TX4, but those “rumors” of an FBS move were anything but. Their administration flat out said there were plans to move to the FBS by 2015. There was mutual interest between them and the WAC shortly before the league was eliminated. They’ve existed as long as SHSU’s plans… and a lot longer than Tarleton’s.

https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/sport...732743.php

Why can’t those plans and long term goals remain? Plenty of schools have gone FBS from the SLC. The grandfather clause is dead in the water with NMSU and SHSU gone. It’s not happening. Lamar’s FBS chances are just as strong in the Southland as they are in the WAC.

WAC Statement on Departure of Lamar University

Quote:The Western Athletic Conference has received notice from Lamar University regarding its intention to depart the league effective June 30, 2023.

"The Western Athletic Conference has a long history of success and we will continue to assess the ever changing landscape and make decisions that give our membership the best opportunity to compete for championships and provide a high level student athlete experience," said WAC Commissioner Brian Thornton. "Our institutions are unified in their commitment to the WAC remaining one of the premier mid-major conferences in the country."

The league will have no further comment.

Didn’t say much.

(04-08-2022 06:48 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Didn’t say much.

Not much can be said. The feckless and confused leadership there just wasted both their time and money and the conferences time and money because they have no idea what they are doing.

And now, 3-4 other WAC schools are sitting around wondering what they should be doing as well.

(04-08-2022 08:04 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 06:48 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Didn’t say much.

Not much can be said. The feckless and confused leadership there just wasted both their time and money and the conferences time and money because they have no idea what they are doing.

And now, 3-4 other WAC schools are sitting around wondering what they should be doing as well.

I highly doubt 3-4 WAC schools are wondering what they should be doing because crappy Lamar left for the SLC.

Wow, just watched the local news station in Beaumont and it excuses for departing the WAC were lame and there was little to no enthusiasm about the move. Travel costs and rivalries were the main reasons. Reading between the lines sounded like money issues.

(04-08-2022 09:44 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Wow, just watched the local news station in Beaumont and it excuses for departing the WAC were lame and there was little to no enthusiasm about the move. Travel costs and rivalries were the main reasons. Reading between the lines sounded like money issues.

Dude that's exactly what it is. Beaumont is a bus ride from Houston, Lake Charles, Hammond and other points in the Southland.

The people in the Golden Triangle are familiar with those teams and would rather see games against rather than the western half of the WAC (or likely Tarleton / ACU).

And this is a school that “wants FBS”. Sure.

(04-08-2022 08:57 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 08:04 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 06:48 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Didn’t say much.

Not much can be said. The feckless and confused leadership there just wasted both their time and money and the conferences time and money because they have no idea what they are doing.

And now, 3-4 other WAC schools are sitting around wondering what they should be doing as well.

I highly doubt 3-4 WAC schools are wondering what they should be doing because crappy Lamar left for the SLC.

Well, everyone “highly doubted” there would be the rapid exits of multiple schools I predicted as soon as this fiasco was announced.

SFA should be questioning their direction right now, after their 2 closest neighbors (that they moved to the WAC with) have already left.

UIW should be wondering whether to stay in the Southland.

Southern Utah should be wondering if the WAC will be an FCS league when they arrive.

RGV should be thinking about whether the Southland would be better for them once their football starts up.

Abilene should be wondering if the WAC will still be a good fit long term if many other Texas schools end up leaving.

I’m not saying any of these schools are actually thinking about any of this. I’m saying they SHOULD be. If they aren’t, they simply aren’t being prudent.

I believe that Seattle SHOULD consider the GNAC. Honestly sick of seeing them and their small time gym. If you want to play basketball with the big boys (Sam Houston) then either UPGRADE or GET GONE.

Honestly, replacing Seattle with HBU would be the WAC’s best course of action. Plus adding HBU would give Tarleton a rival for the long haul.

(04-07-2022 03:31 PM)SammyH Wrote:  LAMAR SEES THE LIGHT BABY #SouthlandStrong

It will soon be a better football conference than the WAC once again!

That's the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time.

(04-09-2022 09:08 AM)SammyH Wrote:  I believe that Seattle SHOULD consider the GNAC. Honestly sick of seeing them and their small time gym. If you want to play basketball with the big boys (Sam Houston) then either UPGRADE or GET GONE.

Honestly, replacing Seattle with HBU would be the WAC’s best course of action. Plus adding HBU would give Tarleton a rival for the long haul.

Eh. C- effort. We have already been over this. SHSU has a pretty decent arena, but there’s usually less than 1,000 people there. You guys are the ones that should be playing in a small gym.

(04-08-2022 09:59 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 09:44 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Wow, just watched the local news station in Beaumont and it excuses for departing the WAC were lame and there was little to no enthusiasm about the move. Travel costs and rivalries were the main reasons. Reading between the lines sounded like money issues.

Dude that's exactly what it is. Beaumont is a bus ride from Houston, Lake Charles, Hammond and other points in the Southland.

The people in the Golden Triangle are familiar with those teams and would rather see games against rather than the western half of the WAC (or likely Tarleton / ACU).

If they wanted be small time local travel they should have never left the SLC. The school desperately needs some visibility and it’s not gonna happen playing NW St and Southeastern La. The school committed and built a fabulous stadium albeit not where I would have put it. Did they build it to play Nichols Stare? Obviously, there are no rivalries other than McNeese and that is lukewarm as well when the stadium is half empty when you consider McNeese could easily travel there.

Think about it, their largest crowd last season was Tarleton who btw traveled well as I live in the area and I would say a quarter of the 8000 plus fans were in purple.

It’s not rivalries. it’s a school who isn’t committed. There was absolutely NO EXCITEMENT for Lamar heading back to the Southland. They also were given assurances that the Southland would help them pay WAC exit fees. Hint: We have no funding.

Sammy H is a joke. Lamar and FBS are light years away. The area or the school isn’t growing. Status quo gets you nowhere.

People in the area don’t even no what conference the Southland is! Let alone who they play.

I’m sure this move will get top notch recruits. NOT!

(04-08-2022 10:39 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 08:57 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 08:04 PM)Todor Wrote:  

(04-08-2022 06:48 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Didn’t say much.

Not much can be said. The feckless and confused leadership there just wasted both their time and money and the conferences time and money because they have no idea what they are doing.

And now, 3-4 other WAC schools are sitting around wondering what they should be doing as well.

I highly doubt 3-4 WAC schools are wondering what they should be doing because crappy Lamar left for the SLC.

Well, everyone “highly doubted” there would be the rapid exits of multiple schools I predicted as soon as this fiasco was announced.

SFA should be questioning their direction right now, after their 2 closest neighbors (that they moved to the WAC with) have already left.

UIW should be wondering whether to stay in the Southland.

Southern Utah should be wondering if the WAC will be an FCS league when they arrive.

RGV should be thinking about whether the Southland would be better for them once their football starts up.

Abilene should be wondering if the WAC will still be a good fit long term if many other Texas schools end up leaving.

I’m not saying any of these schools are actually thinking about any of this. I’m saying they SHOULD be. If they aren’t, they simply aren’t being prudent.

It’s just hot air coming from you. The Southland offers nothing but cash strapped schools with no ambition. So, if that is what you can afford then by all means that is your conference. Sounds like a great fit for cash strapped Chicago State.

Is this the third or fourth time for Lamar to join the Southland Conference? SLC and the WAC both seem to be convenient transition spots between D-II and D-I. But the SLC seems to be a better geographical fit for the Cardinals. I wish them success.

Classic case of addition by subtraction. ACU and SFA are the cream of the "Texas 4" crop, and still in the WAC. Beaumont is essentially West Louisiana, and Sam's lack of supoort is scary and unsustainable. Tightened up the footprint and shed some dead weight. Best news I've heard all week.

...and maybe, just maybe, the WAC gets crafty and poaches A&M-Commerce to be SFA's new travel partner?