(06-18-2022 04:01 PM)johnintx Wrote:  Sam Houston doesn't benefit from location like Texas State does, but it's not exactly isolated, either. They haven't seen the benefit from winning at the highest level in FCS, so they're looking for the benefit of being part of FBS.

Sam Houston has a very good coach and is in a good location to recruit high school players and transfers to build quality teams. Ironically, it's probably easier for them to build a quality team than it is to build a fan base.

Agreed on second point about being able to put together a quality program. Between location, track record of coaching staff (and the last decade of program) and transfer portal - set up fairly well to do so.

Re comparisons to TXST, remember that Sam Houston enrollment has essentially doubled over course of last two decades. Was around 11,000 in 2002 and now double that. For much of the first decade of this century, Sam saw its enrollment grow more rapidly than any four year institution in state. Campus has had solid leadership and investment in academic programs, growth and the like. Increased student fees (minus last vote which was a confluence of two major athletic department issues at the time) has helped fund the department when coupled with the continued enrollment gains.