(10-23-2020 12:45 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(10-23-2020 12:26 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  

(10-23-2020 06:37 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(10-23-2020 04:10 AM)RobtheAggie Wrote:  

(10-22-2020 11:53 PM)Hilldog Wrote:  https://twitter.com/CalebKTRE/status/131...4045545473

Key word in that tweet is "formal invite". That can be seen as confirmation that there are discussions happening from both sides. It does not say an information invite was received and was rejected.

From years on this board I have learned that formal invites only come if an invite is guaranteed to be accepted.

Yep, and I am having a hard time figuring this one. An invite to ACU I get. An invite to Lamar, SFA, and SHSU, I don't get. SFA is 130 miles from George Bush International, along a two lane highway going through national forests. Lamar is 80 miles from George Bush International along I-10 and SHSU is 65 miles north, where the highlight is the state prison. Southeast Texas is a long way to travel to play conference Olympic sports contests and these schools don't really help make the WAC a two-bid league.

If these schools are really considering leaving the SLC, it is not about FBS football. Sure, Jeff Hurd could tangle the promise that the WAC could exercise their "grandfather clause" for FBS football at some point down the road. But that is a long-shot. No, these three schools must have a concern about something going on in the SLC. It could be about the five Louisiana schools and Central Arkansas, schools that were struggling financially before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Or as someone mentioned, they have issues with Houston Baptist and UIW. I think FCS football is going to happen for the WAC and FBS football is a pipe dream. But I will really be surprised if these three southeast Texas schools join the WAC.

I feel the same way. SUU to the WAC, I could see it without football. Why would they bring their football team from the Big Sky to the WAC? Same with these Southland schools. UIW and HBU can’t be that much “worse” than being in the same conference with Seattle and Cal Baptist. The WAC Tournament will likely remain in Las Vegas, so now those 4/5 SLC teams’ fans will have to fly to Vegas than a quick drive somewhere in Texas. Their football teams are better off playing SUU and Dixie???

Here are the issues that these schools in the Southland to bolt.

1.Houston Baptist, UIW and New Orleansare like Chicago State when they joined and they still are. Only UIW have improved. It had to do with money.

2.Their facilities are or were terrible. UIW improve, but all 3 are still behind the others. Seattle U. and California Baptist have better facilities.

3.The uncertainty of the state of Louisiana budget wise, and if and when the law makers decide to merge them.

4.The political nature of the Religious leaders at both Houston Baptist and UIW was a sticky point as well.