(09-08-2025 09:01 PM)RCI Wrote:  As best as I could judge, SFA had about 20 people at the game. At least that was the approximate number that cheered when the Lumberjacks scored early. It also looked like some left early when it was 28 to 14 five minutes before the game ended. ACU and SFA have been competitors for years, intensely so.

Our home side wasn't very good, but what was impressive Saturday (for once) was the students. They came in good numbers and actually stayed through the game. They didn't just leave at halftime like usual. I really hope that becomes more the norm.

(09-02-2025 04:18 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  

(09-02-2025 09:22 AM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(09-01-2025 10:54 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Yeah, I'm confused where the hate is coming from. Short answer was UTSA, UNT, Texas State, the SBC West, were our peers for decades. We passed John Tarleton in 1959 and destroyed them in 1966 and '67. We've regressed in athletic stature to the 1960's and '50's. It is what it is.

And yes, we are not happy that UTRGV can figure it out. Doesn't mean I'm not happy for them. Doesn't mean I don't root for the WAC/UAC lineup. Happy for TSU this weekend. Also doesn't change the fact that UTA is a SBC/AAC/Pac # team with the sport and our academic rep. Multiple things can be true at once.

They certainly can be. Here is where you lose. You live in yesteryear longing for something to return that shows no signs presently of returning like a stunningly beautiful woman who left you and you sit around waiting for her to discover her mistake and return. Living in the past doesn't get you to where you are going in the future.

Instead of lamenting you should be thankful there is a conference where you are wanted like the girl next door who accepts you for who you really are at the present.

Hope this helps you get a picture. Sour grapes never was a good look.

I swear your fan base has the most insecure, yet cocky fans I have ever seen. Our ire is directed at our institution and our institution alone. If the irrational of yall pulled your heads out your butts for just a little bit, you’ll see I praised the athletic director and the actions of those in the UAC for keeping the Texas 3 together for geographic rivalries. Later I pointed out that Tarleton is about to pass us by too when they inevitably go FBS. Two things can be true at the same time. It’s our fault and ours alone. Sorry that West Georgia and North Alabama don’t appeal to us the way North Texas or Texas State did.

TSU has done good things in a short time. I’d argue a near $40 per credit hour student fee is excessive, but that’s not my lane in the grand scheme. You are filling your stadium and slowly increasing your competitiveness among many sports. What do you care what our feelings are about the decisions our U has made/continues to make?

Do yall go the the SEC board and chastise Vanderbilt fans when they lament their overall performance and suggest Tarleton would do better in the same spot?

You completely whiffed at what I was trying or attempting to explain to you. You somehow took it personally when it was an attempt for you to see the reality of the situation at the present.

You might want to take a hard look at UTA’s demographics of the current student body. There within may lie the reason your university no longer sponsors football. But, there are other external factors at play.

My aunt lived just minutes from Six Flags Rangers baseball and Cowboys football. I say this because there is competition for what was your football program. Let alone students at UTA being fans of other State schools football. A real problem for Sam Houston with A&M being an hour away but they manage. What if more venues were available at Sam? Good question

Either way spewing where things were in the past won’t get you where you want to be in the future

Self reflection 101

On the bright side you should thank your lucky stars you don’t have the President that is currently residing at West Texas A&M

I don't think you caught where we are. This has zero to do with living in yesteryear. Volleyball won their first conference title last year since 2002. I wasn't living in yesteryear wanting another. After decades of good, not great, teams, we finally got over the hump. We have a great volleyball history, are top 20 in all-time NCAA wins and have double-digit NCAA/AIAW Tourney wins. Volleyball is popular at UTA because of that history. We averaged more there than at least one school in the WAC in every men's sport save football. But I don't walk around with my 2002 SLC championship shirt.

Our peers used to X, Y and Z. Without football, we are in a lower perceived conference and lower perceived schools. It isn't living in yesteryear to recognize that fact. it isn't living in yesteryear to be frustrated with our school that we COULD have been in the AAC, SBC, Pac 12 or MWC. It isn't living in yesteryear to be frustrated that a football rebirth would put us in the radar for CUSA. Our academics are top notch, we field competitive teams across the board and have outstanding to slightly above average facilities for every sport. Football is the albatross. We don't live in yesteryear recognizing all that in totality.

Somehow, TCU, SMU, UNT, Texas Wesleyan and, to a lesser extent, DBU baseball do fine in a crowded market. Field a competitive team and fans will follow. Period. Tarleton is averaging more fans now than SMU did during every WAC, CUSA and AAC season. Somehow they invested and made it work to a P4. They win and attendance has more than doubled from those decades. The campus now has exponentially more on and near campus housing then then. The Mavs are top half in average attendance for every sport in whatever conference they have called home since College Park Center was built. I fail to see why students who can't afford hundreds of dollars to go to a Cowboys game miles down the road won't go to a much more affordable UTA game a couple of blocks away, just because the Cowboys play in Arlington. Does it have an effect on attendance, probably, but somehow we don't raise out hands and quite on basketball because the Dallas Mavs play twenty miles away. Somehow we don't raise our hands and quite on baseball because the Rangers play next to the Cowboys.

And honestly, I could not care less if UTA averaged 5 - 10,000 if they brought football back. It is an amenity, source of pride and alumni connector that does what few else could do. And Maverick Stadium as is would land at least in the 50th percentile of FCS stadiums.

And yes, I am thankful we don't have Wendler. Our current admin knows what it takes and hasn't shut the door. they just don't have the outward goal of getting there at this time. As long as we are constantly trying to make UTA better and more competitive, I'm good. I just wish they would see that outside of a very specific Gonzaga or Wichita State like situation, football would be a great tool in accomplishing that.

It has nothing to do with Tarleton, ACU or anyone else. It has to do with where we were, where we are now and the wasted opportunities along the way.

(09-09-2025 09:51 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  I don't think you caught where we are. This has zero to do with living in yesteryear. Volleyball won their first conference title last year since 2002. I wasn't living in yesteryear wanting another. After decades of good, not great, teams, we finally got over the hump. We have a great volleyball history, are top 20 in all-time NCAA wins and have double-digit NCAA/AIAW Tourney wins. Volleyball is popular at UTA because of that history. We averaged more there than at least one school in the WAC in every men's sport save football. But I don't walk around with my 2002 SLC championship shirt.

Our peers used to X, Y and Z. Without football, we are in a lower perceived conference and lower perceived schools. It isn't living in yesteryear to recognize that fact. it isn't living in yesteryear to be frustrated with our school that we COULD have been in the AAC, SBC, Pac 12 or MWC. It isn't living in yesteryear to be frustrated that a football rebirth would put us in the radar for CUSA. Our academics are top notch, we field competitive teams across the board and have outstanding to slightly above average facilities for every sport. Football is the albatross. We don't live in yesteryear recognizing all that in totality.

Somehow, TCU, SMU, UNT, Texas Wesleyan and, to a lesser extent, DBU baseball do fine in a crowded market. Field a competitive team and fans will follow. Period. Tarleton is averaging more fans now than SMU did during every WAC, CUSA and AAC season. Somehow they invested and made it work to a P4. They win and attendance has more than doubled from those decades. The campus now has exponentially more on and near campus housing then then. The Mavs are top half in average attendance for every sport in whatever conference they have called home since College Park Center was built. I fail to see why students who can't afford hundreds of dollars to go to a Cowboys game miles down the road won't go to a much more affordable UTA game a couple of blocks away, just because the Cowboys play in Arlington. Does it have an effect on attendance, probably, but somehow we don't raise out hands and quit on basketball because the Dallas Mavs play twenty miles away. Somehow we don't raise our hands and quit on baseball because the Rangers play next to the Cowboys.

And honestly, I could not care less if UTA averaged 5 - 10,000 if they brought football back. It is an amenity, source of pride and alumni connector that does what few else could do. And Maverick Stadium as is would land at least in the 50th percentile of FCS stadiums.

And yes, I am thankful we don't have Wendler. Our current admin knows what it takes and hasn't shut the door. they just don't have the outward goal of getting there at this time. As long as we are constantly trying to make UTA better and more competitive, I'm good. I just wish they would see that outside of a very specific Gonzaga or Wichita State like situation, football would be a great tool in accomplishing that.

It has nothing to do with Tarleton, ACU or anyone else. It has to do with where we were, where we are now and the wasted opportunities along the way.

Well said, and no, he probably won't understand.

(09-09-2025 10:14 PM)wewererebels Wrote:  

(09-09-2025 09:51 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  I don't think you caught where we are. This has zero to do with living in yesteryear. Volleyball won their first conference title last year since 2002. I wasn't living in yesteryear wanting another. After decades of good, not great, teams, we finally got over the hump. We have a great volleyball history, are top 20 in all-time NCAA wins and have double-digit NCAA/AIAW Tourney wins. Volleyball is popular at UTA because of that history. We averaged more there than at least one school in the WAC in every men's sport save football. But I don't walk around with my 2002 SLC championship shirt.

Our peers used to X, Y and Z. Without football, we are in a lower perceived conference and lower perceived schools. It isn't living in yesteryear to recognize that fact. it isn't living in yesteryear to be frustrated with our school that we COULD have been in the AAC, SBC, Pac 12 or MWC. It isn't living in yesteryear to be frustrated that a football rebirth would put us in the radar for CUSA. Our academics are top notch, we field competitive teams across the board and have outstanding to slightly above average facilities for every sport. Football is the albatross. We don't live in yesteryear recognizing all that in totality.

Somehow, TCU, SMU, UNT, Texas Wesleyan and, to a lesser extent, DBU baseball do fine in a crowded market. Field a competitive team and fans will follow. Period. Tarleton is averaging more fans now than SMU did during every WAC, CUSA and AAC season. Somehow they invested and made it work to a P4. They win and attendance has more than doubled from those decades. The campus now has exponentially more on and near campus housing then then. The Mavs are top half in average attendance for every sport in whatever conference they have called home since College Park Center was built. I fail to see why students who can't afford hundreds of dollars to go to a Cowboys game miles down the road won't go to a much more affordable UTA game a couple of blocks away, just because the Cowboys play in Arlington. Does it have an effect on attendance, probably, but somehow we don't raise out hands and quit on basketball because the Dallas Mavs play twenty miles away. Somehow we don't raise our hands and quit on baseball because the Rangers play next to the Cowboys.

And honestly, I could not care less if UTA averaged 5 - 10,000 if they brought football back. It is an amenity, source of pride and alumni connector that does what few else could do. And Maverick Stadium as is would land at least in the 50th percentile of FCS stadiums.

And yes, I am thankful we don't have Wendler. Our current admin knows what it takes and hasn't shut the door. they just don't have the outward goal of getting there at this time. As long as we are constantly trying to make UTA better and more competitive, I'm good. I just wish they would see that outside of a very specific Gonzaga or Wichita State like situation, football would be a great tool in accomplishing that.

It has nothing to do with Tarleton, ACU or anyone else. It has to do with where we were, where we are now and the wasted opportunities along the way.

Well said, and no, he probably won't understand.

You are completely wrong I do understand.

But pining to be in another “better” conference openly is a sand paper rub on those in the conference you are in whether or not it is your intention

Football playing conferences want to shed basketball schools as quickly as possible ie Sunbelt

With expansion say the more football playing schools and you can find yourself in the ASUN or heaven forbid the broke desperate Southland

I played in the old Southworst Conference and friends I knew were on the last UTA team before it disbanded.

While the other sports are great they DO NOT NOR EVER WILL bring allegiance unity and pride to a university like football does.

Tarleton is a fine example of how students bleed purple and football is THE ONLY SPORT most students keep up with and can tell you how they are doing good bad or ugly

True diehards like yourself follow other sports most don’t and most at UTA have little pride or care what Volleyball is doing just like every other university

Gonzaga is an Anomaly and Wichita State resides in a basketball crazy state. Last time I checked Friday night lights dominate Texas culture

So, bottom line until you and a mass consortium of area businesses and think alike alums push the administration your lamenting sounds like a sad violin playing I can’t make you love me

Cool. Where, when did you play swc football? It's a shame how Texas blew up that conference.

(09-10-2025 11:46 AM)wewererebels Wrote:  Cool. Where, when did you play swc football? It's a shame how Texas blew up that conference.

Two seasons 85 & 86 before I blew out my knee

(09-10-2025 11:56 AM)BlueDragon Wrote:  

(09-10-2025 11:46 AM)wewererebels Wrote:  Cool. Where, when did you play swc football? It's a shame how Texas blew up that conference.

Two seasons 85 & 86 before I blew out my knee

Ouch! I tore up my shoulder as a tennis player, but I would think a hurt knee is worse. It's good they have made so much medical progress the last few decades. Imagine Mickey Mantle if he had had two good knees!

Where did you play?

Ugh... sports and surgeries. I've had four knife jobs due to three kinds of round balls. Every time it ended that sport at any reasonable level.

(09-09-2025 11:48 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  You are completely wrong I do understand.

But pining to be in another “better” conference openly is a sand paper rub on those in the conference you are in whether or not it is your intention

Tarleton is aiming for a CUSA invite. No one holds it against the school or think it is sandpaper to the remaining schools. There's no difference except TSU has a concrete plan to get there. UTA was already there and failed to hold it.

Quote:Football playing conferences want to shed basketball schools as quickly as possible ie Sunbelt

Yup, we know. We lived it.

Quote:With expansion say the more football playing schools and you can find yourself in the ASUN or heaven forbid the broke desperate Southland

Again, we are upset to some degree or another because if we can't figure it out, the SLC may be the final destination.

Quote:I played in the old Southworst Conference and friends I knew were on the last UTA team before it disbanded.

I talked about it on the blog this past week.

https://themaverickrambler.blogspot.com/...could.html

Since you said multiple, Baylor took at least three while TCU took two. SMU, Texas Tech and UT-Austin took one that I know of among SWC schools.

Quote:While the other sports are great they DO NOT NOR EVER WILL bring allegiance unity and pride to a university like football does.

Preaching to the choir, though a couple of schools in different regions are exceptions.

Quote:Tarleton is a fine example of how students bleed purple and football is THE ONLY SPORT most students keep up with and can tell you how they are doing good bad or ugly

It also depends on the school. One year, SFA women's basketball drew more in total attendance than any other sport on campus. As a whole, that sentiment is accurate. Maybe, just maybe, that is why we are upset at our school and subsequent decline in the pecking order.

However, your sentiment isn't terribly accurate except in recent times. The earliest the Texan website had stats was in 2009. That year, they were 10-3 overall, 5-1 at home with the loss coming in the last home game and made the playoffs. They averaged 5,315 per game. Hardly a ride or die turnout. Our 5,600 per game was cited as a major reason for the program's termination. Our point is playing meaningful games at higher levels of competition are more attractive. We had that and fumbled the ball on a first and goal.

Quote:True diehards like yourself follow other sports most don’t and most at UTA have little pride or care what Volleyball is doing just like every other university

They drew over 1,000 per game this year, surpassing the best season set in 1988. People care about volleyball because they are good. UTA draws decently in most sports and I'd bet men's basketball still has a handover effect from Cross' firing that has suppressed attendance. I have no doubt we can get there and stabilize the program. Volleyball's student section was larger than the men's basketball in many games. Each campus is different. LSU draws 10,000+ per game for baseball. Some other campus draw more per game than their football team.

None of that negates that football draws more per game. We can average 1,000 in volleyball and have a football program. They aren't mutually exclusive.

Quote:Gonzaga is an Anomaly and Wichita State resides in a basketball crazy state. Last time I checked Friday night lights dominate Texas culture

Gonzaga spends a crap ton for basketball. It is a direct return on that investment. Why is that a basketball-crazy state? Because teams win. Funny how bluebloods attract attendance or good teams with an upward trajectory draw well. That's all UTA is trying to do. In fact, most every school in the WAC is doing so. Some have football and some don't. Tarleton is not sitting on the sidelines, but actively trying to increase their basketball stature too.

Doesn't change the fact we still actively are frustrated about our school's lack of football action.

Quote:So, bottom line until you and a mass consortium of area businesses and think alike alums push the administration your lamenting sounds like a sad violin playing I can’t make you love me

The UTA community has pushed the athletic department in that direction for decades. What's missing is one of two things. First, a large push by the admins to start a fundraising campaign. That's the active step. Two, a push by the community to furnish the millions of dollars on their own. That's the passive step. There's been varying degrees on the scale over the years, but it almost always falls on the passive side.

However, those who have made fun of women's flag football have failed to realize, that UTA is satisfying prong three of Title IV in doing so. Women's Golf started in the fall of 2017. WFFB will start next year. Any combo of beach volleyball, soccer, stunt, swimming, gymnastics, etc. and UTA is there.

There's progress there. It's just not at any decent pace. It's also not overt. The slow pace has cost UTA in the perception pecking order. It is what it is.

FoUTASportscaster

I appreciate your response it shows some action on your part instead sitting around complaining and festering

I am probably in the minority about FBS at the present.

Tarleton was primed for a long run at a D2 Football NC and it didn’t happen.

I would hope TSU hangs around long enough to accomplish this at the FCS level but things are moving quickly and the landscape is rapidly changing so I’m not holding my breath

As far as UTA players I knew joining SWC teams I do not believe they did. I’m not sure. I’d have to reach out to them. One lost his wife some years back.


Volleyball averaged 1000 per game.

Wrap your mind around that and what you think if your football program was drawing a 1000 per game?

You would be saying we couldn’t draw flies if we were a landfill.

Comparing plums to watermelons but you already know this.

Just remember if there is a will there is a way.

Not to rub any salt in an open wound but NAIA Texas A&M at Texarkana is starting a Football program to join D2 Lone Star Conference.

They are taking bids on a 6000 capacity stadium which will also host women’s flag football.

They plan on fielding a team in 2027

Good discussion.

(09-12-2025 10:27 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  FoUTASportscaster

I appreciate your response it shows some action on your part instead sitting around complaining and festering

The best contribution I can make as a bare six-figure income for a family of four is to put information out there. The blog started as an outlet for my Mav fandom. It didn't exist on any large or consistent scale prior to 2013. I see which topics draw views. Hands down, football, conference affiliation and general athletic topics dominate. Right behind that is basketball of both genders and volleyball. Those are the stats. While I tend to cover volleyball more as it is the only sport in the fall, there's no question there's a following for the sport.

(09-12-2025 10:27 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  I am probably in the minority about FBS at the present.

Tarleton was primed for a long run at a D2 Football NC and it didn’t happen.

I would hope TSU hangs around long enough to accomplish this at the FCS level but things are moving quickly and the landscape is rapidly changing so I’m not holding my breath

Your preference to stay at FCS is not shared. The school has made their intentions known. For the record, I'd be in your camp too. But the school desires to be in CUSA, SBC or MWC. I don't hold it against them.

(09-12-2025 10:27 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  As far as UTA players I knew joining SWC teams I do not believe they did. I’m not sure. I’d have to reach out to them. One lost his wife some years back.

What's in the blog were ones that I could confirm were on other rosters through newspaper reports that the time.

(09-12-2025 10:27 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Volleyball averaged 1000 per game.

Wrap your mind around that and what you think if your football program was drawing a 1000 per game?

You would be saying we couldn’t draw flies if we were a landfill.

Comparing plums to watermelons but you already know this.

I mention the 1,000 for volleyball because it demonstrates two things. The first is that is tops in the conference and is in the top 50-100 nationwide. Second is, I didn't know this needed to be said but, proportionality. Nebraska averages 8,700 for home matches. Does that negate the 80,000 for football games. Nebraska's volleyball numbers were higher than every WAC football member last year save Tarleton. Does that negate football at UAC schools?

As for proportionality, UTA was 2nd of nine schools in volleyball (GCU used a BS 7,000+ match to surpass and is first in median), 1st of nine in women's basketball, 4th of nine in men's basketball, 1st of nine in softball and 7th of a different nine in baseball. 4th through 8th in baseball was separated by less than 100 and was the tightest sport.

So why would UTA football be an anomaly to literally every other sport in the department? My bet is UTA would range in the ballpark of 8,000 to 12,000 on an everyday basis based on a general chi square statistical analysis and adding a bit a variability in either direction.

(09-12-2025 10:27 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Just remember if there is a will there is a way.

Not to rub any salt in an open wound but NAIA Texas A&M at Texarkana is starting a Football program to join D2 Lone Star Conference.

They are taking bids on a 6000 capacity stadium which will also host women’s flag football.

They plan on fielding a team in 2027

Since I've graduated, we've watched the following conference mates, geographically-close schools or system institutions figure it out: Southeastern Louisiana, Lamar, UT San Antonio, UT Permian Basin, Texas Wesleyan, UTRGV, Centenary off the top of my head. We are used to seeing that. Add in schools like Incarnate Word and Houston Christian and it gets frustrating. Centenary is using it as way to boost enrollment as a DIII private school, but the others incur some annual cost along with the capital needs.

And it doesn't surprise me about women's flag football. It is and likely will still be one of the fastest growing collegiate sports in coming years. I'd suspect within two decades, only softball, volleyball and basketball will surpass participating members, but I wouldn't put money on the line.

I think UNA won the battle this week. Just under 10k
Tarleton @ UCA - 6374
ETSU @ UWG could not find attendance
Moorehead @ APU - 7152
NAU @ SUU - Could not find attendance est..5-6k
NE St @ UNA - 9739

UTRGV sold out again. 12,500+

(09-14-2025 01:48 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  I think UNA won the battle this week. Just under 10k
Tarleton @ UCA - 6374
ETSU @ UWG - 4786
Moorehead @ APU - 7152
NAU @ SUU - 3084
NE St @ UNA - 9739

I found the other two and updated.

(09-14-2025 01:30 PM)unalions Wrote:  

(09-14-2025 01:48 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  I think UNA won the battle this week. Just under 10k
Tarleton @ UCA - 6374
ETSU @ UWG - 4786
Moorehead @ APU - 7152
NAU @ SUU - 3084
NE St @ UNA - 9739

I found the other two and updated.

What were they?

(09-14-2025 01:48 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  I think UNA won the battle this week. Just under 10k
Tarleton @ UCA - 6374
ETSU @ UWG could not find attendance
Moorehead @ APU - 7152
NAU @ SUU - Could not find attendance est..5-6k
NE St @ UNA - 9739

APSU played Morehead St out of the FCS Pioneer league FCS, not Moorhead.

(09-14-2025 05:24 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(09-14-2025 01:48 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  I think UNA won the battle this week. Just under 10k
Tarleton @ UCA - 6374
ETSU @ UWG could not find attendance
Moorehead @ APU - 7152
NAU @ SUU - Could not find attendance est..5-6k
NE St @ UNA - 9739

APSU played Morehead St out of the FCS Pioneer league FCS, not Moorhead.

That’s the team I was referring to. We played them last year and stomped them. I didn’t know there was another Morehead.

(09-14-2025 11:13 PM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(09-14-2025 05:24 PM)EKUSteve Wrote:  

(09-14-2025 01:48 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  I think UNA won the battle this week. Just under 10k
Tarleton @ UCA - 6374
ETSU @ UWG could not find attendance
Moorehead @ APU - 7152
NAU @ SUU - Could not find attendance est..5-6k
NE St @ UNA - 9739

APSU played Morehead St out of the FCS Pioneer league FCS, not Moorhead.

That’s the team I was referring to. We played them last year and stomped them. I didn’t know there was another Morehead.

Looks like they changed their name to Minnesota St - Moorhead.

Austin Peay @ ACU - 10,133
Tenn-Chatanooga @ Tarleton - 23,732
Northern Iowa @ Utah Tech - 4,784
EKU @ UWG - 4,378