This guy knew some stuff when the Texas-4 was happening:

Link if the tweet doesn’t load:
https://twitter.com/katfansdotcom/status...11588?s=21

I thought the "Texas 4" were trying to get away from those schools.

Well FWIW they have a bigger budget than everyone else in the SLC, including the Texas 4. Can't speak for facilities. I do see they play at the Gayle and Tom Benson stadium. So maybe the Benson family is influencing.

Their stadium capacity and basketball gym capacity are pretty low (HBU is even lower). Their basketball attendance was only 370.

They definitely have the finances, but attendance is weak and they play in undersized facilities, even for the SLC. I file this under "hum".

(04-08-2021 02:40 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Well FWIW they have a bigger budget than everyone else in the SLC, including the Texas 4. Can't speak for facilities. I do see they play at the Gayle and Tom Benson stadium. So maybe the Benson family is influencing.

Their stadium capacity and basketball gym capacity are pretty low (HBU is even lower). Their basketball attendance was only 370.

They definitely have the finances, but attendance is weak and they play in undersized facilities, even for the SLC. I file this under "hum".

Perhaps IUW was asking the WAC for a visit. Sure San Antonio would be a good destination for the WAC. But, their facilities are still lacking even after the D1 move.
It would be better to wait for Texas A&M - San Antonio to develop their sports program and invite them. If they are looking at San Antonio.
WT is the best option, in my opinion, but with 2 schools still in D1 transition stage it may be feasible.

If most of us thought an FBS WAC was unlikely now, then it definitely isn't happening if they invite UIW.

I thought West Texas A&M was the favorite

If they are not interested with this configuration I don't know see a better D1 upgrade opportunity

(04-08-2021 06:59 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 02:40 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Well FWIW they have a bigger budget than everyone else in the SLC, including the Texas 4. Can't speak for facilities. I do see they play at the Gayle and Tom Benson stadium. So maybe the Benson family is influencing.

Their stadium capacity and basketball gym capacity are pretty low (HBU is even lower). Their basketball attendance was only 370.

They definitely have the finances, but attendance is weak and they play in undersized facilities, even for the SLC. I file this under "hum".

Perhaps IUW was asking the WAC for a visit. Sure San Antonio would be a good destination for the WAC. But, their facilities are still lacking even after the D1 move.
It would be better to wait for Texas A&M - San Antonio to develop their sports program and invite them. If they are looking at San Antonio.
WT is the best option, in my opinion, but with 2 schools still in D1 transition stage it may be feasible.

TAMU San Antonio will be a no brainier in 10 years. Their NAIA ramp up is going slowly. They don't even have a web site yet. They do not seem to be in any hurry at all.

(04-08-2021 09:13 AM)teamvsn Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 06:59 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 02:40 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Well FWIW they have a bigger budget than everyone else in the SLC, including the Texas 4. Can't speak for facilities. I do see they play at the Gayle and Tom Benson stadium. So maybe the Benson family is influencing.

Their stadium capacity and basketball gym capacity are pretty low (HBU is even lower). Their basketball attendance was only 370.

They definitely have the finances, but attendance is weak and they play in undersized facilities, even for the SLC. I file this under "hum".

Perhaps IUW was asking the WAC for a visit. Sure San Antonio would be a good destination for the WAC. But, their facilities are still lacking even after the D1 move.
It would be better to wait for Texas A&M - San Antonio to develop their sports program and invite them. If they are looking at San Antonio.
WT is the best option, in my opinion, but with 2 schools still in D1 transition stage it may be feasible.

TAMU San Antonio will be a no brainier in 10 years. Their NAIA ramp up is going slowly. They don't even have a web site yet. They do not seem to be in any hurry at all.

So if they're so unambitious then what makes them a no brainer?

So to make sure I understand: You can't hit the ground running with a new athletic program at the NCAA D1 or even D2 level, you have to start at NAIA or NCAA D3, then transition to D2, then finally D1?

(04-08-2021 09:26 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 09:13 AM)teamvsn Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 06:59 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 02:40 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Well FWIW they have a bigger budget than everyone else in the SLC, including the Texas 4. Can't speak for facilities. I do see they play at the Gayle and Tom Benson stadium. So maybe the Benson family is influencing.

Their stadium capacity and basketball gym capacity are pretty low (HBU is even lower). Their basketball attendance was only 370.

They definitely have the finances, but attendance is weak and they play in undersized facilities, even for the SLC. I file this under "hum".

Perhaps IUW was asking the WAC for a visit. Sure San Antonio would be a good destination for the WAC. But, their facilities are still lacking even after the D1 move.
It would be better to wait for Texas A&M - San Antonio to develop their sports program and invite them. If they are looking at San Antonio.
WT is the best option, in my opinion, but with 2 schools still in D1 transition stage it may be feasible.

TAMU San Antonio will be a no brainier in 10 years. Their NAIA ramp up is going slowly. They don't even have a web site yet. They do not seem to be in any hurry at all.

So if they're so unambitious then what makes them a no brainer?

They'll get there eventually. And often the people who launch athletic programs aren't there 5 years later.

Look at TAMU Texarkana's trajectory, and they're in a much smaller market.

Looking down the road IWU would make an interesting cross town rival for TAMU SA.

(04-08-2021 09:29 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  So to make sure I understand: You can't hit the ground running with a new athletic program at the NCAA D1 or even D2 level, you have to start at NAIA or NCAA D3, then transition to D2, then finally D1?

I don't think there's a rule against it but it's a very high hill to climb, with D1 & D2 minimum sport and minimum scholarship requirements.

(04-08-2021 09:44 AM)teamvsn Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 09:26 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 09:13 AM)teamvsn Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 06:59 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 02:40 AM)Stugray2 Wrote:  Well FWIW they have a bigger budget than everyone else in the SLC, including the Texas 4. Can't speak for facilities. I do see they play at the Gayle and Tom Benson stadium. So maybe the Benson family is influencing.

Their stadium capacity and basketball gym capacity are pretty low (HBU is even lower). Their basketball attendance was only 370.

They definitely have the finances, but attendance is weak and they play in undersized facilities, even for the SLC. I file this under "hum".

Perhaps IUW was asking the WAC for a visit. Sure San Antonio would be a good destination for the WAC. But, their facilities are still lacking even after the D1 move.
It would be better to wait for Texas A&M - San Antonio to develop their sports program and invite them. If they are looking at San Antonio.
WT is the best option, in my opinion, but with 2 schools still in D1 transition stage it may be feasible.

TAMU San Antonio will be a no brainier in 10 years. Their NAIA ramp up is going slowly. They don't even have a web site yet. They do not seem to be in any hurry at all.

So if they're so unambitious then what makes them a no brainer?

They'll get there eventually. And often the people who launch athletic programs aren't there 5 years later.

Look at TAMU Texarkana's trajectory, and they're in a much smaller market.

Looking down the road IWU would make an interesting cross town rival for TAMU SA.

I've not even heard of TAMU Texarkana honestly. Where is their trajectory headed?

Posted this on the WAC board (so cross-posting here)

I do not believe the WAC is leaning towards Incarnate Word over West Texas A&M or any other schools.

I am under the impression the WAC is looking into things and trying to see what's out there. There is the possibility that a school like West Texas A&M may not be ready for Division I, let alone the Western Athletic Conference which has a bit more financial (and other requirement) than the Southland Conference.

On the flip side, a school like WTAMU could be forced into a move as the Lonestar Conference is ripe for picking by the Southland / WAC and that league may not be full of the peers that they anticipated, thus the need for just going with the flow and making the move.

(04-08-2021 09:29 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  So to make sure I understand: You can't hit the ground running with a new athletic program at the NCAA D1 or even D2 level, you have to start at NAIA or NCAA D3, then transition to D2, then finally D1?

I'm fairly certain you can start in D-2. You can't be a D-1 startup. The likely route for A&M-San Antonio is NAIA to D-2 to D-1 for them. It's escalating costs each time. The NAIA is the least expensive way to start a program before you reclassify to NCAA D-2.

I'm not real clear why A&M-San Antonio is being mentioned in this thread as a future big time program. UTSA is already in the market as an FBS team. There's no reason to think San Antonio is going to support an eventual FCS A&M-SA at a meaningful level with UTSA already there.

(04-08-2021 07:35 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  If most of us thought an FBS WAC was unlikely now, then it definitely isn't happening if they invite UIW.

Consider the possibility the move to fbs would involve schools from the new asun conference.
Perhaps in the form of a conference and or a scheduling alliance with independents.
But you first must have 6 for an fcs conference.

(04-07-2021 11:19 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  This guy knew some stuff when the Texas-4 was happening:

Still have zero idea as to why Texas schools would want to join the WAC.

Don't they know this isn't their daddy's WAC? Does the WAC name still carry some magic in lower-rung circles even though it is hollowed out?

I don't get it.

I'll have an update on all of this on Monday

(04-08-2021 10:01 AM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Posted this on the WAC board (so cross-posting here)

I do not believe the WAC is leaning towards Incarnate Word over West Texas A&M or any other schools.

Even over the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico?

(04-08-2021 10:21 AM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 10:01 AM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Posted this on the WAC board (so cross-posting here)

I do not believe the WAC is leaning towards Incarnate Word over West Texas A&M or any other schools.

Even over the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico?

Can't remember who, but I actually remember a realignment debate about Eastern New Mexico on this board.