(06-12-2021 05:07 PM)FirstandGoal Wrote: (06-12-2021 04:25 PM)Todor Wrote: (06-12-2021 01:04 PM)Bobcat2013 Wrote: (06-12-2021 10:38 AM)YesCubanB Wrote: (06-11-2021 09:55 PM)SDHornet Wrote: Didn't you hear about the pending studies? STUDIES!!!!
Also IntermentTexan talked about the “efficiency” of Texas schools that we are going to witness. You know efficiency from a state that can’t even keep the power running if the weather dips below 30 degrees.
Ngl, thats kind of a low blow there, it was way colder than that.
As to your main point though I still dont see what has changed about any of these schools to make them more qualified to be FBS than the last time they got passed over. I know people like to use the word potential but then why havent they met this potential after 100+years of existing?
Precisely. And the answer is nothing. Its the first time I have heard of changing conferences before doing the the study to see if the reason for the change makes sense or is feasible. And to explain it, referencing the future study as some kind of "proof" of why the move makes sense.
I can't speak about any of the other Texas schools but I am pretty sure Lamar was looking for an FBS conference twelve years ago but none would offer them a spot. In about 2007 or 2008 when they announced their intention to restart the football program the intent was to get to a FBS conference. Lamar has the facilities to meet FBS capacity minimums and I am sure there is enough financial support if a small addition to seating is necessary to make it happen. The bigger question is can they get attendance, but who you play has an effect on that so if seats sold counts as opposed to butts in the stands I believe that is achievable also.
Seats sold count. Right now, the FBS attendance test is 15,000 average every other year. Attendance can be either paid or butts in the seats. Most programs use paid attendance. I calculated that as a worst case assuming no drops in current attendance, Lamar could meet the FBS attendance test with a make-up purchase of about $250,000 - $400,000 every other year. If I punched the correct numbers on the calculator, that's less than 2% of the current expenses to ensure the attendance test is met. Of course, we want fans in the stands. The number is more of a gut check than anything.
The Cardinals temporarily lost two season ticket holders a few years ago when my wife and I moved from Houston to out of state. Before the move, we had discontinued our season tickets at A&M, and switched over to Lamar around the time its football program was reinstated. We basically traded in Kyle Field seats near the top of the first deck at the 25 yard line on the student side at A&M for Lamar seats in the chairback section at the 45 - 50 yard line on the row just in front of the press box. Both locations were great! The Lamar seats were really good during rainy games because the press box shielded our row from the rain. We had a similar effect at A&M because we were shielded from the rain by the second deck.
Last season, we started buying tickets to donate. We bought 6 general admission season tickets in order to support a program to give back to veterans and others via football tickets. We looked at it as a long distance way for us to help support the program. The 6 general admission seats were close to what we paid for the chairback seats including surcharge. We plan to continue doing that, and may increase the purchase.
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I'm excited about the move to the WAC. I think its the correct move. Divisions and scheduling strategies are good. (I haven't been too worried about travel costs since Lamar regularly sends its teams to both coasts, but the division configuration helps spend the money on something other than travel fares.) Should the upcoming studies result in a favorable feasibility, the WAC offers a path to FBS. In addition, for Lamar, we get to continue competition with the other 3 "newbies". We get to renew competition with another former conference mate in UTRGV (UTPA then). We get some new competition, also.
I'm also excited about Lamar University and where it is headed. In his farewell address, Lamar's outgoing president mentioned that Lamar is on track for close to 18,500 enrollment in the upcoming fall semester. That would continue record enrollment increases for the past few years in spite of events like COVID19, a tropical storm dumping over 40" of rain, and other possible roadblocks.
I've read great reports about the other current and future WAC members. I think each university has many things to be proud of.
