RE: Tech needs a health check
It is possible that La. Tech still winds up in the Sun Belt.
The Big 12 quite possibly, maybe even likely, will expand again with Boise State and Memphis.
My expectation is that the AAC would stick to their CUSA-only, big market-only pattern and take FIU. Ga. State would be looked at, but why would Ga. State pay exit and entrance fees for a league that would pay them exactly what they'd make in their current league?
It's the MW looking at replacing Boise that should have us concerned. All the CUSA Texas schools are already committed to the AAC. UTEP doesn't get them into the population centers of the eastern half of Texas, and the Colorado State AD had talked about wanting to get into the "Central Time Zone." NMSU doesn't get them into Texas at all.
I think the MW, then, would look at TXST as a replacement for Boise.
MTSU and WKU are currently scrambling in an effort to get into the MAC. For the Sun Belt's sake, in the event TXST leaves, it would be good for them not to get in so one would remain an option as a replacement for TXST.
But WKU and MTSU could be gone to the MAC.
Then what's left? UTEP, FCS schools, and La. Tech.
At the very least, La. Tech would be the favorite to get in. I'd prefer WKU, MTSU, or an FCS like Jacksonville State over LT. LT just seems incredibly toxic. I mean, consider that NOBODY, from the President/chancellor's office, to the new AD, to the BOT, to the faculty Senate, to the alumni association, to the booster club, to prominent former athletes ever spoke out against McClelland's comments from last year. They all essentially condoned what he said, so, to me, his comments were the official university stance. Not to mention all the other things they did in years past to disparage the SB, specifically Louisiana and especially valued founding football member ULM.
But La. Tech would still be quite geographically friendly and FBS-ready. There no other JMU's (FCS schools who are FBS ready from day one) within or adjacent to the footprint. I worry the SB presidents would reluctantly take LT in under the above scenario.
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