(04-15-2022 09:23 AM)FirstandGoal Wrote:  Now even though I would have preferred Lamar to stay in the WAC it would be funny if UIW changed their mind to stay in the SLC and Lamar changed their mind to stay in the WAC. Doubt that Lamar will change their mind but that would tell you Lamar really didn't want to be in a conference with UIW. Supposedly the Texas four didn't want to be with the other Louisiana schools, but it might have really been UIW and HBU.

To UIW's credit, they have already announced a few things which were probably a stipulation of them joining the WAC (budget increases & facility upgrades). There was an article a few days back about that.

UIW has significantly more upside than HBU in my opinion and probably in the thoughts of those in the business that make these important decisions. HBU has largely been stagnant on both the academic and athletic side of the equation. In Houston, we just do not hear about them. Their baseball facility has no lights (this is 2022) and their basketball gym doesn't even compare to most high school gyms in the state.

In 2020, UIW announced that their enrollment had grown 17% over the last five years. On the flipside, HBU may have a "record" enrollment but they have 2,465 undergrads and 1,031 online students per Fall 2021. Pretty small, right? UIW is about twice the size of HBU when comparing undergrads to undergrads.

The Texas (and UCA) schools reasons for leaving, at least the two primary ones that I have:

1) ESPN+ issues (the departing schools were all on ESPN+ while the Southland largely was not; due to the Southland contractual obligations with ESPN+, once the Texas schools left - the rest of the league had to rush to get into ESPN+ quality. Their hands were forced.)

2) Lack of resources in Louisiana. The gap was growing substantially budgetarily between the TX and LA schools.

And then certainly COVID decision-making in some respects angered a few people and there were some other issues that kind of "blew" up and were "exposed" during COVID as we saw in the business sector.

(04-13-2022 10:25 AM)BlueDragon Wrote:  As someone who lives 50 minutes from Lamar University and just an outsider looking in I believe the move was all due to finances. Which, imo was very short sighted. Like any business venture it takes time and resources to grow your brand. Of course, there is no excitement playing backwater Louisiana schools 80% of the local population doesn’t know the schools exist. When I ask folks around the Golden Triangle about Lamar Football they have no idea who they play other than McNeese. So, staying status quo gets you NOWHERE and that seems to be path they are comfortable with.

Take a look at Texarkana a twin city along I30. No reason a place like Temple should have a larger population. Yet it does because city leaders block businesses from coming there. The list of businesses blocked from there includes Bucees and HEB among countless others. My point is if your leaders want status quo then you are stuck in anonymity. No chance to be but where you are.

Man, thank goodness we have you, a Tarleton fan, here to tell us how Lamar fans feel and what exactly is going on. 50 minutes from campus, you say? You're basically an insider. I mean why would any of us head over to Big Red Insider, where the fans routinely **** on the WAC move, when we could just listen to Mr. 50 Minutes Away?

I'm fairly confident more people in Beaumont have heard of SE Louisiana and Nicholls than Cal Baptist and Dixie State. I mean you say there's no excitement playing the SLC, yet this year Lamar drew significantly less fans for football than they ever have since reviving the program.

Lamar made out well. None of the remaining WAC TX schools have realistic FBS hopes. Might as well join the better football conference.

(04-17-2022 06:03 PM)SammyH Wrote:  

(04-13-2022 10:25 AM)BlueDragon Wrote:  As someone who lives 50 minutes from Lamar University and just an outsider looking in I believe the move was all due to finances. Which, imo was very short sighted. Like any business venture it takes time and resources to grow your brand. Of course, there is no excitement playing backwater Louisiana schools 80% of the local population doesn’t know the schools exist. When I ask folks around the Golden Triangle about Lamar Football they have no idea who they play other than McNeese. So, staying status quo gets you NOWHERE and that seems to be path they are comfortable with.

Take a look at Texarkana a twin city along I30. No reason a place like Temple should have a larger population. Yet it does because city leaders block businesses from coming there. The list of businesses blocked from there includes Bucees and HEB among countless others. My point is if your leaders want status quo then you are stuck in anonymity. No chance to be but where you are.

Man, thank goodness we have you, a Tarleton fan, here to tell us how Lamar fans feel and what exactly is going on. 50 minutes from campus, you say? You're basically an insider. I mean why would any of us head over to Big Red Insider, where the fans routinely **** on the WAC move, when we could just listen to Mr. 50 Minutes Away?

I'm fairly confident more people in Beaumont have heard of SE Louisiana and Nicholls than Cal Baptist and Dixie State. I mean you say there's no excitement playing the SLC, yet this year Lamar drew significantly less fans for football than they ever have since reviving the program.

Lamar made out well. None of the remaining WAC TX schools have realistic FBS hopes. Might as well join the better football conference.

Man, thank goodness we have you, a Sam fan, here to tell us how Lamar fans feel and exactly why their attendance is down and who they have heard more about.

(04-15-2022 09:31 AM)TexasTerror Wrote:  

(04-15-2022 09:23 AM)FirstandGoal Wrote:  Now even though I would have preferred Lamar to stay in the WAC it would be funny if UIW changed their mind to stay in the SLC and Lamar changed their mind to stay in the WAC. Doubt that Lamar will change their mind but that would tell you Lamar really didn't want to be in a conference with UIW. Supposedly the Texas four didn't want to be with the other Louisiana schools, but it might have really been UIW and HBU.

To UIW's credit, they have already announced a few things which were probably a stipulation of them joining the WAC (budget increases & facility upgrades). There was an article a few days back about that.

UIW has significantly more upside than HBU in my opinion and probably in the thoughts of those in the business that make these important decisions.

That UIW article was strangely similar to the one from when they joined the Southland, touting all the things they were going to spend on to compete in their new conference.

I'll believe it when I see it when it comes to UIW facilities upgrades.

I do agree that UIW has more potential though. Tons of potential. The Texas State of TX private schools when it comes to potential. Will they ever capitalize on it?

That remains to be determined.

Article out of Corpus today.

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Palumbo said having four Texas schools may help the league attract schools in the future. He said he believes there are still more moves to be made for the Southland.

"I do see more growth in the Southland," Palumbo said. "I think you will see more dominoes fall. Lamar was a huge first step for us for some other schools to consider the Southland. Give us some Texas balance. I think hopefully there is more to come and I could certainly see a few more schools coming our way in the next few years."

https://www.caller.com/story/sports/coll...7370382001

(04-20-2022 09:08 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Article out of Corpus today.

—-
Palumbo said having four Texas schools may help the league attract schools in the future. He said he believes there are still more moves to be made for the Southland.

"I do see more growth in the Southland," Palumbo said. "I think you will see more dominoes fall. Lamar was a huge first step for us for some other schools to consider the Southland. Give us some Texas balance. I think hopefully there is more to come and I could certainly see a few more schools coming our way in the next few years."

https://www.caller.com/story/sports/coll...7370382001

The future combined A&M Coastal(Kingsville/Corpus), would be a perfect fit in the WAC.