I don't think this closes the door for Tarleton or Sac State. MWC is obviously chasing down best-available media markets first to appease their new TV partner TNT. GCU/Phoenix is a huge get in regards to media market. The other known target NIU/Chicago would obviously be another and gets them in the highly coveted Central Time Zone TV slot. After that, we could see the "high potential" FCS adds which will likely be the last passengers on the boat. MWC definitely wants to plant it's flag in the fertile Texas recruiting grounds, and El Paso doesn't quite cut the mustard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk-UIphAlyU

The FCS next powerhouse….The rise of Tarleton State.

(10-23-2024 11:44 PM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(10-23-2024 10:47 PM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  Not surprised about GCU being on their radar. Despite the "for profit" label, they have $ and a good athletic dept ,especially basketball, which equates to more tourney money for the conference. Not to mention that they are in a big market in a state that the MWC does not have any teams in, and in the west. I am sure St Mary's and Cal Baptist might get a look as well. The latter will almost certainly at the very least go to the WCC. If they add GCU do they go to 10 or 12? Is Tarleton still in the picture? What about NIU and Toldedo?

Tarleton State was never in the picture. You don’t actually believe everything the media tells you, do ya?

Dellinger’s tweet was a late leak from a certain somebody that likes to say “Roll Texans”. Any Tarleton invite would’ve been decided on after TXST or SH accepted. Those deep and serious discussions were just hypotheticals revolving around being a necessary travel partner with preexisting FBS schools, which the league obviously desires. When both TSUS schools passed, Tarleton was out.

When you’re being pushed aside for schools in the rust belt, you know you are not a serious option.

The MWC would rather compile a collection of far flung, yet established fb-only programs and schools that spend on Olympics (GCU, SU), than bring up a school like Tarleton. There is no value in adding a small rural Texas school without bringing along a more notable program to join.

Hmm…

I think we will end up in the MWC soon. They need in Texas and we are the only team in Texas right now that would move there other than UTEP and possibly ACU. I think we have to wait and see what comes out of NIU TOLEDO before we hear anything else about Tarleton to MWC.

NIU is looking like a no-go for MWC, now focus has shifted to FCS Powerhouse NDSU. What does this mean Tarleton and Sac State?

https://www.actionnetwork.com/ncaaf/nort...ttMcMurphy

Trying to read the tea leaves, my guess is the MWC doesn’t believe Tarleton can make the budgetary increases in a timely manner so they are checking all options. We got more of a look and listen than SHSU, but we are still lacking for the MW. Maybe NDSU will also have budgetary issues so they could come back to us. I have seen some posts stating increasing their budget will be an issue.

(11-06-2024 02:09 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  Trying to read the tea leaves, my guess is the MWC doesn’t believe Tarleton can make the budgetary increases in a timely manner so they are checking all options. We got more of a look and listen than SHSU, but we are still lacking for the MW. Maybe NDSU will also have budgetary issues so they could come back to us. I have seen some posts stating increasing their budget will be an issue.

I agree it's tough sledding right now. According to the Knight Report, Tarletons athletic budget is $21m. $5m football budget. Nearly 60% of the budget is from student fees.

Meanwhile NDSU has a $31m budget, $6m football budget and they have a much more diversified budget that has ticket sales, donors and more.

$10m jump to MWC isn't easy but likely much easier than doubling tour budget when your students are already mortgaged.
Like it or not, Tarleton is closer to Sam ($23m budget, mostly student fees) than the Bison


https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/sam-h...university
https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/tarle...university

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/north...university

(11-06-2024 10:53 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(11-06-2024 02:09 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  Trying to read the tea leaves, my guess is the MWC doesn’t believe Tarleton can make the budgetary increases in a timely manner so they are checking all options. We got more of a look and listen than SHSU, but we are still lacking for the MW. Maybe NDSU will also have budgetary issues so they could come back to us. I have seen some posts stating increasing their budget will be an issue.

I agree it's tough sledding right now. According to the Knight Report, Tarletons athletic budget is $21m. $5m football budget. Nearly 60% of the budget is from student fees.

Meanwhile NDSU has a $31m budget, $6m football budget and they have a much more diversified budget that has ticket sales, donors and more.

$10m jump to MWC isn't easy but likely much easier than doubling tour budget when your students are already mortgaged.
Like it or not, Tarleton is closer to Sam ($23m budget, mostly student fees) than the Bison


https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/sam-h...university
https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/tarle...university

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/north...university

https://x.com/ramblinroundup/status/1854360269394166257

Apparently we are still in the discussion.

(11-07-2024 02:15 AM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(11-06-2024 10:53 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(11-06-2024 02:09 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  Trying to read the tea leaves, my guess is the MWC doesn’t believe Tarleton can make the budgetary increases in a timely manner so they are checking all options. We got more of a look and listen than SHSU, but we are still lacking for the MW. Maybe NDSU will also have budgetary issues so they could come back to us. I have seen some posts stating increasing their budget will be an issue.

I agree it's tough sledding right now. According to the Knight Report, Tarletons athletic budget is $21m. $5m football budget. Nearly 60% of the budget is from student fees.

Meanwhile NDSU has a $31m budget, $6m football budget and they have a much more diversified budget that has ticket sales, donors and more.

$10m jump to MWC isn't easy but likely much easier than doubling tour budget when your students are already mortgaged.
Like it or not, Tarleton is closer to Sam ($23m budget, mostly student fees) than the Bison


https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/sam-h...university
https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/tarle...university

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/north...university

https://x.com/ramblinroundup/status/1854360269394166257

Idk how much stock I’d put into this Fletcher guy. He also tweeted yesterday that NMSU was in consideration for the PAC. Seems like a guy who’s just throwing stuff out there.

(11-07-2024 08:53 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(11-07-2024 02:15 AM)Itinerant Texan Wrote:  

(11-06-2024 10:53 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(11-06-2024 02:09 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  Trying to read the tea leaves, my guess is the MWC doesn’t believe Tarleton can make the budgetary increases in a timely manner so they are checking all options. We got more of a look and listen than SHSU, but we are still lacking for the MW. Maybe NDSU will also have budgetary issues so they could come back to us. I have seen some posts stating increasing their budget will be an issue.

I agree it's tough sledding right now. According to the Knight Report, Tarletons athletic budget is $21m. $5m football budget. Nearly 60% of the budget is from student fees.

Meanwhile NDSU has a $31m budget, $6m football budget and they have a much more diversified budget that has ticket sales, donors and more.

$10m jump to MWC isn't easy but likely much easier than doubling tour budget when your students are already mortgaged.
Like it or not, Tarleton is closer to Sam ($23m budget, mostly student fees) than the Bison


https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/sam-h...university
https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/tarle...university

https://knightnewhousedata.org/fcs/north...university

https://x.com/ramblinroundup/status/1854360269394166257

Idk how much stock I’d put into this Fletcher guy. He also tweeted yesterday that NMSU was in consideration for the PAC. Seems like a guy who’s just throwing stuff out there.

Don’t destroy our dreams.

HE SPEAKS!!!

https://x.com/TBM_JY/status/1854580175914070192

https://youtu.be/Iiexao4TMhQ?feature=shared

Uryasz: Tarleton Budget: $39.2mil (and growing)

I saw that! Almost 40M is in line to go to MWC. He did not give anything away when asked if we were still in talks. The MWC would be foolish not to add us I think based on geography, budget, facilities and willingness to jump to a western FBS conference. Hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Loved the podcast. Replayed the $39 million athletic budget comment several times to ensure I heard it correctly.

$35/hour student athletics fee at TSU is higher than most.

(11-07-2024 02:53 PM)TexanFan Wrote:  Loved the podcast. Replayed the $39 million athletic budget comment several times to ensure I heard it correctly.