Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

I makes since to me.

chess Wrote:Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

I makes since to me.

Agreed. I would rather us play La Tech than some of the non conference games we have played....mainly the 1-AA's of the past.

ULM has always played the role of a bratty little kid that always started whining when we decide to go in a different direction. When we decided to go 1-A in the 80's they told us that we were idiots and should stay in I-AA with them. We went to I-A because our president at the time called I-AA "Mandated Mediocrity". We moved up and stopped playing them because I-A does not travel to I-AA and they were mad with that also. We had some success in I-A and that got them jealous so they decided they were going to move up to 1-A also but not to play better competition but instead to play us.

Then we answered their request to do a 4 game in the late 90's. We were definitely the dominate crowd for the whole series.

Our crowds last year were a steady 20,000 + throughout our entire home stand. Each year, ULM gimmicks their attendance usually by playing Arkansas in LR but getting to claim the attendance as a home game. Last year they had a well attended game with Grambling but if you look at figures for their other games, they are a steep drop.

Now granted our home attendance could be better and I think will get better and that is what Dooley our AD is trying to do with these meetings he is holding around the state to drum up support and rally our fan base. At least we have an AD that is doing something for the summer.

Oh yeah, and then there are the numerous projects our school, alumni base, and donors are financing through fund raising efforts. ULM wanted to do similar things but got an outgoing state legistlator to fund their stadium renovations with tax payer money from the state.

Yeah, we may be on a low rung as far as where we are with the rest of the college football world but when comparing how we do things to how ULM does things, we feel we have somthing to be proud of.

I can't argue that Tech isn't better than ULM, but you guys need to save on travel $$$. I know your facilities need an overhaul and it doesn't help when you're blowing money traveling instead of playing someone down the road.

You guys could always work into the contract that you get a % of the ticket sales from ULM past their normal attendance average.

Are you serious???

He is speaking to alumni at a fundraising event. The overwhelming majority of alumni are tired of the Monroe media and ULM fans constantly whining about not playing Tech. Every couple of months the local newspaper in Monroe starts talking about how great it would be for Tech and ULM to play.

As a student, Tech and Northest played. They only brought 500 fans to Ruston. 30 miles away and they only brought 500 fans? Not much of a rivalry if you ask me. The year we played them in Monroe, there were more Tech fans at the game than Northeast fans. Not exactly a rivalry.

What advantage is there in playing ULM? Recruiting? No, we already get coverage in the Monroe news media. Scheduling North Texas, Rice, SMU, ULL, Ark State at least gets us media coverage in other markets where we recruit.

If we play ULM and beat them - great we get a win and a couple of hundred visitors.

KNIGHTTIME Wrote:I can't argue that Tech isn't better than ULM, but you guys need to save on travel $$$. I know your facilities need an overhaul and it doesn't help when you're blowing money traveling instead of playing someone down the road.

You guys could always work into the contract that you get a % of the ticket sales from ULM past their normal attendance average.

Any attempts to negotiate with ULM has proven fruitless. They want a 1-1 series without any special provisions.

Our former AD tried to offer them a 2-1 series starting in Ruston. They wanted a 1-1 with the first game in Monroe. Our former AD countered with 1 game played in Ruston and they refused.

chess Wrote:Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

I makes since to me.

I agree. This would lay the ground work for them to get into CUSA, which in all honesty is the conference that they should be in. IMO the WAC is light years better than the Sun-Belt, and it would be a step down for LA Tech to go into that conference.

garddawg LTU Wrote:When we decided to go 1-A in the 80's they told us that we were idiots and should stay in I-AA with them. We went to I-A because our president at the time called I-AA "Mandated Mediocrity".

So you traded mandated mediocrity for mediocrity at a higher level.

Makes perfect sense.

PirateMarv Wrote:

chess Wrote:Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

I makes since to me.

I agree. This would lay the ground work for them to get into CUSA, which in all honesty is the conference that they should be in. IMO the WAC is light years better than the Sun-Belt, and it would be a step down for LA Tech to go into that conference.

We went to the WAC because prior to that we were already in the "Sunbelt" because we played ULL, Ark State, and a few others of that league. The attendance for those teams we meek especially when it was generally a given that we beat them regularly. We knew that suddenly being in a conference with them would not change the apathy. I think the only thing that would have changed our minds was if UCF had taken the plunge with us at the time. They also decided to stay out and be the lone Florida school in the MAC

The WAC at the time had Rice, Tulsa, SMU, and UTEP. Teams that we knew had recognition among local fans and yet were a different match-up that would draw interest.

I grant you that with the current price of oil, I do have my worries about travel costs but those decisions were far different back in the early '00s.

usm99 Wrote:

chess Wrote:Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

I makes since to me.

Agreed. I would rather us play La Tech than some of the non conference games we have played....mainly the 1-AA's of the past.

We want schedules like that too. However, historically, we have scheduled one lesser opponent like North Texas, MTSU, SE Louisiana, Mississippi Valley, etc... and 2 to 3 giants like Miami, Auburn, Alabama, LSU, etc.. I think Dooley's plan is to schedule 1 giant and 2 to 3 mid-tier programs like CUSA, MWC, and lower level BCS teams like Mississippi State, Kansas, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, etc...

Have your AD call our AD!!

dchi72 Wrote:Any attempts to negotiate with ULM has proven fruitless. They want a 1-1 series without any special provisions.

Oh my goodness! A non-autobid team wanting to play another non-autobid team in a 1-1 series without any special provisions? How audacious of them! Whatever is the world coming to?

garddawg LTU Wrote:We moved up and stopped playing them because I-A does not travel to I-AA

Tell that to Idaho. They sign a 1-1 with Montana every now and then. Also tell it to WKU, they just signed a 10 year series with EKU for home and away.

I know its against the norm. I would love to play some of the SoCon teams we played but its not possible right now.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

dchi72 Wrote:Any attempts to negotiate with ULM has proven fruitless. They want a 1-1 series without any special provisions.

Oh my goodness! A non-autobid team wanting to play another non-autobid team in a 1-1 series without any special provisions? How audacious of them! Whatever is the world coming to?

Come on Krocker, is that anyway to talk about one of America's ELITE programs???

chess Wrote:Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

It makes since to me.

That is EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT! Dooley will be all over the CUSA ADs to play a home & home.

dchi72 Wrote:

KNIGHTTIME Wrote:I can't argue that Tech isn't better than ULM, but you guys need to save on travel $$$. I know your facilities need an overhaul and it doesn't help when you're blowing money traveling instead of playing someone down the road.

You guys could always work into the contract that you get a % of the ticket sales from ULM past their normal attendance average.

Any attempts to negotiate with ULM has proven fruitless. They want a 1-1 series without any special provisions.

Rightfully so.

Both teams attendance SUCK...and both teams play infront of thousands and thousands and thousands of EMPTY SEATS at EVERY HOME GAME!

Jump on a stupid school bus or car pool...but play the stupid game!

With the cost of jet fuel SOARING into the stratosphere...and the cost of charter flights that will SKY ROCKET for most team's road trips this fall...when La Tech's AD's sees all these increase cost hit his program this fall...he will sit in his/her office...put his hands over his face and cry: "Why don't we play a team located just 30 mins away?"

T_Won1 Wrote:

HerdZoned Wrote:LA Tech wouldn't add anything to CUSA. No Market, Name Recognization, Winning Tradition, Fan Support, Ficilities, I could go on but most see my point.

Dooley should learn to keep is mouth shut. LA Tech isn't Georgia.

I keep hearing this statement over and over. Tech wouldn't "add" anything to CUSA. What is there to "add" to? In my opinion, there are very few, if any, CUSA teams with name recognition, winning traditions, fan support, and great facilities. They are some big markets, but the people in those markets don't support the teams. Who exactly do ya'll think you are? Ya'll sound like Derek Dooley!!

You're basketball program is a laughingstock and would only hurt CUSA. When I think of a school that would make a good addition to CUSA, I don't consider a school that has a basketball program that can only win one more game than the football program.

DogsWin Wrote:

chess Wrote:Why doesn't LA Tech schedule Houston, Southern Miss, UAB, Memphis, Tulane, SMU, TCU, etc....

It makes since to me.

That is EXACTLY WHAT WE WANT! Dooley will be all over the CUSA ADs to play a home & home.

What does a CUSA team gain from playing La Tech home and home?

Your fans don't go to home games, why should we expect to see them travel on the road?

You've averaged 5.5 wins a season since moving up to Div I-A and 5 wins a season this century, so most years you would be a RPI drain.

You aren't a national name, so the game isn't likely going to be on TV, and would likely get minimal coverage in any other form of media.

Now, if La Tech is willing to play a one and done...that's a different story.

catdaddy_2402 Wrote:What does a CUSA team gain from playing La Tech home and home?

Easy answer Catdaddy, a CUSA team gets to play an ELITE team.

klg316 Wrote:

T_Won1 Wrote:

HerdZoned Wrote:LA Tech wouldn't add anything to CUSA. No Market, Name Recognization, Winning Tradition, Fan Support, Ficilities, I could go on but most see my point.

Dooley should learn to keep is mouth shut. LA Tech isn't Georgia.

I keep hearing this statement over and over. Tech wouldn't "add" anything to CUSA. What is there to "add" to? In my opinion, there are very few, if any, CUSA teams with name recognition, winning traditions, fan support, and great facilities. They are some big markets, but the people in those markets don't support the teams. Who exactly do ya'll think you are? Ya'll sound like Derek Dooley!!

You're basketball program is a laughingstock and would only hurt CUSA. When I think of a school that would make a good addition to CUSA, I don't consider a school that has a basketball program that can only win one more game than the football program.

Basketball is up and down. We used to have a great program until around 1995 or so... about the time PJ Brown left. Last year was a throw-away year with the transition of a new coach. We are supposed to be loaded next year and supposed to go to the dance. We'll wait and see how it works out, but we have alot of brand new talent coming in. I'm sure that being in the same league as Memphis would only help recruiting.

For the comment about our MBB team: You'll change your tune next year when we are in the tournament. This was a product of an empty cupboard by Keith Richard, who fielded mediocre teams despite having Paul Millsap. Keith Richard was a hire by the illustrious former-AD Jim Oakes. The same Jim Oakes who fueled the program on bodybag games and made no facilities improvements.

Our MBB coaching staff is GREAT now and our MBB team (if you know anything about it) is a great reason we bring "value" to a conference.

Dooley has things moving in the right direction. Facilities are being upgraded, season ticket sales are going up, and the athletics club membership is growing. He's pouring a lot of energy into the Tech program.

Understand that ULM is our annoying little brother who wants to do everything we do. The ULM media rants every year and every year we get tired of it.

As mentioned it was a PAID Tech booster event that a reporter attended and asked "the question."

As lacking as Tech is in national prestiege you must understand that ULM is one of only two schools in D1-A with no winning seasons. The other is FIU and they are still new. Both play in the sunbelt.

You also must understand that we've been burned by them in the past when we scheduled a series. I was there at the 2000 game. It was a sad spectacle and it looked like we were in our own stadium.

I'm fairly certain we'd make a 1-1 agreement with some sort of "sell your own tickets" agreement. It could be setup to ensure that nobody gets burned.

Of course, maybe we could play a "home" game for ULM in Shreveport.

The fact is that they want the game and we don't.

If a tree falls in North Louisiana, does anybody hear it? The Army game we have this year at least gets us more exposure. The home-home with MSU is going to be a fun and exciting event.

Dooley was right when he said we don't recruit against them. We butt heads with the likes of USM and TCU.

It's not as easy as saying we "need" this game because they are so close. You've got to understand our history that made us feel the way we do. We wouldn't be trading the Hawaii game for ULM, we play them anyways. It's really a difference of ULM, or any other team in the country.

That said I'd be ok with playing them every once in a while, just please no more four year deals and I would prefer some sort of ticket agreement.

I enjoyed playing the old E-WAC teams and making trips to their stadiums. I personally would love to play in the CUSA so I could drive to some away games. I'll be in Starkville when we return that game and also at aTm again when we play them soon.

I don't know what makes anyone think we wouldn't be competitive in the CUSA. It's not the pinnacle of perfection in the college football world. UAB, SMU, RICE, UTEP, Tulane, Marshall would probably lose against us. Tulsa, Memphis, USM, ECU, UCF and maybe Houston would probably beat us. (we did have a 3-1 record vs Tulsa in the WAC though ) It's a good conference and if you need an extra member for any reason, you want to add the best choice. Will Tech be a good choice? Time will tell but it's looking good right now.

We'd be middle of the pack in football and probably whip everybody but Memphis in MBB next year. The football team will probably be even better in 09 and 10 as Dooley's recruits mature.

Parting points:

1. We'd be a geographic fit with competitive teams
2. We don't want to play ULM