Lamar's athletic department on how travel played a huge role in their decision to come back to the Southland from the WAC; references student-athletes being able to sleep in their dorm.

No reference to the ability to compete better in the Southland where their budget is towards the upper echelon of the league vs the WAC...

Quote:O'Malley said travel savings were significant in the Southland across Lamar's athletic department. He admitted it's hard to compare fluctuating flight and hotel costs from year to year, but O'Malley estimated the athletic department saved $350,000 in travel expenses by returning to the Southland. For a department operating on a $28,000 profit, it's a serious chunk of change.

"We looked at the figures and we were pretty pleased with what we saw," O'Malley said. "I think it's just another way to show that we're a great fit in the Southland Conference."

Quote:While schools across the country are jumping from conference to conference, O'Malley said he thinks Lamar has found a long-term, sustainable home in the Southland. The numbers don't lie.

"It's great to have some stability," O'Malley said. "We're looking forward to being a leader in this league for a long time."

Beaumont Enterprise

(07-24-2023 02:34 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  Lamar's athletic department on how travel played a huge role in their decision to come back to the Southland from the WAC; references student-athletes being able to sleep in their dorm.

No reference to the ability to compete better in the Southland where their budget is towards the upper echelon of the league vs the WAC...

Quote:O'Malley said travel savings were significant in the Southland across Lamar's athletic department. He admitted it's hard to compare fluctuating flight and hotel costs from year to year, but O'Malley estimated the athletic department saved $350,000 in travel expenses by returning to the Southland. For a department operating on a $28,000 profit, it's a serious chunk of change.

"We looked at the figures and we were pretty pleased with what we saw," O'Malley said. "I think it's just another way to show that we're a great fit in the Southland Conference."

Quote:While schools across the country are jumping from conference to conference, O'Malley said he thinks Lamar has found a long-term, sustainable home in the Southland. The numbers don't lie.

"It's great to have some stability," O'Malley said. "We're looking forward to being a leader in this league for a long time."

Beaumont Enterprise

Save money

Live in OBSCURITY

No one knows Lamar or the Southland exists outside of East Texas and Louisiana

(07-24-2023 07:38 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Save money

Live in OBSCURITY

No one knows Lamar or the Southland exists outside of East Texas and Louisiana

Anyone not in a P5 conference is essentially living in obscurity.

If the $350,000 savings is a make or break, they don’t belong in a more competitive conference.

What he doesn’t bring up are revenues. What was the difference? Also, a big reason cited for the move was McNeese as a conference rival. Was that worth it, did they see an overall attendance increase because of it?

(07-24-2023 09:28 PM)coachacola Wrote:  

(07-24-2023 07:38 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Save money

Live in OBSCURITY

No one knows Lamar or the Southland exists outside of East Texas and Louisiana

Anyone not in a P5 conference is essentially living in obscurity.

I’d disagree with that. The MAC is second tier, but wildly known compared to the SLC. People know North Dakota St. The MVC is known as a competitor BBall conference. The SBC has gained positive press in recent years.

Elitist tend to make it seem there’s a few schools that matter, but that is just not the wide norm.

(07-24-2023 09:28 PM)coachacola Wrote:  

(07-24-2023 07:38 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Save money

Live in OBSCURITY

No one knows Lamar or the Southland exists outside of East Texas and Louisiana

Anyone not in a P5 conference is essentially living in obscurity.

Unfortunately you are correct. I live in Arlington and I have actually talked to people that didn't know what UTA was. Sad

They know North Texas.

(07-24-2023 10:52 PM)RT98 Wrote:  

(07-24-2023 09:28 PM)coachacola Wrote:  

(07-24-2023 07:38 PM)BlueDragon Wrote:  Save money

Live in OBSCURITY

No one knows Lamar or the Southland exists outside of East Texas and Louisiana

Anyone not in a P5 conference is essentially living in obscurity.

Unfortunately you are correct. I live in Arlington and I have actually talked to people that didn't know what UTA was. Sad

. Oh please! I lived in Arlington for 25 years and never knew anyone that didn’t know what UTA was. You’re BMS(Battered Maverick Syndrome) is strong to quite strong!

"Lamar has found a long-term, sustainable home in the Southland"

Has found? That's a weird way to put it. They've been in the Southland most of the time for the last 60 years.

Perhaps my old-timer's perspective is different. I harken to the days when ASC, Trinity, ACC, ASU and Lamar formed the Southland Conference to compete in Division One, while the likes of SFASC, SWT, ETSU, SHS, Tarleton and others were in the D-II Lone Star Conference. Granted, the Lone Star has many decades of history, and those lower level programs have mostly moved up, but that's no slam against the Southland. I dare say the WAC would've benefitted greatly had UIW and Lamar seen fit to stay. It's too bad, but I can see the logic of these two wanting to remain within bus distance of their opponents.

(07-26-2023 10:32 AM)edinburger Wrote:  "Lamar has found a long-term, sustainable home in the Southland"

Has found? That's a weird way to put it. They've been in the Southland most of the time for the last 60 years.

LU has always been aggressive in trying to improve their sports programs, from being involved in starting the SLC, then moving on the American South (which merged into the Sun Belt), and of course jumping to the WAC. But like the rest of the Beaumont area, they suffer from good long term leadership so they stagnant and fall behind.

(07-26-2023 11:52 AM)wewererebels Wrote:  Perhaps my old-timer's perspective is different. I harken to the days when ASC, Trinity, ACC, ASU and Lamar formed the Southland Conference to compete in Division One, while the likes of SFASC, SWT, ETSU, SHS, Tarleton and others were in the D-II Lone Star Conference. Granted, the Lone Star has many decades of history, and those lower level programs have mostly moved up, but that's no slam against the Southland. I dare say the WAC would've benefitted greatly had UIW and Lamar seen fit to stay. It's too bad, but I can see the logic of these two wanting to remain within bus distance of their opponents.

UIW and Lamar have budget issues. Their non-football sports as a whole would really deflate the WAC’s overall conference rating. Had Lamar stayed in the WAC, their 9-22 overall record, 1-9 record against DI non-conference would have hurt everyone.

UIW’s 12-19 overall record, 3-7 DI non-conference record isn’t much better.

(07-26-2023 12:55 PM)coachacola Wrote:  

(07-26-2023 10:32 AM)edinburger Wrote:  "Lamar has found a long-term, sustainable home in the Southland"

Has found? That's a weird way to put it. They've been in the Southland most of the time for the last 60 years.

LU has always been aggressive in trying to improve their sports programs, from being involved in starting the SLC, then moving on the American South (which merged into the Sun Belt), and of course jumping to the WAC. But like the rest of the Beaumont area, they suffer from good long term leadership so they stagnant and fall behind.

Maybe Beaumont-Port Arthur-Orange has a problem similar to McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr-Mission. We don't have single local government with a consistent plan and vision, different cities want different things from UTRGV, and sometimes McAllen, Pharr, and Mission seem less enthusiastic in their support because the campus is in Edinburg.

Anything like that going on up there?