(04-17-2013 10:18 PM)CPslograd Wrote: Chrisattsu, who in Texas could the WAC realistically add? What do you think about Tamu CC?
TLDR: I think the WAC needs to give up on Texas if New Mexico State gets an all sports invite to the Sun Belt. Without football (or a way to find a home for schools that want to play football), you are spinning your wheels on small private colleges that will further stretch the footprint.
If you look at the map of Texas D1 and D2 schools, you will notice that with the exception of Texas Tech and UTEP, every other D1 schools is on or east of I-35. These are the primary population centers of the state. I am not sure anyone in that eastern half would be willing to strike out west now that the WAC lacks FBS status, less stable, and requires considerably more travel than the Southland. I think Corpus is where it wants to be (in a gulf coast conference that plays against Texas schools) and UTPA would sign up in a heartbeat if they could.
The Western half of the state are more politically and culturally akin to New Mexico and the Western US while East Texas is more like Louisiana and the South. The West Texas schools be better suited for an western league towards Las Cruces and Denver than playing in New Orleans. However, they have fewer people, minor media markets, and they are mostly D2. There are 8 D2 schools West of I-35. Being D2 schools, they range between 2,000 and 12,000 students. Most of these schools are located in mid-sized regional hub cities with their own local news affiliates (Abilene, San Angelo, Wichita Falls all have 100,000 people ... Canyon/Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, and Lubbock have 250,000 people).
Abilene Christian is already moving to the Southland. Tarleton has expressed interest moving up. Both of these schools are geographic rivals to Angelo State and West Texas A&M. These four schools all recruit students from overlapping areas of the state. They beat up on each other in high school and they continue to do so in college. Any game against these close teams produces heated rivalries and matchups.
Angelo State, WTAMU, and Midwestern State each have more than 7,000 students. Tarleton has 12,000 but it is located in a small town (15,000) an hour outside of Fort Worth. If Tarleton follows ACU, you will see ASU, WT, and MSU scrambling to not be left behind. If the WAC pulled pulled those schools to form an eastern block, you might be able to lure ACU back have a sold pack of schools. The biggest problem that you are going to face is that they all want to play football and the WAC no longer offers that. The only geographically close conference (the Southland) does not allow Football-only members. Until that is resolved, you wont see any of them coming over.
This leaves you with the non-football schools of Texas. At the D2 level that leaves you with the Heartland conference (mostly small private universities).
UT-Permian Basin (Midland-Odessa). Public School in a fast growing area that is rich in Oil/gas money. Newly minted D2 school with 3,000 students. Will struggle to find relevance behind Friday Night Lights.
Lubbock Christian (Lubbock). A 2,000 person private school. They will always play second fiddle to the Red Raiders across town.
If you want to follow the major city model that the WAC seems to be using
Oklahoma Christian (Oklahoma City). They are not in Texas, but they are a school in a regional hub. Does not play football
Dallas Bapist(Dallas). They are in and out after this season. Does not play football
St Edwards (Austin). Small university with terrible facilities in South Austin. Does not play football
St Marys (San Antonio). Small University with terrible facilities in San Antonio. Does not play football
Central Oklahoma. They are a D2 schools in suburban OKC with 15,000 students. They would only be possible if you bring back football.