(03-31-2018 10:07 AM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(03-31-2018 09:37 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  Having followed expansion the Southland since Texas States time, I don't see how SFA or Sam make the jump to FBS (Let alone UIW).

Small stadiums that they don't fill. UIWs mega donor Benson just passed away.

Well NoDak says that those schools are going to magically get more fans when they go FBS while playing the exact same teams. Schools like Rutgers and Duke will go play at UIW in front of 4,000 fans.

And no, Duke, Rutgers, Wazzau, Oregon St and Wake won't be going to Texas to play any FBS start ups. I agree 100%.

In 2004, Troy, in one of its first years in the Belt, hosted #19 Missouri and won.

That is bad scheduling on the part of Mizzou, but it proves my point that P5’s sometime play at low G5 opponents. Troy may now be FBS, but institutionally it had less going for it than Sam Houston St has now. I.e. Sam Houston St is near a major metro, Houston, while Troy has Dothan.

Would Southland want to go from 13/11 (hoops/football) to 14/12?

The FCS playoff schedule just doesn't leave room for a title game.

WAC would obviously have interest but that leaves football floating unless Southland for some reason wanted to add a football only which seems unlikely given that the league is really too large in football as is.

(04-01-2018 01:06 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Would Southland want to go from 13/11 (hoops/football) to 14/12?

The FCS playoff schedule just doesn't leave room for a title game.

WAC would obviously have interest but that leaves football floating unless Southland for some reason wanted to add a football only which seems unlikely given that the league is really too large in football as is.

I think it as this way. Lamar, Sam Houston State and SFA all have interests in moving to FBS someday. Giving Tarleton State as a football only would help prepare the Southland in the future if they lose those three schools or any of the Louisiana schools. Tarleton State would be D1 by that time, and be easier to bring them over and to bring UTRGV to the conference. Then, they can invite a Texas Southern, Prairie View or any of the Lone Star Conference schools into the fold. They do not want to bring up 2 D2 schools at the same time like they did the last time when they brought up Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word. They had to get a waiver for those 2 schools which does not guarantee that the NCAA will give them another waiver in the future. The WAC could groom the Texas schools for them for the future if they lose any schools.

(04-01-2018 04:05 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(04-01-2018 01:06 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Would Southland want to go from 13/11 (hoops/football) to 14/12?

The FCS playoff schedule just doesn't leave room for a title game.

WAC would obviously have interest but that leaves football floating unless Southland for some reason wanted to add a football only which seems unlikely given that the league is really too large in football as is.

I think it as this way. Lamar, Sam Houston State and SFA all have interests in moving to FBS someday. Giving Tarleton State as a football only would help prepare the Southland in the future if they lose those three schools or any of the Louisiana schools. Tarleton State would be D1 by that time, and be easier to bring them over and to bring UTRGV to the conference. Then, they can invite a Texas Southern, Prairie View or any of the Lone Star Conference schools into the fold. They do not want to bring up 2 D2 schools at the same time like they did the last time when they brought up Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word. They had to get a waiver for those 2 schools which does not guarantee that the NCAA will give them another waiver in the future. The WAC could groom the Texas schools for them for the future if they lose any schools.

I agree with you on the part about learning from ACU and UIW's move up process and allowing some else bare the brunt of Tarleton's move up. Let the WAC do it, and lure them away when the time is right (after the transition period).
You lost me at that part. I can't imagine those schools turning their backs on their SWAC brothers to join the Southland

(04-01-2018 08:18 AM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(04-01-2018 04:05 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(04-01-2018 01:06 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Would Southland want to go from 13/11 (hoops/football) to 14/12?

The FCS playoff schedule just doesn't leave room for a title game.

WAC would obviously have interest but that leaves football floating unless Southland for some reason wanted to add a football only which seems unlikely given that the league is really too large in football as is.

I think it as this way. Lamar, Sam Houston State and SFA all have interests in moving to FBS someday. Giving Tarleton State as a football only would help prepare the Southland in the future if they lose those three schools or any of the Louisiana schools. Tarleton State would be D1 by that time, and be easier to bring them over and to bring UTRGV to the conference. Then, they can invite a Texas Southern, Prairie View or any of the Lone Star Conference schools into the fold. They do not want to bring up 2 D2 schools at the same time like they did the last time when they brought up Abilene Christian and Incarnate Word. They had to get a waiver for those 2 schools which does not guarantee that the NCAA will give them another waiver in the future. The WAC could groom the Texas schools for them for the future if they lose any schools.

I agree with you on the part about learning from ACU and UIW's move up process and allowing some else bare the brunt of Tarleton's move up. Let the WAC do it, and lure them away when the time is right (after the transition period).
You lost me at that part. I can't imagine those schools turning their backs on their SWAC brothers to join the Southland

It is just a buzz that is going around in case Grambling State and Southern U. wound up being merged into any of the other schools. Like Grambling State merged into La. Tech and Southern with LSU or some other school. The two Texas schools would be left out on an island without the 2 Louisiana schools.

(04-01-2018 01:06 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Would Southland want to go from 13/11 (hoops/football) to 14/12?

The FCS playoff schedule just doesn't leave room for a title game.

WAC would obviously have interest but that leaves football floating unless Southland for some reason wanted to add a football only which seems unlikely given that the league is really too large in football as is.

12 team 2 division setup for Southland football creates a very cost containment league which is the goal of FCS football.

East Division
Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Southeastern Louisiana

West Division
Abilene Christian
Houston Baptist
Incarnate Ward
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Tarleton State

Play your division, then rotate home and home with 3 others in the other division like the Big 12 used to do.

As it relates to affiliate membership, the Southland Conference is done with that.

Has done that before where a school had one foot out, one foot in (see ULM football in FBS, other sports in Southland) and the league schools didn't like that. Did the whole Jax State/Troy thing too for awhile as well.

The years UTPA (not UTRGV) was in men's tennis, that was done out of necessity for the automatic bid and UTPA was not going anywhere anytime soon. Bowling is bowling and sand volleyball may see something similar if the schools are slow to get it off the ground.

I just have a hard time seeing affiliates in the future for the Southland.

(04-02-2018 10:50 AM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  12 team 2 division setup for Southland football creates a very cost containment league which is the goal of FCS football.

East Division
Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Southeastern Louisiana

West Division
Abilene Christian
Houston Baptist
Incarnate Ward
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Tarleton State

Play your division, then rotate home and home with 3 others in the other division like the Big 12 used to do.

SHSU currently gets 'beat up' by the voters, fans, etc. for a weak schedule.

That would put traditional strong schools (UCA, McNeese) in the other division as well as a Southeastern Louisiana program which is developing a good reputation. Even with the home-and-home rotating with three others, this would be a huge blow for the Kats to lose even more regularly scheduled toughies in the league.

(04-02-2018 01:55 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  As it relates to affiliate membership, the Southland Conference is done with that.

Has done that before where a school had one foot out, one foot in (see ULM football in FBS, other sports in Southland) and the league schools didn't like that. Did the whole Jax State/Troy thing too for awhile as well.

The years UTPA (not UTRGV) was in men's tennis, that was done out of necessity for the automatic bid and UTPA was not going anywhere anytime soon. Bowling is bowling and sand volleyball may see something similar if the schools are slow to get it off the ground.

I just have a hard time seeing affiliates in the future for the Southland.

(04-02-2018 10:50 AM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  12 team 2 division setup for Southland football creates a very cost containment league which is the goal of FCS football.

East Division
Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Southeastern Louisiana

West Division
Abilene Christian
Houston Baptist
Incarnate Ward
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Tarleton State

Play your division, then rotate home and home with 3 others in the other division like the Big 12 used to do.

SHSU currently gets 'beat up' by the voters, fans, etc. for a weak schedule.

That would put traditional strong schools (UCA, McNeese) in the other division as well as a Southeastern Louisiana program which is developing a good reputation. Even with the home-and-home rotating with three others, this would be a huge blow for the Kats to lose even more regularly scheduled toughies in the league.

I follow D2 football, and Tarleton State moving up would have a winning record in recent years before making the move. When Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian moved up? They had losing records. Several Lone Star schools do have a SOS better than several Southland Conference schools. Any top name LSC schools like Tarleton State could help bring their SOS up some.

(04-02-2018 02:55 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(04-02-2018 01:55 PM)TexasTerror Wrote:  As it relates to affiliate membership, the Southland Conference is done with that.

Has done that before where a school had one foot out, one foot in (see ULM football in FBS, other sports in Southland) and the league schools didn't like that. Did the whole Jax State/Troy thing too for awhile as well.

The years UTPA (not UTRGV) was in men's tennis, that was done out of necessity for the automatic bid and UTPA was not going anywhere anytime soon. Bowling is bowling and sand volleyball may see something similar if the schools are slow to get it off the ground.

I just have a hard time seeing affiliates in the future for the Southland.

(04-02-2018 10:50 AM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  12 team 2 division setup for Southland football creates a very cost containment league which is the goal of FCS football.

East Division
Central Arkansas
Lamar
McNeese State
Nicholls State
Northwestern State
Southeastern Louisiana

West Division
Abilene Christian
Houston Baptist
Incarnate Ward
Sam Houston State
Stephen F. Austin
Tarleton State

Play your division, then rotate home and home with 3 others in the other division like the Big 12 used to do.

SHSU currently gets 'beat up' by the voters, fans, etc. for a weak schedule.

That would put traditional strong schools (UCA, McNeese) in the other division as well as a Southeastern Louisiana program which is developing a good reputation. Even with the home-and-home rotating with three others, this would be a huge blow for the Kats to lose even more regularly scheduled toughies in the league.

I follow D2 football, and Tarleton State moving up would have a winning record in recent years before making the move. When Incarnate Word and Abilene Christian moved up? They had losing records. Several Lone Star schools do have a SOS better than several Southland Conference schools. Any top name LSC schools like Tarleton State could help bring their SOS up some.

ACU was a playoff team a lot in their last years in D-II. The playoff scores were like 93-68. No D, crazy high scoring gms. just checked they started the transition in 2012. they were in the 2011,2010,2009,2008 playoffs. I didn't go deeper. The 08 was the 93-68 gm vs your favorite team W.Texas A&M

Southland Bowling isn't really an affiliate situation. Group of bowling schools chip in a few bucks for the SLC to administer it, they use the Southland name as part of the deal.

I have added Tarleton State in the second post in the pinned thread. If they get an invite to the WAC? The will be added to the timeline of keeping track of the schools that way.