(04-24-2018 07:56 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 07:51 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 07:45 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 07:20 PM)NoDak Wrote:  With TAMU-International is in Laredo and just joining the Lone Star Conference, doesn’t it make sense for UTRGV to have football first, thereby further establishing UTRGV as the foremost athletic school in that border region?

UTRGV is much bigger, but the UT-TAMU rivalry extends much further downstream.

They will never get to a power conference...and in reality we have too many 1A teams (yes I know that term is obsolete)...I think they'll eventually find their way to the Sun Belt unless the WAC sponsors FB again.

I'd be shocked if "they found their way to the Sun Belt"

Karl Benson: "Hello"
UTRGV: "We're in Texas"
Karl Benson: "I am delighted to offer UTRGV an invite to join the Sun Belt Conference"

Sun Belt has offered a firm thanks but no thanks to Liberty and Eastern Kentucky and Lamar.

Back when UTRGV was just UTPA, they had some success in the then American South which ended when the NCAA cop cars rolled up.

They got new people and hired a new coach and seemed to be improving and then they had the whole, "Officer I thought you said you didn't want to come back" conversation with the NCAA.

They had screwed up the coach's contract and didn't have a for cause clause for just violating rules, and in any case I don't think they could sufficiently pin it on him. So the school filled in the box on the NCAA form where you list what you think the fair penalty should be, and those guys put "Two year death penalty".

NCAA laughed and said we aren't letting you off that easy, we are taking away scholarships and making you play basketball.

Next meeting of the Sun Belt, they are informed that they need to offer their withdrawal as a member because the presidents have already talked and they have the votes to expel them. School sends out a press release announcing that they have made the decision to go independent.

Somehow even with a new name, not seeing them as high on the Sun Belt expansion list.

(04-24-2018 11:40 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  http://riograndeguardian.com/anderson-ut...-released/

Mack Brown heads the committee working on the feasibility study. They’re considering both FCS and FBS and have looked at UTSA as a potential model.

Credit to Vaqueronation for posting this on the WAC board.

FBS?
Surely not!

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(04-24-2018 12:36 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  Great news, exactly what we need. Another school who is lucky to get 1,000 to their basketball games, might start football. Students will get their tuition raised and a community who doesn’t care about college football will magically become FCS/FBS fans. Okayyyyyyyy

They care greatly about college football. It's called Texas Longhorns

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(04-24-2018 04:08 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 03:13 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 02:44 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Why?

They have enrollment within a whisker of UTSA. Enrollment at UTSA hasn't made any significant leap with football and in fact they had some down years after moving FBS.

UTRGV seems to be functioning quite effectively without football.

Why does UTRGV need football? Because that's what they do in Texas

And they want to be noticed outside the Rio Grande Valley. That simple.

1.3M people in the Valley, and it is growing rapidly. FBS football seems reasonable. Maybe the goal is the western side of the grand C-USA/Sunbelt realignment?

LOL Bigly

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(04-25-2018 11:28 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:13 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 09:16 AM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  UTRGV may be attracted to football in an effort to unite the various communities in The Valley in which the campuses are spread. Remember, UTRGV does not have the usual campus set-up. It is spread around in a lot of different towns in a region that has not always worked together. Just a thought.

True.

In addition, UTRGV is positioning itself as a brand new school, separate from the former UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville. The addition of football would add to the positioning of UTRGV as a new entity for the Valley.

However, I agree with the posters above when they say FBS is a pipe dream for UTRGV. If they went FCS and could get into the Southland, they could do well.

I'm biased because I'd like to see WAC football restored someday and I see the WAC -- assuming it survives the current transition period -- as the most likely long-term landing spot for western FCS schools that eventually want to move up to FBS.

Having admitted that, I would be surprised to see UTRGV settle for FCS. We're talking about a UT system school here, with an enrollment larger than UTEP or UTSA. I've always said that ego is as much of a factor as money in university athletics and conference affiliation decisions. I think the UTRGV administration wants to put the school on the map and if so I think they will try to find a way to justify building up to an FBS program.

It's great you want to see the WAC come back. I wish you shared that ideal for your current conference.

End rant

Lol

Lol

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Who does UT-RGV view as their peers, that they would ideally align with? I don't think Oral Roberts, GCU and Cal Baptist are what they had in mind.

If it still only takes 8 members to be an FBS football league a WAC football would only need 5 more members plus affiliates UMass and Liberty. Not impossible but it would be tough to do.

The Southland seems like the more logical first home for UTRGV football. They'd round out the league with a 12/14 set up.

Houston Baptist is exhibit A that you don't get into the Souland unless you have an actionable football plan. They were fooled twice by A&M CC and UNO. I still don't know why they haven't been expelled from the bloated league.

8 full members. The WAC still needs 6 more.

Doing more research on UTRGV...it is going to be a struggle for them to be competitive in FB.

They really need to broaden their student profile...literally 96% of the latest Freshmen entering class come from the Rio Grande Valley. Black freshmen admitted was 6 total students..I guess it is higher than that when you include International students.

All sorts of data here: https://www.utrgv.edu/sair/data-reports/index.htm


The school is spread out over the valley...they have student housing at two locations (Edinburg and Brownsville) These two campuses are 1 hour apart. UTRGV grew out of a merger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University...n_American

It appears Edinburg Campus will host the D-1 sports teams...it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

(04-25-2018 04:01 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Who does UT-RGV view as their peers, that they would ideally align with? I don't think Oral Roberts, GCU and Cal Baptist are what they had in mind.

I'd guess...UTSA, UTEP, UT-Arlington, UT-Corpus Christi

(04-25-2018 05:12 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 04:01 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Who does UT-RGV view as their peers, that they would ideally align with? I don't think Oral Roberts, GCU and Cal Baptist are what they had in mind.

I'd guess...UTSA, UTEP, UT-Arlington, UT-Corpus Christi

There is no UT-CC. There is an aTm-CC.

(04-25-2018 05:19 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 05:12 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 04:01 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Who does UT-RGV view as their peers, that they would ideally align with? I don't think Oral Roberts, GCU and Cal Baptist are what they had in mind.

I'd guess...UTSA, UTEP, UT-Arlington, UT-Corpus Christi

There is no UT-CC. There is an aTm-CC.

LOL...Yup...Islander fans will be coming after me.

It is a pretty cool campus though...as long as a Hurricane isn't in the Gulf.

(04-25-2018 05:10 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  Doing more research on UTRGV...it is going to be a struggle for them to be competitive in FB.

They really need to broaden their student profile...literally 96% of the latest Freshmen entering class come from the Rio Grande Valley. Black freshmen admitted was 6 total students..I guess it is higher than that when you include International students.

All sorts of data here: https://www.utrgv.edu/sair/data-reports/index.htm


The school is spread out over the valley...they have student housing at two locations (Edinburg and Brownsville) These two campuses are 1 hour apart. UTRGV grew out of a merger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University...n_American

It appears Edinburg Campus will host the D-1 sports teams...it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Also, the average age of a UTRGV student is 23. That seems to point to a large population of 'non-traditional' students that might not have the time nor the use for football, especially if it comes at their expense.

UTRGV to the Sun Belt. Mark it down. Benson will be all over this.

1.3 million metro. No FBS team within 4.5 hours (UTSA). Heck yeah. Will be well supported by the valley. Don’t go off basketball attendance. UTSA’s basketball attendance and arena sucked but had no bearing on their solid football attendance which is in the upper echelon of the so called group of 5

(04-25-2018 05:48 PM)BullsFanInTX Wrote:  1.3 million metro. No FBS team within 4.5 hours (UTSA). Heck yeah. Will be well supported by the valley. Don’t go off basketball attendance. UTSA’s basketball attendance and arena sucked but had no bearing on their solid football attendance which is in the upper echelon of the so called group of 5

Because there’s no FBS within 5 hours, it’s going to be well supported? Do you know what the area is like down there? RGV football will be a disaster if they decide to go through with it. I love how people just assume that a community will automatically support something they haven’t had, ever.

There are many FBS and FCS teams that play in empty stadiums, this will just add to the list.

(04-25-2018 03:56 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:28 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 11:13 AM)johnintx Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 09:16 AM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  UTRGV may be attracted to football in an effort to unite the various communities in The Valley in which the campuses are spread. Remember, UTRGV does not have the usual campus set-up. It is spread around in a lot of different towns in a region that has not always worked together. Just a thought.

True.

In addition, UTRGV is positioning itself as a brand new school, separate from the former UT-Pan American and UT-Brownsville. The addition of football would add to the positioning of UTRGV as a new entity for the Valley.

However, I agree with the posters above when they say FBS is a pipe dream for UTRGV. If they went FCS and could get into the Southland, they could do well.

I'm biased because I'd like to see WAC football restored someday and I see the WAC -- assuming it survives the current transition period -- as the most likely long-term landing spot for western FCS schools that eventually want to move up to FBS.

Having admitted that, I would be surprised to see UTRGV settle for FCS. We're talking about a UT system school here, with an enrollment larger than UTEP or UTSA. I've always said that ego is as much of a factor as money in university athletics and conference affiliation decisions. I think the UTRGV administration wants to put the school on the map and if so I think they will try to find a way to justify building up to an FBS program.

It's great you want to see the WAC come back. I wish you shared that ideal for your current conference.

End rant

Unfortunately other than UH, UCD and Cal Poly there don’t appear to be any Big West members with any interest in football. And neither UCD nor Cal Poly has shown an inclination to move up to FBS, although I think UCD has the potential to do so someday.

My aspiration for the Big West is to see the conference rival the nation’s best in baseball and soccer and men’s/women’s/beach volleyball and be among the top half of D-I conferences in men’s basketball. Ideally I would like to see us someday surpass the WCC and match the MWC in hoops.

I think where you and I differ is that I don’t see the Big West getting there by further expanding its membership and geographic footprint. Rather I think the current members (including Hawaii) should invest more in their athletic programs and build up their fan bases and improve their competitiveness organically.

Our member schools are located in some of the most desirable places to live and go to school in the nation, and for the most part are superior academically to the schools in the WCC and MWC. I would like to see us better leverage those advantages to attract more accomplished coaches and recruits who can help raise the Big West’s profile over time.

(04-25-2018 10:21 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 11:38 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 09:01 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 07:45 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(04-24-2018 07:20 PM)NoDak Wrote:  With TAMU-International is in Laredo and just joining the Lone Star Conference, doesn’t it make sense for UTRGV to have football first, thereby further establishing UTRGV as the foremost athletic school in that border region?

UTRGV is much bigger, but the UT-TAMU rivalry extends much further downstream.

They will never get to a power conference...and in reality we have too many 1A teams (yes I know that term is obsolete)...I think they'll eventually find their way to the Sun Belt unless the WAC sponsors FB again.

The G5 except the AAC is the new FCS. The P5 effectively endorses watering down the G5. The Sun Belt could have forestalled this by keeping NMSU.

As stated months before, this is the plan for a new WAC.
WAC FBS
Pacific Div
UC Davis
Sac St
Cal Poly
Cal Baptist*
GCU*
NMSU

Plains Div
UTGRV
Lamar
Sam Houston St
S F Austin or IWU and/or Wichita St (fb only)
Mo St (fb only)
Oral Roberts*
UMKC*

* - No fb

Idaho, the Montanas and Weber St will leave the Big Sky to the Summit- Great Northern, which will be in “close association” with the WAC at least in the beginning. The Big Sky will take UVU, Seattle, CWU, Azusa Pacific, and Dixie St to rebuild. 2020 is the target date for those league and 2020 may be when they start FBS transitions.

Gotten unbelievable flack for saying the G5 will be expanding. In the next couple of weeks it will begin playing out.

Just say no to Oral Roberts and UMKC. They will be in the Summit.
You keep forgetting Azusa Pacific, Dixie State, Central Washington, CSU-Pueblo, Colorado Mesa and any of the Lone Star schools. A couple of Lone Star schools already have FBS ready stadiums.

Which Lone Star schools have FBS ready stadiums? Heck, no Southland school has an FBS ready stadium.

West Texas A&M 20,000 = FORMER 1a INDEPENDENT
UTPB have close to 20,000 + they go over the capacity over the 20,000 mark.
Texas A&M-Kingsville 15,000 could seat temp seating.
Midwestern State 14,500 plus if you add temp seatings could go over the mark.
Commerce is at 13,500 seats, but could have temp seatings to reach ver 15,000 mark.
Tarleton State just added 2000 seats to 9000, but could go higher to be at the 15,000 mark.


Southland:
McNeese State 17,400
Lamar 16,000
NW La. State 15,971
SFA, 15,000 + temp seats.
Sam Houston State did reached 16,148.

(04-25-2018 05:30 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 05:19 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 05:12 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(04-25-2018 04:01 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Who does UT-RGV view as their peers, that they would ideally align with? I don't think Oral Roberts, GCU and Cal Baptist are what they had in mind.

I'd guess...UTSA, UTEP, UT-Arlington, UT-Corpus Christi

There is no UT-CC. There is an aTm-CC.

LOL...Yup...Islander fans will be coming after me.

It is a pretty cool campus though...as long as a Hurricane isn't in the Gulf.

A&M Corpus Christi looks like it sits on a sand bar.