Freudian slip by UCO President?

[UCObluejay]

I was listening to the broadcast and I could have sworn I heard UCO President Todd Lamb, also a former Lt. Governor, refer to Chad Richison Stadium as the best stadium in "Division I". With all of the small conference shuffling, what does this mean? Could it have been a mistake, or something deeper?

[voicefromthestands]

Heard the same thing! And wondered the same thing!

[the Northeasterner]

UCO is in an great position to go FCS except it's surrounded by OU and OSU. But if those programs decline, support might loosen up for a winning program.

They will have a few conferences that would invite them . Southland, wac, maybe Missouri valley .

I don't think anyone would question them attempting to go up.

[Wallst]

I heard that to but took it as different way. They were talking about the high school championships being played in Edmond. I took his comment to mean the stadium is as good as a D1 stadium.

[the Northeasterner]

I like the state championship games there. Not as cavernous as an 80k stadium is

[Predatory Primates]

I heard that to but took it as different way. They were talking about the high school championships being played in Edmond. I took his comment to mean the stadium is as good as a D1 stadium.

That's how I took it, too.

[RollChos]

I heard that to but took it as different way. They were talking about the high school championships being played in Edmond. I took his comment to mean the stadium is as good as a D1 stadium.

This is definitely what he meant and I wouldn’t read too much into it. I would love UCO to join the Southland conference tbh, but I’ve given up on it happening any time soon. I do think President Lamb is very pro-athletics and understands what they can do for a university’s brand. I appreciate that because I’m not sure we’ve had that in recent memory. Im biased but I think UCO gets so much **** on this forum for our stadium because folks know it is nicer than a lot of FCS stadiums. Certainly nicer than most in the MIAA.

[Pure cool]

Interesting analysis on this thread. I can see Pitt going to FCS as well as UCO. Northwest fans are adamant about staying put. As far as I can see, Pitt would not have to add any sports. UCO could easily bring their hockey team over as an additional sport. UCO has several hockey championships; however, I think that bringing in hockey, Title 9 mandates another female sport. Of course, the million-dollar question is: where will our hockey and wrestling teams participate? Both Pitt and UCO would have to upgrade their basketball arenas. Indiana State, for instance, has a 9,000-seat basketball venue. The good news is that both Pitt's and UCO's football stadiums are much better than Indiana State's if you select the Missouri Valley Conference. I can see the Missouri Valley Conference wanting another team as Missouri State is leaving next year to FBS.

[UISguy23]

Saw an article about UCO possibly going to D1 depending on the house settlement. I'm sure the lowering of the transition period would help

[Predatory Primates]

Interesting analysis on this thread. I can see Pitt going to FCS as well as UCO. Northwest fans are adamant about staying put. As far as I can see, Pitt would not have to add any sports. UCO could easily bring their hockey team over as an additional sport. UCO has several hockey championships; however, I think that bringing in hockey, Title 9 mandates another female sport. Of course, the million-dollar question is: where will our hockey and wrestling teams participate? Both Pitt and UCO would have to upgrade their basketball arenas. Indiana State, for instance, has a 9,000-seat basketball venue. The good news is that both Pitt's and UCO's football stadiums are much better than Indiana State's if you select the Missouri Valley Conference. I can see the Missouri Valley Conference wanting another team as Missouri State is leaving next year to FBS.

I don't see Pitt doing it. It's a state with a tiny population, and already has 3 public D1s. Pitt's enrollment has shrunk a lot in the last 10 years, too.

[washeduptiger]

Interesting analysis on this thread. I can see Pitt going to FCS as well as UCO. Northwest fans are adamant about staying put. As far as I can see, Pitt would not have to add any sports. UCO could easily bring their hockey team over as an additional sport. UCO has several hockey championships; however, I think that bringing in hockey, Title 9 mandates another female sport. Of course, the million-dollar question is: where will our hockey and wrestling teams participate? Both Pitt and UCO would have to upgrade their basketball arenas. Indiana State, for instance, has a 9,000-seat basketball venue. The good news is that both Pitt's and UCO's football stadiums are much better than Indiana State's if you select the Missouri Valley Conference. I can see the Missouri Valley Conference wanting another team as Missouri State is leaving next year to FBS.

I honestly don’t think outside UCO no one would have true aspirations of making the jump. I do think there’s a hole for a FCS team to come in in KS and carve out a spot but I don’t think anyone has the combination of enrollment and facilities currently.

[Predatory Primates]

I honestly don’t think outside UCO no one would have true aspirations of making the jump. I do think there’s a hole for a FCS team to come in in KS and carve out a spot but I don’t think anyone has the combination of enrollment and facilities currently.

Not in KS, but UCM has both

[GorillaTeacher]

Not in KS, but UCM has both

There's probably plenty of space in KC area for an FCS football program. Pitt is within 2 hours of 4 metro areas, Tulsa, NWA, Springfield, KC, but it would really need to be a town the size of Joplin or bigger to make a dent in public FCS schools, I think. Maybe Joplin JUCO will close and Pitt can absorb the media area...

[D2Rover]

There's probably plenty of space in KC area for an FCS football program. Pitt is within 2 hours of 4 Major metro areas, Tulsa, NWA, Springfield, KC, but it would really need to be a town the size of Joplin or bigger to make a dent in public FCS schools, I think. Maybe Joplin JUCO will close and Pitt can absorb the media area...

Those markets should provide enough of a base to make FCS work, and I think if you win at that level you start to draw from Joplin at a better rate. What Pitt does right now might be a top-20 FCS gameday experience already. Draw from the KC metro probably depends on KU a little bit, but if they go back to their normal selves it helps Pitt even more.

But just because it would work doesn't mean it would be better.

[Try II]

Interesting analysis on this thread. I can see Pitt going to FCS as well as UCO. Northwest fans are adamant about staying put. As far as I can see, Pitt would not have to add any sports. UCO could easily bring their hockey team over as an additional sport. UCO has several hockey championships; however, I think that bringing in hockey, Title 9 mandates another female sport. Of course, the million-dollar question is: where will our hockey and wrestling teams participate? Both Pitt and UCO would have to upgrade their basketball arenas. Indiana State, for instance, has a 9,000-seat basketball venue. The good news is that both Pitt's and UCO's football stadiums are much better than Indiana State's if you select the Missouri Valley Conference. I can see the Missouri Valley Conference wanting another team as Missouri State is leaving next year to FBS.

Just add a small sport like tennis. D1 men's hockey is expensive and you'd have to build (?) another arena to be remotely competitive. Plus, have to find a league or be indy like Lindenwood. Go to the Southland, WAC or half a dozen other leagues that'll take anybody with a heartbeat and wallet.