WT Football

[MooseLodge]

I was wondering how deep you need to be in FBS to be competitive in all sports. I was surprised Sam Houston State up the road from me went FBS and I think I read somewhere where their athletic budget is 20 million. I would think that would be mid tier FCS budget but could be wrong.

It depends on what level of D1 you are trying to be competitive at. You can be plenty competitive in FCS between 18 million and 22 million in expenses. G5, it takes $35-45 million, though there are programs in G5 spending in the 60-70 million range. To be competitive in P4, you need $100 million +, and to have a shot at a national title in P4, you need to be in the $200 million club. That is about 8 programs, and they will be your national champions from now on, as they are operating fully professional teams, and with essentially no salary caps. Everyone else in P4 is playing exhibition games.

I hear all the time that WT needs to move up, mostly from people that don't give anything to the school. You've either got to have 15,000 students to tax, or a huge grassroots support of boosters and season ticket holders. WT has none of the three, though for D2, they aren't in a bad place.

[BuffaloChip]

What sports show was this? I'd like to watch it if it's online

The Sports Drive.

[Buff Fan 05]

Yesterday on a local sports show, Lynn said WT will be bringing in 15-20 transfers. He'll need 'em.

What sports show was this? I'd like to watch it if it's online

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Yes, Tarleton's enrollment is exploding. And it will even grow more in the 2025-2026 year as the requirement for the Tarleton Promise will change from graduating in Top 25% of HS class to Top 50% of HS class. You are getting kids coming from crap HS's where their top 50% is equivalent to the bottom 20% in good schools like Westlake, Southlake Carroll, Coppell, Frisco Liberty, etc. As long as they keep giving away free tuition, fees, meals, and books, look for enrollment to continue to skyrocket.

And the acceptance rate % will continue to to drop because you have 20k+ applying each year. The current rate has dropped to 57% watch next year...it will probably drop even more.

It is a brilliant plan to grow the university, it's reputation, and popularity. Once it gets so big and popular, they can drop the Tarleton Promise to programs more like A&M or UT have.

I am curious if A&M will allow Tarleton to become an FBS competitor. All the talk I hear is A&M BOR will never allow that to happen. I'm not sure Tarleton could do that anyway. Not deep enough pockets in my opinion.

I was wondering how deep you need to be in FBS to be competitive in all sports. I was surprised Sam Houston State up the road from me went FBS and I think I read somewhere where their athletic budget is 20 million. I would think that would be mid tier FCS budget but could be wrong.

[ASUPops]

10 years ago, WT was light years ahead of Tarleton. Sports for sure, but literally everthing. Then, we got Hurley as Pres. Y’all got Wendler. 10 years later look at where we both are. My wife is an SIU grad. She saw her once mighty and proud University destroyed by Wendler. SIU is recovering now, but it has taken more than a decade to do so. WT is set on the SIU path. I mean, just look. Wendler is a cancer. He is a University killer. Why y’all can’t see it, why A&M is ok with it. I don’t know. WT should be squarely back in D1 looking to go FBS like Tarleton. Enrollment busting the seams, alumni screaming to move up. But there is even D3/NAIA murmurs. Wendler is a poisonous snake. I was taught to hate all things WT, but now I just feel sorry for you guys.
It’s so obvious. The cure is so obvious.

Yes, Tarleton's enrollment is exploding. And it will even grow more in the 2025-2026 year as the requirement for the Tarleton Promise will change from graduating in Top 25% of HS class to Top 50% of HS class. You are getting kids coming from crap HS's where their top 50% is equivalent to the bottom 20% in good schools like Westlake, Southlake Carroll, Coppell, Frisco Liberty, etc. As long as they keep giving away free tuition, fees, meals, and books, look for enrollment to continue to skyrocket.

And the acceptance rate % will continue to to drop because you have 20k+ applying each year. The current rate has dropped to 57% watch next year...it will probably drop even more.

It is a brilliant plan to grow the university, it's reputation, and popularity. Once it gets so big and popular, they can drop the Tarleton Promise to programs more like A&M or UT have.

I am curious if A&M will allow Tarleton to become an FBS competitor. All the talk I hear is A&M BOR will never allow that to happen. I'm not sure Tarleton could do that anyway. Not deep enough pockets in my opinion.

[WT_TKW]

Sharp is retiring June 30. That will hopefully also start the search for a new WT President, assuming we make a stink about his sad record.

[GoBuffs]

Yes, Wendler needs to retire now. Athletics are a thorn in his side because of funding. He doesn’t attend any athletic event except FB and he lives just across the street from BB, SB, track & soccer and never attends. In fact, the last athletic event I saw him attend other than FB was the LSC VB championship match in 2022. He only goes to FB because he has a suite and probably feels like he needs to be seen.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

10 years ago, WT was light years ahead of Tarleton. Sports for sure, but literally everthing. Then, we got Hurley as Pres. Y’all got Wendler. 10 years later look at where we both are. My wife is an SIU grad. She saw her once mighty and proud University destroyed by Wendler. SIU is recovering now, but it has taken more than a decade to do so. WT is set on the SIU path. I mean, just look. Wendler is a cancer. He is a University killer. Why y’all can’t see it, why A&M is ok with it. I don’t know. WT should be squarely back in D1 looking to go FBS like Tarleton. Enrollment busting the seams, alumni screaming to move up. But there is even D3/NAIA murmurs. Wendler is a poisonous snake. I was taught to hate all things WT, but now I just feel sorry for you guys.
It’s so obvious. The cure is so obvious.

Yep there isn't a lot I can add to this post. The fans and alumni have seen this for years with Wendler. Its the mother ship that i cant wrap my head around unless they are ok with the write off of losing really good prospective students to LCU and the usual bleeding of students to Tech without a fight. Heck there are state champion tennis players from Amarillo every year that end up going to other D2 and D3 schools because WT doesnt have a tennis program.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

There is NO OTHER SEASON than next season. You can't count on a good player for more than ONE year anymore. That means a new team every year.

Let's say Lynn signs an overlooked freshman RB who comes in, wins the job, rips off 1,400 yds rushing and 400 yds receiving. Frshman of the Year. 1st team LSC. He's most likely GONE to a top low-level D1 (or maybe a mid-level) school for $20K and a chance to start. If he does well at the next level, he's GONE again for more $.

Agree with your post. Either way Lynn (WT AD to a certain extent) is going to have to learn to use the NIL/Portal to be competitive for LSC football championships and playoff appearances. The argument of "I want to find great kids who will be here 4 years and graduate with a 3.5 GPA" is going the way of the dinosaur. As frutedog stated above that route is going to be the D3 way.

[Techster88]

10 years ago, WT was light years ahead of Tarleton. Sports for sure, but literally everthing. Then, we got Hurley as Pres. Y’all got Wendler. 10 years later look at where we both are. My wife is an SIU grad. She saw her once mighty and proud University destroyed by Wendler. SIU is recovering now, but it has taken more than a decade to do so. WT is set on the SIU path. I mean, just look. Wendler is a cancer. He is a University killer. Why y’all can’t see it, why A&M is ok with it. I don’t know. WT should be squarely back in D1 looking to go FBS like Tarleton. Enrollment busting the seams, alumni screaming to move up. But there is even D3/NAIA murmurs. Wendler is a poisonous snake. I was taught to hate all things WT, but now I just feel sorry for you guys.
It’s so obvious. The cure is so obvious.

Really good post. Every time I see your name for some reason it reminds me of that Werewolf cereal Frute Brute. Most people won’t recognize the cereal because it’s overshadowed by Boo Berry Frankenberry and Count Chocula.

I digress. Anyway it’s not like WT is in the forgotten Pine Thicket like SFA. Yet, like SFA , the school continues to bleed students. So, what gives?

I have heard all the reasons ( excuses )
1 Everyone loves Tech or another major University
2. president tells students to go to jr college
3. canyon is not in Amarillo
4. It’s different now that there is on line education

All I get is reasons when I’m looking for results

[frutedog]

10 years ago, WT was light years ahead of Tarleton. Sports for sure, but literally everthing. Then, we got Hurley as Pres. Y’all got Wendler. 10 years later look at where we both are. My wife is an SIU grad. She saw her once mighty and proud University destroyed by Wendler. SIU is recovering now, but it has taken more than a decade to do so. WT is set on the SIU path. I mean, just look. Wendler is a cancer. He is a University killer. Why y’all can’t see it, why A&M is ok with it. I don’t know. WT should be squarely back in D1 looking to go FBS like Tarleton. Enrollment busting the seams, alumni screaming to move up. But there is even D3/NAIA murmurs. Wendler is a poisonous snake. I was taught to hate all things WT, but now I just feel sorry for you guys.
It’s so obvious. The cure is so obvious.

Tarleton has 600 million dollars in current building projects. That doesn’t include the 400 million just completed, or the 400 million in the very near future. Why us? WT is in a growing area. The lower panhandle could explode.
I get Kingsville, and Commerce. They are slums. And I mean that almost nicely. But Canyon/Amarillo is bustling with potential.

[frutedog]

10 years ago, WT was light years ahead of Tarleton. Sports for sure, but literally everthing. Then, we got Hurley as Pres. Y’all got Wendler. 10 years later look at where we both are. My wife is an SIU grad. She saw her once mighty and proud University destroyed by Wendler. SIU is recovering now, but it has taken more than a decade to do so. WT is set on the SIU path. I mean, just look. Wendler is a cancer. He is a University killer. Why y’all can’t see it, why A&M is ok with it. I don’t know. WT should be squarely back in D1 looking to go FBS like Tarleton. Enrollment busting the seams, alumni screaming to move up. But there is even D3/NAIA murmurs. Wendler is a poisonous snake. I was taught to hate all things WT, but now I just feel sorry for you guys.
It’s so obvious. The cure is so obvious.

[BuffaloChip]

I think he is also feeling some heat to make the improvements happen soon. Like it or hate it, there is no longer time to do the 4 year tear to the studs and build from scratch with high school kids. You either hop on that NIL/Portal train or continue to get ran over by the top LSC team that currently are.

There is NO OTHER SEASON than next season. You can't count on a good player for more than ONE year anymore. That means a new team every year.

Let's say Lynn signs an overlooked freshman RB who comes in, wins the job, rips off 1,400 yds rushing and 400 yds receiving. Frshman of the Year. 1st team LSC. He's most likely GONE to a top low-level D1 (or maybe a mid-level) school for $20K and a chance to start. If he does well at the next level, he's GONE again for more $.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Yesterday on a local sports show, Lynn said WT will be bringing in 15-20 transfers. He'll need 'em.

I think he is also feeling some heat to make the improvements happen soon. Like it or hate it, there is no longer time to do the 4 year tear to the studs and build from scratch with high school kids. You either hop on that NIL/Portal train or continue to get ran over by the top LSC team that currently are.

[WT_TKW]

Yesterday on a local sports show, Lynn said WT will be bringing in 15-20 transfers. He'll need 'em.

Wow! In that case I'm predicting a 1-4 start with maybe 4 wins for the season!

Every year I've predicted WT will beat WOU, but not this year. We will need another gift from the Peccaries or MSU to get that 4th win.

https://gobuffsgo.com/sports/football/schedule/2025