WT's Athletic Director Taking Position at Stephen F. Austin

[Techster88]

Some of you are overly enamored with being Division 1. Every now and then I glance at one of these games on ESPN+. Empty stadiums and gyms. I saw a McNeese State volleyball game and their gym looked like a middle school secondary gym. Everyone thinks you move to Division 1 and suddenly your stadium has 60,000 in it. Nope. Most are empty. I was in Abilene once a few years ago and Western NM was playing there so I thought I would go check it out. Might have been 3000 people there on a nice fall evening. There was nothing Division 1 about any of it.

Go to a McNeese football game and either park in a muddy field and get stuck or park on the street with no lights and dodge traffic. Frogger experience

[Techster88]

None taken we live in the same region but I will bet you all the titles to my car, mortgage, retirement, etc. that the SWAC is the worst conference in D1 and that isn't even close.

I cant remember the last time they have had a team make it to the 3rd round in any sport during the NCAA playoffs.

Look I am not saying the Southland is the FCS version of the MIAA but this notion that the WAC is tough top to bottom is simply not true.

Grand Canyon is literally #1 and #2 in almost every sport except maybe for men's soccer.

Every one else in that conference is battling to say above mediocre the same way the Southland teams are.

From WT's standpoint they could compete for multiple NCAA playoff berths right away in the Southland without a transition period not have to travel very far for most road games.

I agree with the SWAC comment. I usually consider them in a different league because they tend to keep to themselves.

I'm a football guy and I see the UAC more challenging than the SLC year end and year out. The other sports the only thing I have to go on our power rankings and what SLC members say about themselves.

SLC from my experience are bottom feeders. I've been to several SLC sports venues including Corpus not impressed. SHSU is a microcosm of the whole conference. There is no interest. GOING FBS has did nothing to spark fan interest for them.

I would prefer the WAC where at least a TSU ACU game would have fans and a game atmosphere.

Lamar MCNeese game has become a joke. I'd rather watch HS Nederland PNG packed stadium with less talent

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Some of you are overly enamored with being Division 1. Every now and then I glance at one of these games on ESPN+. Empty stadiums and gyms. I saw a McNeese State volleyball game and their gym looked like a middle school secondary gym. Everyone thinks you move to Division 1 and suddenly your stadium has 60,000 in it. Nope. Most are empty. I was in Abilene once a few years ago and Western NM was playing there so I thought I would go check it out. Might have been 3000 people there on a nice fall evening. There was nothing Division 1 about any of it.

We are not that daft.

WT would have the Amarillo/Canyon support to have high attendance especially for basketball and volleyball games since they are a D2 power house in both.

The WT gym was really loud in their regional final basketball game with Mesa.

A lot of people also like to cherry pick mid week games where attendance wont be high due to work and school.

Key is get rid of Wendler and get some people in there that care about sports.

If WT could consistently fill the old stadium with 10K plus during their prime they sure as heck could sell out that new smaller stadium with a better product on the field.

How many D2 programs back in the day had their own news stations following them around televising road games?

[UISguy23]

Some d1 schools don't put enough effort to having nice arenas or successful programs

[Herb Street]

Some of you are overly enamored with being Division 1. Every now and then I glance at one of these games on ESPN+. Empty stadiums and gyms. I saw a McNeese State volleyball game and their gym looked like a middle school secondary gym. Everyone thinks you move to Division 1 and suddenly your stadium has 60,000 in it. Nope. Most are empty. I was in Abilene once a few years ago and Western NM was playing there so I thought I would go check it out. Might have been 3000 people there on a nice fall evening. There was nothing Division 1 about any of it.

[Brandon]

the WAC is a nationally recognized brand

No.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

No offense Islander I live near Lamar and I can say without any hesitation the SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE IS BY FAR THE WORST D1 CONFERENCE. Not even close.

Lamar couldn't draw flies at a landfill for their sports.

None taken we live in the same region but I will bet you all the titles to my car, mortgage, retirement, etc. that the SWAC is the worst conference in D1 and that isn't even close.

I cant remember the last time they have had a team make it to the 3rd round in any sport during the NCAA playoffs.

Look I am not saying the Southland is the FCS version of the MIAA but this notion that the WAC is tough top to bottom is simply not true.

Grand Canyon is literally #1 and #2 in almost every sport except maybe for men's soccer.

Every one else in that conference is battling to say above mediocre the same way the Southland teams are.

From WT's standpoint they could compete for multiple NCAA playoff berths right away in the Southland without a transition period not have to travel very far for most road games.

[Techster88]

The WAC is a decent conference but quit making them sound like the SEC.

I missed the part where California Baptist, Utah Tech, Southern Utah, Seattle, and UTRGV have ever done anything?

Grand Canyon is carrying that conference and everyone else is riding their coattails.

That all will end when Grand Canyon joins the West Coast Conference and every team left is average.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi also beat UTEP on the road so UTEP isnt that great of an example.

The Southland isnt that great but they have the potential to be if they dump the rest of the Louisiana schools that are dragging them down and add the top LSC tier.

McNeese beat Michigan on the road in basketball, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV beat Texas on the road in baseball.

McNeese will bolt for the Sun Belt when the Southland quits kissing their arse and realizes the value of poaching LSC schools,

My point is every WAC and Southland team are going to have access to the same athletes and be able to have those same type of victories.

If the new Southland has most of their conference games played in Texas then to me that is a no brainer move for any LSC team.

That being said we can all agree that playing Sul Ross and other equal future schools isnt going to get anyone really excited.

No offense Islander I live near Lamar and I can say without any hesitation the SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE IS BY FAR THE WORST D1 CONFERENCE. Not even close.

Lamar couldn't draw flies at a landfill for their sports.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Moose I hate to tell you but the WAC is night and day better than the LSC. Now, the SLC is dog poop, but the WAC is a nationally recognized brand and offers great competition in all sports. ACU played NC State, Ok St, Ark in BB this year ( beating OK St) along with UTEP ( ACU won that one too) Tarleton played Virginia and Tennessee in B ball and Tex Tech in football. While LSC are stuck playing Sul Ross and Western NM, I bet they bring in HUGE crowds by the dozens to watch those games in Alpine and Silver City. You say we are dumb for traveling? That is rich while you guys go to Oregon and Washington and Canada! Our Revenue from athletics was also 2M more than our expenditures, travel is not that much of an issue but beating a Power conference team is priceless!

The WAC is a decent conference but quit making them sound like the SEC.

I missed the part where California Baptist, Utah Tech, Southern Utah, Seattle, and UTRGV have ever done anything?

Grand Canyon is carrying that conference and everyone else is riding their coattails.

That all will end when Grand Canyon joins the West Coast Conference and every team left is average.

Texas A&M Corpus Christi also beat UTEP on the road so UTEP isnt that great of an example.

The Southland isnt that great but they have the potential to be if they dump the rest of the Louisiana schools that are dragging them down and add the top LSC tier.

McNeese beat Michigan on the road in basketball, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and UTRGV beat Texas on the road in baseball.

McNeese will bolt for the Sun Belt when the Southland quits kissing their arse and realizes the value of poaching LSC schools,

My point is every WAC and Southland team are going to have access to the same athletes and be able to have those same type of victories.

If the new Southland has most of their conference games played in Texas then to me that is a no brainer move for any LSC team.

That being said we can all agree that playing Sul Ross and other equal future schools isnt going to get anyone really excited.

[SPOLOVILO4EVER]

Moose I hate to tell you but the WAC is night and day better than the LSC. Now, the SLC is dog poop, but the WAC is a nationally recognized brand and offers great competition in all sports. ACU played NC State, Ok St, Ark in BB this year ( beating OK St) along with UTEP ( ACU won that one too) Tarleton played Virginia and Tennessee in B ball and Tex Tech in football. While LSC are stuck playing Sul Ross and Western NM, I bet they bring in HUGE crowds by the dozens to watch those games in Alpine and Silver City. You say we are dumb for traveling? That is rich while you guys go to Oregon and Washington and Canada! Our Revenue from athletics was also 2M more than our expenditures, travel is not that much of an issue but beating a Power conference team is priceless!

[MooseLodge]

Read that Stephen F.Austin 60/40 on rejoining the Southland.With Mcbroom taking over and new president coming in.Its highly likely they will make a move back.If they move back that would be a big blow to the WAC.

Neither the Southland nor the WAC has anything on the LSC realistically. My only wish for the LSC is to have a couple more good football-playing schools. The LSC has tons of sports and is really entertaining in all of them. Schools in the WAC are spending $ millions yearly on travel. Dumb.

[WT&TTECHfan]

West Texas and Angelo NEED to move to WAC. They are both ready and would benefit from the increased exposure. Their enrollment numbers would see a big increase as well. ACU and Tarleton would both love for them to make the move.

Read that Stephen F.Austin 60/40 on rejoining the Southland.With Mcbroom taking over and new president coming in.Its highly likely they will make a move back.If they move back that would be a big blow to the WAC.

[MooseLodge]

I guess I am just remembering my days at WT when we were D1 and Maurice cheeks was a classmate. Football did well under Bill Yung during those years, Max Sherman was President of WT at the time. Fingers crossed they keep this going.

I remember those days. I also remember that basically all WT had was a football team, women's volleyball and basketball, and men's basketball. Max Sherman was there for only a brief time. WT has way more engagement from the panhandle now than they have ever had, with around 500 athletes. Hoping for a solid AD hire.

[MooseLodge]

Im Ok with D2 as long as we keep the programs at the level or better then they are now.

It's going to be a massive challenge to keep programs at today's levels. Funding is being cut by admin, and even if it wasn't, WT needs A LOT more outside money coming in. As generous as Fairly/Bain/Schaeffer are, we need a dozen more of them, plus a whole bunch of little guys willing to write checks every year for a few $ thousand.

And of course, Wendler has to come through with a good hire. If he hires a lightweight with no management, marketing, and people skills, we are sunk.

[SPOLOVILO4EVER]

West Texas and Angelo NEED to move to WAC. They are both ready and would benefit from the increased exposure. Their enrollment numbers would see a big increase as well. ACU and Tarleton would both love for them to make the move.