Texas A&M-Texarkana to join LSC, start football program

[LSC Fan]

They must know something we don't. They already have an agreement with Red River Credit Union for naming rights.

The best way to find out if the time table is attainable is to monitor the quarterly Aggie Board of Regents meetings to see if it’s an agenda item in the future. Although the system will not spend a dime of its precious treasure on it, the contracting and expenditures still have to be approved by the BOR.

A 6000 seat football stadium is likely to cost in the $40 to $50 million dollar range. That’s just your stadium and standard features like locker rooms, etc. The other stuff they will need to get the program rolling like start up coaching staff, a performance center of some sort fully equipped etch is going to even add more to the cost. I hope they can pull it off, it’s going to be a tall task.

[BuffaloChip]

The best way to find out if the time table is attainable is to monitor the quarterly Aggie Board of Regents meetings to see if it’s an agenda item in the future. Although the system will not spend a dime of its precious treasure on it, the contracting and expenditures still have to be approved by the BOR.

A 6000 seat football stadium is likely to cost in the $40 to $50 million dollar range. That’s just your stadium and standard features like locker rooms, etc. The other stuff they will need to get the program rolling like start up coaching staff, a performance center of some sort fully equipped etch is going to even add more to the cost. I hope they can pull it off, it’s going to be a tall task.

WT's 9,500/10,000 seat stadium came in at @ $30M. It's recognized as one of the best in D2 and better than countless D1s. It has all the bells and whistles, too. I think your estimate is incorrect. It can be done for less.

[Tech Boys]

They could apply by the end of this month to get the expedited process like Ferrum College or we wait until February 1 to see if they apply then. If they do get the football team playing before the stadium is finished would they play over at TI Tiger Stadium. I played in that stadium many many years ago as the visitor.

[Finchwidget]

They could apply by the end of this month to get the expedited process like Ferrum College or we wait until February 1 to see if they apply then. If they do get the football team playing before the stadium is finished would they play over at TI Tiger Stadium. I played in that stadium many many years ago as the visitor.

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-new...vision-ii/amp/

They're shooting for the expedited process, per their AD

“There’s a probation period, and we’re trying to do the expedited route, which is 2 years, and then after that’s up, we’ll be a full-fledged Division II program in the Lone Star Conference, everywhere from Laredo to Eastern New Mexico to Texarkana,” says Wall.

[LSC Fan]

WT's 9,500/10,000 seat stadium came in at @ $30M. It's recognized as one of the best in D2 and better than countless D1s. It has all the bells and whistles, too. I think your estimate is incorrect. It can be done for less.

A little thing has occurred since your stadium was built called inflation. I’m just going off some of the high school stadium projects I’m familiar with that are in the pipe line or recently completed. Close to $ 40 million might be an ideal target.

[Tech Boys]

https://www.newsnationnow.com/us-new...vision-ii/amp/

They're shooting for the expedited process, per their AD

Thanks, I hadn't seen that report. I guess we're just waiting to find out when they are applying. They could potentially still get the expedited process when applying in February. All but one of the February 2024 application class was approved for the 2-year reclassification. If they apply now or February 1, they would be full members when their new stadium opens in 2028 under the expedited process.

[Finchwidget]

Thanks, I hadn't seen that report. I guess we're just waiting to find out when they are applying. They could potentially still get the expedited process when applying in February. All but one of the February 2024 application class was approved for the 2-year reclassification. If they apply now or February 1, they would be full members when their new stadium opens in 2028 under the expedited process.

The article also says that they'll be in the LSC "just in time for the football team’s inaugural season in 2027", so it seems they're gonna apply either this year or next year. I do wish they would've given a definitive timeframe though, it was a bit annoying having to dig up a third party report just to get an upper bound on this.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

Interesting Facebook page I came across. Looks like Texarkana is looking for their first head coach a d plan to be fully funded at the 36 scholarship limit from the beginning.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D2PbjJCMW/

[Finchwidget]

Interesting Facebook page I came across. Looks like Texarkana is looking for their first head coach a d plan to be fully funded at the 36 scholarship limit from the beginning.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D2PbjJCMW/

Here's the job posting. Any takers?

[frutedog]

So glad Tarleton left the LSC.

[ASUPops]

So glad Tarleton left the LSC.

Me too. Y'all killing it in football. Great move by Tarleton.

[tsull]

OK, this is a good thing, I just saw an article I think on football scoop about this. They have plans to fully fund scholarships and have great facilities. More power to them. CWU and WOU nervous? They're not in the 19-team LSC. They'll now be in the 10-team football LSC, which is great. If the LSC will have us, we won't have to scramble for non-conference games as West Coast small college football sucks participation wise. With nine conference opponents, it allows WOU more scheduling flexibility. I like it.

[ASUPops]

OK, this is a good thing, I just saw an article I think on football scoop about this. They have plans to fully fund scholarships and have great facilities. More power to them. CWU and WOU nervous? They're not in the 19-team LSC. They'll now be in the 10-team football LSC, which is great. If the LSC will have us, we won't have to scramble for non-conference games as West Coast small college football sucks participation wise. With nine conference opponents, it allows WOU more scheduling flexibility. I like it.

I hope WOU & CWU hang around the LSC. I think it makes our football conference much better!

[HOGSVRR]

I hope WOU & CWU hang around the LSC. I think it makes our football conference much better!

I feel the same.

Yeah, they are foreigners and speak funny, but they field real good football squads. At least they are not from Canada!

[We-Are-Lions]

Interesting Facebook page I came across. Looks like Texarkana is looking for their first head coach a d plan to be fully funded at the 36 scholarship limit from the beginning.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D2PbjJCMW/

I saw earlier in the thread that someone mentioned Texarkana is home to them, and I grew up about 15 minutes outside of Texarkana. If scholarships are fully funded this should be a job set up for success in my opinion. Texarkana has significant natural advantages where a coach can beat an opponent with more resources.

There are far more large high school football programs within an hour drive than most D2 schools can claim, and little competition locally from D2 opponents. The Texas/Arkansas rivalry is a real... I don't like people across the state line. But, if the marketing pitch is "Texarkana" more than it is Texas then I bet that lands in homes and with parents. Also, a new stadium even if small is better than most D2 stadiums. Lastly, someone mentioned there are strict rules about how the system can fund football, but school administrators are experts at compliance. They will find a way to designate a facility as a classroom, or pay for something "academic" that has 90% athletics use.