cdizzle86

The bottom line is that here in about 5 years, there's going to be a playoff system in place. This may be the last realignment until then. So we need to evaluate our conference affiliation really closely. And that means not just about what's going on today, but also for the future. So the WAC may not be as financially stable as the Sun Belt, but personally I believe they more potential for the future. Why? If you win in the WAC, you get the respect you deserve and people notice. Period. I cannot say the same for the Sun Belt. If somehow we can make it work financially, then I say we do it. Even if we come out a little more behind then what we are now. Prior to the last year or so, North Texas has never been a university that takes chances when it comes to athletics. We always look at others (Cincinnati, Louisville, Boise) who pass us by and say to ourselves, "that coulda been us." I don't want that to happen to us again. Finally we have started showing our commitment to athletics by increasing the athletic fee, passing the new stadium, and hiring a high risk coach that may or may not prove to be successful. The point is, we are starting to finally take some risks. I was not a North Texas fan when the Big West was around, nor do I care. I will refuse to put my head in the sand just because of the past. Whether you like it or not, change is happening. We either jump on the bandwagon and rock the boat, or we get left in the dust.

I agree that the WAC should reconfigure the conference in order to be more finically stable, but they could help themselves by creating an east and west division.

Point is that there is a ceiling to how successful a school can be in the Sun Belt. It's a dead end.

Point is that there is a ceiling to how successful a school can be in the Sun Belt. It's a dead end.

You all bring up great points. Now lets take a look at some of those schools. All had a few great seasons, so lets play where are they now. FAU - still in the Belt Troy - still in the Belt Boise - just jumped to MWC Colorado - just jumped to PAC 10 Do you see a trend with belt schools and the others? You can state true facts all you want, but that won't get you anywhere. See Al Gore and 2000 election.

Well, sounds like they didn't hire the right coach.

Hire The Right Coach = to be determined (hard to get a proven coach in the Sun Belt) Better Facilities = check More Local Support = trying (hard to get more fan support when we play no namers) I think it's arguable that being successful in these area is more of a result of being in a better conference.

You're right. Let's just be complacent and stay in the Sun Belt. Good idea. Disaster averted. I can't even believe we're contemplating leaving the Sun Belt. I mean we have come so far in the last nine years as a conference. We use to be the least respected conference in the FBS, and now we're.....

The way I see it, is that this coming year is really going to make things clear. If the Belt makes 3 big wins over BCS teams (1 from NT), then I think we stay in the belt. If not, then I think we try our chances in the WAC. The playoff scenario is inevitable, so we (NT and the Belt) have to make moves quick. I am for us moving to the WAC if the Belt can't create some good buzz this season, but I also believe that if we have a breakout season this year (7 or 8 wins), then we will be noticed. Why? Well not only because of the investment that we have committed to, but also our location. Denton may not be the most supportive, but 40 miles away we have one of the largest markets in the country. So combine that with a university that's committed to athletics and winning...I think we can make a big jump.

Yea Daddy Dumps, how dare you bring reason into this thread. -1

We should not try to replicate UT's model. What works for them, may not work for us. We have to find our own way that works.

I'm beginning to think that even if we did have a decent football team, we still wouldn't be able to fill the stands playing ULM, FIU, FAU, etc. Not too many people care about them and not too many people care about us, which is why we need to move to another conference and start creating a sense of value with other teams that people DO care about.

I thought we were the 3rd largest university in Texas.

If you think TD had nothing to do with the stadium, then we will have to agree to disagree. Yes we may not be winning a lot, but ever since his hire there has been a buzz created that has helped spark our university's commitment to athletics.

If WAC never works out for us, then I'm sure we can always go back to the stable Sun Belt conference.

It is if you want AIDS. Just sayin.

If you are hinting to being in CUSA, then I have no argument there. I would much rather be there than the WAC, but I just don't see that happening unless some schools leave.

Say what you will, but since we hired him our recruiting has been outstanding. Also we have a brand new $78 million dollar stadium being built right across the highway. Of course I would like to have more wins, but we have made progress since he's been here. When I found out Todd Dodge was coming to North Texas, I was not expecting him to turn our program around in less than 2 years.

You sell the history of the conference and all the successful schools that were in the WAC and now in better conferences.

Perception is everything. I bet if you go ask 10 random sports fans, they would put WAC ahead of the Sun Belt. It has been said before in another thread, but even though the Sun Belt has had some great accomplishments, we still get no respect. Whereas the WAC has at least some respect. I think the Sun Belt has a way to go (3-5 years) in order to catch up to the WAC in perceived value, but the realignment is now. If our goal as a university is to eventually be in a BCS/playoff eligible conference, then we need to get out of the Sun Belt now. I think we have to prepare for a playoff scenario, and that means we have to play better football and get our name out there. We don't have time to just sit around and wait for the Sun Belt to gain respect. We were conference champions 4 years in a row for heaven sakes and look where that got us. I'm not saying the WAC isn't a risk, but the higher the risk, the higher the reward.

We can either be in a conference surrounded by Fresno, Nevada, and Hawaii or be surround by ULL, ULM, FIU. It's a stepping stone people. We stay in the WAC for a few years and hope we get picked up by a better conference in the next realignment.

I'm more worried about what Tom Cruise and the scientologists are going to think if Utah goes to the Pac-10.

Let's go anywhere but here.

I think we just need to move conferences. Maybe even for the publicity. Just to let people know we play football. Staying in the Sun Belt is going to do us no good. So maybe the Sun Belt has made progress in the past couple of years, but it has not been enough.

I think it could work. Might be a long shot, but I can dream.