Chrisattsu

I'm going.

Not that I am advocating for Fran, but he doesn't seem to be able to get a job. Look at all of the coaching opportunities that have come up since he left Aggieland. People mention him for different jobs, but nobody ever hires the guy. Always the bridesmaid, never the bride. In our case, He was here once before. Fran lives an hour away from San Marcos in Horseshoe Bay. He's been spotted on campus and at several athletic events over the past couple of years. A couple of "big fish" donors expressed interest in him last year when Wright's contract was set to expire. Like or hate him, his name is recognized around the state / country. Nobody seems to want to hire Junior away from Blinn. Maybe he wants to pull a Bob Knight, and set junior up with a position to be his successor when he is ready to retire.

If SMU goes to the MWC, and UH goes with TCU to the Big East, would you still be interested in CUSA?

For the couple of years that I have been on this board, you guys have said that the WAC was a bad idea because of late night games and no media coverage. Aside from the shiny brand name, what makes the new MWC (with Boise, Fresno, Hawaii, Nevada, a New Mexico School, a California school) appealing when the same setup existed in the WAC two/three years ago?

I didn't pick us to win this game, but I want us to pull this off at this point

Naturally, I agree with you. I really hate that UNT fans want to c-block us from joining the ranks in much the same way SMU blocks your entrance to Conference USA. If we were invited, we could develop an instate rivalry game and get the SBC more coverage in additional media markets in the state. We could help grow the brand, institute divisional play and help the league get a championship game. That being said, we are another mouth to feed at the buffet of FBS recruits. Keeping us locked out keeps us from becoming your equals on the recruiting trail and in the minds of average Texans. You guys have moved on from your Southland days, and you view "lil ole Southwest" as your inferior. You no more want us in your conference than our fans would want Sam/SFA/Lamar to follow us to the WAC. In the same vein, SHSU/SFA do not want the Lone Star Conference schools to move into the SLC. To quote Kris Kristofferson - "Cuz everybody's got to have somebody to look down on. Who they can feel better than at anytime they please." (from "Jesus was a Capricorn")

Sorry, I was not clear with what I typed. It was not merging the leagues. Benson contacted the SBC headquarters and told WW that he would be contact with North Texas. I don't know if this is because it will be a 'formal' invite or because he is trying to show an up-front, honest approach after the MWC back-alley deals that moved Fresno, Nevada, and now Hawaii.

LaTech was the last non-"new MWC" team to win it and that was 2001. Of the remaining teams, LaTech and Utah State appear to be the clear favorites at this point. Idaho made a bowl last year

First, son of a bitch. This sucks. With that out of the way, I guess I should pump some sunshine. With UH out of the picture, the longest road trip, and biggest suck to the travel budget are gone. Maybe that entices someone who wasn't previously interested. Also, it completely opens up football, volleyball, and the diamond sports to make it anyone's game. I have got to think positive because this week has already been a roller coaster. I figured something like this would happen. The Bobcats are used to that gut-renching 8th Inning meltdowns, 4th quarter loses. Why should our transition to FBS be any different.

Stebo, I am just going off of what I heard at the press conference today. Benson and the sunshine pumpers may be wrong, but this was the situation 2011- Play FCS football with extra scholarships. This disqualifies us from the playoffs, and ramps us up for the FBS. 2012- First year in the WAC (not bowl eligible). Play a full WAC schedule and I guess fill the rest of the schedule with open dates. 2013- Second season against WAC teams (bowl eligible).

Texas State has been looking at moving up since 2000. We backed off in the early part of the decade and then committed ourself to the moving up in 2007. Since that time we have pushed to make ourselves the best possible candidate when the Moritorium was lifted. From the onset, I have advocated that we would join the Sun Belt or the WAC. Our facilities (and the renderings for new facilities) are on par with ones within SBC. They are like-minded institutions (accredited by SACS). Several of them were initially founded as Normal Schools and have since gone on to develop a broader scope. We were in both conference's footprint, and it just came down to who would want us. I have no doubts that our administration contacted SBC on our intentions, and we made it no secret that we were looking to move up. As you mentioned, its makes sense geographically, rivalries could easily be formed with you, ULL, and ASU. However, Waters stressed this summer during realignment that the SBC was good with their current lineup and did not want UTSA or TXST. In the meantime, the WAC needed members and so we head west.

No doubt, it is going to be a tough road for the Bobcats. WKU has taken their lumps in stride, but at least they have afforded the Mean Green with some wins along the way (maybe you guys should schedule us). Texas State will play as an FCS independent next season, and join the WAC in 2012. Hopefully we will be able to sell recruits on this, and make it competitive. As I said on the Sunbelt Board, joining the WAC is about improving all of our sports not just football. The WAC, even in its depleted state, has better national recognition than the Southland. It has a better overall RPI in every sport, which will allow for at large bids if we lose out on the autobid. Initially, I am looking at the Diamond Sports, Women's soccer, and maybe Volleyball to be successful from the start. Football will have a ways to go, and our basketball team will not be in the running given what NMSU, Denver, and USU bring to the table.

EagleGreen / Rick - The 10-3 to 3-7 (we will win Saturday) is because of a coaching change and injury. Coach Mac followed Tuberville to the Southplains. Rather than doing a real search, we promoted Cary Fowler (DC) to the HC position. On paper, Fowler looked like the good hire. He had nearly a decade as a DC in the Lone Star Conference, the players rallied around him last season, and he seemed to be a solid recruiter. So what happened? We lost our starting QB to personal reasons (this was to be his senior season), replaced him with a D1 transfer who was injured during the first game of the season, and had a piece-milled OL line that never found their groove. As a result, the offense suffered. The Defense sustained quite a few injuries and Fowler brought in a new DC>. On top of that, it is Fowler's first experience as a HC. I have been following the Tarleton Texans for a decade now, and this is the first losing season that I have seen. Basketball cannot get here fast enough. People want

I'm here. I would have been here sooner but I've been out drinking. I am glad to see this is about to be over. I've been following conference realignment and how it relates to my Bobcats since 2008. I am glad that it is coming to an end and we finally get to move up. Hopefully it is a good experience.

I am happy to see all of the Texas State / UTSA love. Many of your fans on this site have been positive about Texas State, but some UNT fans have been trashing us on the SBC and WAC boards for the past few months. I have said it before. I came to the site because I hoped that Texas State might join the Mean Green in the Belt and renew our rivalry (albeit lopsided). All I have heard from many of the SBC fans is that the SBC is stable, they don't want to take the risk (or continue to the trend) of bringing in FCS teams. Now that it appears that a WAC bid is on the horizon, I hope that we get an opportunity to schedule H/H games with you guys so that I finally have an excuse to make it to Denton.

Did somebody say Helmet Stickers?

Ehh. Bring him to san marcos, we can be the river pirates

Dammit! Us Bobcats only have 1 interstate, UNT will always be twice as good.

I actually would enjoy that proposed line up. Dontworry, if we can't join the league, lamar, Georgia state, and jax state will be right around the corner. Or maybe even app state.

Dontworry, if we can't join the league, lamar, Georgia state, and jax state will be right around the corner. Or app state

I'm here, work keeps me from posting during the day. The meeting is great, but it is nothing really new. We've known that the WAC was going to need to reload, and reload fast, if they want to survive as a conference. If the WAC can survive the departure of these teams then Bobcatfans are going to be lucky as we are one of the few teams in their 'footprint' that is ready to go. The other schools normally mentioned along Texas State include Cal Poly, UC-Davis, Sac State, Portland State, Montana, and UTSA. Poly and Davis just signed on as football-only members of the Big Sky and it does not appear that they will be leaving any time soon. Montana has the fanbase and success in FCS to warrant a move, but they are not likely at this time. Sac is already an affiliate member of the WAC for some sports, maybe they will pair up with Portland and bolster the west. However, like someone already mentioned, FCS teams can't make a move until June 30 because of the Moratorium. Even if it wasn't for the Moratorium, all of the teams listed with the exception of UTSA is playing football right now. I would think that there is some discussion that if an invite was coming, hold off, see how the candidates do in the FCS playoffs, and then invite after the season is done. Once we accept a WAC bid, we forfeit any chances at a conference championship (or Automatic Playoff bid). I started coming on this board and the SBC board when our "Drive" was taking off because I hoped that we might join UNT in the SBC. I liked the idea of moving up to FBS, and still having an instate rival. It currently looks like the SBC is not interested in taking us and the WAC may be our only opportunity. Even if we don't end up in the same conference, I hope we still play regularly.

Wow, if that is true, UTA jumped ahead of Texas State who reached 32,586 this year. TXST-http://www.txstate.edu/news/news_releases/news_archive/2010/09/FallEnrollment091510.html UTA-http://www.uta.edu/ucomm/mediarelations/press/2010/09/Fall-2010-Enrollment.php

We won't know until the 12th day, but Texas State should be around 32000 according to A news article posted the other week.

Way to go UNT, I guess we are not making any ground on you this year.

That depends on what happens with the Moratorium. We cannot transition until the NCAA moratorium is lifted next summer. At that time, we could accept a conference bid (if one was available), buy out of the Southland contract, and begin the transition to FBS. From what I have read, I think it is a two year time table until we are a full qualifier. 2011- FCS Indy 2012- FBS partial qualifier 2013- FBS full By that time, we will have completed the football expansion to 27k, new track and field complex, overhaul of basketball facilities, and have the full $20-25M Athletic budget.