Southland May blow up


I agree with most of you on this thread. If Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M did not "bite the carrot" when Sam Houston State, Stephen F Austin and Lamar were in the league - why would they now?

I presume based on what I've seen above and elsewhere, that the Southland is at least exploring Division I options whether that's the SWAC schools in TX & LA or even seeing the feasibility of UL-Monroe dropping down to FCS (which with Bowden/RichRod... ha!)
 
TexasTerror said:
I agree with most of you on this thread. If Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M did not "bite the carrot" when Sam Houston State, Stephen F Austin and Lamar were in the league - why would they now?

I presume based on what I've seen above and elsewhere, that the Southland is at least exploring Division I options whether that's the SWAC schools in TX & LA or even seeing the feasibility of UL-Monroe dropping down to FCS (which with Bowden/RichRod... ha!)
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UL-Monroe dropping down is on the table, whether some of those folks like it or not.

What about A&M-Commerce moving up to join the Southland?
 



LAW DAWG said:
I think A&M Commerce and Angelo State are possible. Both schools are in Texas have 10,000 plus enrolled students.
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Commerce, Angelo State, Midwestern State and WTAMU are amongst the schools that have been brought up routinely for SLC expansion. Clearly the Southland will try to explore any and all Division I options before going the Division II route. Their last foray into expansion ultimately is what led to the split, so they do need to be careful... though now, the Louisiana schools have the power as the Texas control is no more.
 
TexasTerror said:
I agree with most of you on this thread. If Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M did not "bite the carrot" when Sam Houston State, Stephen F Austin and Lamar were in the league - why would they now?

I presume based on what I've seen above and elsewhere, that the Southland is at least exploring Division I options whether that's the SWAC schools in TX & LA or even seeing the feasibility of UL-Monroe dropping down to FCS (which with Bowden/RichRod... ha!)
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SFA, SAM, Lamar were threats in terms of funding as they had the enrollment to inflate the budget like a Texas State and a decent donor base. Also, they were always the backdoor choice for some black athletes just because even though the support fan wise isn’t there.

The Louisiana Southland schools have been funded less and easier to defeat in the past in major sports along with the rest of the SLC texas schools so you’ll take a shot against them consistently.
 
TexasTerror said:
I agree with most of you on this thread. If Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M did not "bite the carrot" when Sam Houston State, Stephen F Austin and Lamar were in the league - why would they now?
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I don't think we can apply pre-covid logic to a post-covid situation.

How much can the Texas schools save on travel by going to the Southland?
 
From the SFA AD:

Membership will be effective July 1, 2021, meaning, we will be in the Southland Conference for the next 6 months.

Our intention was to remain in the Southland Conference until June 30, 2022, but recent decisions by the remaining Southland Board of Directors have caused us to move that timeline up.

We are disappointed in these actions, but also understand and respect the nature of the situation.

The WAC will feature 13 institutions in two divisions: Southwest and West.

Southwest Division will include all the Texas institutions: SFA, Sam Houston, Lamar, ACU, Tarleton and UTRGV
West Division will include all the other institutions: Grand Canyon, New Mexico State, Cal Baptist, Seattle, Utah Valley, Southern Utah and Dixie State (located in St. George, UT)

Note: At this time, Southern Utah is still planning to join on July 1, 2022, and Chicago State will be exiting on June 30, 2022.

The two-division structure would maximize geographic proximity in the Southwest, while minimizing travel in non-football/basketball sports.

A significant part of that strategy is the formation of an FCS football conference
within the WAC that would include 6-9 schools.

Current football playing members will be Lamar University, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, Abilene Christian, Southern Utah, Tarleton State, Dixie State

New Mexico State will continue to play at the FBS level as an independent.

UTRGV has provided a letter of intent to begin an FCS program effective preferably with the 2023 season and no later than the 2024 season.

During the initial year of membership football-playing institutions will commit to an analysis of all implications of a move to FBS.

The Conference will seek a 14th member which will sponsor football and will align geographically with the Texas Division.

All members will be committed to consistent web streaming with applicable broadcast standards to maximize ESPN distribution (or other potential providers) of Conference content.

There will be a combined total of 20 Conference sports 10 men's and 10 women's.

The Conference basketball tournaments will be played in Las Vegas.

The basketball tournament field size will be determined based upon the available arena dates and other factors.

All other championship sites and field sizes will be determined by the new membership structure with the expectation for equal divisional geographic distribution and/or rotation.
 
Ers90sDXcAAwGIT
 
SWAC West Membership Time Line
Prairie View A&M 1920 (Orignal Charter Member)
Southern University and A&M 1934
Arkansas AM&N/Arkansas Pine Bluff 1936-1970/1997-Present
Texas Southern University 1954
Grambling State University 1958

 
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C-LeB28 said:
So Lamar is taking a logical approach in leaving the SLC because it's sister Texas schools have decided to leave? Hmmm.....
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Sam Houston State & Stephen F. Austin initiated this.

To solidify their aspirations and also help with their goals, they recruited Lamar (which shares the same system as Sam Houston State) and Abilene Christian. Those two schools certainly make logical sense as it relates to the WAC and being more aligned as it relates to commitment to Division I athletics.

I'm curious what you are hearing C-Leb, as it relates to Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M. Who made the first call? And was the interest shared by the one(s) on the receiving end? If those two schools were not interested in moving then, not sure how the additions of FAMU / BC-U to the SWAC and departures of SHSU / SFA / Lamar / ACU / UCA make for interest now?
 
TexasTerror said:
Sam Houston State & Stephen F. Austin initiated this.

To solidify their aspirations and also help with their goals, they recruited Lamar (which shares the same system as Sam Houston State) and Abilene Christian. Those two schools certainly make logical sense as it relates to the WAC and being more aligned as it relates to commitment to Division I athletics.

I'm curious what you are hearing C-Leb, as it relates to Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M. Who made the first call? And was the interest shared by the one(s) on the receiving end? If those two schools were not interested in moving then, not sure how the additions of FAMU / BC-U to the SWAC and departures of SHSU / SFA / Lamar / ACU / UCA make for interest now?
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Yeah! Doesn't make sense!
 
those schools don't know what they want to be? UH, Rice, etc. looks down on them and won't even get to the HBCU comparisons - their chasing a moving target.

On the streets, you know SHSU as the school close to the prisons and criminal justice
SFA is known for the woods
Lamar is known for being in Beaumont
ACU means religion

compare that to the SWAC schools and what we're known for - way more than that.
 
TexasTerror said:
Sam Houston State & Stephen F. Austin initiated this.

To solidify their aspirations and also help with their goals, they recruited Lamar (which shares the same system as Sam Houston State) and Abilene Christian. Those two schools certainly make logical sense as it relates to the WAC and being more aligned as it relates to commitment to Division I athletics.

I'm curious what you are hearing C-Leb, as it relates to Texas Southern & Prairie View A&M. Who made the first call? And was the interest shared by the one(s) on the receiving end? If those two schools were not interested in moving then, not sure how the additions of FAMU / BC-U to the SWAC and departures of SHSU / SFA / Lamar / ACU / UCA make for interest now?
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The SLC made the call first (back in 2004 or 2005).
 
Perhaps Nicholls State ran then away since they were the last 2 co-conference champions......(and 3 out of the last 5 going to at least a share to LA.)
 
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