What Exactly Did the Sun Belt Sign?

[Zeebart21]

_ I saw 40K. _

40K and inline for the next SEC opening.

[HoustonCajun]

_ I have read a lot of things in my life, but......that.......was......AWESOME.(Tommy Boy)

Seriously, your words concerning Bustle would sure explain a lot of mistifying things that happenned to this team down the stretch. _

I have been saying for a long time that the SBC is a bush league conference with a commissioner to match. That is our perception nationally and it will never change. Someone has to be the low end of the totem pole and it will always be the SBC. Our commissioner does not look out for us, so what good does it do to be in this conference? For a bowl appearance or an NCAA bid? Only if we win the conference. Anything else is suspect. I really wonder if UL isn't better off making its mark as an independent in an effort ot make us more attractive when conference reallignment takes place. Every team in the SBC will want out and we will all be competing for a few select slots. We might be better as an independent marketing ourselves as UL and Louisiana. The SBC won't call us that and that also hurts our cause. I'm sure scheduling won't be a problem. And what has automatic bids done for us lately?

[jllanclos]

_ 40K and inline for the next SEC opening. _

Gonna be a lot of travel in the SEC East though. No way LSU allows them into the west and those roadies to South Carolina are going to take it's toll on Tech's athletic budget!

[DestinCajun]

I really wonder if UL isn't better off making its mark as an independent in an effort ot make us more attractive when conference reallignment takes place? _

You really wonder? As much as you hate the SBC you really ought to be glad we're in it because going independent is certain death for us. Ask any AD at any school that needs a good supply of Homecoming opponents.

[Project10]

_ Dude, Tech is bringing 35,000 per the fans on BBB, they didn't need any help selling tickets so they were able to help out their former director who is at NIU.

No Tech fans anywhere think we will bring 35k fans.

[Zeebart21]

_ No Tech fans anywhere think we will bring 35k fans. _

C'mon, Johnny Lightnin does! He's the man. He spends alot of time here, Scout Board, and Sunbelt Board....I might adopt him. Does he eat much?

Z

[DestinCajun]

_ C'mon, Johnny Lightnin does! He's the man. He spends alot of time here, Scout Board, and Sunbelt Board....I might adopt him. Does he eat much?

Z _

And Ken Horneydawg too. The dude can spin some high octane skat.

[Zeebart21]

_ And Ken Horneydawg too. The dude can spin some high octane skat. _

He's a skat man fo sho'

[HoustonCajun]

_ You really wonder? As much as you hate the SBC you really ought to be glad we're in it because going independent is certain death for us. Ask any AD at any school that needs a good supply of Homecoming opponents. _

I do wonder and I don't know what ADs might say. The best football schedules UL ever had (both Home and Away) were as an independent. The A&M game in 1996 should have propelled UL forward and we might be a CUSA member today, were it not for Dr. A's refusal to fund athletics. We are getting no where fast in the SBC. Can we establish a winning program and a better national reputation for ourselves as an independent to put us in a better position to get into a better conference when reallignment comes in a few years? That is my question. It is not meant to be permanent.

1996 (5-6) Stokley - Florida, Texas A&M (H), USM, LA Tech (H), Houston, Ark. State (HC), USB, Memphis (H), Virginia Tech, Northern Illinois (H), Texas Tech

1997 ( 1-10) Stokley - Pitt, Oklahoma State (H), Texas Tech, Texas A&M, UAB (H), Ark. State, N. Alabama (H), ULM (HC), Tulane (H), Washington State, LA Tech (H)

1998 (2-9) Stokley - Arkansas, Northwestern State (H), LA Tech, USM, UAB, Ark. State (HC), UCF (H), Tulane, ULM, Oklahoma State, W. KY (H)

1999 (2-9) Baldwin - Oklhaoma State, Texas Tech (H), Houston, MTSU (H), LA Tech (H), Washington State, Tulane, ULM (HC), Ark. State, USM, Wofford (H)

2000 (1-10) Baldwin - Sam Houston State (H), Texas, Texas Tech, Northwestern State (H), UAB, Tulane (HC), LA Tech, N. Texas (H), ULM, Jacksonville State (H), MTSU

Then, we joined the SBC in 2001. We had our best year at 5-6 against our most difficult schedule ever. Every team is looking for OOC games to schedule. Can we compete better as an independent? Can we schedule games in today's environment? I don't know. If we could match the 1996 & 1997 schedule year in and year out, it would be a massive improvement over the current SBC. Travel would be any worse. We have no natural rivalries in the SBC and are saddled with the name issue with ULM and with the SBC.

Hey, I don't have all the answers and this certainly might not be it. If Dr. S will fund athletics and we get an RCAF started and facililty improvements, etc. will we have greater attendance vs. a better schedule? Can we recruit better against a better schedule? Can we win against a better schedule? It is an option that you might clearly discard, but IMO, is worthy of discussion, particularly after what happened to us this year.

[Arkstfan]

_ No Tech fans anywhere think we will bring 35k fans. _

Really?

Not what I saw on BBB. I saw Tech would bring its 20,000 regulars (???), 15,000 coming to check them out, and 5,000 NIU fans for a crowd of 40,000.

[Zeebart21]

_ Really?

Not what I saw on BBB. I saw Tech would bring its 20,000 regulars (???), 15,000 coming to check them out, and 5,000 NIU fans for a crowd of 40,000. _

WOW!! Do the NIU fans realize that 5K are suppose to be coming to Shreveport?

Z

[jllanclos]

Maybe Mr. Lightnin' has enough time on his hands that he can peel himself away from raginpagin and make his way over to NIU's fan forum to let them know. Could only help the attendance to remind the NIU fans that there's an important game coming up.

Kind of like FAU's fossil coach standing on a soap box in the cafeteria shouting "We have a football team! They're pretty good! We're gonna be on TV tomorrow night. Please come out and support us. Please!"