Realignment Question

[CajunVic]

do posters here really think that Dr. Maggard is not considering everything posted here and is not working as diligently as he can, within the financial constraint's he is under, to get any of this done if there is a reasonable and practical avenue to get it done?

. . . serious answers only . . .

[cajun4life]

I agree that the Sun Belt Conference is uninspiring. The SBC has improved its image primarily with the addition of Eastern schools like Marshall, App State and James Madison.
However, IMO, it still carries a stigma of a lesser conference like CUSA and the MAC. Playing conference schools like USA, Troy, ULM, GA Southern, ODU, and Coastal just don't move the needle for most fans, especially those who have longed to see UL in a higher level conference and not just the status quo every year. The problem is how do you get there. There are very few options left for schools to move up. For UL, there is the AAC and the PAC 12. Even the AAC has teams wanting to leave like Tulane and Memphis and other schools that have already moved up to greener pastures like Houston, Cincinnati and SMU.

The conference with the most potential is the PAC 12. It has already been a P5 conference and has 2 P5 conference members in Washington State and Oregon State. Adding Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Utah State + Gonzaga make it a strong conference and what other schools they add will determine P5 status consideration. It is just a matter of time before other MWC schools join. Once that happens to entrance into the conference will be closed. Then, what is left?

The money has to be there to justify the move and the added travel expenses involved for spring sports. Is a cost of a flight to the West Coast that much greater than to the East Coast. Having at least 1 travel partner in Texas State is imperative. This might move Tulane and Memphis to also move to create a more Eastern division. And, if we can get the PAC 12 to play more West Coast day games, that would give the conference more prime time exposure and would enable fans to watch UL on tv at 6:00 instead of 9:00.

If the Big 12 can add 4 G5 schools and still be a P5 conference, why can't the PAC 12 add schools to existing P5 members and still be a P5 conference? It would certainly be head and shoulders above the other G5 conferences and with expanded playoffs, who knows. If we continue to win, we will be back in the Top 25 with high visibility. It may be our best and only shot to a higher level conference. Once the stadium is completed, we will have among the best G5 facilities in the country and certainly in line with PAC 5 facilities.

I don't think such a move along with Texas State should be so readily dismissed. If Tulane and Memphis make such a move before us, we will be relegated to the SBC or the AAC. But at that point, Army & Navy could return to Independent status as the AAC will have lost all of its top teams in SMU, Cincinnati, Houston, Tulane and Memphis. A move to the AAC would not be much of an improvement to the SBC.

UL has made huge academic strides and is now an R1 university. Maybe it is time to make a commitment to our fans and take athletics to R1 level status as well and change the direction of UL athletics. Let's at the very least seriously explore this possibility.

That is your perception of the SBC. Being an ESPN property has significantly increased the value and reputation of the SBC.

We alternate with the AAC as the best of the rest leagues.

I do not disagree that the PAC would be a good move if it included Memphis, Tulane, UL and UTSA/TxSt.

But that is only if we can park our spring sports in the Big 12. The MWC/PAC would be a huge drop off for baseball and softball.

[ColaCajun]

That is your perception of the SBC. Being an ESPN property has significantly increased the value and reputation of the SBC.

We alternate with the AAC as the best of the rest leagues.

I do not disagree that the PAC would be a good move if it included Memphis, Tulane, UL and UTSA/TxSt.

But that is only if we can park our spring sports in the Big 12. The MWC/PAC would be a huge drop off for baseball and softball.

Don't disagree with you in regards of a slightly weaker Baseball/Softball and we all know the value of both of those sports here at UL. I'd argue that Fresno State, SDSU and Oregon State Baseball/Softball are very strong conference opponents. But the real question is that are you willing going to sacrifice a better move for the university and athletics department as a whole at the expense of Baseball and Softball? Not trying to trash our diamond sports, but in the overall dynamic of college athletics, Football and Men's Basketball are revenue generating sports. Maybe not here specifically, but not joining if offered and letting the opportunity pass would not be great for UL down the road.

I hate the way college athletics is going now especially with Conference Realignment. There absolutely needs to be regional based leagues. There are enough schools in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee to do that; however that's wishful thinking. I remember how devastating it was to be passed up in 2012 when CUSA gobbled up SBC schools. Even though SBC is 10x better than CUSA is now, perception is a big deal and at the time, it felt like we simply weren't good enough. If things continue to realign like they are, I don't think the SBC will be as strong in the future as it is now in any sport. It would be an adjustment moving to the PAC, but it's time to adjust or get left behind and I'm tired of feeling left behind.

[cajun4life]

Don't disagree with you in regards of a slightly weaker Baseball/Softball and we all know the value of both of those sports here at UL. I'd argue that Fresno State, SDSU and Oregon State Baseball/Softball are very strong conference opponents. But the real question is that are you willing going to sacrifice a better move for the university and athletics department as a whole at the expense of Baseball and Softball? Not trying to trash our diamond sports, but in the overall dynamic of college athletics, Football and Men's Basketball are revenue generating sports. Maybe not here specifically, but not joining if offered and letting the opportunity pass would not be great for UL down the road.

I hate the way college athletics is going now especially with Conference Realignment. There absolutely needs to be regional based leagues. There are enough schools in Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee to do that; however that's wishful thinking. I remember how devastating it was to be passed up in 2012 when CUSA gobbled up SBC schools. Even though SBC is 10x better than CUSA is now, perception is a big deal and at the time, it felt like we simply weren't good enough. If things continue to realign like they are, I don't think the SBC will be as strong in the future as it is now in any sport. It would be an adjustment moving to the PAC, but it's time to adjust or get left behind and I'm tired of feeling left behind.

No you don’t sacrifice it. But you make every single effort to park the spring sports in the Big 12 because then you already have a foot in the door.

Plus our spring sports would actually strengthen the Big 12. Our facilities are already sufficient for the Big 12.

[Turbine]

do posters here really think that Dr. Maggard is not considering everything posted here and is not working as diligently as he can, within the financial constraint's he is under, to get any of this done if there is a reasonable and practical avenue to get it done?

. . . serious answers only . . .

Your serious answer can be found by reviewing his participation in letting the basketball program slide into oblivian while presenting inaccurate numbers to prop it up.

[Turbine]

That is your perception of the SBC. Being an ESPN property has significantly increased the value and reputation of the SBC.

We alternate with the AAC as the best of the rest leagues.

I do not disagree that the PAC would be a good move if it included Memphis, Tulane, UL and UTSA/TxSt.

But that is only if we can park our spring sports in the Big 12. The MWC/PAC would be a huge drop off for baseball and softball.

My perception of the SBC is a little lower than his.

It would take a decade of maintaining these positives to change my perceptions.

For outsiders it will take longer.

jmo

[ColaCajun]

No you don’t sacrifice it. But you make every single effort to park the spring sports in the Big 12 because then you already have a foot in the door.

Plus our spring sports would actually strengthen the Big 12. Our facilities are already sufficient for the Big 12.

If we wanted to join the Big 12 in Baseball and Softball only, we'd already be there. I know it sounds great joining the Big 12 in Baseball and Softball, it would absolutely never happen.

[tdncz]

My perception of the SBC is a little lower than his.

It would take a decade of maintaining these positives to change my perceptions.

For outsiders it will take longer.

jmo

100% Agree.
Unfortuantely, Perception is 4/5 of the argument on this.

[HoustonCajun]

That is your perception of the SBC. Being an ESPN property has significantly increased the value and reputation of the SBC.

We alternate with the AAC as the best of the rest leagues.

I do not disagree that the PAC would be a good move if it included Memphis, Tulane, UL and UTSA/TxSt.

But that is only if we can park our spring sports in the Big 12. The MWC/PAC would be a huge drop off for baseball and softball.

A significant increase in value is bringing UL $2M a year instead of $500K (think those are correct numbers)? Hardly significant. Isn't the AAC getting $7M+ and the PAC even more?

[Big Buds]

A significant increase in value is bringing UL $2M a year instead of $500K (think those are correct numbers)? Hardly significant. Isn't the AAC getting $7M+ and the PAC even more?

SBC is around $2.5/year. AAC is $7/year for the legacy programs only. For example, North Texas is getting roughly $2.5/year.