Tech to the Belt?

[Turbine]

No high-school recruit will take Louisiana seriously when over a 1/3 of your opponents every single year are in-state schools.

If they sign its like they never graduated high school.

[MarlinMan3]

No high-school recruit will take Louisiana seriously when over a 1/3 of your opponents every single year are in-state schools.

If they sign its like they never graduated high school.

Thats a good point.... no off3nse to UNO, but that is why i didnt want to go there, i couldnt imagine taking basically the same drive in to college that I took everyday for 5 years to HS (started in 8th).... probably if i was from somewhere else UNO would have been more attractive.

[MarlinMan3]

If Tech is invited I will feel a little like Texas A & M when Texas was invited to the SEC. We have worked hard for a clear separation and recruiting advantage in the perception of Louisiana fans and recruits and now it will be given away.

Texas A&M never had an advantage over them, except maybe money wasted on coaches salaries

[UL_Cajuns]

No high-school recruit will take Louisiana seriously when over a 1/3 of your opponents every single year are in-state schools.

If they sign its like they never graduated high school.

Parents here will love it.

[Jacob81]

Letting tech into the belt will only kill ULM. Conference affiliation was the only thing keeping ULM on techs level. I’m hoping it won’t affect us recruiting wise.

[RaginScotsman]

It’s just a “blah” add. It’s good for us I suppose. Good for ULM. Maybe USM. Just gross for the conference. Adding the ODUs and JMUs, those were no brainer great additions. You could see the benefit. With Tech, they don’t bring much more than a bus trip and some ______ talk. Doesn’t seem to help the perception of the conference at all.

[Ragin9221]

Letting tech into the belt will only kill ULM. Conference affiliation was the only thing keeping ULM on techs level. I’m hoping it won’t affect us recruiting wise.

Its not going to kill ULM. I know yall love to think ULM is going away they are not.

[Jacob81]

Its not going to kill ULM. I know yall love to think ULM is going away they are not.

I don’t think ULM is going anywhere, just think it will make them even less relevant in athletics.

[Ragin9221]

I don’t think ULM is going anywhere, just think it will make them even less relevant in athletics.

The issue with ULM isn't necessarily the quality of the program—it’s fan interest. Monroe’s community dynamics are very different from places like Lafayette, where surrounding areas such as Broussard, Youngsville, Scott, and Lafayette itself are generally viewed as one unified region. In Monroe, however, everything feels much more localized and divided. The community is regionalized to the point where even neighboring towns and schools have distinct rivalries that go beyond casual competition.

Take high school football, for example—it’s not just spirited matchups like Acadiana vs. Carencro. In Monroe, the rivalries run deeper and get personal. Games between Ouachita High School and West Monroe High School, or between West Monroe and Ruston, are major events. These aren’t just high school football games—they’re community showdowns with decades of tension and pride behind them.

That same intensity and sense of identity could be harnessed to boost ULM’s fan base, especially if they were in the same conference as Louisiana Tech. The rivalry potential is enormous, and simply being aligned in conference play would amplify attendance, media interest, and regional pride. Grambling offers a similar opportunity—the more local programs interact on meaningful stages, the more likely fans are to turn out and engage.

That’s the best way I can describe the uniqueness of Monroe. The culture here thrives on regional identity and rivalry, and tapping into that could be a game-changer for ULM’s fan engagement.

[Lafitte the Pirate]

The issue with ULM isn't necessarily the quality of the program—it’s fan interest. Monroe’s community dynamics are very different from places like Lafayette, where surrounding areas such as Broussard, Youngsville, Scott, and Lafayette itself are generally viewed as one unified region. In Monroe, however, everything feels much more localized and divided. The community is regionalized to the point where even neighboring towns and schools have distinct rivalries that go beyond casual competition.

Take high school football, for example—it’s not just spirited matchups like Acadiana vs. Carencro. In Monroe, the rivalries run deeper and get personal. Games between Ouachita High School and West Monroe High School, or between West Monroe and Ruston, are major events. These aren’t just high school football games—they’re community showdowns with decades of tension and pride behind them.

That same intensity and sense of identity could be harnessed to boost ULM’s fan base, especially if they were in the same conference as Louisiana Tech. The rivalry potential is enormous, and simply being aligned in conference play would amplify attendance, media interest, and regional pride. Grambling offers a similar opportunity—the more local programs interact on meaningful stages, the more likely fans are to turn out and engage.

ThatÂ’s the best way I can describe the uniqueness of Monroe. The culture here thrives on regional identity and rivalry, and tapping into that could be a game-changer for ULMÂ’s fan engagement.

I think adding Tech was a smart business decision. I do not like Tech or the Pukes. However, adding Tech puts a hated team that none of us like on games that mean something. It sells tickets and cuts travel cost. There is going to be another realignment in 2031 when all the New TV deals are to be made. We should prepare for any opportunity that benefits UL.