Fans on a D1AA board say WT should go back to D1

[west-texan]

Positive comments on WT moving back to where they were for 75 years at D1.

And negative comments about Grand Valley being afraid of D1.

[west-texan]

[saltfork]

I'd like to see the Buffs win a Div II national title or two or three before they move up a level.

[west-texan]

My biggest concern is:

That if WT is not proactive and ready to make a move in the next few years,

Doors could close and WT could be left behind like Howard Paine and Sul Ross.

WTAMU is one of the last few big white collar businesses that Amarillo still has.

And the long-term future of Amarillo could be helped a lot by growth and expansion at WT.

Texas Tech drives the Lubbock economy, and WT needs to be a larger part of the Amarillo economy.

[saltfork]

I don't see WT moving into a position to drive the Amarillo economy. Plus, it would need to be in Amarillo to do that. I could see a thriving economy in Amarillo benefitting WT, but not the other way round.

I don't mind WT in Div. II, I wouldn't mind seeing the Buffs in Div. I AA either.

[west-texan]

If you haven't seen this, WT is going to about double in size for number of students in a few years.

That will mean the number of faculty will need to double or triple in numbers.

And if you count the family members that many of the new faculty will bring.

That will mean a significant positive impact on the Amarillo-Canyon metro area.

Hundreds of new white collar people with good salaries spending money in the Amarillo economy.

And while D2 has saved some money...D2 has also kept money away from WT by keeping WT small.

The goal of 15,000 students and being a first choice university...becomes much easier with D1.

Alumni fund raising and getting donations and big corporate sponsorship money will be easier with D1.

A well managed D1 athletics program will do a lot more for WT than D2 has.



www.canyonnews.com/view/full_story/6900065/article-WTAMU-makes-plan-for-campus?instance=home_news_2nd_left

www.wtamu.edu/webres/File/About/town%20hall/WTAMU_REVISION_20100215_FINAL.pdf

[saltfork]

Interesting. Doubling enrollment? Wow, what do they think about that in Canyon? It's always been such a sleeply place.

[west-texan]

I expect Canyon to eventually end up around 22,000 or so, like Plainview which is slow and laid back.

Canyon has already grown north of the stadium on the west side of the road, and will probably hit the south side of Amarillo in a few years.

Another CISD high school may happen somewhere between Canyon & Amarillo on the west side of I-27.

Amarillo is growing very slowly.

Most of the new housing in the SW part of Amarillo is just existing people buying newer homes, but most of that is happening in CISD territory.

Those of us who went to WT in the 80's were wanting a bigger WT with more opportunities.

And it looks like that is finally going to happen after all these years.

[willard]

Enrollment estimates this fall at WT show it could possibly top 8000, the largest in history. Agriculture, the fastest growing sector with a dynamic faculty, leading the way--projecting a whopping 17% increase! Fact: Agriculture at WT is growing faster than TT or TAMU. All this with 5% budget cuts including athletics!

[Old Rip]

I think the population size and media market size are conducive to a move up to the FBS. The division I FCS is no different really than Division II for anyone wanting to lift their institution out of obscurity, division I FCS isn't going to do it for you.

[sj]

Agriculture is the second largest industry in Texas.....somebody has to come from somewhere....

[west-texan]

Just a while back,

I had an Amarillo radio person tell me in email...that there is no buzz about D2 in Amarillo.

And out side the WT luncheons, I have to agree that he is right.

The big supporters of D2 at WT are a relatively small group of people.

At D1 in the 50's and 60's, WT was nationally known with coverage and articles in Sports Illustrated.

But I heard the other day that most people in Houston, TX have never even heard of WT.

WT gets no benefit at all, and certainly no extra money from having a low profile.