LSC coaches discuss possible D1 moves at media day

[west-texan]

And Carthel is just saying this to keep the WT old boy network happy.

Because a few of those guys seem to have a stay small D2 agenda.

But those guys are just local people, who are not WT employees.

And the important comments in this are from the other Lone Star Conference coaches.

Why?

Because WT is smart enough to not be left behind while other LSC schools consider moving up.

Football and basketball are the important sports that would both benefit from WT going back to D1.

www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2010/jul/21/lscs-future-a-hot-topic-among-coaches/

[willard]

Interesting article on why Grand Valley State stays in DII. GVSU has an enrollment of 22,000+ and is one of the most successful programs in DII but has no plans to move to DI. It's all about the money.

www.gvsulakers.com/sports/m-footbl/grva-m-footbl-body.html

[west-texan]

I'll go through my files,

and tonight I will start another topic about how D2 appears to NOT be all about the finances at WT.

But some quick thoughts on this:

1. Grand Valley is an obscure D2 school that most people in Amarillo have never heard of.

2. West Texas State was nationally known in the 50's and 60's for D1 football.

3. D1 people make big fun of Grand Valley's excuses for being afraid to move up from D2.

[willard]

It's still about the money......Fact: It costs a helluva lot of money to make the move to DI and will only continue to get more expensive.....Fact: It is all about the finances at WT.....Fact: A new fieldhouse could not be built at the new Sports Complex because the money was not there.....Fact: FB locker rooms at the complex will have to wait until next year.....Fact: No 'old boy network" exists that tells McBroom or O'Brien what to do.....Fact: A lot of great things have happened at WT recently.....And more are coming.....Just cool your jets.........

[willard]

West texan said:
"Grand Valley is an obscure D2 school that most people in Amarillo have never heard of." That, in itself, doesn't justify a move to D1 by WT or raise any money.

And, to follow that logic: WT is an obscure D2 school that most people in Michigan have never heard of.....
WT's facilities are getting better...except for FB.....Kimbrough is a great place to watch FB but it's a dump and not up to D1 standards.....The cost to improve it.....new lights, concessions, press box, restrooms, concrete infrastructure (has to be taken to the ground), seating, new turf (yes, that's coming), parking lot.....will require a huge chunk of change.
"D1 people make big fun of Grand Valley's excuses for being afraid to move up from D2." That doesn't seem to bother GVSU much....Their still winning and their fans like it.

[west-texan]

Some thoughts and questions that come to mind:

• Sure Kimbrough needs work, so when is WT going to come out in public and ask for money?
  
  
  
• Going to D1 takes more money,
  
  so when is WT going to come out in public and say they need more money for D1?
  
  For fund-raising, the interest level will go WAY UP if WT starts talking D1.
  
  
  
• Like Terry Bowden said about D1 opening more recruiting doors than D2.
  
  D1 will open more fund-raising doors, that would otherwise not be open at D2.
  
  It's also easier for D1 schools to get sponsorships from large national corporations.
  
  
  
• If money is all that stands between WT and D1,
  
  why did WT drop ticket prices when they dropped to D2?
  
  That was probably because fewer people in Amarillo care about D2...right?
  
  
  
• Most people I went to WT with in the 80's would rather watch D1 on TV than go to a WT game.
  
  So what is WT going to do about bringing back the lost alumni since the drop to D2?
  
  
  
• WT fund-raising strategy is bit flawed because extra money will not show up unless you ask for it.
  
  
  
• Why did WT quit advertising games on mainstream music radio stations in Amarillo?
  
  
  
• Why did WT quit selling tickets and advertising in Toot-N-Totum stores?
  
  
  
• Other than it's cheaper, I guess I don't see the big benefit of staying at D2 for WT.
  
  
  
• And I can see numerous benefits that D1 schools have over D2 schools.
  
  Including the fact that D1 and school size is very often part of the decision for Amarillo students to choose Texas Tech over WT.

[Old Rip]

When the NCAA created division 1-AA the entire Big Sky conference moved up right out of the gate. North Dakota State stayed behind in DII and ran a string of 8 or 9 consecutive national championships. Meanwhile, back in the Big Sky conference, Boise State, Idaho, Nevada and Cal State-Northridge all got the move up fever and left, leaving Montana to dominate the conference back with the 1-AA runts. Montana has made 7 appearances in the national title game, although usually falling victim to superior talent of the CAA teams on the east coast. There is fierce debate about moving up to the WAC in the FBS and they have their two sides who fiercely defend their positions. I think MOntana enjoys a strategic position being one of the high profile programs within the FCS subdivision. They have a stadium that seats about 28,000 and they sell out almost every game. Of those some 28,000 seats, over 19,000 are occupied by season ticket holders - more season tickets than are sold at UCLA.

They've got a great gig going just where they are, mediocre competition notwithstanding, there is real fear that if they become just another obscure FBS team, what will happen to game attendance?

I think that each instance is unique and if one thing you can say is true that in college football, keeping up with the Jonses is high risk, with a 50% probability of failure. For the one case of a Boise State, there are many cases like Idaho that move up and languished in obscurity for many years. Idaho is the joke of the entire NCAA FBS subdivision.

It takes a lot of resources and the institution has to have the wherewithal to back the program. I don't know enough to say what I think WT should do, but I have learned one thing to be true in my life, and that is if there is no clear cut distinction between one of two or more alternatives, it usually is in your best interest to stay put and enjoy what you do and know best where you are at.