Really Feeling Like We're Second Rate

[TexGator]

Okay, I may delete this thread, but I just need to vent.

 

While it's common to play a "paycheck game" team to pad the stats, I feel like we're treating ourselves like a 2nd rate organization.

 

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt on getting Game Notes out late (they are there... and in plenty of time for those who actually need them more than an hour before the game) based on trying to wait for NAU to get their information to us, but our own game notes are making us look like we're okay with mediocrity.

 

In the modern classic Bull Durham, our beloved protagonist, Crash Davis, points out to Nuke LaLoosh, "you've got fungus on your shower shoes." He explains that, when you're making a name for yourself, you're judged on the little things. If we're letting the little things be 2nd class, we're not going to be taken seriously.

 

I can forgive A (single, ein, un) typo... maybe even 2. But it's full of typos, the stats are all automated and some spill over the page... I'm not saying we need to have a 10-person Sports Info Department, but an intern getting 6 hours elective credit is all it takes to have the football game notes put together. In other words, we don't have to be UT or A&M... but, what we do, we need to do well. Otherwise, we're living in "Mid-Major & FCS Land" forever.

[LU17]

Unfortunately the players and coaches will suffer the consequences of a poor athletic administration. It seems like this year and maybe even last year the emphasis on the football program has diminished. A couple of years ago they brought all the coaches out and toured some cities around Texas. I met the coach Franklin and attended a ladies game because of her. Coach Schlitz even came out. We really haven

[puddin tane]

Concessions sucked. I guess the overflow crowd had them overwhelmed.

 

one positive. Fireworks were awesome!

[PeckEm]

Concessions sucked. I guess the overflow crowd had them overwhelmed.

 

one positive. Fireworks were awesome!

 

Two open concession lines? What a disgraceful shit show. And a little off the subject, but joining this wac bullshit is yet another dumbass decision by administrators.

 

I

Edited September 3, 2021 by PeckEm

[TexGator]

Two open con mcession lines? What a disgraceful shit show. And a little off the subject, but joining this wac bullshit is yet another dumbass decision by administrators.

 

I

 

Joining the WAC Conference is about jettisoning schools like HBU, Incarnate Word, and the Louisiana schools that weren't adding to the conference. This feels like a smarter version of Lamar, SW Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and others forming the American South Conference because the rest of the old Southland was an anchor on their finances.

 

But, we're also just a month into the conference. I'm hopeful that it becomes a good thing- definitely going to be a lot of charter flights for games. Hope that Marco-Marc has the budget for it. I haven't been hit up for an alumni donation (whereas I know my friends who are SFA and SHSU alums have been called up constantly since the announcement).

[coachacola]

Lamar made the mistake of dropping football so instead of being in the Sunbelt Conference (that's not doing too bad as a FBS conference), or like La Tech that's in an ever better conference, they went back to the SLC. This move to the WAC had to be made. With UT-RGV starting up football, the rumors are the WAC wants to go back to being a FBS football conference.

[PeckEm]

Lamar made the mistake of dropping football so instead of being in the Sunbelt Conference (that's not doing too bad as a FBS conference), or like La Tech that's in an ever better conference, they went back to the SLC. This move to the WAC had to be made. With UT-RGV starting up football, the rumors are the WAC wants to go back to being a FBS football conference.

 

The only logical reasons I can see as to why we made this move 1)our hand was forced by Sam Houston and SFA or 2) The FCS is going to fold. To me, it makes much more sense to have a truly regional conference at the FCS level where we can maybe someday compete for a national championship. We will NEVER be an A&M or a UT or an LSU and I'm totally fine with that.

[PeckEm]

Lamar made the mistake of dropping football so instead of being in the Sunbelt Conference (that's not doing too bad as a FBS conference), or like La Tech that's in an ever better conference, they went back to the SLC. This move to the WAC had to be made. With UT-RGV starting up football, the rumors are the WAC wants to go back to being a FBS football conference.

 

Agree. The decisions made by the horrific administration in the late 80's did major (probably irreparable) damage to the University.

[geezer]

I keep hoping to say Lamar has turned the corner, but there haven't been many good moves by the Athletic Directors or the Academic administrators in the nearly forty years i have had any interest in Lamar. Making Jimmy Simmons the president was a positive, bringing football back was another. Sports wise Larry Tidwell as the ladies basketball coach was good, Harmony was OK and the verdict is still out on Franklin. Football and men's basketball so far Lamar has gotten what it has paid for maybe. I agree that shutting down the football program was a terrible decision, no matter what the state of the program is now or what it becomes. Going back into the SLC might have been the second worst decision by the administrators. Just like shutting down football it said to everyone in the area Lamar is a second rate organization. It is a long battle out of that hole.

[PeckEm]

I keep hoping to say Lamar has turned the corner, but there haven't been many good moves by the Athletic Directors or the Academic administrators in the nearly forty years i have had any interest in Lamar. Making Jimmy Simmons the president was a positive, bringing football back was another. Sports wise Larry Tidwell as the ladies basketball coach was good, Harmony was OK and the verdict is still out on Franklin. Football and men's basketball so far Lamar has gotten what it has paid for maybe. I agree that shutting down the football program was a terrible decision, no matter what the state of the program is now or what it becomes. Going back into the SLC might have been the second worst decision by the administrators. Just like shutting down football it said to everyone in the area Lamar is a second rate organization. It is a long battle out of that hole.

 

Do what? Joining the SLC was exactly what we should have done. The SLC is a VERY good FCS conference. What is ignorant is joining the WAC and somehow thinking we will be a UT or a Texas A&M. FCS is very good/entertaining football. The Aqua hire was terrible btw

[NorthoftheBorder]

Do what? Joining the SLC was exactly what we should have done. The SLC is a VERY good FCS conference. What is ignorant is joining the WAC and somehow thinking we will be a UT or a Texas A&M. FCS is very good/entertaining football. The Aqua hire was terrible btw

 

There is a lot to say here: first, there is no elusion to be UT or A&M. Hell the other Power 5 schools and the group of 5 schools in Texas are not on those two's level. Second, the WAC may never get to FBS and will be FCS for the foreseeable future, if not for quite a while. Realistically, we had to follow the other Texas schools or see further erosion of conference resources. It has been my prediction for the last 15 years that, at least in Football, we very well may get to where we will see even greater separation (especially financially, and we are seeing that happen right now) of the Power 5 from all the rest of the FBS & FCS football schools and they ultimately will not be part of the NCAA for football purposes. It will be a miracle in 20 years if LU can afford to field scholarship football. Now let's take two schools as examples to compare to LU: Southwest Texas State to the west and USL to the east. SWTS 30 years ago was beneath LU, and USL was on par. Both schools are now on a significantly higher plain (and they may not survive in the end as college football schools who can even begin to compete with the Power 5). You will say well SWTS is in a booming metro and that is true, but not for USL. The big difference is LEADERSHIP!!!!! It is vision, a plan and the guts to go for it and both have elevated their schools along with their football programs. LEADERSHIP (apart form Jimmy Simmons) is something LU has been sorely short of for the entirety of my 42 year affiliation with my esteemed Alma Mater!! Period!

Edited September 6, 2021 by NorthoftheBorder

[geezer]

Do what? Joining the SLC was exactly what we should have done. The SLC is a VERY good FCS conference. What is ignorant is joining the WAC and somehow thinking we will be a UT or a Texas A&M. FCS is very good/entertaining football. The Aqua hire was terrible btw

Personally I don't care about UT or A&M. Leaving the Sunbelt for the SLC was the second dumbest move I've seen made at Lamar in my tenure of caring anything about a Texas university anywhere in the state. The only move worse was dropping football. I also don't care if Lamar ever moves up to FBS football, but to stay in the SLC was not the way to improve the reputation of the university in the eye of sports fans. Lamar needs leadership that will promote the school to the region. It is a good school academically and deserves a lot more support than it gets. I am hoping to see improvement in all of the sports programs. My judgement on Franklin is still undecided. I am hoping that Brooks brings improvement to the MBB program.