(02-08-2022 07:18 AM)RobtheAggie Wrote:  UVU is one of the teams that has given NMSU problems every year. Although the overall record is 13-4 in favor of NMSU, many of those games have been really close. They generally seem to play up to NMSU.

It might feel that way but UVU/Seattle/GCU are all within a .3 in scoring differential vs NMSU since being league members

GCU -8.7
Seattle -8.9
UVU -9.0

But UVU does have more brawls vs NMSU than any other WAC school.

(02-07-2022 02:25 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  With all the Texas schools now in the WAC, I wonder if there will be a push to move the WAC Tournament to Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio in the future? But then again, the Texas school's fan bases are fairly weak in home attendance. With NMSU leaving the WAC after next season, GCU and UVU will probably be the largest drawing fan bases to Vegas.

When did UVU get fans and fans that travel?

I think the WAC should rotate the WAC tournament around the major markets in the WAC. Seattle/PHX/Dallas/San Antonio/ LA (Riverside).

(02-08-2022 09:09 AM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:25 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  With all the Texas schools now in the WAC, I wonder if there will be a push to move the WAC Tournament to Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio in the future? But then again, the Texas school's fan bases are fairly weak in home attendance. With NMSU leaving the WAC after next season, GCU and UVU will probably be the largest drawing fan bases to Vegas.

When did UVU get fans and fans that travel?

I think the WAC should rotate the WAC tournament around the major markets in the WAC. Seattle/PHX/Dallas/San Antonio/ LA (Riverside).

Come on now. If WAC fans really aren’t traveling to Vegas, they’re definitely not traveling to Seattle. Or LA for that matter. Phoenix? Why? Will just be a GCU home tournament. Dallas or San Antonio, maybe. Once you move out of Vegas, you will never get back.

Keep it in Vegas until it’s not economically viable. Then move it to Texas. I wish they would only take 10 teams. Bringing everyone, just hurts the conference. Those bottoms schools aren’t traveling anyway.

If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

(02-08-2022 09:36 AM)Todor Wrote:  If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

I have to say I agree with this. People complain about Phoenix due to it basically being a GCU home game. But better for the league and especially on TV to see a packed house for the WAC tournament championship than to see 100 fans and hearing each individual cough from fans. Until the Texas teams show they can draw the crowds I see no logic in moving it to Texas.

(02-07-2022 10:36 PM)edinburger Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:25 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  With all the Texas schools now in the WAC, I wonder if there will be a push to move the WAC Tournament to Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio in the future? But then again, the Texas school's fan bases are fairly weak in home attendance. With NMSU leaving the WAC after next season, GCU and UVU will probably be the largest drawing fan bases to Vegas.

Dallas would give too much home advantage to UTA; SA/Austin to UIW.

Maybe El Paso area. More centrally located in the WAC but not too close to any TX schools. And I heard there's a magnificent but underutilized basketball arena available in a suburb only 45 miles away.

(02-08-2022 09:09 AM)Lopes87 Wrote:  

(02-07-2022 02:25 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  With all the Texas schools now in the WAC, I wonder if there will be a push to move the WAC Tournament to Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio in the future? But then again, the Texas school's fan bases are fairly weak in home attendance. With NMSU leaving the WAC after next season, GCU and UVU will probably be the largest drawing fan bases to Vegas.

When did UVU get fans and fans that travel?

I think the WAC should rotate the WAC tournament around the major markets in the WAC. Seattle/PHX/Dallas/San Antonio/ LA (Riverside).

(02-08-2022 09:36 AM)Todor Wrote:  If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

UVU has brought a decent contingent the years that I have been to Vegas.

WAC Attendance thus far...

Grand Canyon............ 13... 83407... 6416
NM State................... 12... 65678... 5473
California Baptist........ 15... 43662... 2911
Lamar........................ 8... 17070... 2134
Utah Valley................. 9... 18599... 2067
Stephen F. Austin....... 13... 21331... 1641
Dixie State................ 11... 17909... 1628
Tarleton.................... 11... 16528... 1503
UT Rio Grande Valley... 11... 12039... 1094
Seattle U................... 14... 13809..... 986
Abilene Christian........ 14.... 9712..... 694 - main arena is currently under construction.
Sam Houston............. 11.... 5874..... 534
Chicago State.............. 9.... 2434..... 270

Southern Utah........... 12... 20219... 1685
UT Arlington.............. 10... 15895... 1590
Incarnate Word.......... 12.... 2619..... 218

Incarnate Word, smh. Can Houston Baptist be far behind? If the goal is to recreate the worst of the Southland, the WAC is off to a good start.

(02-08-2022 10:43 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 09:36 AM)Todor Wrote:  If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

I have to say I agree with this. People complain about Phoenix due to it basically being a GCU home game. But better for the league and especially on TV to see a packed house for the WAC tournament championship than to see 100 fans and hearing each individual cough from fans. Until the Texas teams show they can draw the crowds I see no logic in moving it to Texas.

If GCU makes the championship game, sure. If they lose, it will be totally empty. That’s the risk you take by having on someone’s home court.

(02-08-2022 01:15 PM)Todor Wrote:  Incarnate Word, smh. Can Houston Baptist be far behind? If the goal is to recreate the worst of the Southland, the WAC is off to a good start.

Their addition never made any sense.

That's who they are and always will be.

They had less than 15k total attendance for football last year.

(02-08-2022 02:33 PM)TallTexan Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 01:15 PM)Todor Wrote:  Incarnate Word, smh. Can Houston Baptist be far behind? If the goal is to recreate the worst of the Southland, the WAC is off to a good start.

Their addition never made any sense.

That's who they are and always will be.

They had less than 15k total attendance for football last year.

I think the WAC is looking more at UIW's location than the school itself. The same trap the Southland fell into. It is doubtful UIW will grow a fan following in San Antonio nor build facilities in line with the rest of the WAC. Their addition is baffling and signals the WAC's lack of interest of ever moving up to the FBS level.

(02-08-2022 03:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think the WAC is looking more at UIW location than the school itself. The same trap the Southland fell into. It is doubtful UIW will grow a fan following in San Antonio or build facilities in line with the rest of the WAC. Their addition is baffling and signals the WAC's lack of interest of ever moving up to the FBS level.

Is it lack of interest or lack of competence in evaluating prospects for the future?

(02-08-2022 03:19 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 03:14 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  I think the WAC is looking more at UIW location than the school itself. The same trap the Southland fell into. It is doubtful UIW will grow a fan following in San Antonio or build facilities in line with the rest of the WAC. Their addition is baffling and signals the WAC's lack of interest of ever moving up to the FBS level.

Is it lack of interest or lack of competence in evaluating prospects for the future?

Yes and yes

I guess SU, GCU, CBU, and the Utah schools all led the charge on UIW. All the Texas schools voted no? Don’t think it works that way…

(02-08-2022 02:07 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 10:43 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 09:36 AM)Todor Wrote:  If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

I have to say I agree with this. People complain about Phoenix due to it basically being a GCU home game. But better for the league and especially on TV to see a packed house for the WAC tournament championship than to see 100 fans and hearing each individual cough from fans. Until the Texas teams show they can draw the crowds I see no logic in moving it to Texas.

If GCU makes the championship game, sure. If they lose, it will be totally empty. That’s the risk you take by having on someone’s home court.

I never said have it on their home court. I said Phoenix. Just like having it in Dallas wouldn’t the home court of one of the Texas schools. But if it is moved to Dallas you are pretty much guaranteed it’ll be empty no matter who is playing if the attendance numbers are any indication.

I think it’s better to host the tournament in a place you have a chance to have high attendance rather than a place you’re guaranteed to have low attendance. NMSU will be gone to CUSA so the WAC could hold it in North Dakota for all I care.

(02-08-2022 04:08 PM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 02:07 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 10:43 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 09:36 AM)Todor Wrote:  If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

I have to say I agree with this. People complain about Phoenix due to it basically being a GCU home game. But better for the league and especially on TV to see a packed house for the WAC tournament championship than to see 100 fans and hearing each individual cough from fans. Until the Texas teams show they can draw the crowds I see no logic in moving it to Texas.

If GCU makes the championship game, sure. If they lose, it will be totally empty. That’s the risk you take by having on someone’s home court.

I never said have it on their home court. I said Phoenix. Just like having it in Dallas wouldn’t the home court of one of the Texas schools. But if it is moved to Dallas you are pretty much guaranteed it’ll be empty no matter who is playing if the attendance numbers are any indication.

I think it’s better to host the tournament in a place you have a chance to have high attendance rather than a place you’re guaranteed to have low attendance. NMSU will be gone to CUSA so the WAC could hold it in North Dakota for all I care.

It could be held in Huntsville. There’s 0% chance of a partisan home crowd, and even though the arena is older, nearly all the seats are like new and have never been used.

But seriously, after we are gone GCU is the only school with any fans who would come. The rest have almost no support at home, let alone traveling.

(02-08-2022 04:08 PM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 02:07 PM)DoubleRSU Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 10:43 AM)YesCubanB Wrote:  

(02-08-2022 09:36 AM)Todor Wrote:  If Texas fans aren’t attending their own home games all season, they aren’t coming to a tournament in Texas either.

I have to say I agree with this. People complain about Phoenix due to it basically being a GCU home game. But better for the league and especially on TV to see a packed house for the WAC tournament championship than to see 100 fans and hearing each individual cough from fans. Until the Texas teams show they can draw the crowds I see no logic in moving it to Texas.

If GCU makes the championship game, sure. If they lose, it will be totally empty. That’s the risk you take by having on someone’s home court.

I never said have it on their home court. I said Phoenix. Just like having it in Dallas wouldn’t the home court of one of the Texas schools. But if it is moved to Dallas you are pretty much guaranteed it’ll be empty no matter who is playing if the attendance numbers are any indication.

I think it’s better to host the tournament in a place you have a chance to have high attendance rather than a place you’re guaranteed to have low attendance. NMSU will be gone to CUSA so the WAC could hold it in North Dakota for all I care.

I meant home city. It doesn’t matter if it’s played at a middle school in Phoenix. If GCU loses in the 1st game, the other games will have virtually no fans.

Would Dallas be any better than Las Vegas? Depends on who is playing. I would bet a ACU/SFA final in Dallas, would have better attendance than those teams in Las Vegas. With the game being on Saturday, Texas schools have an opportunity to get more fans there for the game, maybe not the whole tournament, but the game. While, a ACU/SFA fan in Texas, is not going to book a flight to Vegas on Friday night for one game. Fans of the Texas teams will be there for the whole tournament, probably very few of them. If it’s in Dallas, better chance to get more fans for Friday and Saturday games.

It has been a while, but even up to the late 1990's while Lamar was still in the Sunbelt, Lamar regularly had five to six thousand for home games. Moving back to the Southland hurt attendance and mediocre to bad win/loss records started killing the attendance. Considering there is not a metropolitan area to draw fans from SFA does pretty well and generally for tournament time they travel pretty good.

(02-08-2022 05:38 PM)FirstandGoal Wrote:  It has been a while, but even up to the late 1990's while Lamar was still in the Sunbelt, Lamar regularly had five to six thousand for home games. Moving back to the Southland hurt attendance and mediocre to bad win/loss records started killing the attendance. Considering there is not a metropolitan area to draw fans from SFA does pretty well and generally for tournament time they travel pretty good.

Personally, I think Lamar fans are showing pretty good support, during an obviously tough season. You are still outdrawing most of this conference.

If your fans show up this well during a down year, I have no trouble believing that those numbers will rise back to more normal levels. Lamar seems to have a good fan base, at least it appears to to me from the outside.

New Mexico State is a 13 in my bracket

https://carolinasportsthoughts.wordpress...etology-3/