(01-04-2021 01:11 PM)OscarWildeCat Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 01:05 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 05:40 AM)OscarWildeCat Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 03:20 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  [quote='Stugray2' pid='17195984' dateline='1609527569']
Schools make moves, usually individually. This is an unusual situation where the long established Texas football schools have decided to leave the SLC. It is a decision driven by the ADs and Presidents, essentially to break with the SLC leadership (which they must have deep irrevocable differences with -- such that the SLC is trying to push them out this June with no lame duck year the Texas schools propose) and with the Louisiana schools, whom they have lost confidence with.

But for UTRGV to start football it requires additional constituencies to buy in and pony up significant money. UTRGV in fact had a study of D-I football where the conclusion was FBS possibly makes sense (i.e., the route Old Dominion, Charlotte and Texas-San Antonio went) but starting an FCS program does not -- when you figure in stadium and other facility requirements for a start up. To start an FCS program would need another study, a commitment from donors and a facilities plan and timeline. It seems a few bridges too far.

I tend to agree, but there may be a joker in the deck. That is if there is a well-conceived, realistic plan to quickly (I would consider that to be within 5 years) make a move to FBS for the WAC, it would change the dynamics, and it would essentially be a move to FBS with a planned short stay in FCS for UTRGV.


If there is such a plan no one appears to have seen it. I haven’t seen a single source who has reported that there’s there is any kind of plan realistic or otherwise in place to do anything other than sponsor FCS football.

There has been talk of FBS in semi-official statements. Most notably, when Dixie State and Tarleton were added there were several comments about a long term goal of FBS. More recently, in an interview NMSU's AD made the statement that if FBS were a part of the plan, that would be good. He said that in the context that he could not talk about specifics. His history has been that he doesn't drop those kind of hints unless there is something in the works. It doesn't necessarily mean it will come to fruition, but it is pretty strong indication that there is at least some consideration of it.

Ok. I knew about the NMSU AD’s comment but I didn’t take it as anything more than his hope for the future.

Our AD told me, in a face to face discussion, that Tarleton had FBS aspirations. Take that for what it's worth.