How serious are they about bringing back football and how close are they to doing so and entering the FBS?


Note: Don't let my post count spook you. (666)

(05-06-2012 10:09 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  How serious are they about bringing back football and how close are they to doing so and entering the FBS?


Note: Don't let my post count spook you.

I was wondering something similar. But I was also wondering, if it was possible that them adding football (at least at some point in the near future (i.e. before 2020)) was a requirement (or at least an understood commitment) of them being added to the SBC?

To that point, what are the chances that UTA also announces the return on their football program on the same day they announce their acceptance of their Sun Belt invite?

Back when UTA was giving their presentation to get WAC membership, I believe they outlined that it was a possibility.

Since then, one of the Bobcat Report guys said that they have not received the amount of support that they thought they would from boosters. But I live in DFW and I never saw them being very public about it, so take that with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that since they just opened a brand new basketball stadium, other academic buildings and departments will be the priorities for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe then, they will start to be more public about trying to get the funds to start a football program. At the earliest, I see a program starting in 2018-2020. Hopefully Benson will get them to set a firm date when/if they accept their membership to the Belt.

To me the possibility of UTA adding football is a case against adding Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.

If you do add them, and then UTA adds football then we end up with 13 football playing schools. There is really no advantage to going above 12 schools what so ever.

Might be better to stay at 10/12 and wait for UTA football, which I believe is only a matter of time. I mean come on. They're in Texas for crying out loud.

Then you could add what ever program looks best at that time to round out at 12 football teams.

If UTA restarts its program down the road, another western addition makes sense for divisional play. The likely pool of candidates would be as follows:

Missouri State (likely football only)
Lamar
Sam Houston State
Central Arkansas

If UALR stays an eastern non-football school could be brought in-perhaps the Sun Belt could re-admit Jacksonville. If the SBC adds another Southland school, the Southland could invite UALR just because they'd be available.

(05-06-2012 05:46 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  To me the possibility of UTA adding football is a case against adding Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.

If you do add them, and then UTA adds football then we end up with 13 football playing schools. There is really no advantage to going above 12 schools what so ever.

Might be better to stay at 10/12 and wait for UTA football, which I believe is only a matter of time. I mean come on. They're in Texas for crying out loud.

Then you could add what ever program looks best at that time to round out at 12 football teams.

It's likely C-USA loses another school in the coming years and that the replacement would come from the SBC. It's also better to deal in certainties than hypotheticals. So you add App State and GA Southern and you worry about Texas-Arlington when that time comes, IF it ever comes. Jmo.

(05-06-2012 02:22 PM)TxStBobcat Wrote:  Back when UTA was giving their presentation to get WAC membership, I believe they outlined that it was a possibility.

Since then, one of the Bobcat Report guys said that they have not received the amount of support that they thought they would from boosters. But I live in DFW and I never saw them being very public about it, so take that with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that since they just opened a brand new basketball stadium, other academic buildings and departments will be the priorities for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe then, they will start to be more public about trying to get the funds to start a football program. At the earliest, I see a program starting in 2018-2020. Hopefully Benson will get them to set a firm date when/if they accept their membership to the Belt.

Sincerly hope that UTA adds football. I don't want TX St to be on an "island" in the Belt the way UNT was . . .

(05-07-2012 07:50 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 02:22 PM)TxStBobcat Wrote:  Back when UTA was giving their presentation to get WAC membership, I believe they outlined that it was a possibility.

Since then, one of the Bobcat Report guys said that they have not received the amount of support that they thought they would from boosters. But I live in DFW and I never saw them being very public about it, so take that with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that since they just opened a brand new basketball stadium, other academic buildings and departments will be the priorities for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe then, they will start to be more public about trying to get the funds to start a football program. At the earliest, I see a program starting in 2018-2020. Hopefully Benson will get them to set a firm date when/if they accept their membership to the Belt.

Sincerly hope that UTA adds football. I don't want TX St to be on an "island" in the Belt the way UNT was . . .

the new AD has said that they would do some upgrades to the baseball/softball facilities first...but if they could play over at JerryWorld, football seems to be possible providing the funds would be there. I get the maverick club news and have not seen any attempt at football fundraising yet. I think they were pretty successful in selling seats to the new arena tho and many longtime boosters would reappear if they restarted football.

(05-07-2012 07:50 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 02:22 PM)TxStBobcat Wrote:  Back when UTA was giving their presentation to get WAC membership, I believe they outlined that it was a possibility.

Since then, one of the Bobcat Report guys said that they have not received the amount of support that they thought they would from boosters. But I live in DFW and I never saw them being very public about it, so take that with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that since they just opened a brand new basketball stadium, other academic buildings and departments will be the priorities for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe then, they will start to be more public about trying to get the funds to start a football program. At the earliest, I see a program starting in 2018-2020. Hopefully Benson will get them to set a firm date when/if they accept their membership to the Belt.

Sincerly hope that UTA adds football. I don't want TX St to be on an "island" in the Belt the way UNT was . . .

No offense, but no more Southland schools. We got the best of the SLC in TX State. We don't need UTA. In fact, UALR should move to the SLC. The Sun Belt needs to be an All Sports Conference. Just my opinion.

(05-07-2012 07:50 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 02:22 PM)TxStBobcat Wrote:  Back when UTA was giving their presentation to get WAC membership, I believe they outlined that it was a possibility.

Since then, one of the Bobcat Report guys said that they have not received the amount of support that they thought they would from boosters. But I live in DFW and I never saw them being very public about it, so take that with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that since they just opened a brand new basketball stadium, other academic buildings and departments will be the priorities for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe then, they will start to be more public about trying to get the funds to start a football program. At the earliest, I see a program starting in 2018-2020. Hopefully Benson will get them to set a firm date when/if they accept their membership to the Belt.

Sincerly hope that UTA adds football. I don't want TX St to be on an "island" in the Belt the way UNT was . . .

probably why the commish has backed off uta and there has been no news..must be some talks afoot about the issue..maybe he got some flak from the other schools about uta..I hope they are added. they are more akin to the sun belt schools than to seattle or denver or Idaho...

(05-07-2012 09:12 AM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 07:50 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-06-2012 02:22 PM)TxStBobcat Wrote:  Back when UTA was giving their presentation to get WAC membership, I believe they outlined that it was a possibility.

Since then, one of the Bobcat Report guys said that they have not received the amount of support that they thought they would from boosters. But I live in DFW and I never saw them being very public about it, so take that with a grain of salt...

My opinion is that since they just opened a brand new basketball stadium, other academic buildings and departments will be the priorities for the next 2 or 3 years. Maybe then, they will start to be more public about trying to get the funds to start a football program. At the earliest, I see a program starting in 2018-2020. Hopefully Benson will get them to set a firm date when/if they accept their membership to the Belt.

Sincerly hope that UTA adds football. I don't want TX St to be on an "island" in the Belt the way UNT was . . .

No offense, but no more Southland schools. We got the best of the SLC in TX State. We don't need UTA. In fact, UALR should move to the SLC. The Sun Belt needs to be an All Sports Conference. Just my opinion.

adding the new arena probably doesnt affect their building program much, as they have recently added about 400 million dollars worth of new buildings and several are in the finishing stages...but money for sports specific projects is harder to come by..

I'm not too interested in UTA adding football. Yes it gives a Texas team to play but it also continues to dilute the talent pool. I kind of think they threw the idea of adding football just to help get an invite to the WAC. I just don't see it happening anytime soon or at all.

(05-07-2012 09:25 AM)slycat Wrote:  I'm not too interested in UTA adding football. Yes it gives a Texas team to play but it also continues to dilute the talent pool. I kind of think they threw the idea of adding football just to help get an invite to the WAC. I just don't see it happening anytime soon or at all.

yes- college football is a hard sell in the metroplex unless it is a UT game or A-M..there also is a pretty good following here for Tech....just too many other activities..If uta was a 35000 student school in some small town like abilene or somewhere they would probably have a more motivated fanbase...

Plus our fans are pissed that UTSA "passed" us up. Imagine if UTA did the same and we were the ones wanting them to add football in the first place.

My feelings are if they have the money to make the move to bring back football seriously and aspire to FBS level, enter the SBC it could do wonders for the league with them being in the Metroplex area (D-FW) market area. It would possibly be as big as what Georgia State/Atlanta will do. Please don't attempt to compare it with the UNT situation. Denton is a long way off. JMO.

(05-07-2012 09:33 AM)slycat Wrote:  Plus our fans are pissed that UTSA "passed" us up. Imagine if UTA did the same and we were the ones wanting them to add football in the first place.

If UTA also "passed" us up, Teis better not show his face in public again. If so, he'll make another powerpoint to release to the public to show he did everything he could, yet it's the alumni's fault.

(05-07-2012 09:25 AM)slycat Wrote:  I'm not too interested in UTA adding football. Yes it gives a Texas team to play but it also continues to dilute the talent pool. I kind of think they threw the idea of adding football just to help get an invite to the WAC. I just don't see it happening anytime soon or at all.

That is crazy talk. Texas is a football state.

clue: "Friday Night Lights"

In Texas everything is supposedly bigger...including egos. UTA alumni are eventually going to get tired of being laughed at by the water cooler. Football is coming... the question is will it be here by 2016.

(05-07-2012 12:30 PM)YouCanUseaMint Wrote:  

(05-07-2012 09:33 AM)slycat Wrote:  Plus our fans are pissed that UTSA "passed" us up. Imagine if UTA did the same and we were the ones wanting them to add football in the first place.

If UTA also "passed" us up, Teis better not show his face in public again. If so, he'll make another powerpoint to release to the public to show he did everything he could, yet it's the alumni's fault.

somehow utsa was able to sign lots of major home games when they announced they were going to start football. I think that weighed heavily in their selection.. they have no facilities to speak of but were able to get home and home games with teams like arizona and virginia and ok state and kansas and baylor before even putting on the first jockstrap...c-usa could not pass that up..

(05-06-2012 06:37 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  If UTA restarts its program down the road, another western addition makes sense for divisional play. The likely pool of candidates would be as follows:

Missouri State (likely football only)
Lamar
Sam Houston State
Central Arkansas

If UALR stays an eastern non-football school could be brought in-perhaps the Sun Belt could re-admit Jacksonville. If the SBC adds another Southland school, the Southland could invite UALR just because they'd be available.

uca seems to be rising fast...

(05-06-2012 06:37 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  If UTA restarts its program down the road, another western addition makes sense for divisional play. The likely pool of candidates would be as follows:

Missouri State (likely football only)

I guess technically we could serve as UALR's football team, but our basketball team is our selling point not football team. No way would the Sun Belt take us without all-sports. Unless they did the MAC thing like with UMass and Temple and play a certain amount of Sun Belt teams OOC each year in hoops. But still I don't see it happening.