(08-20-2013 08:03 AM)runamuck Wrote:  this year we played tcu in a baseball at rangers ballpark and there were over 5,000 there for that...mostly uta fans I mght add.

The Rangers ballpark is an uber fantastic pro facility. It would be great to have the SBC baseball tournament there someday. Any chance of that now that UTA is in the conference?

It may be possible. I covered the Big 12 tourney there one year, so it has been done before. I think that the cost could be an issue, but scheduling should be fine, as long as the Rangers are on a road trip that week. With the SBC's baseball profile, the venue would fit.

This was actually the first time that UTA played there before. That was the new AD's doing. I wasn't able to go, but the word I heard was a great atmosphere.

(08-20-2013 09:04 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  It may be possible. I covered the Big 12 tourney there one year, so it has been done before. I think that the cost could be an issue, but scheduling should be fine, as long as the Rangers are on a road trip that week. With the SBC's baseball profile, the venue would fit.

This was actually the first time that UTA played there before. That was the new AD's doing. I wasn't able to go, but the word I heard was a great atmosphere.

I went and it was a great atmosphere. both teams play pretty good ball and metro-plex fans seem to know the game pretty well. the uta souvenir tables were swamped with people trying to buy stuff..I was really surprised at that.

If I can find a baseball cap without the orange, I would get one. If you see one, will you buy it for me and I will pay it back, plus a finders fee?

LOL how the thread moved from football to baseball.

South Alabama was lucky to get an experienced and successful ex-MLB manager to become HC back in 1969 when the program was young. It is a sport that we have (mostly) excelled at ever since. Last I heard, Stanky Field was the largest in the SBC with a capacity of 4,500. Over the last decade or so, BCS-type programs have invested heavily in baseball facilities. But I know throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Stanky Field was a better venue than what several current SEC- and ACC-programs had at the time.

(08-20-2013 07:21 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 07:01 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 10:32 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  

(08-15-2013 06:41 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(05-20-2013 09:43 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  So you are suggesting playing 30 miles off campus when that was one of the big reasons of the program's demise to begin with?

No thank you.

FYI, the Cotton Bowl hosts 2-4 games during the State Fair and a mid-level bowl game. What I would like to see is an annual UTA-UNT game at the Cotton Bowl. I think the location, time and opponent would be a good draw and could drum up interest.

There's a reason why they shutdown the program. They only drew around 5,000 per game in their last season in 85. They have about 10,000 more students now than then. Still the numbers probably wouldn't support UTA bringing back football. The average age of a UTA student is 27! The average age of a UNO student is 25. I'm a UNO alumni. I could careless about their sports teams or the school in general. UNO averages about 500 people per game in basketball. UTA and UNO are commuter schools pure and simple. UNO concentrated on academics and now depending on which rankings you go to, they are in the top five of Louisiana universities. SLU another commuter school killed football back in the 80's. They brought it back and now average 5,000 per game.

I'm not sure why you dragged that up, or even why the response you gave has that quote, as they don't seem to relate, but whatever, I'll bite.

Per Wikipedia:
University of Louisiana at Lafayette: enrollment is 16,885, of which only 1,564 are postgraduates (9.2%).

University of Texas at Arlington: enrollment is 33,439, of which 8,020 are postgraduates (24.0%).

University of New Orleans: enrollment is 9,825, of which 2,326 are postgraduates (23.7%).

These postgraduates will age any average. I'll use me as an example. I transferred from a junior college to UTA in August 2000. I was 20. I graduated from UTA in December 2003 when I was 24. I went back to UTA for my Masters in August of 2008. I was 28, I graduated two years later at 30. Does that take anything away from UTA? I don't see how. Offering a large number of postgraduate opportunities should be a good thing.

Does this mean either school isn't a commuter? Nope, but considering when I started, UTA opened their first dorm in decades, and it is now one of the older ones. There are now six residence halls that house 5,300. University-owned apartments, coupled with the huge amount of dorms and residence halls mean that literally thousands of students live on campus. Add in the numerous non-U owned apart that are nearby and there are roughly more than 10,000 students who live on or directly adjacent to campus. I guarantee you that is more than Louisiana. Yeah, that means 20,000 or so students commute, but does that make it a commuter school. By that definition, so is UT-Austin. It just isn't a black and white label like it used to be.

Going back to me, I wasn't a commuter student for undergraduate, as I lived in a private house adjacent to campus. For my Masters work I was. Does that mean I cared less about UTA?

Bottom line is that no reference to 1985 is valid today. If it is, then that means UTA football is still way better than the Cajun team, as we are 9-6 all-time. I, however, wouldn't make that claim, since I can realize that 1985 doesn't relate to current conditions.

There's nothing wrong with being a commuter school. That's what UTA is pure and simple. The average age of a UTA student is 27. Are you suggesting that UTA students wait five to six years before entering college?

If you google UTA you will get hundreds of hits calling it a commuter school.
Here's one link where you are trying to shred the commuter image. http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/25/...of-ut.html

UTA doesn't have a traditional college enrollment. At 27 you are trying to finish that degree you dropped out on or you are trying to get an advance degree. You obviously have a love for your university which is normal and commendable. However don't try to sell your school as something it is not and expect others to buy it. With a student enrollment of 33,000, I would imagine all your basketball games are sold out?

Whatever. I will repeat the key phrases again, then leave you to your bitterness that you expressed in our private messages.

8,000 students are working on a Masters or doctorate. That means at least 8,000 students have already had a Bachelors. That is 24% of our student population, compared to only 9% for UL-L. (That means the average age will go up)

5,300 live on campus in residence halls. Add in the U-owned apartments and the number hits well over 10,000. Your website lists 2,600 as on-campus residents. Our enrollment is double yours, but our on-campus housing is 4-5 times yours. That just wasn't true until this past decade, and certainly not 1985.

UT or A&M, with an enrollment of 50,000+ doesn't sell out their basketball games, so that is just a straw man's argument.

I guess being from Louisiana, where you try to put down your conference and its members because you feel slighted for being left behind, you know everything, but the truth is UTA is no longer a true commuter school. Period.

What do you have against people from Louisiana? I never understood that Texan we are better than you attitude. What is your basketball attendance? Nobody said anything about selling out. It is a good measurement on student interest in athletics. What about the 27 year old average student? You can throw all the number you want to about enrollment etc... but UTA is not a traditional college. Even your own website makes reference trying to shed that commuter image. It might be a great academic institution. I don't know. All the grad students would suggest that. Like I've said, commuter schools are filled with people trying to finish their degree or trying to get an advance degree. I stand firm that until you can get the average age of your students down, UTA will always be a commuter school. It will never have the atmosphere of a traditional college. At 27 most people are married and trying to provide for their families. They aren't likely to be interested in wasting money or time going to a sporting event.

As far as wanting to get out of the Belt. It's no secret UL along with ASU are actively looking for a new home. I'm just honest about it.

(08-20-2013 02:36 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  What do you have against people from Louisiana? I never understood that Texan we are better than you attitude.

Here we go...

Quote:At 27 most people are married and trying to provide for their families. They aren't likely to be interested in wasting money or time going to a sporting event.

Your demographic data is about 40 years out-of-date.

Quote:At 27 most people are married and trying to provide for their families. They aren't likely to be interested in wasting money or time going to a sporting event.

Your demographic data is about 40 years out-of-date.
[/quote]

Take it up with UTA then. It comes from their website. Their graduate school looks pretty impressive. They are trying to become a more "traditional college". They are pretty much saying everything that I've said. THEY ARE A COMMUTER SCHOOL! They are trying to shed that image. UTASportscaster is trying to spin things as what they hope to be. Not what they are right now. Pre-Katrina UNO had close to 20,000 students but only average 500 if that at their basketball games. It was and still is a commuter school. I'm an alumni of UNO finishing an advance degree. I could careless if their sports program turns to dust. UTA Sportscaster loves to show you the enrollment numbers etc... but it doesn't really mean much when you are talking sports. Does your average UTA student care about their sports program? What's the actual basketball attendance which is the only major sport they play?
http://wweb.uta.edu/catalog/content/gene...t_uta.aspx

Fo and Run, you have made our case very well, and I could not agree more. Fo, I know you love the battle, but I recommend ignoring some Louisiana a-hole. He exposes himself, and I would be comfortable at this point to let the intelligent readers draw their own conclusions.

Side comment: if we are a commuter school by somebody's preferred personal definition, then we certainly have many high quality, prestigious institutions around the country as company.

I may sometimes be quite candid on our own board, but, generally, esp. at places like this board, I try to build-up my fellow conference mates and conference (or just remain silent).

(08-20-2013 02:36 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(08-20-2013 07:21 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 07:01 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(08-19-2013 10:32 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  

(08-15-2013 06:41 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  There's a reason why they shutdown the program. They only drew around 5,000 per game in their last season in 85. They have about 10,000 more students now than then. Still the numbers probably wouldn't support UTA bringing back football. The average age of a UTA student is 27! The average age of a UNO student is 25. I'm a UNO alumni. I could careless about their sports teams or the school in general. UNO averages about 500 people per game in basketball. UTA and UNO are commuter schools pure and simple. UNO concentrated on academics and now depending on which rankings you go to, they are in the top five of Louisiana universities. SLU another commuter school killed football back in the 80's. They brought it back and now average 5,000 per game.

I'm not sure why you dragged that up, or even why the response you gave has that quote, as they don't seem to relate, but whatever, I'll bite.

Per Wikipedia:
University of Louisiana at Lafayette: enrollment is 16,885, of which only 1,564 are postgraduates (9.2%).

University of Texas at Arlington: enrollment is 33,439, of which 8,020 are postgraduates (24.0%).

University of New Orleans: enrollment is 9,825, of which 2,326 are postgraduates (23.7%).

These postgraduates will age any average. I'll use me as an example. I transferred from a junior college to UTA in August 2000. I was 20. I graduated from UTA in December 2003 when I was 24. I went back to UTA for my Masters in August of 2008. I was 28, I graduated two years later at 30. Does that take anything away from UTA? I don't see how. Offering a large number of postgraduate opportunities should be a good thing.

Does this mean either school isn't a commuter? Nope, but considering when I started, UTA opened their first dorm in decades, and it is now one of the older ones. There are now six residence halls that house 5,300. University-owned apartments, coupled with the huge amount of dorms and residence halls mean that literally thousands of students live on campus. Add in the numerous non-U owned apart that are nearby and there are roughly more than 10,000 students who live on or directly adjacent to campus. I guarantee you that is more than Louisiana. Yeah, that means 20,000 or so students commute, but does that make it a commuter school. By that definition, so is UT-Austin. It just isn't a black and white label like it used to be.

Going back to me, I wasn't a commuter student for undergraduate, as I lived in a private house adjacent to campus. For my Masters work I was. Does that mean I cared less about UTA?

Bottom line is that no reference to 1985 is valid today. If it is, then that means UTA football is still way better than the Cajun team, as we are 9-6 all-time. I, however, wouldn't make that claim, since I can realize that 1985 doesn't relate to current conditions.

There's nothing wrong with being a commuter school. That's what UTA is pure and simple. The average age of a UTA student is 27. Are you suggesting that UTA students wait five to six years before entering college?

If you google UTA you will get hundreds of hits calling it a commuter school.
Here's one link where you are trying to shred the commuter image. http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/01/25/...of-ut.html

UTA doesn't have a traditional college enrollment. At 27 you are trying to finish that degree you dropped out on or you are trying to get an advance degree. You obviously have a love for your university which is normal and commendable. However don't try to sell your school as something it is not and expect others to buy it. With a student enrollment of 33,000, I would imagine all your basketball games are sold out?

Whatever. I will repeat the key phrases again, then leave you to your bitterness that you expressed in our private messages.

8,000 students are working on a Masters or doctorate. That means at least 8,000 students have already had a Bachelors. That is 24% of our student population, compared to only 9% for UL-L. (That means the average age will go up)

5,300 live on campus in residence halls. Add in the U-owned apartments and the number hits well over 10,000. Your website lists 2,600 as on-campus residents. Our enrollment is double yours, but our on-campus housing is 4-5 times yours. That just wasn't true until this past decade, and certainly not 1985.

UT or A&M, with an enrollment of 50,000+ doesn't sell out their basketball games, so that is just a straw man's argument.

I guess being from Louisiana, where you try to put down your conference and its members because you feel slighted for being left behind, you know everything, but the truth is UTA is no longer a true commuter school. Period.

What do you have against people from Louisiana? I never understood that Texan we are better than you attitude. What is your basketball attendance? Nobody said anything about selling out. It is a good measurement on student interest in athletics. What about the 27 year old average student? You can throw all the number you want to about enrollment etc... but UTA is not a traditional college. Even your own website makes reference trying to shed that commuter image. It might be a great academic institution. I don't know. All the grad students would suggest that. Like I've said, commuter schools are filled with people trying to finish their degree or trying to get an advance degree. I stand firm that until you can get the average age of your students down, UTA will always be a commuter school. It will never have the atmosphere of a traditional college. At 27 most people are married and trying to provide for their families. They aren't likely to be interested in wasting money or time going to a sporting event.

As far as wanting to get out of the Belt. It's no secret UL along with ASU are actively looking for a new home. I'm just honest about it.

She got her panties in a knot because no one cares about UTA’s once power house volleyball program. She is your typical intellectual coward, sends you nasty private messages and blocks you from responding. You would be do better to avoid her, she is a true mental midget and a coward!

(08-20-2013 08:16 PM)UTArlingtonMaverick Wrote:  Fo and Run, you have made our case very well, and I could not agree more. Fo, I know you love the battle, but I recommend ignoring some Louisiana a-hole. He exposes himself, and I would be comfortable at this point to let the intelligent readers draw their own conclusions.

Side comment: if we are a commuter school by somebody's preferred personal definition, then we certainly have many high quality, prestigious institutions around the country as company.

I may sometimes be quite candid on our own board, but, generally, esp. at places like this board, I try to build-up my fellow conference mates and conference (or just remain silent).

There you go with the Louisiana thing again. Forgive this poor old Louisiana guy and tell me what the heck is Fo? We don't know over here how to Fo and run. Your own official website says it all. You are not a traditional college and you wish to shed the commuter college tag. Good for you guys but you haven't done it yet. Still waiting on those basketball attendance numbers. The best I could find is over a year old. You average 2,600 at home. That's probably tickets sold and not actually rears in the seats. Not terrible but for a school with 33,000 you would think it would be more. It would make any reasonable person believe that your students really don't care about UTA athletics. Very similar to UNO.
http://www.utamavs.com/sports/m-baskbl/s...mcume.html

Whatever dude. If you want to ignore those who have actual experience and say average age is 27 as the only basis for your stance, fine but it makes you look like ignorant at best. I have throw out more than just the one you have, like how our on-campus student population almost equals your total enrollment, but if you want to ignore something that doesn't back your point up fine, but that's on you and I would bet most everyone on this board can see through it pretty easily.

(08-21-2013 07:27 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Whatever dude. If you want to ignore those who have actual experience and say average age is 27 as the only basis for your stance, fine but it makes you look like ignorant at best. I have throw out more than just the one you have, like how our on-campus student population almost equals your total enrollment, but if you want to ignore something that doesn't back your point up fine, but that's on you and I would bet most everyone on this board can see through it pretty easily.

Forgive this poor ignorant Louisiana guy. You know how slow we are over here. If you have 16,000 living on campus, why do you only average 2,600 for your only major sport? Could it be that you are not a traditional college like your own website admits and nobody cares about UTA sports?

(08-21-2013 07:27 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Whatever dude. If you want to ignore those who have actual experience and say average age is 27 as the only basis for your stance, fine but it makes you look like ignorant at best. I have throw out more than just the one you have, like how our on-campus student population almost equals your total enrollment, but if you want to ignore something that doesn't back your point up fine, but that's on you and I would bet most everyone on this board can see through it pretty easily.

If UTA added football it would make it a heavy western conference The conference would have to add someone East. If you also add MSU you would still have to add someone from the east and one team would have to move to the eastern division. Even though this may cause a problem this should be the long term goal because you never know when conference shift will happen again. Hope I did not forget anyone

West
ULM
UL
UTA
TXST
ASU
NMSU
Or if you add MSU
MSU

East
GSU
GSouth
App
USA
Troy

If UTA were to suit up next year (impossible), here is the geographical logical divisions.

West
Idaho
NMSU
TXST
UTA
ASU

East
App St
Geo Sou
GAST
Troy
USA

The trick is where ULM and ULL go. That's a natural rivalry that shouldn't be broken up. Adding Mo St would create unbalanced divisions, but would at least make room for the two Louisiana's in the east. Not perfect, but it works. Unless Idaho were to leave or be forced out. Then it is a balanced six and six.

(08-21-2013 09:09 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If UTA were to suit up next year (impossible), here is the geographical logical divisions.

West
Idaho
NMSU
TXST
UTA
ASU

East
App St
Geo Sou
GAST
Troy
USA

The trick is where ULM and ULL go. That's a natural rivalry that shouldn't be broken up. Adding Mo St would create unbalanced divisions, but would at least make room for the two Louisiana's in the east. Not perfect, but it works. Unless Idaho were to leave or be forced out. Then it is a balanced six and six.

UTA isn't adding football so your whole post is useless. Nice try at dodging attendance issues for basketball.

(08-21-2013 09:39 AM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 09:09 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If UTA were to suit up next year (impossible), here is the geographical logical divisions.

West
Idaho
NMSU
TXST
UTA
ASU

East
App St
Geo Sou
GAST
Troy
USA

The trick is where ULM and ULL go. That's a natural rivalry that shouldn't be broken up. Adding Mo St would create unbalanced divisions, but would at least make room for the two Louisiana's in the east. Not perfect, but it works. Unless Idaho were to leave or be forced out. Then it is a balanced six and six.

UTA isn't adding football so your whole post is useless. Nice try at dodging attendance issues for basketball.

You'll see a significant increase in UTA's basketball attendance with their new facility. Playing on the stage was horrible for attendance as well as visiting teams. Why all the hate for UTA ? They will be a good conference member. Also there is a lot of competition for the sports entertainment dollar in the Metroplex that you don't have at ULL.

And actually you are considered a "commuter" if you only live a block from the campus. Betcha UTA has more students living on or near campus than the totally number that attend ULL.

Appreciate the kind words.

These are guys who are so upset that they aren't in C-USA that they are demeaning the SBC and incoming members. They ate scorching earth and burning the bridges they are standing on and then getting mad at us for putting out the fires.

(08-21-2013 09:43 AM)MG61 Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 09:39 AM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(08-21-2013 09:09 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  If UTA were to suit up next year (impossible), here is the geographical logical divisions.

West
Idaho
NMSU
TXST
UTA
ASU

East
App St
Geo Sou
GAST
Troy
USA

The trick is where ULM and ULL go. That's a natural rivalry that shouldn't be broken up. Adding Mo St would create unbalanced divisions, but would at least make room for the two Louisiana's in the east. Not perfect, but it works. Unless Idaho were to leave or be forced out. Then it is a balanced six and six.

UTA isn't adding football so your whole post is useless. Nice try at dodging attendance issues for basketball.

You'll see a significant increase in UTA's basketball attendance with their new facility. Playing on the stage was horrible for attendance as well as visiting teams. Why all the hate for UTA ? They will be a good conference member.

No real love or hate for UTA. I just get irritated when a salesmen tries to tell me the mini van in the lot is really a Ferrari. With 33,000 students UTA has a lot of potential like ten or twenty years down the road. You aren't going to change the demographics and culture of a school overnight. Sorry but with a student base so large to only draw 2,600 in basketball speaks volumes even if you were playing in a parking lot. It sounds like your school is trying to change that but of course it will take time. UTA reminds me of UNO at the present time. It also reminds me of USF 20 years ago. USF was an urban commuter school 20 years ago. They went from nothing to BCS in a flash. UTA has that kind of potential with the large student body and graduate programs. It just isn't close to being there right now. What's with the Louisiana hate?

(08-21-2013 10:47 AM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  They ate scorching earth and burning the bridges they are standing on and then getting mad at us for putting out the fires.