SJSUFan2010 wrote:
ncaanopaawaa2000 wrote:
But they should have UALR to re-instate its football program, and having UT-Arlington to upgrade a football program.
That is hopefully where it would end up in 10 years. UT-A made it sound like they were planning to add football when they joined the WAC. I'd imagine Benson would expect that to happen in the Sun Belt as well. If UALR added it as well that would be perfect for the Sun Belt. I imagine NMSU will get into C-USA eventually (because I think UTEP will get a MWC invite at some point) and it's a lot easier to dump Idaho than find another football only school. Of course, if only one added football they'd be able to keep Idaho on to offset the school that doesn't add football. Still puts them at 12/12 with Idaho offsetting UALR.
Unfortunately, there is no indication either plan to add football any time soon. Likely not before 2020 by which time any plan the Sun Belt has right now will be long tossed out.
I have no info on UALR but I do have some contacts inside of UTA (coaches and admin) and UTA was in favor of adding fb in order to NOT be left behind in the Southland with A&M CC, HBU, ACU, IW, regional LA schools and possibly UTPA, and want to join/stay w/ Texas St, UTSA, SHSU, SFA and the better regional LA schools or at least as close as they can get.
That's done, they succeeded and got an invite to an FBS conference where they could upgrade and play football if they want to but they are making good money and are now associated with a higher class of universities and think they should let everything settle before deciding whether or not to re-start the fb program. All the football talk was mostly out of fear of being left behind, but now they are in a pretty stable league and things have settled down, so have any plans to add football.
I will add the UT-Dallas is trying to upgrade to D2 (Go Comets) and has been expanding quite rapidly and could possibly overtake UTA in a few years. They already have a bigger endowment (270mil to UTA's 79mil) and have ample room around to expand and new stuff is popping up every year (I live in Richardson). UTA may add fb just to further separate themselves from UTD and add that extra dimension that UTD is at least 15 years away from being able to do (need more dorms/food options, degree programs/facilities, to get good at bball and probably start a baseball/softball program all first).
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