I saw a little talk on Twitter about a WAC/Sun Belt merger and thought....what!? Even though the WAC would finally have eight football schools (and more), the conference would stretch from Seattle to Miami unless a couple of schools leave for another conference (which wouldn't be totally shocking).
Since last year, I've wanted Texas State to join the Sun Belt just because the travel distance is more reasonable than the schools that are in the WAC. However, since the addition of UTA, the WAC is becoming more favorable for Texas State.
Not even sure what this new conference would be called. That might take some serious thinking. The merger would create 16 football and 21 total school. I don't believe this conference would be functional with that many members. I'm sure some would be unhappy with the merger and part ways.
With less than a year from the start of the 2012 season, I hope the WAC finds an additional school to make an eight-team football conference. If not, Texas State, UTSA, UTA, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State will comprise the WAC's football schools.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Bobcat Volleyball Update
The 2011 volleyball season is well underway with Texas State sitting at 10-6 (1-1 SLC). The Bobcats opened up conference play last Thursday when they took on I-35 rival, UTSA, and suffered a disappointing 3-0 loss to the Roadrunners in front of a season-high 1,277 crowd. The team is looking to capture their last Southland Conference championship before they move to the WAC next year.
The Bobcats look to be one of the top teams in the conference after Central Arkansas has gotten off to a rocky start. UTSA will be the Bobcats' toughest competition this season.
After setting a season-high of seven aces, senior Lindy DeGeare currently leads the NCAA in with 30 aces for the season for a .86 aces/set average. Sophomore Ashlee Hilbun is third in the SLC in blocks with 65 and junior Caleigh McCorquodale is sixth in the conference with assists. McCorquodale has totaled 443 assists for the season after not starting two games earlier in the season when redshirt freshman Amy Bremer took charge of the Bobcat offense. McCorquodale's total is enough for 164th in the nation.
-Eat 'Em Up Cats!
The Bobcats look to be one of the top teams in the conference after Central Arkansas has gotten off to a rocky start. UTSA will be the Bobcats' toughest competition this season.
After setting a season-high of seven aces, senior Lindy DeGeare currently leads the NCAA in with 30 aces for the season for a .86 aces/set average. Sophomore Ashlee Hilbun is third in the SLC in blocks with 65 and junior Caleigh McCorquodale is sixth in the conference with assists. McCorquodale has totaled 443 assists for the season after not starting two games earlier in the season when redshirt freshman Amy Bremer took charge of the Bobcat offense. McCorquodale's total is enough for 164th in the nation.
-Eat 'Em Up Cats!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
15,000 is Glorious
The Texas State football team drew 15,800 fans to their home opener against Tarleton State last week, a complete shocker to me. I was curious to see how many fans we could get in the seats after hiring Dennis Franchione last year. Apparently, the new hire worked.
After averaging less than 13,000 fans last season, Texas State is off to a good start in the 2011 season. The NCAA requires that FBS schools average more than 15,000 in one season but there are a few that haven't quite followed that requirement.
In 2010, Ball State averaged the lowest attendance in the FBS with 8,947 (the only school below 10,000). Future WAC opponents, Idaho and San Jose State, were also short of the 15,000 mark with an average attendance of 12,730 and 14,474, respectively. This year, Idaho is averaging 11,391 after two home games as well as MAC schools Kent State and Ball State, who are both averaging 9,000-10,000 after one game. Eastern Michigan is the lowest in the FBS at the moment with a dismal 4,167.
After averaging less than 13,000 fans last season, Texas State is off to a good start in the 2011 season. The NCAA requires that FBS schools average more than 15,000 in one season but there are a few that haven't quite followed that requirement.
In 2010, Ball State averaged the lowest attendance in the FBS with 8,947 (the only school below 10,000). Future WAC opponents, Idaho and San Jose State, were also short of the 15,000 mark with an average attendance of 12,730 and 14,474, respectively. This year, Idaho is averaging 11,391 after two home games as well as MAC schools Kent State and Ball State, who are both averaging 9,000-10,000 after one game. Eastern Michigan is the lowest in the FBS at the moment with a dismal 4,167.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The alignment tornado has hit
With all the latest news on conference alignment, my head feels like it may very well explode! I'm all up for some change but the faces of almost every FBS conference looks like it will be very different in the next year or so. First, the Big 12 schools began discussing leaving the conference and now the Big East schools may very well do the same. A possibility to not ending both conferences would be a merger between the remaining Big East and Big 12 schools if others decide to head for their rumored destinations.
The biggest surprise for me over the weekend for seeing that Texas may join the ACC for non-football schools and play as an independent. Never saw that coming! Also pertaining to the ACC, Pitt and Syracuse will join the conference creating a MEGA POWERHOUSE conference in basketball. I think Texas may want to rethink that move. Many schools have discussed moves but no actions have been made yet. Hopefully soon because it's getting a little annoying on how indecisive the schools' officials are.
The biggest surprise for me over the weekend for seeing that Texas may join the ACC for non-football schools and play as an independent. Never saw that coming! Also pertaining to the ACC, Pitt and Syracuse will join the conference creating a MEGA POWERHOUSE conference in basketball. I think Texas may want to rethink that move. Many schools have discussed moves but no actions have been made yet. Hopefully soon because it's getting a little annoying on how indecisive the schools' officials are.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Week 3: Texas State Football
After losing by 35 to a Wyoming team that I thought we could strongly compete against, I'm a little torn on how the Bobcats will do the rest of the season. This week, Texas State will take on the Texans of Tarleton State, a Division II school but one that has had some success in the past. This should be a good first home game for the Bobcats and it will be nice to finally get a win under our belts (hopefully).
I'm hoping that our final year of playing Southland Conference schools will result in some wins even though we will not advance to the FCS playoffs. With Dennis Franchione as our new coach, I'm wondering how the attendance numbers will turn out with this being our first home game but already standing at 0-2. I hope our numbers will grow bigger than last year's and inch closer to that 15,000 mark.
Construction is in full swing at Bobcat Stadium and the new video boards look awesome. They make the field look more like an FBS stadium. It should be an interesting year!
-Eat 'Em Up!
I'm hoping that our final year of playing Southland Conference schools will result in some wins even though we will not advance to the FCS playoffs. With Dennis Franchione as our new coach, I'm wondering how the attendance numbers will turn out with this being our first home game but already standing at 0-2. I hope our numbers will grow bigger than last year's and inch closer to that 15,000 mark.
Construction is in full swing at Bobcat Stadium and the new video boards look awesome. They make the field look more like an FBS stadium. It should be an interesting year!
-Eat 'Em Up!
Texas A&M: Will they ever leave!?
Well it's been some time now since Texas A&M announced that they wanted to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC. Standing in the way? The Baylor Bears. Baylor, who up until the last couple of years hasn't even competed strongly in the Big 12. Baylor now is leading the charge to try and keep the Aggies in the Big 12. Don't worry A&M, I wouldn't be too scared of Baylor. I'm beginning to wonder if this Big 12 controversy will ever end!
Also showing signs of interest towards other conferences is Oklahoma. The Sooners have flirted with the idea of joining the PAC 12 along with Texas. According to an article on College Sports Info, BYU would take the 10th spot in the Big 12 (if A&M leaves) only if the Sooners plan to stay in the conference. SMU also has shown interest to join the Big 12 and most likely would if given the chance. Looks like the 2011-12 year will also include a lot of changes!
Also showing signs of interest towards other conferences is Oklahoma. The Sooners have flirted with the idea of joining the PAC 12 along with Texas. According to an article on College Sports Info, BYU would take the 10th spot in the Big 12 (if A&M leaves) only if the Sooners plan to stay in the conference. SMU also has shown interest to join the Big 12 and most likely would if given the chance. Looks like the 2011-12 year will also include a lot of changes!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Texas State vs. Texas Tech thoughts
Once the last second of Texas State's 2011 opener against Texas Tech ticked off I wasn't too surprised at the outcome of the event. Although the Bobcats lost by 40 points for the second straight year in their season openers, Texas State led the game for more minutes than the Red Raiders.
The Bobcats began the half leading 10-9 and starting a drive than went all the way into the red zone before a fumble that proved to give the momentum to the Red Raiders for the first time. Four fumbles proved costly for Texas State, who didn't post a single point except in the first period. Despite the 40 point loss, I think Texas State's new head coach, Dennis Franchione, will have the Bobcats competing with FBS schools for the full 60 minutes in the near future.
Saturday, Sept. 10 will be the Bobcats' next test as they take on Wyoming, their second straight FBS opponent.
The Bobcats began the half leading 10-9 and starting a drive than went all the way into the red zone before a fumble that proved to give the momentum to the Red Raiders for the first time. Four fumbles proved costly for Texas State, who didn't post a single point except in the first period. Despite the 40 point loss, I think Texas State's new head coach, Dennis Franchione, will have the Bobcats competing with FBS schools for the full 60 minutes in the near future.
Saturday, Sept. 10 will be the Bobcats' next test as they take on Wyoming, their second straight FBS opponent.
Western Athletic Conference Realignment
The year 2011 has been a memorable one for college athletics with the many changes in the faces of FBS conferences. The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) started off the year adding Texas State, UTSA and Denver after previous WAC schools in Boise State, Hawaii, Nevada and Fresno State announced their departure.
At this moment, the WAC has 10 member schools after adding Texas-Arlington and Seattle to establish the conference in more populated areas, in this case DFW and Seattle. With only seven football-playing schools, the WAC still has some looking to do in order to meet NCAA requirements and return the conference back to a respectable one. Conference officials have been looking into FCS schools to fill the holes left by the former WAC schools. This year, more changes will likely take place at the WAC headquarters as the conference prepares for the 2012-13 year with their new institutions.
WAC Conference
At this moment, the WAC has 10 member schools after adding Texas-Arlington and Seattle to establish the conference in more populated areas, in this case DFW and Seattle. With only seven football-playing schools, the WAC still has some looking to do in order to meet NCAA requirements and return the conference back to a respectable one. Conference officials have been looking into FCS schools to fill the holes left by the former WAC schools. This year, more changes will likely take place at the WAC headquarters as the conference prepares for the 2012-13 year with their new institutions.
WAC Conference
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