Bad News for Tech and Good News for the Sunbelt

*Sigh* I wasn't trying to do anything. Just making observations. Defenses are much better than offenses at the begining of the year, so it will be a low scoring game, which will be closer than our gamme (most likely). Once an offense gets a defense on it's heels late in the game, it's easier to rack up a couple of touchdowns. That usually doesn't happen at the begining of the year. A quote from Yoda (lol):

“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.”


Let go of the anger, Dirty Dawg.:icon_wink:

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Author: Bible
Source: Proverbs (ch. XVI, v. 32)

Hey! I'm down to ONE RED DOT! lol :icon_razz:

Someone may have already mentioned this, the thread is way too long and repetitive for me to read it all, but all the talk of common opponents, and no mention of Hawaii's abysmal performance against UGA on a neutral field, versus Troy's very respectable showing against UGA on UGA's home field.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, the WAC is probably a little better at the top than the Sunbelt. I would also say at the bottom the Sun Belt is worse than the bottom of the WAC. I don't think there's a single WAC school that is unbeatable versus the Sunbelt. Could Boise or Hawaii go undefeated in the Sun Belt? Sure they could, they did in the WAC and I'm certainly not arguing that the Sun Belt is better than the WAC. Would they do it? That's another story. Maybe they would maybe they wouldn't. Overall I would say the WAC is definitely the better conference and by a fair margin, but only when you consider all aspects(budget, TV, attendance etc.) as far as on the field product, the I still say the WAC is better, but not by the landslide margin many of you seem to think it is.

The growth in the Sun Belt is undeniable and you could argue that it's only because we had nowhere to go but up. We were certainly the laughing stock of college football as recently as 4 years ago, it's been an uphill battle changing that perception, but we're teaching coaches, administrators, prognosticators and fans that we aren't the doormat we once were. Fans seem to be the last ones to come around, but just ask Virginia fans about their trip to Murfreesboro and what a first class experience it was from start to finish and how they fought tooth and nail to get out of their with a victory.

As far as RaiderInTheZone, SemperFi, or whatever that schizo is going by these days. You'd be well advised to just ignore him.

I am curious and lazy at the same time, Would someone care to post SBC wins over BCS teams in the last 5 years and the same for the WAC? Ignore close games etc just list the wins. Then lets look at the finish of each said BCS team in that season. Like I said curious but lazy.

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Originally Posted by Ken_Horndawgs

I looked it up.

In the last 3 years, to be VERY fair to the newer sunbelt programs and provide a recent picture, the belch has 4 victories over BCS teams:

Vandy, Minnesota, Okie State, and Bama


Since 05, the WAC has defeated Ga Tech, K-State, UW, Oregon State, Oklahoma, Stanford, Purdue, Arizona State, and Northwestern

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A previous post. My premise was that the Sunbelt has recently became close to equal within the last two years. In 2005, we were o.k. Before that, we pretty much stunk. I don't now if the poster included our BCS wins from 05, but it doesn't matter, I'm talking about performance in 06 and 07. Also, BCS wins are a poor indicator vs head to head and common opponents. 9 wins vs 4 does not neccessarily translate to wins on the field.

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Originally Posted by BlueRaiderFn

Yes, after your coach/AD proclaimed the Sunbelt to be inferior, you guys got a LOT of attention. I have been interacting with Tech fans off and on for years (as I do any other mid major..I love my mid majors) and I've seen a pattern of Tech fan thinking they are superior on the field (I'll give you the fact that your perception is superior) and I dispute that. It's not a big deal, but If I think I have a point, why not debate the issues? It's the offseason! In a few weeks, I'l be preocupied with Troy and Maryland and I'll be on their board debating the issues.

The reason you've had so much activity is three fold: It's the off season, the comments by your AD, the increase in gas prices/your vicinity to the bowls that the Sunbelt just locked in. You are one of few schools that are heavily affected by gas prices, so it's news.

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Yeah but how long ago was that? I'm talking about multiple threads started in the last week?

Come one BFN, you guys sound like a bunch of jilted lovers. It's pathetic and sad. you guys need to be better than that.

I don't have a problem with you coming on this board and debating issues with us. You haven't been flaming or anything and I enjoy it the conversation. I have nothing against your school or conference.

Your SBC board however is truly pathetic and obsessive.

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Originally Posted by MTSUPiKapp

Someone may have already mentioned this, the thread is way too long and repetitive for me to read it all, but all the talk of common opponents, and no mention of Hawaii's abysmal performance against UGA on a neutral field, versus Troy's very respectable showing against UGA on UGA's home field.

Anyway, as far as I'm concerned, the WAC is probably a little better at the top than the Sunbelt. I would also say at the bottom the Sun Belt is worse than the bottom of the WAC. I don't think there's a single WAC school that is unbeatable versus the Sunbelt. Could Boise or Hawaii go undefeated in the Sun Belt? Sure they could, they did in the WAC and I'm certainly not arguing that the Sun Belt is better than the WAC. Would they do it? That's another story. Maybe they would maybe they wouldn't. Overall I would say the WAC is definitely the better conference and by a fair margin, but only when you consider all aspects(budget, TV, attendance etc.) as far as on the field product, the I still say the WAC is better, but not by the landslide margin many of you seem to think it is.

The growth in the Sun Belt is undeniable and you could argue that it's only because we had nowhere to go but up. We were certainly the laughing stock of college football as recently as 4 years ago, it's been an uphill battle changing that perception, but we're teaching coaches, administrators, prognosticators and fans that we aren't the doormat we once were. Fans seem to be the last ones to come around, but just ask Virginia fans about their trip to Murfreesboro and what a first class experience it was from start to finish and how they fought tooth and nail to get out of their with a victory.

As far as RaiderInTheZone, SemperFi, or whatever that schizo is going by these days. You'd be well advised to just ignore him.

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We've only began to play repectably in the last two years, so I can understand the view of the Sunbelt. I figure it's our duty to explain our position, state the facts and see if we can gain some repect in the eyes of the uninformed.

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Originally Posted by BlueRaiderFn

Seriously, the comments made by your AD really ticked a lot of people off and I'm talking about people in athletic depts and not just at the Louisiana schools. That was not a very diplomatic move and I don't believe it was wise.

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What quote in particular made who in what athletic dept. angry?

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Originally Posted by Bigdog13

Yeah but how long ago was that? I'm talking about threds started in the last week?

Come one BFN, you guys sound like a bunch of jilted lovers. It's pathetic and sad.

I don't have a problem with you coming on this board and debating issues with us. You haven't been flaming or anything and I enjoy it the conversation. I have nothing against your school or conference.

Your SBC board however is truly pathetic and obsessive.

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Maybe your right, but I think you guys have made so many enemies that people are focused on you now. Out of all the schools that Sunbelt schools play, you guys have made the most enemies in our conference, from what I've seen.

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Originally Posted by BlueRaiderFn

Maybe your right, but I think you guys have made so many enemies that people are focused on you now. Out of all the schools that Sunbelt schools play, you guys have made the most enemies in our conference, from what I've seen.

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That's the thing though we don't really play that often and on top of that you guys shouldn't be so focused on us. It makes it look like you have nothing better to focus on like for instance YOUR OWN CONFERENCE?? Or YOUR OWN SCHOOLS? I understand a thread or 2 once in a while but that many in the last week??

When you supposedly get great news for your conference you are more concerned about our reaction to it than the actual news itself???

Come on BFN, admit it, it's pathetic isn't it?

Taken from a blog:

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs...henewsstar.com


Posted 6/3/2008 11:35 AM CDT on thenewsstar.com

BASTROP -- Louisiana Tech football coach and athletics director Derek Dooley gave a presentation on the future of Tech athletics last night, and was asked whether his program will schedule games against ULM in the future.
With the two schools separated by just a 35-minute drive on I-20, ULM makes the most sense for Tech when it comes to developing a year-in, year-out regional rivalry.
But Dooley didn't seem too interested in locking up a home-and-home series.
"In my mind, we're much more elite," Dooley said. "We play in a more elite conference. We don't really acknowledge Northeast. We don't view them as a target, and we don't compete for players."
While most of that is true -- the WAC, with two BCS representatives in the last two years, is a more elite football conference than the Sun Belt -- Dooley's assertion that ULM and Tech don't compete for players is odd. Tech doesn't compete for players with most of its scheduled opponents. Dooley isn't about to take players away from Hawaii, or Mississippi State, or Fresno State, or San Jose State.
It's hard to see how Tech wouldn't benefit from playing ULM. A home game at Joe Aillet Stadium is sure to be well-attended, given the close proximity of the two schools. Travel costs for a trip to Monroe would be non-existent compared to a WAC game in Hawaii. And if one of Dooley's main goals as athletics director is to establish a better "brand identity" for Tech, wouldn't a regional rivlary be a good start?

So saying we play in a MORE elite conference to a bunch of our boosters made who in what athletic dept. angry? (aside from ulM naturally)

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Originally Posted by Bigdog13

That's the thing though we don't really play that often and on top of that you guys shouldn't be so focused on us. It makes it look like you have nothing better to focus on like for instance YOUR OWN CONFERENCE?? Or YOUR OWN SCHOOLS? I understand a thread or 2 once in a while but that many in the last week??

When you supposedly get great news for your conference you are more concerned about our reaction to it than the actual news itself???

Come on BFN, admit it, it's pathetic isn't it?

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I think the anger is a concern, yes, but I also think that there is a reason that it got started in the first place. At this point, I would just ignore La Tech if I were ULM or ULL or one of their fans, because it's obvious that you all disagree as to the view of each schools roll in college football. I think that La Tech and La Tech fans have generated a lot of anger. You generate a lot of anger, you get a lot of anger, it's to be expected. The comments by Dooley are a few weeks old, but a statement like that will be remembered for years and will stir controversy for a couple as well.

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Originally Posted by Bigdog13

So saying we play in a MORE elite conference to a bunch of our boosters made who in what athletic dept. angry? (aside from ulM naturally)

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I think at ULL and ULM they didn't appreciate it and it was a slap in the face to every Sunbelt school. What if an AD for a school in Conf USA or the MAC said that they play in a "MORE" elite coneference than La Tech? How would you guys feel?