I was at our final game against SMU in Dallas and had my radio on. As Tech pummeled the Mustangs on the field their radio announcers were proclaiming their glee that they would soon not be in the same conference with such a Podunk school as Tech.
I was at our final game against SMU in Dallas and had my radio on. As Tech pummeled the Mustangs on the field their radio announcers were proclaiming their glee that they would soon not be in the same conference with such a Podunk school as Tech.
Good old Memorial Gym
I hate Tulane. Could care less about ECU and Tulsa. I love were we are but also concede that if you aren't moving up you are dying.
No love for SMU and it's 5 season ticket holders. That being said I want to stay in a conference with as many SWC teams as possible. Rice, SMU and Houston are alway preferred Conference mates to me.
Good thing SMU's radio announcers don't sit on the AAC Board of Directors or chair the membership committee. Boise State got the WAC invite so the WAC could get a tie-in to the Humanitarian Bowl. The last spot in the WAC came down to Tech and NMSU after they quietly rejected Utah State, Idaho, North Texas, Arkansas State, and ULL. SMU's Prez lobbied for Tech and NMSU over the others because he said we would help best build the WAC's national reputation. Tech got the invite over NMSU due to geography (Las Cruces too close to UTEP). And he's still SMU's prez today.
Last edited by Dawg06; 12-20-2014 at 02:46 PM.
We are gonna need three more years similar to this year. By that I mean division titles, championship game appearances, big bowl games and solid MBB seasons. Not losing to to ULL in basketball, and NSU in football
Okay, compared to UState, Idaho, NTexas, AState,NMexSt and uslull, yes, Tech had/has a better national reputation. Didja hear the C-USA's talking heads on their weekly show when Marshall beat Tech for the championship? They were all over themselves justifying Marshall's win being a great one cuz of Tech's reputation . . .
So, long story short, of course Smoo's prez was for Tech. But in the long run . . . . . .don't think so.
Last edited by Dawgpix; 12-21-2014 at 05:39 PM.
Louisiana Tech University
Flagship of the University of Louisiana System
One school would have SMU's support for AAC membership before Tech and that would be Rice. We would have their support for any opening past that. Reneau is long-time friend of their president, and even after his retirement he will have a say in what happens on their campus. Also, SMU was our biggest ally in our attempt to get into CUSA in 2004.
I know some of you don't want to believe this, but Tech has been selling itself for so long on so many levels when it come to realignment that we've actually convinced leaders at other schools of our worth as a possible addition to other leagues.
Last edited by The Historian; 12-21-2014 at 08:29 AM.
Every conference, and every school, is looking out for its own best interest. When a conference needs to go looking for new members, they will take the best available, even if they classify it as "taking the lessor of the "evils"", and if that is how Tech gets invited over some other schools....so be it. Can't make certain prezzes at certain schools like us, if they don't.
Focus on what you have control of. Build Tech and its programs and its facilities and keep pushing forward.
I totally agree with you, but I wish our own fans and alumni would stop thinking of us as "lesser". We have a bigger name than most realize and our facilities (while needing improvement) are getting better and better. We are no longer that "lesser" program. Academics and athletics are far and above most G5 programs and better than many P5 ones.
My point is that we need to get over that "poor pitiful us" and start thinking of ourselves as a rising power. Perception is everything and we need to give off that vibe!
That definitely wasn't pointed at your post, Dawg80. I understand your point about other Presidents. I just wanted to remark about our own self image and how we project. Our name is known and becoming more known every day. We are a catch for a conference like the AAC. We should be shooting higher that that, though. Take what we can get now, but as you stated, keep pushing forward. Use TCU as an example.
Champ:
You guys in Texas, like HD and others, are always posting that Tech has a better reputation there, and in other states. But, for those of us in the ole home state, we get an earful of bashing about how we are no better than Nicholls, and others....
I know Tech has surged ahead in so MANY areas, and there is separation. But, I also know it isn't a huge gap and the state legislature (ala UAB) could pull some political shenanigans.
Anyway, we just have to keep on, keeping on!
Ask any sports fan in Canada how many NCAA schools they can name in Louisiana and most will say two. Tech and the school in BR.