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Compared to many of those schools, Louisiana Tech would be a better fit geographically, academically, competitively, fan base-wise, and/or Big 12 brand-wise as we are not a directional or city school. Really sad our leaders didn't even try.Originally Posted by Dawg06
Agreed, while not market strong, we do have a niche location with closeness to Arkansas, Mississippi, East Texas, and Northern Louisiana. Though, these supposed named schools could just be another click-bait rumor...
Our market really isn't bad. Yes, Ruston is small, but our market is so much bigger. Our home markets are Shreveport and Monroe (#58 combined) with access to all markets statewide. Even The Baton Rouge/New Orleans/Acadiana Advocate sent somebody to cover Tech at C-USA Media Days. The Alexandria Town Talk occasionally runs Tech stories. Imagine if we got a Big 12 invite. Not only that, there are no professional teams within a very large radius of Ruston (Jackson MiLB team the closest?), and Tech is by far the biggest show in both markets, which means Tech has so much greater market presence than most of those other schools.
Then we could make the argument that Tulane would never deliver the NOLA or Louisiana market. Students from Louisiana make up a very small percentage of their student body, and the vast majority of their alumni move up to the northeastern United States outside of Big 12 country, which is why the private school has no fan base in the greater New Orleans area and has very little potential to grow a fan base. On the other hand, Louisiana Tech has much more statewide appeal than Tulane.
Last edited by Dawg06; 08-12-2016 at 07:25 PM.
Jim Oakes used this to help get us in the WAC. We've never used it since.
Im fairly certain B12 is accepting presentations from whomever wants to try. ASU is not a serious candidate in any way. But they provide a smokescreen for the real candidates. I think it'd be fine if we gave a presentation. We aren't in serious contention, but it never hurts to get your name on a list on ESPN.
But that's not who we are.
Is that who we should be--a smokescreen?
Nah. But I don't think it's a bad idea for ASU to apply regardless of the reality. They've got nothing to lose by it. If nothing else, it's good practice.
In fairness, Bruce used this in presentations to CUSA and in his presentations to alumni groups as to why we should be in CUSA. He also used the fact there were no power conference schools or schools in CUSA at the time in an area that stretched from Fayetteville down to Houston over to Baton Rouge up to Memphis.
Bruce is also the first person within the athletic department us the term "Extended DMA" when talking about our TV market and the fact we were, in fact, in both the Shreveport and Monroe TV markets.
It was probably the wrong time for Tulane to build a 23,000 seat stadium.
Thanks for the correction. Apparently our SIDs never reported Bruce's presentations. He didn't do a very good job of selling it to the North Louisiana media because they certainly never reported those positives like they did when Jim was in charge. Bruce never cared much for the local media and no surprise that they didn't care for him.
Add Rice and UNLV to the list...
Yikes! Getting pretty ridiculous.
UNLV could be a pretty serious contender for the Big 12. I agree that Tech should at least make a presentation and give it the old college try. If nothing else, it helps with perception, which really means something these days. If we were talked about in connection with the Big 12, it could help get the attention of the AAC.
True, and could give our AD (which I've read some of you malign as a poor talker) some interview experience for the AAC pitch.
I don't know, when your AD gets on Shreveport radio and says when coaches at schools likeMcNeese and La Tech" receive interest from SEC schools they have to listen - I don't know if I want him presenting anything to ANYONE on our behalf....
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
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