Originally Posted by
DelhiDog
First, we are totally agreed on Coach Price.
Second, you pointed out exactly what I said. Namely, that the above mentioned "small market" schools look to and draw from the ENTIRE region. They do not consider themselves to be simply "Oxford market" or "Starkville market", etc. programs.
Third, you pointed out the fact that there are no large airports in Auburn, Oxford, Starkville, Tuscaloosa and others. This must mean that it is not a necessity. BTW, do you consider TCU being near a major commercial airport? I guarantee you that I can get off a plan in Shreveport and be on the Tech campus as fast, if not faster, than I can get from DFW to TCU. Let's not forget that the Monroe airport is even closer. So the time from the airport argument does not wash.
Fourth, I could not AGREE more that we need to get into a regional conference (that isn't the Sun Belt). That is the reason for my post. We need to do a better job of destroying the "myths of market" regarding travel access. If SEC teams don't mind "bussing" from one game to another, as you pointed out, then why is there so much fuss about Ruston not having a major airport? Busses can get into Ruston quite well.
Fifth, as point of correction: Tech was not founded to be a teacher's college. You are thinking of Northwestern. Tech was founded as Louisiana Industrial Institute in 1894. If you read that law that brought Tech into being you will see that it was established to be a STATEWIDE institution - not a junior college or state regional school. Tech's original focus was Engineering and Business just as it is today. Moreover, we do have thousands of highly paid engineers, CPAs, CEOs, and architects, as well as many other successful grads. No, not as many in number as an Auburn, but I already conceded that Tech's support level is not, and will not, be on par with an Auburn. However, it can become so much greater than it is.
My point is that our administration does, however, need to take on the mindset of southern regional - even national - interest, and do what it can to destroy the "double standards" of market arguments levied at us.