LA Tech & Sunbelt

[Brian96]

Really? I remember them being solid blue. Do they have a company logo that I didn't see? Not a bad way to raise money. Lately we could stretch a few tarps across our seats.

Yes, there is a small (in relation to the tarp) logo in the middle of each tarp.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Yes, there is a small (in relation to the tarp) logo in the middle of each tarp.

Alltel or Centerytell ??

[Brian96]

Alltel or Centerytell ??

Centurytel, at least on the northernmost one. I don't ever pay attention to the southern one.

Why do you ask?

[champion110]

There are a lot of things I believe the WAC gives Tech over the Sun Belt, especially in the areas of exposure and perception. Those subjects have been well documented – both on this board and in the media. But let’s look at the numbers – directly from the audits (thank you RealityCheck).

Tech’s is much better off financially in the WAC at the present time. Even years from now, the WAC will likely be as good if not better for Tech financially than the Sun Belt.

From what I have read, fans and even administrators of other schools, without any real numbers, make 2 assumptions about Tech and its affiliation with the WAC – both of which are incorrect.

1) Tech’s travel costs are an albatross that will bankrupt its athletic department
2) The WAC’s larger revenues are based upon NCAA tournament dollars from long ago that will soon dry up.

Travel Costs

As RealityCheck posted on this board previously, in the 2004-2005 academic year, the comparison between UL-Lafayette and its travel costs, along with the Sun Belt’s revenue distribution to ULL, can be made to Tech’s travel costs, along with the WAC’s revenue distribution to Tech. The numbers, according to the Agreed Upon Procedures Report issued through the Legislative Auditor in Louisiana, are as follows:

Conference Revenue

Tech (WAC Revenue) $1,326,783
ULL (Sun Belt Revenue) $ 512,747

Travel Expenses

Tech (WAC/including football to Hawaii) $1,174,237
ULL (Sun Belt) $1,133,401

In 2004 -2005, Tech’s WAC revenues outpaced ULL’s Sun Belt revenue by 814,036, while Tech’s total travel expenses, including a football flight trips to Honolulu, Miami, and Knoxville, were only $40,836 more than ULL’s.

ULL’s Sun Belt expenses, including flight trips in multiple sports, to destinations like Miami (FIU), Ft. Lauderdale (FAU), Nashville (MTSU and Western Kentucky), and Denver, show that it is more than just a bus league with rock-bottom expenses.


Revenue Sharing – Forfeited Money/New Member Fees


Make no mistake, Tech’s revenue sharing will almost certainly drop in the next few years. However, the number is smaller than many people believe. I’ve seen outrageous numbers thrown around by fans of other schools – like $1 million, which is absurd.

As most on this board are aware, Tech benefited in 04-05 from revenue forfeited by SMU, Rice, UTEP, and Tulsa when they left for CUSA. In 05-06 and 06-07, Tech has benefited/will benefit from revenue forfeited (partial) by NMSU, Idaho, and Utah State to cover their entrance fees into the WAC. By next year, that number will drop by several hundred thousand dollars. It’s still smaller than many believe.

Revenue Sharing – NCAA Tournament

Again, as RealityCheck has previously posted, our basketball money will also drop but by a relatively small amount. The 2006 NCAA basketball revenue distribution in April was based on 2000-2005 tournament results. The WAC had 20 units. With each unit valued at $164,000, the WAC's share was $3.28 million.

For the April 2007 distribution, the WAC's 5 units from the 2000 tournament drop off and were replaced with just the two units Nevada and UtahState earned by making the NCAA tournament field where neither earned a unit by winning a game. That dropped the WAC’s total to 17 units.

Even with a per unit value increase to $175,000, the WAC's total share in 2007 will drop by around $305,000 to the $2,975,000 range. At the same time, the Sun Belt is stuck at 6 units, $984,000 in distributed money in 2006 and $1,050,000 in 2007, the direct result of 12 consecutive years as a 1-bid league.

Tech’s share this year will only drop by about $34,000. The funny thing is, had Nevada and Utah State combined for two (2) wins in the tournament, our revenue would have increased from the tournament. In future years, the drop could be $100,000 plus when Idaho, NMSU, and UtahState share a larger piece of the pie. At the same time, the per unit value is expected to increase in the future, which will decrease the loss, if not eliminate it altogether.

All in all, even if the decreased revenue number involved for all shared revenue was a larger number, say $300,000 to $400,000 per year for Tech, and even if the increase in travel is $300,000 to $350,000 per year for Tech, which is on the very high end, it still doesn’t overcome the bottom-line difference reflected in the 04-05 numbers.

Thank you for posting that. Add in PERCEPTION, and this argument should be dropped. There is ONE BIG THING that I am thankful that our administration has done (at least with words) and that is being committed to not going back to the Belt. This argument is dead in the water and we should be concentrating on how to make ourselves BETTER - not going backwards.

[PawDawg]

Thank you for posting that. Add in PERCEPTION, and this argument should be dropped. There is ONE BIG THING that I am thankful that our administration has done (at least with words) and that is being committed to not going back to the Belt. This argument is dead in the water and we should be concentrating on how to make ourselves BETTER - not going backwards.

You've been preaching this PERCEPTION thing for years. Well I think we've finally made it

Also, had to about commitment and our administration being linked together for NOT doing something.

[rcajun90]

Thank you for posting that. Add in PERCEPTION, and this argument should be dropped. There is ONE BIG THING that I am thankful that our administration has done (at least with words) and that is being committed to not going back to the Belt. This argument is dead in the water and we should be concentrating on how to make ourselves BETTER - not going backwards.

My original post was questioning that if Boise, Fresno and Hawaii left the WAC then Tech would be better served in another conference. The Belt has got much better and CUSA doesn't seem as strong as it once was. At the present time the WAC is the best place for Tech. I was simply looking down the road and hoping that the Cajuns ended up in the same conference as Tech.

[TYLERTECHSAS]

Centurytel, at least on the northernmost one. I don't ever pay attention to the southern one.

Why do you ask?

I thought someone asked.

[HogDawg]

Back to the original statement, this is one Tech fan who believes we might be better served rejoining the Sunbelt. The WAC was an excellent gamble, but it looks like we lost, and now don't know when to cash in our chips.

Joey, have you gone insane? Are you saying you would honestly prefer to share a conference with Ark St. ULL, ULM and MTSU instead of BCS bowl bound Boise St., Fresno St, Hawaii, Nevada, etc.....? If so, that makes no sense whatsoever.

I'll say it one more time: Louisiana Tech's current problems have nothing to do with the WAC. The WAC is a 1000 times better conference and a much more respected conference than the Sunbelt.

HD

[HogDawg]

No you haven't! ULL and ULM barely show up in Ruston the last times we have played them. This has been one of the biggest lies on this board. The only increase in attendance, if and when we play them, comes from our own DAWG fans. And unless things change quick even that will not help next years attendance in all sports falling like a rock.

Fact is, Tech games against ULM in Ruston have always drawn well, but games against ULL have not.

Tech has never had more than 22K fans show up for a ULL game, with the most recent crowds ranging from 17K to 21K. But the largest crowd to ever attend a Louisiana Tech game at JAS was on Sept 13, 1997 when 28,714 fans watched Tech beat ULM 17-16. Two years later, in 1999, 27,500 fans watched Tim Rattay and the Bulldogs spank ULM 58-17 in JAS.

A strong case could be made for playing ULM at JAS. But not ULL.

HD

[Cool Hand Clyde]

Joey, have you gone insane? Are you saying you would honestly prefer to share a conference with Ark St. ULL, ULM and MTSU instead of BCS bowl bound Boise St., Fresno St, Hawaii, Nevada, etc.....? If so, that makes no sense whatsoever.

I'll say it one more time: Louisiana Tech's current problems have nothing to do with the WAC. The WAC is a 1000 times better conference and a much more respected conference than the Sunbelt.

HD

You are right. T77 is just depressed

[Tech77]

Joey, have you gone insane? Are you saying you would honestly prefer to share a conference with Ark St. ULL, ULM and MTSU instead of BCS bowl bound Boise St., Fresno St, Hawaii, Nevada, etc.....? If so, that makes no sense whatsoever.

I'll say it one more time: Louisiana Tech's current problems have nothing to do with the WAC. The WAC is a 1000 times better conference and a much more respected conference than the Sunbelt.

HD

Could be. I am, afterall, a Tech fan.

[MG61]

FWIW here's a comment by Wright Waters in December's Ask The Commissioner on adding more schools.

WKU’s decision lends itself to the next issue, the question of whether we should consider a 10th football program or a 14th member. There is a point of diminishing returns, and I think we are there. Our focus should be on improving the quality of our product and trying to build better brand loyalty.

[dawg80]

The Belch can not worry about diminishing anything. It is at the very bottom already.

[KSDAWG]

Thank you for posting that. Add in PERCEPTION, and this argument should be dropped. There is ONE BIG THING that I am thankful that our administration has done (at least with words) and that is being committed to not going back to the Belt. This argument is dead in the water and we should be concentrating on how to make ourselves BETTER - not going backwards.

Got me convinced, Now I want CUSA money,

[dogeatdogworld]

I have always been an advocate of Tech moving to the Sun Belt, but why are Sun Belters coming to this board and trying to prove that we belong with them??? "Misery loves company".