[Sly Fox]

Stephenville is an hour and 20 minutes from Fort Worth ... 1:45 from DFW. That's all without traffic. No one in even Fort Worth gives a rip about Tarleton. They are much lower profile in the Metroplex than Sam is in Houston. MUCH lower. Rodeo battes football for most important sport in Stephenville.

A&M is now pouring significant funds into their campus in Fort Worth relegating TSU into the afterthought category. A&M has a similar school an hour east of Dallas. While it drives the A&M Regents crazy that the DFW are is essentially owned by the UT System along with UNT and the privates, it doesn't change that TSU is not a massive priority now that the A&M System has already funneled reources into the school this past decade.

SFA flirted with both the UT and A&M Systems before deciding on UT this past year. SFA's programs are considered a notch above Tarleton's and on par with Sam Houston and Texas State. The influx of resources that have bee promised by the UT System to get them into the fold will give a massive shot in the arm to Nacogdoches. East Texas isn't a heavy population center. But it is down right cosmospolitan in comparison to West Texas. And SFA is within a few hours of both the Houston & DFW metros which makes them more attracive longterm. Srephenville is closer to DFW but there is nothing but mesquite & caliche for hundreds of miles in nearly every other direction.

In summary, SFA is a definite notch ahead of Tarleton in the pecking order. Neither are close to being ready to step up. Hopefully we are long gone before either enters the league.

[flamehunter]

Stephenville is an hour and 20 minutes from Fort Worth ... 1:45 from DFW. That's all without traffic. No one in even Fort Worth gives a rip about Tarleton. They are much lower profile in the Metroplex than Sam is in Houston. MUCH lower. Rodeo battes football for most important sport in Stephenville.

Ain't a thing wrong with that. I mean, it is Texas after all.

[Sly Fox]

There are few plaes in Texas where rodeo is a bigger deal than Stephenville. Ty Murray was a legend long before he married Jewel and brought her to town.

Stephenville HS has long outdrawn Tarleton in attendance dating back to the days when Art Briles was winning state championships there year after year.

[aredd33]

The rumor right now is that Mark Stoops will be leaving Kentucky for TAMU. Really really interesting decision to give Jimbo 70 million to go away then hire Stoops. And I mean no disrespect to Stoops at all. I think he’s done an absolutely fantastic job at a very difficult place to win in Kentucky. But is he 70 million better than Jimbo?

[Ill flame]

[aredd33]

The rumor right now is that Mark Stoops will be leaving Kentucky for TAMU. Really really interesting decision to give Jimbo 70 million to go away then hire Stoops. And I mean no disrespect to Stoops at all. I think he’s done an absolutely fantastic job at a very difficult place to win in Kentucky. But is he 70 million better than Jimbo?

Just realized I put this in wrong thread. Sorry about that.

[ballcoach15]

Pete Thamel is reporting that CUSA will add Delaware in 2025. Bad move by CUSA. Delaware brings absolutely nothing to conference.

[ATrain]

The addition of Delaware gives CUSA 11 members. The question is, does CUSA go for Missouri State, Tarleton State, Stephen F. Austin, or UMass to get to 12?

[Sly Fox]

I love adding the Blue Hens to the league. Hopefully it is UMass or Missouri State to round us out to 12. No thank you to EKU or any of the other no-name brands in rural Texas.

[ballcoach15]

Missouri State would be good. The others, not good. Delaware waters down conference.

[ATrain]

Missouri State would be good. The others, not good. Delaware waters down conference.

Delaware's athletic department is better than Missouri State's. Missouri State hasn't been past the first round of the FCS playoffs since 1989, and their men's basketball team hasn't made the big dance this century.

[flamehunter]

Missouri State would be good. The others, not good. Delaware waters down conference.

Delaware's athletic department is better than Missouri State's. Missouri State hasn't been past the first round of the FCS playoffs since 1989, and their men's basketball team hasn't made the big dance this century.

But they are south of the Mason-Dixon, so therefore, they are worthy!!

[ATrain]

Missouri State would be good. The others, not good. Delaware waters down conference.

Delaware's athletic department is better than Missouri State's. Missouri State hasn't been past the first round of the FCS playoffs since 1989, and their men's basketball team hasn't made the big dance this century.

But they are south of the Mason-Dixon, so therefore, they are worthy!!

Yes, but Missouri stayed with the Union

[Liberty22]

I was a little down hearing the Delaware add but after reading the AAC thread and all the reasons AAC fans wanted Delaware to be added to AAC, I’m actually on board with this. Now add Umass and call it a day.

[JK37]

Missouri State would be good. The others, not good. Delaware waters down conference.

BC, you’re dead wrong about Delaware.

Umass would water down the league though. Add an eastern school like UD, then I suspect they go west. Missouri State would be fine. Maybe SFA? Options aren’t great. But adding a western school after an eastern would maybe make some sense.

[ballah09]

UMass for all sports if not then no thanks. I will say this, the chart ASOR reposted, I really hope we improve our academics and invest in research. Looking at it was really depressing.

[Ill flame]

I'm not excited about the Delaware add. They are probably more FBS ready than SHSU, JSU and KSU were so I don't believe they'll water down the league on their own, I'm more concerned about who we'll add alongside Delaware. Like I've said before, I believe missouri state will be better in FBS than FCS but it's still a big risk to add a team that has no prior success in either revenue sport. We know umass will water down the league so I hope we don't go down that route. Tarleton state and EKU are growing quickly but I would much rather hold off adding another school for a couple years to give them time to prove themselves more before we call them up. I'm not sure why CUSA seems to be in such a rush.

[ballcoach15]

CUSA should issue an invitation to UVA. If Hoos were in CUSA, they "might" qualify for a bowl game.

[JK37]

I’m excited about UD, selfishly because they’re right down the road from me.

[Sly Fox]

That's how I felt about Sam's addition, jk37. Selfishness is always an important factor.

[ATrain]

UD is a little bit of a hike, but I am excited for a reasonably driveable away game.

[Sly Fox]

You can take Amtrak directly from Lynchburg (LYH) to Newark (NRK). It won't save any time but will leave the driving to someone else.

Amtrak

[ATrain]

You can take Amtrak directly from Lynchburg (LYH) to Newark (NRK). It won't save any time but will leave the driving to someone else.

Amtrak

Good point, I forgot about Amtrak. I could also take it out of Richmond as well.

[BlueBlood]

I'm good with the Delaware add. Quality school, in an area where a lot of LU students come from and a lot of alumni live (including eastern MD, southeastern PA, south Jersey). Also - I have to think that the conference is looking for schools that will help them add sports like men's soccer, women's lacrosse, swimming and diving, etc. Schools like UD and UMass check those boxes.

[LUOrange]

You can take Amtrak directly from Lynchburg (LYH) to Newark (NRK). It won't save any time but will leave the driving to someone else.

Amtrak

Good point, I forgot about Amtrak. I could also take it out of Richmond as well.

That's a great idea that gets you out of the messes that is driving I95 through DC and Baltimore.