We have 4⃣ new members in the WAC (plus another school coming next year)! Check out this season's official #WACmap PSA! pic.twitter.com/Kxw3ydKkB1

— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) September 1, 2021

BREAKING: @GoUTRGV has proposed a referendum to the Student Government Association for an increase in the intercollegiate athletic fees to pay for the following:
-Est of a football program
-Est of a women's swimming/diving program
-Est of marching band
-Expansion of spirt prog.

— Amanda Atwell (@AmandaMAtwell) September 1, 2021

Takeaways from chatting with UTRGV AD:
If approved by SGA -
- FB would be introduced fall of '25, women's S&D - '24
- Committed to playing on both Edinburg and Brownsville campuses (facilities TBD)
- TWO marching bands - one at Edinburg, and one at Brownsville campus https://t.co/WxlTQkm2L7

— Amanda Atwell (@AmandaMAtwell) September 1, 2021

SFAJack_76 said:

---

BREAKING: @GoUTRGV has proposed a referendum to the Student Government Association for an increase in the intercollegiate athletic fees to pay for the following:
-Est of a football program
-Est of a women's swimming/diving program
-Est of marching band
-Expansion of spirt prog.

— Amanda Atwell (@AmandaMAtwell) September 1, 2021

---

That fee increase would have to be a whopper to help pay for all of that. Let's see if their students are more supportive of athletics than ours are.

UTRGV getting football makes too much sense for it to have not already happened. The valley is a rich recruiting area, they have the students and community to have a ton of support, and from what I understand they have money. It wouldn't surprise me if they saw the end goal of FBS football as the reason to pull the trigger on a program.

SFA_03 said:

---

UTRGV getting football makes too much sense for it to have not already happened. The valley is a rich recruiting area, they have the students and community to have a ton of support, and from what I understand they have money. It wouldn't surprise me if they saw the end goal of FBS football as the reason to pull the trigger on a program.

---

Wait, the valley is a rich recruiting area? I have to 100% disagree, 93. College coaches don't flock to the valley in search of high level recruits coming out of high schools there.

Prison Tech takes on the NAU Lumberjacks tonight at 8pm in the Walkup Skydome. Should be interesting to see how Sam will come off the short offseason.

sammy da bears are just going to steam roll everybody this season, so I'm told by sammy fans. lol

Watching Prison Tech play Northern Arizona. NAU's defensive backs are terrible. Can't defend anyone. Prison Tech's receivers are wide open on every pass play.

It's impossible to evaluate Prison Tech based on this game.

🏈 Coming up later today - our first episode of WAC Football Friday! pic.twitter.com/e26vIMrjJ2

— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) September 3, 2021

When's the last time you've seen a crowd like this at a mid major volleyball game?

It’s 🔥 @GCUArena right now for @GCU_WVolleyball #LopesUp 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/QWKpPhdtWk

— Nick Ojea (@NickOjea) September 4, 2021

An FCS team gets a huge win over a ranked FBS team! The Montana Griz from the Big Sky Conference upset #20 Washington from the Pac 12, 13-7.

Our defense will win us a ton of games. If our offense goes off next week, we will dominate.

We can only dream

PurpleOut said:

---

Must be nice.

Excited for our friends and @WACsports colleagues in the Valley! Awesome to see the support from their Students and campus to provide more opportunities for their region. Well done @ChasseConque and others! Keep moving forward! #WAC #RalleytheValley https://t.co/IbRsbXiPPD

— Ryan Ivey (@rivey35) September 8, 2021

---

Just curious. Why would they need marching bands on two different campuses? Combine them for games, perhaps?

SFA Jack Fanatic said:

---

PurpleOut said:

---

Must be nice.

Excited for our friends and @WACsports colleagues in the Valley! Awesome to see the support from their Students and campus to provide more opportunities for their region. Well done @ChasseConque and others! Keep moving forward! #WAC #RalleytheValley https://t.co/IbRsbXiPPD

— Ryan Ivey (@rivey35) September 8, 2021

---

Just curious. Why would they need marching bands on two different campuses? Combine them for games, perhaps?

---

I read earlier that the merger of UT Brownsville and UT Pan Am was done with sensitivity toward the Brownsville campus being included in student extracurricular (+intercollegiate) athletics. Not sure of the fine strokes ….

The most recent conference realignment will filter down to Conference USA and potentially Sunbelt Conference. I won't be surprised if UTSA, Old Dominion and Louisiana Lafayette are part of the proceedings. How will this filter down to the WAC. I'm interested in thoughts on this.

.@esaieasley8 finds the back of the net to put the Lopes on the board first! 🔥🔥🔥

GCU 1, SMC 0#LopesUp // #LosLopes https://t.co/aiYRSDCWaJ pic.twitter.com/e10Lmb2II1

— GCU Men's Soccer (@GCU_MSoccer) September 11, 2021

It feels weird not to have the best athletics fanbase in the conference….

Man that looks like a fun event.

BigJack85 said:

---

The most recent conference realignment will filter down to Conference USA and potentially Sunbelt Conference. I won't be surprised if UTSA, Old Dominion and Louisiana Lafayette are part of the proceedings. How will this filter down to the WAC. I'm interested in thoughts on this.

---

Two things that could potentially affect the WAC.

BYU leaving the WCC. Does that open a spot for Cal Baptist or Seattle? It probably should. Seattle is a pretty great fit if Gonzaga is cool with it.


AAC expansion trickle down: AAC is certainly going to have to add atleast 2 teams. Best available:

CUSA: UAB (maybe UTSA)

Sunbelt: ULL, App State

So depending on where they backfill, you could see one or both of the Sunbelt/CUSA backfilling. Sunbelt has already stated their goal to focus on adding schools to be the best football conference possible, and they might be able to poach CUSA. Their TV deal is on par or better than CUSA's now.

CUSA really doesn't have an identity and is a massively large conference that really shouldn't exist. That said, people hate change, so I think they try to refill.

Mostly, I think those conferences have to poach each other or go to the FCS ranks. You've got some good options, like JMU, Chattanooga, etc that fit the footprint. Could they come after an SFA/Sam? Maybe, but I'm not sure our basketball team alone is enough to close the gap for the Sunbelt yet and I don't think Sam's poor attendance garners them an invite.

Now if this get's delayed a year or two? It could benefit SFA greatly. Especially if we can get back to the NCAA tourney and football gets back to the playoffs.

If the WAC doesn't get poached, there might be potential to pick up another team or two. For example, UTEP might look at going independent for football and need somewhere to park their non football teams.

Stuff like that. If CUSA crumbles, who knows what could happen.

Jacksonville State just beat FSU on a TD as time expired.

In other news, Sam Houston, reigning national champion, was able to convince 7700 fans to come to their home opener.

In bad seasons in meaningless games we can get that for football.

🏈 @TicketSmarter #WACfb Offensive Player of the Week 2 @ACUFootball QB Stone Earle! pic.twitter.com/C1Up1JiMNh

— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) September 13, 2021

WAC adjacent rumblings in CUSA/Sunbelt.

NEW EXTRA POINTS:

I talked to a consultant that specializes in conference realignment about his idea for a Sun Belt/SBC team swap, and talked to ADs and other experts about which way they think the wind is blowing on G5 realignment:https://t.co/hDpEAwjk2W

— Matt Brown (@MattBrownEP) September 14, 2021

This week:

• Lamar 17 Northern Colorado 10 (OT)
• UCA 45 UAPB 23
• Eastern Kentucky 21 Indiana State 23
• Jacksonville State 27 North Alabama 24
• Southern Utah 40 Tarleton 35
• ACU 34 UTPB 9
• UC Davis 60 Dixie State 27

Jacksonville state clearly overlooked UNA after their upset. That could've been bad.

Maybe SFA will be next … oh, never mind.

Tarleton to revive men’s golf program https://t.co/hQAPkDVc2j

— Tarleton Athletics (@TarletonSports) September 21, 2021

Great podcast on realignment above us.

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/conference-realignment-podcast-mwc-aac-colorado-state-air-force/

Sounds like the AAC might cause chaos in the MWC, and MWC might cause chaos in CUSA.

Could be some interesting dominos falling above us.

Although might be moot point....heard that WAC hosting meeting in Denver on Tues with @McNeeseSports...

— Collegiate Consulting (@CollConsulting) September 26, 2021

Could be some interesting news. Bet they're talking to us and the ASUN to weigh their options.

Personally I would love the addition of McNeese. They're the school in Louisiana with the most upside, and if the FBS goal is real, could honestly help get there. However the financial issue in Louisiana for their schools has been a hot topic, and makes me worry.
Not to mention I always loved the trip to Lake Charles. Not many mid major and FCS cities let you visit a casino after watching quality college athletics.

SFA_03 said:

---

Personally I would love the addition of McNeese. They're the school in Louisiana with the most upside, and if the FBS goal is real, could honestly help get there. However the financial issue in Louisiana for their schools has been a hot topic, and makes me worry.
Not to mention I always loved the trip to Lake Charles. Not many mid major and FCS cities let you visit a casino after watching quality college athletics.

---

McNeese got absolutely throttled by UIW 31-0 yesterday in their first Southland game. UIW is very good.