Texas State fan here..
Just wanted to give you a few things to note from a Bobcat's perspective.
1. Lamar DOES NOT have the kind of money that Texas State or even UTSA has. How do you check this? Look up their "expenses" reported last year in the "equity in athletics" database (a .gov website). After doing so, you'll see the following:
- Lamar's total expenses $8,191,914. Now, where do the student fees yall are talking about come into play (
http://www.lamar.edu/newsevents/articles/221_6151.htm)? They only help football. The $8.50 student fee will add roughly $2 million to the budget, making it around $11 million dollars.
- Texas State took a different approach with fees in 2008. Instead of setting a limit for ourselves, we decided to MAX out to the state limit by 2012 ($20 per semester hour, per student). Last year, our total expenses were $14,142,299. Keep in mind, the fees are STILL increasing $2 a year. By 2012 and year by year record setting enrollment, we will have a budget anywhere from $17 - $20 million.
2. Remember that 10 schools will be presenting to the WAC in Dallas on Tuesday. Lamar is going to be one of them, but you can bet the farm that they are ONLY presenting to be considered a FUTURE expansion candidate. They just aren't ready as of yet. Texas State and UTSA already made initial presentations to the WAC and will be taking a more in-depth approach in Dallas. We have been mentioned as true expansion candidates for months now.
3. I must say that it is nice to see an SLC school not hating on us for having high aspirations in FBS. If you venture off to a SELU, McNeese, NwST, SHSU, or even Lamar board, you'll see what I am talking about.
Anyways, I just found this board the other day and had to join. Hopefully, this WAC situation works out and we are allowed our dream of FBS. Who knows, maybe the SLC can expand and take a school in Arkansas to give y'all an in-state rival. Can't wait to play y'all Nov. 6.
Eat Em Up, Cats!