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I always have trouble with understanding these RPI rankings but isn't NT pretty low? I read on the Belt board that we will have to drastically change our scheduling philosophy. I guess that we have scheduled some serious pansies over the last few years

By the way, I do agree with you Jim - there definitely were ranked MAC schools that could have been beaten by teams from the Belt. Without a doubt. The MAC has been very methodical in scheduling and have figured out that top 25 rankings are not about being the best team, they are about having the best win/loss record. Schedule down as much as possible to make the best record possible. About half of the Belt teams are too busy collecting body bag game checks to schedule smart. The other half have enough money and do not need the subsidy money "as much" but we have just had bad football.

First fact - Troy did not join the Belt until 2004. Second fact - Why would Troy have been ranked as a top 25 team before or after joining the Belt? The absolute best record that they have had was last year at 9-4 (see below for a complete breakdown of their history as a Div I team). They have a couple of signature wins "big name" schools with Missouri (5-6 record that year) and Okie State (7-6 team) - but then they would turn around and lose to teams like North Texas, FAU, NMSU, and Arkie State. While Troy has been to 5 bowl games - they have only won 2 of them, both in New Orleans. The closest that the Belt has gotten to a top 25 team was MTSU last year - they finished with 10 wins, I think that they got about 10 or 15 "top 25" votes, and their coach was offered the Memphis and ECU jobs; but he decided to stay in Murf. If Dasher had not screwed up and taken a loan from a bookie this year - they probably would have repeated that success and the wins over Minnesota and Memphis would have helped with getting them some votes. But the Belt has not had a team worthy of top 25 status in it's 10 year existence. In my opinion, the MAC has not either - but sportswriters tend to look at overall records when giving out votes for teams 20 through 25. If you have 11 or 12 wins - you are going to get in - it doesn't matter what conference you are in. The Belt has never had a team with more than 10 wins and we have only had that happen ONCE (last year, MUTS). So I still do not understand your media bias idea... can you explain it to me? 2009-Troy (Sun Belt) 9/3 @ Bowling Green State (7-6) L 14 31 9/12 @ Florida (13-1) L 6 56 9/19 vs. Alabama-Birmingham (5-7) W 27 14 9/26 @ *Arkansas State (4-8) W 30 27 10/6 vs. *Middle Tennessee State (10-3) W 31 7 10/17 @ *Florida International (3-9) W 42 33 10/24 vs. *North Texas (2-10) W 50 26 10/31 vs. *Louisiana-Monroe (6-6) W 42 21 11/7 @ *Western Kentucky (0-12) W 40 20 11/14 @ Arkansas (8-5) L 20 56 11/21 vs. *Florida Atlantic (5-7) W 47 21 11/28 @ *Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) W 48 31 1/6 vs. Central Michigan (12-2) L 41 44 @ Mobile, AL GMAC Bowl 9-4-0 438 387 2008-Troy (Sun Belt) 8/28 @ *Middle Tennessee State (5-7) W 31 17 9/13 vs. Alcorn State (non-IA) W 65 0 9/20 @ Ohio State (10-3) L 10 28 9/27 @ Oklahoma State (9-4) L 24 55 10/7 @ *Florida Atlantic (7-6) W 30 17 10/18 vs. *Florida International (5-7) W 33 23 10/25 @ *North Texas (1-11) W 45 17 11/1 @ *Louisiana-Monroe (4-8) L 30 31 11/8 vs. *Western Kentucky (2-10) W 17 7 11/15 @ Louisiana State (8-5) L 31 40 11/22 vs. *Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) W 48 3 12/6 vs. *Arkansas State (6-6) W 35 9 12/21 vs. Southern Mississippi (7-6) L 27 30 @ New Orleans, LA New Orleans Bowl 8-5-0 426 277 2007-Troy (Sun Belt) 9/1 @ Arkansas (8-5) L 26 46 9/8 @ Florida (9-4) L 31 59 9/14 vs. Oklahoma State (7-6) W 41 23 9/22 @ *Louisiana-Lafayette (3-9) W 48 31 9/29 vs. *Louisiana-Monroe (6-6) W 24 7 10/6 @ *Florida International (1-11) W 34 16 10/20 vs. *North Texas (2-10) W 45 7 10/27 @ *Arkansas State (5-7) W 27 0 11/3 @ Georgia (11-2) L 34 44 11/10 @ Western Kentucky (7-5) W 21 17 11/20 vs. *Middle Tennessee State (5-7) W 45 7 12/1 vs. *Florida Atlantic (8-5) L 32 38 8-4-0 408 295 2006-Troy (Sun Belt) 9/2 vs. Alabama State (non-IA) W 38 0 9/9 @ Florida State (7-6) L 17 24 9/16 @ Georgia Tech (9-5) L 20 35 9/23 @ Nebraska (9-5) L 0 56 9/30 @ Alabama-Birmingham (3-9) L 3 21 10/14 vs. *Louisiana-Monroe (4-8) W 24 19 10/28 vs. *North Texas (3-9) W 14 6 11/4 vs. *Louisiana-Lafayette (6-6) W 42 28 11/11 @ *Florida Atlantic (5-7) W 24 17 11/18 vs. *Arkansas State (6-6) L 26 33 11/25 @ *Middle Tennessee State (7-6) W 21 20 12/2 @ *Florida International (0-12) W 26 13 12/22 vs. Rice (7-6) W 41 17 @ New Orleans, LA New Orleans Bowl 8-5-0 296 289 2005-Troy (Sun Belt) 9/3 vs. Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo (non-IA) W 27 10 9/10 vs. Alabama-Birmingham (5-6) L 7 27 9/17 @ Missouri (7-5) L 21 52 9/24 @ South Carolina (7-5) L 20 45 10/4 @ *North Texas (2-9) W 13 10 10/15 @ *Louisiana-Monroe (5-6) L 3 27 10/20 vs. *Florida International (5-6) W 18 13 10/29 @ *Louisiana-Lafayette (6-5) L 28 31 11/5 vs. *Florida Atlantic (2-9) W 28 14 11/12 @ *Arkansas State (6-6) L 3 9 11/26 vs. *Middle Tennessee State (4-7) L 7 17 4-7-0 175 255 2004-Troy (Sun Belt) 9/4 @ Marshall (6-6) W 17 15 9/9 vs. Missouri (5-6) W 24 14 9/18 @ *New Mexico State (5-6) L 18 22 9/25 @ South Carolina (6-5) L 7 17 10/2 vs. *Utah State (3-8) W 49 21 10/16 @ *Arkansas State (3-8) L 9 13 10/23 @ Louisiana State (9-3) L 20 24 10/30 vs. *Idaho (3-9) W 47 7 11/6 vs. *Florida Atlantic (9-3) W 24 6 11/13 @ *Louisiana-Lafayette (4-7) W 13 10 11/20 vs. *Middle Tennessee State (5-6) W 37 17 12/30 vs. Northern Illinois (9-3) L 21 34 @ San Jose, CA Silicon Valley Bowl 7-5-0 286 200 2003-Troy (Independent) 8/30 @ Kansas State (11-4) L 5 41 9/6 @ Minnesota (10-3) L 7 48 9/13 @ Alabama-Birmingham (5-7) W 20 9 9/20 vs. Southeastern Louisiana (non-IA) W 28 0 9/27 vs. Marshall (8-4) W 33 24 10/4 @ Nebraska (10-3) L 0 30 10/18 vs. Florida International (non-IA) W 21 10 10/25 @ Virginia (8-5) L 0 24 10/30 @ North Texas (9-4) L 0 21 11/8 @ Middle Tennessee State (4-8) L 20 27 11/15 @ Utah State (3-9) W 23 14 11/22 vs. Louisiana-Monroe (1-11) W 28 24 6-6-0 185 272 2002-Troy (Independent) 8/31 @ Nebraska (7-7) L 16 31 9/7 @ Alabama-Birmingham (5-7) L 26 27 9/14 vs. Southern Utah (non-IA) W 40 15 9/21 @ Iowa State (7-7) L 12 42 9/28 @ Missouri (5-7) L 7 44 10/5 vs. Austin Peay (non-IA) W 41 3 10/12 @ Mississippi State (3-9) L 8 11 10/19 @ Marshall (11-2) L 7 24 10/26 vs. Florida Atlantic (non-IA) W 21 6 11/2 vs. Arkansas (9-5) L 0 23 @ Little Rock, AR 11/9 vs. Florida A&M (non-IA) W 24 7 @ Mobile, AL 11/16 vs. Utah State (4-7) L 16 19 4-8-0 218 252 2001-Troy (Independent) 9/1 @ Nebraska (11-2) L 14 42 9/8 @ Middle Tennessee State (8-3) L 17 54 9/22 vs. Nicholls State (non-IA) W 26 0 10/6 @ Miami (Florida) (12-0) L 7 38 10/13 @ Mississippi State (3-8) W 21 9 10/20 vs. Northridge State (non-IA) W 44 31 10/27 vs. Southern Utah (non-IA) W 20 17 11/3 @ Maryland (10-2) L 14 47 11/10 @ Louisiana-Monroe (2-9) W 44 12 11/17 vs. Jacksonville State (non-IA) W 21 3 12/1 vs. North Texas (5-7) W 18 16 7-4-0 246 269

With the medical insurance and montly stipends added to the tuition, books, room, and board - I would guess that our players "make" about $20K a year. But we don't pay the instructors more to have those players in the classrooms and the room/board is next to nothing as long as they are in the dorms. Actual cost to the school is probably half that. I think that all parties get a good deal.

Jim, You are way off base on some coalition of sportswriters voting for the MAC. The MAC is terrible and as such - they have about 3 or 4 teams that can absolutely dominate the league. They are also very smart with scheduling in that they play each other early in the season. The Belt will get some top 25 teams when we have teams with 10 or more wins. There is no conspiracy - the MAC teams that have gotten a few votes had a lot of crappy wins. Go check the record books. The Belt schools have been using their OOC games to pay the bills and this is our biggest problem. It is also what keeps up out of the polls. NT is scheduling smart (for the most part) - but we have been down. If any Belt team were to win 10 or 11 games - we would be in the top 25, just like everyone else. The MUTS won 10 games last year and got some votes. If they had followed that up this year with another 10 wins, they would be a top 25 team, there is no doubt in my mind.

You are correct - which is why there is no way to tell if either one of you will actually be moving up. FAU, FIU, WKU, and soon to be USA all came up to FBS with the help of the Belt but they had to pay their dues by hitting all the other marks, too. I think that everyone should have to put their best efforts into a move up - simply being sponsored by a "bona-fide" conference sounds a little too easy. It has taken us a decade to stabilize but we are finally in the position to be picky about who we invite to the party. I wish you luck - you are going to need a few things to go your way. For football, the FBS rules have to change, the moratorium will need to expire, and you will need a new interpretation of the continuation rule (for non-football related matters)... The MWC did not get a free pass when they broke away from the WAC and I doubt that the WAC will get a free pass this time. I think that the WAC will "kind of" survive; but will lose their auto bids (for every sport) - the WAC will also not be recognized as an FBS conference which means you will not get a piece of the BCS pie other than the same half-unit split that Army and Navy get. The WAC will also need to find a television package - I imagine it will be a lot like the Belt's - which is not much of anything. You will also need to find a bowl game. The Hawaii Bowl is going to the MWC, the Boise Bowl will likely shut down, The Fight Hunger Bowl is only available as a backup every other year, and the New Mexico Bowl has dropped the WAC. With the amount of bowl games these days - that might work out to your advantage. Who wants to go to Boise, anyway? Negotiating in the free market could be a better setup for the Texas WAC schools (and La Tech) due to geography. Basically, you will be a collection of schools that have banded together for scheduling purposes. A lot like the Great West was for some wandering FCS schools. But you might finally accomplish the mission of the "Drive" and make it to FBS. I am so split on this. I want TSU@SM to make it - but UTSA just rubs me the wrong way. The "Runners" have about 15 ignorant dorky "fans" but they like to talk like they have 15K.

???? Hey bud, I am not a crinkled dollar bill guy. You won't find a bigger fan of Sun Belt football than me - simply correcting a stat. Doesn't take a thing away from the HUGE wins by FIU and Troy. Now we just need the MUTS to round out a perfect 3-0 record. Would be very sweet to sweep the Macsters, they somehow think that they are better than the Belt, lol. They are bigger - thus provide teams with even more conference wins - but they are not better in any way. We have higher budgets, better attendance, and better football in the Belt.

Actually, the MAC is 1-2, NIU destroyed Fresno in the Boise Bowl.

Ok, I already asserted that the attendance could be manipulated. Not sure why you are repeating exactly what I said. The only question that I have is how you are going to have 5 home FBS games in the two transition years. Those years are 2011 and 2012, making you a member of the FBS in 2013, correct? Or are the transition years 2012 and 2013, making you a member of FBS in 2014? The article that you linked provides one OOC home game lined up in that time span. The other home game is in 2015. Most FBS teams have their schedules filled up for the next few years so I guess you will get all of your home games (except one - Wyoming) against the WAC leftovers? So I guess the WAC is planning on having just about every team (there will only be 7 football playing members of the WAC in year 1 or 2 depending on the transition window) San Jose, Idaho, USU, NMSU, La Tech, UTSA, and TS@SM. You would need the conference to send just about every team to both San Marcos AND San Antonio for two consecutive years (without getting return games until you are certified). I know that the WAC is in survival mode - but it is precisely this type of predicament that has pushed 3 additional schools away from the WAC. The WAC has now lost all of its primary bowl tie ins, sans Boise... .which will probably disband (who wants to go to Boise in December, anyway?)... and will now lose their auto-bid to NCAA championship sports. If you think that the WAC will get a waiver, ask the MWC how those requests go. You might be able to pull this off - but I have no idea how you are going to fill the home game requirements over your two year transition. Good luck with that...

The fact that this poll only has 9 votes shows me exactly how much non-interest there is with either school. And we have had a couple of their fans hanging around lately - so there are a few of those 9 votes right there. I hope that they make it - but they are FCS schools for now.

The rule has not officially changed yet. The current rule states that you must declare, go through a two year transition, play 5 home FBS games per year for both transition years, average 15K in paid attendance, and a few other requirements dealing with # of sports played, etc.... A lot of the current rules can be fudged with creative bookkeeping and both UTSA and TS@SM meet the requirements in those ways - but I have no idea how you are going to get 5 home games with FBS teams during your transition years without a full conference to provide home FBS opponents. I guess that the WAC could have every team play both UTSA and TS@SM in Texas for both years to meet those requirements. I think that UTSA has scheduled a few teams at home - one being USA which will also be making the transition.... but it is going to be tricky. If the rule does change, which it probably will - you should be home free - but there still has to be a vote.

We also have a new member of the Belt in 2012 - so that could be home game #6. USA will start the transition in 2012 (playing 2012 and 2013 as their qualifying years)

Take care of yourself and get well soon.

When the new scoreboard was built - the articles claimed that it would eventually travel across the street to the new stadium. Is this still true? Maybe this is a reason for not building the scoreboard above the Wing Zone? Cost? Also - this might seem crazy, but when we replaced the turf - I remember the articles stating that it would be moved to the new stadium, too. I really doubt that this will happen because it would essentially leave nothing over at Fouts; but has anyone heard about these two subjects? Basically, I am wondering what type of video board we will have over there. Same one or new one?

I can't believe it has lasted this long as it is. The Boise Bowl was put together when the Las Vegas Bowl dropped the Big West. The Big West had to create their own bowl game and thus - The Human Bowl. I don't think that anyone would have guessed this bowl would have been around this long - maybe it is time to put it to bed. I can't think of a worse place to visit during the Winter.

Good post, that is exactly what I have been doing for the last few months (running the math, weighing the pros and cons, trying to see if there will be any of my GOOD friends up in club land, etc). When it comes down to it - I am going to do what my group of friends does... If they decide to pay up, I will pay up. If they decide to keep it real in the end zone, I will be there with them. The last thing that I want to do is watch the games without being able to high five my brothers and friends. What's up with the negative one? Because I shared the FAU payment plans? Someone really is sensitive.

So if I lose my job, get promoted to another city, or cannot renew one year, I am screwed. That is $12,500 down the drain. I think that is what you are saying, lol. My math says that it is $12,500 for the first five years, which is about $500 bucks a game. And that is for the 10 yard line. $6500 for two seats (thank god I don't have any kids yet) - so that is $1300 a year, $500 donation, and then $700 bucks for two season tickets. Hopefully we will continue to have 6 games a year at home. So that is $2500 bucks a year. Divide that by 6 games and that is $416 per game for two seats on the 10 yard line. About $208 bucks a game per seat. Would you be happy paying $208 bucks per seat to watch Louisiana-Monroe? Seriously, think this through - after gas and buying food and drinks, you are going to drop about $500 or $600 bucks per game to watch 4 Sun Belt games and a couple of non-conference foes. Some people can do that and not think twice about it - when I owned the bar, I could just buy this stuff through the business checkbook and write it off as a business expense. It gets a little more complicated when you are paying it for the love of the game. I have a really good friend that posts on here - he gives at a high level and has for years. The reason that he gives so much? Because he can be a big shot and take his guests onto the desk with him. I can't believe that the Club Seat owners will not even be able to bring their guests up to their "Club"... Sure they wouldn't have anywhere to sit but that might be the little difference that will push people to ante up (or split the cost). The problem is simple - you want to enjoy the game with your friends. If you have some friends that cannot (or will not) commit to $12,500 bucks - then you will probably just stick with the lower level seating and not mess with the club seats. That would make the club seats something that is there primarily to entertain corporate clients. And I guess that is really what they are - a way to buy individual seats to luxury box amenities. But to go from what we have now - to no options at all - is a big drop off. Maybe they plan on selling beer in the stadium? I want to add that these prices are based on a 6 game schedule - something that we have been able to pull off for the last 2 years. If we have a scheduling issue and only have 5 home games, the cost per game goes up by about 20%. After 5 years, my seat "donation" will be paid off and I will just pay $1200 bucks per year. THAT comes out to $200 per game, or $100 per seat per game. I have no idea where the $58.33 a game is coming from unless you are planning on buying 4 or maybe even 6 seats? If that is the case, I take my hat off to you. I am having trouble wrapping my mind around the $12,500 commitment. I think that there "should" be some middle ground - a smart businessman would offer lots of premium seating options for the new stadium. Check out what FAU is doing - about 8000 seats (of different giving levels) with access to different levels of premium, priority, loge, and luxury seating. All with the ability to PURCHASE alcohol and food (thus providing the University with more per game revenue). You see, you don't get the alcohol for free - you BUY it. So at NT, the ticket to get into the exclusive club is about $2500 bucks a year for the right to spend more money on beer and food. Hey, but the elevators are free! So are the soft drinks! And no surcharge for the air conditioning or televisions I did figure out that the Touchdown Terrace had been skiddled about 6 months ago. And it is too late to change prices because a significant amount of people have bought club seats. All that being said - I think there should have been a level to accomodate more people in the middle. It is going to be very boring in that exclusive Club with only about 100-200 people in there (and no guests allowed). My idea would be to give mid range donors access to the Club Level but keep an usher at the door to make sure that they do not use any empty seats (which means that they have no view of the field). That would allow the $1000 - $2000 dollar donor to have a place to enjoy a beer or three. The department would make more money from the food and drink sales; and the club seats would still have the only seat to view the actual game. Take a look at the FAU options - they really thought this through and will probably bring in more money as a result (and more per game because the more people that have access - the more income comes in from selling beer and food). http://www.fau.edu/stadium/seating.html __ Suites About A total of 24 suites will be located on the west side of the stadium in the press box area will offer spectacular views of the game and provide a memorable venue to entertain corporate clients, family and/or friends. The suites will be uniform in size and décor and each one will accommodate 22 people. All suites will have operable glass windows so guests can experience all the game-day excitement while enjoying a climate-controlled environment. The stadium concessionaire will offer upscale food and beverage services. All premium seating areas, including suites, will be able to purchase alcohol. The suites will offer a lounge and conversation area, flat-screen televisions, kitchenette/bar area, refrigerator and icemaker, internal speaker system, high-speed Internet connection and theater seating. Amenities Concierge service Exclusive elevator access Accommodates 22 people, including 20 season tickets and 2 suite passes Will include 6 parking passes, including 2 valet Climate-controlled suite with operable windows In-suite lounge area with catering and beverage service Flat-screen televisions High-speed Internet connection Access to all premium club levels in the stadium Comfortable seats with great sight lines to the field Game programs Ability to purchase additional parking passes Suite lease includes all events in the stadium, excluding tickets Donation Requirements First priority given to donors that make a minimum contribution of $100,000 (over 5 years). Suite commitments are for five-, four-, or three-year terms: ◦5 years ($26,750 Annually), 4 years ($29,760 Annually), 3 years ($32,760 Annually) If you itemize, you may be able to deduct 80 percent of the designated donation for suites as a charitable contribution on your federal income tax return, thus reducing your taxable income and your tax liability by an amount equal to 80 percent of your marginal tax rate IRS Tax Code 170(1). Consult your tax adviser regarding your situation. Reserving Suites A minimum gift payment of $20,000 must be received at signing and on or before each anniversary date (of the gift agreement) after. Complete a suite commitment letter. If your commitment letter results in a suite assignment and you decide not to fulfill the entire commitment, your gift deposit will be forfeited. If your first years term payment is paid in full by Dec 31, 2010 you get double priority points. Full payment is required by May 6, 2011. Payments for the suites can be an option. To reserve your suite, call Terry Mohajir, 561.297.0131 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 561.297.0131 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Group Commitments for Suites Group commitments for suites will be accepted. A group commitment is limited to four individuals for a single suite. The Athletics Department will recognize up to four individuals/entities listed on an agreement and provide related Owl Club benefits for each person's share of the annual gift for the suite. If an individual from your group opts out before the end of the lease agreement, the remaining group members will be responsible for the commitment or for finding a replacement. Assignment of Suites Suite assignments will be based on the Owl Club priority point program. Each person's priority point total will be ranked with other who applicants in descending order to determine availability of suite preferences and suite locations. In cases where a group has applied for a suite, the highest individual point total within the group will be used to determine availability of suite preferences and suite locations. ___ Loge Boxes About A total of 26 loge boxes located on the west side of the stadium will offer spectacular views of the game and provide a memorable venue to entertain family and friends on football Saturdays. The loge boxes will be located outdoor at the premier club level and in front of the premier club lounge. We will offer 16 six-seat and 10 four-seat loge box options in that area. All boxes will have comfortable chairs with flat-screen televisions and a drink rail. The stadium concessionaire will offer upscale food and concierge services. All premium seating areas, including loges, will be able to purchase alcohol. The loge boxes holders will have access to the premier and priority club areas. The loge boxes will have access to all premium areas. Amenities Concierge service Exclusive elevator access Access to the premier club and priority club Flat-screen television Access to private restrooms in the premier club Comfortable seats with great sight lines to the field Game programs Season tickets are included in the price of the box Buffet-style food included in the price Two parking passes for a six-seat box; one parking pass for a four-seat box (one valet for both are included in the price) Loge box agreements include all additional events in the stadium, excluding tickets Donation Requirements Loge commitments are for three-, four-, or five-year terms. ◦5 seasons ($8,560 [six seat] and $5,707 [four seat] annually) ◦4 seasons (($9,060 [six seats] and $6,207 [four seats] annually) ◦3 seasons ($9,560 [six seats] and $6,707 [four seats] annually) First priority is given to donors that make a minimum contribution of $12,500 (over 5 years).If you itemize, you may be able to deduct 80 percent of the designated donation for suites as a charitable contribution on your federal income tax return, thus reducing your taxable income and your tax liability by an amount equal to 80 percent of your marginal tax rate - IRS Tax Code 170(1). Consult your tax adviser regarding your situation. Reserving Loge Boxes A minimum gift payment of $2,500 must be received at signing and on or before each anniversary date (of the gift agreement) thereafter. Complete a loge box commitment letter. If your commitment letter and deposit results in a loge box assignment and you decide not to fulfill the entire commitment, your reservation deposit will be forfeited. If your first years term payment is paid in full by December 31, 2010, you get double priority points. Full payment is required by May 6, 2011. Payments for the loge box can be an option. To reserve your loge box call Terry Mohajir, 561.297.0131 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 561.297.0131 end_of_the_skype_highlighting. Group Commitments for Loge Boxes Group commitments for loge boxes will be accepted. A group commitment is limited to two individuals for a single loge box. The Athletic Department will recognize up to two individuals/entities listed on an agreement and provide related Owl Club benefits for each person's share of the annual gift for the loge box. If an individual from your group opts out before the end of the lease agreement, the remaining person will be responsible for the commitment or for finding a replacement. Assignment of Loge Box Loge box assignments will be based on the Owl Club priority point program. Each person's priority point total will be ranked with other applicants in descending order to determine availability and assign box locations. In cases where a group has applied for a box, the highest individual point total within the group will be used to determine availability of loge box preferences and suite locations. ___ Premier Club Seats About The Premier Club level will have more than 1,000 outdoor club seats and an interior lounge with restrooms and upgraded food areas for club patrons. Outdoor club seating will feature chairback seats, cup holders and ample legroom. Elevators will take patrons to the club levels for expansive views of the field from the lounge or their seats. The Premier Club features flat-screen televisions for scores and highlights, upscale food and beverage services and comfortable lounge furniture. All premium seating levels, including club spaces, will be able to purchase alcohol. Amenities Prime sight lines to the field Upscale cuisine and beverage service Exclusive elevator access Climate-controlled lounge with spectacular views and comfortable furniture Private restrooms In-lounge, flat-screen televisions Outdoor chairback seats with abundant legroom and cup holders Buffet-style food included Parking included for every two seats bought Opportunity to group blocks of seats together - ask for sit with program Access to the Premier Club and Priority Club First right to purchase tickets for all other events hosted in the stadium Donation Requirements Donation requirements for premier club seats are based on five home games. The price will adjust if there are more than five home games, unless you lock-in to a term. Your seat location will be determined based on your priority points. ◦Premier commitments are for five- to one-year terms: ■$1,080 for minimum term of five years. ■$1,180 for minimum term of four years. ■$1,280 for minimum term of three years. ■$1,380 for minimum term of two years. ■$1,480 for minimum term of one year. Multi-year agreements will lock-in your seat location and price for that term. If you itemize, you may be able to deduct 80 percent of your annual donation for club seats (after tickets, food and parking is deducted) as a charitable contribution on your federal income tax return, thus reducing your tax liability by an amount equal to 80 percent of your marginal tax rate - IRS Tax Code 170(1). Consult your tax adviser regarding your situation. Reserving Premier Club Seats Deposit of 10% of the term. The remaining 90% balance will be due May 6, 2011. Balance (90% each term) for subsequent year, will be due in May of each term. If your application results in an assignment of club seats and you decide not to fulfill the first year's annual contribution, you will forfeit your deposit. Assignment of Premier Club Seats Assignments will be based on the Owls Club priority point program. Each person's priority point total will be ranked with those of other club seat applicants in descending order to determine availability and to assign location preferences and specific locations. Group seating requests can be accommodated. If you desire to sit with another club seat patron, please note the "sit with" request. Your priority point totals will be averaged to determine your ranking for assignments. ___ Priority Club Seats About The 4,000+ outdoor club seats (chairback) are located on the lower level on the west side and will have access to a 16,000-square-foot, covered outdoor lounge to view the game. The lounge features flat-screen televisions for scores and highlights, upscale food and beverage services and comfortable lounge furniture. Those in all premium seating levels, including club spaces, will be able to purchase alcohol. Amenities Prime sight lines to the field Upscale cuisine and beverage service, including the ability to purchase alcohol Exclusive priority club access In-lounge, flat-screen televisions Outdoor chairback, wider chairs, with abundant legroom and cup holders Opportunity to purchase season parking permit Opportunity to group blocks of seats together First right to purchase tickets for all other events hosted in the stadium Donation Requirements $250 donation per seat Does not include the ticket $50 deposit for each seat - Double priority points for full payment by December 31, 2010 If you pay up front by May 6, 2011, up to a five-year term, your seat will be locked in for the term year you choose. Upfront payments per seat would be as followed: ◦Five-year- $1,250; four-year - $1,000; three-year - $750; two-year - $500 If you itemize, you may be able to deduct 80% of your annual donation for club seats as a charitable contribution on your federal income tax return, thus reducing your tax liability by an amount equal to 80% of your marginal tax rate IRS Tax Code 170(1). Consult your tax adviser regarding your situation. Reserving Priority Club Seats Complete a commitment letter for priority club seats and return with the appropriate reservation deposit as soon as possible. A nonrefundable, per-seat reservation deposit of $50 will be required to apply for club seating. The $50 per-seat reservation deposit can be applied toward the first year's annual contribution. If your application results in an assignment of club seats and you decide not to fulfill the first year's annual contribution, you will forfeit your deposit. Assignment of Club Seats Assignments will be based on the Owl Club priority point program. Each person's priority point total will be ranked with those of other club seat applicants in descending order to determine availability and assign location preferences and specific locations. Group seating requests can be accommodated. If you desire to sit with another club seat patron, please note the "sit with" request. Your priority point totals will be averaged to determine your ranking for assignments.

Does anyone know if we are able to sell the seat license of we move? Let's say that I purchase the seat license for whatever level and pay it out over 5 years and then get a great job offer in year 6 when my per year costs would go down to 1100 bucks instead of 2500, can I sell my seats to someone on a waiting list or is it just gone?

Huge congrats Chaddy. Love those Mean Green booties!

Why would you think that? We had the option of adding several FCS teams over the last two years and have turned them all away. The only team that we are helping move up is a member of the conference and gets an auto invite. In fact, they cannot go to another conference according to our bylaws. Just because a school wants to join us doesn't mean we want them. UTSA listed CUSA in their feasibility study but that didn't mean they actually had a shot at getting in. If anything, adding USA for football will strengthen the conference , they are undefeated and averaging 20k a game in attendance.

The guy that made this film has never made a real film/documentary before. He graduated from Jesuit and went on to SMU. He is 32 years old and has always wanted to be a film maker. This was his big break... they had an article in the DaMN about him. One quote that was pretty funny, he said that he thought he would spend the rest of his life editing deer trip home videos and kid's birthday parties. Question for those that lived through this while thing - did SMU draw crowds back then? Even now - with a winning coach and the boosters back on board to buy coaching staffs - the team is lucky to get 15K into Ford Field. Was it always that way? I imagine that UT and aTm brought their crowds; but did SMU ever have a loyal following?

That is exactly what I did - I DVR everything, can't stand to watch the ads.

I just read an article about this documentary on ESPN tonight. Sounds pretty good. I was really young back then and didn't realize what was going on. Looking forward to seeing the full story about how SMU fell. I thought that you all might want to watch - if you are a football fan and there is no football on Saturday, this will help

Double ditto!

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