badgerwolf

An RFQ will most likely result in multi-disciplinary teams (architect, engineer, builder, etc.) being formed to submit a quote (estimate) on building the facility as outlined in the SOW (Statement of Work) prepared by NT or prepared by a firm contracted by NT to do this work. The NT administration will then use the RFQ responses to develop financial plans for the facility; they will know generally what the facility will cost (less inflation for a delayed build) and can then determine from where funds will be obtained to pay for the facility. Financial outliers will be ruled out and a pretty good estimate will be in hand! Based upon RFQ responses, NT may decide to revise the SOW to decrease the cost of the new facility or they may stay the course; for example, the original SOW asked for chair back seats throughout the facility and this is found to be too expensive per the RFQ responses. NT could revise the SOW to only require chair back seats in 1/2 the stadium or something similar. As I recall the new UCF stadium cut back on the number of water fountains throughout the stadium; this was probably an SOW revision to decrease building costs based upon RFQ inputs. The RFP process will require the multi-disciplinary teams that wish to participate to present very detailed specs (drawings, materials to be used, subcontractors to be used, timelines, etc.) on exactly how the facility will be built and exact timelines on how the build will progress. RFPs will be reviewed and one team will be awarded a contract to build the facility. Sounds like NT is serious to me; one of you NT guys or ladies that work in Project Management can probably explain this much better. I have just enough knowledge to be dangerous as the old saying goes . . . Go SBC Football !!!!

Hey Guys -- There is a question on the MWC Board about NT. http://www.mwcboard.com/www/forums/index.php?showtopic=10909 Go SBC !!!!!

CONGRATS to the Mean Green!!!!

stAte beat Memphis and Memphis beat Southern Miss at The Rock; it could happen! However, stAte has a history of losing on the road so . . .

ASU Plans Special Salute to Indian Family Courtesy: ArkansasState Release: 11/10/2007 http://www.asuindians.com/ JONESBORO (11/10/07) – The Arkansas State University Athletics Department announced Saturday that it will hold a special salute to its long-time mascot, the Indian Family, at halftime of the football team’s 2007 home finale Nov. 15 against North Texas. The salute will pay tribute to an integral part of ASU’s proud history as the Indian Family will make its final appearance at Indian Stadium as the University’s official mascot for the last time. ASU will proudly continue to use its Indians’ nickname and Indian Family mascot throughout the remainder of the 2007-08 athletic seasons, but will hold an official retirement of the nickname and mascot this spring at one of its basketball games. ASU is currently in the process of changing its nickname and mascot in order to be compliant with the NCAA’s policy on the use of Native American nicknames and imagery. The ASU mascot is a trio of Indian-attired students popularly known as the Indian Family. Chief Big Track (named after the legendary chief of the Osage tribe which occupied Northeast Arkansas) is the head of the Family, which also consists of an unnamed princess and unnamed brave. The “Family”, which had been dormant for some time, was resurrected when Barry Dowd took over as ASU’s Director of Athletics in March 1996. Since 1952, the Indian Family has represented the University and its athletic programs in a stately and dignified manner benefitting the Indian tribes which once lived in the area. ASU’s game against North Texas will kickoff at 6:00 p.m. this Thursday and will be televised by ESPN Regional. ASU needs two victories over its final three games to become bowl eligible for the third consecutive season.

WAC gets the Pillow Fight of the Week: La Tech vs Utah State

Just an update to the above post. It was announced on the ABQ newscast tonight that the Lobos who were originally told they could only play in the NM Bowl once every three years may very well play in the bowl again this year. The Exec Director of the NM Bowl made the announcement on the evening TV sports show. Sounds a lot like the Hawaii Bowl situation to me. It has been stated numerous times that the NM Bowl cannot survive in ABQ unless the hometown team is in it. I suspect ticket sales are not going well and that is the impetus for the announcement. This is obviously a MWC bowl that is currently paired with the WAC; that relationship may or may not last.

The New Mexico Bowl is shaky as well. Last year was the first year and Albuquerque's hometown team (Lobos) played so a large crowd showed up to cheer the Lobos to victory. Locally the bowl was billed as another Lobo home game so the crowds came out. The Lobos can only play once every 3 years so there is concern for bowl attendance this year. If NMSU became bowl eligible, they would probably bring some fans up from Las Cruces, but I would be surprised if Albuquerque turned out for NMSU in the New Mexico Bowl. Since UNM abandoned the WAC years ago, Albuquerque is definitely not a WAC city -- the WAC is an after thought in ABQ. Just food for thought!

As an old timer, I definitely prefer stAte be in a conference with NT and the Cajuns. These are my two favorite conference mates!

stAte almost pulled out a win!!! #4 Texas 21, stAte 13 Team Stat Comparison from ESPN.com: 1st Downs stAte 24 Texas 23 Total Yards stAte 394 Texas 345 Passing stAte 270 Texas 224 Rushing stAte 124 Texas 121 Yards per rush stAte3.6 Texas 3.2 Interceptions thrown stAte 1 Texas 2

Not my words, but here you go: ESPN360 is ESPN's robust signature broadband service, free to fans that receive high-speed Internet service through an ESPN-affiliated provider.

Yes, they usually play UTEP (< 45 minutes away) or UNM (<3 hours away) every year; that accounts for the increased attendance at one game per year. The Lobo fans and the UTEP fans both turn out in force for their teams in the local area.

Another thing to consider is the WAC Strategic Plan; below is the concern of one La Tech fan: And in 50 years, where will we stand?!?!?! I can assure you it will not be in the same conversation with Boise, Fresno and Hawaii, not even with other land grant institutions like NMSU, Idaho and Utah State. The WAC strategic plan, if it means anything, will weed us completely out of the picture long before then, perhaps a lot sooner than any of us would like to admit to. Boise's bowl bonanza is just another band-aid on a scrape that grows larger by the year. It does nothing to fix the real problems in Ruston -- which I think a lot of us agree with. While I can buy that the Belt is not ideal, based on where we've been and what we've accomplished, I think it may be very, very reasonable with where I fear we are headed. Actually what I really fear is a fate much worse than the Belt. Read the WAC strategic plan = that ain't us, folks! Sorry, but facts are facts, and someone smarter than me is going to have to explain how we will meet these expectations. Business as usual in Ruston will likely mean a new conference affiliation, and it won't be by our choosing. I can agree with the premise that the WAC isn't the problem, but it's not the solution either.

An MWC fan's perspective for your discussion; not mine, but from the MWC Board: I think in the long run it was good for the texas teams to go to CUSA. Boise and fresno will be MWC members within five years (give or take) This will lead to UC Davis and/or Sac st. to fill their spots. CUSA is at least stable, even when the big east takes either ECU/Memphis/UCF or all three they can still have a nice regional 10 team league . . .

Yeah, there is concern expressed on the MAC Board that this bowl may be 'one and done'. It appears Toronto is into hockey not American football.

I found this on the MAC Board and thought it was funny; the guys up North failed to see the humor . . . go figure! The Blue Raiders wound up in Detroit after going 7-5 and sharing the Sun Belt title with Troy. This isn't much of a post season blessing for them, since Detroit sucks (even in summer) http://www.rollbamaroll.com/story/2006/12/17/163626/26

Agree completely; I expect Boise to put on another 'deer in the headlights' game as they did against Georgia last year. They played a very weak schedule and they barely beat some not so good WAC teams this year. I think the Sooners will beat the crap out of Boise.

The swine might consider the possibility if you guys kick stAte out of the conference . . . they would NEVER play stAte by choice!!!!

Saw this Nevada article on the Tech Board and thought some of you might be interested as you have a few fans who push for a move to the WAC: Louisiana Tech probably should go back to the Sun Belt. Several of the schools are right in their backyard - Louisiana-Monroe, Louisiana-Lafayette, Troy and North Texas. Those schools are a short drive or flight away. It would make more sense geography wise and financially. http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/200612...PORTS/112060061

NOT EVER going to happen per the Prez at La Tech: Reneau stressed throughout the meeting that Tech will continue to work toward being competitive with schools in the WAC and Conference USA. When asked what would happen should American Manpower recommend a return to the Sunbelt Conference, Reneau said, “Then they won’t get paid." http://www.rustonleader.com/news.php?id=2054

From the CUSA Board: C-USA selection process The postseason pecking order for C-USA is clear for both the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and GMAC Bowl, but it gets a little fuzzy after that. The Autozone Liberty Bowl has first choice, and it does not have to take the C-USA champion. In other words, the winner of the Dec. 1st championship game isn't necessarily packing its bags for Memphis if bowl officials and sponsors aren't giddy about the champ. The GMAC Bowl gets second choice, but it can potentially lock that up prior to the championship game if the Liberty Bowl releases that team. Beyond that, the selection process does not have a pecking order, meaning heavy politicking will be involved between school administrators, C-USA officials, and the league's three other bowls: the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth; the PapaJohns.com Bowl in Birmingham; and the New Orleans Bowl. In such cases, it is typically in the best interest of the conference to ensure that its bowl partners have interesting match-ups and well-attended games. That heavily favors schools with good attendance numbers and a reputation for traveling well.

That ties in with comments from the November 'Ask The Commissioner' should the SBC not be able to get an at-large bowl team this year: Now, if this doesn’t work this year, then I think we are right back where we were in 2000 when we created the R-L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. We will look for a resort destination, where fans, teams and alumni can come and enjoy a winter vacation while watching their team play.

Yes, SMU will visit Jboro next year and I expect the same thing will happen to them as did Army this year, when they came to Jboro. SMU will lose in Jboro!

Yes, he is a Freshman. He will be around for awhile and he will only get better. He had been rotating with another QB and finally stepped up his game against Memphis; that was his first full game. He came into his own after the SMU game unfortunately; we were still searching for a QB at that time. Good luck to the Mean Green the rest of the season!

This is a great rivalry game; I believe we have been playing on and off since 1914 or something like that. Tiger High has won the last 10 games so we want this win. I suspect Memphis is to stAte as SMU is to UNT. Thanks for your support guys. I will be pulling for you guys as you beat Loser Tech! Go SBC Football!!!!