Texas State's Drive To Fbs Slow Compared To Utsa

NT80 · June 3, 2010

http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/sports/x1910023508/College-Athletics-States-FBS-drive-slow-compared-to-neighboring-UTSA

(see note about UTSA signing 4-game series with Colorado State)

Edited June 3, 2010 by NT80

VideoEagle · June 3, 2010

UTSA has yet to play a single down of football. They hired a head coach that no school that actually plays football wanted. They signed a number of contracts to play big names schools, but all of the contracts have more escape clauses than an AIG Executive Contracts. If the Roadrunners actually field a team, who are the going to play in 2011 and 2012? Looking at the article, none of these big name schools plan on showing up in San Antonio before 2015. Well, Houston is FBS but not in an auto-qualifying conference and they will go if there is a team to play against in 2014. There are internet rumors of games in 2011, but no actual contracts have been announced.

If the Roadrunners actually start playing, then they will need to comply with the attendance requirements in 2012 and 2013. Unlike when UNT moved up, the new attendance requirements prevent nearly free tickets and require audited attendance - people have to actually use the tickets. Right now, none of those games in 2012 or 2013 will be against "name" opponents so UTSA is going to have to meet the attendance requirements playing Southland teams.

All the above assumes the NCAA will allow new teams to move up - something the NCAA Council has suggested they might not do because of the number teams already at the FBS level.

As for the article, it was written by the sports editor of the San Marco paper who is trying to get Texas State - a school with an actual team - to speed up their drive to FBS status. Texas State is taking the slow but steady approach, first making sure the finances are in order and then working to build their attendance. I notice the AD at Texas State though so little of the article he didn't even bother assign an intern to comment.