04-22-2004, 03:16 PM
For what it is worth, I believe that LaTech will always be available to C-USA if we need to add a team. 8 of our schools surround them, and those 8 schools play at a higher level than anyone else in LaTech's neighborhood (except SEC/Big 12).
The UTEP situation, however, may be a window of opportunity that does not stay open long. For example, let's say we take LaTech and the WAC takes North Texas. All of the sudden, if there is a C-USA opening in the future, UTEP no longer sees a Dallas alumni benefit to joining C-USA because they already play UNT in the metroplex.
Maybe it's just me, but I get the sense that there is more urgency in taking UTEP vis a vis LaTech in that UTEP may not want to come at a later date, whereas LaTech would almost certainly come later if we needed them to. Ironically, in a sense, geography works against LaTech a little.
The UTEP situation, however, may be a window of opportunity that does not stay open long. For example, let's say we take LaTech and the WAC takes North Texas. All of the sudden, if there is a C-USA opening in the future, UTEP no longer sees a Dallas alumni benefit to joining C-USA because they already play UNT in the metroplex.
Maybe it's just me, but I get the sense that there is more urgency in taking UTEP vis a vis LaTech in that UTEP may not want to come at a later date, whereas LaTech would almost certainly come later if we needed them to. Ironically, in a sense, geography works against LaTech a little.
Cougar Red...you hit the nail on the head. We lose another team in the east and Tech will still be there but UTEP may be gone to the Mountain West. I see a strong probability that LT will be in C-USA one day...just not today.