Texan Club A University support group of more than 400 corporate and individual members providing scholarships and other support of Tarleton athletics and student pride for 30 years. Texan Club Board is comprised of about 25 leaders who: Respect Tarleton s academics and community standing above all else. Believe that athletic events and facilities serves as a front porch to the university, and enjoy watching students and alumni take pride in sports, band, cheer, and other accomplishments. Acknowledge the opportunity it gives to those who might otherwise not be able to get a college education. Appreciate the exposure and pride athletics brings to alumni and students, as well as the University, Stephenville, Erath County and area communities. Are we satisfied being a top regional institution (in all respects) if provided the opportunity to become nationally relevant? 2017 1
Pros and cons of D-I advancement? Reasons to Advance to D-I: Drawbacks and Concerns: Entire University gains stature with prospective students and faculty. Athletics competes in much bigger markets, raising exposure. Tarleton is the largest in the LSC, and would immediately be the 4 th largest of a 14 member Southland Conference. Expansion of LSC in 2019 lowers the average enrollment of Conference membership and increases travel. Increased costs of the athletic programs (where does the money come from?) Concern that educational and other programs may be curtailed? Fear of not being competitive? 2017 2
We won t solve the financing questions here, but here are just two examples of revenue that flows from D-I affiliation: 1. NCAA enhancement payments. $8,000 now as D-2; $400,000 if we were D-I today. 2. Examples of 2017 SLC Money games : *Kansas State/ Central Arkansas ($400,000) *Texas A&M/Nicholls State ($550,000) *SMU/Stephen F. Austin (?) *New Mexico/ Abilene Christian (?) *Colorado State/ Abilene Christian (?) ACU was still in probationary period during this time. Played Georgia State in the Georgia Dome in 2014. 2017 3
President Dottavio to the Distinguished Alumni chapter You are who you play. 2017 4
Lone Star Conference (current membership) Institution Location Enrollment Distance Angelo State University San Angelo, Texas 10,447 157 Cameron University Lawton, Oklahoma 5,449 185 Eastern New Mexico University Portales, New Mexico 5,574 368 Midwestern State University Wichita Falls, Texas 6,093 132 Tarleton State University Stephenville, Texas 13,020 ---- Texas A&M University Commerce Commerce, Texas 12,013 175 Texas A&M University Kingsville Kingsville, Texas 8,783 360 Texas Woman's University Denton, Texas 12,465 105 UT Permian Basin Odessa, Texas 3,600 263 West Texas A&M University Canyon, Texas 8,389 363 Western New Mexico University Silver City, New Mexico 3,820 707 Averages 8,150 282 Heartland Conference (joining LSC in 2019) Institution Location Enrollment Distance University of Arkansas--Fort Smith Fort Smith, Ark 6,713 381 Dallas Baptist University Dallas, Texas 5,500 89 Lubbock Christian University Lubbock 2,100 266 Oklahoma Christian University Edmund, Oklahoma 2,479 288 Rogers State University Claremore, Oklahoma 4,227 406 St. Edwards University Austin, Texas 5,500 158 St. Marys Universtiy San Antonio, Texas 4,500 207 Texas A&M International Universtiy Laredo, Texas 4,298 361 Averages 4,415 270 Upon admission in 2019, these eight Heartland Conference institutions will reduce the LSC average enrollment from 8,150 to 6,577. This is not intended to demean the new members, but the appearance is clearly one of "retreat," not progress in the LSC. 2017 5
Expanded LSC (2019) 9 football, 10 no football T 2017 6
Southland Conference Institution Location Enrollment Distance In-state Abilene Christian University Abilene, Texas 4,544 96 96 University of Central Arkansas Conway, Arkansas 11,754 450 Houston Baptist University Houston, Texas 3,325 271 271 University of the Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas 11,422 203 203 Lamar University Beaumont, Texas 15,022 356 356 McNeese State University Lake Charles, Louisiana 8,162 414 University of New Orleans New Orleans, Louisiana 8,423 617 Nicholls State University Thibodaux, Louisiana 6,267 597 Northwestern State University Natchitoches, Louisiana 9,179 363 Sam Houston State University Huntsville, Texas 20,181 219 219 Southeastern Louisiana University Hammond, Louisiana 14,594 582 Stephen F. Austin State University Nacogdoches, Texas 12,606 239 239 Texas A&M University Corpus Christi Corpus Christi, Texas 11,693 358 358 League Averages 10,552 367 Texas Averages 11,256 249 Tarleton State University (TBD) Stephenville, Texas 13,020 --- --- Tarleton would be the 4th largest (of 14 institutions) in the Southland if admitted today. 2017 7
Southland Conference (with Tarleton) 12 football, 2 no football T 2017 8
A few quotes from Texan Club Board Members: If we do not move up (if given the opportunity), the University will be set back (for decades). Going D-1 has risks but staying D-2 has risks, too. I had rather assume the risks of going up to D-1: D-1 involves managing how to swim upstream. At D-2, we will be managing how to tread water. We need to broaden our scope and realize that this is bigger than athletics. We need to emphasize that D-1 will be good for Tarleton State University, not just sports. 20 years from now we will look back and say that we stayed comfortable or we took a leap and made TSU into a better University both academically and athletically. The direction of the University in terms of enrollment, its (satellite) campuses in Fort Worth, etc., and facilities investments on the Stephenville Campus lends itself to a D1 status. To remain D2 seems inconsistent with the direction the administration as led. It touches all programs and colleges. 2017 9
Official Texan Club Position When the discussion about a possible move to Division I was initially discussed a few years ago, the Texan Club voted unanimously in support such a move. On November 29, 2017, the Board, having revisited the matter in light of its overall effect on the future of the University, unanimously approved the following position statement: The Texan Club supports accepting an invitation if offered to join the Southland Conference and move up to Division I, FCS, and we encourage the Task Force on D-I and the Administration to approve such action. 2017 10