LA Tech addition may not be flashy, but it is a good fit in the SBC
Texas State leaving the SBC to join the new PAC-12 left a void for the Sun Belt Conference to fill. While LA Tech may not be the flashy/exciting pick many wanted, they do fill the needs of the SBC well. How do they actually do that you may ask? Let’s take a look at some reasons why the Bulldogs will add some value to the SBC.
Just like Southern Miss in 2021, the location of LA Tech in Ruston allows for a more regional conference. Being a regional conference and not one that chases TV markets has really paid off for the SBC. (C-USA chase markets and look at what happened to it) It has allowed for like-minded schools who have more in common than not to grow and develop their athletic programs. Another byproduct of regionality is the forming of rivalries. Louisiana has really become a heated rivalry for USM since the Golden Eagles joined the SBC. Sure, the Golden Eagles and Cajuns played each other in all sports, but when they became conference mates, that’s when the rivalry got “spicy.” The Rivalry In Dixie will mean much more now between USM and LA Tech. Rivalries bring more attention which brings more money. That can’t be a bad thing.
Traveling to Ruston instead of San Marcos will save athletic departments a lot of money. It’s not football or even baseball travel that hurts the budget, it’s the travel of all the non-revenue producing sports that drain the budget. Busses are much cheaper than flights or chartering a plane. If pennies are pinched, sports (other than baseball) could just make it a one day trip to save on hotel and food cost. Now that profit sharing is a reality in college sports, those savings can be passed on to NIL. You never know when that extra money could entice a difference maker in each sport.
Money rules college sports today. With universities asking fans to not only support the teams through booster clubs, they are also asking for fans to to finance each team’s payroll through NIL. With that being the case, it is a necessity for athletic directors to make decisions that are the most financially responsible and not always the most glamorous. This was one of those decisions. They have to look out for today now with what could happen five years from now when the SBC media rights deal is up. With the way things are going who knows who will where and at what level in five years.
