Tech-nical Improvements

My plan for Tech Athletic Success

When I originally started this post, several of my points had to do with what they should look for in a new AD. The new AD’s focus needs to be fundraising for facilities upgrades and coaches salaries. Tech’s athletic budget has got to move higher for it to be competitive with the other regional schools, like Southern Miss.

However, since Derek Dooley was named AD, those points obviously became moot. I listed some of my reservations about this hire in my post on Friday, so I won’t rehash the whole thing here. I have concerns about his time management, and being able to perform the duties of AD well while he is coaching football, but there are some good points, too. Hopefully his double duty (and pay, I hope) will give him extra incentive to stay awhile.

Anyway, here is what I think needs to be done for Tech to become a very competitive program, at least in two major sports:

1. Derek Dooley now power over football scheduling. He has said that he doesn’t want to play more than one money game against BCS conference competition per year. 2008 is pretty good on that count, as Tech plays Mississippi State and Kansas in the first two weeks. Those are their only two games against BCS conference schools, and better yet, Mississippi State comes to Ruston. At least the Dawgs are not handicapped by having to play 3 road games against huge competition. If they are going to show improvement, this will be a good opportunity for it.
2. On the flip side, Southeastern comes to Ruston this year. I am in favor of playing other state schools, but Southeastern is a FCS (I-AA) team, and playing those is not good for Tech. Stick with the FBS (I-A) state schools wherever possible.
3. Do schedule ULM every year. Beating the snot out of the Indians Warhawks will increase Tech’s profile in Monroe and help recruiting there, and all along the I-20 corridor. It cannot be bad to be the unquestioned masters of North Louisiana.
4. Instead of the money games, schedule teams like Troy, Tulsa, SMU, and Rice. Especially with the latter 3, having a competitive playing presence in Texas-Oklahoma cannot hurt recuiting, whereas offering the team up for a 50 point beating at the hands of the Sooners might.
5. Offer to take slightly less in the payout on big money football games for a home basketball game. Not sure if that would work, but somehow bringing bigger basketball teams to the TAC would raise the profile and the interest. Would the TAC be full if Tech were to play LSU, Texas A&M, or Mississippi State on a Saturday night? There were only 1300 people at the last game at the TAC, against Hawaii. Better opponents means more tickets sold, means more revenue and attention.  The basketball program could be competitive with the big schools much quicker than the football program – 1 great recruiting class, and you can go to the Tournament – and playing big-time schools in the TAC will raise the basketball team’s profile considerably.
6. Inform CUSA that whenever they are ready, we will be ready.
7. And just a pet peeve – get rid of that little truck. Talk to that Alumni who owns a trucking company, and tell him to donate just one trailer, and paint it in Tech Blue (not red).

My plan is not comprehensive.  Much hinges on the ability of Dooley and Rupp to coach their programs effectively and get them to win.  At least in the case of Dooley, it looked last season like some progress was made.  This year, a signature win (Mississippi State, anyone?) would go a long way.  As for Basketball, this season needs to be written off.  But next year needs to be better.  And noticeably so.

The bottom line is that Louisiana is a state that can support 2 major athletic programs.  It will be along time before Tech could challenge LSU in terms of overall quality, but there is no reason why Tech shouldn’t be the unquestioned beta-dog in the state.  It is ideally positioned geographically, being about as far from LSU as one can get.  The major competition are the UL schools, and Tech should be able to beat them pretty regularly.  There is no reason that Tech can’t be on a level with Southern Miss, TCU, Tulsa, and other good regional schools.  But first Tech must establish that it is committed to competing.  Reneau seems to have started this process, but it needs to bear some fruit now.

D Day is August 30th.