Speaking of the Southland

In the Southland Conference, when the talk has not been about the new head coaches around the league, it has centered around the new Football Championship Subdivision programs at UTSA (Texas-San Antonio) and Lamar.

Each of these programs have made splashes to some degree, the latest coming from San Antonio, Texas as UTSA [url=http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=13100&ATCLID=204870262]announced a million-dollar check written to support the UTSA football program[/url] by local franchise owner Jim Bodenstedt.

The money donated by Bodenstedt and his wife will go forward to fund scholarship for football student-athletes. The donation is part of a larger initiative by the UTSA athletic department to raise $15 million from the private sector, of which $2.1 million has been raised thus far.

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Outside of the donations, both schools are working hard at selling tickets. To have a successful program, it is important to generate support through ticket sales.

Old Dominion in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) may be the trendsetter in this category as of late, having done a tremendous job to pack their facility as the football Monarchs hit the field this past season.

In December, UTSA [url=http://www.goutsa.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=315549&SPID=34919&DB_OEM_ID=13100&ATCLID=204858483] began accepting deposits for football tickets[/url]. As is becoming commonplace in collegiate athletics, the support of a fundraising arm is part of the equation. In UTSA's case, support of the Roadrunner Athletic Fund allows season ticket holders to be, a better chance at determining the location of their seats.

Lamar has also started their [url=http://www.lamarcardinals.com/tickets/footbl-s-tickets.html]season ticket efforts[/url] with a web site that serves as a guide to purchasing season tickets and understanding parking. Like the Roadrunners, the Cardinals have linked their premiere seats in the stadium to their fundraising arm - the Cardinal Club.

Both season ticket campaigns will be watched from across the SLC over the next few weeks and months. The last ticket campaign that brought about this much attention came from Texas State, as they jump-started their efforts to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision with [url=http://www.athletics.txstate.edu/thedrive/]The Drive[/url], a ticket effort fueled by a donation by the Fields family.

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Speaking of these new football programs at Lamar and UTSA, it remains to be seen how the addition of these 63 scholarships at each school will impact the other schools in the area and around the nation.

With the advent of numerous scouting services, expanded recruiting efforts and new programs in the country, the amount of college football coaches pounding the pavement in the state increases year to year.

UTSA, which will sign their first class on National Signing Day, presents an opportunity for San Antonio high school players to play at home and on a stage as large as the Alamodome. Lamar head coach Ray Woodard has embarked on signing his second class and as noted earlier, the Cardinals' top guy has signed [url=http://www.collegesportingnews.com/entry.php?9-Mid-Year-Signees-Report-Plus-More-Coaches-on-the-Move]a few players from his roots[/url].