BTB Mailbag: 5/12/2017
If the AAC had to add new schools as a result of conference realignment in the future, how would Louisiana Tech compare to other schools that might draw interest from the AAC? Also, what would Louisiana Tech need to do to raise its stock in the eyes of the AAC? ---TechAlum2005
The landscape of college athletics is an ever changing world. Whether it is Texas A&M to the SEC or more recently Wichita State to the AAC, universities are always looking to make the next jump to improve the perception of their respective schools. Tech to the AAC is one that I think many around the program would welcome, but how would the ‘Dogs stack up? Looking at other G5 conferences I have compiled a list of potential additions. Those are: Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Old Dominion, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State, Marshall, and Tech. Obviously a majority of these schools come from Conference USA. Looking at the MAC with Central Michigan and Western Michigan, outside of football those two schools would provide weak additions to a conference that badly needs better athletics. Georgia Southern and Georgia State provide good programs in the southern area of the country that would fit the league well. They would provide nice additions, but their programs a relatively new to the FBS/D1 level. To me the sleeping giant would come out of Conference USA in Old Dominion. The Monarchs would provide the most competition for the spot to Tech with their strong fan base and quality programs across the board. While Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, and Marshall generally field solid programs, they have lousy fan bases with mediocre at best academics. So if you’re asking me it would come down to Tech or Old Dominion in a one addition scenario. Outside of a budget that is one of the lower ones in Division 1, Tech has to be the most appealing. The Golden Age of Tech Athletics could be going on right in front of our eyes in the present time, while also having a Tier 1 University, and a University that is continuing to grow its enrollment, Tech is in great position for the next time conference expansion comes around.
What is the gauge of success for the Tech baseball program in the next five years? How do we keep the program going? ---Tripnotic Tiger
With a regional appearance in 2016 and another regional on the horizon in 2017, I would like for that to become the norm over the next five years. With regional appearances a regularity the program will be nationally respected to a high degree. The regional appearances will also attract higher quality recruits which will then lead to Super Regionals and eventual trips to Omaha. The Tech baseball program is a sleeping giant that is in the early stages of becoming one of the premier programs. In order to continue the success of the program, it all starts with culture and recruiting. Recruiting is so difficult and will obviously lead to some misses, but in the last two years there has been so many quality players brought to Ruston. Junior college or high school recruits depend on team need, but with quality recruits that fit the “dirt bag” mantra that has been created over the two previous years the Diamond Dogs will continue to see a great deal of success.
With just six games left plus the conference tournament, what must the Tech baseball team improve on in order to have a shot to win a regional? ---Josh L.
Having played their best baseball of the season the past five weeks or so, the Diamond Dogs certainly have some holes that need to be filled. The easy answer would be that they need to stay healthy. Jordan Washam has missed the last five games but is expected to return tonight. Casey Sullivan has been nursing a back injury for a large chunk of the year, but has looked great in his last two outings. For me, one or two additional pitchers need to step up on the mound. That would give Tech eight or nine quality arms heading into postseason play. Whether it is Casey Sutton stepping up as a senior, or a freshmen like Tyler Follis, the ‘Dogs can be legitimate contenders for a trip to a Super Regional with an additional quality arm or two on the mound.
With the transfers of Price Wilson and Jack Abraham, is J’Mar Smith going to win a Heisman Trophy during his time at Tech? ---Lane G.
There is obviously some hyperbole involved in this question, but it does raise make one raise an eyebrow about J’Mar Smith’s true talent. Smith has only seen significant playing time in one game during his Tech career. He played a solid game on the road at Arkansas to open the 2016 season. I don’t think anyone was surprised to see Wilson move on, but the announcement of Abraham caught many off guard. Abraham had a solid spring and a bright future ahead. That said, Smith was the clear starter heading into fall camp. J’Mar has arm talent off the chart, athletic ability to run for 500+ yards, and has the smarts to get Tech into the right play at the line of scrimmage if need be. While he won’t win a Heisman Trophy at Tech, call it a bold prediction, J’Mar Smith will be mentioned in the same breath as Terry Bradshaw, Tim Rattay, and Luke McCown by the time he leaves the Tech program. He is that special folks, make sure to be in Ruston September 2nd for the season opener against Northwestern State.
If you had to say one position over the years that Tech had the most success in placing players in to the NFL at, what would it be? ---David T.
For me it is either kicker or defensive line. While Tech has only had Chris Boniol, Matt Stover, and Josh Scobee, that is very impressive when you consider there is only 32 kicking jobs in the NFL. Heck, the ‘Dogs had an NFL kicker for 25 consecutive years before Scobee wrapped up his career in 2015. That said, I think you still have to say that Tech has had more success putting defensive lineman into the NFL. When you look at D’Anthony Smith, Justin Ellis, I.K. Enemkpali, Houston Bates, Vontarrius Dora and Vernon Butler, Tech has had more than their fair share of defensive lineman to enter the NFL. Jaylon Ferguson appears to be the next great defensive lineman from Tech to enter the league.
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