number of topics are slated for today's space, so let's jump right in and begin.

Let's start with attendance and fans. Students, great job. Although 19,128 is still a disappointing number, especially for Homecoming, it looked like the majority of 1,269 new fans were on the east side of the stadium.

Also, there were lots of blue shirts -- T-shirts and dress shirts -- out for this game. It's good to see a united student body rooting for the Bulldogs.

Even though the majority of you reading this are students, this should be mentioned to teach you how not to act at a game.

Don't be classless like the fans on the west side and boo our players like they did Luke McCown. I know fans want to see Maxie Causey play some. Maxie is a great guy, but Luke is the better quarterback who gives the Bulldogs the best chance to win.

What about Ryan Moats? He has stepped up when the Bulldogs needed him most. Since Ralph Davis' suspension, Moats is averaging over 160 yards per game.

Moats is ultra-quick and brings back memories of his idol, Barry Sanders. The best thing about Moats is he simply has the chance to go the distance every time he touches the football.

In fact, Moats could be very dangerous as a punt and kickoff returner. He returned kicks last year as a freshman, and maybe he should get another look this year. It might help Tech win the battle of field position.

Finally, to the most important item of the day. What is Tech's future as far as conference affiliation? Tulsa, SMU and Rice have all bolted the Western Athletic Conference for Conference-USA.

Where does that leave Tech? Well, with a variety of options actually.

First of all, there are a number of things going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. Jim Oakes is a tremendous athletic director, and he is doing everything in his power to take Tech to the next level.

But where is that, you ask? The way it looks right now, we have three options -- one of which is a last resort.

There is still an outside chance that Tech will get invited into C-USA. That is currently option No. 1. It makes a great deal of sense for travel purposes, and it would set up some great regional matchups with Tulane, Houston, Rice, Tulsa, Southern Miss and SMU.

However, with C-USA currently pursuing several schools, things are in the air. Marshall and Central Florida are also rumored targets, but TCU is rumored to be heading west to the Mountain West.

Tech could also choose to stay in the WAC, depending on how the WAC moves. Currently down to seven teams, WAC commissioner Karl Benson is scrambling for replacements. Among the rumored are New Mexico State, Utah State and North Texas from the Sun Belt.

However, the WAC needs some Central Time Zone teams to replace the three departed schools. Louisiana-Lafayette, Middle Tennessee State and North Texas make sense here. It remains to be seen how it plays out.

Worst-case scenario is Tech returns to being an independent. After struggling for 12 years as an independent, it is not in Tech's best interest to go back.

But, hey, it's better than the Sun Belt.

Bret H. McCormick is a senior journalism major from Ruston who serves as associate sports editor for The Tech Talk.