Gray Avenger Wrote:

Jackson1011 Wrote:UM football is the key. I know you like to highlight the bowl apperances but all of those were minor bowls when UM enjoyed having one of the best players in college football. UMs football history is very lean and the progress since the DeAngelo era can only be described as moving backwards....again JMO
Jackson

Pretty tough to make a "major" bowl when you are essentially locked out of them. We went to a bowl last season WITHOUT DeAngelo Williams. Easy to knock Tiger football when you don't have to line up against us - ask Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Tennessee and USC, to name a few. You might also ask Louisville and Cincy, who we played many times.

-- Fair enough about the bowls...but how many weeks has Memphis been ranked in the Top 25? How many CUSA football titles? How many conference titles in football period?

If Memphis had Southern Miss's football program they would be in the BE right now

I disagree, Jackson

Southern Mississippi is just as good a candidate as the other 3 CUSA programs that are always mentioned. Anything that can give The BEast exposure in SEC country is a big plus, and adding USM will do that as well as adding Memphis will. Basketball isn't an issue for the football schools. We have enough good programs to maintain our presence as it stands. Football is the issue for expansion, and USM is on an equal footing to Memphis.

But like I always say... Who knows what the Presidents will decide?

Jackson1011 Wrote:If Memphis had Southern Miss's football program they would be in the BE right now

Are you aware that Memphis beat Southern Miss in 3 of the last 4 football games? Winning a football game in Hattiesburg is no small feat.

bitcruncher Wrote:Southern Mississippi is just as good a candidate as the other 3 CUSA programs that are always mentioned. Anything that can give The BEast exposure in SEC country is a big plus, and adding USM will do that as well as adding Memphis will. Basketball isn't an issue for the football schools. We have enough good programs to maintain our presence as it stands. Football is the issue for expansion, and USM is on an equal footing to Memphis.

But like I always say... Who knows what the Presidents will decide?

Big East playing football deep in the heart of SEC Country would be like "pissing into the wind" Memphis, UCF and ECU are all on the edge of SEC Country. Southern Miss is deep into SEC poo.

bitcruncher Wrote:Southern Mississippi is just as good a candidate as the other 3 CUSA programs that are always mentioned. Anything that can give The BEast exposure in SEC country is a big plus, and adding USM will do that as well as adding Memphis will. Basketball isn't an issue for the football schools. We have enough good programs to maintain our presence as it stands. Football is the issue for expansion, and USM is on an equal footing to Memphis.

But like I always say... Who knows what the Presidents will decide?

FOLLOW the $$$$$$.

That's usually a very good place to start and sadly, USM falls well behind Memphis, UCF and even ECU in that category (i.e. revenue stream, tv markets, etc...).

If only "on-the-field" performance mattered...USM would of been invited to a BCS conference a long time ago...but the game now is obviously about $$$$$$$.

bitcruncher Wrote:Southern Mississippi is just as good a candidate as the other 3 CUSA programs that are always mentioned. Anything that can give The BEast exposure in SEC country is a big plus, and adding USM will do that as well as adding Memphis will. Basketball isn't an issue for the football schools. We have enough good programs to maintain our presence as it stands. Football is the issue for expansion, and USM is on an equal footing to Memphis.

But like I always say... Who knows what the Presidents will decide?

I always wanted this set up but so many were against So. Miss that I quit talking about it. However, you opened the door so I will income and talk about it! Here is my Eastern 12 all-sports conference:

Northern Division
1. UConn
2. Syracuse
3. Rutgers
4. Pittsburgh
5. West Virginia
6. Central Florida

Southern Division
1. Cincinnati
2. Louisville
3. Memphis
4. Souther Mississippi
5. South Florida
6. East Carolina

If the Big East were to add Memphis simply because the Tigers played in the NCAA Tournament final, we would look even more disgustingly greedy than the ACC did during their raid shenanigans, and extremely hypocritical as well. I do not want any part of such a totally unnecessary disaster as it would ruin the reputations of every school involved and create ill will for all of us throughout the entirity of the NCAA. If the Big East expands or splits or whatever, it would be based upon a very diverse combination of factors, and it will only happen in a seriously deliberate manner after a completely thorough preparation process is undertaken by the league's 16 presidents.

Split now!

Wilkie01 Wrote:I always wanted this set up but so many were against So. Miss that I quit talking about it. However, you opened the door so I will income and talk about it! Here is my Eastern 12 all-sports conference:

Northern Division
1. UConn
2. Syracuse
3. Rutgers
4. Pittsburgh
5. West Virginia
6. Central Florida

Southern Division
1. Cincinnati
2. Louisville
3. Memphis
4. Souther Mississippi
5. South Florida
6. East Carolina

I fixed it for you.

Big East Division
1. UConn
2. Syracuse
3. Rutgers
4. Pittsburgh
5. West Virginia
6. Temple

CUSA Division
1. Cincinnati
2. Louisville
3. Memphis
4. Central Florida
5. South Florida
6. East Carolina

I could live with that.

Since all of this is speculative, and has no meaning, I'd prefer to see something like the lineup shown below. It makes more sense, both financially and regionally. The problem is, the schools involved are too self-centered to see it...

The BEast
1. Boston College
2. Cincinnati
3. Connecticut
4. Louisville
5. Maryland
6. Penn State
7. Pittsburgh
8. Rutgers
9. South Florida
10. Syracuse
11. West Virginia

12. Pick #12
Memphis
Central Florida
East Carolina

Basically, in this lineup, for the CUSA schools desiring to join, their situation is unchanged... Which one will it be?

I'm not going to put them into divisions. That can be done in so many ways.