Charlotte, Old Dominion, etc ?

I need a history lesson.

Did WKU and USA, etc, want to leave at that time, too ?

Rumor has it that we were basically accepted into the initial forming of CUSA, but our then president decided not to make the flight at the last minute.

(02-13-2012 10:56 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Rumor has it that we were basically accepted into the initial forming of CUSA, but our then president decided not to make the flight at the last minute.

Hindsight 20/20 etc.

In 1991, UAB left the Sun Belt to join the newly formed Great Midwest conference, which had Memphis, Marquette, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Depaul and UAB as members. Basketball only.

Because Memphis, and Cincinnati had left the Metro conference to join the Great Midwest, the Metro raided the Sun Belt and took VCU, South Florida and Charlotte as members.

ODU then left and went to the Colonial because it didn't want to be in the Sun Belt without VCU, I believe.
Jacksonville went to a different division for a while before coming back up to D1.

That left South Alabama and WKU as the only members left in the Sun Belt.

About four or five years later, the Metro Conference and Great Midwest merged into forming CUSA.

As far as South Alabama, Gene Bartow fought hard to get South Alabama into CUSA, but to no avail. I think South Alabama and WKU liked the idea that they could rule the Sun Belt with UAB, VCU and ODU gone.

WKU was not extended an invitation to the Metro Conference. The University of Louisville did not want us in the same conference.

Yeah, I can see that easily. Pricks.

(02-13-2012 11:03 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:56 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Rumor has it that we were basically accepted into the initial forming of CUSA, but our then president decided not to make the flight at the last minute.

Hindsight 20/20 etc.

Not quite, but I'll leave it at that.

(02-13-2012 11:10 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 11:03 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:56 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Rumor has it that we were basically accepted into the initial forming of CUSA, but our then president decided not to make the flight at the last minute.

Hindsight 20/20 etc.

Not quite, but I'll leave it at that.

I wish we would have had President Moulton and Dr. Erdmann at that time. I think things would have been a little different.

(02-13-2012 11:47 PM)mts305 Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 11:10 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 11:03 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 10:56 PM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Rumor has it that we were basically accepted into the initial forming of CUSA, but our then president decided not to make the flight at the last minute.

Hindsight 20/20 etc.

Not quite, but I'll leave it at that.

I wish we would have had President Moulton and Dr. Erdmann at that time. I think things would have been a little different.

Agreed.

Legend has it on the hill that WKU had flirted with both the Atlantic 10 and the MVC back in the day (although the MVC had not gained the respect that it has today as of back then).

Both good basketball conferences, both would have denied WKU FBS football. I guess it was fate.

PS - old dominion left well before Conference USA... I can remember my Dad took me to some really great games with them back in the 80's. In ODU's case I think that they left to go to an east coast conference. Not sure why Charlottle left, probably the same. LaTech, UAB left for football. New Orleans was pretty good back in the day, as they dropped off in quality so did the Sunbelt.

(02-13-2012 11:06 PM)TOPPERTOM Wrote:  WKU was not extended an invitation to the Metro Conference. The University of Louisville did not want us in the same conference.

USA was extended an invitation to CUSA and our AD accepted. The school president was supposed to go and sign the agreement but never got on the plane. He thought the future was brighter in the SBC over the objections of his athletic administration.
For reasons I don't know, Louisville was a big champion of getting South into CUSA

(02-13-2012 11:06 PM)TOPPERTOM Wrote:  WKU was not extended an invitation to the Metro Conference. The University of Louisville did not want us in the same conference.

Exactly right. They petitioned to keep us out of the Metro Conference as well.