(08-27-2012 12:51 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 12:01 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  The Sun Belt followed the same formula as CUSA is this expansion round so no they will not be able to "catch" CUSA.

Yes, but CUSA's lost more than the SBC did.

Houston, SMU, UCF, Memphis.

The first 3 were all pretty good in Footbal, (Houston being VERY good) while Memphis was the strongest Basketball program.

SBC lost UNT and FIU.

UNT has been atrocious in football for the past 5 years and decent in Basketball.

FIU is the reverse being atrocious in Basketball, and decent in football for the past 2 years.

I think the SBC closed the gap. Not by a lot but still closed the gap. If stAte and the Cajuns can have a "Breakout" year and get ranked then the argument becomes even closer.

USM, Tulsa, and ECU laugh at you. combined we have 8 confrence titles in football to UH, SMU, Memphis, and UCF's what 3-4.

(08-27-2012 04:25 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:58 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:34 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  If a team wasn't I-A in, say, 1980, they will always be a noob team to me, and I won't want to play them.

I would rather play a 6-5 team from the Big East in a bowl than any mid-major. I feel certain that most fans feel this way. Outside of the die-hards, fans only know 50-75 team names, andif some other team is highly ranked, this is seen as a fluke.

Teams like UTSA aren't going to grow beyond this noob status while I'm still alive (and I'm not a very old man). ECU and USM have been trying not to be noobs for 30 years and 45 years, respectively, and progress has been agonizing and incremental. There's no happy ending where we all get to grow up together. Any AD who thinks there is needs to be fired.

Any fan who thinks we're all going to grow up together needs to either put down tge crack pipe or pick up the crack pipe, as applicable.

I always chuckle when I see USM fans look down their noses at other mid-majors and then turn around and gripe about being looked down on by SEC schools.

Hope to see you at our (hopefully) OCS in 2021 for that home and home you scheduled with us.

I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

FWIW, all time records from selected schools for comparison...

ECU - 390–357–11 (.522)
USM - 548–371–27 (.594)
Tulsa - 560–438–27 (.560)

MTSU - 500–358–28 (.580)
WKU - 511–349–30 (.591)
Troy - 488–360–27 (.573)

Just to go ahead and say it... UNCC and UTSA have barely played any football - none, in the case of UNCC. You also add FIU, who has an overall record of 39–79 (.331). So if I were you I wouldn't be saying "USM has won more games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.", because that seems rather hypocritical to me. Call the SBC what you want, but I just think it's funny you have to use that strategy in the first place...

I personally feel like the CUSA and SBC are going to be rather equal for the next few years. Though the SBC has been better in recent years on the field than the CUSA, the perception is the opposite. Once the SBC gains more publicity and the teams start to grow and expand (Troy and UL already have stadium expansions in the pipeline) I think the conceived "gap" between the mid-major conferences will be eliminated, though the "old AQ" and "old non-AQ" gap will still exist.

What will be interesting to see is how the first couple of years with all the new teams go. After that - looking at results between conference vs. conference clashes, we'll be able to say with more conviction how the conferences match up. Because up until that point, all it is - is really conjecture.

Nice try. USM, ECU, and Tulsa have all had sustained success as FBS teams. Most of the wins you trot out for the Sun Belt came when those schools were DII or FCS teams, those don't really count. The three C-USA teams you referenced all have a winning record over the last five years, only Troy can say that for the Sun Belt.

The fact is C-USA can take teams at will from the Sun Belt, no matter what some people on your board say. Every single one of them would leave if offered, tell me how that happens if the conferences are equal. Take that crap to the MAC board.

(08-27-2012 06:05 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:25 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:58 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:34 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  If a team wasn't I-A in, say, 1980, they will always be a noob team to me, and I won't want to play them.

I would rather play a 6-5 team from the Big East in a bowl than any mid-major. I feel certain that most fans feel this way. Outside of the die-hards, fans only know 50-75 team names, andif some other team is highly ranked, this is seen as a fluke.

Teams like UTSA aren't going to grow beyond this noob status while I'm still alive (and I'm not a very old man). ECU and USM have been trying not to be noobs for 30 years and 45 years, respectively, and progress has been agonizing and incremental. There's no happy ending where we all get to grow up together. Any AD who thinks there is needs to be fired.

Any fan who thinks we're all going to grow up together needs to either put down tge crack pipe or pick up the crack pipe, as applicable.

I always chuckle when I see USM fans look down their noses at other mid-majors and then turn around and gripe about being looked down on by SEC schools.

Hope to see you at our (hopefully) OCS in 2021 for that home and home you scheduled with us.

I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

FWIW, all time records from selected schools for comparison...

ECU - 390–357–11 (.522)
USM - 548–371–27 (.594)
Tulsa - 560–438–27 (.560)

MTSU - 500–358–28 (.580)
WKU - 511–349–30 (.591)
Troy - 488–360–27 (.573)

Just to go ahead and say it... UNCC and UTSA have barely played any football - none, in the case of UNCC. You also add FIU, who has an overall record of 39–79 (.331). So if I were you I wouldn't be saying "USM has won more games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.", because that seems rather hypocritical to me. Call the SBC what you want, but I just think it's funny you have to use that strategy in the first place...

I personally feel like the CUSA and SBC are going to be rather equal for the next few years. Though the SBC has been better in recent years on the field than the CUSA, the perception is the opposite. Once the SBC gains more publicity and the teams start to grow and expand (Troy and UL already have stadium expansions in the pipeline) I think the conceived "gap" between the mid-major conferences will be eliminated, though the "old AQ" and "old non-AQ" gap will still exist.

What will be interesting to see is how the first couple of years with all the new teams go. After that - looking at results between conference vs. conference clashes, we'll be able to say with more conviction how the conferences match up. Because up until that point, all it is - is really conjecture.

Nice try. USM, ECU, and Tulsa have all had sustained success as FBS teams. Most of the wins you trot out for the Sun Belt came when those schools were DII or FCS teams, those don't really count. The three C-USA teams you referenced all have a winning record over the last five years, only Troy can say that for the Sun Belt.

The fact is C-USA can take teams at will from the Sun Belt, no matter what some people on your board say. Every single one of them would leave if offered, tell me how that happens if the conferences are equal. Take that crap to the MAC board.

And Marshall, UAB, And Tulane have had seasons that no SBC team has matched.

(08-27-2012 06:05 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:25 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:58 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:34 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  If a team wasn't I-A in, say, 1980, they will always be a noob team to me, and I won't want to play them.

I would rather play a 6-5 team from the Big East in a bowl than any mid-major. I feel certain that most fans feel this way. Outside of the die-hards, fans only know 50-75 team names, andif some other team is highly ranked, this is seen as a fluke.

Teams like UTSA aren't going to grow beyond this noob status while I'm still alive (and I'm not a very old man). ECU and USM have been trying not to be noobs for 30 years and 45 years, respectively, and progress has been agonizing and incremental. There's no happy ending where we all get to grow up together. Any AD who thinks there is needs to be fired.

Any fan who thinks we're all going to grow up together needs to either put down tge crack pipe or pick up the crack pipe, as applicable.

I always chuckle when I see USM fans look down their noses at other mid-majors and then turn around and gripe about being looked down on by SEC schools.

Hope to see you at our (hopefully) OCS in 2021 for that home and home you scheduled with us.

I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

FWIW, all time records from selected schools for comparison...

ECU - 390–357–11 (.522)
USM - 548–371–27 (.594)
Tulsa - 560–438–27 (.560)

MTSU - 500–358–28 (.580)
WKU - 511–349–30 (.591)
Troy - 488–360–27 (.573)

Just to go ahead and say it... UNCC and UTSA have barely played any football - none, in the case of UNCC. You also add FIU, who has an overall record of 39–79 (.331). So if I were you I wouldn't be saying "USM has won more games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.", because that seems rather hypocritical to me. Call the SBC what you want, but I just think it's funny you have to use that strategy in the first place...

I personally feel like the CUSA and SBC are going to be rather equal for the next few years. Though the SBC has been better in recent years on the field than the CUSA, the perception is the opposite. Once the SBC gains more publicity and the teams start to grow and expand (Troy and UL already have stadium expansions in the pipeline) I think the conceived "gap" between the mid-major conferences will be eliminated, though the "old AQ" and "old non-AQ" gap will still exist.

What will be interesting to see is how the first couple of years with all the new teams go. After that - looking at results between conference vs. conference clashes, we'll be able to say with more conviction how the conferences match up. Because up until that point, all it is - is really conjecture.

Nice try. USM, ECU, and Tulsa have all had sustained success as FBS teams. Most of the wins you trot out for the Sun Belt came when those schools were DII or FCS teams, those don't really count. The three C-USA teams you referenced all have a winning record over the last five years, only Troy can say that for the Sun Belt.

The fact is C-USA can take teams at will from the Sun Belt, no matter what some people on your board say. Every single one of them would leave if offered, tell me how that happens if the conferences are equal. Take that crap to the MAC board.

Yeah, how many top 10 rankings do MTSU, WKU, and Troy have. How many top 10 teams have they ever beat, do they have 5 wins against South Carolina, 11 against NC State, have they beat Bama, Norte Dame, Boise St., Cuse, WVU, Miss. St., Maimi, Pitt, VT and so on. Do they play a schedule like ECU has played since the mid 1970's. Have they been ranked at any point in the season inside the top 20 in the past 5 years. Do any average 50,000 per game attendance for a entire season. 17 straight winning seasons. NO, it's not close. MTSU, WKU and Troy have wet dreams to be like ECU, USM, and Tulsa.

(08-27-2012 03:37 PM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:33 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:25 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:19 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  UNCC vs. GA St. - UNCC and it isn't close. Even though UNCC hasn't played a game yet how could they do worse than GA St.'s on the field performance to date. UNCC other sports are much better than GA St.'s historically as well. UNCC may be behind the ACC and SEC programs in the Charlotte market, but at least those programs aren't in the city or within a 100 miles, like UGA and GT are in Atlanta.

So your saying a team that doesnt even exist yet and is till setting up its infastructure is better than a team that is currently playing FCS football and will be full FBS before the other team even sniffs the field?

Market wise (TV wise) Atlanta trumps Charlotte, even though neitehr program currently delivers those markets.

Any time you are arguing that GA St. is a better football program than anyone, take two hands and push the keyboard away.

ODU best of the six, if you don't believe it, you may want to read up on them, you'll be surprised.

Thank you for once again demonstrating your complete ignorance about the schools that have passed you by. USA and ODU are about equal. ODU has a better Athletic Department, but on the field there is not much distance between the two.

As for the comments about UNCC and GSU, that is about the dumbest thing I have ever seen - so stupid in fact that I won't waste time on it.

You're right it is stupid to waste time on UNCC vs. GA St. it isn't close.

(08-27-2012 06:37 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:37 PM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:33 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:25 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:19 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  UNCC vs. GA St. - UNCC and it isn't close. Even though UNCC hasn't played a game yet how could they do worse than GA St.'s on the field performance to date. UNCC other sports are much better than GA St.'s historically as well. UNCC may be behind the ACC and SEC programs in the Charlotte market, but at least those programs aren't in the city or within a 100 miles, like UGA and GT are in Atlanta.

So your saying a team that doesnt even exist yet and is till setting up its infastructure is better than a team that is currently playing FCS football and will be full FBS before the other team even sniffs the field?

Market wise (TV wise) Atlanta trumps Charlotte, even though neitehr program currently delivers those markets.

Any time you are arguing that GA St. is a better football program than anyone, take two hands and push the keyboard away.

ODU best of the six, if you don't believe it, you may want to read up on them, you'll be surprised.

Thank you for once again demonstrating your complete ignorance about the schools that have passed you by. USA and ODU are about equal. ODU has a better Athletic Department, but on the field there is not much distance between the two.

As for the comments about UNCC and GSU, that is about the dumbest thing I have ever seen - so stupid in fact that I won't waste time on it.

You're right it is stupid to waste time on UNCC vs. GA St. it isn't close.

Never thought I'd see an App fan defending us.

(08-27-2012 05:24 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 05:14 PM)AlaIllTex Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:48 PM)ntmeangreen11 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:04 PM)AlaIllTex Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

I don't know why this conversation is on your board. Why should what we do concern you?

Im glad our commissioner wants us to improve. I like our additions and note (no offense meant to UNT and FIU) we're not worse off after this round of realignment.

Trading FIU's football and our basketball for three schools who will need a couple years to adjust doesn't equal out.

UTA has a pretty good team and they're in your market. Georgia State wasnt terrible in basketball last season either. Win some NCAA tourney games and/or get an at large and we'll talk about you being irreplaceable.

UNT has a nice program for now. And probably will in the future. But what we've seen in the Belt is replaceable. I wish you guys hadnt left and wish you well but I think we did all right in this. Nuff said.

No one in the Slum Belt is going to be getting an NCAA at large bid. For someone to get an at large bid from there would require a school with no more than 4 losses, and those 4 losses would have to be OOC losses. The RPI of the Slum Belt would make sure of this.

2008 - USA

Niners fans even though I disagree with choosing location over performance I can see the potential of you guys is higher than Ga St.

I'm just waiting for the shake out when App gets its shot to show it has the potential to beat both;-).

Why the hell do y'all care that we are setting our sights for the best? What would expect from a commish... "Reaching CUSA and MWC is unattainable for the Sun Belt, but we are happy to try and compete with the MAC for third best mid-major"

(08-27-2012 05:50 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:25 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:58 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:34 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  If a team wasn't I-A in, say, 1980, they will always be a noob team to me, and I won't want to play them.

I would rather play a 6-5 team from the Big East in a bowl than any mid-major. I feel certain that most fans feel this way. Outside of the die-hards, fans only know 50-75 team names, andif some other team is highly ranked, this is seen as a fluke.

Teams like UTSA aren't going to grow beyond this noob status while I'm still alive (and I'm not a very old man). ECU and USM have been trying not to be noobs for 30 years and 45 years, respectively, and progress has been agonizing and incremental. There's no happy ending where we all get to grow up together. Any AD who thinks there is needs to be fired.

Any fan who thinks we're all going to grow up together needs to either put down tge crack pipe or pick up the crack pipe, as applicable.

I always chuckle when I see USM fans look down their noses at other mid-majors and then turn around and gripe about being looked down on by SEC schools.

Hope to see you at our (hopefully) OCS in 2021 for that home and home you scheduled with us.

I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

Though the SBC has been better in recent years on the field than the CUSA, the perception is the opposite.

CUSA has had multiple teams in and finishing in the T25 the past few years. Last season, until UAB ruined it, we were going to have a Championship game where the winner was going to the Sugar Bowl... What has the belt done??

between this and howies remark, i think instead of media day they had crackpipe day

(08-27-2012 06:05 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:25 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:58 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:34 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  If a team wasn't I-A in, say, 1980, they will always be a noob team to me, and I won't want to play them.

I would rather play a 6-5 team from the Big East in a bowl than any mid-major. I feel certain that most fans feel this way. Outside of the die-hards, fans only know 50-75 team names, andif some other team is highly ranked, this is seen as a fluke.

Teams like UTSA aren't going to grow beyond this noob status while I'm still alive (and I'm not a very old man). ECU and USM have been trying not to be noobs for 30 years and 45 years, respectively, and progress has been agonizing and incremental. There's no happy ending where we all get to grow up together. Any AD who thinks there is needs to be fired.

Any fan who thinks we're all going to grow up together needs to either put down tge crack pipe or pick up the crack pipe, as applicable.

I always chuckle when I see USM fans look down their noses at other mid-majors and then turn around and gripe about being looked down on by SEC schools.

Hope to see you at our (hopefully) OCS in 2021 for that home and home you scheduled with us.

I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

FWIW, all time records from selected schools for comparison...

ECU - 390–357–11 (.522)
USM - 548–371–27 (.594)
Tulsa - 560–438–27 (.560)

MTSU - 500–358–28 (.580)
WKU - 511–349–30 (.591)
Troy - 488–360–27 (.573)

Just to go ahead and say it... UNCC and UTSA have barely played any football - none, in the case of UNCC. You also add FIU, who has an overall record of 39–79 (.331). So if I were you I wouldn't be saying "USM has won more games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.", because that seems rather hypocritical to me. Call the SBC what you want, but I just think it's funny you have to use that strategy in the first place...

I personally feel like the CUSA and SBC are going to be rather equal for the next few years. Though the SBC has been better in recent years on the field than the CUSA, the perception is the opposite. Once the SBC gains more publicity and the teams start to grow and expand (Troy and UL already have stadium expansions in the pipeline) I think the conceived "gap" between the mid-major conferences will be eliminated, though the "old AQ" and "old non-AQ" gap will still exist.

What will be interesting to see is how the first couple of years with all the new teams go. After that - looking at results between conference vs. conference clashes, we'll be able to say with more conviction how the conferences match up. Because up until that point, all it is - is really conjecture.

Nice try. USM, ECU, and Tulsa have all had sustained success as FBS teams. Most of the wins you trot out for the Sun Belt came when those schools were DII or FCS teams, those don't really count. The three C-USA teams you referenced all have a winning record over the last five years, only Troy can say that for the Sun Belt.

The fact is C-USA can take teams at will from the Sun Belt, no matter what some people on your board say. Every single one of them would leave if offered, tell me how that happens if the conferences are equal. Take that crap to the MAC board.

Simple fact of the matter is what has happened historically up till now really doesn't matter that much. What matters is what will happen. Seeing the SBC grow and expand I know that the CUSA will be competing with the SBC - and the other mid-major conferences - for the top spot in mid-major land.

Like I said in the SBC forum - I don't know if I'd accept a CUSA invite. What remains to be seen is how well these newly realigned conferences fare. It seems presumptive to me to have a school leave a conference after major realignment has occurred for another recently-shifted league that is unstable and uncertain. Who knows if a team, let's say Arkansas State, will turn into the next Boise and dominate the conference. And what if MT turns into Nevada, giving stAte a run for their money?

I think everyone is of the mindset that their conference will turn out exactly the way they want, and no one else will be better than they. I think that's conjecture at this point. Let's see how it looks in 2013 and beyond, and then you can provide all the facts you want.

La Tech historical record against all of the new Sunbelt teams trumps all the additions. I don't think there is even one team in the belt with a winning record against Tech. We probably even have a 2 to 1 advantage in the W column.

Where did all these non-CUSA posters come from?

Nothing wrong with being optimistic, and wanting to improve. But the Sun Belt is not on par with CUSA.

Benson has a history of running conferences into the ground.

Well if anything, he seems intent on being consistent.

(08-27-2012 01:37 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 01:27 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  I didnt want to go into replcaments but since you did.

I would counter arque that CUSA with UNCC,ODU, and UTSA = the SBC picking up TState, GSU, and USA. And with UNCC not even playing a down yet, I think the SBC came out ahead in that regard.

Um...........yeah..............no.

First, lets break these down in order and pair up "like" schools as best we can.

UTSA, Tex St = That's a wash to me, slight edge to TXST for having already been playing football

ODU, USA = ODU market and basketball are the advantage. I know USA isn't bad in BBall but ODU is better.

CHARLOTTE, GSU = Charlotte basketball exceeds GSU 3 year head start in football. Market could go for GSU, but actually having Georgia and Tech IN their market is pretty rough for them.

Shall we compare UNT and UTA now?

I'm sorry, but as an A-10 fan, I wasn't impressed at all by UNCC basketball. In fact, I was stunned by how poorly UNCC performed. I'm not sure Georgia State would have had a worse record in the A-10 over the last 5 years or so. Perhaps you guys just didn't fit in a Northeastern/Midwest conference or had an idiot for a coach (Lutz) for much of that time. I wish your basketball team well in your new home.

I think that there is no guarantee that the CUSA moveup schools will be better than the Sun Belt move up schools. Lots of moveup teams have stellar FCS records.

CUSA is new to having moveups. I'd wait for a while before I'd predict how teams are going to perform at the FBS moveup level.

I think the argument the Sun Belt is making would be this. 1) The Sun Belt moveups are further along than the CUSA moveups 2) The Sun Belt could never concieve having a better year than CUSA while UH, SMU, UCF, ECU, Tulsa, and USM were in the conference. Now with just ECU, Tulsa, and USM in the conference, CUSA isn't as far in front of the Belt than it once was 3) The Sun Belt's existing teams have improved recently 4) CUSA, instead of taking the best programs from the Belt, took the 4th and 5th place teams.

I think it was incredibly stupid for CUSA to take more than one moveup. They could have just let the Belt take Charlotte and made ODU wait for someone to take them up. That way, they would have had one moveup and a 12 team conference. The Belt would have gone to 12 (taking either ODU/Appy/Ga Southern as the 12th team), but would have had at least 5 moveups. Many of us who support the Belt think you guys left the door open. Will the Sun Belt catch CUSA this year? No. But we see it as being a possibility at some point in the future, especially if our moveups perform better than yours (which may, or may not happen).

CUSA is a better conference than the Sun Belt in football. But, the distance will be much closer in 2013 than it was in 2011 (a year where the SBC beat CUSA in head to head btw).

Football season starts on Thursday. There will plenty of games to play to determine if the Belt has gained on CUSA in football, starting with USA and UTSA on Thursday night in Mobile.

Lets play some football.

(08-27-2012 10:29 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  a year where the SBC beat CUSA in head to head btw.

Thank UAB and Memphis for that. 2011 SBC record against CUSA bowl teams? 0-2?

(08-27-2012 10:29 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  There will plenty of games to play to determine if the Belt has gained on CUSA in football, starting with USA and UTSA on Thursday night in Mobile.

Lets play some football.

UTSA isn't even in CUSA yet.... Much less have recruited something comparable to CUSA teams.

This game may tell you how you stack up against the WAC. But that's a starting point for the Sun Belt.

(08-27-2012 09:47 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 06:05 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 04:25 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 03:52 PM)LR Eagle Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 02:58 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I always chuckle when I see USM fans look down their noses at other mid-majors and then turn around and gripe about being looked down on by SEC schools.

Hope to see you at our (hopefully) OCS in 2021 for that home and home you scheduled with us.

I always chuckle when Slum Belt fans think anyone cares about their teams or their opinions.

USM has won more FBS games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.

FWIW, all time records from selected schools for comparison...

ECU - 390–357–11 (.522)
USM - 548–371–27 (.594)
Tulsa - 560–438–27 (.560)

MTSU - 500–358–28 (.580)
WKU - 511–349–30 (.591)
Troy - 488–360–27 (.573)

Just to go ahead and say it... UNCC and UTSA have barely played any football - none, in the case of UNCC. You also add FIU, who has an overall record of 39–79 (.331). So if I were you I wouldn't be saying "USM has won more games than most Belchers have even played. Now run along back to the JUCO board.", because that seems rather hypocritical to me. Call the SBC what you want, but I just think it's funny you have to use that strategy in the first place...

I personally feel like the CUSA and SBC are going to be rather equal for the next few years. Though the SBC has been better in recent years on the field than the CUSA, the perception is the opposite. Once the SBC gains more publicity and the teams start to grow and expand (Troy and UL already have stadium expansions in the pipeline) I think the conceived "gap" between the mid-major conferences will be eliminated, though the "old AQ" and "old non-AQ" gap will still exist.

What will be interesting to see is how the first couple of years with all the new teams go. After that - looking at results between conference vs. conference clashes, we'll be able to say with more conviction how the conferences match up. Because up until that point, all it is - is really conjecture.

Nice try. USM, ECU, and Tulsa have all had sustained success as FBS teams. Most of the wins you trot out for the Sun Belt came when those schools were DII or FCS teams, those don't really count. The three C-USA teams you referenced all have a winning record over the last five years, only Troy can say that for the Sun Belt.

The fact is C-USA can take teams at will from the Sun Belt, no matter what some people on your board say. Every single one of them would leave if offered, tell me how that happens if the conferences are equal. Take that crap to the MAC board.

Simple fact of the matter is what has happened historically up till now really doesn't matter that much. What matters is what will happen. Seeing the SBC grow and expand I know that the CUSA will be competing with the SBC - and the other mid-major conferences - for the top spot in mid-major land.

Like I said in the SBC forum - I don't know if I'd accept a CUSA invite. What remains to be seen is how well these newly realigned conferences fare. It seems presumptive to me to have a school leave a conference after major realignment has occurred for another recently-shifted league that is unstable and uncertain. Who knows if a team, let's say Arkansas State, will turn into the next Boise and dominate the conference. And what if MT turns into Nevada, giving stAte a run for their money?

I think everyone is of the mindset that their conference will turn out exactly the way they want, and no one else will be better than they. I think that's conjecture at this point. Let's see how it looks in 2013 and beyond, and then you can provide all the facts you want.

Dude, Tulane was Boise before Boise was Boise, they went 12-0 in 1998 finished 12th which was because of the gawd awful BCS 1.0 and the rankings at the time and UofL right before going to the BE. USM was two WTF games away from busting the BCS, well hell one game. But, none of this matters cause after 2013 there is no more BCS to bust and a Sun-belt team will not have the SOS to make the play-off even being 13-0 going into it.

C-USA make more money the the Sun-belt and with the markets C-USA has and added we will stay well ahead of the SBC. Unless you have teams doing like Houston, USM, Tulsa, and USM have done year in and year out, you aren't going to close the gap.

The SBC isn't going to just overcome the markets, attendance, and facilities, and TV contract of C-USA.

(08-27-2012 09:47 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  ...
Like I said in the SBC forum - I don't know if I'd accept a CUSA invite.
...

Just exactly where are all of these guys coming from?

(08-27-2012 11:11 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote:  

(08-27-2012 09:07 PM)YouCanUseaMint Wrote:  Why the hell do y'all care that we are setting our sights for the best? What would expect from a commish... "Reaching CUSA and MWC is unattainable for the Sun Belt, but we are happy to try and compete with the MAC for third best mid-major"

I agree...

Britton was on 99.9 the fan with Adam and Joe a few weeks ago and in the interview, he seemed proud of C-USA's 'stepping-stone' conference role... he seemed to embrace it. I would have much rather heard him talking about us closing the gap on the Big East and ACC, as ludicrous as that sounds.