(11-29-2012 10:18 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 10:13 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  I can't figure out why Georgia State was not plucked ahead of MTSU for the Atlanta market.

I was told that they, WKU, FAU and MTSU were out the door yesterday.

I'm trying to find out who shut the door before they got out, why and for how long.

My math didn't even account for Georgia State being plucked.
This would make it difficult for any new FCS add to even come in due to having to
play a minimum of what four or five home and away FBS games.

Was that why CUSA was interested in NMSU. So that the Sun Belt couldn't include them to play the
FCS move ups? Was it Benson that asked CUSA to stop to give him enough time to add some teams?
If any of that is true, then the CUSA is in an all out war with the Sun Belt.
If true, they are trying to wipe the SB out completely.

(11-29-2012 10:21 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Reread posts that were just made and think about that.
Word is out that WKU will be gone per the chatter and some reports by various radio/TV outlets.
If stAte, UL and USA go, and WKU - in addition to losing FAU and MTSU............the SB would be down
to 3 members. Is that math correct?
No I guess it would have 4 members left.

Is CUSA trying to wipe out the SB?

Yes, for their own survival. Look, many of us have said for quite some time the logical thing to do would be to take the best programs from CUSA and SBC and create a new conference. That's obviously not possible and a merger would mean taking the lesser desired programs as well so the only other option was one or the other to take the best from the other league. We can all agree to disagree on what the definition of "best programs" is but obviously to the CUSA the best programs are those in large markets.

(11-29-2012 09:50 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I say we take Appy and Ga Southern and stop there. Make new FCS moveups sign agreements with penalties if they jump within 5 years.

By looking at the last 2 rounds of expansion it's not App St and Ga Southern that you need to worry about leaving. CUSA is all about media markets and I don't see the MAC dipping into the south when Delaware is available (or Marshall depending on how many more teams may leave CUSA). No need in listing any other conferences.

Other than NMSU (as any home is better than the current WAC), it's the newcomer that will need some assurances that the Sunbelt will have some stability. I'm not sure that an increased exit fee will pass as too many schools are interested in "moving up" or at least having that avenue available. Plus, it doesn't seem to work anyway. The only other way to establish stability is through more members.

IMO at least 4 new additions to bring the football membership to 12 would be needed. In the east App St, Ga Southern and JMU, Liberty and possibly Jacksonville St have the foundation to make the jump. (I acknowledge there are some reservations by members of this forum concerning JSU and Liberty) I'm not familiar enough with the western FCS schools to make an educated guess as to which would be ready in an acceptable timeframe.

(11-29-2012 10:28 AM)WKUApollo Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 10:21 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Reread posts that were just made and think about that.
Word is out that WKU will be gone per the chatter and some reports by various radio/TV outlets.
If stAte, UL and USA go, and WKU - in addition to losing FAU and MTSU............the SB would be down
to 3 members. Is that math correct?
No I guess it would have 4 members left.

Is CUSA trying to wipe out the SB?

Yes, for their own survival. Look, many of us have said for quite some time the logical thing to do would be to take the best programs from CUSA and SBC and create a new conference. That's obviously not possible and a merger would mean taking the lesser desired programs as well so the only other option was one or the other to take the best from the other league. We can all agree to disagree on what the definition of "best programs" is but obviously to the CUSA the best programs are those in large markets.

They may be rethinking that business model and that might be a big reason they did not follow through with # 3 and #4 yesterday.

Some members may feel they need another La Tech or two, to shore up the product side of the equation.

(11-29-2012 10:28 AM)WKUApollo Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 10:21 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Reread posts that were just made and think about that.
Word is out that WKU will be gone per the chatter and some reports by various radio/TV outlets.
If stAte, UL and USA go, and WKU - in addition to losing FAU and MTSU............the SB would be down
to 3 members. Is that math correct?
No I guess it would have 4 members left.

Is CUSA trying to wipe out the SB?

Yes, for their own survival. Look, many of us have said for quite some time the logical thing to do would be to take the best programs from CUSA and SBC and create a new conference. That's obviously not possible and a merger would mean taking the lesser desired programs as well so the only other option was one or the other to take the best from the other league. We can all agree to disagree on what the definition of "best programs" is but obviously to the CUSA the best programs are those in large markets.

They may be rethinking that business model and that might be a big reason they did not follow through with # 3 and #4 yesterday.

Some members may feel they need another La Tech or two, to shore up the product line.

Big East has 13 lined up for football. They will be adding one. Since BYU & AFA won't budge 14 is likely either Fresno or Tulsa.

If it is Tulsa CUSA is calling again.

The issue is what happens if it is Fresno. They will make a run at UTEP and others if that fails it will be NMSU.

(11-29-2012 10:45 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Big East has 13 lined up for football. They will be adding one. Since BYU & AFA won't budge 14 is likely either Fresno or Tulsa.

If it is Tulsa CUSA is calling again.

The issue is what happens if it is Fresno. They will make a run at UTEP and others if that fails it will be NMSU.

I was led to believe that the biggest threat to short term stability at this level was the nBE TV deal.

That was before the Big 10 took Maryland and Rutgers, and the ACC Louisville.

(11-29-2012 09:50 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I say we take Appy and Ga Southern and stop there. Make new FCS moveups sign agreements with penalties if they jump within 5 years.

This should be in place for everyone in the conference.

(11-29-2012 10:45 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Big East has 13 lined up for football. They will be adding one. Since BYU & AFA won't budge 14 is likely either Fresno or Tulsa.

If it is Tulsa CUSA is calling again.

The issue is what happens if it is Fresno. They will make a run at UTEP and others if that fails it will be NMSU.

If the Big East takes Fresno the MWC doesn't really "need" to do anything. They would have 8 for basketball and 9 for football. I know some people have posted that they would need one more for baseball, but they could add baseball-only members to stay in compliance with NCAA rules, rather than going after UTEP or NMSU. Splitting the money fewer ways is what their past modus operandi has been and most likely will continue to be. They pinch pennies.