(12-07-2012 03:28 PM)ARandomHerdFan Wrote:  

(12-07-2012 02:10 PM)WKUApollo Wrote:  Hope ya'll don't mind a WKU fan posting here. Serious question.....sort of....If USA were brought into CUSA, how cool would that be for a USA fan....."Hey look, we own CUSA...even the conference is named after us."

BTW, I concur with my MT friend. USA is a sleeping giant.

Forget USA...

I want you guys.

Very much appreciated. Although I am not able to speak for all WKU fans, I think I can make a solid guess that many if not most would love to join MT in CUSA. I believe we would be a worthy conference mate. WKU fans don't pimp our school on other conference message boards like so many others do but we do read your boards regularly and are very appreciative of what appears to be general widespread support for WKU as a next inline candidate for CUSA.

(12-07-2012 02:14 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  My personal and completely biased opinion on future expansion possibilities.

WKU
Arkansas State
Texas State
NMSU
USA
ULALA
Georgia State
About 25 other FCS teams
ULM
Troy

Move NMSU to the bottom and I agree with your list. I see no reason to consider them at all.

For me I'd have no problems w/ either as we've a good rivalry going w/ Troy in fb & old ties w/ USA. I do see a bigger upside to USA in all sports than Troy. I wouldn't mind WKY, MT & USA as that'd give us 3 conference foes in a somewhat easy drive on I65 for fan attendance both home & away.

(12-07-2012 05:24 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  ... I wouldn't mind WKY, MT & USA as that'd give us 3 conference foes in a somewhat easy drive on I65 for fan attendance both home & away.

Have no problem at all with Western or USA (plus there's bowl in Mobile to consider...)

Ark State and Louisiana as well if CUSA has to continue to fill slots...

First, there are many programs ahead of USA in the consideration of CUSA additions.

With that out of the way, I'll repeat what I've said many times before. After the 2005 defections the league went through the process of updating our "just in case" list (every conference has one, just like every AD has his short list within arm's reach at all times, but they've taken on more importance this century for obvious reasons). Most people connected to the conference offices or school administrations who discussed the matter had Troy near the top if not #1 for consideration. So an evaluation visit was arranged where reps from some CUSA schools and CUSA officials - including Banowsky - traveled to Troy to see the campus, vision, etc. Since that visit, as in literally the next day, all mentions of Troy as a potential target for CUSA stopped completely. Even now, the only time I ever hear their name in the context of CUSA is from fans or sportswriters within the state of Alabama who could name every player on the roster in Tuscaloosa but not more than 3 members of CUSA or the Sunbelt. For what it's worth...

UAB has a lot more in common with USA than with Troy.

(12-07-2012 02:01 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(12-07-2012 12:59 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(12-07-2012 12:49 PM)mbelcher987 Wrote:  ...They have less students than RICE. ...

Rice has about 3,500 undergrads
Troy has about 23,000.

Troy has less than 10K students on campus. They have several international branches and on line students.

Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. That also includes the Masters and I think the 1 doctorate program that they have.

" In 2010, the University began offering its first doctoral degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice." - wiki page... 2010 people... That should tell you enough.

Rice has 6k Troy has 7k... in CUSA 3.0 only Tulsa is smaller than either. I meant it as an exaggeration but I wasn't far off.

Their first official football nickname was the Red Wave (crimson tide)

(12-07-2012 10:22 PM)mbelcher987 Wrote:  Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. That also includes the Masters and I think the 1 doctorate program that they have.

" In 2010, the University began offering its first doctoral degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice." - wiki page... 2010 people... That should tell you enough.

Rice has 6k Troy has 7k... in CUSA 3.0 only Tulsa is smaller than either. I meant it as an exaggeration but I wasn't far off.

Their first official football nickname was the Red Wave (crimson tide)

Troy has never been in my eyes a school I would want to be in a conference with. To small, facilities not there, even though they are getting a new basketball arena, no market. Its really a miraicle what Blakney has done there, but even that looks like its dying out.

Also their endowment is a whopping 390,000. Thats right less than a 1/4 of a million dollars.

Troy would most likely be the next to last Sun Belt team called up to CUSA. I guess their saving grace is they aren't Louisiana Monroe.

(12-08-2012 12:32 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  Also their endowment is a whopping 390,000. Thats right less than a 1/4 of a million dollars.

Math major?

I'm starting to wonder about the academics at Marshall and if we really want to be associated with that....

(12-08-2012 09:29 AM)Blazerstadium Wrote:  I'm starting to wonder about the academics at Marshall and if we really want to be associated with that....

WV Public Education System

(12-08-2012 09:29 AM)Blazerstadium Wrote:  I'm starting to wonder about the academics at Marshall and if we really want to be associated with that....

Excuse me my finger hit the wong key and I didn't see it. I meant to put just a lil over 1/3. I guess thats what happens we you hadn't slept for 26 hours too.

It's cool. I was just ribbin' ya. Today would be a great day for a nap, no?

Too many carrots or not enough???

(12-07-2012 10:12 PM)Smaug Wrote:  UAB has a lot more in common with USA than with Troy.

This part right here is important to ponder. I tell you what.

Oh, I guess I should have just said "+1". I'm sorry, when I hear the Truth it gets me all excited.

If I am forced to pick one it is no contest. USA. That said WKU and Ohio needs to be the next two. WKU is the last Sun Belt team I would want in. The rest of them can wither and die for all I care. Bring on the Hilltoppers. Great tradition with those guys.

(12-08-2012 11:12 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(12-08-2012 09:29 AM)Blazerstadium Wrote:  I'm starting to wonder about the academics at Marshall and if we really want to be associated with that....

Excuse me my finger hit the wong key and I didn't see it.

(12-07-2012 12:58 PM)58-56 Wrote:  There is a silo in downtown Troy, such as it is.

On the road into Troy, you pass a barbecue joint with a lighted sign (a major attraction in Troy) showing a pig wearing lingerie and making a come-hither gesture with its trotter. I **** you not.

I have been to Troy. I have had Trojan women. I do not care to repeat either.

Both funny and true.

There are Sun Belt fans who believe the end game will be the remainder of our two conferences merging. As long as Troy and ULM are a part of the Sun Belt, a merger will never happen. I expect both would struggle to find much support.