Right now I am wanting USM to stay put since it is unclear what is going to be the future of the other mid-major conferences. The Big East (or whatever happens there) is too iffy and while the teams in it mostly are old rivals, I don't see why we can't sign none conference matchups with them should everyone want the games. I look forward to playing La. Tech regularly since it is a very old rival and even has a name (Rivalry of the South) that goes way back. The UAB rivalry is starting to turn into a good one even with UAB having poor records, they seem to save their best efforts for USM. Marshall is a team I really respect and I expect them to sooner than later field a very good team, FIU and FAU I really don't know what to expect, UTSA I think will turn up being a very good opponent, North Texas we have played a few times in the past several decades, but I am still unsure what to expect from them. They seem to have a desire to be a solid program from what I have learned, but time will tell. The rest of the conference seems good and Tulsa is a good program if they can survive the investigation they face. I don't know how bad that will affect them, but they will probably be ok.

The teams in the other conference we know like ECU, Memphis, Tulane, UCF, etc. UConn we don't. ECU is a good rivalry for us. Memphis we have played every year from 1952 to 2012 with only one year (1980) having the Tigers off our schedule. UCF turned out to be a good rivalry for us and one that would be great to continue, but Tulane hasn't been the great series it looked like it would be when we played them the first time. Tulane likely will always be a less than powerful opponent because they have a tough job in recruiting, and their fan base is pretty bad. I can remember most of the time we played them in the dome, we had so many more fans it was like a home game for us. I would rather play ULL and La. Tech because it is going to be a tougher matchup. I do wish the new C-USA lineup had included ULL as well, and maybe one day it will.

Either way, I don't see any reason to switch unless the new conference can guarantee a much better deal for USM, and I really don't know that they can.

Playing those teams OOC will only lessen our SOS. We need to play Big 12, ACC, and B1G teams OOC. We seem to get home-and-home deals with those 3 conferences' programs versus SEC teams which we can't (exception being MSU in '14 and '15).

None of our former C-USA foes helped us fill the Rock. We had to fill it on our own, with our own fans.

Our new conference mates MIGHT improve that. La Tech will bring more fans than Tulane ever did. At least FIU and FAU are newer, more attractive travel destinations. UNT has better fan support than SMU. UTSA, Charlotte, and ODU will server as cannon fodder until they have better talent. We will have no need to schedule OOC creampuffs any more. MTSU plays better football than Memphis, so maybe they'll travel better.

We'll be fine.

(12-25-2012 03:19 PM)USM@FTL Wrote:  None of our former C-USA foes helped us fill the Rock. We had to fill it on our own, with our own fans.

This is always a positive sign of a good fanbase. You shouldn't need visiting team fans to help fill your stadium.

Good thing you are wanting to stay put, because I doubt we have an option to leave.

SgtGoldenEagle I agree with you. I don't think Marshall should move either. What would be good about spending 10-12 million dollars just to have the same access to the football and basketball options. And probably about the same money. Maybe and thats a big Maybe, it would be worth it if we knew Cincy and UConn was going to be there for the next 10 years. But anyone with half a brain (thats me by the way) knows that Cincy and UConn will jump on the 1st train that comes along.

The only 2 I would care to play is ECU in football and Memphis in basketball. As far as Houston, SMU, Tulane, UCF go, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if I never see them on a Marshall schedule ever again. Marshall has nothing in common with SMU, Houston or Tulane anyway.

Being in the BE is not any better than CUSA now. Maybe worse if it folds. The new setup guarantees a CUSA team as much of a chance as a BE team to get a BCS bowl berth after this next year. Why move? I like some of the new teams better. They for sure play better football than Memphis or Tulane. Let them go and welcome the new teams and build together. If the idiot schools that whored out to jump to the BE had stayed, can you imagine what CUSA would be now. I won't miss them and look forward to the new teams. As long as USM football goes back to winning big, it will make no difference. We just have to take care of ourselves and win. The rest will work out fine then.

That's exactly how I feel Sgt. It would also be cool if we could get a heated rivarly going with Tech. One of our problems has been the lack of a heated rivalry. We should play the last weekend of the year every year on rivalry Saturday.

Put me down in the camp that hopes that USM doesn't leave CUSA as long as North Texas is a member. They are simply the best at football and opportunities are better in CUSA than the troubled whatever the old Big East will be called.

Our AD and several of our staff are all former Southern Miss grads or staff members. It's no secret that we've wanted in CUSA for years. I'm not happy with the latest mass exodus but glad that USM and Tulsa are staying. They, along with Rice and LaTech will give a core of universities that I hope don't go away. Throw in UTEP, who we've played more than a dozen tiems and UTSA, a great destination city and I'm liking the West. I also agree that the Cajuns would make a great addition.

I don't know much about the East side except for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders will be competitive in every sport that they sponsor. I have a lot of respect for Marshall but I don't know much about any of the others; even the Floridas. Both have lost their best coaches and I have no idea how competitive they will be. I believe that UAB is a fine university but as long as they are under the University of Alabama's thumb, and have an off-campus stadium, they will struggle. I hope I'm wrong but I think that it will take a special coach to move them to the top. ODU and Charlotte are fine universities but were chosen too early.

(12-28-2012 04:53 PM)GrayEagle Wrote:  Put me down in the camp that hopes that USM doesn't leave CUSA as long as North Texas is a member. They are simply the best at football and opportunities are better in CUSA than the troubled whatever the old Big East will be called.

Our AD and several of our staff are all former Southern Miss grads or staff members. It's no secret that we've wanted in CUSA for years. I'm not happy with the latest mass exodus but glad that USM and Tulsa are staying. They, along with Rice and LaTech will give a core of universities that I hope don't go away. Throw in UTEP, who we've played more than a dozen tiems and UTSA, a great destination city and I'm liking the West. I also agree that the Cajuns would make a great addition.

I don't know much about the East side except for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders will be competitive in every sport that they sponsor. I have a lot of respect for Marshall but I don't know much about any of the others; even the Floridas. Both have lost their best coaches and I have no idea how competitive they will be. I believe that UAB is a fine university but as long as they are under the University of Alabama's thumb, and have an off-campus stadium, they will struggle. I hope I'm wrong but I think that it will take a special coach to move them to the top. ODU and Charlotte are fine universities but were chosen too early.

Glad we'll be able to continue as conference mates with UNT.

(12-25-2012 07:32 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  SgtGoldenEagle I agree with you. I don't think Marshall should move either. What would be good about spending 10-12 million dollars just to have the same access to the football and basketball options. And probably about the same money. Maybe and thats a big Maybe, it would be worth it if we knew Cincy and UConn was going to be there for the next 10 years. But anyone with half a brain (thats me by the way) knows that Cincy and UConn will jump on the 1st train that comes along.

The only 2 I would care to play is ECU in football and Memphis in basketball. As far as Houston, SMU, Tulane, UCF go, it wouldn't hurt my feelings if I never see them on a Marshall schedule ever again. Marshall has nothing in common with SMU, Houston or Tulane anyway.

I dont want to play any of them in any thing.

I hope the presidents at all of the C-USA universities share the sentiments of most of us fans. An invitation to the NBE does not hold the advantage it did even a few weeks ago.

(12-28-2012 06:31 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  I hope the presidents at all of the C-USA universities share the sentiments of most of us fans. An invitation to the NBE does not hold the advantage it did even a few weeks ago.

Going to the BE right now would be like investing your life savings in Enron stock.

Would figure Tulsa, USM and UAB are options for Big East, if UConn, Boise St and SD State bail on the Big East.

(12-28-2012 06:51 PM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  Would figure Tulsa, USM and UAB are options for Big East, if UConn, Boise St and SD State bail on the Big East.

(12-28-2012 06:51 PM)OhioBobcatJohn Wrote:  Would figure Tulsa, USM and UAB are options for Big East, if UConn, Boise St and SD State bail on the Big East.

No thanks, we will pass

(12-28-2012 04:53 PM)GrayEagle Wrote:  Put me down in the camp that hopes that USM doesn't leave CUSA as long as North Texas is a member. They are simply the best at football and opportunities are better in CUSA than the troubled whatever the old Big East will be called.

Our AD and several of our staff are all former Southern Miss grads or staff members. It's no secret that we've wanted in CUSA for years. I'm not happy with the latest mass exodus but glad that USM and Tulsa are staying. They, along with Rice and LaTech will give a core of universities that I hope don't go away. Throw in UTEP, who we've played more than a dozen tiems and UTSA, a great destination city and I'm liking the West. I also agree that the Cajuns would make a great addition.

I don't know much about the East side except for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders will be competitive in every sport that they sponsor. I have a lot of respect for Marshall but I don't know much about any of the others; even the Floridas. Both have lost their best coaches and I have no idea how competitive they will be. I believe that UAB is a fine university but as long as they are under the University of Alabama's thumb, and have an off-campus stadium, they will struggle. I hope I'm wrong but I think that it will take a special coach to move them to the top. ODU and Charlotte are fine universities but were chosen too early.

I don't want to start a whizzing contest, but I think you're selling ODU and Charlotte a bit short. Both schools have great potential...look at the facilities, the financial resources, the passionate fan bases and our overall athletic success. Sure football is new, but ODU is already establishing a culture of success and high expectations. I see no reason why Charlotte won't do the same.

I think we're going to surprise a lot of people in pretty short order. I know we'll take some lumps early on, but we will never be perennial doormats like some schools. Our fan base won't tolerate that. Heck, we're on the verge of firing our winningest BB coach for having a bad year (and missing on two recruiting classes). We play to win...not just compete. Isn't that what you want in a conference mate?

Right now it is a wash...in two weeks it may be different...in two months it will be different...who the hell knows how this will all play out.

(12-28-2012 07:09 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  

(12-28-2012 04:53 PM)GrayEagle Wrote:  Put me down in the camp that hopes that USM doesn't leave CUSA as long as North Texas is a member. They are simply the best at football and opportunities are better in CUSA than the troubled whatever the old Big East will be called.

Our AD and several of our staff are all former Southern Miss grads or staff members. It's no secret that we've wanted in CUSA for years. I'm not happy with the latest mass exodus but glad that USM and Tulsa are staying. They, along with Rice and LaTech will give a core of universities that I hope don't go away. Throw in UTEP, who we've played more than a dozen tiems and UTSA, a great destination city and I'm liking the West. I also agree that the Cajuns would make a great addition.

I don't know much about the East side except for Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders will be competitive in every sport that they sponsor. I have a lot of respect for Marshall but I don't know much about any of the others; even the Floridas. Both have lost their best coaches and I have no idea how competitive they will be. I believe that UAB is a fine university but as long as they are under the University of Alabama's thumb, and have an off-campus stadium, they will struggle. I hope I'm wrong but I think that it will take a special coach to move them to the top. ODU and Charlotte are fine universities but were chosen too early.

I don't want to start a whizzing contest, but I think you're selling ODU and Charlotte a bit short. Both schools have great potential...look at the facilities, the financial resources, the passionate fan bases and our overall athletic success. Sure football is new, but ODU is already establishing a culture of success and high expectations. I see no reason why Charlotte won't do the same.

I think we're going to surprise a lot of people in pretty short order. I know we'll take some lumps early on, but we will never be perennial doormats like some schools. Our fan base won't tolerate that. Heck, we're on the verge of firing our winningest BB coach for having a bad year (and missing on two recruiting classes). We play to win...not just compete. Isn't that what you want in a conference mate?

^^^^THIS^^^^

(12-28-2012 07:09 PM)Maryland Monarch Wrote:  I don't want to start a whizzing contest, but I think you're selling ODU and Charlotte a bit short. Both schools have great potential...look at the facilities, the financial resources, the passionate fan bases and our overall athletic success. Sure football is new, but ODU is already establishing a culture of success and high expectations. I see no reason why Charlotte won't do the same.

I think we're going to surprise a lot of people in pretty short order. I know we'll take some lumps early on, but we will never be perennial doormats like some schools. Our fan base won't tolerate that. Heck, we're on the verge of firing our winningest BB coach for having a bad year (and missing on two recruiting classes). We play to win...not just compete. Isn't that what you want in a conference mate?

Good post. Of all the adds I like ODU for future potential the most. You will have the largest budget in CUSA, have great fan support and you are no stranger to success. Not to mention you will help with the TV revenue part of things.

It will take a few years to catch up. Your players will be looking at faster, stronger and larger players than they are used to, but you won't be the doormat of the conference.

(12-25-2012 07:52 PM)usmbacker Wrote:  Being in the BE is not any better than CUSA now. Maybe worse if it folds. The new setup guarantees a CUSA team as much of a chance as a BE team to get a BCS bowl berth after this next year. Why move? I like some of the new teams better. They for sure play better football than Memphis or Tulane. Let them go and welcome the new teams and build together. If the idiot schools that whored out to jump to the BE had stayed, can you imagine what CUSA would be now. I won't miss them and look forward to the new teams. As long as USM football goes back to winning big, it will make no difference. We just have to take care of ourselves and win. The rest will work out fine then.

the nBE is c-usa. the defectors left c-usa for c-usa, and in so doing, destroyed c-usa. the whole thing has been a massively destructive and needless exercise in clinically irrational behavior.