It is interesting to read the many articles and then the comments here and see how they compare, then how I think about the events, but the one thing that just hit me was I really haven't thought much about the 2013 football season and beyond. I am not thinking too much about the possible renewal of a rivalry with a team that can be that big rivalry game we at USM want and have wanted for so long, that game being with La. Tech. I haven't thought much of the division we will be in, because I am wondering if all this stuff will put USM in another conference, and if so what will that conference have to offer. I haven't gotten excited about the future conference titles, because again, what conference exactly will that be? I read, here and other places, how bad C-USA is with it's new members (actually looking at the USM history of opponents, I don't think it is that bad) and how it is a step up to be in the nBE even though almost all of them USM had as conference foes and most actually used C-USA to get on the same level in football as USM was on in 1981. So don't give me that look at the teams because I have seen almost all of them many times. That junk talk about a new program like Charlotte, well remember the new programs like UAB, South Florida at the beginning of C-USM, and Tulane is still struggling of the football field even more than the beginning of C-USA as is Memphis (although Memphis just might be improving).

I think in the end everyone is going to be pretty much where they are and a very select few (maybe none) will be closer the the SEC, Big 10, Big 12, ACC and such, and most might find they are further away even. I suspect the young and newer programs might come out better because they will close the gap with the ECU's, USM's, Marshall's, and such.

I think C-USA will be ok, the nBE will be less and about the same level as C-USA in a short time, so in the end, very little will change except the Big Boys increasing their advantage.

I'm happy to see the Rivalry in Dixie return