(01-16-2013 09:41 AM)Niner National Wrote:  If/when Tulsa leaves, WKU better be the replacement.

That makes perfect sense.

The Eastern CUSA will have Marshall, ODU, Charlotte, FIU, FAU, UAB, and MTSU.

The west will have: Rice, UTSA, UNT, UTEP, La.Tech, USM.

So add WKU and option 1 is MTSU/WKU go west putting USM back in the east, leaving MTSU/WKU in a division where the closest school other than each other is Louisana Tech and no other CUSA West division members are contiguous to them. La.Tech is split away from the closest CUSA school and the only one they have an significant history with.

Option 2 is MTSU/WKU go east and UAB/USM go west which splits UAB away from Charlotte and ODU who they have significant basketball history with.

The more logical (therefore extremely unlikely) solution is rather than WKU, CUSA takes either Arkansas State or Louisana Lafayette. Who already contiguous to CUSA West. The downside is it splits USM/UAB it more closely replicates the old SWC footprint if Arkansas State or at least bridges east and west regardless of which is selected.

well regardless of what Tulsa does, I respect what they are doing there, and I wish them only the best. They have been good for C-USA and USM has had some great games with them, so I have nothing but best wishes and warm regards for them whatever they decide.

There are only two ways UTEP gets into the MWC.

1. If SDSU stays in the nBE, UTEP becomes MWC's 12th team.

2. If SDSU and BYU return to the MWC, UTEP becomes MWC's 14th team.

The MWC isn't going to expand past 12 for any other reason except to land BYU.

(01-16-2013 11:20 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  well regardless of what Tulsa does, I respect what they are doing there, and I wish them only the best. They have been good for C-USA and USM has had some great games with them, so I have nothing but best wishes and warm regards for them whatever they decide.

If they spend millions to leave, then I wish them the karma their greed and stupidity deserves.

(01-16-2013 11:20 AM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  well regardless of what Tulsa does, I respect what they are doing there, and I wish them only the best. They have been good for C-USA and USM has had some great games with them, so I have nothing but best wishes and warm regards for them whatever they decide.

Thanks for the kind words!

(01-16-2013 11:48 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  There are only two ways UTEP gets into the MWC.

1. If SDSU stays in the nBE, UTEP becomes MWC's 12th team.

2. If SDSU and BYU return to the MWC, UTEP becomes MWC's 14th team.

The MWC isn't going to expand past 12 for any other reason except to land BYU.

This is my guess as well. There is a scenario, of course, in which the MWC decides it needs a Texas presence and adds two of three from UTEP, Rice, and UTSA to get to 14 ... but at this point, I just don't see it.

(01-16-2013 11:56 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:48 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  There are only two ways UTEP gets into the MWC.

1. If SDSU stays in the nBE, UTEP becomes MWC's 12th team.

2. If SDSU and BYU return to the MWC, UTEP becomes MWC's 14th team.

The MWC isn't going to expand past 12 for any other reason except to land BYU.

This is my guess as well. There is a scenario, of course, in which the MWC decides it needs a Texas presence and adds two of three from UTEP, Rice, and UTSA to get to 14 ... but at this point, I just don't see it.

Evidently and not surprisingly, SDSU announced today that they will be returning to the Mountain West. So, dominos (if there are indeed any to move) can fall in the appropriate order when agreements are finalized. FWIW, the SDSU may have been the most up-front administration in this process to date.

The more I think about it, the more it makes sense to see UTEP go from a travel perspective. Not sure abotu politaclly or alumni reach, but from a nuts and bolts standpoint it is not a bad idea for them if Tulsa leaves as well.

That being said, if UTEP and Tulsa leave, what is CUSA's next step? Not a huge fan of continuing to add as a reactionary measure, but would taking WKU and TxST be so bad? It locks up Texas and still pushes a balance East/West.

The moves will be made and frankly the fans are not high on the list of the decision making process. Regardless, some schools will be fine, others will get hurt.

All I know is that we are in CUSA next year.

Like one of the USM fans said...give us our 8 games and we can take care of the rest. I would like to think the new league will have a good OOC but Im not holding my breath. NIU and Kent were ranked largely bc the MAC kicked ass early in the year.

I like our OOC. I think we can do 3-1 with a loss to OU.

If we can run the table we have a decent shot at finishing 12-1. Maybe thats enough. Hopefully ECU or Marshall can have good seasons and we get a nice CCG again.

The game @ Bowling Green scares me but we havent lost to a MAC team in a really long time.

(01-16-2013 12:01 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:56 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:48 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  There are only two ways UTEP gets into the MWC.

1. If SDSU stays in the nBE, UTEP becomes MWC's 12th team.

2. If SDSU and BYU return to the MWC, UTEP becomes MWC's 14th team.

The MWC isn't going to expand past 12 for any other reason except to land BYU.

This is my guess as well. There is a scenario, of course, in which the MWC decides it needs a Texas presence and adds two of three from UTEP, Rice, and UTSA to get to 14 ... but at this point, I just don't see it.

Evidently and not surprisingly, SDSU announced today that they will be returning to the Mountain West. So, dominos (if there are indeed any to move) can fall in the appropriate order when agreements are finalized. FWIW, the SDSU may have been the most up-front administration in this process to date.

I just don't see a reason for the MWC to go past 12 at this point. A Texas presence is not worth splitting the pie up further. As a matter of fact, I think the MWC regrets backfilling with USU and SJSU.

Nothing is certain about what will happen now. Tulsa's administration is always very tight lipped on these matters. The only thing I know is that we've explored our options...just like everyone else. We haven't received an invitation from any other conference so far. But I agree, Tulsa should know fairly soon if they are staying or leaving.

It's too bad that the current C-USA didn't hold together.

(01-16-2013 12:39 PM)panicstricken Wrote:  we havent lost to a MAC team in a really long time.

That must be nice

FWIW, I'd be bummed to see Tulsa leave, even though we don't get to play them often and have never beaten them since joining CUSA. A truly admirable football program, given the size of that school. Easily in the top 3 of CUSA in football since they joined in 2005.

(01-16-2013 12:52 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 12:01 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:56 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:48 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  There are only two ways UTEP gets into the MWC.

1. If SDSU stays in the nBE, UTEP becomes MWC's 12th team.

2. If SDSU and BYU return to the MWC, UTEP becomes MWC's 14th team.

The MWC isn't going to expand past 12 for any other reason except to land BYU.

This is my guess as well. There is a scenario, of course, in which the MWC decides it needs a Texas presence and adds two of three from UTEP, Rice, and UTSA to get to 14 ... but at this point, I just don't see it.

Evidently and not surprisingly, SDSU announced today that they will be returning to the Mountain West. So, dominos (if there are indeed any to move) can fall in the appropriate order when agreements are finalized. FWIW, the SDSU may have been the most up-front administration in this process to date.

I just don't see a reason for the MWC to go past 12 at this point. A Texas presence is not worth splitting the pie up further. As a matter of fact, I think the MWC regrets backfilling with USU and SJSU.

I don't want to sound like the sky is falling anywhere, because I honestly don't believe that; however many conferences and universities almost have to be experiencing buyer's regret as things fall out.

(01-16-2013 01:13 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 12:52 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 12:01 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:56 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:48 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  There are only two ways UTEP gets into the MWC.

1. If SDSU stays in the nBE, UTEP becomes MWC's 12th team.

2. If SDSU and BYU return to the MWC, UTEP becomes MWC's 14th team.

The MWC isn't going to expand past 12 for any other reason except to land BYU.

This is my guess as well. There is a scenario, of course, in which the MWC decides it needs a Texas presence and adds two of three from UTEP, Rice, and UTSA to get to 14 ... but at this point, I just don't see it.

Evidently and not surprisingly, SDSU announced today that they will be returning to the Mountain West. So, dominos (if there are indeed any to move) can fall in the appropriate order when agreements are finalized. FWIW, the SDSU may have been the most up-front administration in this process to date.

I just don't see a reason for the MWC to go past 12 at this point. A Texas presence is not worth splitting the pie up further. As a matter of fact, I think the MWC regrets backfilling with USU and SJSU.

I don't want to sound like the sky is falling anywhere, because I honestly don't believe that; however many conferences and universities almost have to be experiencing buyer's regret as things fall out.

that is why I want Gen. Hammond to get some solid guarantees before he accepts any move. I think things are too unstable not have rock solid guarantees in place. I think it will all start falling into place in a few months or maybe even years, but right now I think any school making a move could be rolling the dice on their future.

(01-16-2013 12:17 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  The moves will be made and frankly the fans are not high on the list of the decision making process. Regardless, some schools will be fine, others will get hurt.

If the fans don't matter, who does? I would have thought that getting big, enthusiastic crowds at MM Roberts was priority #1.

I've said this many times : people in MS are far too football-savvy to pay $50 to watch a game against Texas State (or ODU, UNT, etc.)

(01-16-2013 01:32 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 01:13 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 12:52 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 12:01 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 11:56 AM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  This is my guess as well. There is a scenario, of course, in which the MWC decides it needs a Texas presence and adds two of three from UTEP, Rice, and UTSA to get to 14 ... but at this point, I just don't see it.

Evidently and not surprisingly, SDSU announced today that they will be returning to the Mountain West. So, dominos (if there are indeed any to move) can fall in the appropriate order when agreements are finalized. FWIW, the SDSU may have been the most up-front administration in this process to date.

I just don't see a reason for the MWC to go past 12 at this point. A Texas presence is not worth splitting the pie up further. As a matter of fact, I think the MWC regrets backfilling with USU and SJSU.

I don't want to sound like the sky is falling anywhere, because I honestly don't believe that; however many conferences and universities almost have to be experiencing buyer's regret as things fall out.

that is why I want Gen. Hammond to get some solid guarantees before he accepts any move. I think things are too unstable not have rock solid guarantees in place. I think it will all start falling into place in a few months or maybe even years, but right now I think any school making a move could be rolling the dice on their future.

...been saying this from the beginning....schools like us have to wait IMHO

...also contend we can build something with the new additions especially with the new ground rules....I can't come up with a reason any of it matters for us....unless the B12 invites us....like that would happen <sarc>

(01-16-2013 01:51 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(01-16-2013 12:17 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  The moves will be made and frankly the fans are not high on the list of the decision making process. Regardless, some schools will be fine, others will get hurt.

If the fans don't matter, who does? I would have thought that getting big, enthusiastic crowds at MM Roberts was priority #1.

I've said this many times : people in MS are far too football-savvy to pay $50 to watch a game against Texas State (or ODU, UNT, etc.)

It is not just the decision of the school, but also the conferences themselves so who knows if USM will move or not. I have seen that our small market, the lack of stuff like an airport better than Pine Belt Regional, and the lodging accomadations have long been a source of concern about coming to USM for a game. The simple fact is we have a small stadium with a fan base that really doesn't want to invest much in improvements, and a program most schools would be excited about. I lived in South Miss. for more than half a century and I don't see USM going to high until the people get more serious about the program.

(01-16-2013 12:55 PM)Nice Guy Eddie Wrote:  Nothing is certain about what will happen now. Tulsa's administration is always very tight lipped on these matters. The only thing I know is that we've explored our options...just like everyone else. We haven't received an invitation from any other conference so far. But I agree, Tulsa should know fairly soon if they are staying or leaving.

It's too bad that the current C-USA didn't hold together.

IMHO

da’ best scenario 4 TU would B 4
Tulsa 2 have a “taste of Big Least & MWC”
For a new/‘ol SWC

The ultimate “:dream” conference 4 TU
Houston, Tulane, SMU, UTEP, Memphis, S. Miss
The 4 Rocky Mt teams of the MWC:
N Mex, Air Force, Colo St & Wyoming
& I’d take UTSA as the 12th team
(They “easily’ offer the best “potential” of the rest)
Lo & behold, a new SW Conference

U’d get Denver & New Orleans
as well of all of Texas’s main TV markets
High ratings 4 college viewership in these areas too.
It’d have high fan interest interest immediately
As well as very competitive teams in the main sports

It could easily compete 2 command the highest TV $$$ per team
vs. the rest of the “minor” conferences.