I think South is a sleeping giant.

Once they get their football rolling, watch out.

Additionally, I have heard the Mobile economy is going quite well.

(06-13-2013 04:30 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 04:05 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It didn't stop MTSU blocking WKU did it?

What exactly do you mean that "it's done everyday in the business private sector..."? Are you referring to protectionism? Maybe a job protected by a local workers union would have the barriers to entry and tiered status of benefits but in the daily grind, I know of no such protectionism in a true profit driven company.

BTW, the nature of my post was to converse. Nothing more. I am not a flamer and don't intend to be.

Would the Atlanta Braves allow another club in Birmingham or Nashville? Charlotte's having a hard enough time because of the Braves "territory."
What's the difference?
As far as WKU, not sure MTSU in their new found position, was in a position to block anyone.
I really don't see the problem. The question's moot anyway until USA grows their athletic program.

While it helps some schools to be in a better conference than a local rival, most times both schools and the conference as a hole can benefit from two close programs.
FAU, FIU
ECU, Marshall, ODU, Charlotte
MTSU, WKU

LaTech with ULL, UTSA/Rice with TxSt, and UAB/USM with USA, for example, COULD all be beneficial combinations.

I wouldn't mind USA as an opponent in or out of conference. It gets us back to the old Sunbelt rivalry days & I think they have a better upside long term than Troy does in many sports plus a city/university that is behind them, low travel costs for several teams/fans. I still feel that once the music stops on conference realignment, you'll see CUSA/Sun Belt merging into a more eastern footprint with one staying alive in name & the other going away & something else taking the western teams.

As a lifelong USM fan I have always thought it would be nice to have South Alabama as a conference mate. Granted Mobile isn't New Orleans but at the same time it would be an easy road trip for many and a home game for a nice size USM alumni base. On top of Mobile, USM recruits the Florida panhandle so that would be another opportunity for fans/alumni.

On another note...with USM's recent financial problems this would make perfect sense (and cents) as a road game (in any sport) requires minimal expenses and at the same time I feel USA would bring more fans than many of the current/past C-USA teams which in turn brings in more money.

I can see where some USM fans don't want USA in the same conference and I relate this to how La Tech fans feel about having UL-L or UL-M in the same conference

Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

(06-13-2013 09:16 PM)49erlew Wrote:  Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

No sir.

(06-13-2013 09:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:16 PM)49erlew Wrote:  Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

No sir.

OK, so then it comes down to my ignorance of Alabama schools... how do they get out of it? Different system? Private? Bammy doesn't see them as a threat?

(06-13-2013 09:19 PM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:16 PM)49erlew Wrote:  Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

No sir.

OK, so then it comes down to my ignorance of Alabama schools... how do they get out of it? Different system? Private? Bammy doesn't see them as a threat?

The University of Alabama System has three campuses: Tuscaloosa (founded 1831), Birmingham (1936 as the Birmingham Extension Center; became an autonomous university in 1966) and Huntsville (1969). When the state legislature chartered a university for Mobile in 1963, it was not placed under the authority of the UA Board of Trustees. I have a hunch (but cannot prove) that this decision was connected somehow to the fact that the Mobile campus was intended to be racially integrated (the only such campus in the state, at the time), and that some (or all) of the UA Trustees didn't want to be involved with that.

(06-13-2013 09:34 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:19 PM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:16 PM)49erlew Wrote:  Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

No sir.

OK, so then it comes down to my ignorance of Alabama schools... how do they get out of it? Different system? Private? Bammy doesn't see them as a threat?

The University of Alabama System has three campuses: Tuscaloosa (founded 1831), Birmingham (1936 as the Birmingham Extension Center; became an autonomous university in 1966) and Huntsville (1969). When the state legislature chartered a university for Mobile in 1963, it was not placed under the authority of the UA Board of Trustees. I have a hunch (but cannot prove) that this decision was connected somehow to the fact that the Mobile campus was intended to be racially integrated (the only such campus in the state, at the time), and that some (or all) of the UA Trustees didn't want to be involved with that.

I have found that Mobile is a lot different than most cities in Alabama. Seems to have a heavy New Orleans influence-- more Catholic than Baptist, seems like.

South Alabama would be a good candidate. Historically strong hoops, strong baseball, worlds of potential in football. Larger market than several other candidates.

However, if you are taking two programs right now, take Arkansas State and Louisiana.

But in 2-3 years... who knows. The top two might be any out of Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Texas State, South Alabama, Louisiana, Arkansas State. Georgia State would probably be a candidate just on market size. If New Mexico State can turn around football in the Sun Belt then maybe they look good based on their basketball strength.

If you want to go to 16 it is best to wait and see who the cream is when everything settles.

(06-13-2013 09:41 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  I have found that Mobile is a lot different than most cities in Alabama. Seems to have a heavy New Orleans influence-- more Catholic than Baptist, seems like.

Heavy RCC influence, yes. Also, substantial Jewish and Greek Orthodox communities. A lot of Vietnamese/Cambodian refugees settled there after 1975, too, adding to the mix. It was a good place to grow up.

(06-13-2013 09:19 PM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:16 PM)49erlew Wrote:  Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

No sir.

OK, so then it comes down to my ignorance of Alabama schools... how do they get out of it? Different system? Private? Bammy doesn't see them as a threat?

Right now USA isn't a threat to Precious & are far enough away from it distance wise to be of little concern. NG is correct in the members of the system with UAB being a cash cow from the medical side, UAH being a slightly smaller one from defense contracts & UAT controlling it all yet UAB/UAH have little-no representation on the self perpetuating BOT written into our antiquated state constitution (only BOT in state that does, not even AU/Troy/etc are there)

(06-13-2013 01:10 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  USM. That's why.

and UAB I'd imagine?

(06-13-2013 03:54 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  Alabama, Auburn, LSU and most schools recruit Mobile. USM has already "lost it" to Alabama, Auburn, LSU, West Virginia ...etc.

Silly statement. We will lose the Hattiesburg area to those schools 9 times out of 10. With that said we get a ton of good athletes from USA's area that are left.

I haven't heard a single thing about us blocking or attempting to block USA's entrance to CUSA although I doubt we would support it for obvious reasons.

(06-14-2013 06:01 AM)GoGold Wrote:  I haven't heard a single thing about us blocking or attempting to block USA's entrance to CUSA although I doubt we would support it for obvious reasons.

Until now, there was no serious thought of South Alabama ever joining or seeking to join C-USA in the first place. I don't think it will always be the case, but right now USA is a weaker overall athletic program than every other new member C-USA has invited to join since being founded in 1995.

(06-13-2013 09:59 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:41 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  I have found that Mobile is a lot different than most cities in Alabama. Seems to have a heavy New Orleans influence-- more Catholic than Baptist, seems like.

Heavy RCC influence, yes. Also, substantial Jewish and Greek Orthodox communities. A lot of Vietnamese/Cambodian refugees settled there after 1975, too, adding to the mix. It was a good place to grow up.

Mobile is the oldest city in Alabama. It was the French Colonial capitol for about 10 years. After running into the British on the Mississippi River, New Orleans was founded to control the river and subsequently the capitol was transferred to New Orleans.

The early founders of Mobile were French Creole and Germans. Plus it was an early trade destination for the Spanish in Florida and the Caribbean. In the late 1800s there was in influx of Greek immigrants. From WWII until the Vietnam there was a large Air Force Base in Mobile. Mobile is ranked 10th by cargo volume for US ports. Mobile has always been an international city.

(06-13-2013 10:09 PM)blazerwkr Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:19 PM)49erlew Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:18 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  

(06-13-2013 09:16 PM)49erlew Wrote:  Does USA have deal with the same political garbage that UAB does?

No sir.

OK, so then it comes down to my ignorance of Alabama schools... how do they get out of it? Different system? Private? Bammy doesn't see them as a threat?

Right now USA isn't a threat to Precious & are far enough away from it distance wise to be of little concern. NG is correct in the members of the system with UAB being a cash cow from the medical side, UAH being a slightly smaller one from defense contracts & UAT controlling it all yet UAB/UAH have little-no representation on the self perpetuating BOT written into our antiquated state constitution (only BOT in state that does, not even AU/Troy/etc are there)

USA's number one program is its Medical School followed by the College of Nursing. The Engineering School would probably be third but I hear the Business School is coming on strong.

(06-14-2013 09:51 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  From WWII until the Vietnam there was a large Air Force Base in Mobile.

Brookley Air Force Base.

So many "military" decisions get made in Washington on the basis of politics and congressional influence, of course. But in the 1940s, Brookley AFB was almost selected as the location for many of the functions given to MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla. I can't help but wonder how the history of Mobile might have changed if -- for example -- US Central Command were based there.

(06-14-2013 10:01 AM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(06-14-2013 09:51 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  From WWII until the Vietnam there was a large Air Force Base in Mobile.

Brookley Air Force Base.

So many "military" decisions get made in Washington on the basis of politics and congressional influence, of course. But in the 1940s, Brookley AFB was almost selected as the location for many of the functions given to MacDill AFB in Tampa, Fla. I can't help but wonder how the history of Mobile might have changed if -- for example -- US Central Command were based there.

Drastically. And I'd probably be living there instead of the MS gulf coast