The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(11-05-2013 02:55 PM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  From North Texas Forum: I like UAB in the West and here's why
http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/topic/...-heres-why

I thought the punchline was going to be "because they suck and we're gonna destroy them every year lolololol," so it was a pleasant surprise.

(11-05-2013 11:30 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Perhaps a rotation like the SEC uses might be worked out in C-USA. The SEC has one cross divisional foe played every year with all the others rotating through a pattern of 2 year H&H games. Bama plays UTK and AU plays UGA every year while other east teams rotate on and off periodically. Could it be worked out that UAB and MTSU (as an example) might have such an arrangement if UAB is moved to the western division?

Nope. This is not working in the SEC, and I don't want it to be brought to C-USA. LSU and Florida are screwed under the current format, while Bama gets to play a Tennessee team that hasn't been competitive in years. There is no reason to start the conference out this way. I'd love to play MTSU every year, but based on the geography, one of us is going to have to go west.

(11-06-2013 09:58 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 11:30 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Perhaps a rotation like the SEC uses might be worked out in C-USA. The SEC has one cross divisional foe played every year with all the others rotating through a pattern of 2 year H&H games. Bama plays UTK and AU plays UGA every year while other east teams rotate on and off periodically. Could it be worked out that UAB and MTSU (as an example) might have such an arrangement if UAB is moved to the western division?

Nope. This is not working in the SEC, and I don't want it to be brought to C-USA. LSU and Florida are screwed under the current format, while Bama gets to play a Tennessee team that hasn't been competitive in years. There is no reason to start the conference out this way. I'd love to play MTSU every year, but based on the geography, one of us is going to have to go west.

Since a total "round robin" schedule is not possible, some kind of accommodation has to be made to "practicality". If it is decided that a "rivalry game" is desirable, then it needs to be given some degree of priority in scheduling by the conference. The current status of weakness in any team can be accepted as a passing circumstance that can change year to year (UAB certainly hopes so).

The main thing is the "rivalry" status of a game if the conference agrees with any member school's desire to have one. (The AU vs UGA is one of the oldest continuing rivalry games in the history of American football)

It would seem that the only way to always have the better teams playing each other every year is to hold off conference scheduling each year until after the current season, National Signing Day or even spring practice. This could be "possible" but probably not "practical".

I still like a North/South alignment better:

NORTH
Marshall
MTSU
Charlotte
ODU
UAB
USM
WKU

SOUTH
FAU
FIU
Rice
UTSA
LaTech
UTEP
UNT

(11-06-2013 01:03 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I still like a North/South alignment better:

NORTH
Marshall
MTSU
Charlotte
ODU
UAB
USM
WKU

SOUTH
FAU
FIU
Rice
UTSA
LaTech
UTEP
UNT

IF "rivalry games" are to be considered vital, what individual crossover games would / might be considered "natural rivalries" to be played every season?

(11-06-2013 01:03 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I still like a North/South alignment better:

NORTH
Marshall
MTSU
Charlotte
ODU
UAB
USM
WKU

SOUTH
FAU
FIU
Rice
UTSA
LaTech
UTEP
UNT

I do too. I wonder if they are even considering this.

Of course not.

The only teams that might not like the North/South line up are FIU/FAU. But i definitely like it.

(11-06-2013 01:03 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I still like a North/South alignment better:

NORTH
Marshall
MTSU
Charlotte
ODU
UAB
USM
WKU

SOUTH
FAU
FIU
Rice
UTSA
LaTech
UTEP
UNT

La Tech is farther north than So Miss.
Also the east west will keep La Tech and So Miss in same division which I think is desirable.

(11-06-2013 09:58 AM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(11-05-2013 11:30 PM)BAMANBLAZERFAN Wrote:  Perhaps a rotation like the SEC uses might be worked out in C-USA. The SEC has one cross divisional foe played every year with all the others rotating through a pattern of 2 year H&H games. Bama plays UTK and AU plays UGA every year while other east teams rotate on and off periodically. Could it be worked out that UAB and MTSU (as an example) might have such an arrangement if UAB is moved to the western division?

Nope. This is not working in the SEC, and I don't want it to be brought to C-USA. LSU and Florida are screwed under the current format, while Bama gets to play a Tennessee team that hasn't been competitive in years. There is no reason to start the conference out this way. I'd love to play MTSU every year, but based on the geography, one of us is going to have to go west.

I also agree that I don't want one cross rivalry. Then we wouldn't play some teams at best once every 6 years, and if they did back to back years home and then away, then it would be once every 12 years.

(11-06-2013 01:13 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(11-06-2013 01:03 PM)BlazerFromMD Wrote:  I still like a North/South alignment better:

NORTH
Marshall
MTSU
Charlotte
ODU
UAB
USM
WKU

SOUTH
FAU
FIU
Rice
UTSA
LaTech
UTEP
UNT

I do too. I wonder if they are even considering this.

I do too... I think I actually said just this a few posts back ;-)

FAU/FIU would actually be smart to take the arrangement. They'd be the only school in country that could guarantee recruits in Texas and Florida multiple games in Texas and Florida each year (same for the TX/LA schools). And the football team will have to fly anyways whether or not it is Birmingham or El Paso.

To sweeten the pot and decrease travel costs, they can make ODU and UNCC their permanent cross-division rivals, which limits their travel to major airports.

To maximize home attendance playing in the West Division:

1) We need to play USM and LT at home in alternating years, as those two divisional opponents will bring the largest contingents.
2) We need to schedule OOC home games that will travel well (Troy, Alabama St or A&M, etc).
3) We need to suck less.