(11-11-2013 07:11 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 06:06 PM)MUther Wrote:  Florida schools are taking a plane anywhere in CUSA. Put em both west and keep USM and UAB East.

Eastern teams lose trips to FL. You are one of the few Herd fans that seem to be in favor of no trips to FL.

Let them do that then. Gives us Texas and Florida to recruit very well.

(11-11-2013 06:48 PM)DrBox Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 03:31 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  Birmingham to Ruston-386 miles
Nashville to Hattiesburg-424 miles

So convenience is pretty much the same there for UAB and MTSU.

Not much of a difference there. I get why it makes sense for MTSU to be in the east, but UAB gets completely screwed going west too. I truly don't care as long as divisions don't exist for basketball. The minute UAB has to play UTSA twice instead of Charlotte or WKU or ODU in basketball is when UAB gets screwed in this deal.

It would seem that UAB gets most screwed in the scenario by MSTSU going west and UAB staying east.
I don't see the gain for MTSU - they lose WKU.
UAB going west would rejoin USM.
Given USM is going west, UAB should as well, barring any other issues of eastern preference.

It's all about basketball to me. I couldn't care less which teams they align UAB with in football, because for the foreseeable future that isn't going to matter to us. I was excited about ODU, Charlotte, WKU,(and MTSU) being added for basketball purposes. As long as we don't get screwed out of playing these teams in basketball, it doesn't matter to me. If that is going to happen, then UAB needs to fight like hell to stay east.

Here is the simplest way to do it...

East

Marshall
UAB
ODU
WKU
FAU
Charlotte
MTSU

West:

UTEP
Rice
North Texas
La Tech
UTSA
Southern Miss
FIU


You split the Florida schools and have one permanent cross division foe each year. Obviously FAU/FIU would be one.......Southern Miss/Marshall would be another.......so on and so on.

(11-10-2013 08:10 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Lets assume CUSA ends up with two 7 team divisions shown below.

East: Marshall, FAU, UAB, WKU, FIU, ODU, Charlotte

West: UTEP, Rice, UTSA, USM, La Tech, North Texas, MTSU

According to this model, The Biggest cross rival would have to be MT for FAU, we have the most history with them, plus a lot of close games that have swung either way.

GO OWLS!

Just put one of the Florida schools in the West and be done with it. Keep MT and UAB both in the East.

(11-12-2013 09:41 AM)MTowho Wrote:  Just put one of the Florida schools in the West and be done with it. Keep MT and UAB both in the East.

So that MT and UAB are together because of some sort of a rivalry you'd like to deny this for FIU/FAU?

(11-12-2013 10:10 AM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 09:41 AM)MTowho Wrote:  Just put one of the Florida schools in the West and be done with it. Keep MT and UAB both in the East.

So that MT and UAB are together because of some sort of a rivalry you'd like to deny this for FIU/FAU?

You'd keep your cross division game, so you lose nothing on that front. The other East schools would sacrifice the guaranteed Florida trip every year. I think MT/WKU/UAB/Marshall all would like to continue to play one another every single year.

(11-12-2013 01:45 AM)MUther Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 07:11 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(11-11-2013 06:06 PM)MUther Wrote:  Florida schools are taking a plane anywhere in CUSA. Put em both west and keep USM and UAB East.

Eastern teams lose trips to FL. You are one of the few Herd fans that seem to be in favor of no trips to FL.

We're gonna recruit Florida anyway. Even if both of you are in the west, we'd still be playing there at least once in any players career more likely twice. Keeping USM and UAB on our schedule >>>>> Florida presence, for me.

How would you guarantee that? You have 7 teams to play in the west, 7 year rotation so maybe a FL team every third year. Coupled with the home-home rotation, the kid could possibly never play in FL. But as you said, playing in FL for recruiting purposes may be a myth anyway in which case it doesn't matter if we are east, west or north.

(11-12-2013 10:27 AM)MTowho Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 10:10 AM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 09:41 AM)MTowho Wrote:  Just put one of the Florida schools in the West and be done with it. Keep MT and UAB both in the East.

So that MT and UAB are together because of some sort of a rivalry you'd like to deny this for FIU/FAU?

You'd keep your cross division game, so you lose nothing on that front. The other East schools would sacrifice the guaranteed Florida trip every year. I think MT/WKU/UAB/Marshall all would like to continue to play one another every single year.

The four of you play each other now? You got to be playing each other to "continue" right?

USM plays UAB and Marshall each year, why shouldn't that continue?

FIU/FAU are outliers in the conference as it is currently set up. They are going to have to fly to every game and teams traveling to them are going to have to fly every game other then when they bus to play one another. Doesn't really matter whether or not it is teams in the east or teams in the west, everyone has a journey to get to Miami/Boca.

I also realize the Florida schools would probably prefer to keep a presence in the southeast. However, are you telling me not one of FIU/FAU would love the chance to play in Texas for recruiting purposes. Texas and Florida both are football hotbeds and that could help those teams land some good players. Would also help the teams in Texas be able to recruit Florida. Giving each team in each division at least 1 game in Florida every other season at the least.

(11-12-2013 10:27 AM)MTowho Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 10:10 AM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 09:41 AM)MTowho Wrote:  Just put one of the Florida schools in the West and be done with it. Keep MT and UAB both in the East.

So that MT and UAB are together because of some sort of a rivalry you'd like to deny this for FIU/FAU?

You'd keep your cross division game, so you lose nothing on that front. The other East schools would sacrifice the guaranteed Florida trip every year. I think MT/WKU/UAB/Marshall all would like to continue to play one another every single year.

By the same logic, if MT and UAB are in difrferent divisions, they will keep their rivalry as a protected cross division rivalry.

(11-12-2013 11:23 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  FIU/FAU are outliers in the conference as it is currently set up. They are going to have to fly to every game and teams traveling to them are going to have to fly every game other then when they bus to play one another. Doesn't really matter whether or not it is teams in the east or teams in the west, everyone has a journey to get to Miami/Boca.

I also realize the Florida schools would probably prefer to keep a presence in the southeast. However, are you telling me not one of FIU/FAU would love the chance to play in Texas for recruiting purposes. Texas and Florida both are football hotbeds and that could help those teams land some good players. Would also help the teams in Texas be able to recruit Florida. Giving each team in each division at least 1 game in Florida every other season at the least.

Look at FIU and FAU rosters - heavily Floridian. We would like to continue that. Both schools do not invest much in scouting outside of Florida. There is a reason why F_U suffer through several yearly poundings from the NCAA heavyweights - we need that pay check just to continue operating the program, the pains of being a recent upstart.

Additionally, you do realize FAU and FIU had shared the conference with UNT, don't you? Both FAU and FIU played UNT every year for 6 years (or 7?) Did that provide us with a significant number of Texas signings? I don't know about FIU, but FAU sure hasn't made a toehold in Texas scouting.

As far as Florida schools being outliers in C-USA, is that really true? There has been a team from Florida in the C-USA since 1995

(11-12-2013 11:52 AM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 11:23 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  FIU/FAU are outliers in the conference as it is currently set up. They are going to have to fly to every game and teams traveling to them are going to have to fly every game other then when they bus to play one another. Doesn't really matter whether or not it is teams in the east or teams in the west, everyone has a journey to get to Miami/Boca.

I also realize the Florida schools would probably prefer to keep a presence in the southeast. However, are you telling me not one of FIU/FAU would love the chance to play in Texas for recruiting purposes. Texas and Florida both are football hotbeds and that could help those teams land some good players. Would also help the teams in Texas be able to recruit Florida. Giving each team in each division at least 1 game in Florida every other season at the least.

Look at FIU and FAU rosters - heavily Floridian. We would like to continue that. Both schools do not invest much in scouting outside of Florida. There is a reason why F_U suffer through several yearly poundings from the NCAA heavyweights - we need that pay check just to continue operating the program, the pains of being a recent upstart.

Additionally, you do realize FAU and FIU had shared the conference with UNT, don't you? Both FAU and FIU played UNT every year for 6 years (or 7?) Did that provide us with a significant number of Texas signings? I don't know about FIU, but FAU sure hasn't made a toehold in Texas scouting.

As far as Florida schools being outliers in C-USA, is that really true? There has been a team from Florida in the C-USA since 1995

But never two and never THAT far South. Like I said before, if you have to hop on a plane anyway to get to any school you are going to play in conference, what the difference if the flight is 1 hour or 3 hours? It's not that big of a deal and it would preserve some continuity for the teams who have been playing each other the better part of a decade, at least.

(11-12-2013 11:52 AM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 11:23 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  FIU/FAU are outliers in the conference as it is currently set up. They are going to have to fly to every game and teams traveling to them are going to have to fly every game other then when they bus to play one another. Doesn't really matter whether or not it is teams in the east or teams in the west, everyone has a journey to get to Miami/Boca.

I also realize the Florida schools would probably prefer to keep a presence in the southeast. However, are you telling me not one of FIU/FAU would love the chance to play in Texas for recruiting purposes. Texas and Florida both are football hotbeds and that could help those teams land some good players. Would also help the teams in Texas be able to recruit Florida. Giving each team in each division at least 1 game in Florida every other season at the least.

Look at FIU and FAU rosters - heavily Floridian. We would like to continue that. Both schools do not invest much in scouting outside of Florida. There is a reason why F_U suffer through several yearly poundings from the NCAA heavyweights - we need that pay check just to continue operating the program, the pains of being a recent upstart.

Additionally, you do realize FAU and FIU had shared the conference with UNT, don't you? Both FAU and FIU played UNT every year for 6 years (or 7?) Did that provide us with a significant number of Texas signings? I don't know about FIU, but FAU sure hasn't made a toehold in Texas scouting.

As far as Florida schools being outliers in C-USA, is that really true? There has been a team from Florida in the C-USA since 1995

I realize you all used to play UNT regularly. However, there is a difference in playing 1 team from Texas away every other year and having 4 teams from Texas ensuring at least 2 games in the state every season. I realize your rosters are predominantly Floridian. But maybe your coaching staff and admin want to branch that out a little more. You guys will always be able to snag some local Florida kids.

And as MUther eluded to. There has never been 2 schools in CUSA and never two as far south as FAU/FIU. But to answer your question, yes old CUSA teams in Florida were outliers then as well. They also more then likely took a plane to every game. If you are having to fly anyway, and everyone coming to play you guys is having to fly in anyway. Then what difference does it make if one of you two is in the west division?

(11-12-2013 12:15 PM)Rojogrande Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 11:52 AM)goliath74 Wrote:  

(11-12-2013 11:23 AM)Rojogrande Wrote:  FIU/FAU are outliers in the conference as it is currently set up. They are going to have to fly to every game and teams traveling to them are going to have to fly every game other then when they bus to play one another. Doesn't really matter whether or not it is teams in the east or teams in the west, everyone has a journey to get to Miami/Boca.

I also realize the Florida schools would probably prefer to keep a presence in the southeast. However, are you telling me not one of FIU/FAU would love the chance to play in Texas for recruiting purposes. Texas and Florida both are football hotbeds and that could help those teams land some good players. Would also help the teams in Texas be able to recruit Florida. Giving each team in each division at least 1 game in Florida every other season at the least.

Look at FIU and FAU rosters - heavily Floridian. We would like to continue that. Both schools do not invest much in scouting outside of Florida. There is a reason why F_U suffer through several yearly poundings from the NCAA heavyweights - we need that pay check just to continue operating the program, the pains of being a recent upstart.

Additionally, you do realize FAU and FIU had shared the conference with UNT, don't you? Both FAU and FIU played UNT every year for 6 years (or 7?) Did that provide us with a significant number of Texas signings? I don't know about FIU, but FAU sure hasn't made a toehold in Texas scouting.

As far as Florida schools being outliers in C-USA, is that really true? There has been a team from Florida in the C-USA since 1995

I realize you all used to play UNT regularly. However, there is a difference in playing 1 team from Texas away every other year and having 4 teams from Texas ensuring at least 2 games in the state every season. I realize your rosters are predominantly Floridian. But maybe your coaching staff and admin want to branch that out a little more. You guys will always be able to snag some local Florida kids.

And as MUther eluded to. There has never been 2 schools in CUSA and never two as far south as FAU/FIU. But to answer your question, yes old CUSA teams in Florida were outliers then as well. They also more then likely took a plane to every game. If you are having to fly anyway, and everyone coming to play you guys is having to fly in anyway. Then what difference does it make if one of you two is in the west division?

I'm thinking we could both go west, since it is a plane ride for both schools and we both need the Texas recruiting.

Ask Marshall how important having a Florida school on their schedule is, they have 34 kids from Florida.

Middle Tennessee has like 18

And WKU has like 29, so I won't be so quick to get FAU & FIU out of your division.

I don't know where all these people are saying anything about UAB wanting to keep playing anybody in football except USM. MU, MTSU, WKU would be nice, but its not important for us at all.

Now in basketball that is different but I think its very likely they don't do divisions in basketball.

I think a cross division rival at this point isn't the right thing to do for the conference.

(11-12-2013 01:27 PM)BhamSnap Wrote:  I don't know where all these people are saying anything about UAB wanting to keep playing anybody in football except USM. MU, MTSU, WKU would be nice, but its not important for us at all.

Now in basketball that is different but I think its very likely they don't do divisions in basketball.

I think a cross division rival at this point isn't the right thing to do for the conference.

Thank you for an objective perspective. Too much unjustified emotion in this thread.

Without any perfect options to choose from, MT's closer proximity to ODU and Marshall and UAB's closer proximity (whether taking buses or chartering shorter flights) to Rice, Tech and USM make it the "best" choice to go west. And if we ever do end up adding someone like the Cajuns then there's another bus trip for UAB. Anyone looking at this objectively will see that it makes absolutely no sense to try to figure out some cute way to rearrange divisions so UAB can be in the east and someone else in the east can be in the west.

And why in the hell would UTEP or UTSA give a rats ass about playing in Florida every year? They have all the talent they need right there in Texas to recruit from. I'm sorry if this offends but putting FIU and FAU in different divisions to appease someone's singular objective against the greater good of the league is asinine.

Putting it more simply some of you are over thinking this.

(11-12-2013 09:41 AM)MTowho Wrote:  Just put one of the Florida schools in the West and be done with it. Keep MT and UAB both in the East.

That is exactly what my model is:

East

Marshall
UAB
ODU
WKU
FAU
Charlotte
MTSU

West:

UTEP
Rice
North Texas
La Tech
UTSA
Southern Miss
FIU


You split the Florida schools and have one permanent cross division foe each year. Obviously FAU/FIU would be one cross rival.......Southern Miss/Marshall could be another.......so on and so on.