(11-10-2014 05:05 AM)NoDak Wrote:  

(11-10-2014 01:17 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 11:45 PM)NoDak Wrote:  NIU's ultimate end game is the Big 12, but the AAC is an intermediary move, not CUSA.

Could see JMU and Mo St wanting in. They much prefer CUSA to the Sun Belt and CUSA doesn't seem to mind FCS move ups (Charlotte and ODU). NMSU gives UTEP a travel partner, but UTEP probably doesn't what them. Ga State fills a gaping hole on the map for recruiting and media, but Ga St's history doesn't offer much besides that. La-La would be a good fit, but La Tech may have issues. Ark St probably is the least objectionable, but doesn't offer a metro area.

ULL being in the same state as LaTech is an advantage at this point for CUSA.

Schools in the same state generally would like to be in the same conference together. In the SBC you have South Alabama/Troy and Georgia St/Georgia Southern. Why take one of those when you can double down on Louisiana? Bring in ULL and they will never want to leave.

What if the AAC takes ODU, Charlotte and Marshall at once from CUSA? Would the Georgia schools of the SBC still find the conference appealing? A-State would be heading to CUSA but I don't know if some of the schools would want it.

CUSA's future may very well be West with New Mexico St, ULL, Ark St and give up on Eastern additions. Missouri State makes no sense before Ark State in CUSA.

The Sun Belt has USA and Troy and GaSt and GaSo in the conference out of necessity, not out of desire. USA wants in CUSA badly, but S Miss would block them, as USA is too close for comfort and robs USM of Mobile recruting. Jacksonville St won't get a look from the Sun Belt, not because it would intrude on USA's or Troy's media's territory, but because it would dilute the recruiting pool for USA, Troy, and Ga St.

Marshall would be far down the AAC's list to add, because it only brings the Huntington metro and a small part of WV. Springfield, Mo is a much larger media market that Jonesboro, and Mo St can actually dominate that market. The Razorbacks are too dominate in Ark, but the Mo Tigers don't have the Springfield market on lockdown. Mo St would be a poorer Tulsa, but richer than Ark St.

Both JMU and Mo St rejected the Sun Belt, which badly wanted both. They would have added Va and Mo markets which the Sun Belt coveted. Meanwhile, Lamar was another example of a potential in state rival for Texas St and La-La that the Sun Belt rejected. Too close for comfort.

If the MAC was being incorporated now, Toledo or Bowling Green as well as Kent St or Akron would have been looked at as unnecessary infringers. Ohio is big enough for four MAC teams, but six is far from ideal.

I believe it's been established markets don't mean jack. So to even hint that Missouri state is a better add than ULL or Ark state is laughable. Like the sec schools ark state is in a small market with Memphis and little rock close by. I'm sure if we had to we could pull a Latech and pretend we owned a majority of those markets like they did shreveport,la.

(11-11-2014 12:12 AM)NoDak Wrote:  members.='GSU Eagles' pid='11358231' dateline='1415655058']
I believe Ga Southern would be at the top of the list:

1) Our performance this year and historically shows we have potential to be a consistent G5 auto bid
contender
2) The state of Ga is loaded with talent and there is a hole in the CUSA map with no GA school
3) GaSt is a dumpster fire and too many other concerns
4) Nobody would block us. We are a pick that upsets no school. ULL - La Tech blocks; USA -
USM blocks; TX St - NT blocks
5) Serves as a geographic bridge to FIU/FAU

All of these factors lead the pick to Ga Southern.

We are perfectly happy in the SBC, and if we did receive an invite and accept, it would be tough to lose the App St rivalry and potential GaSt rivalry with a game the Atlanta alums can attend every other year.

Rice would surely block GaSo for academic reasons.

They don't want a rural teachers college is CUSA. Get Rice out of the conference if you want in CUSA. Tulsa and Tulane would have blocked Ga So and most of the Sun Belt too.
[/quote]

And yet Rice has let academic powerhouses like UTSA, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee in, and is already cohabiting with UTEP and Marshall. Academics will pay no factor for CUSA. It can't afford to play that game and Southern has similar academics to several other members.

Georgia Southern's bigger drawback is basketball. If Rice is getting genuinely serious about athletics again they won't be in CUSA for long anyways.

Georgia schools are on the rise but the priority for CUSA is to stabilize the West.

They've already stabilized the East with pulling in FAU/FIU and WKU/MTSU. Them along with Marshall, Charlotte and Old Dominion gives CUSA a robust East Division.

Eventually CUSA is going to have to add a Georgia school. ULL with 37,000 seats and crowds in the 40's is so much better positioned than the Georgia schools right now.

For those of you who say that LaTch would block Louisiana, I urge you not to confuse fan sentiment with that of the administrations.

It also shows a lack of understanding of Louisiana politics. The presidents of LTU and UL get along very well. LaTech knows that it will at some point need Louisiana to get things it wants done. Those are bridges you dont burn and expect to thrive.

1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

(11-11-2014 09:49 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  And yet Rice has let academic powerhouses like UTSA, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee in, and is already cohabiting with UTEP and Marshall. Academics will pay no factor for CUSA. It can't afford to play that game and Southern has similar academics to several other members.

I think you are selling UTSA and UTEP short, and I just don't know much about the others.

Agree that academics are just not that important.

Georgia State is about as close as it gets to a direct replacement for UAB.

(11-11-2014 02:03 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  Georgia State is about as close as it gets to a direct replacement for UAB.

The problem is when Charlotte joins the East Division next year, they will have 8 teams in the East and 6 in the West, so someone will have to move West, likely UAB, and no one wants to. If UAB leaves, need to simply replace them with a team in the West. If CUSA wants to stay at 14, Louisiana best fits that bill. Now, if the CUSA wants to strengthen itself and severely cripple the Sun Belt, go to 16 teams and add Louisiana and Ark State in the West along with an Eastern school like S. Alabama to go along with Charlotte in the East.

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? Like UAB, USA has the stadium problem which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side. Charlotte's performance this season has been pretty bad, so look for the SBC to pass CUSA in the conference rating next year as Ga Southern and App St settle in.

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

(11-11-2014 04:05 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

Lots of ifs. Not sure Marshall would be on top of the AAC list.

(11-11-2014 04:05 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

at you thinking Marshall is anywhere near the top of the AAC replacement school wish list.

(11-11-2014 04:10 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 04:05 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

at you thinking Marshall is anywhere near the top of the AAC replacement school wish list.

Fair enough as I don't follow the AAC close enough to know, but the bottom line is that conferences are going to have to consider performance more than they have in the past.

(11-11-2014 04:38 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 04:10 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 04:05 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

at you thinking Marshall is anywhere near the top of the AAC replacement school wish list.

Fair enough as I don't follow the AAC close enough to know, but the bottom line is that conferences are going to have to consider performance more than they have in the past.

I'd say the opposite is true.

When the high ed. bubble bursts in the coming years it is smaller schools that will be hit hardest.

CUSA, in the event this all happens, would be better off choosing the schools that will be the most insulated from that. Maybe, that is GSU, maybe it isn't.

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? Like UAB, USA has the stadium problem which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side. Charlotte's performance this season has been pretty bad, so look for the SBC to pass CUSA in the conference rating next year as Ga Southern and App St settle in.

USA's stadium "problem" is not remotely the same as UABs and I'm not even saying USA is the choice that gets made, but I give them far better odds than GS, but GS isn't even the top choice if we were filling a spot in the east, which we aren't.

As far as the Sun Belt passing CUSA next year, it's certainly possible in the sense that the dust is still settling and the conferences are close enough that a down year in CUSA and an up year in the SBC could lead to you guys being rated higher, but I'm even less worried about the SBC passing CUSA long term than I am about GS becoming the juggernaut you're expecting.

For your sake I hope you beat Navy this weekend, otherwise you guys will probably have the most underwhelming 9 wins in Sun Belt history, which would certainly put you near the top of the list of most underwhelming 9 win resumes in the history of FBS.

(11-11-2014 04:05 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

Not sure what the status is, but I know there's been an effort to drop the 12 team requirement for a CCG. At any rate, if UAB dropping football and an AAC raid of CUSA happen around the same time, maybe we standpat at 12.

I think C-USA's list is short if UAB drops:

ULL
NMSU
or stay put at 13....Given the landscape today, 12 may now be optimal

(11-11-2014 04:05 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:56 PM)dbackjon Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 03:50 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-11-2014 12:30 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  1) Georgia Southern fans are fools if they think they are anywhere near the top of the list and bigger fools if they think there's no one blocking them. Neither one of MT or WKU are voting for them if it pushes one of us into the west division. Neither of us are trading our rivalry for a trip to Statesboro every other year.

2) South Alabama makes far more sense than anyone mentioned so far. They fit the CUSA model about perfectly and are ~250 miles from the school they'd be replacing, seems like a no brainer to me.

You don't think Southern Miss will fight USA? USA, has the stadium problem as well which seems to be hurting their attendance.

With the threat of losing Marshall, CUSA has to hit the panic button on the performance side.

And where is Marshall going?

If the Big 12 expands and a slot opens up in the AAC. We will know a lot more after the 4 team playoff is announced, and we see if the committee rewards conferences with a championship game.

I think it's pretty safe to say Marshall would not be the first team going to the AAC.