Since we're newer to C-USA football than a hipster's favorite band, some of us (like me) are still trying to learn the ins and outs of C-USA football.

The only major in-conference rivalry that I'm really aware of is WKU-MT, which was played way back in September.

So, I really have two questions:

1. What other noteworthy rivalries do we have?
2. Is there a reason that C-USA isn't scheduling games like WKU-MT for rivalry week?

Thanks in advance.

I don't think there are really any other developed rivalries except maybe UAB-WKU and FIU-FAU. There are certainly plenty of opportunities for rivalries moving forward: ODU-Marshall, UTSA-UTEP, Rice-UNT-LaTech come to mind. As to why WKU-MT wasn't played this week, I don't know. It used to be MU-ECU.

UAB-USM is always played on the last week. I could see Marshall and ODU or WKU becoming a big rivalry. UTEP-UTSA is a rivalry but they don't play the last week of the season for whatever reason. FIU-FAU used to be the last game but they have moved it up. And Rice-UNT could develop.

From a selfish perspective, I'd love for Charlotte-ODU to develop into a rivalry and end up on Thanksgiving weekend.

My folks live in Charlotte. My wife's folks live near Norfolk. Life would be too easy.

Honestly, I think the new members need to be here a little longer for any real rivalries to start.

CUSA has never been the best at putting rivalry games during rivalry week though...

(11-29-2014 09:37 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  Honestly, I think the new members need to be here a little longer for any real rivalries to start.

CUSA has never been the best at putting rivalry games during rivalry week though...

I think that's fair... I just wasn't sure what C-USA rivalries survived or were introduced by this last realignment. Seems like it would make sense to at least pair up the last weekend's games by geographic proximity though, unless there are other established rivalries to accommodate.

Even before Charlotte football was a thing, I got fired up for rivalry week. I didn't care who was playing... as long as they hated each other. It was always my favorite week of football season. I hate to see C-USA apparently ignore it when creating schedules.

Tech fans traditionally consider USM and Rice as rivals. Some rice and USM fans disagree

I'd love to play WKU on rivalry weekend, but unless we're both having great seasons, maybe even unless we're playing for the division title, that game just won't draw anywhere near in November what it would in September or October.

I wouldn't mind scheduling WKU/Marshall for Thanksgiving week on an annual basis

(11-29-2014 09:51 PM)49erlew Wrote:  

(11-29-2014 09:37 PM)PirateTreasureNC Wrote:  Honestly, I think the new members need to be here a little longer for any real rivalries to start.

CUSA has never been the best at putting rivalry games during rivalry week though...

I think that's fair... I just wasn't sure what C-USA rivalries survived or were introduced by this last realignment. Seems like it would make sense to at least pair up the last weekend's games by geographic proximity though, unless there are other established rivalries to accommodate.

Even before Charlotte football was a thing, I got fired up for rivalry week. I didn't care who was playing... as long as they hated each other. It was always my favorite week of football season. I hate to see C-USA apparently ignore it when creating schedules.

I would ASSUME Charlotte/ODU would evolve into one as both enter FBS under the CUSA umbrella at around the same time even if ODU has been a good FCS team for a while.

I would assume FAU/FIU would be one.

La Tech/USM/UAB should be something.

I would assume WKU and Marshall could get something going....maybe MTSU in a triangle sort of way.

Not sure how the Texas schools would view intra-state games.

***

Not sure what transitioned over from the Sun Belt additions.

The previous version of CUSA had

ECU/Marshall
ECU/USM
ECU/UCF
USM/UAB
Memphis/UAB
Can't say I saw much on Houston/SMU
Never got the feel UTEP and/or Rice had anything with anyone.

**************

To a larger point though, IMO rivalry games need a edge...

Local/in-state teams: a rivalry by default

Something on the line each time you play
*If you look at the history of CUSA-E the Marshall/USM/UCF/ECU games were ALWAYS BIG for divisional standings

Meet in the championship game

Long time history...

I would love playing Rice last every year.

(11-30-2014 12:05 AM)Kingkong13 Wrote:  I would love playing Rice last every year.

One very interesting note about the LA Tech-Rice football series.....except for the very first year when the two teams played back in 2001, Rice either blows us out, or we blow them out. The games are never close. The games are always lopsided, one way or the other. And true to form, last year Rice mopped the floor with our faces, and this year we returned the favor.

It wouldn't be hard to do something like:
ODU/Charlotte
FIU/FAU
Marshall/UAB
MT/WKU
UTEP/UTSA
Rice/LaTech
UNT/USM
Thanksgiving weekend every year. This makes the most sense. You could swap out Marshall/WKU and MT/UAB if WKU/MT wanted that game played earlier in the year as I think I saw earlier.

(11-30-2014 12:20 AM)herdfan2013 Wrote:  It wouldn't be hard to do something like:
ODU/Charlotte
FIU/FAU
Marshall/UAB
MT/WKU
UTEP/UTSA
Rice/LaTech
UNT/USM
Thanksgiving weekend every year. This makes the most sense. You could swap out Marshall/WKU and MT/UAB if WKU/MT wanted that game played earlier in the year as I think I saw earlier.

I like this a lot, but you can't take the UAB vs USM game off the table for Thanksgiving. ODU vs Marshall would be good.

(11-30-2014 12:44 AM)Kingkong13 Wrote:  

(11-30-2014 12:20 AM)herdfan2013 Wrote:  It wouldn't be hard to do something like:
ODU/Charlotte
FIU/FAU
Marshall/UAB
MT/WKU
UTEP/UTSA
Rice/LaTech
UNT/USM
Thanksgiving weekend every year. This makes the most sense. You could swap out Marshall/WKU and MT/UAB if WKU/MT wanted that game played earlier in the year as I think I saw earlier.

I like this a lot, but you can't take the UAB vs USM game off the table for Thanksgiving. ODU vs Marshall would be good.

Yeah, but that would force and annual "rivalry" game between UNT and Charlotte. I don't much see that.

You can't really have all the intercooler encephalitis rivalries on the same day. That's why a lot of ACC and SEC teams play their counterparts on thanksgiving.