(12-03-2014 01:12 PM)ArmoredUpKnight Wrote: Sorry, I haven't really been following much of this UAB story. When I saw it on the news last night, I couldn't believe they actually did it.
I had assumed that a lot of teams wouldn't be able to keep up with the new financial investments. Just didn't think UAB would be the first to go. My assumption was always like Hawaii or some MAC/Sunbelt team. That's probably a result of my own homerism since UCF isn't that far removed from CUSA.
If I recall correctly, Southern Miss was running a deficit on its Athletic Budget. Has that issue been solved yet? The 4-32 record the last 3 years probably hasn't helped much. Is USM in danger of falling into the same ordeal? UAB stuck firmly to its "numbers" argument.
Again, I'm just curious and a bit ignorant on the current landscape of CUSA.
This piece might be helpful.
http://arkansasstate.scout.com/story/148...mean?s=334
Will someone drop football soon? I sort of doubt it.
My opinion and that's all it is, is that if you were picking who of the 127 remaining FBS might drop football, I'd put my money on Idaho and I don't think they are in real danger today, they just have some tough circumstances. They are nearly 6% of the earth's circumference from the nearest Sun Belt football member.
Assuming they don't air ship their gear (few schools do), that means if they are playing a conference game on the road at AState (one of their closer trips) and it is a noon (Pacific) kickoff their truck stopping for nothing but gas with multiple drivers has to leave Moscow at 2am on Friday to be at the stadium four hours before kickoff. In reality they are going to leave on Thursday. If they get the truck loaded by 5pm Pacific after the game and hit the road, they will arrive back at 11pm on Sunday and that's fuel and driver change stops only.
Having multiple CDL holders on payroll for that isn't cheap and not a lot of folks willing to log those sorts of miles with a CDL will do it for what a school pays.
It's a logistical mess and they have to do it at least four times and in return they get home games against schools their fans and potential recruits aren't familiar with.
Even if Idaho is willing to do it indefinitely there is no guarantee the Sun Belt will also be willing.
Now outside of that down the road possibility. What I think is more likely is a school hits real financial trouble. A school that is hyper dependent on fees and school funding sees enrollment dip along with state funding dropping and doesn't have a good cushion built into the academic side's budget and has to divert money used for athletics for general operating costs. That's who is really at risk.