Let's not forget that CUSA had both Depaul and Marquette in the league before They went to the Big East. Illinois and Wisconsin schools . Not an Issue

(12-17-2014 05:24 PM)_sturt_ Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 05:11 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Further CUSA pads its distribution by counting NCAA distributions from the sports sponsorship and grant-in-aid funds as "league" revenue because the NCAA pays one fat check to the conference with a statement showing what the money is, CUSA deems it conference revenue even though the money is the school's regardless of whether they are a member or not (and if they went indy they'd get an individual check). Sun Belt doesn't count that as league money and passes it directly because no league activity is responsible for earning the money

2) Impressed by the degree of investigation completed, but given that the AL.com source of information is the same tax document(s) that everyone evidently files, why wouldn't the government expect every conference to calculate the same way for any given cell on the form(s)? All I know is that every form I complete personally has very explicit instructions for what belongs in each cell.

ArkstFan that is a good point because if all people looked at the true payouts from the NCAA tournament (most make about double what they get from the more known "ncaa units") basketball would be a bigger deal in realignment and focus.

(12-17-2014 08:29 AM)_sturt_ Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 03:00 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:C-USA's media deal pays better than the MAC's, and their fans wouldn't have to log on and watch half of their games on ESPN3.

CUSA's is going to be worse when their contract runs out, I'm sure. CUSA isn't as good as before the Big East/AAC raided them.

CUSA isn't a good enough poacher for the top-MAC. Sun Belt? OK. Sun Belt teams typically want to spend more money on their football programs anyway, too.

But as it is, it wouldn't benefit NIU to join CUSA the way it stands and the way CUSA is going (being a re-vamped Sun Belt). Travel costs would nix some extra money... and in the end, it'd come right back around to "Wait, WHY did we leave here?"

I could only see NIU joining if for some they saw a chain-of-events to occur to join CUSA for a few years as a definite pick-up by AAC thereafter. But if joining CUSA isn't really going to up their odds for the AAC to pick them up much-if-at-all -- why join? It's no leap forward by any stretch when all the dust settles.

As far as TV is concerned -- CUSA will be on the level of the MAC -- ESPN3. I think the MAC's big contract with ESPN(3) which p!ssed off a lot of MAC fans because they won't disclose info about it, etc. is because unlike other G5s, the MAC is.... well, the MAC. It's stable. It will ride out anything. What I mean by this is...

... they probably got a contract that for the time being SUCKS. However, ESPN3 and other Inet broadcast setups are not going to be an "extra side piece" in 5 years. It will be the NORM with how cable's changing. ESPN3 is already built into Smart TVs. Cable companies are going to change in the coming years to mesh that stuff in their more "sophistomocated" cable-box, where there'll be no difference than watching a game on B10 channel 1 vs B10 channel 2, etc. Much more ads running on those will be filling in -- so in 3-5 years, it will be Great.

So point being, the MAC isn't going to be in any worse position than CUSA for TV-time in some years to come anyway -- possibly reaping extra cash with their deal (that's bad now, good later), who knows. So combine that with more travel expenses, etc? Why jump ship when you're at the top of the MAC?

The AAC is arguably (ARGUABLY) better than the MW. Why would a top MW team jump to join the AAC and add on tons o travel, even if AAC would give out a few extra bucks? Not worth it to shift gears when you're a top MW team.

I've argued with CUSA fans for some time about the likelihood that they'll be able to continue to enjoy anything close to similar TV revenue with CUSA 3.0. You can't replace over 50% of your membership with Sun Belt and FCS schools (plus La Tech) and pragmatically expect TV to not be severely affected.

On the other hand.

I come to this discussion without being a "media" person per se, but also arguably having some "media" insight based on professional relationships (both family and friends) that others might not.

Indisputable and unfortunate fact of the matter is that MAC is in a much more precarious/disadvantaged TV situation because of their uniquely compact footprint.

Accordingly, CUSA is likely to continue to excel beyond what MAC does or could simply based on the implicit limitations of advertising markets. While like anyone else, they will attract some national and local advertising interest, they can't deliver the same breadth of regional advertising interest.

But back to where this discussion began... I doubt that difference would be sufficient to attract NIU... I was just "fishing" to see if NIU fans perceive something I wouldn't, not being on the inside. And too, someone at some point had indicated that there was some dissatisfaction between NIU and the conference, and I wanted to know if that was something real or just someone's anecdotal and mostly-baseless opinion.

Thanks to those contributing to "learn me" something.

Honestly, from a monetary point of view, the MAC and CUSA (or Sunbelt for that matter) would probably both improve their contracts by swapping half their teams with one another to create north-south divisions. It would be an effective way for both to enter new territories.

(12-17-2014 06:13 PM)_sturt_ Wrote:  So... no instructions, arkstfan?

You ever spend time looking at non-profit tax returns?

I recently went through all Sun Belt schools and a handful of CUSA schools athletics and there was clearly no consistency in reporting.

(12-17-2014 06:39 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 09:29 AM)MJG Wrote:  I wonder if NIU would be interested if C-USA went to sixteen.

The other two could be top SBC or MAC or a combination.

there is nothing attractive about a conference with 16 members.

Sure there is.

If you have divisions where the members don't care if they play the schools in the other division. If you have that, even 18 or 20 works and in theory extend the brand.

(12-17-2014 08:51 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 08:29 AM)_sturt_ Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 03:00 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:C-USA's media deal pays better than the MAC's, and their fans wouldn't have to log on and watch half of their games on ESPN3.

CUSA's is going to be worse when their contract runs out, I'm sure. CUSA isn't as good as before the Big East/AAC raided them.

CUSA isn't a good enough poacher for the top-MAC. Sun Belt? OK. Sun Belt teams typically want to spend more money on their football programs anyway, too.

But as it is, it wouldn't benefit NIU to join CUSA the way it stands and the way CUSA is going (being a re-vamped Sun Belt). Travel costs would nix some extra money... and in the end, it'd come right back around to "Wait, WHY did we leave here?"

I could only see NIU joining if for some they saw a chain-of-events to occur to join CUSA for a few years as a definite pick-up by AAC thereafter. But if joining CUSA isn't really going to up their odds for the AAC to pick them up much-if-at-all -- why join? It's no leap forward by any stretch when all the dust settles.

As far as TV is concerned -- CUSA will be on the level of the MAC -- ESPN3. I think the MAC's big contract with ESPN(3) which p!ssed off a lot of MAC fans because they won't disclose info about it, etc. is because unlike other G5s, the MAC is.... well, the MAC. It's stable. It will ride out anything. What I mean by this is...

... they probably got a contract that for the time being SUCKS. However, ESPN3 and other Inet broadcast setups are not going to be an "extra side piece" in 5 years. It will be the NORM with how cable's changing. ESPN3 is already built into Smart TVs. Cable companies are going to change in the coming years to mesh that stuff in their more "sophistomocated" cable-box, where there'll be no difference than watching a game on B10 channel 1 vs B10 channel 2, etc. Much more ads running on those will be filling in -- so in 3-5 years, it will be Great.

So point being, the MAC isn't going to be in any worse position than CUSA for TV-time in some years to come anyway -- possibly reaping extra cash with their deal (that's bad now, good later), who knows. So combine that with more travel expenses, etc? Why jump ship when you're at the top of the MAC?

The AAC is arguably (ARGUABLY) better than the MW. Why would a top MW team jump to join the AAC and add on tons o travel, even if AAC would give out a few extra bucks? Not worth it to shift gears when you're a top MW team.

I've argued with CUSA fans for some time about the likelihood that they'll be able to continue to enjoy anything close to similar TV revenue with CUSA 3.0. You can't replace over 50% of your membership with Sun Belt and FCS schools (plus La Tech) and pragmatically expect TV to not be severely affected.

On the other hand.

I come to this discussion without being a "media" person per se, but also arguably having some "media" insight based on professional relationships (both family and friends) that others might not.

Indisputable and unfortunate fact of the matter is that MAC is in a much more precarious/disadvantaged TV situation because of their uniquely compact footprint.

Accordingly, CUSA is likely to continue to excel beyond what MAC does or could simply based on the implicit limitations of advertising markets. While like anyone else, they will attract some national and local advertising interest, they can't deliver the same breadth of regional advertising interest.

But back to where this discussion began... I doubt that difference would be sufficient to attract NIU... I was just "fishing" to see if NIU fans perceive something I wouldn't, not being on the inside. And too, someone at some point had indicated that there was some dissatisfaction between NIU and the conference, and I wanted to know if that was something real or just someone's anecdotal and mostly-baseless opinion.

Thanks to those contributing to "learn me" something.

Honestly, from a monetary point of view, the MAC and CUSA (or Sunbelt for that matter) would probably both improve their contracts by swapping half their teams with one another to create north-south divisions. It would be an effective way for both to enter new territories.

Same wavelength man.

I've argued for a few years now that if the best 6 or 7 of Sun Belt and best 6 or 7 of MAC broke off and formed their own league that would be more beneficial because on a map it would be the missing jigsaw puzzle piece to the US map hitting the areas left vacant by MWC and AAC. It would also better expose the top MAC teams to southern poll voters and the Sun Belt schools to Midwest voters. Sun Belt makes better sense for MAC because the coaching budget gap isn't as large. NIU would be around Sun Belt median but lowest in CUSA.

(12-17-2014 09:53 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 08:51 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 08:29 AM)_sturt_ Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 03:00 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  

Quote:C-USA's media deal pays better than the MAC's, and their fans wouldn't have to log on and watch half of their games on ESPN3.

CUSA's is going to be worse when their contract runs out, I'm sure. CUSA isn't as good as before the Big East/AAC raided them.

CUSA isn't a good enough poacher for the top-MAC. Sun Belt? OK. Sun Belt teams typically want to spend more money on their football programs anyway, too.

But as it is, it wouldn't benefit NIU to join CUSA the way it stands and the way CUSA is going (being a re-vamped Sun Belt). Travel costs would nix some extra money... and in the end, it'd come right back around to "Wait, WHY did we leave here?"

I could only see NIU joining if for some they saw a chain-of-events to occur to join CUSA for a few years as a definite pick-up by AAC thereafter. But if joining CUSA isn't really going to up their odds for the AAC to pick them up much-if-at-all -- why join? It's no leap forward by any stretch when all the dust settles.

As far as TV is concerned -- CUSA will be on the level of the MAC -- ESPN3. I think the MAC's big contract with ESPN(3) which p!ssed off a lot of MAC fans because they won't disclose info about it, etc. is because unlike other G5s, the MAC is.... well, the MAC. It's stable. It will ride out anything. What I mean by this is...

... they probably got a contract that for the time being SUCKS. However, ESPN3 and other Inet broadcast setups are not going to be an "extra side piece" in 5 years. It will be the NORM with how cable's changing. ESPN3 is already built into Smart TVs. Cable companies are going to change in the coming years to mesh that stuff in their more "sophistomocated" cable-box, where there'll be no difference than watching a game on B10 channel 1 vs B10 channel 2, etc. Much more ads running on those will be filling in -- so in 3-5 years, it will be Great.

So point being, the MAC isn't going to be in any worse position than CUSA for TV-time in some years to come anyway -- possibly reaping extra cash with their deal (that's bad now, good later), who knows. So combine that with more travel expenses, etc? Why jump ship when you're at the top of the MAC?

The AAC is arguably (ARGUABLY) better than the MW. Why would a top MW team jump to join the AAC and add on tons o travel, even if AAC would give out a few extra bucks? Not worth it to shift gears when you're a top MW team.

I've argued with CUSA fans for some time about the likelihood that they'll be able to continue to enjoy anything close to similar TV revenue with CUSA 3.0. You can't replace over 50% of your membership with Sun Belt and FCS schools (plus La Tech) and pragmatically expect TV to not be severely affected.

On the other hand.

I come to this discussion without being a "media" person per se, but also arguably having some "media" insight based on professional relationships (both family and friends) that others might not.

Indisputable and unfortunate fact of the matter is that MAC is in a much more precarious/disadvantaged TV situation because of their uniquely compact footprint.

Accordingly, CUSA is likely to continue to excel beyond what MAC does or could simply based on the implicit limitations of advertising markets. While like anyone else, they will attract some national and local advertising interest, they can't deliver the same breadth of regional advertising interest.

But back to where this discussion began... I doubt that difference would be sufficient to attract NIU... I was just "fishing" to see if NIU fans perceive something I wouldn't, not being on the inside. And too, someone at some point had indicated that there was some dissatisfaction between NIU and the conference, and I wanted to know if that was something real or just someone's anecdotal and mostly-baseless opinion.

Thanks to those contributing to "learn me" something.

Honestly, from a monetary point of view, the MAC and CUSA (or Sunbelt for that matter) would probably both improve their contracts by swapping half their teams with one another to create north-south divisions. It would be an effective way for both to enter new territories.

Same wavelength man.

I've argued for a few years now that if the best 6 or 7 of Sun Belt and best 6 or 7 of MAC broke off and formed their own league that would be more beneficial because on a map it would be the missing jigsaw puzzle piece to the US map hitting the areas left vacant by MWC and AAC. It would also better expose the top MAC teams to southern poll voters and the Sun Belt schools to Midwest voters. Sun Belt makes better sense for MAC because the coaching budget gap isn't as large. NIU would be around Sun Belt median but lowest in CUSA.

NIU has had 4 coaches since 2008. Why would we need throw in another 500k+ to cover coaching salary when we attract quality coaching talent at the levels we are currently at and continue to win? Even if we gave Carey a raise right now to bring him to $800K, it wont stop another school from poaching him anyways. If the coach's agent would allow a large buy-out clause in correlation to a higher salary and assistant salary pool that would be a different story, but that has not been on the table.

It is not that NIU cannot afford a higher salary, it does not need to offer it with the potential upward mobility and success.

(12-17-2014 10:11 PM)NIUSox10 Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 09:53 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 08:51 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 08:29 AM)_sturt_ Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 03:00 AM)toddjnsn Wrote:  CUSA's is going to be worse when their contract runs out, I'm sure. CUSA isn't as good as before the Big East/AAC raided them.

CUSA isn't a good enough poacher for the top-MAC. Sun Belt? OK. Sun Belt teams typically want to spend more money on their football programs anyway, too.

But as it is, it wouldn't benefit NIU to join CUSA the way it stands and the way CUSA is going (being a re-vamped Sun Belt). Travel costs would nix some extra money... and in the end, it'd come right back around to "Wait, WHY did we leave here?"

I could only see NIU joining if for some they saw a chain-of-events to occur to join CUSA for a few years as a definite pick-up by AAC thereafter. But if joining CUSA isn't really going to up their odds for the AAC to pick them up much-if-at-all -- why join? It's no leap forward by any stretch when all the dust settles.

As far as TV is concerned -- CUSA will be on the level of the MAC -- ESPN3. I think the MAC's big contract with ESPN(3) which p!ssed off a lot of MAC fans because they won't disclose info about it, etc. is because unlike other G5s, the MAC is.... well, the MAC. It's stable. It will ride out anything. What I mean by this is...

... they probably got a contract that for the time being SUCKS. However, ESPN3 and other Inet broadcast setups are not going to be an "extra side piece" in 5 years. It will be the NORM with how cable's changing. ESPN3 is already built into Smart TVs. Cable companies are going to change in the coming years to mesh that stuff in their more "sophistomocated" cable-box, where there'll be no difference than watching a game on B10 channel 1 vs B10 channel 2, etc. Much more ads running on those will be filling in -- so in 3-5 years, it will be Great.

So point being, the MAC isn't going to be in any worse position than CUSA for TV-time in some years to come anyway -- possibly reaping extra cash with their deal (that's bad now, good later), who knows. So combine that with more travel expenses, etc? Why jump ship when you're at the top of the MAC?

The AAC is arguably (ARGUABLY) better than the MW. Why would a top MW team jump to join the AAC and add on tons o travel, even if AAC would give out a few extra bucks? Not worth it to shift gears when you're a top MW team.

I've argued with CUSA fans for some time about the likelihood that they'll be able to continue to enjoy anything close to similar TV revenue with CUSA 3.0. You can't replace over 50% of your membership with Sun Belt and FCS schools (plus La Tech) and pragmatically expect TV to not be severely affected.

On the other hand.

I come to this discussion without being a "media" person per se, but also arguably having some "media" insight based on professional relationships (both family and friends) that others might not.

Indisputable and unfortunate fact of the matter is that MAC is in a much more precarious/disadvantaged TV situation because of their uniquely compact footprint.

Accordingly, CUSA is likely to continue to excel beyond what MAC does or could simply based on the implicit limitations of advertising markets. While like anyone else, they will attract some national and local advertising interest, they can't deliver the same breadth of regional advertising interest.

But back to where this discussion began... I doubt that difference would be sufficient to attract NIU... I was just "fishing" to see if NIU fans perceive something I wouldn't, not being on the inside. And too, someone at some point had indicated that there was some dissatisfaction between NIU and the conference, and I wanted to know if that was something real or just someone's anecdotal and mostly-baseless opinion.

Thanks to those contributing to "learn me" something.

Honestly, from a monetary point of view, the MAC and CUSA (or Sunbelt for that matter) would probably both improve their contracts by swapping half their teams with one another to create north-south divisions. It would be an effective way for both to enter new territories.

Same wavelength man.

I've argued for a few years now that if the best 6 or 7 of Sun Belt and best 6 or 7 of MAC broke off and formed their own league that would be more beneficial because on a map it would be the missing jigsaw puzzle piece to the US map hitting the areas left vacant by MWC and AAC. It would also better expose the top MAC teams to southern poll voters and the Sun Belt schools to Midwest voters. Sun Belt makes better sense for MAC because the coaching budget gap isn't as large. NIU would be around Sun Belt median but lowest in CUSA.

NIU has had 4 coaches since 2008. Why would we need throw in another 500k+ to cover coaching salary when we attract quality coaching talent at the levels we are currently at and continue to win? Even if we gave Carey a raise right now to bring him to $800K, it wont stop another school from poaching him anyways. If the coach's agent would allow a large buy-out clause in correlation to a higher salary and assistant salary pool that would be a different story, but that has not been on the table.

It is not that NIU cannot afford a higher salary, it does not need to offer it with the potential upward mobility and success.

NIU pays more than anyone in the MAC. Why? If you can get 'em cheap why don't you pay MAC average? It's about perception.

If you are in a conference where your coach is the lowest paid, fans going to tout we get 'em cheap or demand NIU pay competitive salaries.

During the last search at AState, our AD talked of the interest received from NFL and FBS assistants, lower division head coaches and even a MAC head coach. When the last three guys left for $1.3 million, $2 million, and $1 million and the pay is about double the MAC average, more people are interested.

Yeah, don't go by 2010. Big East/AAC is now the new CUSA, and CUSA is lower.

Plus, the AAC isn't going to be playing a lot of P5 teams in bowls really soon. And if Cinci/Memphis leave, it'll basically be the MW and everyone-else-in-G5.

The "jump" to AAC would be beneficial for NIU, Toledo, or Marshall. Although a smaller 'jump' for the MAC as it's stable, and CUSA & AAC get picked away with AAC feeding off CUSA, and CUSA picking off Sun Belt & D1AA.

NIU by itself to jump to CUSA? No. To AAC? Yeah -- it's worth it, as long as there's no signs the AAC has any more fleeing teams & signs of instability or something -- or some weird contract with tons of conditionals.

I could see NIU in a future expanded AAC perhaps. The money would be there to help cover travel costs and the National Branding would more than make up for whatever might be lost regionally.

(12-17-2014 10:35 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  Yeah, don't go by 2010. Big East/AAC is now the new CUSA, and CUSA is lower.

Plus, the AAC isn't going to be playing a lot of P5 teams in bowls really soon. And if Cinci/Memphis leave, it'll basically be the MW and everyone-else-in-G5.

The "jump" to AAC would be beneficial for NIU, Toledo, or Marshall. Although a smaller 'jump' for the MAC as it's stable, and CUSA & AAC get picked away with AAC feeding off CUSA, and CUSA picking off Sun Belt & D1AA.

NIU by itself to jump to CUSA? No. To AAC? Yeah -- it's worth it, as long as there's no signs the AAC has any more fleeing teams & signs of instability or something -- or some weird contract with tons of conditionals.

Did you mean to say that? Four out of the AAC's 5 bowls this year are against P5 teams. The remaining bowl is against BYU. That's not a bad bowl outcome for a G5 conference.

(12-17-2014 10:47 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 10:35 PM)toddjnsn Wrote:  Yeah, don't go by 2010. Big East/AAC is now the new CUSA, and CUSA is lower.

Plus, the AAC isn't going to be playing a lot of P5 teams in bowls really soon. And if Cinci/Memphis leave, it'll basically be the MW and everyone-else-in-G5.

The "jump" to AAC would be beneficial for NIU, Toledo, or Marshall. Although a smaller 'jump' for the MAC as it's stable, and CUSA & AAC get picked away with AAC feeding off CUSA, and CUSA picking off Sun Belt & D1AA.

NIU by itself to jump to CUSA? No. To AAC? Yeah -- it's worth it, as long as there's no signs the AAC has any more fleeing teams & signs of instability or something -- or some weird contract with tons of conditionals.

Did you mean to say that? Four out of the AAC's 5 bowls this year are against P5 teams. The remaining bowl is against BYU. That's not a bad bowl outcome for a G5 conference.

I think you guys need to work on getting a set in stone tie in with the Armed Forces bowl and at work on getting in what ever new bowl pops with your #6-7 team. I see the SBC sponsoring another bowl soon.

After reading several of these posts, I believe C-USA is probably better off just staying a 13 members. NIU is far out from our current geography and none of the available programs within C-USA's current region add much. I like the way Rice, LA Tech, and UTEP are competing in the West. Southern Miss is improving and should get back to their winning ways soon. North Texas and UTSA had down years after very strong first seasons in C-USA. I believe both will soon be back challenging for the divisional title. Marshall, MT, WKU, and ODU all seem to be strong in the East. People seem to forget, C-USA had a great record against the other G5 conferences this season. If we can continue to win those match-ups, everything else will take care of itself.

Conference USA and MAC are basically pushes in terms of competitive value and exposure - however the MAC is much more practical for NIU in terms of travel.

AAC on the otherhand, would be a clear upgrade, even if they lost Cincy and Memphis to the B12 like rumored. I wouldn't be surprised if NIU were one of the top candidates to replace them.

(12-17-2014 06:44 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 06:11 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(12-16-2014 04:55 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  So would NIU accept an invite to the very spread out AAC, if offered?

If there was a need for the AAC to add 1-2 team (assuming UC and Memphis were to get an invite to the B12) then I think our AD/President/BOT would accept an invite to the AAC. I know that our last President/AD combo would have not been interested.

If Cincinnati plus one other school did leave the AAC the I would also not be surprised if our AD would pitch Toledo to be invited with us. It would help with some continuity for us and they are strong in football and basketball within the MAC.

I pitched this idea on the AAC board with the UC/Memphis rumor thread and most AAC fans seemed not a fan of it.

A lot of AAC fans want to keep going after Southern schools. I think NIU is probably the only candidate in the MAC that would be strongly considered.

Buffalo and Ohio... both were on the old Big East expansion lists along with NIU. Buffalo was a serious candidate before due to the original footprint.

(12-17-2014 11:02 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  After reading several of these posts, I believe C-USA is probably better off just staying a 13 members. NIU is far out from our current geography and none of the available programs within C-USA's current region add much. I like the way Rice, LA Tech, and UTEP are competing in the West. Southern Miss is improving and should get back to their winning ways soon. North Texas and UTSA had down years after very strong first seasons in C-USA. I believe both will soon be back challenging for the divisional title. Marshall, MT, WKU, and ODU all seem to be strong in the East. People seem to forget, C-USA had a great record against the other G5 conferences this season. If we can continue to win those match-ups, everything else will take care of itself.

I don't think people forgot. I think people did not care because terrible teams beating other terrible teams means nothing.

If your record vs other G5 this year mattered Marshall would have been in the access bowl.

(12-17-2014 11:08 PM)AntiG Wrote:  Conference USA and MAC are basically pushes in terms of competitive value and exposure - however the MAC is much more practical for NIU in terms of travel.

AAC on the otherhand, would be a clear upgrade, even if they lost Cincy and Memphis to the B12 like rumored. I wouldn't be surprised if NIU were one of the top candidates to replace them.

I think every G5 not in the MWC would be fighting each other to join.

Even if a doomsday scenario happened and the AAC was left with Navy, USF, UCF, ECU, Houston, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa. That is still a very attractive line up.

You throw in NIU, Buffalo, Ohio, and UTEP and it's still arguably the strongest G5 line up.

(12-17-2014 11:23 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(12-17-2014 11:08 PM)AntiG Wrote:  Conference USA and MAC are basically pushes in terms of competitive value and exposure - however the MAC is much more practical for NIU in terms of travel.

AAC on the otherhand, would be a clear upgrade, even if they lost Cincy and Memphis to the B12 like rumored. I wouldn't be surprised if NIU were one of the top candidates to replace them.

I think every G5 not in the MWC would be fighting each other to join.

Even if a doomsday scenario happened and the AAC was left with Navy, USF, UCF, ECU, Houston, SMU, Tulane, and Tulsa. That is still a very attractive line up.

You throw in NIU, Buffalo, Ohio, and UTEP and it's still arguably the strongest G5 line up.

That doomsday scenario you list shows Cincy, Memphis and Temple gone. If that happened I would imagine that Houston and SMU would be working to get into the MWC. The AAC, with no Texas teams, might be looking at Rice and one other in Texas. How attractive the AAC, in that condition, would look to Buffalo, NIU and Ohio, I'm not sure.

I can't imagine UConn or Temple supporting Northern Illinois...

I don't think NIU should attempt to join C-USA. NIU's focus should be on the American or if the Big XII eventually blows up (hooking up with Iowa State, Kansas State, etc...).

C-USA is a much different conference than the conference with Louisville, Houston, Memphis, and ECU.

Will C-USA's bowl contract remain as strong as it is?

The only plus I can think of is that NIU may be able to abandon many of the Tuesday night games, focus on building their fan base with Saturday games, and using C-USA as a potential stepping stone.

NIU is a big state school that has every opportunity to continue to grow. There is a lot of opportunity with the Huskies.