Birmingham politicians can't beat the BOT.

Somebody get Johnathan Austin on the phone!!!!

(05-13-2015 09:28 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Somebody get Johnathan Austin on the phone!!!!

Maybe if he writes Watts a sternly worded letter.

(05-13-2015 08:24 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  GS went through the same thing as App. Our former president and AD were dead against going FBS and we also hired a consulting firm to study it. Not surprisingly the conclusion was that it was not feasible for Ga. Southern. We get a new president (who is a huge football fan) and a new AD and in a matter of a couple years we enlarge Paulson Stadium, build a really nice football operation building at the stadium and boom we are in FBS.

Make no mistake -- the leadership of a school and specifically the president and AD have a huge influence.

Yep, if I remember correctly, Carr did Georgia Southerns's feasibility study at the request of the former president and AD who were adamantly opposed to a move to FBS. The study came about because of the strong support of GS fans, alumni and students. I remember questioning the former Ohio State AD at a public forum. Carr jad our P5 road guarantees at $250,000 and he said it was all we could get. I thought then the study was a complete farce.

I think UAB will be leaving CUSA June on 1. On, or around June 8 we'll learn who, if anyone, will replace them in CUSA. The only information I have on the matter is from message boards so that means that most of it is probably inaccurate, BUT, it does appear that USA and ULL are the two frontrunners for the spot right now. If CUSA makes a move, I do think it'll be one of those two. If one of those two leaves the SBC, would the SBC then add a replacement? Or maybe two? I could see you guys staying at ten. Ten seems to work ok for the Big 12.

(05-14-2015 05:44 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  I think UAB will be leaving CUSA June on 1. On, or around June 8 we'll learn who, if anyone, will replace them in CUSA. The only information I have on the matter is from message boards so that means that most of it is probably inaccurate, BUT, it does appear that USA and ULL are the two frontrunners for the spot right now. If CUSA makes a move, I do think it'll be one of those two. If one of those two leaves the SBC, would the SBC then add a replacement? Or maybe two? I could see you guys staying at ten. Ten seems to work ok for the Big 12.

. . . at least until playoff selection time . . .

(05-14-2015 05:44 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  I think UAB will be leaving CUSA June on 1. On, or around June 8 we'll learn who, if anyone, will replace them in CUSA. The only information I have on the matter is from message boards so that means that most of it is probably inaccurate, BUT, it does appear that USA and ULL are the two frontrunners for the spot right now. If CUSA makes a move, I do think it'll be one of those two. If one of those two leaves the SBC, would the SBC then add a replacement? Or maybe two? I could see you guys staying at ten. Ten seems to work ok for the Big 12.

IF we lose a team, I'd be far more disappointed if it is ULL, but I doubt it will be. Strictly speaking from my AppState vantage point, USA does not move the needle for me at all. USA keeps CUSA in AL, and USA seems to want to go, but I personally think the potential loss of the school has little impact on the SBC or CUSA to be honest.

I think it gives the SBC a chance to correct some geography imbalances I'm thinking getting NMSU as a full member and add two east coast schools likely some combination of JMU, EKU, UTC, Liberty, UMASS etc. I think we would be a better conference long term with any of those choices.

I would hope we wouldn't go. The only two schools I have interest in in CUSA is USM and Marshall. If CUSA does add, this is the time for SBC to stand strong and say no, we are better as a group then you are as a group. And then turn around and make a big push to add USM. It can happen if leaders are willing to lead.

(05-14-2015 07:22 AM)Usajags Wrote:  I would hope we wouldn't go. The only two schools I have interest in in CUSA is USM and Marshall. If CUSA does add, this is the time for SBC to stand strong and say no, we are better as a group then you are as a group. And then turn around and make a big push to add USM. It can happen if leaders are willing to lead.

Curious as to what you are hearing at USA. I'm hearing you guys are gone if invited. True?

well, there is no guarantee CUSA will do anything, atleast in the near future, I could see, because of the payouts given by the P5 schools, CUSA doing nothing for a couple of years, the smart thing would be to wait, see how everything plays out, and in the mean time, give a bigger share of the pie to the remaining schools, you could also use the extra time to evaluate schools and get an idea if they could have a positive effect on the conference. Of course, we are talking about the leadership of CUSA, not exactly "the best and the brightest", so I guess anything is possible.

(05-14-2015 07:22 AM)Usajags Wrote:  I would hope we wouldn't go. The only two schools I have interest in in CUSA is USM and Marshall. If CUSA does add, this is the time for SBC to stand strong and say no, we are better as a group then you are as a group. And then turn around and make a big push to add USM. It can happen if leaders are willing to lead.

They must start their drinkin' early in Bama . . . .

1. If offered, you'll go.

2. No SBC school is turning down a CUSA invite . . . The first time you see that happen will be the first time.

3. USM ain't comin' to The Belt.

4. The Easter Bunny ain't real. . . .

5. The jury's out on Santa . . . .

(05-14-2015 07:29 AM)moehler Wrote:  well, there is no guarantee CUSA will do anything, atleast in the near future, I could see, because of the payouts given by the P5 schools, CUSA doing nothing for a couple of years, the smart thing would be to wait, see how everything plays out, and in the mean time, give a bigger share of the pie to the remaining schools, you could also use the extra time to evaluate schools and get an idea if they could have a positive effect on the conference. Of course, we are talking about the leadership of CUSA, not exactly "the best and the brightest", so I guess anything is possible.

I'm hearing USA is pushing hard to get in to CUSA for some reason. I think UAB is out of CUSA with or without reinstating football, and I give it a 30% chance UAB changes course in any event. So my thought is if USA is pushing hard, and UAB is out, it just makes sense to shut the door on UAB completely by inviting USA to replace them.

Meanwhile it opens a door for the SBC to correct some serious issues and end the purgatory membership status of the 11 team football scheduling imbalance and make two travel friendly divisions going forward.

USA "pushing hard" is a strong term. I'd say curiously exploring membership is closer to what's happening.

I am purely going off my wants and desires, I know nothing of what the school wants. They have yet to let me in those meetings. I just know, like everyone else, CUSA of today is not the CUSA a of yesterday. The schools I woukd have wanted to be with, Tulane, UAb, ECU, Memphis are all in AAC now.

If we were to go, we lose ULL, GaSt, AppSt, Troy, Texas St, all we gain is USM and Marshall. I don't want F_U, UNCC football or UNT. They just don't interest me. Why would I want in a league that plays in empty stadiums 75% of the time???

If South were to go, I could see Jax St getting that look from SBC, no reason not to and they bring a good fan base for football.

(05-14-2015 07:45 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  USA "pushing hard" is a strong term. I'd say curiously exploring membership is closer to what's happening.

I'm just saying that's not what I'm hearing. I'm hearing they are all over it.

(05-14-2015 07:47 AM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 07:45 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  USA "pushing hard" is a strong term. I'd say curiously exploring membership is closer to what's happening.

I'm just saying that's not what I'm hearing. I'm hearing they are all over it.

Where do you get your info???

(05-14-2015 07:48 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 07:47 AM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  

(05-14-2015 07:45 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  USA "pushing hard" is a strong term. I'd say curiously exploring membership is closer to what's happening.

I'm just saying that's not what I'm hearing. I'm hearing they are all over it.

Where do you get your info???

From AppState admin.

Good luck UAB. It's a long shot but happy to see the effort being made.

Yes USA is a serious candidate to replace UAB, if needed. USA and JMU are the most serious CUSA candidates.

I think the App State fan underestimates the impact of losing a program like USA. But with only one year in the Sun Belt I can understand him not knowing our winning history in baseball, basketball, and now softball. Our football program has been built the right way and was the fastest ever program to reach a bowl (being bowl eligible in both FBS seasons). You would still have Troy in Alabama, but Alabama is important for recruiting, and losing USA could hurt there. Our facilities are top notch for a G5 program. We are a high-research national university with a huge endowment, and any replacement might be a regional non-research university. So I think the effect of losing USA is understated simply because it doesn't move his needle.

I'm happy staying in the Sun Belt. I really think we have a chance to grow with the current membership. But let's not be crazy; if USA (or anyone else) is invited then we(they) will take the invite.

again, whats the freckin hurry by CUSA to add a member? They are also in the middle of tv contract talks, why would you add a team, when there is a good chance your tv contract will be less profitable than the last one? Common sense says you wait, see how the new tv contract plays out, if there are any changes on the horizon being proposed from the P5 schools, and take your time and fully evaluate a potential member. But if CUSA does move quick and take USA, in the long term its not going to hurt the SBC too much, lets be honest, we aren't talking Alabama here, USA have a nice athletic program, but the aren't exactly setting the world on fire, I think the conference will be fine.