20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
Instead of lamenting on the change in composition of the conference due to realignment, I really think that the history of CUSA, as a relevant conference, should be celebrated during our telecasts this year.
Seriously, this conference has 20 years in now, and a boatload of highlights and accomplishments that should be applauded. It's our history and we shouldn't run from it. No matter who is or isn't in our conference now, our record books are what they are. They are full of great individuals and team performances.
IMO, it wouldn't hurt to start a campaign THIS YEAR centered around having 20 YEARS in as a conference. A logo with the 20 in it should be designed and we should use our library of conference highlights to construct highlight packages that show the relevance CUSA has had on the collegiate sports landscape in the last 20 years.
Sure, many of the highlights will show teams that are no longer in the conference anymore, but so did the Big East's video packages last year that were drawing on old traditions. The important thing is that the stability of the brand over the years (as well as the great performances from the past) gives our present conference the support it needs for better things ahead.
They are our record books. Let's open them up. I'd love to see flashbacks of Southern Miss vs TCU, Southern Miss vs Houston, Some of the great UAB footage under Mike Anderson, Clips of Roddy White, D Wade and Marquette, Memphis missing those free throws in the CUSA Championship vs Louisville, Bob Huggins and those Cinci teams, Memphis choking (again) in the National Championship game, etc.
I think our story should be seen as a continuation of all of that. I know it is for UAB, Southern Miss, Charlotte, Rice, UTEP, etc. And, the conference should not be viewed as a new league.
The focus should be on respecting the past - in the context of better days ahead. 20 Years as a new conference. It's a milestone worth noting.
(This post was last modified: 05-20-2015 06:27 AM by BoKnows.)
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
I spend a lot of time hating on current C-USA--just a reflection of the frustration USM fans feel for not "moving up."
That said, even I could enjoy this post.
Great clip, as well. Almond's grandfather had died a day or two before that game.
I would also add this game in there--probably one of my favorites as a USM fan. Not just a great ending but a hell of a game between two good teams.
I would also add another 1999 game in there with ECU beating Miami in Raleigh after Greenville was smashed by a hurricane.
And as much as I hated the result, the 1996 USM-Houston de-facto championship game was an absolutely bonkers way of ending the inaugural season. I believe this was our first ever overtime game. Antowain Smith made us pay for overlooking him. I was 10. I cried. My reaction to losses hasn't really matured. USM-Houston 1996 Story
(This post was last modified: 05-20-2015 09:28 AM by eaglenjxn.)
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
ALL the sports teams should wear a special CUSA patch commemorating 20 years and maybe some kind of special logo to put on the basketball, football, baseball, etc. courts/fields. Make it happen Britton!
(This post was last modified: 05-20-2015 10:07 AM by RonBurgundy.)
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 10:06 AM)RonBurgundy Wrote: ALL the sports teams should wear a special CUSA patch commemorating 20 years and maybe some kind of special logo to put on the basketball, football, baseball, etc. courts/fields. Make it happen Britton!
I concur. Starting a new conference was incredibly tough in the era that CUSA began (the start of the BCS era). So, our teams always carried that chip of being a new brand.
In light of the realignment waves of the recent past, hitting the 20 Year mark is worth recognizing/celebrating. CUSA has accomplished things in that time that deserve to be reflected on. It would set a good tone with our membership, imo.
Personally, I thought the win over Iowa State this past year is one of those moments that bodes well for the future of this conference. Same with ODUs run in the NIT.
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
Name the great players that have played in CUSA...
Here are a few to get us started...
Football...
Deangelo Williams
Roddy White
Chris Johnson
Adalius Thomas
Michael Boley
Patrick Surtain
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 01:54 PM)Eagleholic Wrote: Name the great players that have played in CUSA...
Here are a few to get us started...
Football...
Deangelo Williams
Roddy White
Chris Johnson
Adalius Thomas
Michael Boley
Patrick Surtain
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw
T.Y. Hilton
Emmanuel Sanders
Brandon Marshall
Blake Bortles
Case Keenum
Kevin Kolb
Dwyane Wade
Kenyon Martin
Derrick Rose
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 01:54 PM)Eagleholic Wrote: Name the great players that have played in CUSA...
Here are a few to get us started...
Football...
Deangelo Williams
Roddy White
Chris Johnson
Adalius Thomas
Michael Boley
Patrick Surtain
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw
David Grarrad
Dwayne Harris
Justin Hardy
Case Keenum
Joe Webb
Austin Davis
David Ragone
Stefan LeFors
CJ Wilson
Linval Joseph
Ricky Stokes
Jeff Kerr
Leonard Henry
DeVone Claybrooks
Terrance Cooper
Rode Coleman
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 06:06 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote: One of the funniest games I've ever watched, back and forth. It had everything, Kick off return for a TD, Pick 6, OT INT for the win.
Its really sad but the glory days of cusa are gone forever. It is nothing more than a Sunbelt bunch on steroids.
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 02:02 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote: Michael Birdsong and every player on Marshall's roster even some who have not yet played a down of football in CUSA...
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 06:50 PM)eager eagle Wrote:
(05-20-2015 06:06 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote: One of the funniest games I've ever watched, back and forth. It had everything, Kick off return for a TD, Pick 6, OT INT for the win.
Its really sad but the glory days of cusa are gone forever. It is nothing more than a Sunbelt bunch on steroids.
I think this conference will surprise. If UAB football returns with Bill Clark, I think there is potential there for a top tier team. That would help the conference immensely. I'm also on the ODU bandwagon like a lot of people. They DO have potential for an ECU-type program (its not just talk).
There's 2 programs right there that haven't played fbs football in the belt.
(This post was last modified: 05-20-2015 08:10 PM by BoKnows.)
RE: 20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
(05-20-2015 05:46 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote:
(05-20-2015 01:54 PM)Eagleholic Wrote: Name the great players that have played in CUSA...
Here are a few to get us started...
Football...
Deangelo Williams
Roddy White
Chris Johnson
Adalius Thomas
Michael Boley
Patrick Surtain
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw
David Grarrad
Dwayne Harris
Justin Hardy
Case Keenum
Joe Webb
Austin Davis
David Ragone
Stefan LeFors
CJ Wilson
Linval Joseph
Ricky Stokes
Jeff Kerr
Leonard Henry
DeVone Claybrooks
Terrance Cooper
Rode Coleman
Can't believe I forgot him, the highest paid Full back in NFL history,
Oops meant Keith Stokes WR and Kick Returner at ECU, lead nation in KR yardage in 1999. He was maybe 5'7, but could give CJ2k a run for money on speed. He scored the winning TD against Miami in 99.
(This post was last modified: 05-20-2015 10:41 PM by ecumbh1999.)
Oops meant Keith Stokes WR and Kick Returner at ECU, lead nation in KR yardage in 1999. He was maybe 5'7, but could give CJ2k a run for money on speed. He scored the winning TD against Miami in 99.
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20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year
20 Years of CUSA: The history should be celebrated this year 
