Is there any interest in UMASS? I wonder how they would feel about moving basketball from the Atlantic 10 to conference USA?

(05-25-2015 10:39 PM)Bleeds_Purple Wrote:  Is there any interest in UMASS? I wonder how they would feel about moving basketball from the Atlantic 10 to conference USA?

IMO it really wouldn't be worth it considering the added travel. In mbb they made the NCAA's last season for the first time since 1998. As for having an outpost in Boston, they would bring some visibility in a large market, but pro sports really rules the roost in the northeast. Great school, in a great area, but not a good fit in CUSA.

Personally I'd like an Alabama school with no ties to the UA system. USA would fit that bill. I'd like to see CUSA help them become a major thorn in UAT's side. Of course I'd rather see us do that for UAB, but the OP specified if UAB is expelled.

I think the BOT can expect a jab on every CUSA televised event from now till pretty much forever either way the vote goes. Sonsabitches.

I hope you hold at 13, because I believe UAB football will be back in the future. Even if it doesn't happen in the time frame that C-USA has demanded of us.

No fair.

It was my turn to start a UAB thread. Oh well, I guess there is always next week.

I think we definitely add 1 member, and there is a good chance we add 3 members to get to 16.

(05-25-2015 09:20 PM)Saint Greg Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 09:08 PM)SApuro Wrote:  14 seems to be a number the conference presidents want to be at...90% we add a 14th very quickly.

TXST and USA are both solid options.

A couple things to keep in mind...The SBC just increased their exit fee to 2.5mil on less than 15months notice, 2mil otherwise...and I'm pretty sure Tx State hasn't commited to paying FCOA as CUSA has. I don't know about USA.

And I believe that NMSU being a football only member, will get a lesser amount if not a free pass to have them go to CUSA freeing the Sunbelt of them. They are only on contract and may not be held to the exit fee.

UMass will replace Idaho as a football only member and the SB is still at 10 fb teams.

(05-25-2015 09:20 PM)Saint Greg Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 09:08 PM)SApuro Wrote:  14 seems to be a number the conference presidents want to be at...90% we add a 14th very quickly.

TXST and USA are both solid options.

A couple things to keep in mind...The SBC just increased their exit fee to 2.5mil on less than 15months notice, 2mil otherwise...and I'm pretty sure Tx State hasn't commited to paying FCOA as CUSA has. I don't know about USA.

USA has committed to FCOA.

I think Arkansas St would be the ideal choice for the west. If a team is willing to be on Island, Northern Ill. would be my top choice. Chicago Market would be great for CUSA.

What I would love to see happen if UAB decisions goes bad. Probably won't happen as I think CUSA stays at 13 for 2-3 years/

CUSA - Take Northern Illionois
MAC - Take NDSU (Football Only)
Sun Belt - Bring in NMSU full Time, JMU/Liberty and Missouri St. Idaho goes Indy.

(05-25-2015 08:58 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  You guys are answering what YOUR preference is.

The OP asked what actual chance there is.

You have not been in Conference USA long enough if you think there's any chance that C-USA won't add a 14th team after kicking UAB out.

I think you haven't been paying attention to conference realignment long enough if you say "No chance" or "Guaranteed." If you've been following CR, you've been wrong about something/been surprised by something.

(05-25-2015 10:20 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  Haven't this been discussed in 30 different threads? Why start a new one?

I don't think there's been a specific "CUSA 13 vs 14" thread, although it has been discussed extensively (exhaustively) in other threads.

Isn't it equally likely the league will drop to 12 members? If UAB was in such a precarious financial position and lacking in administrative support, what's to say that other C-USA universities aren't in the same boat? For instance.... what about Southern Miss?

They have a small athletic budget, among the lowest or possibly the lowest in C-USA:
http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Many are suspecting that Southern Miss will never be able to field a P5-competitive team again:
http://www.blackandgoldreview.com/2014/0...y-football

And there is outcry against the athletic department's lack of budget cuts in a time of cutbacks at all levels at the university:
http://usmfreepress.org/2013/04/15/athle...kes-a-hit/

Finally, each member's share of the CFB Playoff money will be greater in the C-USA if they must split revenues 12 ways instead of 13 ways. C-USA has a financial incentive to remove a member. When suddenly Southern Miss is the odd team out, who would vote to keep them in the league?

It seems like a storm is brewing against Southern Miss. I know this is a bit hyperbolic, but I think there could be pressure to move C-USA down to 12 teams, and Southern Miss looks like the greatest possibility to be expelled.

(05-26-2015 10:56 AM)Eichorst Wrote:  Isn't it equally likely the league will drop to 12 members? If UAB was in such a precarious financial position and lacking in administrative support, what's to say that other C-USA universities aren't in the same boat? For instance.... what about Southern Miss?

They have a small athletic budget, among the lowest or possibly the lowest in C-USA:
http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

Many are suspecting that Southern Miss will never be able to field a P5-competitive team again:
http://www.blackandgoldreview.com/2014/0...y-football

And there is outcry against the athletic department's lack of budget cuts in a time of cutbacks at all levels at the university:
http://usmfreepress.org/2013/04/15/athle...kes-a-hit/

Finally, each member's share of the CFB Playoff money will be greater in the C-USA if they must split revenues 12 ways instead of 13 ways. C-USA has a financial incentive to remove a member. When suddenly Southern Miss is the odd team out, who would vote to keep them in the league?

It seems like a storm is brewing against Southern Miss. I know this is a bit hyperbolic, but I think there could be pressure to move C-USA down to 12 teams, and Southern Miss looks like the greatest possibility to be expelled.

Lots of schools have ups and downs. Southern Miss have numerous CUSA titles. They are the only charter member who has been a continuous member since 1996 (not counting UAB who didn't play football at first). The idea that USM would be expelled is beyond ridiculous.

(05-26-2015 09:45 AM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(05-25-2015 10:20 PM)BamaScorpio69 Wrote:  Haven't this been discussed in 30 different threads? Why start a new one?

I don't think there's been a specific "CUSA 13 vs 14" thread, although it has been discussed extensively (exhaustively) in other threads.

When you have threads like these where the overlap between them is over 90%, the question is whether there should be a truckload of threads with each saying pretty much the same thing, or whether there should just be one merged "UConn Troll Thread", one merged "Vultures Circling Over UAB Thread", etc., etc.

(05-26-2015 11:28 AM)bullet Wrote:  Lots of schools have ups and downs. Southern Miss have numerous CUSA titles. They are the only charter member who has been a continuous member since 1996 (not counting UAB who didn't play football at first). The idea that USM would be expelled is beyond ridiculous.

Lots of folks on this board speak in absolutes. Just page through the UAB threads and you'll find plenty of instances of people saying C-USA kicking out UAB is "beyond ridiculous", but that appears to be what's happening on June 1st.

My point is simply that C-USA might prefer 12 teams instead of 14, and they might wait and see if anyone else considers dropping football before making any moves.

(05-25-2015 09:14 PM)ODU AGGIE Wrote:  The odds appear to be high that C-USA will stand pat for the time being. When ODU AD Wood Selig was asked about this at an ODU Coach's Caravan meeting, he replied that there is not a lot of interest in looking for a replacement at this time. He was pretty clear that the conference was in no hurry to bring in a replacement team if UAB fails to reinstate football.

I think that statement may have been more a reflection on the lack of support for ODU's preferred candidate.

(05-26-2015 08:36 AM)msm96wolf Wrote:  I think Arkansas St would be the ideal choice for the west. If a team is willing to be on Island, Northern Ill. would be my top choice. Chicago Market would be great for CUSA.

What I would love to see happen if UAB decisions goes bad. Probably won't happen as I think CUSA stays at 13 for 2-3 years/

CUSA - Take Northern Illionois
MAC - Take NDSU (Football Only)
Sun Belt - Bring in NMSU full Time, JMU/Liberty and Missouri St. Idaho goes Indy.

NIU isnt making a lateral/downward move to CUSA and adding travel costs... no

I'd say C-USA will be at 14 for the 2016-17 season; an odd number of teams is a pain in multiple sports, not just football.

Honestly if UAB is shown the door, the SBC might be willing to part with NMSU. It's just a question of how the rest of C-USA feels about that. The SBC can then drop down to nine full members and give Idaho the boot as well.

(05-26-2015 10:56 AM)Eichorst Wrote:  Isn't it equally likely the league will drop to 12 members? If UAB was in such a precarious financial position and lacking in administrative support, what's to say that other C-USA universities aren't in the same boat?

They aren't governed by Boards of Trustees who are more-or-less hostile to them as separate institutions.

(05-26-2015 12:37 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 10:56 AM)Eichorst Wrote:  Isn't it equally likely the league will drop to 12 members? If UAB was in such a precarious financial position and lacking in administrative support, what's to say that other C-USA universities aren't in the same boat?

They aren't governed by Boards of Trustees who are more-or-less hostile to them as separate institutions.

I think they should stand pat at 13. But I am sure they will add one team, probably Georgia State or USA - if I had to guess.

BB is the only one who wants to go to 16, mainly for his own job security.

(05-26-2015 11:33 AM)Eichorst Wrote:  

(05-26-2015 11:28 AM)bullet Wrote:  Lots of schools have ups and downs. Southern Miss have numerous CUSA titles. They are the only charter member who has been a continuous member since 1996 (not counting UAB who didn't play football at first). The idea that USM would be expelled is beyond ridiculous.

Lots of folks on this board speak in absolutes. Just page through the UAB threads and you'll find plenty of instances of people saying C-USA kicking out UAB is "beyond ridiculous", but that appears to be what's happening on June 1st.

My point is simply that C-USA might prefer 12 teams instead of 14, and they might wait and see if anyone else considers dropping football before making any moves.

I can't help it if some people don't use common sense.