http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca.../81443108/

Unfortunately, that stated perception of C-USA (small competitive upper tier...larger "undeveloped"lower tier) IS the proverbial reality for our little band of brothers in the world of college football. There is SOME chance we'll see one or two of our lower tier conference mates make a move this year, but talk is cheap...we need action and results. With 14 at the table, we really need to have 8-10 teams consistently competing for a conference championship game, mostly beating our G5 cousins, winning OOC and occasionally taking out a bottom tier P5. Until this happens, we're not going to gain much respect from anyone. Even then, it will be tough.

So who can potentially compete this year? LaTech, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss, Western Kentucky? Each has a set of real problems to overcome, but each has potential to win the Conference Championship. But we really need at least three of these teams to show some strong movement (Rice, UTEP, Old Dominion, FIU and FAU). The jury is out on each. I do think that UTSA, North Texas and Charlotte are too far out to make much noise this year. Plus next year we'll have UAB back. We need them to ramp up quickly, as well, and I think they just might under Clark.

But I think we need a bench mark of at least 8 consistently competitive teams to have pundits care a little more about C-USA football. 10 would be better.

Not too much homer pov but I think the expectations of an improved UTEP to at least another bowl participant, is based on tangibles.

I also think that the year C-USA had in 2014 was much better and will be more the norm going forward. 2015 was, I believe, an unusually down year for the conference.

ODU, UTEP, Rice, FIU, FAU all look to be added to the already successful group of Marshall, USM, LT, MT, WKU so I'm looking for real, measurable improvement and lots more bowl teams.

When did UTSA hire Forrest Whitaker?

Hahaha he thinks Tyler Ferguson will start? Interesting.

I would be surprised if Mike White is not eventually the starter...

Not a well researched article, is it?

Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

(03-08-2016 06:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

3rd place sun belt team blew out the MAC champs in the most lopsided victory of all time the bowls.

(03-08-2016 07:28 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 06:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

3rd place sun belt team blew out the MAC champs in the most lopsided victory of all time the bowls.

Sorry, but you might post that on the MAC board if you are beating your Sun Belt chest about that win. As far as this board goes, Tech beat the crap out of your champion. So if your #3 team is better than the MAC champ, I think it is safe to infer that the CUSA #3 is better than your #1, your #3 and the MAC champ. Well, it makes as much sense as you coming to this board boasting about a game our conference wasn't even involved in.

(03-08-2016 07:42 PM)usmbacker Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 07:28 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 06:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

3rd place sun belt team blew out the MAC champs in the most lopsided victory of all time the bowls.

Sorry, but you might post that on the MAC board if you are beating your Sun Belt chest about that win. As far as this board goes, Tech beat the crap out of your champion. So if your #3 team is better than the MAC champ, I think it is safe to infer that the CUSA #3 is better than your #1, your #3 and the MAC champ. Well, it makes as much sense as you coming to this board boasting about a game our conference wasn't even involved in.

No, just making the point that you can't read too much into one game.

I'm sorry, but how many Sunbelt teams have ever finished a season ranked???? >drops mic<

(03-08-2016 07:28 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 06:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

3rd place sun belt team blew out the MAC champs in the most lopsided victory of all time the bowls.

And Charlotte beat one of your bowl teams in its first FBC game and then went 1-10.
Didn't that bowl team beat Georgia Southern?

(03-08-2016 09:59 PM)Tintin Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 07:28 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 06:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

3rd place sun belt team blew out the MAC champs in the most lopsided victory of all time the bowls.

And Charlotte beat one of your bowl teams in its first FBC game and then went 1-10.
Didn't that bowl team beat Georgia Southern?

Yes, again the point is you can't make a grand conclusion from one game as the original post did. The most reliable method is a composite ranking such as Massey. Ga Southern was only behind WKU in 2015.

(03-08-2016 09:59 PM)Tintin Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 07:28 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 06:58 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 01:28 PM)Dawgxas Wrote:  Good article, especially the line about the 3rd place CUSA team beating the Sunbelt Champs.
Would have like to see some East teams previewed

Wait? I thought I read about the SBC playing better than Cusa? What's wrong with this picture? Hmm, interesting.

3rd place sun belt team blew out the MAC champs in the most lopsided victory of all time the bowls.

And Charlotte beat one of your bowl teams in its first FBC game and then went 1-10.
Didn't that bowl team beat Georgia Southern?

No..but that was early in the season...and GS ALMOST beat ga tech and so and so almost beat blah blah blah.. Their almost wins make them better than CUSA... The sooner we realize this.. The better... Let's wave the white flag Marshall, WKU, MTSU, Charlotte, FIU, LaTech, USM... We are beaten... Bow before the mighty belt

(03-08-2016 08:26 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  I'm sorry, but how many Sunbelt teams have ever finished a season ranked???? >drops mic<

I don't think they have ever had a team ranked at any point in the season

I would have love to had played GSU last year. . WKU played very good against option teams over the past 4 years.

(03-08-2016 10:30 PM)winston70 Wrote:  

(03-08-2016 08:26 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  I'm sorry, but how many Sunbelt teams have ever finished a season ranked???? >drops mic<

I don't think they have ever had a team ranked at any point in the season

That would be correct. ULL, WKU, A State all recently had made pushes, but never could get over the hump.... CUSA gave WKU Impact to push us over the edge.

WKU would have beaten the brakes off of GSU, APP, stAte, or any other belt team.. To surmise anything else is pure idiocy..