(08-13-2016 01:28 AM)shere khan Wrote:  Midddle wont be in th AAC while Memphis is a member.

Then I guess they will never be a member brother.

(08-13-2016 09:38 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  MTSU is historically a well-run program overall, they have always had a challenge connecting with the potential fan base and making them fans. Their all-time best season attendance average is like 22,000.

Way wrong. 30,552 against Ga Tech in 2011.

Truth is, our fan base is just needing a jump start. In 2009 we went 10-3 and had a returning star QB the next year. Our fan base swelled for the 2010 season, only to have that QB run up gambling debt and throw games (allegedly) we went 2-10 that season and it burned many of the new fans. Its been an uphill battle since. Attendance is suffering throughout CFB though and is likely going to become an antiquated metric soon.

As we all say though, this year should be a breakout one. A first team QB and WR that both have 3 years left should prove to yield exponential gains.

We have the largest undergrad enrollment in the state. UTK has a larger student body if you throw in the grad students (which you should). With the TBR disbanding, MT will FINALLY be able to control much of our own academic future instead of pandering to the TBR. Memphis knows what I'm talking about here.

The future is bright for us, but that can be said for many schools.

FYI just for a factual purposes, here's a comparison between MT and Memphis. Their admission standards are almost identical, but make your own judgements. Some of the stuff online is inaccurate.

Memphis: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/
Middle Tenn: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/

I will just make two comments. From an all around sports perspective regardless of which league MT has been in we've generally speaking been the best in the conference typically with western ky being our main competitor. You know we do ok in football and basketball too especially having beaten memphis 4 our the last 7 times we've played.

As for the fan base issue, it's a concern for any other league. I would be concerned about that. The three biggest advantages that Memphis has over us is 1) changing the name from west tennessee college to what it is now (which MT supported and Memphis refused to support us changing ours. They reneged after telling us they would). And the second thing is pro sports and proximity to UT. Only 2.5 hours from UT has been harder for us to emerge from those shadows and then the Titans moving to Nashville has been a burden - no NFL in Memphis or within several hours means Memphis football is the only game in town. Hopefully, we can eventually overcome those issues through better competition and winning but it's a factor no doubt. I'm not knocking Memphis. Just hoping to correct the record here. Most of the Memphis fans as you have seen in this threat are reasonable. But Memphis has a utilized its legislative influence to its advantage in the state.

The third is the HBCU Tennessee State used a desegregation lawsuit that lasted from 1968 to 2008 to take a ton of resources away from us, so we have just now begun to emerge from that non-sense in the last decade. It affected Memphis too but not nearly as much as it did us. Every time we attempted to add professional degree programs TSU had the authority to take it from us under the lawsuit. Annually the lowest funded school in the state per student. Sorry for the historical reference, but now that the burden of that has been removed I think you will see us continue to flourish. Perhaps no university has done more with less.

Enjoyed the series with Memphis. Wish we could continue. Was very competitive. Flew in from DC for the MT/Memphis game a few years ago back when Paxton was a young buck and knew he would be a good one. Fun game.

FWIW, with the way the revenue tree shakes out with the way things are set up now, it seems to me the AAC would just stay pat and not add anyone. I don't see the logic or rationale in adding anyone else particularly with your TV contract up in just a couple of more years. No sense making a decision for TV just based on two or three years.

Not to worry, Memphis. The Big12 does not want you or MTSU or any other commuter school like Houston or Cincinnati.

(08-14-2016 06:50 PM)HellOfAHullabaloo Wrote:  Not to worry, Memphis. The Big12 does not want you or MTSU or any other commuter school like Houston or Cincinnati.

Didn't you post this already?

(08-14-2016 05:48 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  FYI just for a factual purposes, here's a comparison between MT and Memphis. Their admission standards are almost identical, but make your own judgements. Some of the stuff online is inaccurate.

Memphis: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/
Middle Tenn: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/

I will just make two comments. From an all around sports perspective regardless of which league MT has been in we've generally speaking been the best in the conference typically with western ky being our main competitor. You know we do ok in football and basketball too especially having beaten memphis 4 our the last 7 times we've played.

As for the fan base issue, it's a concern for any other league. I would be concerned about that. The three biggest advantages that Memphis has over us is 1) changing the name from west tennessee college to what it is now (which MT supported and Memphis refused to support us changing ours. They reneged after telling us they would). And the second thing is pro sports and proximity to UT. Only 2.5 hours from UT has been harder for us to emerge from those shadows and then the Titans moving to Nashville has been a burden - no NFL in Memphis or within several hours means Memphis football is the only game in town. Hopefully, we can eventually overcome those issues through better competition and winning but it's a factor no doubt. I'm not knocking Memphis. Just hoping to correct the record here. Most of the Memphis fans as you have seen in this threat are reasonable. But Memphis has a utilized its legislative influence to its advantage in the state.

The third is the HBCU Tennessee State used a desegregation lawsuit that lasted from 1968 to 2008 to take a ton of resources away from us, so we have just now begun to emerge from that non-sense in the last decade. It affected Memphis too but not nearly as much as it did us. Every time we attempted to add professional degree programs TSU had the authority to take it from us under the lawsuit. Annually the lowest funded school in the state per student. Sorry for the historical reference, but now that the burden of that has been removed I think you will see us continue to flourish. Perhaps no university has done more with less.

Enjoyed the series with Memphis. Wish we could continue. Was very competitive. Flew in from DC for the MT/Memphis game a few years ago back when Paxton was a young buck and knew he would be a good one. Fun game.

Biggest knock I've always had with MT is poor fan support. They don't travel well & aren't supported very well at home given their enrollment. Especially for an athletic program that had done pretty well with what resources it has.

(08-14-2016 06:50 PM)HellOfAHullabaloo Wrote:  Not to worry, Memphis. The Big12 does not want you or MTSU or any other commuter school like Houston or Cincinnati.

You tried this once before, sonny, and got shot down. Trying it out in a different spot to see if it gets traction? Mmm no.

(08-14-2016 05:48 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  FYI just for a factual purposes, here's a comparison between MT and Memphis. Their admission standards are almost identical, but make your own judgements. Some of the stuff online is inaccurate.

Memphis: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/
Middle Tenn: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/

I will just make two comments. From an all around sports perspective regardless of which league MT has been in we've generally speaking been the best in the conference typically with western ky being our main competitor. You know we do ok in football and basketball too especially having beaten memphis 4 our the last 7 times we've played.

As for the fan base issue, it's a concern for any other league. I would be concerned about that. The three biggest advantages that Memphis has over us is 1) changing the name from west tennessee college to what it is now (which MT supported and Memphis refused to support us changing ours. They reneged after telling us they would). And the second thing is pro sports and proximity to UT. Only 2.5 hours from UT has been harder for us to emerge from those shadows and then the Titans moving to Nashville has been a burden - no NFL in Memphis or within several hours means Memphis football is the only game in town. Hopefully, we can eventually overcome those issues through better competition and winning but it's a factor no doubt. I'm not knocking Memphis. Just hoping to correct the record here. Most of the Memphis fans as you have seen in this threat are reasonable. But Memphis has a utilized its legislative influence to its advantage in the state.

The third is the HBCU Tennessee State used a desegregation lawsuit that lasted from 1968 to 2008 to take a ton of resources away from us, so we have just now begun to emerge from that non-sense in the last decade. It affected Memphis too but not nearly as much as it did us. Every time we attempted to add professional degree programs TSU had the authority to take it from us under the lawsuit. Annually the lowest funded school in the state per student. Sorry for the historical reference, but now that the burden of that has been removed I think you will see us continue to flourish. Perhaps no university has done more with less.

Enjoyed the series with Memphis. Wish we could continue. Was very competitive. Flew in from DC for the MT/Memphis game a few years ago back when Paxton was a young buck and knew he would be a good one. Fun game.

One thing MTSU has going for it is that, like Memphis, they will finally be getting their own board in 2017.

(08-14-2016 11:16 PM)klg316 Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 05:48 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  FYI just for a factual purposes, here's a comparison between MT and Memphis. Their admission standards are almost identical, but make your own judgements. Some of the stuff online is inaccurate.

Memphis: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/
Middle Tenn: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/

I will just make two comments. From an all around sports perspective regardless of which league MT has been in we've generally speaking been the best in the conference typically with western ky being our main competitor. You know we do ok in football and basketball too especially having beaten memphis 4 our the last 7 times we've played.

As for the fan base issue, it's a concern for any other league. I would be concerned about that. The three biggest advantages that Memphis has over us is 1) changing the name from west tennessee college to what it is now (which MT supported and Memphis refused to support us changing ours. They reneged after telling us they would). And the second thing is pro sports and proximity to UT. Only 2.5 hours from UT has been harder for us to emerge from those shadows and then the Titans moving to Nashville has been a burden - no NFL in Memphis or within several hours means Memphis football is the only game in town. Hopefully, we can eventually overcome those issues through better competition and winning but it's a factor no doubt. I'm not knocking Memphis. Just hoping to correct the record here. Most of the Memphis fans as you have seen in this threat are reasonable. But Memphis has a utilized its legislative influence to its advantage in the state.

The third is the HBCU Tennessee State used a desegregation lawsuit that lasted from 1968 to 2008 to take a ton of resources away from us, so we have just now begun to emerge from that non-sense in the last decade. It affected Memphis too but not nearly as much as it did us. Every time we attempted to add professional degree programs TSU had the authority to take it from us under the lawsuit. Annually the lowest funded school in the state per student. Sorry for the historical reference, but now that the burden of that has been removed I think you will see us continue to flourish. Perhaps no university has done more with less.

Enjoyed the series with Memphis. Wish we could continue. Was very competitive. Flew in from DC for the MT/Memphis game a few years ago back when Paxton was a young buck and knew he would be a good one. Fun game.

One thing MTSU has going for it is that, like Memphis, they will finally be getting their own board in 2017.

....and that change alone has led to this discussion being the most civil and productive discussion regarding the two universities that serve their respective areas well.

(08-14-2016 11:16 PM)klg316 Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 05:48 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  FYI just for a factual purposes, here's a comparison between MT and Memphis. Their admission standards are almost identical, but make your own judgements. Some of the stuff online is inaccurate.

Memphis: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/
Middle Tenn: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/

I will just make two comments. From an all around sports perspective regardless of which league MT has been in we've generally speaking been the best in the conference typically with western ky being our main competitor. You know we do ok in football and basketball too especially having beaten memphis 4 our the last 7 times we've played.

As for the fan base issue, it's a concern for any other league. I would be concerned about that. The three biggest advantages that Memphis has over us is 1) changing the name from west tennessee college to what it is now (which MT supported and Memphis refused to support us changing ours. They reneged after telling us they would). And the second thing is pro sports and proximity to UT. Only 2.5 hours from UT has been harder for us to emerge from those shadows and then the Titans moving to Nashville has been a burden - no NFL in Memphis or within several hours means Memphis football is the only game in town. Hopefully, we can eventually overcome those issues through better competition and winning but it's a factor no doubt. I'm not knocking Memphis. Just hoping to correct the record here. Most of the Memphis fans as you have seen in this threat are reasonable. But Memphis has a utilized its legislative influence to its advantage in the state.

The third is the HBCU Tennessee State used a desegregation lawsuit that lasted from 1968 to 2008 to take a ton of resources away from us, so we have just now begun to emerge from that non-sense in the last decade. It affected Memphis too but not nearly as much as it did us. Every time we attempted to add professional degree programs TSU had the authority to take it from us under the lawsuit. Annually the lowest funded school in the state per student. Sorry for the historical reference, but now that the burden of that has been removed I think you will see us continue to flourish. Perhaps no university has done more with less.

Enjoyed the series with Memphis. Wish we could continue. Was very competitive. Flew in from DC for the MT/Memphis game a few years ago back when Paxton was a young buck and knew he would be a good one. Fun game.

One thing MTSU has going for it is that, like Memphis, they will finally be getting their own board in 2017.

I believe universally we all see it is as good, but I can't help but remain skeptical that somehow the state is still going to screw us somehow because of THEC. Do the folks over in Memphis see this as a major change or more of an incremental benefit?

(08-15-2016 07:00 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 11:16 PM)klg316 Wrote:  

(08-14-2016 05:48 PM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  FYI just for a factual purposes, here's a comparison between MT and Memphis. Their admission standards are almost identical, but make your own judgements. Some of the stuff online is inaccurate.

Memphis: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/
Middle Tenn: http://www.collegesimply.com/colleges/te...admission/

I will just make two comments. From an all around sports perspective regardless of which league MT has been in we've generally speaking been the best in the conference typically with western ky being our main competitor. You know we do ok in football and basketball too especially having beaten memphis 4 our the last 7 times we've played.

As for the fan base issue, it's a concern for any other league. I would be concerned about that. The three biggest advantages that Memphis has over us is 1) changing the name from west tennessee college to what it is now (which MT supported and Memphis refused to support us changing ours. They reneged after telling us they would). And the second thing is pro sports and proximity to UT. Only 2.5 hours from UT has been harder for us to emerge from those shadows and then the Titans moving to Nashville has been a burden - no NFL in Memphis or within several hours means Memphis football is the only game in town. Hopefully, we can eventually overcome those issues through better competition and winning but it's a factor no doubt. I'm not knocking Memphis. Just hoping to correct the record here. Most of the Memphis fans as you have seen in this threat are reasonable. But Memphis has a utilized its legislative influence to its advantage in the state.

The third is the HBCU Tennessee State used a desegregation lawsuit that lasted from 1968 to 2008 to take a ton of resources away from us, so we have just now begun to emerge from that non-sense in the last decade. It affected Memphis too but not nearly as much as it did us. Every time we attempted to add professional degree programs TSU had the authority to take it from us under the lawsuit. Annually the lowest funded school in the state per student. Sorry for the historical reference, but now that the burden of that has been removed I think you will see us continue to flourish. Perhaps no university has done more with less.

Enjoyed the series with Memphis. Wish we could continue. Was very competitive. Flew in from DC for the MT/Memphis game a few years ago back when Paxton was a young buck and knew he would be a good one. Fun game.

One thing MTSU has going for it is that, like Memphis, they will finally be getting their own board in 2017.

I believe universally we all see it is as good, but I can't help but remain skeptical that somehow the state is still going to screw us somehow because of THEC. Do the folks over in Memphis see this as a major change or more of an incremental benefit?

Yes THEC will control the money & UTK is still likely to get the lion's share. Having independent BOR's for Memphis & the other universities in the state will enable each university to establish its own priorities & progress based upon its own efforts & accomplishments. But at least in the case of Memphis, state funding is now at a all time low (in terms of percentage) & the university itself is generating the substantial majority of its own funding.

(08-14-2016 07:08 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Biggest knock I've always had with MT is poor fan support. They don't travel well & aren't supported very well at home given their enrollment. Especially for an athletic program that had done pretty well with what resources it has.

Believe me, if you saw half of what I posted on the MT forums, you would think we are long lost siblings. It is a constant complaint about our administration that I and many others make to the occasional annoyance of other Blue Raider fans. I do think that our success and expected high-quality football this year will lead to our biggest year ever in terms of fan support across all major sports at MT (FB, men & women BKB). I constantly rant about how little our marketing folks do and how ineffective it is (and folks have tons of ideas about why this is but the consensus is there isn't enough school pride and admin leaders are slacking), but clearly winning is the best medicine for a lackluster fan base, Memphis is a great example of that, football-wise... and we should win at least 9 this year if we live up to expectations. Coupled with our NCAA success people will at least know more about MT sports and it is not unreasonable to say we will have the most interest sports-wise we've ever had in this new academic year. Just my perspective on that one issue.

Love to see Memphis and MT is the same conference. Confident we would compete favorably. But, it's all about economics $$$$$. Unless B12 invites the Tigers, there is little, if any, incentive for Memphis to support an MT move to AAC, other than:
1. Lower travel costs,
2. Recruiting (Memphis rarely snags Nashville area players),
3. Exposure to a larger TV Market (#29), and
4. Renewal of a pretty darn healthy rivalry. While I don't recall ever playing in MBB (probably good for MT); we have played Memphis (and frequently won) in every other sport.
5. MT presently has Best overall Athletic Program in CUSA and nobody from MWC is coming over to the AAC.
Now that I've got all that off my chest, MT is just fine in CUSA provided you Tigers renew the Football Series C'mon Darnit! What have you got to lose, other than the game?

(08-15-2016 01:42 PM)MoodyBlueRaider Wrote:  Love to see Memphis and MT is the same conference. Confident we would compete favorably. But, it's all about economics $$$$$. Unless B12 invites the Tigers, there is little, if any, incentive for Memphis to support an MT move to AAC, other than:
1. Lower travel costs,
2. Recruiting (Memphis rarely snags Nashville area players),
3. Exposure to a larger TV Market (#29), and
4. Renewal of a pretty darn healthy rivalry. While I don't recall ever playing in MBB (probably good for MT); we have played Memphis (and frequently won) in every other sport.
5. MT presently has Best overall Athletic Program in CUSA and nobody from MWC is coming over to the AAC.
Now that I've got all that off my chest, MT is just fine in CUSA provided you Tigers renew the Football Series C'mon Darnit! What have you got to lose, other than the game?

It is always a good draw at both MT and Memphis and a competitive game. Lots of viewers. Some of my favorite games at JRF have been vs the Tigers. Also IIRC we played in BKB at the Bridgestone Arena a few years back.

(08-15-2016 01:42 PM)MoodyBlueRaider Wrote:  Love to see Memphis and MT is the same conference. Confident we would compete favorably. But, it's all about economics $$$$$. Unless B12 invites the Tigers, there is little, if any, incentive for Memphis to support an MT move to AAC, other than:
1. Lower travel costs,
2. Recruiting (Memphis rarely snags Nashville area players),
3. Exposure to a larger TV Market (#29), and
4. Renewal of a pretty darn healthy rivalry. While I don't recall ever playing in MBB (probably good for MT); we have played Memphis (and frequently won) in every other sport.
5. MT presently has Best overall Athletic Program in CUSA and nobody from MWC is coming over to the AAC.
Now that I've got all that off my chest, MT is just fine in CUSA provided you Tigers renew the Football Series C'mon Darnit! What have you got to lose, other than the game?

Just "snagged" one over Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and LSU
Prospect: Obinna Eze
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
High school: Davidson Academy
Class: 2017
Position: Offensive tackle
Size: 6-foot-7, 270 pounds
Ranking on Scout: No. 24 OT in the country | No. 7 prospect in Tenn. | No 210 prospect in the country
Committed to: Memphis

The SW Memphis Blue Blazers or whatever are a fine add to the AAC....a fine add

(08-15-2016 01:42 PM)MoodyBlueRaider Wrote:  Love to see Memphis and MT is the same conference. Confident we would compete favorably. But, it's all about economics $$$$$. Unless B12 invites the Tigers, there is little, if any, incentive for Memphis to support an MT move to AAC, other than:
1. Lower travel costs,
2. Recruiting (Memphis rarely snags Nashville area players),
3. Exposure to a larger TV Market (#29), and
4. Renewal of a pretty darn healthy rivalry. While I don't recall ever playing in MBB (probably good for MT); we have played Memphis (and frequently won) in every other sport.
5. MT presently has Best overall Athletic Program in CUSA and nobody from MWC is coming over to the AAC.
Now that I've got all that off my chest, MT is just fine in CUSA provided you Tigers renew the Football Series C'mon Darnit! What have you got to lose, other than the game?

I agree that we don't normally fare overly well in recruiting middle Tenneessee kids, but it's ironic that would be mentioned on a day that we beat every SEC program except the Razorbacks and Gators for a Nashville Acadamy kid. The recruitment was hard work rewarded; the timing was a unique stroke of luck.

Since we no longer share the BOR and it's now highly unlikely we'll ever share a conference; we should be able to peacefully coexist in our dislike for orange and anything SEC.......good luck to to Blue Raiders unless we meet.

(08-15-2016 03:33 PM)oldtiger Wrote:  

(08-15-2016 01:42 PM)MoodyBlueRaider Wrote:  Love to see Memphis and MT is the same conference. Confident we would compete favorably. But, it's all about economics $$$$$. Unless B12 invites the Tigers, there is little, if any, incentive for Memphis to support an MT move to AAC, other than:
1. Lower travel costs,
2. Recruiting (Memphis rarely snags Nashville area players),
3. Exposure to a larger TV Market (#29), and
4. Renewal of a pretty darn healthy rivalry. While I don't recall ever playing in MBB (probably good for MT); we have played Memphis (and frequently won) in every other sport.
5. MT presently has Best overall Athletic Program in CUSA and nobody from MWC is coming over to the AAC.
Now that I've got all that off my chest, MT is just fine in CUSA provided you Tigers renew the Football Series C'mon Darnit! What have you got to lose, other than the game?

I agree that we don't normally fare overly well in recruiting middle Tenneessee kids, but it's ironic that would be mentioned on a day that we beat every SEC program except the Razorbacks and Gators for a Nashville Acadamy kid. The recruitment was hard work rewarded; the timing was a unique stroke of luck.

Since we no longer share the BOR and it's now highly unlikely we'll ever share a conference; we should be able to peacefully coexist in our dislike for orange and anything SEC.......good luck to to Blue Raiders unless we meet.

And, to you Sir. Excellent pick up indeed. (Sung to the Tune "Happy Trails To You") Not sure whether Roy Rogers and Dale Evans would have been Tigers or Raiders Fans; but the song seems appropo.

MTSU and WKU have a good rivalry building.