App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...

When you all first joined the conference, understandably, your message board warriors wished hatred upon each other and even rooted for each other to lose OOC games.

Now, at least on this BBS, it seems you've all realized the importance of ALL OOC wins for our schools and the Belt benefit in an "all for one, one for all", "team win" here in FBS/"big boy football" SBC land.

Does the majority of your non-BBS base understand and embrace the importance of holding your noses and rooting for your hated rival (each other) to win that OOC game yet or do you find yourselves having to explain this to your fellow fans?

Now TrueBlueDrew, you know I didn't say TWICE as many of you were there. Why would you misrepresent me like that when quoting me on your signature?
By the way, this just reinforces why the conference feels the way they do about your fan base. I should have expected no less.

(08-22-2017 04:10 PM)ChooChoo Wrote:  Now TrueBlueDrew, you know I didn't say TWICE as many of you were there. Why would you misrepresent me like that when quoting me on your signature?
By the way, this just reinforces why the conference feels the way they do about your fan base. I should have expected no less.

Don't be salty Choo, just putting what we all knew you wanted to say

(08-22-2017 04:10 PM)airtroop Wrote:  App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...

When you all first joined the conference, understandably, your message board warriors wished hatred upon each other and even rooted for each other to lose OOC games.

Now, at least on this BBS, it seems you've all realized the importance of ALL OOC wins for our schools and the Belt benefit in an "all for one, one for all", "team win" here in FBS/"big boy football" SBC land.

Does the majority of your non-BBS base understand and embrace the importance of holding your noses and rooting for your hated rival (each other) to win that OOC game yet or do you find yourselves having to explain this to your fellow fans?

I never really noticed very much of that.

Our fans are very divided over whether it's good for App State to beat a team like Miami or Georgia, but most would pull for them in bowl games or against G5s.

If anything I think there was some kind of mutual support as the two guys who are told their FCS championships and success don't mean anything.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I won't go through your response point by point, really no need as your replies are a reflection of old, stale, tired, and antiquated ideas. . . . But hang in there and keep pitching . .

Yeah, it's best you not reply.. Because the option would be you would just show how wrong you are even more.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I will agree that "casual college FB fans" also don't give a rats azzzz about CUSA. But, I'll also hang this onto that statement . . . Casual college football fan in TEXAS does give a rats azzzz about playing other TX football teams. They care about having an in-state rival, preferably one in conference.

Which is precisely why I said we need another football team in Texas here. Not four.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  And if you seriously think that our exposure is significantly better playing in The Belt than it would be in CUSA, well you're just flat out delusional. . . .

While they got bent over in their recent TV renegotiation, CUSA still has a slightly better TV deal than the Belt does . .. During the FB season, I can scroll through my sports package and come across 6 to 8 UTSA games broadcast on TV, not some glitchy espn 3 feed. That coupled with the in-state rivals the move would provide still makes it a no brainer for me . . . .

2 things:

1. I never said it was significantly better, I said it was better here.

2. The competition on the field is better, the TV contracts are similar except the Sun Belt will be renegotiating in the next few years, while CUSA is locked into their own. CUSA is on the decline, while Sun Belt is on the rise. The problem here is that you are only looking short term. We are bad now. We won't be bad forever. If Withers is what I believe him to be, we'll be competing soon. Not this season, but soon. That will help more than anything, but being able to show our brand across the south will have us reaping the benefits.

(08-22-2017 05:45 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I won't go through your response point by point, really no need as your replies are a reflection of old, stale, tired, and antiquated ideas. . . . But hang in there and keep pitching . .

Yeah, it's best you not reply.. Because the option would be you would just show how wrong you are even more.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I will agree that "casual college FB fans" also don't give a rats azzzz about CUSA. But, I'll also hang this onto that statement . . . Casual college football fan in TEXAS does give a rats azzzz about playing other TX football teams. They care about having an in-state rival, preferably one in conference.

Which is precisely why I said we need another football team in Texas here. Not four.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  And if you seriously think that our exposure is significantly better playing in The Belt than it would be in CUSA, well you're just flat out delusional. . . .

While they got bent over in their recent TV renegotiation, CUSA still has a slightly better TV deal than the Belt does . .. During the FB season, I can scroll through my sports package and come across 6 to 8 UTSA games broadcast on TV, not some glitchy espn 3 feed. That coupled with the in-state rivals the move would provide still makes it a no brainer for me . . . .

2 things:

1. I never said it was significantly better, I said it was better here.

2. The competition on the field is better, the TV contracts are similar except the Sun Belt will be renegotiating in the next few years, while CUSA is locked into their own. CUSA is on the decline, while Sun Belt is on the rise. The problem here is that you are only looking short term. We are bad now. We won't be bad forever. If Withers is what I believe him to be, we'll be competing soon. Not this season, but soon. That will help more than anything, but being able to show our brand across the south will have us reaping the benefits.

That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

As I said when this exchange started, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'm not trying to change it, just offering a different perspective.

I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

(08-22-2017 05:06 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  [quote='airtroop' pid='14519932' dateline='1503436257']
App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...



If anything I think there was some kind of mutual support as the two guys who are told their FCS championships and success don't mean anything.

Who in the world told you guys that?!! Seriously it's been interesting seeing some of your fans posting "the lowest rated bowl was better than a FCS championship game." Then not being hammered by the rest of you. I think you my be starting to get it.

(08-22-2017 07:33 PM)OsageJ Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 05:06 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  [quote='airtroop' pid='14519932' dateline='1503436257']
App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...



If anything I think there was some kind of mutual support as the two guys who are told their FCS championships and success don't mean anything.

Who in the world told you guys that?!! Seriously it's been interesting seeing some of your fans posting "the lowest rated bowl was better than a FCS championship game." Then not being hammered by the rest of you. I think you my be starting to get it.

There's a difference between "consistently winning championships at a lower level means nothing" and "nobody cares about FCS football".

GS and App fans knew we could come in and compete for conference titles immediately because we had established a championship caliber base, albeit at a lower level. Considering how things turned out, it seems we were validated.

That's a completely different conversation from the fact that the general public (and ESPN marketing) care more about literally every bowl game than the FCS playoffs.

(08-22-2017 04:10 PM)airtroop Wrote:  App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...

When you all first joined the conference, understandably, your message board warriors wished hatred upon each other and even rooted for each other to lose OOC games.

Now, at least on this BBS, it seems you've all realized the importance of ALL OOC wins for our schools and the Belt benefit in an "all for one, one for all", "team win" here in FBS/"big boy football" SBC land.

Does the majority of your non-BBS base understand and embrace the importance of holding your noses and rooting for your hated rival (each other) to win that OOC game yet or do you find yourselves having to explain this to your fellow fans?

Sorry, I can't cheer for App. Although I might make an exception against UGA. The rest of the belt, I love seeing OOC wins.

Before I'm bashed with "belt pride", I understand the logic but when you have a true rivalry like Southern and appy have (see what I did there) you can't cheer for that team. Even if it doesn't make sense.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 05:45 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I won't go through your response point by point, really no need as your replies are a reflection of old, stale, tired, and antiquated ideas. . . . But hang in there and keep pitching . .

Yeah, it's best you not reply.. Because the option would be you would just show how wrong you are even more.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I will agree that "casual college FB fans" also don't give a rats azzzz about CUSA. But, I'll also hang this onto that statement . . . Casual college football fan in TEXAS does give a rats azzzz about playing other TX football teams. They care about having an in-state rival, preferably one in conference.

Which is precisely why I said we need another football team in Texas here. Not four.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  And if you seriously think that our exposure is significantly better playing in The Belt than it would be in CUSA, well you're just flat out delusional. . . .

While they got bent over in their recent TV renegotiation, CUSA still has a slightly better TV deal than the Belt does . .. During the FB season, I can scroll through my sports package and come across 6 to 8 UTSA games broadcast on TV, not some glitchy espn 3 feed. That coupled with the in-state rivals the move would provide still makes it a no brainer for me . . . .

2 things:

1. I never said it was significantly better, I said it was better here.

2. The competition on the field is better, the TV contracts are similar except the Sun Belt will be renegotiating in the next few years, while CUSA is locked into their own. CUSA is on the decline, while Sun Belt is on the rise. The problem here is that you are only looking short term. We are bad now. We won't be bad forever. If Withers is what I believe him to be, we'll be competing soon. Not this season, but soon. That will help more than anything, but being able to show our brand across the south will have us reaping the benefits.

That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

As I said when this exchange started, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'm not trying to change it, just offering a different perspective.

I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

Everyone left because at the time the SBC was the worst conference. Now they are on the rise and passed CUSA at least for last year. CUSA made the mistake of going after TV markets and not strong team. SBC were smart and grabbed App and GS. I do agree I want UTSA in the conference. I would take Rice too to be selfish and get a game in Houston to go to. I get it. No one is leaving CUSA to come to the SBC. But TXST ain't going to CUSA. They don't want 5 Texas teams. We are stuck on the same island UNT was stuck on until SMU and Houston left CUSA and they were willing to add a "market" and Texas team again. If we ever go to CUSA it'll be after Rice, UTEP, and UTSA are gone.

(08-22-2017 04:10 PM)airtroop Wrote:  App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...

When you all first joined the conference, understandably, your message board warriors wished hatred upon each other and even rooted for each other to lose OOC games.

Now, at least on this BBS, it seems you've all realized the importance of ALL OOC wins for our schools and the Belt benefit in an "all for one, one for all", "team win" here in FBS/"big boy football" SBC land.

Does the majority of your non-BBS base understand and embrace the importance of holding your noses and rooting for your hated rival (each other) to win that OOC game yet or do you find yourselves having to explain this to your fellow fans?

I root for Southern to win thier OOC games as I do for all SBC teams. Most App fans are pretty football savvy. Many would want Southern to win every game they play until they meet us on the gridiron every year.

No, I enjoy watching App get the crap kicked out of them. Doesn't happen much these days, but I enjoy it just the same. Who I root for has no effect on the outcome of the game.

(08-22-2017 09:51 PM)slycat Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 05:45 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I won't go through your response point by point, really no need as your replies are a reflection of old, stale, tired, and antiquated ideas. . . . But hang in there and keep pitching . .

Yeah, it's best you not reply.. Because the option would be you would just show how wrong you are even more.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I will agree that "casual college FB fans" also don't give a rats azzzz about CUSA. But, I'll also hang this onto that statement . . . Casual college football fan in TEXAS does give a rats azzzz about playing other TX football teams. They care about having an in-state rival, preferably one in conference.

Which is precisely why I said we need another football team in Texas here. Not four.

(08-22-2017 02:20 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  And if you seriously think that our exposure is significantly better playing in The Belt than it would be in CUSA, well you're just flat out delusional. . . .

While they got bent over in their recent TV renegotiation, CUSA still has a slightly better TV deal than the Belt does . .. During the FB season, I can scroll through my sports package and come across 6 to 8 UTSA games broadcast on TV, not some glitchy espn 3 feed. That coupled with the in-state rivals the move would provide still makes it a no brainer for me . . . .

2 things:

1. I never said it was significantly better, I said it was better here.

2. The competition on the field is better, the TV contracts are similar except the Sun Belt will be renegotiating in the next few years, while CUSA is locked into their own. CUSA is on the decline, while Sun Belt is on the rise. The problem here is that you are only looking short term. We are bad now. We won't be bad forever. If Withers is what I believe him to be, we'll be competing soon. Not this season, but soon. That will help more than anything, but being able to show our brand across the south will have us reaping the benefits.

That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

As I said when this exchange started, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'm not trying to change it, just offering a different perspective.

I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

Everyone left because at the time the SBC was the worst conference. Now they are on the rise and passed CUSA at least for last year. CUSA made the mistake of going after TV markets and not strong team. SBC were smart and grabbed App and GS. I do agree I want UTSA in the conference. I would take Rice too to be selfish and get a game in Houston to go to. I get it. No one is leaving CUSA to come to the SBC. But TXST ain't going to CUSA. They don't want 5 Texas teams. We are stuck on the same island UNT was stuck on until SMU and Houston left CUSA and they were willing to add a "market" and Texas team again. If we ever go to CUSA it'll be after Rice, UTEP, and UTSA are gone.

I get that, though IF we ever go to CUSA I hope that you're wrong about UTSA being gone. I really want to be back in a conference with those guys again. I think our proximity, and the hatred both schools feel for each other could develop into a really intense rivalry . . . .

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

As I said when this exchange started, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'm not trying to change it, just offering a different perspective.

I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

Once upon a time Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Duke, UNC played in the Southern.
So the Southern is a major destination?

No Sun Belt to our knowledge has been offered a slot in CUSA since CUSA took an 80% reduction in television rights fees and there is no reason to think any Sun Belt has an itch to spend $2 million to leave the Sun Belt and join a league that likely now nets fewer conference dollars than the Sun Belt.

First two to leave were UNT and FIU. UNT joined UTEP, Rice, and Tulsa, in-state and regional opponents. FIU was capitalizing on CUSA brand awareness in Florida and joining eastern schools like ECU.

FAU left to rejoin cross-metro rival FIU. MTSU left for hoops profile.

WKU will tell you it was hoops but more importantly, they reunited with MTSU.

I am skeptical App State would lose money to give up the Ga So rivalry and replace it with Charlotte and ODU.

A-State would like to affiliate with USM but wouldn't like it enough to lose money.

TXST would probably jump. Cajuns probably would. ULM would to get back with La.Tech.

Troy fans feel free to object but I don't see UAB being worth losing money, maybe USA would drop money to be with USM and UAB.

The WAC was at one time a high caliber brand in college football that spiraled to the point that FCS schools were turning them down.

(08-22-2017 08:17 PM)SBEagle Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 04:10 PM)airtroop Wrote:  App State and GS fans, I have a serious on-topic question I've been wondering for some time now about your rivalry and fellow fans in your post-FCS eras...

When you all first joined the conference, understandably, your message board warriors wished hatred upon each other and even rooted for each other to lose OOC games.

Now, at least on this BBS, it seems you've all realized the importance of ALL OOC wins for our schools and the Belt benefit in an "all for one, one for all", "team win" here in FBS/"big boy football" SBC land.

Does the majority of your non-BBS base understand and embrace the importance of holding your noses and rooting for your hated rival (each other) to win that OOC game yet or do you find yourselves having to explain this to your fellow fans?

Sorry, I can't cheer for App. Although I might make an exception against UGA. The rest of the belt, I love seeing OOC wins.

Before I'm bashed with "belt pride", I understand the logic but when you have a true rivalry like Southern and appy have (see what I did there) you can't cheer for that team. Even if it doesn't make sense.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

That makes sense to me. I pull pretty much for all CUSA teams OOC but when Middle Tennessee plays Vandy this year there's a part deep inside that will laugh and laugh if Middle gets their assss handed to them. And then I'll pull for Middle to lose every conference game. Too many years of listening to their fans. I have no problem pulling for any other CUSA team to get us a signature win out of conference. But I'm just not neutered enough to pull for Middle yet. We go back to Division 2 (not 1AA...before 1AA) Ohio Valley Conference hate when I was a kid in the 60's and 70's for me to ever pull for them. If you asked them the last 2 years in football were probably 2 of their worst, not because they had bad teams though. Because Western won the conference.

That's how rivalries work.

(08-22-2017 10:21 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  No, I enjoy watching App get the crap kicked out of them. Doesn't happen much these days, but I enjoy it just the same. Who I root for has no effect on the outcome of the game.

I remember saying something similar about how I root against a certain Belt team and people gave me crap for not rooting for the outcome that benefits our conference as if my rooting affects the outcome of anything. Let me hate lol! I would certainly want UTSA to go 0-12 every year if they were in our conference.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

Of course it is. The same as yours. Why? Simply, because we haven't been in the Sun Belt long enough to demonstrate any realistic value. Everything at this point is supposition.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

I agree, there's no need to respond to that, because you are talking about 5 years ago, under a different TV contract and a different lineup of players. You're trying to compare apples and oranges, which as well all know is just absolutely silly.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

Now you're just trying to play stupid. We've already covered how the majority of football games in that bigger conference would be played in Texas, which does not help expand the name of Texas State. No need to rehash it here, especially when you already have the answer.

And you keep mentioning how UTSA played 8 teams not from Texas... So what? Where were those games played? I'd wager AT LEAST 4 of those were in Texas.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

You almost copied what I said originally verbatim (except the last sentence).

(08-23-2017 10:06 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

Of course it is. The same as yours. Why? Simply, because we haven't been in the Sun Belt long enough to demonstrate any realistic value. Everything at this point is supposition.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

I agree, there's no need to respond to that, because you are talking about 5 years ago, under a different TV contract and a different lineup of players. You're trying to compare apples and oranges, which as well all know is just absolutely silly.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

Now you're just trying to play stupid. We've already covered how the majority of football games in that bigger conference would be played in Texas, which does not help expand the name of Texas State. No need to rehash it here, especially when you already have the answer.

And you keep mentioning how UTSA played 8 teams not from Texas... So what? Where were those games played? I'd wager AT LEAST 4 of those were in Texas.

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

You almost copied what I said originally verbatim (except the last sentence).

I wouldn't spend too much time patting myself in the back were I you . . . that last sentence is something I've posted on this site in the past, and has nothing to do with your personal views, aside from coincidence . . . .

Your problem is that you assume that any Bobcat that advocates a move to CUSA wants only to be in an all TX conference.

You also incorrectly assume that should we go to CUSA we'd never leave TX.

Last year, aside from UTSA's 8 games against non-TX teams, Rice played 7, UNT played 8, and UTEP played 8 . . . . that's a far cry from playing only in TX.

You also make the assumption that if/when we go to CUSA, that all 4 of the current TX teams will still be there. . . . while that's a possibility, it's not necessarily the case.

I get it, you love where we're at . . . Good for you, that doesn't mean the rest of us have to share your limited view of our future . .

As previously stated, agree to disagree . . .

(08-23-2017 12:56 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(08-22-2017 07:15 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  That's nothing more than supposition on your part. You've yet to provide any evidence that long term play in the Belt will do anything for our profile.

If CUSA is so bad, why has every Belt team offered a spot leapt at the opportunity to leave The Belt. Not one Belt team has ever declined a CUSA offer. And why haven't you seen one CUSA team defect for The Belt. No need for a response to that, we all know the answer.

CUSA actually has a larger footprint than the Belt, if it's your contention that playing outside TX is necessary to improve our Brand, then you should be embracing a CUSA invite. Again, last season UTSA played 8 teams not from TX.

As I said when this exchange started, you're entitled to your opinion, and I'm not trying to change it, just offering a different perspective.

I actually like the current level of play in The Belt, though we're not currently holding up our end. What I'd like is another TX football playing program in The Belt. Barring that, then yeah, I'll take a conference with other TX teams in it.

Once upon a time Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Duke, UNC played in the Southern.
So the Southern is a major destination?

No Sun Belt to our knowledge has been offered a slot in CUSA since CUSA took an 80% reduction in television rights fees and there is no reason to think any Sun Belt has an itch to spend $2 million to leave the Sun Belt and join a league that likely now nets fewer conference dollars than the Sun Belt.

First two to leave were UNT and FIU. UNT joined UTEP, Rice, and Tulsa, in-state and regional opponents. FIU was capitalizing on CUSA brand awareness in Florida and joining eastern schools like ECU.

FAU left to rejoin cross-metro rival FIU. MTSU left for hoops profile.

WKU will tell you it was hoops but more importantly, they reunited with MTSU.

I am skeptical App State would lose money to give up the Ga So rivalry and replace it with Charlotte and ODU.

A-State would like to affiliate with USM but wouldn't like it enough to lose money.

TXST would probably jump. Cajuns probably would. ULM would to get back with La.Tech.

Troy fans feel free to object but I don't see UAB being worth losing money, maybe USA would drop money to be with USM and UAB.

The WAC was at one time a high caliber brand in college football that spiraled to the point that FCS schools were turning them down.

The Troy fans that I know really couldn't care less about UAB. South Alabama has more than filled the void left by UAB.

Some of our fans think Troy football could not exist with out the band. My quote to them is to tell me how many people would show up if the football teams were not there.

We also have fans that their only away games they ever attend are the ones vs Power 5 schools. They ignore all conference games and are appalled when I tell them conference games are my favorite ones for the most part.

We have a high number of don't cheer and don't stand people in our section. I sit on the front row so I try to be nice and keep my standing to a minimum. However if you tell me to sit down on the opening kickoff I will probably hurt your feelings.