This question is something i've been wondering...I've seen posts a long while back about how the CUSA Commish didn't do the best job in getting the right schools (location-wise) into the conference...

This question is for mainly the fans of the "original" schools from a year ago...but i'd like to see how people would have wanted CUSA to look like...

I personally at first wanted LA Tech to be added instead of UTEP...I saw the closer mileage...and thought that it would be so expensive to travel to el paso...I thought that Tulane needed an in-state rival to help their program...I felt like UTEP belonged in a Western Conference...

I am not trying to disrespect anyone...I Love all of the schools in this Conference...and I believe that we will all grow well together...it's just something that I wanted to know...

from the field of possible schools, cusa took THE best 4. UTEP was a no-brainer to replace TCU. La Tech and North Texas were not ready at the time. it remains to be seen if they ever are. i would put Troy first on the waiting list right now.

Waiting list should be Bowling Green, Toledo, and Miami of Ohio that is a no brainer. We need Rice, SMU to really turn their football programs around. Then we would not need a waiting list.

FROM PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
Football Questions and Answers with Paul Zeise
Friday, August 26, 2005

Question: I have been hearing rumors that the Big East is still looking for another team to join the conference to even out the football schedule. Is this true? If so, who are they looking at?

ZEISE: I had a very good conversation with the Big East Commissioner Mike Tranghese as the conference media day on this vey subject. I can tell you, there isn't likely going to be a ninth team added any time soon. But the eight team league does present scheduling problems and the Big East's university presidents and athletic directors are looking at ways to try and rectify those scheduling issues without adding a ninth team. According to Tranghese, the league is looking at some sort of scheduling alliance with one or more independent teams out there--and he said Army and Navy would obviously jump to the front of the line.

<a href='http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05238/560743.stm' target='_blank'>Big East will not expand</a>

The fact that UTEP draws more fans than Rice, SMU and Houston combined made them a no-brainer. The only reason not to add UTEP was geography, but in the overall scheme of things their attributes outweighed the geographical problem.

I still can't figure out Rice and SMU. I always assumed they were added to appease TCU. However, TCU jumped ship right after they were added. What was the hurry?

UTEP draws well if UTEP is winning. Gary Nord's last season at the helm was god-awful, and there were maybe 5,000 people at the Tulsa game I went to. I understand that Tulsa should be the last school to talk attendance smack, but El Paso is a front-runner town.

MichealBond Wrote:This question is something i've been wondering...I've seen posts a long while back about how the CUSA Commish didn't do the best job in getting the right schools (location-wise) into the conference...

This question is for mainly the fans of the "original" schools from a year ago...but i'd like to see how people would have wanted CUSA to look like...

I personally at first wanted LA Tech to be added instead of UTEP...I saw the closer mileage...and thought that it would be so expensive to travel to el paso...I thought that Tulane needed an in-state rival to help their program...I felt like UTEP belonged in a Western Conference...

I am not trying to disrespect anyone...I Love all of the schools in this Conference...and I believe that we will all grow well together...it's just something that I wanted to know...

It is obvious that you know very little, if anything, about La Tech or you would have never posed the question. Leave it to people better informed than you, sit back and enjoy the ride.

During the last round the league narrowed its choices down to UTEP, La tech and UNT. You could see UTEP pulling away during the last month of the process. I think the league is satble for awhile, how long, who knows? I think it will continue to morph south and southwest when changes are made. The MAC teams will never be a serious factor because of travel costs.
North Texas, La Tech and Troy St are at the top of any list, no doubt. Keep in mind that for La tech to get into the league they would have to agree to substantial facility upgrades. They had agreed to that in principle last time and I am sure they would next time as well.

All that said, there are wild cards in the deck. Is TCU going to remain happy in the MWC with all the expenses involved? Who knows.
Id South Florida going to wnat to stay in a BCS-less Big East? Who knows.

Right now Troy , UNT and La Tech lead the pack but that could change.

Clarence Iba Wrote:UTEP draws well if UTEP is winning. &nbsp; Gary Nord's last season at the helm was god-awful, and there were maybe 5,000 people at the Tulsa game I went to.  I understand that Tulsa should be the last school to talk attendance smack, but El Paso is a front-runner town.

Here is UTEP's attendance averages and yearly records since the Sun Bowl was built in 1963.

Source: <a href='http://www.utepathletics.com/pdf7/18325.pdf?ATCLID=179039&SPSID=10318&SPID=635&DB_OEM_ID=2100' target='_blank'>UTEP media guide</a> Scroll to page 25.

Year Average W-L-T Record
1963 15,336 3-7
1964 10,066 0-8-2
1965 22,683 8-3
1966 26,594 6-4
1967 25,122 7-2-1
1968 22,374 4-5-1
1969 19,082 4-6
1970 16,483 6-4
1971 13,393 5-6
1972 8,896 2-8
1973 8,672 0-11
1974 19,373 4-7
1975 12,850 1-10
1976 12,920 1-11
1977 14,595 1-10
1978 17,430 1-11
1979 26,866 2-9
1980 12,558 1-11
1981 13,622 1-10
1982 22,768 2-10
1983 20,526 2-10
1984 19,433 2-9
1985 20,614 1-10
1986 27,208 4-8
1987 42,086 7-4
1988 35,975 10-3
1989 27,190 2-10
1990 23,809 3-8
1991 29,359 4-7-1
1992 30,131 1-10
1993 26,777 1-11
1994 28,642 3-7-1
1995 21,144 2-10
1996 21,629 2-9
1997 20,484 4-7
1998 20,145 3-8
1999 36,455 5-7
2000 44,715 8-4
2001 28,360 2-9
2002 28,310 2-10
2003 20,009 2-11
2004 41,209 8-4
2005 47,992 4-1(The average and record is through the first 5 games)

The Sun Bowl's seating capacity was expanded from 30K to 52K in 1982.

MichealBond Wrote:but i'd like to see how people would have wanted CUSA to look like...

That conversation seems like a million years ago now!

I was more hurt that all we had worked for was thrown away by UL, Cincy, USF, and then TCU.

I was never against the newcomers we ultimately got, and I'm glad they are here today.

Somebody had to do it.

That said, I wanted Oxford and Cambridge to boost our rugby RPI.

Freddy The Freshman Wrote:

Clarence Iba Wrote:UTEP draws well if UTEP is winning.   Gary Nord's last season at the helm was god-awful, and there were maybe 5,000 people at the Tulsa game I went to.  I understand that Tulsa should be the last school to talk attendance smack, but El Paso is a front-runner town.

Here is UTEP's attendance averages and yearly records since the Sun Bowl was built in 1963.

Source: <a href='http://www.utepathletics.com/pdf7/18325.pdf?ATCLID=179039&SPSID=10318&SPID=635&DB_OEM_ID=2100' target='_blank'>UTEP media guide</a> Scroll to page 25.

Year Average W-L-T Record
1963 15,336 3-7
1964 10,066 0-8-2
1965 22,683 8-3
1966 26,594 6-4
1967 25,122 7-2-1
1968 22,374 4-5-1
1969 19,082 4-6
1970 16,483 6-4
1971 13,393 5-6
1972 8,896 2-8
1973 8,672 0-11
1974 19,373 4-7
1975 12,850 1-10
1976 12,920 1-11
1977 14,595 1-10
1978 17,430 1-11
1979 26,866 2-9
1980 12,558 1-11
1981 13,622 1-10
1982 22,768 2-10
1983 20,526 2-10
1984 19,433 2-9
1985 20,614 1-10
1986 27,208 4-8
1987 42,086 7-4
1988 35,975 10-3
1989 27,190 2-10
1990 23,809 3-8
1991 29,359 4-7-1
1992 30,131 1-10
1993 26,777 1-11
1994 28,642 3-7-1
1995 21,144 2-10
1996 21,629 2-9
1997 20,484 4-7
1998 20,145 3-8
1999 36,455 5-7
2000 44,715 8-4
2001 28,360 2-9
2002 28,310 2-10
2003 20,009 2-11
2004 41,209 8-4
2005 47,992 4-1(The average and record is through the first 5 games)

The Sun Bowl's seating capacity was expanded from 30K to 52K in 1982.

If anything UTEP's fan support is incredible. Any other non-bcs school would not even have a football program anymore let alone that kind of attendance with the won-lost records UTEP has had.

Wow...totally uncalled for...I ask a simple question that I had hadn't seen answered in posts...and i get that kind of reply...


I already stated my previous feelings about the whole LA Tech/UTEP situation...I looked at it from a location standpoint...I never said anything about UTEP not being worthy...I never said anything about LA Tech not committing to sports...once i found out more information about the 2 schools, i can clearly see why UTEP was picked over LA Tech...


I was giving my initial reaction from a year and 1/2 ago...and since i had seen posts saying that the commish didn't do the best job in picking schools...i was simply asking people who they thought should have been in CUSA...

Please take the stick out of your a$$!!!

MichealBond Wrote:Wow...totally uncalled for...I ask a simple question that I had hadn't seen answered in posts...and i get that kind of reply...


I already stated my previous feelings about the whole LA Tech/UTEP situation...I looked at it from a location standpoint...I never said anything about UTEP not being worthy...I never said anything about LA Tech not committing to sports...once i found out more information about the 2 schools, i can clearly see why UTEP was picked over LA Tech...


I was giving my initial reaction from a year and 1/2 ago...and since i had seen posts saying that the commish didn't do the best job in picking schools...i was simply asking people who they thought should have been in CUSA...

Please take the stick out of your a$$!!!

Dude, chill. Obviously, you didn't get the humor in some of our posts, but hey, maybe people got tired of expansion talk when it happened.

Clarence Iba Wrote:I understand that Tulsa should be the last school to talk attendance smack

That pretty much sums it up. You can talk attendance smack to Rice, SMU, UAB, etc...but you look foolish talking attendance smack to UTEP. Even at their worst they still have far better fan support than you do.

eager eagle Wrote:It is obvious that you know very little, if anything, about La Tech or you would have never posed the question.&nbsp; Leave it to people better informed than you, sit back and enjoy the ride.

And the unwarranted Tech hatred from USM continues. It's quite obvious that they are more concerned about how Tech in CUSA would effect their school than how it would effect the conference. I understand why UTEP was chosen. However, you must also understand that entrance to CUSA would free a lot of money up for us to make the facility improvements that we need...not to mention inspiring a fan base who can't feasibly see any away games in the WAC.

But again, the USM poster mearly acts as if his feces don't stink...typical.

Tony The Tiger Wrote:

Freddy The Freshman Wrote:

Clarence Iba Wrote:UTEP draws well if UTEP is winning.&nbsp; Gary Nord's last season at the helm was god-awful, and there were maybe 5,000 people at the Tulsa game I went to.&nbsp; I understand that Tulsa should be the last school to talk attendance smack, but El Paso is a front-runner town.

Here is UTEP's attendance averages and yearly records since the Sun Bowl was built in 1963.

Source: <a href='http://www.utepathletics.com/pdf7/18325.pdf?ATCLID=179039&SPSID=10318&SPID=635&DB_OEM_ID=2100' target='_blank'>UTEP media guide</a> Scroll to page 25.

Year Average W-L-T Record
1963 15,336 3-7
1964 10,066 0-8-2
1965 22,683 8-3
1966 26,594 6-4
1967 25,122 7-2-1
1968 22,374 4-5-1
1969 19,082 4-6
1970 16,483 6-4
1971 13,393 5-6
1972 8,896 2-8
1973 8,672 0-11
1974 19,373 4-7
1975 12,850 1-10
1976 12,920 1-11
1977 14,595 1-10
1978 17,430 1-11
1979 26,866 2-9
1980 12,558 1-11
1981 13,622 1-10
1982 22,768 2-10
1983 20,526 2-10
1984 19,433 2-9
1985 20,614 1-10
1986 27,208 4-8
1987 42,086 7-4
1988 35,975 10-3
1989 27,190 2-10
1990 23,809 3-8
1991 29,359 4-7-1
1992 30,131 1-10
1993 26,777 1-11
1994 28,642 3-7-1
1995 21,144 2-10
1996 21,629 2-9
1997 20,484 4-7
1998 20,145 3-8
1999 36,455 5-7
2000 44,715 8-4
2001 28,360 2-9
2002 28,310 2-10
2003 20,009 2-11
2004 41,209 8-4
2005 47,992 4-1(The average and record is through the first 5 games)

The Sun Bowl's seating capacity was expanded from 30K to 52K in 1982.

If anything UTEP's fan support is incredible. Any other non-bcs school would not even have a football program anymore let alone that kind of attendance with the won-lost records UTEP has had.

I don't think it is incredible. It is what I would expect from a team in a large market with no pro competition or nearby NCAA powers. For example, Lincoln, Nebraska. UTEP is the top of the entertainment dollar food chain in their area.

OptimisticOwl Wrote:

Tony The Tiger Wrote:

Freddy The Freshman Wrote:

Clarence Iba Wrote:UTEP draws well if UTEP is winning. &nbsp; Gary Nord's last season at the helm was god-awful, and there were maybe 5,000 people at the Tulsa game I went to.  I understand that Tulsa should be the last school to talk attendance smack, but El Paso is a front-runner town.

Here is UTEP's attendance averages and yearly records since the Sun Bowl was built in 1963.

Source: <a href='http://www.utepathletics.com/pdf7/18325.pdf?ATCLID=179039&SPSID=10318&SPID=635&DB_OEM_ID=2100' target='_blank'>UTEP media guide</a> Scroll to page 25.

Year Average W-L-T Record
1963 15,336 3-7
1964 10,066 0-8-2
1965 22,683 8-3
1966 26,594 6-4
1967 25,122 7-2-1
1968 22,374 4-5-1
1969 19,082 4-6
1970 16,483 6-4
1971 13,393 5-6
1972 8,896 2-8
1973 8,672 0-11
1974 19,373 4-7
1975 12,850 1-10
1976 12,920 1-11
1977 14,595 1-10
1978 17,430 1-11
1979 26,866 2-9
1980 12,558 1-11
1981 13,622 1-10
1982 22,768 2-10
1983 20,526 2-10
1984 19,433 2-9
1985 20,614 1-10
1986 27,208 4-8
1987 42,086 7-4
1988 35,975 10-3
1989 27,190 2-10
1990 23,809 3-8
1991 29,359 4-7-1
1992 30,131 1-10
1993 26,777 1-11
1994 28,642 3-7-1
1995 21,144 2-10
1996 21,629 2-9
1997 20,484 4-7
1998 20,145 3-8
1999 36,455 5-7
2000 44,715 8-4
2001 28,360 2-9
2002 28,310 2-10
2003 20,009 2-11
2004 41,209 8-4
2005 47,992 4-1(The average and record is through the first 5 games)

The Sun Bowl's seating capacity was expanded from 30K to 52K in 1982.

If anything UTEP's fan support is incredible. Any other non-bcs school would not even have a football program anymore let alone that kind of attendance with the won-lost records UTEP has had.

I don't think it is incredible. It is what I would expect from a team in a large market with no pro competition or nearby NCAA powers. For example, Lincoln, Nebraska. UTEP is the top of the entertainment dollar food chain in their area.

I agree. It is much tougher in other places like Houston or Dallas where there's a lot of competition. UTEP and Memphis obviously get more butts in the seats than the rest of us even in lean years but I wonder how high their attendance would be if they could get on a long extended run..say like 10 straight winning seasons. Could they start drawing in the 60-70K range?

CUSA goofed big time by not adding IUPUI and Illinois Tech.