<a href='http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2206350' target='_blank'>http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2206350</a>

This season is going to be a blast, and i don't think it will take long for UAB and HOUSTON to do some damage in the polls, its funny i was filling out my NCAA brackets last season and me and my father were discussing UAB and LSU, i was telling him that UH had played both teams and the blazers were going to blow them out, he just would not listen to me, sometimes conference affiliation means everything, as bad as the SEC was last season, the so-called experts were acting as if LSU was going to destroy them. Lets get the season started so Memphis can find out they are not a one trick pony.

I'll wait for the post -season polls, thanks. :D

We'll let Memphis enjoy their "success" based off hype, while UAB will enjoy it after we go to another NCAA tournament and win at least another game while there.

Is it really that surprising that UAB doesnt appear anywhere? After 2003, people said UAB wouldnt do much in 2004 because of the talent we lost from 2003. Same thing was said in 2005. These people dont seem to understand the depth UAB has and how UAB doesnt lose much from year to year really. All the while, UAB is getting better and better recruits. I can just about guarantee you this year's team will be stronger than last year's team. Could very well end up being a better team than 2004's Sweet 16 team as well. I'm not too worried. UAB and CMA will take care of it. CMA at least knows how to lead (unlike CWB).

STLouis Blazer Wrote:We'll let Memphis enjoy their "success" based off hype, while UAB will enjoy it after we go to another NCAA tournament and win at least another game while there.

hype??? how many final fours does UAB have...how many times has UAB been #1...we have paid our dues and earned the respect we are given...once your little school goes to a championship game you can start talking...and i wouldn't get to comfy with...what do you call him...CMA being your coach...he's far too good for UAB and the big boys are starting to realize it.

enjoy the NIT guys...it's our time now.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

And don't forget.. we're ranked # 6 by Sports Illustrated!

<a href='http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/luke_winn/10/14/power.rankings/index.html' target='_blank'>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...ings/index.html</a>

Not bad for a poor little Conference USA school... don't you think?

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:

STLouis Blazer Wrote:We'll let Memphis enjoy their "success" based off hype, while UAB will enjoy it after we go to another NCAA tournament and win at least another game while there.

hype??? how many final fours does UAB have...how many times has UAB been #1...we have paid our dues and earned the respect we are given...once your little school goes to a championship game you can start talking...and i wouldn't get to comfy with...what do you call him...CMA being your coach...he's far too good for UAB and the big boys are starting to realize it.

enjoy the NIT guys...it's our time now.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

Memphis would know alot about how much fun those NITs are, huh?

If you look at the recruiting class CMA has been able to put together already this year (and in previous years), you'll see that it doesnt look like the work of a coach that's looking for the door. He's had several great opportunities to leave UAB and hasnt. The past 2 years, there have been MANY programs looking into him (including teams from BCS conferences) and he has yet to leave. Now I wont go so far as to say I'm SURE he'll stay, but I will say that I'm not nearly as worried about losing him now as I was a year or two ago.

Don't be fooled by all the chest thumping around here. Sure, we're proud to see our name back in the top 15 again... but we'd be ecstatic to see UAB and Houston right up there with us.

The more exposure for the league we can get, the better.

Most of the prognosticators have completely abandoned Conference USA and left us for dead. Many of them even have the Missouri Valley ahead of us in the standings.

Time to punch them in the mouth.

Quote: Memphis would know alot about how much fun those NITs are, huh?

ouch...that really hurts...we go to back to back NCAA's (and beat South Carolina) and have a slip last season and go to a NIT Final Four...for Alabama at Birmingham a NIT final four would be a big deal...and i will also point out that Alabama at Birmingham fans were the ones who started the crap talking.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

greekwolf Wrote:Don't be fooled by all the chest thumping around here. Sure, we're proud to see our name back in the top 15 again... but we'd be ecstatic to see UAB and Houston right up there with us.

The more exposure for the league we can get, the better.

Most of the prognosticators have completely abandoned Conference USA and left us for dead. Many of them even have the Missouri Valley ahead of us in the standings.

Time to punch them in the mouth.

And we would like to see Memphis back in the spotlight as well. But preseason polls don't put you in the Dance.

I agree it's time to punch the pundants in the mouth.

Go CUSA!

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:for Alabama at Birmingham a NIT final four would be a big deal...and i will also point out that Alabama at Birmingham fans were the ones who started the crap talking.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

Actually it wouldn't. Been there and done that. UAB has lived up to and far beyond anyone expectations. Memphis State hasn't. It's time for you to shut up and the Tigers to live up to those expectations.

Like the Black Eye Peas say, "Lets Get It Started!"

Go CUSA!

i will say i want UAB to do well this season...but i think the big suprise will be Houston i see us getting Memphis, Houston, and UAB/UTEP into the NCAA's and 2-3 NIT teams...i also think UCF will suprise some folks.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

Quote:UAB has lived up to and far beyond anyone expectations. Memphis State hasn't. It's time for you to shut up and the Tigers to live up to those expectations.

Memphis State was going to NCAA's with Gene Bartow before your little program was ever even an itch in a Alabama boosters pants...if it wasn't for OUR coach Alabama at Birmingham WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

some people need to put aside the memphis pre-season jealousy and understand that the they get people talking about our conference. In fact, they're one of only 2 teams voted into the top 25 outside of the 6 "power" conferences (Nevada the other). The better they do, the better for CUSA; recognition for the rest of our programs will come along once the season gets underway and we pull off some ooc wins.

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:Memphis State was going to NCAA's with Gene Bartow before your little program was ever even an itch in a Alabama boosters pants...if it wasn't for OUR coach Alabama at Birmingham WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

Go Tigers!!!
Drew

Totally irrelevant to what we are discussing. If you want to talk about the past then start another thread about it and we'll go from there.

If you want to talk about Memphis preseason hype and expectations then stick to the subject of this thread.

Your choice.

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:Memphis State was going to NCAA's with Gene Bartow before your little program was ever even an itch in a Alabama boosters pants...if it wasn't for OUR coach Alabama at Birmingham WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

Dude, no offense, but you're coming off sounding like an a$$

Lord knows the chaos around here if someone mentioned that Memphis wouldn't even have a football program, if it weren't for Johnny Vaught and Ole Miss.

greekwolf Wrote:

gomemphistigers1 Wrote:Memphis State was going to NCAA's with Gene Bartow before your little program was ever even an itch in a Alabama boosters pants...if it wasn't for OUR coach Alabama at Birmingham WOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

Dude, no offense, but you're coming off sounding like an a$$

Lord knows the chaos around here if someone mentioned that Memphis wouldn't even have a football program, if it weren't for Johnny Vaught and Ole Miss.

I agree somewhat. There has been a general over-hyping of the Tigers in Cal's 5 years at Memphis and I can understand why this would disturb UAB fans. UAB has gotten little hype but they continue to go out and overachieve. When looking at Cal's first five seasons, I only see two in which there was an obvious over-hyping:

2000-01: Tigers did okay and finished about as expected- in the NIT semifinals with a 21-15 record.

2001-02: Preseason AP ranking- #12...finished in the NIT. This team was obviously hyped way up. At one point the Tigers were 20-4, 10-0 in C-USA then collapsed down the stretch, starting with a road loss at UAB. Kelly Wise's injuries hurt the team badly. Tigers finished 27-9, 12-4 in C-USA, NIT Champs.

2002-03: No hype...Tigers overachieved and made the NCAA Tournament, finishing 23-7, 13-3 in C-USA.

2003-04: This team probably did about as expected. Started out 9-4, then won 11 in a row, then finished the season 2-4. Finished 22-8, 12-4 in C-USA (co-champs) and made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

2004-05: Preseason AP ranking- #24...finished in the NIT. Last year's team was hyped as well. Sean Banks' meltdown hurt us badly. Still the team was able to finish strong in the C-USA Tournament and make it to the semis of the NIT to finish 22-16, 9-7 in C-USA. Overall, a down year.


So, to summarize:

2000-01: NO HYPE/DID ABOUT AS EXPECTED
2001-02: HYPE/UNDERACHIEVED
2002-03: NO HYPE/OVERACHIEVED
2003-04: NO HYPE/DID ABOUT AS EXPECTED
2004-05: HYPE/UNDERACHIEVED

Wow JMSTiger you are as usual - right on the mark.

I go with HiddenDragon and St. Louis Blazer on this - We need to shut up until we put up!

Just remember what Coach Penders said, "....I came here to win championships!"

Eat'em Up Coogs!