I don't consider being on espn+ any reward for the schools. I hope we can get a regular network on a regular basis, like espn, or cbs, nbc, abc but I'm just dreaming now.

(10-19-2022 12:07 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  I don't consider being on espn+ any reward for the schools. I hope we can get a regular network on a regular basis, like espn, or cbs, nbc, abc but I'm just dreaming now.

(me, not being smart) just realized Turner Sports is TBS, TNT, and AT&T SportsNet. I think that would be ideal, put our games on TBS!! SHSU already has 2 games on AT&T SportsNet Southwest which is huge for us. I really hope we get Turner now actually. We would dominate that market.

We would still need a streaming platform, staying with ESPN+ would be good and open the door to get bumped up to a linear network. Aside from that, I've only watched a handful of CUSA games on Stadium, but I didn't mind it at all. As long as we just have 1 streaming provider not multiple....I'd be down for either.

(10-19-2022 12:06 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 11:00 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 10:37 AM)3DogNight Wrote:  Would a GOR be beneficial to the conference? If the end result is a good media deal for the conference and its member schools, I say yes. Would it be unwarranted for a media outlet to ask for some stability before giving money to that conference? No, I don’t think so. This conference (like any conference) needs stability. The one foot out the door, we’re just waiting for something better mentality is definitely not beneficial to this conference or any conference. No media outlet would want any part of that mindset. And if you’re waiting to leave, where are you going? The MAC? Really? Most people outside of the MAC think of them as those Michigan and Ohio schools. In the Baskin-Robbins 31 flavors, they’re vanilla. The MWC? They’re as unstable right now as any conference. The Sun Belt? I think they are about to make the same mistake as C-USA 3.0 made. Too many members. I think they’re going to have far more under- preforming teams dragging them down, than good teams lifting them up. The AAC? There seems to already be regrets from many there about taking on the current incoming members. And nobody is going to get a call up from a P5 conference anytime soon. So why would anyone not want some stability going forward? Why would anyone in this conference not want to do whatever is necessary to build this conference into a successful and thriving conference? I think anyone would want what’s best for this conference, unless of course you have one foot out the door and waiting on something better.

If there is no place to go, there is no need for a GOR and we'll have all the stability in the world.

If there is a better place to go, why make it harder on yourself to stay?

There are 10 teams with one foot out the door. And that's ok. This group isn't destined to be together for decades (we all hope). It's just an "any port in a storm" situation. Sooner or later, there will be more changes (and that's ok, too, as a matter of fact, it's what we're all hoping for).

And as I stated above, it's not just that I want my school to find a better home (although, yeah - that's the main thing). It's that the conference could improve when/if some teams leave. People always talk about how the SB made all the right moves bringing in App St. and Coastal, but the thing that really helped their average SP+ or Sagarin or whatever was actually cutting NMSU and Idaho loose (or helped just as much).

Look how our basketball ranking is improving even now.

You don't want to close yourself off from addition by subtraction anymore than you want to close yourself off from being free to leave if you get a better offer.

Where is this better home that you speak of? What makes it a better home? What makes you so sure that you won’t get the urge to cut and run when you get there? Someone once said, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” If C-USA gets a good media deal and the current and future members support this conference, there’s no reason whatsoever that C-USA cannot become the premier G5 conference.

Look, where we are is where we are and we have to make the best of it.

I'm all for silver linings.

But there is no reason to lock in this group of teams. This isn't the stability any of us want.

(10-19-2022 12:26 PM)jbuck1999 Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 12:07 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  I don't consider being on espn+ any reward for the schools. I hope we can get a regular network on a regular basis, like espn, or cbs, nbc, abc but I'm just dreaming now.

(me, not being smart) just realized Turner Sports is TBS, TNT, and AT&T SportsNet. I think that would be ideal, put our games on TBS!! SHSU already has 2 games on AT&T SportsNet Southwest which is huge for us. I really hope we get Turner now actually. We would dominate that market.

We would still need a streaming platform, staying with ESPN+ would be good and open the door to get bumped up to a linear network. Aside from that, I've only watched a handful of CUSA games on Stadium, but I didn't mind it at all. As long as we just have 1 streaming provider not multiple....I'd be down for either.

Turner Sports, Turner Networks (TBS, TNT, truTV), HBO, HBO Max, and a billion other brands are all properties of WarnerMedia, which merged with Discovery in April to become and even bigger conglomerate called Warner Bros. Discovery, which is ultimately owned by AT&T.

After the merger, it was announced that in summer 2023, Discovery+ and HBO Max will be merging into a single, yet-to-be-named streaming platform.

There's your streaming provider. Possibly.

I still think third tier rights will go to ESPN+. But adding live college sports to a new multilayered streaming platform would be a smart move for WB-D, assuming they work out the many, many bugs in their current HBO Max platform.

(10-19-2022 12:57 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 12:06 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 11:00 AM)inutech Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 10:37 AM)3DogNight Wrote:  Would a GOR be beneficial to the conference? If the end result is a good media deal for the conference and its member schools, I say yes. Would it be unwarranted for a media outlet to ask for some stability before giving money to that conference? No, I don’t think so. This conference (like any conference) needs stability. The one foot out the door, we’re just waiting for something better mentality is definitely not beneficial to this conference or any conference. No media outlet would want any part of that mindset. And if you’re waiting to leave, where are you going? The MAC? Really? Most people outside of the MAC think of them as those Michigan and Ohio schools. In the Baskin-Robbins 31 flavors, they’re vanilla. The MWC? They’re as unstable right now as any conference. The Sun Belt? I think they are about to make the same mistake as C-USA 3.0 made. Too many members. I think they’re going to have far more under- preforming teams dragging them down, than good teams lifting them up. The AAC? There seems to already be regrets from many there about taking on the current incoming members. And nobody is going to get a call up from a P5 conference anytime soon. So why would anyone not want some stability going forward? Why would anyone in this conference not want to do whatever is necessary to build this conference into a successful and thriving conference? I think anyone would want what’s best for this conference, unless of course you have one foot out the door and waiting on something better.

If there is no place to go, there is no need for a GOR and we'll have all the stability in the world.

If there is a better place to go, why make it harder on yourself to stay?

There are 10 teams with one foot out the door. And that's ok. This group isn't destined to be together for decades (we all hope). It's just an "any port in a storm" situation. Sooner or later, there will be more changes (and that's ok, too, as a matter of fact, it's what we're all hoping for).

And as I stated above, it's not just that I want my school to find a better home (although, yeah - that's the main thing). It's that the conference could improve when/if some teams leave. People always talk about how the SB made all the right moves bringing in App St. and Coastal, but the thing that really helped their average SP+ or Sagarin or whatever was actually cutting NMSU and Idaho loose (or helped just as much).

Look how our basketball ranking is improving even now.

You don't want to close yourself off from addition by subtraction anymore than you want to close yourself off from being free to leave if you get a better offer.

Where is this better home that you speak of? What makes it a better home? What makes you so sure that you won’t get the urge to cut and run when you get there? Someone once said, “The grass is always greener over the septic tank.” If C-USA gets a good media deal and the current and future members support this conference, there’s no reason whatsoever that C-USA cannot become the premier G5 conference.

Look, where we are is where we are and we have to make the best of it.

I'm all for silver linings.

But there is no reason to lock in this group of teams. This isn't the stability any of us want.

It’s seems that you don’t like being a C-USA member and it doesn’t appear you’ll ever be happy here, no matter what the conference does. I can’t speak for anybody else, but to say that we don’t want stability with the teams we have certainly doesn’t represent my thoughts. You didn’t tell me where this better home is so I doubt you’ll answer this question either. But I’ll ask anyway. What members do you think adding and or subtracting will make this the conference you long for? Or is there nothing C-USA can do to satisfy you and you just want out. Just curious.

(10-19-2022 01:50 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  It’s seems that you don’t like being a C-USA member and it doesn’t appear you’ll ever be happy here, no matter what the conference does. I can’t speak for anybody else, but to say that we don’t want stability with the teams we have certainly doesn’t represent my thoughts. My bad. Can't speak for everyone. I don't think many would want this group to be a conference long-term? Maybe "many" is better than "anyone." You didn’t tell me where this better home is My bad again. AAC or SB. Maybe MWC. so I doubt you’ll answer this question either. But I’ll ask anyway. What members do you think adding and or subtracting will make this the conference you long for? I don't think there is anything very likely on the horizon. I preferred the previous version of CUSA to the 9 team version. The 9 team version to the 10 team version. Would have really liked to have joined instead of UTEP in 2005. I think we'd be better off if FIU left. Possibly if UTEP/NMSU both left and we replaced them with one team within the leftover footprint. Losing Liberty would cost us on-field strength compared to anyone we could add, but would improve travel a little (or could). Us leaving for the SB or AAC (depending on who left to open a spot). A total G5 reshuffle (which won't happen). Or is there nothing C-USA can do to satisfy you and you just want out. Probably not much that would convince me I'd rather my school be here than the AAC (who isn't likely to invite us) or maybe the SB (I guess a lot of basketball success might help with this one). Just curious.

You can't tell me you look at this lineup (including Tech) and think "that's exactly the nine schools I want my school to share a conference with!"

If you listed your top 12 FBS teams to share a dream conference with, would even one be in this group? Even if you stuck to G5? Surely not. MTSU and WKU would have each other. UTEP and NMSU would have each other. It looks like maybe JSU and KSU would have each other. I don't think there would be a single team in CUSA on a Tech fans top 10-12-15 list (depending on the fan). I don't guess we'd be on anyone else's list either for quite a while. Maybe SHSU if they went mostly geographic. Maybe UTEP because we've played relatively often. Maybe WKU once they got up to the teens.

AND THAT'S OK! It's fine. College teams change conferences. It's just a thing that happens. Sometimes it's weird and modern and probably bad overall for fans, and sometimes it makes perfect sense and it's about time. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose (relatively speaking).

It's not a marriage, it's just a group of schools who agree to play each other in sports and negotiate media deals together. This one works until that one works better. Circle of life and all that.

CUSA is better than being FBS independent. CUSA will likely be pretty good in basketball and baseball. We will have some good football teams and probably a lot of good football games. But it's just a marriage of convenience. We're (all) here because it's better than independence and none of us have what we see as better offers (for now). There isn't any other reason for FIU and KSU and Liberty to share a conference with SHSU or UTEP other than just that it's the conference that is available to those teams. But if that changes, that's fine. Those left behind will get what they can out of the team leaving and look for a replacement (if needed).

No big deal. And no reason to make it harder to leave (if anything I'd consider making it easier, both for my school in the off chance we found something else and as a troll move to the ones who just left).

(10-19-2022 02:52 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 01:50 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  It’s seems that you don’t like being a C-USA member and it doesn’t appear you’ll ever be happy here, no matter what the conference does. I can’t speak for anybody else, but to say that we don’t want stability with the teams we have certainly doesn’t represent my thoughts. My bad. Can't speak for everyone. I don't think many would want this group to be a conference long-term? Maybe "many" is better than "anyone." You didn’t tell me where this better home is My bad again. AAC or SB. Maybe MWC. so I doubt you’ll answer this question either. But I’ll ask anyway. What members do you think adding and or subtracting will make this the conference you long for? I don't think there is anything very likely on the horizon. I preferred the previous version of CUSA to the 9 team version. The 9 team version to the 10 team version. Would have really liked to have joined instead of UTEP in 2005. I think we'd be better off if FIU left. Possibly if UTEP/NMSU both left and we replaced them with one team within the leftover footprint. Losing Liberty would cost us on-field strength compared to anyone we could add, but would improve travel a little (or could). Us leaving for the SB or AAC (depending on who left to open a spot). A total G5 reshuffle (which won't happen). Or is there nothing C-USA can do to satisfy you and you just want out. Probably not much that would convince me I'd rather my school be here than the AAC (who isn't likely to invite us) or maybe the SB (I guess a lot of basketball success might help with this one). Just curious.

You can't tell me you look at this lineup (including Tech) and think "that's exactly the nine schools I want my school to share a conference with!"

If you listed your top 12 FBS teams to share a dream conference with, would even one be in this group? Even if you stuck to G5? Surely not. MTSU and WKU would have each other. UTEP and NMSU would have each other. It looks like maybe JSU and KSU would have each other. I don't think there would be a single team in CUSA on a Tech fans top 10-12-15 list (depending on the fan). I don't guess we'd be on anyone else's list either for quite a while. Maybe SHSU if they went mostly geographic. Maybe UTEP because we've played relatively often. Maybe WKU once they got up to the teens.

AND THAT'S OK! It's fine. College teams change conferences. It's just a thing that happens. Sometimes it's weird and modern and probably bad overall for fans, and sometimes it makes perfect sense and it's about time. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose (relatively speaking).

It's not a marriage, it's just a group of schools who agree to play each other in sports and negotiate media deals together. This one works until that one works better. Circle of life and all that.

CUSA is better than being FBS independent. CUSA will likely be pretty good in basketball and baseball. We will have some good football teams and probably a lot of good football games. But it's just a marriage of convenience. We're (all) here because it's better than independence and none of us have what we see as better offers (for now). There isn't any other reason for FIU and KSU and Liberty to share a conference with SHSU or UTEP other than just that it's the conference that is available to those teams. But if that changes, that's fine. Those left behind will get what they can out of the team leaving and look for a replacement (if needed).

No big deal. And no reason to make it harder to leave (if anything I'd consider making it easier, both for my school in the off chance we found something else and as a troll move to the ones who just left).

I agree with pretty much everything you said. I know it isn't what the incoming programs want to hear as they are all excited about the move and want to make C-USA the best league it can be. The 5 leftovers want that too, but we have also been slapped with reality a time or two (as have some of the new additions) and understand that this won't be the last reshuffling of the deck.

In a "realistic" dream, no Alabama/Auburn, MTSU and WKU would be in my conference along with KSU. Liberty could very well be included, havent had the dream yet.

(10-19-2022 03:03 PM)freshtop Wrote:  we have also been slapped with reality a time or two and understand that this won't be the last reshuffling of the deck.

Louisiana Tech joined what is now FBS in 1989. Since then our conference situation has changed notably about every 5 years or so.

1989-1992 Indy
1993-1995 Big West (football)
1996-2000 Indy
2001-2012 WAC (but I'd argue there was a big change in 2005 when 4/10 teams left and were replaced with 3 teams all at least one Texas away from us).
2013-present CUSA (minor changes after year one, minor change of UAB sabbatical, major changes in 2022/23).

Seven distinct periods (as I'd count them) in 33 years. Some better than others, some worse. Things change, and there really isn't a reason for this particular new grouping to be together very long if the trend continues. But I can't see why anyone would shed many tears about that (in a vacuum, obviously things can always get worse, and if you end up in that boat this new CUSA-10 might look like the SEC from another perspective - which is the argument for making things hard to leave, I get that).

Lots of naïve new members here. Good luck to you guys, you are in for some letdown.

I'm getting as far away from ESPN + as possible.

(10-19-2022 03:26 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I'm getting as far away from ESPN + as possible.

I believe the AAC has espn+ as well. Obviously they have a lot of espn linear appearances as well but espn+ is a good streaming service for games not picked for linear.

(10-19-2022 03:56 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 03:26 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I'm getting as far away from ESPN + as possible.

I believe the AAC has espn+ as well. Obviously they have a lot of espn linear appearances as well but espn+ is a good streaming service for games not picked for linear.

I just wish they would mandate some base level of production values. Seeing some games with broken audio, poor cameras, a barely functional scoreboard, etc. just cheapens the whole league and service.

I know that the meaning and intent of things can be misinterpreted when it’s read. That’s why I’m not crazy about texting. So what I’m about to say is not meant to be said in a hurtful way. Just sharing what I see. Not all, but some on here are the most doubting, diffidence and distrusting fans you’ll ever come across. It’s really sad. To those guys, I hope you get into the conference of your dreams. I really do. Especially if the majority of your fan base feel as you do. Nobody wants to be in the same conference with someone who doesn’t.

If I could create my ideal conference...

STOP right there please. I've seen these hypothetical fan lists for years. Seems like a waste of time. The "perfect" OR even close to perfect conf. is NOT going to happen. You and I can't get it to occur!

Can we improve? Sure hope so--- but it will never be exactly what we want.

Just win more OC games--everybody-- and things will improve.

(10-19-2022 03:13 PM)WKUFan518 Wrote:  Lots of naïve new members here. Good luck to you guys, you are in for some letdown.

Ain't dat the truth

(10-19-2022 04:06 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  I know that the meaning and intent of things can be misinterpreted when it’s read. That’s why I’m not crazy about texting. So what I’m about to say is not meant to be said in a hurtful way. Just sharing what I see. Not all, but some on here are the most doubting, diffidence and distrusting fans you’ll ever come across. It’s really sad. To those guys, I hope you get into the conference of your dreams. I really do. Especially if the majority of your fan base feel as you do. Nobody wants to be in the same conference with someone who doesn’t.

Just bear with us. Truly, it's typically just a couple guys from MTSU, LaTech, and WKU each who act like the fans of schools who already left CUSA (I wont mention the schools) and those schools had for more fans here who spent their time whining, griping, and generally just making this place a miserable place to be. It was non-stop for years. I've noticed it's far less now than it has been for years. You'll find that there are many of us who want this to succeed and are welcoming to the newbies. Just ignore the squeaky noise.

This new league can succeed and I think it will surprise the naysayers. Obviously it's gonna take time but we are all in it together and NONE of us have other options.

(10-19-2022 04:06 PM)3DogNight Wrote:  I know that the meaning and intent of things can be misinterpreted when it’s read. That’s why I’m not crazy about texting. So what I’m about to say is not meant to be said in a hurtful way. Just sharing what I see. Not all, but some on here are the most doubting, diffidence and distrusting fans you’ll ever come across. It’s really sad. To those guys, I hope you get into the conference of your dreams. I really do. Especially if the majority of your fan base feel as you do. Nobody wants to be in the same conference with someone who doesn’t.

Sure they do.

Would you rather share a conference with Notre Dame (looking to get out) or Mississippi Valley State (just happy to be there)?

I'd much rather share a conference with this set of CUSA teams than be Independent.

And it's not personal (well, not always). I don't see why an FIU fan (assuming there are some) would be really happy about being in a conference with Louisiana Tech. I love my school. And I think we bring a lot to the table. But I don't know why FIU would prefer us to FAU/USF/USA/USM/GSU/otherGSU/Troy or any of the other schools that they fly right over to get to us. That doesn't hurt my feelings.

Y'all just haven't been through this enough yet. It's not personal (usually).

Besides, wouldn't the GOR be the more "distrustful" move? Don't you trust us not to leave without one?

(10-19-2022 04:09 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  If I could create my ideal conference...

STOP right there please. I've seen these hypothetical fan lists for years. Seems like a waste of time. The "perfect" OR even close to perfect conf. is NOT going to happen. You and I can't get it to occur!

Can we improve? Sure hope so--- but it will never be exactly what we want.

Just win more OC games--everybody-- and things will improve.

I agree with this.

But you'd probably generally want to be in a conference with a couple of schools in your top 15 or so, right?

Like in the 14 team CUSA, if you ranked "teams you like sharing a conference with" WKU would be in the top half probably (for me, and I assume for many other Tech fans). But WKU-Tech being each other's like 6th favorite school in the conference is a different thing from being each other's 1st or 2nd favorite (because at that point, you've got a problem).

(10-19-2022 04:01 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 03:56 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(10-19-2022 03:26 PM)HiddenDragon Wrote:  I'm getting as far away from ESPN + as possible.

I believe the AAC has espn+ as well. Obviously they have a lot of espn linear appearances as well but espn+ is a good streaming service for games not picked for linear.

I just wish they would mandate some base level of production values. Seeing some games with broken audio, poor cameras, a barely functional scoreboard, etc. just cheapens the whole league and service.

I mentioned the league should use some of the buyout money for production equipment a few months back and most of the existing member posters did not like the idea.