http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...team-model
Quote:C-USA is considering expansion to 16 teams in football, commissioner Britton Banowsky said Monday.
Quote:“We've modeled it at 16, and it does kind of create some divisions that are a little more geographically connected,” Banowsky said. “We haven't acted on it. I think personally a larger conference is better because you get some efficiencies, you get the benefit of a bigger group. We don't want to lose our identity in the process. We're just kind of moderating the growth at a pace where people are comfortable. It could be folks are just comfortable (at 14).”
And as for who to add:
Quote:Arkansas State or Louisiana-Lafayette from the Sun Belt, which has lost several teams to C-USA, could be attractive options.
Quote:“Whether or not you get more revenue is the question,” Banowsky said.
It means UL and stAte want in, so Banowsky is talking to the tv guys. I would love for UAB to stay in the east
......................................whatever. Nothing against ULL but we already have a team in Louisiana, not sure two is a benefit. Would rather see us move into Missouri with Missouri St.
(04-08-2013 12:33 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote: [ -> ]......................................whatever. Nothing against ULL but we already have a team in Louisiana, not sure two is a benefit. Would rather see us move into Missouri with Missouri St.
...isn't your school in the same state as ECU?
CUSA would do well adding stAte & ULL.
If you went with stAte and JMU that wouldn't be bad either.
If CUSA is still just going after TV markets then GA St and JMU would be the best in that regard.
(04-08-2013 12:33 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote: [ -> ]......................................whatever. Nothing against ULL but we already have a team in Louisiana, not sure two is a benefit. Would rather see us move into Missouri with Missouri St.
The thing with ULL is they are a nice addition if you want to move Southern Miss to the West.
AState is nice for Louisiana Tech and they bring a lot of football power back to the league that was lost. The new CUSA is pretty weak right now in FB and can use a couple more established FBS programs for a boost.
After Arkansas State, they could add a Georgia school, but Missouri State is positioning itself well.
So all of JMU, Liberty, and Jacksonville St get a welcome to the Sun Belt?
(04-08-2013 12:59 PM)NoDak Wrote: [ -> ]So all of JMU, Liberty, and Jacksonville get a welcome to the Sun Belt?
Anyone who wants in.
(04-08-2013 12:52 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ] (04-08-2013 12:33 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote: [ -> ]......................................whatever. Nothing against ULL but we already have a team in Louisiana, not sure two is a benefit. Would rather see us move into Missouri with Missouri St.
...isn't your school in the same state as ECU?
CUSA would do well adding stAte & ULL.
If you went with stAte and JMU that wouldn't be bad either.
If CUSA is still just going after TV markets then GA St and JMU would be the best in that regard.
North Carolina - population 10 million
Louisiana - population 5 million
(so it's not exactly like we're comparing apples and cantaloupes here)
Plus, East Carolina is out after this season.
C-USA would probably be better served ditching North Texas and Florida Atlantic/FIU, to get to 12.
Charlotte
Florida Atlantic/FIU
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
Western Kentucky
Louisiana Tech
Rice
Southern Miss
UAB
UTEP
UTSA
If they want two in the west, Arkansas state and Missouri state could work if missouri state was willing to jump and they might for CUSA. I don't see the need for 2 teams in Louisiana though at 16 members. Of course, cusa really could break into 2 leagues or jump to 18-20 with little cross over between the sides.
If the B1G and/or SEC go to a 16-team model, I would guess that conference semifinals would not be far behind. CUSA may be trying to get ahead of the curve in that regard.
(04-08-2013 12:33 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote: [ -> ]......................................whatever. Nothing against ULL but we already have a team in Louisiana, not sure two is a benefit. Would rather see us move into Missouri with Missouri St.
You been to Louisiana? The state is bisected by two interstates. I-20 runs through Ruston from Vicksburg to Dallas. I-10 runs through Lafayette from Houston to New Orleans, and along the gulf coast.
La.Tech and Louisiana are 180 miles apart and only half the drive is interstate, (I-49 from Shreveport to Lafayette). North Louisiana where La.Tech is as different from Lafayette where ULL is as the difference between the towns in the smokies in North Carolina and the the little coastal towns on the Atlantic.
I like Missouri State a lot, but they probably can't even start transition until 2014 at the earliest because of the stadium renovations they need.
(04-08-2013 12:23 PM)CommuterBob Wrote: [ -> ]http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...team-model
Quote:C-USA is considering expansion to 16 teams in football, commissioner Britton Banowsky said Monday.
Quote:“We've modeled it at 16, and it does kind of create some divisions that are a little more geographically connected,” Banowsky said. “We haven't acted on it. I think personally a larger conference is better because you get some efficiencies, you get the benefit of a bigger group. We don't want to lose our identity in the process. We're just kind of moderating the growth at a pace where people are comfortable. It could be folks are just comfortable (at 14).”
And as for who to add:
Quote:Arkansas State or Louisiana-Lafayette from the Sun Belt, which has lost several teams to C-USA, could be attractive options.
Quote:“Whether or not you get more revenue is the question,” Banowsky said.
I thought this might be coming. Banowsky mentioned a couple of times during the press conference that CUSA was the largest FBS conference...well, it was for like a day. I dont think he was talking about that one day, I think they intend to be the largest conference and they intend for that to be thier claim to fame. That leads me to believe they likley intend to be bigger very soon. I also think they just might go to 18 if anyone else goes to 16.
I could see 16, 18, or 20 if those numbers were revenue neutral, makes travel much better. Always could go for VCU and Wichita state as non football members too. If they jumped to 20, maybe cusa could be a test case for an ncaa appeal, have two 10 team divisions with both having hoop tourney and auto bid for each division.
(04-08-2013 01:00 PM)swash Wrote: [ -> ]North Carolina - population 10 million
Louisiana - population 5 million
(so it's not exactly like we're comparing apples and cantaloupes here)
Plus, East Carolina is out after this season.
North Carolina does have 10 million people -- but it also has four ACC schools. Louisiana has LSU and no other "contract conference" school.
On the other hand, LSU football dominates fan loyalty in Louisiana so much that the real question is, can a conference get any substantial football value by adding any Louisiana school that is not LSU, especially when that conference already has one.
Adding more schools on a "bigger is better" theory without thoroughly vetting each school to make sure that each brings substantial value is just more of the WAC-16 or
"Underpants Gnomes" theory of conference expansion.
This puts stAte in an interesting position if true. As it stands, if JMU joins the Belt, they are on par with CUSA and the MAC come 2016 as far as strength of FB programs. If the Belt were to lose 2 more, there are not a lot of programs to add that would allow the previous statement ro remain true.
Arkansas State makes a lot of sense due to geography and the commitment to winning football that had been shown. If the goal is to help CUSA with geography, then stAte is in a position to play in the western division while still being a relatively short trip for schools in the east. Arkansas State gives you the #2 school in a state with only two FBS programs and it gets you a slice of the Memphis market as well. There are also companies in Arkansas that would be potential sponsors for a bowl game in Little Rock that has been in the works. Arkansas State also gives you a very solid appearance on television with stands that are mostly full.
What stAte does not have is a huge budget or a large metro location. We pay our coaches very well and have recruited very well and are about to break ground on a new football facility and seating but the budget won't blow you away. It is what it is and that is a college town with a strong following throughout the state and locally.
I am very excited about App State, Ga. So. and Texas State joining the Belt but playing USM, Rice, ULL and La. Tech regulary would be appealing as well.
(04-08-2013 01:00 PM)swash Wrote: [ -> ] (04-08-2013 12:52 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ] (04-08-2013 12:33 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote: [ -> ]......................................whatever. Nothing against ULL but we already have a team in Louisiana, not sure two is a benefit. Would rather see us move into Missouri with Missouri St.
...isn't your school in the same state as ECU?
CUSA would do well adding stAte & ULL.
If you went with stAte and JMU that wouldn't be bad either.
If CUSA is still just going after TV markets then GA St and JMU would be the best in that regard.
North Carolina - population 10 million
Louisiana - population 5 million
(so it's not exactly like we're comparing apples and cantaloupes here)
Plus, East Carolina is out after this season.
With the state for Georgia at almost 10mil and Atl at 2.3mil its all the more reason that GA St could be under consideration.
Charlotte was announced around May 4th.
ECU announced it was leaving around November 27th.
For 6 months it looked like ECU was going to play in the same conference as the 49rs. The only reason its not happening because of the moves by Maryland, Rutgers & Louisville.
(04-08-2013 01:59 PM)Wedge Wrote: [ -> ] (04-08-2013 01:00 PM)swash Wrote: [ -> ]North Carolina - population 10 million
Louisiana - population 5 million
(so it's not exactly like we're comparing apples and cantaloupes here)
Plus, East Carolina is out after this season.
North Carolina does have 10 million people -- but it also has four ACC schools. Louisiana has LSU and no other "contract conference" school.
On the other hand, LSU football dominates fan loyalty in Louisiana so much that the real question is, can a conference get any substantial football value by adding any Louisiana school that is not LSU, especially when that conference already has one.
Adding more schools on a "bigger is better" theory without thoroughly vetting each school to make sure that each brings substantial value is just more of the WAC-16 or "Underpants Gnomes" theory of conference expansion.
I think they figure the income isnt going to be much different either way. But if they have 16 or even 18 schools in the south and southeast, they reduce travel costs and increase penetration into their footprint. I see no reason for them to go after any FCS schools when ArkState and U-LaLa are available existing FBS schools that are on a par with most of thier current membership. Increase rivalries and create more drivable travel opportunities for fans. CUSA isnt going to make any money. May as well make the league as fun and fan friendly as possible. The more the merrier. Besides, being the largest FBS league with a reasonable geographic footprint makes it much more likley to be a long term survivor.