I was just thinking about this after replying in another thread.
I've got to go with WKU. They have -at the very least- a Top 50 all-time program in basketball and they will have a good football program under Petrino. I really can not speak about their other sports.
In a very close second-place, I would have to go with ODU. In fact, they might overtake the "best program in the conference" spot within the decade. Their upside is tremendous.
Thoughts?
I like to think that
everyone will be a great contributor to CUSA.
this thread is going to end well.....
From a UTEP perspective it has to be UNT and UTSA because it provides UTEP with exposure in the rest of the state and a chance for our many alums to attend games.
I'd go with La Tech and WKU as my my T2. Then I would say ODU is my 3rd choice. If Charlotte pans out in football they could be up there with ODU.
I know why CUSA took FAU and FIU but that doesn't make it right.
UTSA is a wild card IMO.
I don't understand how UNT isn't obvious to most people.
History: Check
Stadium: Check
City: Check
Student attendance: Check
Academic prestige: Check
Size: Check
All we have to do is win football games.
(07-09-2013 01:23 AM)meangreener Wrote: [ -> ]I don't understand how UNT isn't obvious to most people.
History: Check
Stadium: Check
City: Check
Student attendance: Check
Academic prestige: Check
Size: Check
All we have to do is win football games.
answered your own q there...
i kid.
i like having unt in conference. amazing facilities down in denton.
I am very pleased with CUSA West. Now that realignment has died down I believe we will be stable.
UTSA-attendance, market, facilities, NCAA champ coach. Biggest thing is we have a hungry fan base with city leadership behind them.
UNT-great facilities.
Tech-great recruiting
UTEP-best hoops in the conference
Rice-great academics
USM-solid history
(07-09-2013 03:51 AM)SApuro Wrote: [ -> ]I am very pleased with CUSA West. Now that realignment has died down I believe we will be stable.
UTSA-attendance, market, facilities, NCAA champ coach. Biggest thing is we have a hungry fan base with city leadership behind them.
UNT-great facilities.
Tech-great recruiting
UTEP-best hoops in the conference
Rice-great academics
USM-solid history
UTEP is not the best hoops program in the conference. Its been over 20years since they won a NCAA tournament game.
(07-09-2013 04:14 AM)bladhmadh Wrote: [ -> ] (07-09-2013 03:51 AM)SApuro Wrote: [ -> ]I am very pleased with CUSA West. Now that realignment has died down I believe we will be stable.
UTSA-attendance, market, facilities, NCAA champ coach. Biggest thing is we have a hungry fan base with city leadership behind them.
UNT-great facilities.
Tech-great recruiting
UTEP-best hand sign
Rice-great academics
USM-solid history
UTEP is not the best hoops program in the conference. Its been over 20years since they won a NCAA tournament game.
Ok fixed
What's with the ODU hype? Not trying to hate and I'm fully aware of their success in FCS, but it's still FCS at the end of the day. Just weird that you guys are quick to point out how we haven't played a full FBS schedule/we beat lower tier or transitional programs but ODU is hailed for dominating in FCS. East division bias, maybe ?
(07-09-2013 05:39 AM)correcamino Wrote: [ -> ]What's with the ODU hype? Not trying to hate and I'm fully aware of their success in FCS, but it's still FCS at the end of the day. Just weird that you guys are quick to point out how we haven't played a full FBS schedule/we beat lower tier or transitional programs but ODU is hailed for dominating in FCS. East division bias, maybe ?
Fertile recruiting ground in the 247 VA tidewater, near the beach, solid Bball program and a pretty decent football team at their level.
(07-09-2013 05:39 AM)correcamino Wrote: [ -> ]What's with the ODU hype? Not trying to hate and I'm fully aware of their success in FCS, but it's still FCS at the end of the day. Just weird that you guys are quick to point out how we haven't played a full FBS schedule/we beat lower tier or transitional programs but ODU is hailed for dominating in FCS. East division bias, maybe ?
School familiarity? Shrug. To be completely honest I'm still learning who UNT, UTSA, UTEP, etc is. Different worlds to me. I assume that it's the same for most general fans from schools on the other side of TX as well. Most of the western schools students/fans were probably like "Who is Old Dominion?" Unless they happened to have caught that recent Butler buzzer beater they probably have no clue. I was only familiar in name with FAU, FIU, Charlotte, WKU and MT because of the region. But my college sports history is only about 4-5 years deep now and the scope of that history was the CAA.
I'm not sure I really like the OP's question. Bringing in schools, with like minded approaches to college athletics, similar commitments to facilities, in tighter geographic areas creating more regionalized divisions all seems like a winning strategy. i try not to play "whose is bigger" games with other conferences and certainly don't want to play that with my own conference mates. The truth is I like ODU, LaTech, Charlotte, FAU, FIU, North Texas, MTSU, WKU, and UTSA. And, while I like all of those schools, I am most partial to Rice, UAB, USM, UTEP. They are our tradition, as it exists today and should be honored. It doesn't mean I don't honor our new friends, as well.
Is our conference the exact one that any of us would have designed if we had full freedom of choice? Probably not, but I think BB selected the best available for what we are trying to accomplish. It has the potential to be a fine conference from year 1...and the future looks bright. If you want to call that "drinking the kool-aid" that's fine with me. I am a believer!
Right now, I'd go with Middle Tennessee as the best addition to C-USA. That is not to say they will have the most success over the next decade or so, but I do think they are best positioned to do so.
MTSU probably. Followed closely by La Tech and WKU.
(07-08-2013 10:35 PM)Ned Low Wrote: [ -> ]I was just thinking about this after replying in another thread.
I've got to go with WKU. They have -at the very least- a Top 50 all-time program in basketball and they will have a good football program under Petrino. I really can not speak about their other sports. In a very close second-place, I would have to go with ODU. In fact, they might overtake the "best program in the conference" spot within the decade. Their upside is tremendous.
Thoughts?
Not sure the "other Sports" matter too much in grand scheme of things, but our women's volleyball team was ranked most of last season and advanced to second round of NCAA tournament...We have had the same coach for years and he has built a dynasty...Women's softball is up and coming too, made their first NCAA at Large bid this past season...Baseball not really confident in, we have had good teams in the past but seem to be floundering with current coach..Women's basketball is back at least based on last season, made NIT and return everyone off last season team after some really bad teams under previous coach, we seem to be heading in right direction..Is La. Tech and ODU making come backs in women's basketball?...We had some battles with those programs back in the day...
Men's basketballs worse years are behind us, last season and 3 prior were a disaster in grand scheme of things even though we did make NCAA tournament, however WKU fans are used to 12th seed or above not 16 and we are appear to be out of the disaster our previous clown coach had us in...Football is only going up with Petrino or not in the future, Jeff Brohm has been mentioned as coach in the waiting (current OC)...So yes I am a homer, but I think WKU is in good shape in the future with the commitment we have from everyone in admin. and the facilities we have.....Football will need an Indoor Practice Facility and expansion of stadium but we feel that will be happening next 5 -10 years, everything else facility wise is good to go and would put on par with any other CUSA school...
(07-08-2013 10:35 PM)Ned Low Wrote: [ -> ]I was just thinking about this after replying in another thread.
I've got to go with WKU. They have -at the very least- a Top 50 all-time program in basketball and they will have a good football program under Petrino. I really can not speak about their other sports.
In a very close second-place, I would have to go with ODU. In fact, they might overtake the "best program in the conference" spot within the decade. Their upside is tremendous.
Thoughts?
I'll be honest and say that I like all the new additions. Whats not to like?
Each of them add their own benefit and uniqueness to CUSA. I think "overall" basketball is stronger and more balanced from top to bottom. The additions of WKU, ODU and Charlotte more than speak for itself. This league can easily become a 3 bid league.
La Tech hasn't hit their ceiling yet and sets up for nice regional rivalries with Southern Miss/UAB as does MTSU. UTSA....like ODU.....has huge upside. Will instantly provide rivalries to UNT, UTEP, Rice etc. At some point down the road I think Texas State will be a member which will provide even more regional sense and rivalry status for the other members. FAU and FIU will continue to grow and provide good exposure for CUSA in Florida.
When its all said and done, I think ECU will regret moving on to the AAC sometime down the road. For years ECU tried to persuade CUSA to add more east schools and then got it with ODU, Charlotte, WKU, MTSU only to see ECU bolt. Its no secret that ECU wanted separation from some of the private schools like Tulane and SMU. Oddly they end up jumping with them. It might take 6-8 years to realize the mistake but I think ECU will look back and see they made the wrong move in the long run.