CSNbbs

How would you feel about getting rid of divisions? Each team would get 3 permanent rivals to play every year. The other ten teams are split into two groups of 5 and they are played in alternating years.

You get to play every team in conference in two years time. In four years, you will have played home and away with every school. The top two teams by record at the end of each year play in the championship game.

I attempted to make a proposal of how the 3 permanent opponents would look for each school. I first tried to keep in mind some traditional rivalries like WKU-MTSU, FIU-FAU, USM-UAB, USM-LaTech. Then tried to keep some traditional recruiting sites like Texas for Tech and Florida for Marshall, but I'm not familiar with every school's preference for that so my proposal could be lacking. I finally just tried to keep the permanent opponents as close as possible in the end. UTEP and the florida schools make that a bit difficult.



Permanent Opponents:
UTEP: UTSA, UNT, Rice
UTSA: UTEP, UNT, Rice
UNT: UTEP, UTSA, LaTech
Rice: UTEP, UTSA, LaTech
LaTech: UNT, Rice, USM
USM: LaTech, UAB, FIU
UAB: USM, MTSU, FAU
FIU: USM, FAU, Marshall
FAU: UAB, FIU, Charlotte
MTSU: UAB, WKU, Charlotte
WKU: MTSU, Marshall, ODU
Charlotte: MTSU, FAU, ODU
Marshall: WKU, ODU, FIU
ODU: Marshall, WKU, Charlotte

Example Schedules:
UTEP: UTSA, UNT, Rice...LaTech, WKU, UAB, FIU, FAU
UTEP: UTSA, UNT, Rice...MTSU, USM, Charlotte, Marshall, ODU

UTSA: UTEP, UNT, Rice... WKU, FAU, ODU, Charlotte, USM
UTSA: UTEP, UNT, Rice... UAB, LaTech, MTSU, Marshall, FIU

UNT: UTEP, UTSA, LaTech... Marshall, WKU, RICE, MTSU, FIU
UNT: UTEP, UTSA, LaTech... FAU, ODU, Charlotte, USM, UAB

Rice: UTEP, UTSA, LaTech... UNT, USM, WKU, FAU, ODU
Rice: UTEP, UTSA, LaTech...UAB, Marshall, Charlotte, MTSU, FIU

LaTech: UNT, Rice, USM... UTEP, FIU, UAB, ODU, WKU
LaTech: UNT, Rice, USM... FAU, UTSA, Charlotte, MTSU, Marshall

USM: LaTech, UAB, FIU... UTSA, RICE, Marshall, Charlotte, MTSU
USM: LaTech, UAB, FIU... UTEP, UNT, WKU, FAU, ODU

UAB: USM, MTSU, FAU... UTEP, LaTech, ODU, Charlotte, Marshall
UAB: USM, MTSU, FAU... FIU, WKU, RICE, UTSA, UNT

FIU: USM, FAU, Marshall... UNT, LaTech, MTSU, Charlotte, UTEP
FIU: USM, FAU, Marshall... UTSA, RICE, UAB, WKU, ODU

FAU: UAB, FIU, Charlotte... UTEP, ODU, RICE, MTSU, UTSA
FAU: UAB, FIU, Charlotte... UNT, Marshall, WKU, LaTech, USM

MTSU: UAB, WKU, Charlotte... FAU, FIU, USM, UNT, Marshall
MTSU: UAB, WKU, Charlotte... LaTech, UTEP, UTSA, RICE, ODU

WKU: MTSU, Marshall, ODU... UTEP, LaTech, UTSA, UNT, RICE
WKU: MTSU, Marshall, ODU... UAB, FAU, Charlotte, FIU, USM

Charlotte: MTSU, FAU, ODU... FIU, UAB, USM, Marshall, UTSA
Charlotte: MTSU, FAU, ODU... WKU, LaTech, Rice, UNT, UTEP

Marshall: WKU, ODU, FIU... Charlotte, USM, UNT, UAB, MTSU
Marshall: WKU, ODU, FIU... LaTech, Rice, UTSA, UTEP, FAU

ODU: Marshall, WKU, Charlotte...LaTech, UTSA, UAB, RICE, FAU
ODU: Marshall, WKU, Charlotte...UTEP, USM, UNT, FIU, MTSU

I think a clear east-west divide could still be seen in the map with LaTech-USM being the link between them. Possibly schools on opposite ends of the conference don't feel enough of a connection to truly want to play more on the opposite end of the conference but maybe it could create more rivalries between schools on opposite ends, actually creating more cohesion in the conference. Tech playing only ODU only once so far in football causes a lack of interest in playing them again (Though I do want revenge). CUSA members having to play teams at least every two years really could create some camaraderie between all schools and a more cohesive conference.

Pretty sure we'd want USM, UAB, and WKU. The Florida thing was Doc's idea. Our recruiting has been and should be opened up quite a bit under Huff. Of courses I don't know how they feel about that, but those would be my choice. Nice work, though. Lots of possibilities that this rule would open up.

With three permanent games there'd be 2 away and 1 home and vice versa. That would make the scheduling of the other 5 a nightmare I would think. Have to line up those home games so everyone got 4-4 total. With everyone playing different permanent games it would be a monumental task the first couple years making it work right.

We’d prefer Marshall over FIU.

How about this? USM and Marshall get their three preferred choices. Charlotte though gets stuck with both Florida schools if they are fine with that. A trip to Miami every year.

USM: Marshall, UAB, LaTech
UAB: Marshall, USM, MTSU
Marshall: USM, UAB, WKU
Charlotte: FIU, FAU, ODU


Or to spread out the Florida schools a bit more, FIU can go to UAB and replace MTSU instead of both FIU and FAU to Charlotte.

UAB: Marshall, USM, FIU
Charlotte: MTSU, FAU, ODU

(06-20-2021 09:19 AM)dawgonit Wrote: [ -> ]

How about this? USM and Marshall get their three preferred choices. Charlotte though gets stuck with both Florida schools if they are fine with that. A trip to Miami every year.

USM: Marshall, UAB, LaTech
UAB: Marshall, USM, MTSU
Marshall: USM, UAB, WKU
Charlotte: FIU, FAU, ODU


Or to spread out the Florida schools a bit more, FIU can go to UAB and replace MTSU instead of both FIU and FAU to Charlotte.

UAB: Marshall, USM, FIU
Charlotte: MTSU, FAU, ODU

I think you're on to something. Good job.

If we scrap divisions, I don’t want permanent opponents. It’s a disaster in the SEC and would only be worse in a conference like ours. Make the playing field as even as possible from day 1, don’t give one team and advantage while giving another a disadvantage right of the bat.

I have no problem with the current set up.

(06-20-2021 10:25 AM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]I have no problem with the current set up.

I don’t really have an issue with divisions but the lazy way they schedule cross divisional teams has to change.

If I had a vote I could be talked into getting rid of divisions but I agree with the post above that if we did we need get scrap all permanent opponents. That way the top two teams play for the conference.

Just a reminder Marshall hasn't played UTEP in football since Nov 28 2009. At that time Mark Snyder was still head coach. That was his last game.

(06-20-2021 10:39 AM)Dusky Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 10:25 AM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]I have no problem with the current set up.

I don’t really have an issue with divisions but the lazy way they schedule cross divisional teams has to change.

If I had a vote I could be talked into getting rid of divisions but I agree with the post above that if we did we need get scrap all permanent opponents. That way the top two teams play for the conference.

I believe that the current set up allows plenty of OOC games for fan interest and pay day games. It also makes divisional games matter. Win your division and you are in the CCG.

(06-20-2021 11:07 AM)HerdZoned Wrote: [ -> ]Just a reminder Marshall hasn't played UTEP in football since Nov 28 2009. At that time Mark Snyder was still head coach. That was his last game.

As I recall, most of the realignment discussions use UTEP as the poster child reason for change.

I couldn't care less about Charlotte.

FAU should play UAB, FIU, and Marshall.

To me, it would make sense to just eliminate cross division games and play more OOC games.

Or save the cross division games until the very end of the season (after divisional play is completed) and then we do our own intra conference playoff or pod scheduling to determine conference champ.

Honestly, could even expand to 18 teams and just operate as two completely separate conferences in terms of conference scheduling. Just play round robin in your division and then the winners of each division play for conference championship.

(06-20-2021 12:01 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]Honestly, could even expand to 18 teams and just operate as two completely separate conferences in terms of conference scheduling. Just play round robin in your division and then the winners of each division play for conference championship.

Playing round robin in our division with the two winners playing for a conference championship is what we do now.

(06-20-2021 11:35 AM)goliath74 Wrote: [ -> ]I couldn't care less about Charlotte.

FAU should play UAB, FIU, and Marshall.

FAU plays UAB this year and next year with the potential to play each other again in this year’s and future year’s CCG.

(06-20-2021 12:05 PM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:01 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]Honestly, could even expand to 18 teams and just operate as two completely separate conferences in terms of conference scheduling. Just play round robin in your division and then the winners of each division play for conference championship.

Playing round robin in our division with the two winners playing for a conference championship is what we do now.

Yeah but we currently play two cross division games. I’m saying we should eliminate those cross division games and operate as two completely separate conferences during the regular season.

I dont hate the OP's idea. It sucks that it takes so long to play everyone in the current setup. I would hate losing Rice every year but I do think it's important that we play Tech every season.

(06-20-2021 12:48 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:05 PM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:01 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]Honestly, could even expand to 18 teams and just operate as two completely separate conferences in terms of conference scheduling. Just play round robin in your division and then the winners of each division play for conference championship.

Playing round robin in our division with the two winners playing for a conference championship is what we do now.

Yeah but we currently play two cross division games. I’m saying we should eliminate those cross division games and operate as two completely separate conferences during the regular season.

I don’t see the cross divisional games as a burden as you only have to travel to one each year.

(06-20-2021 01:06 PM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:48 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:05 PM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:01 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]Honestly, could even expand to 18 teams and just operate as two completely separate conferences in terms of conference scheduling. Just play round robin in your division and then the winners of each division play for conference championship.

Playing round robin in our division with the two winners playing for a conference championship is what we do now.

Yeah but we currently play two cross division games. I’m saying we should eliminate those cross division games and operate as two completely separate conferences during the regular season.

I don’t see the cross divisional games as a burden as you only have to travel to one each year.

It’s not about the burden as much as it is increasing our chances of getting the playoff bid. We would basically be two separate conferences where our champs play each other at the end of the year. In theory this should allow two solid teams to play in the championship, in turn giving the winner a quality win to end the season.

(06-20-2021 01:41 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 01:06 PM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:48 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:05 PM)MAN4UAB Wrote: [ -> ]

(06-20-2021 12:01 PM)herdfan129 Wrote: [ -> ]Honestly, could even expand to 18 teams and just operate as two completely separate conferences in terms of conference scheduling. Just play round robin in your division and then the winners of each division play for conference championship.

Playing round robin in our division with the two winners playing for a conference championship is what we do now.

Yeah but we currently play two cross division games. I’m saying we should eliminate those cross division games and operate as two completely separate conferences during the regular season.

I don’t see the cross divisional games as a burden as you only have to travel to one each year.

It’s not about the burden as much as it is increasing our chances of getting the playoff bid. We would basically be two separate conferences where our champs play each other at the end of the year. In theory this should allow two solid teams to play in the championship, in turn giving the winner a quality win to end the season.

I think that judicious OOC game scheduling can accomplish that in the current arrangement. I don’t feel adding more slices to the pie will improve our conference’ champion’s shot nor financially worthwhile.