...apologies if this is posted elsewhere, but it looks pretty fresh:
SBC Expansion up to 4?
...also first I've heard about C-USA trying to backfill...
UPDATE - well, I guess, just a nugget (interpret that how you see fit) - I was over on the C-USA board and a Marshall poster noted he had heard from his dreaded 'reliable sources' that the Sun Belt will take USM, Marshall, WKU, and EITHER ODU or JMU... so up to 4 C-USA teams... looks like the party's over for Judy, y'all...
If C-USA can get Liberty and JMU, they might be able to hold things together. JMU is a good fit for Charlotte's spot, and while I'm not fond of Liberty they have deep pockets. Both teams bring multiple competent teams. Add in getting a better TV deal, because the current one was by far the worst, six teams paying exit fees, and a much tighter and more regional conference. Can Judy's butt and move the conference offices to the southeast.
If the SBC pulls this off it becomes a REALLY strong football conference and adds a couple of credible basketball programs as well. I'm really hoping CUSA can add whoever they need to to keep everyone happy and stay alive. Adding Liberty, NMSU, and I guess JMU makes them a pretty legit basketball conference and a solid football conference. This would be a big win for CUSA, despite who they are losing.
The "horse trading" going on over the last few months would be a fascinating read if we could get the real details. A crazy burst of activity after a fairly long lull in conference realignment.
...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
(10-20-2021 07:28 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: [ -> ]...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
I've said this on the Sun Belt board too but I think it's crazy for LT and Louisiana not to be in the same league. The games would be so intense and have great attendance for both teams. But it does seem the bad blood between schools is going to keep LT, WKU, MT and FIU on the outside of the Belt.
Seems like at least Coastal applied to the AAC too but ESPN shot that down. I'm not sure I would be that happy about being permanently tied to the Belt by ESPN if my team was CCU. Devil is in the details though and we'll never know all those. At least from the outside it seems the talk about new (CUSA) and existing (SBC) ESPN properties was pretty accurate.
Good Sun Belt game on ESPN2 right now. CCU 17 App 14 2 minutes to the half.
(10-20-2021 07:50 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:28 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: [ -> ]...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
I've said this on the Sun Belt board too but I think it's crazy for LT and Louisiana not to be in the same league. The games would be so intense and have great attendance for both teams. But it does seem the bad blood between schools is going to keep LT, WKU, MT and FIU on the outside of the Belt.
Seems like at least Coastal applied to the AAC too but ESPN shot that down. I'm not sure I would be that happy about being permanently tied to the Belt by ESPN if my team was CCU. Devil is in the details though and we'll never know all those. At least from the outside it seems the talk about new (CUSA) and existing (SBC) ESPN properties was pretty accurate.
Really starting to think the end game here could be the elimination of C-USA as an FBS conference. Pretty much everybody else in FBS stands to gain from it and I'm not sure the rest of FBS wants to see more FCS call-ups to save the league either. It happened before to the WAC, so it's possible.
(10-20-2021 08:05 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:50 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:28 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: [ -> ]...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
I've said this on the Sun Belt board too but I think it's crazy for LT and Louisiana not to be in the same league. The games would be so intense and have great attendance for both teams. But it does seem the bad blood between schools is going to keep LT, WKU, MT and FIU on the outside of the Belt.
Seems like at least Coastal applied to the AAC too but ESPN shot that down. I'm not sure I would be that happy about being permanently tied to the Belt by ESPN if my team was CCU. Devil is in the details though and we'll never know all those. At least from the outside it seems the talk about new (CUSA) and existing (SBC) ESPN properties was pretty accurate.
Really starting to think the end game here could be the elimination of C-USA as an FBS conference. Pretty much everybody else in FBS stands to gain from it and I'm not sure the rest of FBS wants to see more FCS call-ups to save the league either. It happened before to the WAC, so it's possible.
What happens to the Doghouse 4? LT, MT, WKU, FIU. I sincerely hope the MWC will invite UTEP. I've met some great people from that school and I'm pulling for them.
(10-20-2021 08:08 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 08:05 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:50 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:28 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: [ -> ]...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
I've said this on the Sun Belt board too but I think it's crazy for LT and Louisiana not to be in the same league. The games would be so intense and have great attendance for both teams. But it does seem the bad blood between schools is going to keep LT, WKU, MT and FIU on the outside of the Belt.
Seems like at least Coastal applied to the AAC too but ESPN shot that down. I'm not sure I would be that happy about being permanently tied to the Belt by ESPN if my team was CCU. Devil is in the details though and we'll never know all those. At least from the outside it seems the talk about new (CUSA) and existing (SBC) ESPN properties was pretty accurate.
Really starting to think the end game here could be the elimination of C-USA as an FBS conference. Pretty much everybody else in FBS stands to gain from it and I'm not sure the rest of FBS wants to see more FCS call-ups to save the league either. It happened before to the WAC, so it's possible.
What happens to the Doghouse 4? LT, MT, WKU, FIU. I sincerely hope the MWC will invite UTEP. I've met some great people from that school and I'm pulling for them.
I hope so too. If not it may be the WAC and independent in football. That would be a shame for such a storied bball program and an all around good school that's had incredible fan support in the not too distant past.
(10-20-2021 08:20 PM)BlazintheAtl1 Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 08:08 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 08:05 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:50 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:28 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: [ -> ]...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
I've said this on the Sun Belt board too but I think it's crazy for LT and Louisiana not to be in the same league. The games would be so intense and have great attendance for both teams. But it does seem the bad blood between schools is going to keep LT, WKU, MT and FIU on the outside of the Belt.
Seems like at least Coastal applied to the AAC too but ESPN shot that down. I'm not sure I would be that happy about being permanently tied to the Belt by ESPN if my team was CCU. Devil is in the details though and we'll never know all those. At least from the outside it seems the talk about new (CUSA) and existing (SBC) ESPN properties was pretty accurate.
Really starting to think the end game here could be the elimination of C-USA as an FBS conference. Pretty much everybody else in FBS stands to gain from it and I'm not sure the rest of FBS wants to see more FCS call-ups to save the league either. It happened before to the WAC, so it's possible.
What happens to the Doghouse 4? LT, MT, WKU, FIU. I sincerely hope the MWC will invite UTEP. I've met some great people from that school and I'm pulling for them.
I hope so too. If not it may be the WAC and independent in football. That would be a shame for such a storied bball program and an all around good school that's had incredible fan support in the not too distant past.
As we know oh so well, timing is everything. UTSA turned their football program around at the perfect time. MT's did the opposite. If UTEP had stayed in the WAC with San Jose State and Utah State, they would probably be in the Mtn West right now. We seem to be opening Protective at a pretty propitious time ourselves. That's really preparation and not luck but the timing has worked out well.
(10-20-2021 08:05 PM)DuelingDragon Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:50 PM)BlazerGreen Wrote: [ -> ] (10-20-2021 07:28 PM)GreenFreakUAB Wrote: [ -> ]...yeah I just hope everyone finds a spot (even La.Tech)... If they could somehow preserve CUSA and bring in the best available - and obviously oust Judy - they could hang on pretty well... but the endgame may well be at ESPN's directives... I HAVE gleaned from the CUSA board (heck y'all are over there as well) that the Belt appears to have 'rejected' any former members, thus WKU is a no-go - if 4 is the number, they are now noting USM, Marshall, ODU, and JMU. I believe the last two are 'bones thrown' to Marshall to give them some regional adds (although ODU has some great potential... not sure about JMU...)
I've said this on the Sun Belt board too but I think it's crazy for LT and Louisiana not to be in the same league. The games would be so intense and have great attendance for both teams. But it does seem the bad blood between schools is going to keep LT, WKU, MT and FIU on the outside of the Belt.
Seems like at least Coastal applied to the AAC too but ESPN shot that down. I'm not sure I would be that happy about being permanently tied to the Belt by ESPN if my team was CCU. Devil is in the details though and we'll never know all those. At least from the outside it seems the talk about new (CUSA) and existing (SBC) ESPN properties was pretty accurate.
Really starting to think the end game here could be the elimination of C-USA as an FBS conference. Pretty much everybody else in FBS stands to gain from it and I'm not sure the rest of FBS wants to see more FCS call-ups to save the league either. It happened before to the WAC, so it's possible.
Theoretically, one less conference would increase the CFP payout to the other 9 conferences right? And elimination of an auto-bid to the NCAA tournament would open another at large bid and open up more bowl games to the remaining 9 conferences (if some bowl games don't fold).
So if CUSA collapses no exit fees either right? I don’t see how CUSA could salvage anything from this.
That SunBelt lineup would be pretty solid in football. But still don’t think they will overtake AAC. Basketball would definitely be inferior.
Looking at it like this, ESPN owns the southern-based urban conference (AAC) and the southern-based rural conference (SBC).
That doesn't leave much room left for a southern-based mish-mash (C-USA). ESPN can easily place the relevant brands and drop some spillover into the other property it owns (MAC). Anyone left over goes independent and cuts their own deal if they can get one (like Liberty did).
One last point -- throughout NCAA history, there has been a very delicate balance held between the rich and poor. The times we live in have really strained this balance. We're literally to the point of an NCAA constitutional convention. We're in the process of the formation a revolutionary playoff and huge debate on how to divide that money -- money that comes from ESPN's pockets. One less conference would increase everyone else's pie simply by elimination. ESPN gives them a raise without it costing them a penny more.
I don't see the other leagues being excited to see 5-6 more FCS call-ups to FBS, already at 130 teams, just to save C-USA. I also don't think anyone in FBS will want to another nonsensical geographic mess created of hodgepodge teams just so they can hang on to a playoff payout and NCAA autobid. Most of FCS is against it too because they don't want to see their top brands leave.
So the other leagues have every self-interested reason not to help C-USA at the moment. The funding source has incentive to help in the other direction.
Are we at checkmate?
(10-21-2021 08:14 AM)DuelingDragon Wrote: [ -> ]One last point -- throughout NCAA history, there has been a very delicate balance held between the rich and poor. The times we live in have really strained this balance. We're literally to the point of an NCAA constitutional convention. We're in the process of the formation a revolutionary playoff and huge debate on how to divide that money -- money that comes from ESPN's pockets. One less conference would increase everyone else's pie simply by elimination. ESPN gives them a raise without it costing them a penny more.
I don't see the other leagues being excited to see 5-6 more FCS call-ups to FBS, already at 130 teams, just to save C-USA. I also don't think anyone in FBS will want to another nonsensical geographic mess created of hodgepodge teams just so they can hang on to a playoff payout and NCAA autobid. Most of FCS is against it too because they don't want to see their top brands leave.
So the other leagues have every self-interested reason not to help C-USA at the moment. The funding source has incentive to help in the other direction.
Are we at checkmate?
I would say so... looks like the SBC is getting USM, Marshall, and ODU (along with JMU)... new scuttlebutt that MT and WKU are having a cup of coffee with the MAC brass... so that leaves, what, UTEP, FIU? oh, and LaTech
3 teams does not a conference make. At this point, we should be rooting for this to happen, as no C-USA = no C-USA exit fees
CUSA will not disband. It takes 3/4 of current members to vote for it.
Some of you are taking the message board fodder as serious insiders info.
(10-21-2021 08:56 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote: [ -> ]Some of you are taking the message board fodder as serious insiders info.
Just feel it. La Tech, left without a conference, forced to drop down a division, go independent with no hope of a bowl game or reasonable home schedule, or disband football entirely - just like the Idaho Vandals not long ago (who ultimately chose to drop down).
Just feel it. Raise that glass of craft beer, my brother, turn to the west, face Ruston and chant it with me:
We've got football!
(10-21-2021 09:06 AM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ] (10-21-2021 08:56 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote: [ -> ]Some of you are taking the message board fodder as serious insiders info.
Just feel it. La Tech, left without a conference, forced to drop down a division, go independent with no hope of a bowl game or reasonable home schedule, or disband football entirely - just like the Idaho Vandals not long ago (who ultimately chose to drop down).
Just feel it. Raise that glass of craft beer, my brother, turn to the west, face Ruston and chant it with me:
We've got football!
As always you hit the nail on the head. And folks wonder why we hate LT
(10-21-2021 10:50 AM)linus Wrote: [ -> ] (10-21-2021 09:06 AM)58-56 Wrote: [ -> ] (10-21-2021 08:56 AM)HiddenDragon Wrote: [ -> ]Some of you are taking the message board fodder as serious insiders info.
Just feel it. La Tech, left without a conference, forced to drop down a division, go independent with no hope of a bowl game or reasonable home schedule, or disband football entirely - just like the Idaho Vandals not long ago (who ultimately chose to drop down).
Just feel it. Raise that glass of craft beer, my brother, turn to the west, face Ruston and chant it with me:
We've got football!
As always you hit the nail on the head. And folks wonder why we hate LT
...or even better, "WE'VE GOT A CONFERENCE!!!"
