OK, it's off-season..................so............Newbies to CUSA haven't really done bad vs the so-call established CUSA teams. All time record of new vs old is 68-70. Several newbies actually have winning records vs the so-called establishment.

Oldies vs Newbies

UAB (7-13)
1-4 FAU
1-0 FIU
0-4 Tech
2-2 Middle Tennessee
1-0 North Texas
0-1 UTSA
2-3 WKU

Marshall (11-3)
1-0 FAU
2-0 FIU
0-1 Tech
2-1 Middle Tennessee
1-0 North Texas
1-0 UTSA
4-1 WKU

Rice (9-5)
1-0 FAU
4-3 Tech
2-2 North Texas
2-0 UTSA

Southern Miss (35-23)
0-1 FAU
0-1 FIU
0-2 Middle Tennessee
4-4 North Texas
0-1 WKU
31-14 Tech

UTEP (8-23-3)
1-0 FIU
2-7 Tech
0-1 Middle Tennessee
0-1 UTSA
5-14-3 North Texas

Newbies vs Oldies

FAU (5-3)
4-1 UAB
0-1 Marshall
0-1 Rice
1-0 USM

FIU (1-4)
0-1 UAB
0-2 Marshall
1-0 USM
0-1 UTEP

Louisiana Tech (29-37)
4-0 UAB
1-0 Marshall
3-4 Rice
7-2 UTEP
14-31 USM

Middle Tennessee (6-4)
2-2 UAB
1-2 Marshall
2-0 USM
1-0 UTEP

North Texas (20-13)
0-1 Marshall
0-1 UAB
2-2 Rice
4-4 USM
14-5-3 UTEP

UTSA (2-3)
1-0 UAB
0-1 Marshall
0-2 Rice
1-0 UTEP

WKU (5-6)
3-2 UAB
1-4 Marshall
1-0 USM

(04-19-2014 04:16 PM)MG61 Wrote:  OK, it's off-season..................so............Newbies to CUSA haven't really done bad vs the so-call established CUSA teams. All time record of new vs old is 68-70. Several newbies actually have winning records vs the so-called establishment.

Oldies vs Newbies

UAB (7-13)
1-4 FAU
1-0 FIU
0-4 Tech
2-2 Middle Tennessee
1-0 North Texas
0-1 UTSA
2-3 WKU

Marshall (11-3)
1-0 FAU
2-0 FIU
0-1 Tech
2-1 Middle Tennessee
1-0 North Texas
1-0 UTSA
4-1 WKU

Rice (9-5)
1-0 FAU
4-3 Tech
2-2 North Texas
2-0 UTSA

Southern Miss (35-23)
0-1 FAU
0-1 FIU
0-2 Middle Tennessee
4-4 North Texas
0-1 WKU
31-14 Tech

UTEP (8-23-3)
1-0 FIU
2-7 Tech
0-1 Middle Tennessee
0-1 UTSA
5-14-3 North Texas

Newbies vs Oldies

FAU (5-3)
4-1 UAB
0-1 Marshall
0-1 Rice
1-0 USM

FIU (1-4)
0-1 UAB
0-2 Marshall
1-0 USM
0-1 UTEP

Louisiana Tech (29-37)
4-0 UAB
1-0 Marshall
3-4 Rice
7-2 UTEP
14-31 USM

Middle Tennessee (6-4)
2-2 UAB
1-2 Marshall
2-0 USM
1-0

North Texas (20-13)
0-1 Marshall
0-1 UAB
2-2 Rice
4-4 USM
14-5-3 UTEP

UTSA (2-3)
1-0 UAB
0-1 Marshall
0-2 Rice
1-0 UTEP

WKU (5-6)
3-2 UAB
1-4 Marshall
1-0 USM

ODU still undefeated in CUSA football!

Friend, have you seen the preseason rankings for teams in this crap... I mean conference? Like it matters who beats who. (of course here comes the USM jabs but oh well)

SMTTT

(04-20-2014 12:56 AM)SethManKA1 Wrote:  Friend, have you seen the preseason rankings for teams in this crap... I mean conference? Like it matters who beats who. (of course here comes the USM jabs but oh well)

SMTTT

If you don't like it here leave.....

The perception is simple, CUSA isn't close to the first or 2nd versions. Long run it has the potential to be a solid G5 conference, but has a lot of work to do. As for the new schools beating the leftover's, remember 2 things, the Top of CUSA was chopped off, other than maybe USM. and those brought in were mostly the top 1/2 of the conference they came from. Bottom of old CUSA was slightly > or = to top 1/2 of old Sunbelt. Thus parity.

Every conference that got raided, American, CUSA, Sunbelt, is weaker than before, though the overall Pecking order stays the same. All have work to do, to rebuild the clout they lost.

The new Conf USA, will need teams that will step up to the plate and make waves without the help of the Conf or the Comish. By this, I mean the new teams will have to find something that sets them apart from the pack. Every team that has left Conf USA had something that was unique about them and not dependent on Conf USA to provide an identity or vision.( sorry Southern Miss fans, your footprint should have been enough to allow you to leave).

I see potential in every new team to set themselves apart to create a unique footprint to help them move beyond Conf USA if they choose to do so.

North Texas: recruiting area, new facilities, unique and good Head Football coach, large untapped fan base
FIU/FAU: recruiting area times 10. New traditions and traditions that are not not tied to old unhelpful controlling alumni who want nothing to change
ODU: recruiting area, only D1 school in Norfolk/Va Beach, excited fan base hungry for big time football, Head Football coach who believes in the program
WKU: strong basketball tradition, eager to prove itself with new peers and in the state of Kentucky
UNC-Charlotte: limitless potential in terms of fan base, only D1 football team in Charlotte, great demographic footprint to be called for next level Conference.
UTSA: see all of the above
MTSU: largest University in the state of Tennessee, strong winning traditions and doing more with less. Committed and very good AD who wants MTSU to grow and be successful.

As an ECU fan, I know that what allowed ECU to move out of Conf USA, was our fan base and good winning tradition.Both of these aspects had nothing or ver little to do with Conf USA. Schools in this league imo, have to build their own momentum and find a unique twist that makes them desirable. It is clear from BB's comments in the past, that he sees Conf USA as a stepping stone, so I would not look for much help or leadership from him or the Conf USA office. This means, imo, that schools in this conference are almost entirely on their own if they want to build a winning product and a product that keeps them noticed by others.

This conference has very good potential going forward imo, but only if each of the new schools finds a way to tap into their unique strengths and footprint.

(04-20-2014 09:51 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  The new Conf USA, will need teams that will step up to the plate and make waves without the help of the Conf or the Comish. By this, I mean the new teams will have to find something that sets them apart from the pack. Every team that has left Conf USA had something that was unique about them and not dependent on Conf USA to provide an identity or vision.( sorry Southern Miss fans, your footprint should have been enough to allow you to leave).

I see potential in every new team to set themselves apart to create a unique footprint to help them move beyond Conf USA if they choose to do so.

North Texas: recruiting area, new facilities, unique and good Head Football coach, large untapped fan base
FIU/FAU: recruiting area times 10. New traditions and traditions that are not not tied to old unhelpful controlling alumni who want nothing to change
ODU: recruiting area, only D1 school in Norfolk/Va Beach, excited fan base hungry for big time football, Head Football coach who believes in the program
WKU: strong basketball tradition, eager to prove itself with new peers and in the state of Kentucky
UNC-Charlotte: limitless potential in terms of fan base, only D1 football team in Charlotte, great demographic footprint to be called for next level Conference.
UTSA: see all of the above
MTSU: largest University in the state of Tennessee, strong winning traditions and doing more with less. Committed and very good AD who wants MTSU to grow and be successful.

As an ECU fan, I know that what allowed ECU to move out of Conf USA, was our fan base and good winning tradition.Both of these aspects had nothing or ver little to do with Conf USA. Schools in this league imo, have to build their own momentum and find a unique twist that makes them desirable. It is clear from BB's comments in the past, that he sees Conf USA as a stepping stone, so I would not look for much help or leadership from him or the Conf USA office. This means, imo, that schools in this conference are almost entirely on their own if they want to build a winning product and a product that keeps them noticed by others.

This conference has very good potential going forward imo, but only if each of the new schools finds a way to tap into their unique strengths and footprint.

Once these teams reach their potential they will have no reason to leave unless a P5 calls.

(04-20-2014 09:51 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  The new Conf USA, will need teams that will step up to the plate and make waves without the help of the Conf or the Comish. By this, I mean the new teams will have to find something that sets them apart from the pack. Every team that has left Conf USA had something that was unique about them and not dependent on Conf USA to provide an identity or vision.( sorry Southern Miss fans, your footprint should have been enough to allow you to leave).

I see potential in every new team to set themselves apart to create a unique footprint to help them move beyond Conf USA if they choose to do so.

North Texas: recruiting area, new facilities, unique and good Head Football coach, large untapped fan base
FIU/FAU: recruiting area times 10. New traditions and traditions that are not not tied to old unhelpful controlling alumni who want nothing to change
ODU: recruiting area, only D1 school in Norfolk/Va Beach, excited fan base hungry for big time football, Head Football coach who believes in the program
WKU: strong basketball tradition, eager to prove itself with new peers and in the state of Kentucky
UNC-Charlotte: limitless potential in terms of fan base, only D1 football team in Charlotte, great demographic footprint to be called for next level Conference.
UTSA: see all of the above
MTSU: largest University in the state of Tennessee, strong winning traditions and doing more with less. Committed and very good AD who wants MTSU to grow and be successful.

As an ECU fan, I know that what allowed ECU to move out of Conf USA, was our fan base and good winning tradition.Both of these aspects had nothing or ver little to do with Conf USA. Schools in this league imo, have to build their own momentum and find a unique twist that makes them desirable. It is clear from BB's comments in the past, that he sees Conf USA as a stepping stone, so I would not look for much help or leadership from him or the Conf USA office. This means, imo, that schools in this conference are almost entirely on their own if they want to build a winning product and a product that keeps them noticed by others.

This conference has very good potential going forward imo, but only if each of the new schools finds a way to tap into their unique strengths and footprint.

(04-20-2014 09:34 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  the Top of CUSA was chopped off

Memphis football and Tulane beg to argue your point.

(04-20-2014 09:51 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  North Texas: recruiting area, new facilities, unique and good Head Football coach, large untapped fan base
FIU/FAU: recruiting area times 10. New traditions and traditions that are not not tied to old unhelpful controlling alumni who want nothing to change
ODU: recruiting area, only D1 school in Norfolk/Va Beach, excited fan base hungry for big time football, Head Football coach who believes in the program
WKU: strong basketball tradition, eager to prove itself with new peers and in the state of Kentucky
UNC-Charlotte: limitless potential in terms of fan base, only D1 football team in Charlotte, great demographic footprint to be called for next level Conference.
UTSA: see all of the above
MTSU: largest University in the state of Tennessee, strong winning traditions and doing more with less. Committed and very good AD who wants MTSU to grow and be successful.

Some real attendance potential here. Not at all out of the question to see North Texas-Rice-UTSA-UTEP have higher football attendance than Tulsa-SMU-Houston-Tulane.

(04-20-2014 12:50 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 09:34 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  the Top of CUSA was chopped off

Memphis football and Tulane beg to argue your point.

Yeah, football...that's why the AAC wanted us...lol

(04-20-2014 01:00 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 12:50 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 09:34 AM)goodknightfl Wrote:  the Top of CUSA was chopped off

Memphis football and Tulane beg to argue your point.

Yeah, football...that's why the AAC wanted us...lol

This thread is about football.

(04-20-2014 09:51 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  The new Conf USA, will need teams that will step up to the plate and make waves without the help of the Conf or the Comish. By this, I mean the new teams will have to find something that sets them apart from the pack. Every team that has left Conf USA had something that was unique about them and not dependent on Conf USA to provide an identity or vision.( sorry Southern Miss fans, your footprint should have been enough to allow you to leave).

I see potential in every new team to set themselves apart to create a unique footprint to help them move beyond Conf USA if they choose to do so.

North Texas: recruiting area, new facilities, unique and good Head Football coach, large untapped fan base
FIU/FAU: recruiting area times 10. New traditions and traditions that are not not tied to old unhelpful controlling alumni who want nothing to change
ODU: recruiting area, only D1 school in Norfolk/Va Beach, excited fan base hungry for big time football, Head Football coach who believes in the program
WKU: strong basketball tradition, eager to prove itself with new peers and in the state of Kentucky
UNC-Charlotte: limitless potential in terms of fan base, only D1 football team in Charlotte, great demographic footprint to be called for next level Conference.
UTSA: see all of the above
MTSU: largest University in the state of Tennessee, strong winning traditions and doing more with less. Committed and very good AD who wants MTSU to grow and be successful.

As an ECU fan, I know that what allowed ECU to move out of Conf USA, was our fan base and good winning tradition.Both of these aspects had nothing or ver little to do with Conf USA. Schools in this league imo, have to build their own momentum and find a unique twist that makes them desirable. It is clear from BB's comments in the past, that he sees Conf USA as a stepping stone, so I would not look for much help or leadership from him or the Conf USA office. This means, imo, that schools in this conference are almost entirely on their own if they want to build a winning product and a product that keeps them noticed by others.

This conference has very good potential going forward imo, but only if each of the new schools finds a way to tap into their unique strengths and footprint.

I kind of agree with you, but I see no reason why any of the new teams would want to move to another conference, unless it were a P5, which isn't going to happen.

This season we will get a better understanding of just where each G5 conference stands in relation to each other. The AAC has no auto-bid, and has lost some of their top football programs. They still return three bowl programs in UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston, and will add bowl programs ECU and Tulane. But, I honestly think the top programs in the new C-USA (Marshall, Rice, North Texas, UTSA, MTSU, WKU, and maybe LA Tech) can play with most of those teams.

The new C-USA has to focus on winning our OOC game, especially the ones against the AAC, and developing strong, interesting rivalries within each division. I really like the way the western division rivalries are developing. I think the regional sports media is beginning to take a larger interest in the new C-USA West. We need the same thing to happen in the eastern division.

(04-20-2014 01:15 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 09:51 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  The new Conf USA, will need teams that will step up to the plate and make waves without the help of the Conf or the Comish. By this, I mean the new teams will have to find something that sets them apart from the pack. Every team that has left Conf USA had something that was unique about them and not dependent on Conf USA to provide an identity or vision.( sorry Southern Miss fans, your footprint should have been enough to allow you to leave).

I see potential in every new team to set themselves apart to create a unique footprint to help them move beyond Conf USA if they choose to do so.

North Texas: recruiting area, new facilities, unique and good Head Football coach, large untapped fan base
FIU/FAU: recruiting area times 10. New traditions and traditions that are not not tied to old unhelpful controlling alumni who want nothing to change
ODU: recruiting area, only D1 school in Norfolk/Va Beach, excited fan base hungry for big time football, Head Football coach who believes in the program
WKU: strong basketball tradition, eager to prove itself with new peers and in the state of Kentucky
UNC-Charlotte: limitless potential in terms of fan base, only D1 football team in Charlotte, great demographic footprint to be called for next level Conference.
UTSA: see all of the above
MTSU: largest University in the state of Tennessee, strong winning traditions and doing more with less. Committed and very good AD who wants MTSU to grow and be successful.

As an ECU fan, I know that what allowed ECU to move out of Conf USA, was our fan base and good winning tradition.Both of these aspects had nothing or ver little to do with Conf USA. Schools in this league imo, have to build their own momentum and find a unique twist that makes them desirable. It is clear from BB's comments in the past, that he sees Conf USA as a stepping stone, so I would not look for much help or leadership from him or the Conf USA office. This means, imo, that schools in this conference are almost entirely on their own if they want to build a winning product and a product that keeps them noticed by others.

This conference has very good potential going forward imo, but only if each of the new schools finds a way to tap into their unique strengths and footprint.

I kind of agree with you, but I see no reason why any of the new teams would want to move to another conference, unless it were a P5, which isn't going to happen.

This season we will get a better understanding of just where each G5 conference stands in relation to each other. The AAC has no auto-bid, and has lost some of their top football programs. They still return three bowl programs in UCF, Cincinnati, and Houston, and will add bowl programs ECU and Tulane. But, I honestly think the top programs in the new C-USA (Marshall, Rice, North Texas, UTSA, MTSU, WKU, and maybe LA Tech) can play with most of those teams.

The new C-USA has to focus on winning our OOC game, especially the ones against the AAC, and developing strong, interesting rivalries within each division. I really like the way the western division rivalries are developing. I think the regional sports media is beginning to take a larger interest in the new C-USA West. We need the same thing to happen in the eastern division.

What he said. Once we start developing rivalrys in each regional division we're not going to have a reason to leave. This conference is in a lot better position than people think. There is no league with an AQ bid that our teams are dying to go to like we've had in the past.

Every team in this league very well could, over the few next years, develop into something special as members of C-USA. If you read these boards (and I follow and occasionally comment on other G5 boards), we are in pretty good shape, overall. I think we'll do better as a conference if we stop comparing ourselves to others and develop the best on the field product possible. And I see signs that many in our conference are seeing improvement and growth for all programs as our immediate goals.

Most of our members want to be here and know what they have to do to take their own performance to the next level. Whether in football or basketball, it's not hard to see any of our members performing at the highest echelon of the conference in at least one of these two top sports. A few of our newer members have really built some excitement in their programs with their fan base (e.g., UTSA, ODU, North Texas come to mind) to go along with the strong traditions at the old guard schools. And you can see the commitment to excellence at FAU, MTSU, LaTech and WKU. My guess is that Charlotte will have a rabid fan base as they develop their brand.

(04-20-2014 01:41 PM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  Every team in this league very well could, over the few next years, develop into something special as members of C-USA. If you read these boards (and I follow and occasionally comment on other G5 boards), we are in pretty good shape, overall. I think we'll do better as a conference if we stop comparing ourselves to others and develop the best on the field product possible. And I see signs that many in our conference are seeing improvement and growth for all programs as our immediate goals.

Most of our members want to be here and know what they have to do to take their own performance to the next level. Whether in football or basketball, it's not hard to see any of our members performing at the highest echelon of the conference in at least one of these two top sports. A few of our newer members have really built some excitement in their programs with their fan base (e.g., UTSA, ODU, North Texas come to mind) to go along with the strong traditions at the old guard schools. And you can see the commitment to excellence at FAU, MTSU, LaTech and WKU. My guess is that Charlotte will have a rabid fan base as they develop their brand.

The most important thing you said was (with the exception of some USM fans) "most of our members want to be here" In the past there was a league with an AQ bid that everybody was desperate to join. That doesn't exist anymore so there's nothing you can do in any other G5 conference that you can't do in this one.

The AAC has a national champion in basketball and a Fiesta Bowl winner...higher attendance, more money and a better chance at the access bowl game. No president in CUSA is turning down an invite if one comes. There may be no AQ, but if it comes down to a slot in the access bowl, who's more likely to get it, an 11-1 UCF, an 11-1 Boise State, an 11-1 North Texas or an 11-1 App State? Even without AQ there's still gonna be a pecking order...like in the P5 the SEC will still get preference over the Pac 12 even though they're on the same level.

(04-20-2014 02:54 PM)AlwaysSunny Wrote:  The AAC has a national champion in basketball and a Fiesta Bowl winner...higher attendance, more money and a better chance at the access bowl game. No president in CUSA is turning down an invite if one comes. There may be no AQ, but if it comes down to a slot in the access bowl, who's more likely to get it, an 11-1 UCF, an 11-1 Boise State, an 11-1 North Texas or an 11-1 App State? Even without AQ there's still gonna be a pecking order...like in the P5 the SEC will still get preference over the Pac 12 even though they're on the same level.

the MWC... as far as basketball goes, Uconn doesn't have the Big East brand anymore, and they don't have the amount of local talent as Memphis does. Memphis, as they did in Cusa, will dominate that league in two years.

(04-20-2014 02:54 PM)AlwaysSunny Wrote:  The AAC has a national champion in basketball and a Fiesta Bowl winner...higher attendance, more money and a better chance at the access bowl game. No president in CUSA is turning down an invite if one comes. There may be no AQ, but if it comes down to a slot in the access bowl, who's more likely to get it, an 11-1 UCF, an 11-1 Boise State, an 11-1 North Texas or an 11-1 App State? Even without AQ there's still gonna be a pecking order...like in the P5 the SEC will still get preference over the Pac 12 even though they're on the same level.

That's this year. It can change in one season. Boise was dominating a couple of years ago and nobody was begging to get in the WAC. The only pecking order is the one created in heads of AAC fans.

This year people would probably go but this thread is about what has a good chance of happening in the future. UCF wasn't where they are now when they joined CUSA. Most CUSA fans looked at them the same way people may look at the ones coming in. They were a D2 move up just like some of our newbies. The point is, when some of new teams develop like they did there will be no reason to leave unless the P5 call.

(04-20-2014 02:54 PM)AlwaysSunny Wrote:  There may be no AQ, but if it comes down to a slot in the access bowl, who's more likely to get it, an 11-1 UCF, an 11-1 Boise State, a 13-0 Marshall or an 11-1 App State?

Fixed it for you. 2014 is the test.