(05-24-2014 12:57 PM)Niner National Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 12:23 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 09:08 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  We've established already over the years that winning the SBC isn't equal to winning CUSA. We have a deeper conference. Hoops getting an auto bid in the 19th best conference is not as big a deal as you're making it. Someone has to win it. ...

Which is the point that I have always made when people state that adding WKU is going to make CUSA a much better basketball conference after ECU and Tulane leaves. At best it is a push and I presented RPI evidence to support it.

WKU recruits at a pretty high level for a program that played in the SBC, their RPI and ability to schedule quality OOC games was more difficult in the SBC. In the new CUSA, it might not be slightly better, but perception of CUSA is obviously much lower than it used to be. Still, it's a potential top 10 conference some seasons, something the SBC will never be.

Just a few years ago, WKU signed a four star top 100 player and at least one other top 150 player. Their class was among the best for non-power conference schools. I'm thinking it was ranked only behind Xavier's that year.

WKU is now in a conference with several programs that actually care about basketball and their recruiting class is among the best in the conference for this coming season.

A lot of three and four star players joining the conference this season.

Adding WKU is far more than a push. Losing ECU and Tulane is a great thing for the conference, especially for next season. ECU has some nice pieces, but they're going to get wrecked in the AAC next season. Things look better for year 2 in the AAC IMO for the Pirates as long as they aren't plagued with transfers and injuries again, but Tulane is never going to be a quality basketball program.

WKU on the other hand comes in with a veteran team that also brings in a solid recruiting class. As long as they stay away from injuries this season, they could be a contender for the conference title.

How could CUSA possibly be ranked in the top 10 forward, when the teams that they added from the Sun Belt conference were never able to the Sun Belt to that level? The good thing for CUSA would be for Charlotte, UAB and ODU to return to form and for UTEP, LTU and USM to stay at a high level. Any set back in that core group and CUSA is going to sink to where the Sun Belt used to be.

As for ECU and Tulane; ECU has a lot of nice pieces, so it is just one of those things of players staying healthy and the situation coming together. If things gel then ECU could be a surprise team in the AAC, because there will be an opportunity since there is so much rebuilding happening at many top AAC schools (UConn, Cincy, Memphis). As for Tulane; I think that they need a new coach. They are a rich private school like SMU, so if they made a splash hire they might end up with SMU type talent on their roster.

Being a top 10 conference isn't really much of an achievement if you are 8-10th. It's good enough to sometimes get you an at large, but not every year. I just don't see the MVC and MAC consistently staying aboveCUSA.

Besides, I said some seasons, I don't think it'll be every year. The AAC and BE splitting definitely hurt because now that creates 2 conferences better than CUSA. The best thing that could happen for CUSA to have a good chance at consistently ranking in the top 10 (other than winning OOC games) would be for BYU to go back to the MWC. Without BYU, the WCC is going to be 1 bid more often than not.

(05-24-2014 10:07 AM)Lee Moses Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 09:51 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Why ULL isn't in C-USA?

1. We already have 14 teams- We have no openings

I think the question had more to do with why they weren't one of the teams invited in C-USA's recent rounds of expansion rather than why we don't invite them now.


When examining why other were selected in the last round of realignment, I believe FAU got in so C-USA could block the Sun Belt out of Florida. LA Tech was already in, and picking up WKU added good football, great basketball, and a new media market.

(05-24-2014 09:51 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  2. No market- Won't help with the next T.V. deal

That right there is the correct answer. It's a stupid answer (not on your part, SSJ), but that's the way it is. Banowsky undervalues what high-performing athletics can bring to a conference. Why were conferences fighting over Boise State? Because of the coveted Boise, Idaho market?

Boise is a completely different situation. Boise was able to develop a national following, after years of winning and beating Oklahoma in the Feista Bowl. ULL has posted some fine winning seasons, but few quality wins over P5 powers. ULL certainly hasn't taken down an Oklahoma in a BCS game.

(05-24-2014 09:51 AM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  3. Small athletic budget- With changes coming to the NCAA, can they afford to keep up?

I think you're thinking of ULM. ULL has significantly bumped up their budget the past couple of years and has shown a tremendous commitment to improving facilities: http://www.ragincajuns.com/news/2013/3/2...30443.aspx

I wasn't thinking of ULM. I know the are always near the bottom in athletic budgets. ULL has done a great job of increasing their budget over the last few season, but it is still low. Don't get me wrong, C-USA has some programs with equally low budgets. North Texas had a budget very similar to ULL just a few seasons ago. My issue is can they keep up? I know they post respectable attendance numbers, but I don't know how many alumni they have. I worry they are close to maxing out their ability to generate athletic donations and interest in their program. Plus, I don't believe Hud will be there much longer, and I don't believe they will be able to replace him with a coach of equal quality.

I agree that there is no good reason to add ULL now. But if they keep it up, I could see ULL possibly leapfrogging C-USA as an AAC add.

I don't see a scenario where Tulane (or any other AAC private university) would let that happen.

(05-24-2014 08:06 AM)The Flagship Wrote:  Athletic budget of only $13 million with limitations on growing it.
TV market.

Wrong....check your numbers

(05-24-2014 04:57 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 12:49 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 12:23 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 09:08 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  We've established already over the years that winning the SBC isn't equal to winning CUSA. We have a deeper conference. Hoops getting an auto bid in the 19th best conference is not as big a deal as you're making it. Someone has to win it. ...

Which is the point that I have always made when people state that adding WKU is going to make CUSA a much better basketball conference after ECU and Tulane leaves. At best it is a push and I presented RPI evidence to support it.

You are a fool if you consider ECU/Tulane = WKU in basketball

First off you can't compare RPI numbers because Western played in the SBC and the RPI took a hit from that. Second off Western is coming off one of our few downturns (happens about once every 15 years or so) and even with that we still had 3 NCAA appearances and two NCAA wins during that time.

Those two NCAA wins are 1 less than ECU/Tulane combined in your history. So coming off what Western fans consider our worse coach in our history...

we still had 4 20+ win seasons and 2 NCAA wins over the last 6 year

Give Western a couple more years as a FBS school and it will probably be a push with Western replacing ECU

4 20+ win seasons in the Sun Belt conference. That is the whole point. You put WKU in CUSA with a program like Memphis and WKU never would have made the NCAA tournament.

I wouldn't be so quick to say that considering Western hold a 1 game lead in head to head match up with Memphis. It 9 wins vs 8 losses. It might surprise you to know Western also holds a 2 game advantage head to head vs UofL 39 TO 37. But lets assume Memphis won every game....

that's still ONE loss a year

(05-24-2014 09:07 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 04:57 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 12:49 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 12:23 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 09:08 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  We've established already over the years that winning the SBC isn't equal to winning CUSA. We have a deeper conference. Hoops getting an auto bid in the 19th best conference is not as big a deal as you're making it. Someone has to win it. ...

Which is the point that I have always made when people state that adding WKU is going to make CUSA a much better basketball conference after ECU and Tulane leaves. At best it is a push and I presented RPI evidence to support it.

You are a fool if you consider ECU/Tulane = WKU in basketball

First off you can't compare RPI numbers because Western played in the SBC and the RPI took a hit from that. Second off Western is coming off one of our few downturns (happens about once every 15 years or so) and even with that we still had 3 NCAA appearances and two NCAA wins during that time.

Those two NCAA wins are 1 less than ECU/Tulane combined in your history. So coming off what Western fans consider our worse coach in our history...

we still had 4 20+ win seasons and 2 NCAA wins over the last 6 year

Give Western a couple more years as a FBS school and it will probably be a push with Western replacing ECU

4 20+ win seasons in the Sun Belt conference. That is the whole point. You put WKU in CUSA with a program like Memphis and WKU never would have made the NCAA tournament.

I wouldn't be so quick to say that considering Western hold a 1 game lead in head to head match up with Memphis. It 9 wins vs 8 losses. It might surprise you to know Western also holds a 2 game advantage head to head vs UofL 39 TO 37. But lets assume Memphis won every game....

that's still ONE loss a year

That one loss per year plus the one that you would get in the CUSA tournament (aka "The Memphis Invitational") would be enough to keep you out of the NCAA tournament. CUSA didn't produce very many at large bids, so that one loss most seasons would do it.

(05-24-2014 04:58 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 03:46 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  For me, eff em. I have no disire to rejoining the 6-thug dance troupe. Never been to Lafayette but as guests they were horrible, players and fans. They are good at bat and ball sports, good for them. They occasionally put together a decent hoops team. They had 2 nba players this season and managed 1 game in the tourney. Their football is one coaching change from returning to perpetual suckage.

Um, let's ask all of the other WKU fans what they feel about that. Every time they've been to MT or I've been to LA all ULL fans I've encountered have been welcoming and respectful. The only times I can imagine them being "horrible" is if someone is a disrespectful jerk to them, which - I imagine - is just about how anyone would react to that type of thing.

Here at MT they have a rep for being some of the best fans we've ever interacted with. It should not and does not change for WKU, at least I'd think/hope.

Depends on who you are interacting with...

worse bunch of students in the SBC...

calling one of our players "half bred" at the WKU vs UL-L basketball game this year

trash talking a WKU's football players mother two years ago. Then took it a step farther to verbal sexual harassment. Happen right in front of me and after I told him to stop that crap he grabbed his Johnson and told her to suck it... I grabbed him by his freaking neck and would have choked him out till his buddies stepped in and say they would take care of him.

But that's people (drunks) sitting in the student and GA sections next to the students...

other than that everyone we meet was good old boys that treated us like old friends and offered us food, drinks, and as good of fans you will find.

(05-24-2014 09:22 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 04:58 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 03:46 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  For me, eff em. I have no disire to rejoining the 6-thug dance troupe. Never been to Lafayette but as guests they were horrible, players and fans. They are good at bat and ball sports, good for them. They occasionally put together a decent hoops team. They had 2 nba players this season and managed 1 game in the tourney. Their football is one coaching change from returning to perpetual suckage.

Um, let's ask all of the other WKU fans what they feel about that. Every time they've been to MT or I've been to LA all ULL fans I've encountered have been welcoming and respectful. The only times I can imagine them being "horrible" is if someone is a disrespectful jerk to them, which - I imagine - is just about how anyone would react to that type of thing.

Here at MT they have a rep for being some of the best fans we've ever interacted with. It should not and does not change for WKU, at least I'd think/hope.

Depends on who you are interacting with...

worse bunch of students in the SBC...

calling one of our players "half bred" at the WKU vs UL-L basketball game this year

trash talking a WKU's football players mother two years ago. Then took it a step farther to verbal sexual harassment. Happen right in front of me and after I told him to stop that crap he grabbed his Johnson and told her to suck it... I grabbed him by his freaking neck and would have choked him out till his buddies stepped in and say they would take care of him.

But that's people (drunks) sitting in the student and GA sections next to the students...

other than that everyone we meet was good old boys that treated us like old friends and offered us food, drinks, and as good of fans you will find.

Some of the ULL fans don't have a lot of class but it's hard to ignore what they are doing the last few years. If they get into CUSA Tech would own them again because history always repeats

the MWC and AAC did fight over Boise

the AAC had them and the MWC lured them back with a one of a kind deal just for Boise and now the AAC is fighting for their exit fees

and if CUSA, The SunBelt, the MAC or any other conference (besides the ones that are not going to call) thought Boise would take their call and consider their offer without laughing then they would fight for Boise as well

I am neither for nor against the Cajuns coming into CUSA, but as far as the budget goes... a large part of the sports budget is scholarship money and in Louisiana the state legislature keeps tuition artificially low because of the TOPS programs. I believe if you looked at LA Tech's and ULL's operational budget, you would find that we are not that far behind as you would think at first glance. Louisiana schools are also not allowed to directly assess their students fees for athletics with an equal reduction in their general fund transfer either. So a lot of the budget stuff is out of the university's hands.

(05-24-2014 10:20 PM)LATech95 Wrote:  I am neither for nor against the Cajuns coming into CUSA, but as far as the budget goes... a large part of the sports budget is scholarship money and in Louisiana the state legislature keeps tuition artificially low because of the TOPS programs. I believe if you looked at LA Tech's and ULL's operational budget, you would find that we are not that far behind as you would think at first glance. Louisiana schools are also not allowed to directly assess their students fees for athletics with an equal reduction in their general fund transfer either. So a lot of the budget stuff is out of the university's hands.

Cue EE...

I'd be for ULL if they'd call themselves Louisiana-Lafayette like they are legally bound to.

(05-24-2014 04:58 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 03:46 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  For me, eff em. I have no disire to rejoining the 6-thug dance troupe. Never been to Lafayette but as guests they were horrible, players and fans. They are good at bat and ball sports, good for them. They occasionally put together a decent hoops team. They had 2 nba players this season and managed 1 game in the tourney. Their football is one coaching change from returning to perpetual suckage.

Um, let's ask all of the other WKU fans what they feel about that. Every time they've been to MT or I've been to LA all ULL fans I've encountered have been welcoming and respectful. The only times I can imagine them being "horrible" is if someone is a disrespectful jerk to them, which - I imagine - is just about how anyone would react to that type of thing.

Here at MT they have a rep for being some of the best fans we've ever interacted with. It should not and does not change for WKU, at least I'd think/hope.

Well my interaction was at our first win in our FBS era. That came against the Cajuns. When we all stormed the field, one of their players shoulder checked one of our students. Kid never saw it coming, didn't provoke it at all. At the beginning of the game their fans were extremely hateful and a group had to be removed from the student section at the opposite end of the field from their fan section.

Their players were the most undisciplined I have ever seen (scratch that, tied with FAU). The players were constantly exchanging abuses with fans. Coaches had to drag them back into position meetings every time they came off the field. Was a complete fares from where it was sitting.

Nobody can ignore the growth ULL has had. it's the main reason why the sun belt still has some respect. ULL has been able to keep HUD and Arkansas state continually reloads good coaches. I believe when HUD leaves ULL will hire another up and comer.

As long as Arkansas St. and ULL are in the sun belt that conference will stay alive.

(05-24-2014 10:54 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 04:58 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 03:46 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  For me, eff em. I have no disire to rejoining the 6-thug dance troupe. Never been to Lafayette but as guests they were horrible, players and fans. They are good at bat and ball sports, good for them. They occasionally put together a decent hoops team. They had 2 nba players this season and managed 1 game in the tourney. Their football is one coaching change from returning to perpetual suckage.

Um, let's ask all of the other WKU fans what they feel about that. Every time they've been to MT or I've been to LA all ULL fans I've encountered have been welcoming and respectful. The only times I can imagine them being "horrible" is if someone is a disrespectful jerk to them, which - I imagine - is just about how anyone would react to that type of thing.

Here at MT they have a rep for being some of the best fans we've ever interacted with. It should not and does not change for WKU, at least I'd think/hope.

Well my interaction was at our first win in our FBS era. That came against the Cajuns. When we all stormed the field, one of their players shoulder checked one of our students. Kid never saw it coming, didn't provoke it at all. At the beginning of the game their fans were extremely hateful and a group had to be removed from the student section at the opposite end of the field from their fan section.

Their players were the most undisciplined I have ever seen (scratch that, tied with FAU). The players were constantly exchanging abuses with fans. Coaches had to drag them back into position meetings every time they came off the field. Was a complete fares from where it was sitting.

Good to see that you have carried all of your Baloney from the Sun Belt Board to the CUSA Board......

(05-24-2014 09:49 PM)winston70 Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 09:22 PM)WKUYG Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 04:58 PM)Ole Blue Wrote:  

(05-24-2014 03:46 PM)TOPPERSonTOP Wrote:  For me, eff em. I have no disire to rejoining the 6-thug dance troupe. Never been to Lafayette but as guests they were horrible, players and fans. They are good at bat and ball sports, good for them. They occasionally put together a decent hoops team. They had 2 nba players this season and managed 1 game in the tourney. Their football is one coaching change from returning to perpetual suckage.

Um, let's ask all of the other WKU fans what they feel about that. Every time they've been to MT or I've been to LA all ULL fans I've encountered have been welcoming and respectful. The only times I can imagine them being "horrible" is if someone is a disrespectful jerk to them, which - I imagine - is just about how anyone would react to that type of thing.

Here at MT they have a rep for being some of the best fans we've ever interacted with. It should not and does not change for WKU, at least I'd think/hope.

Depends on who you are interacting with...

worse bunch of students in the SBC...

calling one of our players "half bred" at the WKU vs UL-L basketball game this year

trash talking a WKU's football players mother two years ago. Then took it a step farther to verbal sexual harassment. Happen right in front of me and after I told him to stop that crap he grabbed his Johnson and told her to suck it... I grabbed him by his freaking neck and would have choked him out till his buddies stepped in and say they would take care of him.

But that's people (drunks) sitting in the student and GA sections next to the students...

other than that everyone we meet was good old boys that treated us like old friends and offered us food, drinks, and as good of fans you will find.

Some of the ULL fans don't have a lot of class but it's hard to ignore what they are doing the last few years. If they get into CUSA Tech would own them again because history always repeats

Uh Huh.....See you in September Pal

I have tried to stay out of this discussion, but when a LaTech fan talks about how UL has no class, it is like the pot calling the kettle black.

I have been to a LaTech game where a student threw his beverage, and hit one of our players on his helmet, coke or beer splatter on the player, and the team had to hold the player back to not murder the student. I am sure worst things go on there that is what I have just witness after only going to one game.

That is a weak argument if that is your reasoning in not letting us into CUSA.

We have one of the best fan bases in the country.

(05-25-2014 07:43 AM)Bigtom12 Wrote:  That is a weak argument if that is your reasoning in not letting us into CUSA.

No one is "not letting you in CUSA". We don't have any vacancies. And I recall your admin saying you belonged in the belt and were happy there.

Isn't there a realignment board these threads usually go to?

Here's my two cents:

No one who frequents and posts on this forum has a clue why Lafayette is not in C-USA. The gentlemen who make those kinds of decisions do so in a closed room. They have not elected to invite Lafayette to join the conference for whatever their reasons are, if indeed they have even considered that invitation.

For us fans, it is that simple. Lafayette is not in C-USA because that fine instituion has not been invited by those who make the invitations. We who frequent this forum do not know if Lafayette was ever considered, and if it was, why it was not selected -- and likely we never will know.

In my opinion, anything beyond that is worthless conjecture and beating a dead horse.

If CUSA adds anyone it would be, in no particular order:

University of Louisiana - Lafayette : ready made rivalry with Tech, as well as MT and WK, money sports just keep getting better, probably the best fan support.

Arkansas State : established rivals with MT and WK, football is trending up despite the quick coaching changes, most importantly new territory.

Georgia State : rival with ODU, basketball is getting better, football will too eventually, media market (downtown ATL), new territory.

Texas State : best candidate only if we lose UTEP,