(11-09-2014 12:50 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-08-2014 11:15 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  These are the schools that are being thrown around.

Louisiana
Akron
or
Texas State

My preference?...Akron. The likely selection?...Louisiana or Texas state.

As a MAC fan it would be nice if you could take Akron off our hands. They are the FIU of the MAC.

Then the MAC could drop back to 11 schools and split the TV/CFP money less ways. Play a 20 school round robin in basketball. Set up the midweek games to have MAC title implications.

You don't want us taking Akron off your hands. You have to remember that TV negotiations revolve around location, location. The Mac would not have gotten what they did in TV money without Akron in the deal.

(11-09-2014 12:28 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 11:43 AM)nbcards Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 10:40 AM)MJG Wrote:  I wonder if NIU would be an option.
They left the MAC once before and may see it as a step towards the AAC. Even if it really would not be a step up. They have a little more national interest than the other candidates. NIU would probably help the next T.V. negotiations the most.

The MAC would have plenty of options if that happened.

I don't see NIU leaving the MAC for C-USA. Too much of a lateral move.

I would say its a step down.

Academics in the MAC are better. The MAC has more tradition. TV deal with ESPN. That all goes away with a move to CUSA.

A lot of the CUSA schools are smaller in enrollment. LaTech, Marshall, Rice, So Miss ect. Miami is the smallest in the MAC and it still 20,000 system wide.

Don't fool yourself. If NIU had an offer from CUSA, they would be on it in a heartbeat.

(11-09-2014 09:35 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 12:50 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-08-2014 11:15 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  These are the schools that are being thrown around.

Louisiana
Akron
or
Texas State

My preference?...Akron. The likely selection?...Louisiana or Texas state.

As a MAC fan it would be nice if you could take Akron off our hands. They are the FIU of the MAC.

Then the MAC could drop back to 11 schools and split the TV/CFP money less ways. Play a 20 school round robin in basketball. Set up the midweek games to have MAC title implications.

You don't want us taking Akron off your hands. You have to remember that TV negotiations revolve around location, location. The Mac would not have gotten what they did in TV money without Akron in the deal.

Lmfao... With miami, ohio, toledo... Yeah, akron pushed that over the top.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Stability and compactness have to be worth something these days and the MAC possesses both of those. Would NIU leave that behind for a C-USA that can't keep track of who's coming and going? They did spend a few years in the Big West so I suppose anything's possible...

Akron, Ohio and Kent State are a decent trio to work with in basketball though.

I wonder if a vacancy finally draws out James Madison. They'll get to be with their ODU buddies. CUSA seems like where they feel/think they belong, even if that cluster of JMU, ODU, and Charlotte would be good MAC schools, distance notwithstanding.

(11-09-2014 10:31 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I wonder if a vacancy finally draws out James Madison. They'll get to be with their ODU buddies. CUSA seems like where they feel/think they belong, even if that cluster of JMU, ODU, and Charlotte would be good MAC schools, distance notwithstanding.

It would not make sense for NIU to go to CUSA. If I were them I would wait things out for the AAC to realize that BYU is not coming. Then lobby to join with Ohio.

James Madison would also be a poor choice for CUSA. Diluting FBS even more when the G5 are already walking a very short plank would be pretty stupid. Especially, when you still have UTSA, ODU, and UNCC who need to adjust to being FBS level.

CUSA is already battling a perception problem that many thought it would not have. People are not able to watch most of the games unless they specifically make an effort to and people view them in the same boat as the SBC.

(11-09-2014 10:35 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 10:31 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I wonder if a vacancy finally draws out James Madison. They'll get to be with their ODU buddies. CUSA seems like where they feel/think they belong, even if that cluster of JMU, ODU, and Charlotte would be good MAC schools, distance notwithstanding.

It would not make sense for NIU to go to CUSA. If I were them I would wait things out for the AAC to realize that BYU is not coming. Then lobby to join with Ohio.

Ding Ding chicken dinner we have a winner!

ANY chance C-USA would ever give New Mexico State a call? I know they would stretch the conference's footprint past the Rio Grande but their athletics program are well worth it IMO.

If there is an opening I want another Alabama team , or a Georgia, or South Carolina team. Must have on campus stadium!!!!!

(11-09-2014 09:52 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 09:35 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 12:50 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-08-2014 11:15 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  These are the schools that are being thrown around.

Louisiana
Akron
or
Texas State

My preference?...Akron. The likely selection?...Louisiana or Texas state.

As a MAC fan it would be nice if you could take Akron off our hands. They are the FIU of the MAC.

Then the MAC could drop back to 11 schools and split the TV/CFP money less ways. Play a 20 school round robin in basketball. Set up the midweek games to have MAC title implications.

You don't want us taking Akron off your hands. You have to remember that TV negotiations revolve around location, location. The Mac would not have gotten what they did in TV money without Akron in the deal.

Lmfao... With miami, ohio, toledo... Yeah, akron pushed that over the top.

Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

The MAC would still have Kent State in the Cleveland/Akron market which has 43,000 students in NE Ohio, twice as many as Akron.

Akron would have never been able to move up under today's rules where you must be invited by an existing FBS conference. They moved up to 1-AA for a few years to annoy the MAC before the MAC acquiesced on letting them in.

Hey, the Zips are awesome!

(11-09-2014 09:38 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 12:28 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 11:43 AM)nbcards Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 10:40 AM)MJG Wrote:  I wonder if NIU would be an option.
They left the MAC once before and may see it as a step towards the AAC. Even if it really would not be a step up. They have a little more national interest than the other candidates. NIU would probably help the next T.V. negotiations the most.

The MAC would have plenty of options if that happened.

I don't see NIU leaving the MAC for C-USA. Too much of a lateral move.

I would say its a step down.

Academics in the MAC are better. The MAC has more tradition. TV deal with ESPN. That all goes away with a move to CUSA.

A lot of the CUSA schools are smaller in enrollment. LaTech, Marshall, Rice, So Miss ect. Miami is the smallest in the MAC and it still 20,000 system wide.

Don't fool yourself. If NIU had an offer from CUSA, they would be on it in a heartbeat.

CUSA isn't a big enough upgrade to be worth it. Maybe it was when Marshall left the MAC, but it isn't any more.

Academics: gain Rice but lose Buffalo.
TV: MAC has a new contract with ESPN, CUSA has Sinclair
Rivals: At least the MAC is close, everybody in CUSA is a flight except WKU and maybe Marshall.

NIU's ultimate end game is the Big 12, but the AAC is an intermediary move, not CUSA.

Could see JMU and Mo St wanting in. They much prefer CUSA to the Sun Belt and CUSA doesn't seem to mind FCS move ups (Charlotte and ODU). NMSU gives UTEP a travel partner, but UTEP probably doesn't what them. Ga State fills a gaping hole on the map for recruiting and media, but Ga St's history doesn't offer much besides that. La-La would be a good fit, but La Tech may have issues. Ark St probably is the least objectionable, but doesn't offer a metro area.

But its probably all for naught as UAB might be using the situation to marshall support for a new on-campus stadium.

Ohio would maybe make a decent replacement in the AAC if Cincinnati leaves for a P5 conference. Otherwise, I don't see the AAC adding them. NIU would be a great addition if they upgrade their facilities. Every stadium in the AAC is 30,000+.

(11-09-2014 11:53 PM)robertfoshizzle Wrote:  Ohio would maybe make a decent replacement in the AAC if Cincinnati leaves for a P5 conference. Otherwise, I don't see the AAC adding them. NIU would be a great addition if they upgrade their facilities. Every stadium in the AAC is 30,000+.

Tulane has 25,000 seats. 30k SRO.

(11-09-2014 11:45 PM)NoDak Wrote:  NIU's ultimate end game is the Big 12, but the AAC is an intermediary move, not CUSA.

Could see JMU and Mo St wanting in. They much prefer CUSA to the Sun Belt and CUSA doesn't seem to mind FCS move ups (Charlotte and ODU). NMSU gives UTEP a travel partner, but UTEP probably doesn't what them. Ga State fills a gaping hole on the map for recruiting and media, but Ga St's history doesn't offer much besides that. La-La would be a good fit, but La Tech may have issues. Ark St probably is the least objectionable, but doesn't offer a metro area.

ULL being in the same state as LaTech is an advantage at this point for CUSA.

Schools in the same state generally would like to be in the same conference together. In the SBC you have South Alabama/Troy and Georgia St/Georgia Southern. Why take one of those when you can double down on Louisiana? Bring in ULL and they will never want to leave.

What if the AAC takes ODU, Charlotte and Marshall at once from CUSA? Would the Georgia schools of the SBC still find the conference appealing? A-State would be heading to CUSA but I don't know if some of the schools would want it.

CUSA's future may very well be West with New Mexico St, ULL, Ark St and give up on Eastern additions. Missouri State makes no sense before Ark State in CUSA.

(11-10-2014 01:17 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 11:45 PM)NoDak Wrote:  NIU's ultimate end game is the Big 12, but the AAC is an intermediary move, not CUSA.

Could see JMU and Mo St wanting in. They much prefer CUSA to the Sun Belt and CUSA doesn't seem to mind FCS move ups (Charlotte and ODU). NMSU gives UTEP a travel partner, but UTEP probably doesn't what them. Ga State fills a gaping hole on the map for recruiting and media, but Ga St's history doesn't offer much besides that. La-La would be a good fit, but La Tech may have issues. Ark St probably is the least objectionable, but doesn't offer a metro area.

ULL being in the same state as LaTech is an advantage at this point for CUSA.

Schools in the same state generally would like to be in the same conference together. In the SBC you have South Alabama/Troy and Georgia St/Georgia Southern. Why take one of those when you can double down on Louisiana? Bring in ULL and they will never want to leave.

What if the AAC takes ODU, Charlotte and Marshall at once from CUSA? Would the Georgia schools of the SBC still find the conference appealing? A-State would be heading to CUSA but I don't know if some of the schools would want it.

CUSA's future may very well be West with New Mexico St, ULL, Ark St and give up on Eastern additions. Missouri State makes no sense before Ark State in CUSA.

The Sun Belt has USA and Troy and GaSt and GaSo in the conference out of necessity, not out of desire. USA wants in CUSA badly, but S Miss would block them, as USA is too close for comfort and robs USM of Mobile recruting. Jacksonville St won't get a look from the Sun Belt, not because it would intrude on USA's or Troy's media's territory, but because it would dilute the recruiting pool for USA, Troy, and Ga St.

Marshall would be far down the AAC's list to add, because it only brings the Huntington metro and a small part of WV. Springfield, Mo is a much larger media market that Jonesboro, and Mo St can actually dominate that market. The Razorbacks are too dominate in Ark, but the Mo Tigers don't have the Springfield market on lockdown. Mo St would be a poorer Tulsa, but richer than Ark St.

Both JMU and Mo St rejected the Sun Belt, which badly wanted both. They would have added Va and Mo markets which the Sun Belt coveted. Meanwhile, Lamar was another example of a potential in state rival for Texas St and La-La that the Sun Belt rejected. Too close for comfort.

If the MAC was being incorporated now, Toledo or Bowling Green as well as Kent St or Akron would have been looked at as unnecessary infringers. Ohio is big enough for four MAC teams, but six is far from ideal.

(11-09-2014 11:27 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  No additions, unless BYU is listening. Every program mentioned has nowhere else to go and will always be available. C-USA went to 14 expecting more losses. Maybe we knew UAB was in a tough spot?

BYU may need a conference. If it is MWC, C-USA probably loses UTEP, too. A 12-team C-USA would be fine.

I'll have to go back and find it, but the CUSA commish said at the time that TV dictated the adds to maintain the contract. Fox got more content while CUSA maintained total contract value. IF UAB drops, and I hope they don't, would CUSA ride it out into the next negotiations? Or, attempt to increase appeal by adding more content/markets? Could ASN be a player? They've done a good job thus far.

(11-09-2014 09:33 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  No interest in NIU from what I hear. The only Mac schools that I've heard could be on the radar is Akron. Their location and facilities is what make them attractive. They also bring a good basketball product to replace UAB. Other schools with chatter are the obvious ones in Louisana and Texas State. Have heard nothing in relation to Georgia State or Southern.

Why would Akron leave the MAC for C-USA? That makes no sense. Even if they did, it would be Football-Only because Soccer(the real prize) would go independent and all other sports would go back to the Ohio Valley.

Even after all that, they would be a outliner in the conference and would demand another team close to them. That means that you would have to A)Beg Kent to come along, or B)Beg Youngstown State to move up.

EDIT: I take it that you have never been to the JAR for a Basketball game. That is a huge issue right now.

(11-09-2014 11:45 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 09:38 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 12:28 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 11:43 AM)nbcards Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 10:40 AM)MJG Wrote:  I wonder if NIU would be an option.
They left the MAC once before and may see it as a step towards the AAC. Even if it really would not be a step up. They have a little more national interest than the other candidates. NIU would probably help the next T.V. negotiations the most.

The MAC would have plenty of options if that happened.

I don't see NIU leaving the MAC for C-USA. Too much of a lateral move.

I would say its a step down.

Academics in the MAC are better. The MAC has more tradition. TV deal with ESPN. That all goes away with a move to CUSA.

A lot of the CUSA schools are smaller in enrollment. LaTech, Marshall, Rice, So Miss ect. Miami is the smallest in the MAC and it still 20,000 system wide.

Don't fool yourself. If NIU had an offer from CUSA, they would be on it in a heartbeat.

CUSA isn't a big enough upgrade to be worth it. Maybe it was when Marshall left the MAC, but it isn't any more.

Academics: gain Rice but lose Buffalo.
TV: MAC has a new contract with ESPN, CUSA has Sinclair
Rivals: At least the MAC is close, everybody in CUSA is a flight except WKU and maybe Marshall.

NIU's ultimate end game is the Big 12, but the AAC is an intermediary move, not CUSA.

Could see JMU and Mo St wanting in. They much prefer CUSA to the Sun Belt and CUSA doesn't seem to mind FCS move ups (Charlotte and ODU). NMSU gives UTEP a travel partner, but UTEP probably doesn't what them. Ga State fills a gaping hole on the map for recruiting and media, but Ga St's history doesn't offer much besides that. La-La would be a good fit, but La Tech may have issues. Ark St probably is the least objectionable, but doesn't offer a metro area.

But its probably all for naught as UAB might be using the situation to marshall support for a new on-campus stadium.

The idea that anyone would think NIU would ever be a player for the Big 12 is insane. NIU's last home football game only attracted 11K people. You people need to be realistic. If the Big 12 ever expands again, it will be with BYU, Cinci, UCONN, and an outside chance with Memphis or Colorado State as front runners.

(11-10-2014 05:05 AM)NoDak Wrote:  

(11-10-2014 01:17 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(11-09-2014 11:45 PM)NoDak Wrote:  NIU's ultimate end game is the Big 12, but the AAC is an intermediary move, not CUSA.

Could see JMU and Mo St wanting in. They much prefer CUSA to the Sun Belt and CUSA doesn't seem to mind FCS move ups (Charlotte and ODU). NMSU gives UTEP a travel partner, but UTEP probably doesn't what them. Ga State fills a gaping hole on the map for recruiting and media, but Ga St's history doesn't offer much besides that. La-La would be a good fit, but La Tech may have issues. Ark St probably is the least objectionable, but doesn't offer a metro area.

ULL being in the same state as LaTech is an advantage at this point for CUSA.

Schools in the same state generally would like to be in the same conference together. In the SBC you have South Alabama/Troy and Georgia St/Georgia Southern. Why take one of those when you can double down on Louisiana? Bring in ULL and they will never want to leave.

What if the AAC takes ODU, Charlotte and Marshall at once from CUSA? Would the Georgia schools of the SBC still find the conference appealing? A-State would be heading to CUSA but I don't know if some of the schools would want it.

CUSA's future may very well be West with New Mexico St, ULL, Ark St and give up on Eastern additions. Missouri State makes no sense before Ark State in CUSA.

The Sun Belt has USA and Troy and GaSt and GaSo in the conference out of necessity, not out of desire. USA wants in CUSA badly, but S Miss would block them, as USA is too close for comfort and robs USM of Mobile recruting. Jacksonville St won't get a look from the Sun Belt, not because it would intrude on USA's or Troy's media's territory, but because it would dilute the recruiting pool for USA, Troy, and Ga St.

Marshall would be far down the AAC's list to add, because it only brings the Huntington metro and a small part of WV. Springfield, Mo is a much larger media market that Jonesboro, and Mo St can actually dominate that market. The Razorbacks are too dominate in Ark, but the Mo Tigers don't have the Springfield market on lockdown. Mo St would be a poorer Tulsa, but richer than Ark St.

Both JMU and Mo St rejected the Sun Belt, which badly wanted both. They would have added Va and Mo markets which the Sun Belt coveted. Meanwhile, Lamar was another example of a potential in state rival for Texas St and La-La that the Sun Belt rejected. Too close for comfort.

If the MAC was being incorporated now, Toledo or Bowling Green as well as Kent St or Akron would have been looked at as unnecessary infringers. Ohio is big enough for four MAC teams, but six is far from ideal.

The MAC wasn't planned out like a modern G5 conference. It was started as a scheduling alliance like all of the old time conferences. The decision to add Bowling Green 1 year after Toledo in 1952 wasn't done with the idea of making the MAC into a major bowl game conference. The MAC was a college division football conference at the time. There is nothing unusual about it if you consider the college landscape at that time. Akron moved up to FBS first and the MAC which was struggling in the early 90's without a TV deal to attract membership caved in.

The addition of Old Dominion and Charlotte to CUSA, FCS call ups largely had to do with ECU insisting upon more schools in the East at the time. Later that year ECU received an invite to the AAC. Had ECU left CUSA earlier I doubt ODU and Charlotte ever get a ring. Instead those calls go to Arkansas St and ULL.

That is why I think its improbable that CUSA gives calls to Mo State and JMU ahead of Ark State and ULL this time. There is nobody in CUSA demanding Missouri State. While ODU may like them, JMU has a small market. They are more of a MAC type school.

Now I can see where the SBC cuts Idaho and NMSU loose as FB only members which then prompts Mo State into joining a full cost of attendance SBC along with Wichita State. That to me sounds the way to go for the SBC. It instantly raises the SBC's basketball profile while saving Mo State and Wichita St from extinction. Its going to be very hard for the MVC to pass full cost of attendance when its running a football conference with FB Only members like NDSU and YSU. The SBC however is going to want to do the full cost of attendance so it would be a big edge for Missouri State to find a spot in the SBC.

What is Hawaii (Big West), New Mexico St (WAC) and Idaho (Big Sky) going to do with full cost of attendance? They won't get those conferences to pass it. The only option is to go FBS independent and not implement full cost for football. Hawaii doesn't need it with it being an attraction. Its a waste of time for Idaho and NMSU who can't win anyway and pick up the dregs recruiting wise.