I have seen App s AD and GS s AD mention in the last couple weeks this idea of CUSA and the Sun Belt reorganizing regionally. Is there any real chance of this?

(09-19-2016 11:30 AM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  I have seen App s AD and GS s AD mention in the last couple weeks this idea of CUSA and the Sun Belt reorganizing regionally. Is there any real chance of this?

I'm happy with what we have.

A lot of G5 leaders are talking about it....so that should probably be an indication that the idea has merit and potential.

Just makes so much sense. I mean most of SBC east and CUSA east are peers either academically or athletically.

I think, at the moment both App and GS are happy being in the SBC, but the writing is on the wall, the G5 conferences aren't going to make their money on a tv deal, instead, the thinking is, we got to go old school, make our money on close rivals filling our stadiums, and save money on travel costs. I don't think it will happen anytime soon, but got to believe their already holding informal talks.

Our AD has talked about it as well. I think it's possible, but right now there are too many schools dead set in their own ways that stop it from happening.

I've been big supporter of this idea for a few years now.. it just makes too much sense.

As long as Coastal is still in a conference with App and Georgia Southern, I'm open to the discussion



Not that me being open to it or not makes a lick of difference.

But I'm also very happy with Coastal's current Sun Belt cohorts.

(09-19-2016 12:03 PM)moehler Wrote:  I think, at the moment both App and GS are happy being in the SBC, but the writing is on the wall, the G5 conferences aren't going to make their money on a tv deal, instead, the thinking is, we got to go old school, make our money on close rivals filling our stadiums, and save money on travel costs. I don't think it will happen anytime soon, but got to believe their already holding informal talks.

And I think this eventually means more coverage. Better product = more attention.

And I will also argue that the TV contracts we are seeing now will be in the thing of the past within a few years. The money is going to dry up. Streaming TV is the next thing and this allows people to pick and choose what channels they want to pay for. See ESPN's financial troubles.

I know one thing. Having 5 home games with 2 being weekday games is not how you please your fan base especially when the University is located at least 1 hr away from any major metropolitan area within the state. I know Boise St did it but Boise is located in Idaho's largest city. When need a traditional schedule, no Thursday games. Play good football and watch Southern's athletic program grow leaps and bounds.

I'm telling you from what I've seen when Doug speaks stuff gets done! The atmosphere and excitement of a packed stadium like Saturday was like nothing I've seen . Yes it was Miami but you bring Ecu ,jmu,Marshall, ga so, etc etc there will be as many or more . I can only imagine the money Appalachian state university made this weekend .

(09-19-2016 11:30 AM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  I have seen App s AD and GS s AD mention in the last couple weeks this idea of CUSA and the Sun Belt reorganizing regionally. Is there any real chance of this?

Is this from an article? Links?

(09-19-2016 12:03 PM)moehler Wrote:  I think, at the moment both App and GS are happy being in the SBC, but the writing is on the wall, the G5 conferences aren't going to make their money on a tv deal, instead, the thinking is, we got to go old school, make our money on close rivals filling our stadiums, and save money on travel costs. I don't think it will happen anytime soon, but got to believe their already holding informal talks.

As a MAC fan, that does not always work. You do save on travel, but even teams here have to take at least one ATM Game a year or every other year.

We are as compact as it gets, but even schools here have a hard time drawing crowds(sans Toledo and Ohio).

I do have a question however, assuming that this actually happens, would the NCAA let them keep the BB Credits?

Would the television contracts be honored?

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(09-19-2016 12:51 PM)lance99 Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 12:03 PM)moehler Wrote:  I think, at the moment both App and GS are happy being in the SBC, but the writing is on the wall, the G5 conferences aren't going to make their money on a tv deal, instead, the thinking is, we got to go old school, make our money on close rivals filling our stadiums, and save money on travel costs. I don't think it will happen anytime soon, but got to believe their already holding informal talks.

As a MAC fan, that does not always work. You do save on travel, but even teams here have to take at least one ATM Game a year or every other year.

We are as compact as it gets, but even schools here have a hard time drawing crowds(sans Toledo and Ohio).

I do have a question however, assuming that this actually happens, would the NCAA let them keep the BB Credits?

Would the television contracts be honored?

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Good questions. I'm sure it's issues like these that will make any G5 regional realignment a protracted affair.

I think having compact conferences is important, but it's not priority number 1.

There are schools in the CUSA and Sun Belt that if combined could form a league with media rights that would make it worthwhile playing 1 or 2 weekday football home games a year. The idea that CUSA's TV money tanked because G5 TV deals are overpriced is just pure wishful thinking on the part of CUSA people. Expand based on attendance and fan-base sizes rather than markets and the money will get better.

I also feel strongly you could assemble a football conference from both leagues that could be closer to the Mountain West and AAC than any of the current SBC, CUSA, and MAC.

My only question is how you bring about a reorganization of any kind that will be within the rules of Division I. It's not like we can dissolve both leagues and form two new ones (can't make new conferences).

And of course there's the question of how long some CUSA presidents will continue to deny reality and live under the delusion that they can be the next AAC with all their marketz.

(09-19-2016 12:43 PM)trueblue21 Wrote:  

(09-19-2016 12:03 PM)moehler Wrote:  I think, at the moment both App and GS are happy being in the SBC, but the writing is on the wall, the G5 conferences aren't going to make their money on a tv deal, instead, the thinking is, we got to go old school, make our money on close rivals filling our stadiums, and save money on travel costs. I don't think it will happen anytime soon, but got to believe their already holding informal talks.

And I think this eventually means more coverage. Better product = more attention.

And I will also argue that the TV contracts we are seeing now will be in the thing of the past within a few years. The money is going to dry up. Streaming TV is the next thing and this allows people to pick and choose what channels they want to pay for. See ESPN's financial troubles.

I know one thing. Having 5 home games with 2 being weekday games is not how you please your fan base especially when the University is located at least 1 hr away from any major metropolitan area within the state. I know Boise St did it but Boise is located in Idaho's largest city. When need a traditional schedule, no Thursday games. Play good football and watch Southern's athletic program grow leaps and bounds.

I couldn't agree with you more. Weekday games kill attendance and they're very disruptive to the overall support of a university as well. Saturday game days are about a lot more than just the football game. They're about the day long happenings that go on all over the campus and the entire community.

Look. The SBC presidents are trying to save everyone in the coming shakeup. It's a nice, good thing that they are doing. They want the 2 leagues to just trade schools. It is doomed to fail.

Unless the MWC raids CUSA West, you will see a group of schools from CUSA West and SBC "West" come together to make a new league or join the MVC.

The remaining CUSA schools will cherry pick what is left in the SBC.

1 or 2 schools might not make it.

(09-19-2016 01:06 PM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  1 or 2 schools might not make it.

I agree, some schools wouldn't make it.

I am not sure about going Independent (football only), esp with these monster conferences in the future, that means less slots for "OOC" games available. However, going Independent is still better than FCS football...and if you are at least somewhat successful, it might be worth it, nobody would associate you with a poor conference.

I would schedule 4 or 5 road games vs SEC/ACC every year (helps recruiting - kids want to play these teams - and generates lots of cash (1M per game), chances of upsets are higher because you play more of these teams and might catch an SEC team during an off year every other year or so, actually, you are almost unofficially 50% SEC if you do this) and I would schedule 2 FCS opponents (I wouldn't care about bowl eligibilty during the first few years, most bowls are overrated anyways). Scheduling the remaining games would be tough though, you also need home games.

I wonder if any talks have been going on behind closed doors??

Jeez, we have years of instability, and then just as its settling down, we volunteer for more instability.

Can we just play football and try to grow a conference for a few years?

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(09-19-2016 01:28 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  I wonder if any talks have been going on behind closed doors??

That's been going on for a few years.