Seriously all the alliance looks like is FCS with the ability to go to bowl games and I don't think any of them realize this. They won't get a concession for a conference semifinal because it would make things unfair to every other league.

Do we want to go to a football world where Alabama goes 14-0 LSU goes 13-1 then the Big 12 champ is 11-1? If semi finals are approved we will be seeing SEC/ACC teams playing for the national championship every year because there is no way the Pac-12, Big 10, Big 12, or Big East could even get to 16 or more without adding teams like ECU.

(02-18-2012 11:19 AM)johnnylightnin Wrote:  As for further separation, the Alliance didn't prompt it, but they recognize it and are trying to fight against it by distancing themselves from the Mac and the belt (WAC is dead). In reality, when AQ goes away, it's far more likely that the net effect is that the BE is locked out...as opposed to the Alliance champ having an "in".

The Alliance is not trying to "separate" itself from the Sunbelt. What they are trying to do is fight the Big East (as your last sentence alludes). And if AQ goes away, they think they can do it. Face it, the BE has absolutely Feasted on the "Automatic" aspect of the AQ, and the deluge of dollars it has brought to them. Turn off that spigot and they think they can compete (recognizing that the BE will have a better TV deal).
C-USA has always respected the sunbelt. C-USA has lost, what, 10 teams over the years, and has never poached the sunbelt. They may try for a team or 2 this time, we'll see.
The Sunbelt should be in the exact same mindset that the Alliance is.
If you make conferences earn their keep, then the middle class of FBS football will be large, wide competitive and meet all of our needs.

(02-18-2012 11:25 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  Seriously all the alliance looks like is FCS with the ability to go to bowl games and I don't think any of them realize this. They won't get a concession for a conference semifinal because it would make things unfair to every other league.

Do we want to go to a football world where Alabama goes 14-0 LSU goes 13-1 then the Big 12 champ is 11-1? If semi finals are approved we will be seeing SEC/ACC teams playing for the national championship every year because there is no way the Pac-12, Big 10, Big 12, or Big East could even get to 16 or more without adding teams like ECU.

That's the problem, people are so wanting to belong to something that they lose all common sense. The Alliance will be drive by a handful of programs that will spark TV network interest. Those programs will soon want a lion's share of the TV money. From that point, those schools will break off and make all of the money.

AQ status is on it's way out the door. which is another reason why staying in the Sun Belt is smarter. With the crazy number of teams that the Alliance will have, every team will find it more difficult to make it to a BCS game. However, a strong Sun Belt or MAC team will only have to contend with the roster they currently have.

The thing is that the BCS is working on going to a "plus-1" that basically says the the top 4 ranked teams at the end of the season will compete for the NC. That is the goal with all this, just to have a chance. Well guess, what, you win you will get that opportunity. True, for our conferences, it will take a couple of years of winning, just like it did for Boise. But also look at the fact that if Boise had won their games, they would have been in the top 4 this year, which would have put them in in that scenario. Is it a perfect system, no, but atleast it is getting better. And lets face it, how many of the non-AQ teams over the histroy of the BCS could have actually won the thing???

I'm not sure I understand the need for this ridiculous merger of these two conferences that will alienate fans, shows no true value. Just look at some of the bowl games from this past year that had no one in the stands. That is what their conference games will look like.

it all boils down to money. I think that if the non-AQ schools got the same ammount of cash that the AQ schools received, we could compete on their level after a period of time. Money pays for facilities, which bring in better players, that leads to better teams, which draws in television interest and larger fanbases. it's all connected.

Winning fixes alot, I know it is easier to win when you have those things, but you got to find a way. A couple of runs in the NCAA basketball tourny brings money into the conference. A team get on a run in football and make it to a larger bowl, break the BCS bowl ceiling and that helps bring in money. But ask UConn how much money their BCS bowl brought in. I think it cost them some ridiculous amount of money to go get killed in that thing. But these things help bring in TV money, sponsorship money and better recruits, and it starts again.

(02-18-2012 10:53 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(02-16-2012 12:53 PM)Agtopper Wrote:  NO NO NO to combining with the MAC. I do not want to have football games any farther north in late fall. Mason Dixon line and below for Sunbelt.

Ask yourself why the Alliance is being created. The reason is to create strength through a matirx of schools and to join otherwise unrelated markets. If they go to 24 (even now at 16 or 18) the Alliance will, I'm sure, play in their own conferences and then play a semi-final and final championship game. I'm sure there will be more friendly, cross-conference, games with the other sports like hoops and baseball but these will be opportunities not mandates.

This brings us to a Sun Belt/MAC Alliance. I would think that a WKU and a MTSU esp. would be excited about the possibility of strengthening bonds with schools right across the river.

The Alliance, for good or bad, was created out of the need to strengthen opportunities for the remaining members of the MW and C-USA. I know a Sun Belt/MAC type of Alliance won't take place over night and may wait to see what happens with the MW/C-USA allignment but as the big boys move closer and closer to their own super-confrences it may mean the difference between FBS survival or not.

As a wise man once said; Align or Die.

I asked myself why, and answered that is a pipe dream to get AQ status and more money, which neither one will probably happen. So before you start praising it, might want to see how things work out. Maybe there is a reason the SEC and ACC are stopping at 14. Once you get past that, the divisions essentially become two separate conferences that only share a name. Having that many I think weakens the conference. You have too many opinions, are spread too thin, and what benefits one school may not help others. Remember what happened to the WAC after they went to 16 teams.

It's rather humerous to see the fanbases who are involved in this giant mistake defend it as if they really believe it is a smart move. I guess they feel they have to if they want to appear to be supporting their program. Who knows why, I'm just glad Troy isn't wrapped up in it.

(02-18-2012 05:10 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  It's rather humerous to see the fanbases who are involved in this giant mistake defend it as if they really believe it is a smart move. I guess they feel they have to if they want to appear to be supporting their program. Who knows why, I'm just glad Troy isn't wrapped up in it.

As much as I would like to be in a conference with UAB, USM, Tulane, ECU and Marshall, this isn't the way I want it. I want those teams in my conference, I don't want to be involved in that mess.

(02-18-2012 05:14 PM)Usajags Wrote:  As much as I would like to be in a conference with UAB, USM, Tulane, ECU and Marshall, this isn't the way I want it. I want those teams in my conference, I don't want to be involved in that mess.

Why do you want to be in a Conference with UAB?

Even though their fans have an entitlement complex, they do bring in a good basketball program. That and I live in Birmingham and would make for an easy game to go to without driving to Mobile.

all they bring is basketball, and even that has become weak by their standards as of late.

I now no longer want any success out of the program at UAb. I finally got an acceptable answer from some USM and ECU fans on the merger, just before UAb fan banned me from the C-USA board completely.... And all my post on their board is on the smack talking board.... Those guys are thinned skinned. So let them waste away in mediocrity and basement dwelling of the all mighty "Alliance".


I'm now at a warning level of 30%.... UAb fan also wanted to get into a rep war with me, heck when they had something good to say, I was giving them +'s. When they came in weak I gave them -'s. Idiots.

(02-18-2012 11:19 AM)johnnylightnin Wrote:  

(02-18-2012 11:11 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  However, the point you're missing is that a team that runs the guantlet of an Alliance season plus play-off's of 18-24 teams probably deserves at least and at-large bid in one of the BCS bowl games.

When has deserving ever mattered. If the alliance champ has 2 losses, I can promise you they won't get an at-large.

As for further separation, the Alliance didn't prompt it, but they recognize it and are trying to fight against it by distancing themselves from the Mac and the belt (WAC is dead). In reality, when AQ goes away, it's far more likely that the net effect is that the BE is locked out...as opposed to the Alliance champ having an "in".

If the Alliance champ has one loss they are not going to be invited to the big bowls and unless there is a stipulation like the current BCS rules do about highly ranked conference champs then you can also forget an undefeated alliance champ too (as this year shows they don't care about the non-AQ in any way and in fact there is a pecking order in the AQ).

I will go on record saying that an undefeated MergAlliance team will have trouble making a BCS bowl, when the AQ status becomes null and void they can beat everyone they still won't get in.

(02-20-2012 08:37 AM)cajunhawk Wrote:  I will go on record saying that an undefeated MergAlliance team will have trouble making a BCS bowl, when the AQ status becomes null and void they can beat everyone they still won't get in.

Once AQ is gone, I think you're right. They'll be locked out in favor of a 3rd SEC team with 2-3 losses.

(02-20-2012 09:55 AM)johnnylightnin Wrote:  

(02-20-2012 08:37 AM)cajunhawk Wrote:  I will go on record saying that an undefeated MergAlliance team will have trouble making a BCS bowl, when the AQ status becomes null and void they can beat everyone they still won't get in.

Once AQ is gone, I think you're right. They'll be locked out in favor of a 3rd SEC team with 2-3 losses.

This is exactly why the MergAlliance doesn't make sense. The BCS has taken notice of all the insanity that realignment has brought on. One way to squash that bug quickly is to put a bullet in AQ status all together.

And when AQ status is gone it will make more sense to be in smaller leagues than big ones. The Alliance is a bad idea under every scenario.

(02-20-2012 11:05 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  And when AQ status is gone it will make more sense to be in smaller leagues than big ones. The Alliance is a bad idea under every scenario.

Agree . . I think the Alliance is a bad idea . . it is a conglomeration of schools that have little in common . . I much prefer a regional conference.

Go stAte . . Go SBC !!