University of South Alabama is a school that doesn't get much play because their football is very new, but when you look at what they could bring, they might be one of the next serious contenders. Not sure how open UAB and USM would be, but these guys could be getting ready to blow up. Mobile is a destination city with a 200k population and 600k+ metro area. The school has an enrollment of 15k+, with $400mm endowment, medical schools, etc...
Basketball has a decent history (received at large bid in 2008), strong baseball, but football is very new. Mobile also is home to an existing bowl that would fit the CUSA profile.
They are obsiously not up to speed as a program and it would be a longer term play, but it would not completely surprise me to see these guys jump in front of teams like NMSU, WKU, ULL, etc... unless UAB/USM would block them. These guys could fit an eastern or western division profile as they would be pretty much right in the middle of the conference footprint.
(This post was last modified: 11-30-2012 02:42 PM by CurveItAround.)
(11-30-2012 02:14 PM)CurveItAround Wrote: University of South Alabama is a school that doesn't get much play because their football is very new, but when you look at what they could bring, they might be one of the next serious contenders. Not sure how open UAB and USM would be, but these guys could be getting ready to blow up. Mobile is a destination city with a 200k population. The school has an enrollment of 15k+, with $400mm endowment, medical schools, etc...
Basketball has a decent history (received at large bid in 2008), strong baseball, but football is very new. Mobile also is home to an existing bowl that would fit the CUSA profile.
It would not surprise me to see these guys jump to the front of the line unless UAB/USM would block them. These guys could fit an eastern or western division profile as they would be pretty much right in the middle of the conference footprint.
USA can be our replacement.
I don't think we want to be in a conference with them.
I doubt the Big East takes UAB. Big brother has made it clear they are not willing to give the other Alabama schools the resources they need to reach thier real potential.
If enough schools leave, I think the list of replacements from the Belt are in order,
WKU
stAte/Louisiana
South Alabama
USA has great fan support in basketball and it is translating over to football as well, even though they went 2-10 this year. I was at the MT @ USA game a few weeks ago and they had a bigger crowd that Tulane saw all year. They are a sleeping giant in a decent sized market, but I get why USM and UAB don't want them around.
I'd much rather add USA than Georgia State.
(This post was last modified: 11-30-2012 03:42 PM by MTowho.)
I wouldn't mind USA as they're fairly good in other sports or have a history in them & look to have more of an upside to them. At least they're putting some money into their FB program so I'd expect it to rise in stature over the coming years. I would support them over Troy even though we've got more of a rivalry w/ them but having USA would get us back the rivalry from the original Sun Belt.
(11-30-2012 05:59 PM)blazerwkr Wrote: I wouldn't mind USA as they're fairly good in other sports or have a history in them & look to have more of an upside to them. At least they're putting some money into their FB program so I'd expect it to rise in stature over the coming years. I would support them over Troy even though we've got more of a rivalry w/ them but having USA would get us back the rivalry from the original Sun Belt.
My understanding is that UAB lobbied HEAVILY to get USA an invite during CUSA's formation. UAB vs USA basketball used to be good stuff. Still is, I guess, but not as much at stake anymore it seems.
(11-30-2012 05:59 PM)blazerwkr Wrote: I wouldn't mind USA as they're fairly good in other sports or have a history in them & look to have more of an upside to them. At least they're putting some money into their FB program so I'd expect it to rise in stature over the coming years. I would support them over Troy even though we've got more of a rivalry w/ them but having USA would get us back the rivalry from the original Sun Belt.
My understanding is that UAB lobbied HEAVILY to get USA an invite during CUSA's formation. UAB vs USA basketball used to be good stuff. Still is, I guess, but not as much at stake anymore it seems.
I don't think it was CUSA, but I think Gene Bartow lobbied for South's admission to the Great Midwest.
(11-30-2012 05:59 PM)blazerwkr Wrote: I wouldn't mind USA as they're fairly good in other sports or have a history in them & look to have more of an upside to them. At least they're putting some money into their FB program so I'd expect it to rise in stature over the coming years. I would support them over Troy even though we've got more of a rivalry w/ them but having USA would get us back the rivalry from the original Sun Belt.
My understanding is that UAB lobbied HEAVILY to get USA an invite during CUSA's formation. UAB vs USA basketball used to be good stuff. Still is, I guess, but not as much at stake anymore it seems.
Maybe, but I don't think that would have involved football. USA didn't even have a club team until about 1999, I think. I was a little surprised back in 1995 that UAB football was even included in CUSA. There weren't as many football-playing schools back then, though, and UAB had geography, basketball history, and their market going for them.
(11-30-2012 05:59 PM)blazerwkr Wrote: I wouldn't mind USA as they're fairly good in other sports or have a history in them & look to have more of an upside to them. At least they're putting some money into their FB program so I'd expect it to rise in stature over the coming years. I would support them over Troy even though we've got more of a rivalry w/ them but having USA would get us back the rivalry from the original Sun Belt.
My understanding is that UAB lobbied HEAVILY to get USA an invite during CUSA's formation. UAB vs USA basketball used to be good stuff. Still is, I guess, but not as much at stake anymore it seems.
Maybe, but I don't think that would have involved football. USA didn't even have a club team until about 1999, I think. I was a little surprised back in 1995 that UAB football was even included in CUSA. There weren't as many football-playing schools back then, though, and UAB had geography, basketball history, and their market going for them.
From what I remember, CUSA told UAB..keep your football independent.. and then they beat LSU in Baton Rouge. And got an invite the next year for football.
(11-30-2012 05:59 PM)blazerwkr Wrote: I wouldn't mind USA as they're fairly good in other sports or have a history in them & look to have more of an upside to them. At least they're putting some money into their FB program so I'd expect it to rise in stature over the coming years. I would support them over Troy even though we've got more of a rivalry w/ them but having USA would get us back the rivalry from the original Sun Belt.
My understanding is that UAB lobbied HEAVILY to get USA an invite during CUSA's formation. UAB vs USA basketball used to be good stuff. Still is, I guess, but not as much at stake anymore it seems.
Maybe, but I don't think that would have involved football. USA didn't even have a club team until about 1999, I think. I was a little surprised back in 1995 that UAB football was even included in CUSA. There weren't as many football-playing schools back then, though, and UAB had geography, basketball history, and their market going for them.
From what I remember, CUSA told UAB..keep your football independent.. and then they beat LSU in Baton Rouge. And got an invite the next year for football.
Wow... it wouldn't happen like that these days. Things are much more tightly controlled.
