(03-13-2013 02:02 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  Great post by Zombie

Realignment is about 2 things:

Increasing your financial income by being associated with the biggest and best athletic brands in your state and region.

Increasing your academic perception by being associated with the biggest and best academic brands in your state and region.

USM wants to be perceived nationally as an academic and athletic equal of Ole Miss, MSU, Auburn and Alabama and the other big southern SEC and ACC schools.

But they are falling further and further from the possibility of ever being in the same conference with those schools and therefore farther and farther away from being perceived as an equal of those schools.

Yup. I think we hired the wrong man to be president around 2001 and that's basically when our slide into oblivion started. It really sucks for those of us who went up to Hattiesburg during our "golden age." We graduated from one school, and now a lesser school sits in its place.

SMU knows how you feel. Many of our biggest boosters come from the old SWC days, and still see our natural rivals as schools like UT, TAMU, Baylor, Arkansas et al. To stand back and see how far we have fallen (much the result of our own actions) in comparison to the rise of most of those old SWC teams is sickening to these big money people.

The recent success of TCU shows that it is possible to get a late start and still make it to the big show. But pride is a blessing and a curse. It is a great motivator, but it can be a huge weakness when it blinds you to the realities of the world. Those SWC days are long gone, and the sooner those folks realize that we have new rivalries and must build a new path, the better. Same goes for USM.

Good luck - I've always liked your fb program.

No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

(03-13-2013 02:42 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

That's pretty much what I think. I will say that watching the ECU people talk down to those schools has made me like them more... not enough to make me want to be in CUSA, though.

(03-13-2013 02:00 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I know money matters. But we bought out Ellis Johnson, and if we can afford to pay that old lunatic money for nothing, we can finance a conference change (which will only help in the long run).

I think that IHL would jump at the possibility of USM moving up. It's only more prestige and money for their overall system. And their boss (Gov. Bryant) got his undergraduate degree from USM.

I just think the money argument is irrelevant... it's like questioning whether you can afford a necktie for the six-figure job you're trying to get.

This just confirms my assumption that you have not talked to anyone on the IHL. They want the EJ paid off and the Debt recently incurred paid off before they approve anything. Just aske any one of the members.

(03-13-2013 03:25 PM)PaulDel2 Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:00 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I know money matters. But we bought out Ellis Johnson, and if we can afford to pay that old lunatic money for nothing, we can finance a conference change (which will only help in the long run).

I think that IHL would jump at the possibility of USM moving up. It's only more prestige and money for their overall system. And their boss (Gov. Bryant) got his undergraduate degree from USM.

I just think the money argument is irrelevant... it's like questioning whether you can afford a necktie for the six-figure job you're trying to get.

This just confirms my assumption that you have not talked to anyone on the IHL. They want the EJ paid off and the Debt recently incurred paid off before they approve anything. Just aske any one of the members.

Why would I talk to someone at IHL? I never claimed to.

What you're saying sounds like the IHL holding USM donors hostage. Anyone with two or more brain cells left realizes that there's much more money in the A12 than in CUSA. If we were asking them to pay for a 15,000 seat basketball arena, or something like that, I could understand IHL's hesitancy. But this is completely different. I can't believe anyone on the IHL board doesn't see that (whether they admit it to Gene Carlisle, etc., or not).

(03-12-2013 10:50 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  This is at the heart of the truth in regards to USM, especially those in position to help fund things like exit/entrance fees and buyouts of contracts of the worst coaches in the history of college football.
These guys remember a time when USM considered itself on the same level as other southern independents like Florida State, Louisville, South Carolina, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech. Whether that was truly the case is irrelevant -- USM fans, especially boosters and heavy donors, saw themselves that way. The schedule was often filled with SEC schools and you heard statements like, "the only thing keeping Southern out of the SEC is that they won't take three schools in Mississippi." That was absurd, of course, but it speaks to how they thought of themselves in the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s during the Farve years. The main reason given that Jeff Bower was let go was that he couldn't consistently guide USM to more than nine wins in a season and the school needed someone that could take the team to the next level.

USM supporters have seen almost all of the schools that they considered natural rivals move on to other conferences and to greater monetary rewards. They have seen schools like USF with no history of success and little Division I experience taken ahead of them. This latest insult in which the Big East takes almost all of the remaining CUSA teams, but not them, has just about made heads spin like Linda Blair's in The Exorcist. Trust me. For the vast majority of older USM fans, this isn't at all about money; it's about respect and pride. In spite of what any say on this board about not accepting an A12 invitation, USM would immediately accept that invitation. If nothing else, it would reunite them with Cincinnati, Houston, ECU, UCF, Tulane and Memphis -- schools they care about. The only thing better than that to a lot of USM fans would be if Louisville were staying and the A12 could miraculously get FSU and Va. Tech to join them.

Nailed it. One of the most accurate posts regarding USM I've ever seen on this board, or any board.
Well done.

(03-13-2013 02:02 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  Great post by Zombie

Realignment (for most schools) is about 2 things:

Increasing your financial income by being associated with the biggest and best athletic brands in your state and region.

Increasing your academic perception by being associated with the biggest and best academic brands in your state and region.

USM wants to be perceived nationally as an academic and athletic equal of Ole Miss, MSU, Auburn and Alabama and the other big southern SEC and ACC schools.

But they are falling further and further from the possibility of ever being in the same conference with those schools and thereforeu farther and farther away from being perceived as an equal of those schools.

Interesting that fans from other schools, grasp our situation better than some of our own fans.

(03-13-2013 05:52 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:02 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  Great post by Zombie

Realignment (for most schools) is about 2 things:

Increasing your financial income by being associated with the biggest and best athletic brands in your state and region.

Increasing your academic perception by being associated with the biggest and best academic brands in your state and region.

USM wants to be perceived nationally as an academic and athletic equal of Ole Miss, MSU, Auburn and Alabama and the other big southern SEC and ACC schools.

But they are falling further and further from the possibility of ever being in the same conference with those schools and thereforeu farther and farther away from being perceived as an equal of those schools.

Interesting that fans from other schools, grasp our situation better than some of our own fans.

Mea Culpa. I realized after my post that you were really asking for fans of other schools to respond. I am a fan of multiple schools and USM is one. I live in Laurel and went to William Carey, so I am not exactly an outsider. Again, my apologies for jumping in when you were asking for comments from non-USM fans.

I'm fine with anybody responding. I'd be a little unenthusiastic if somebody came here and posted the official CUSA party line, just because I've heard it so many times. But casual fans and obervers from the area are exactly who I think we should be paying attention to.

(03-13-2013 02:42 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

I hate to see UCF and ECU go for historic/rivalry reasons but they have to do what they think is best for them. I can see good rivalries forming with this new group. A tighter geographic grouping of schools that will have just as good or better basketball, and the potential that we could surpass the American 12 with a larger TV deal from Fox after our current deal runs out in 2016. Especially if we have some school in CUSA step up run the table occasionally and get one of the better bowl bids.

There is absolutley no way I would support a move to the American 12. Could not justify the investment to leave CUSA and the investment to enter a league that has no real direction or stability. A league that is starting from the ground up with a new name and widespread travel. An absolute lateral move at best. Sorry. It is what it is. The only remaining attraction or value is gone (The Big East Name) or soon to be gone (Cincy)

No need to flame me fellas.....just my opinion. Everyone has one. Calling it like I see it.


"Try to discover
The road to success
And you'll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind."
~ Robert Brault

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:42 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

I hate to see UCF and ECU go for historic/rivalry reasons but they have to do what they think is best for them. I can see good rivalries forming with this new group. A tighter geographic grouping of schools that will have just as good or better basketball, and the potential that we could surpass the American 12 with a larger TV deal from Fox after our current deal runs out in 2016. Especially if we have some school in CUSA step up run the table occasionally and get one of the better bowl bids.

There is absolutley no way I would support a move to the American 12. Could not justify the investment to leave CUSA and the investment to enter a league that has no real direction or stability. A league that is starting from the ground up with a new name and widespread travel. An absolute lateral move at best. Sorry. It is what it is. The only remaining attraction or value is gone (The Big East Name) or soon to be gone (Cincy)

No need to flame me fellas.....just my opinion. Everyone has one. Calling it like I see it.


"Try to discover
The road to success
And you'll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind."
~ Robert Brault

It's easy to pretend your in paradise when you know your not even on the short list of candidates.

If this group of schools is so great why didn't Marshall leave conference USA to join the more regional "Slum Belt" as you guys called it a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with being content with reality but no need to lie about your situation.

The fact that the A-12 will be on ESPN getting two mil per year alone justifies moving up.

(03-14-2013 01:07 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:42 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

I hate to see UCF and ECU go for historic/rivalry reasons but they have to do what they think is best for them. I can see good rivalries forming with this new group. A tighter geographic grouping of schools that will have just as good or better basketball, and the potential that we could surpass the American 12 with a larger TV deal from Fox after our current deal runs out in 2016. Especially if we have some school in CUSA step up run the table occasionally and get one of the better bowl bids.

There is absolutley no way I would support a move to the American 12. Could not justify the investment to leave CUSA and the investment to enter a league that has no real direction or stability. A league that is starting from the ground up with a new name and widespread travel. An absolute lateral move at best. Sorry. It is what it is. The only remaining attraction or value is gone (The Big East Name) or soon to be gone (Cincy)

No need to flame me fellas.....just my opinion. Everyone has one. Calling it like I see it.


"Try to discover
The road to success
And you'll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind."
~ Robert Brault

It's easy to pretend your in paradise when you know your not even on the short list of candidates.

If this group of schools is so great why didn't Marshall leave conference USA to join the more regional "Slum Belt" as you guys called it a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with being content with reality but no need to lie about your situation.

The fact that the A-12 will be on ESPN getting two mil per year alone justifies moving up.

USM will be grabbed eventually while Marshall rots on CSS vs FIU

It is what it is

(03-14-2013 04:50 AM)TigerSeth Wrote:  USM will be grabbed eventually while Marshall rots on CSS vs FIU

It is what it is

How's that football program of yours coming along?

Every school east of the Mississippi recruits or wants to recruit S. Fla. Sun Belt programs have risen from the ashes to a considerable force in less than a decade [MTSU squashed Ga Tech this past year and Ark St crushed MTSU 45-0; West. KY beat Kentucky and blew out S. Miss].

FIU has been playing FBS football for all of five years and has two bowls to show for it. I'd rather hang my hat with programs who are on an upward trajectory than those that are taking on water and simply trying to stay afloat.

By the way, who's UT-Martin?

(03-14-2013 01:07 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:42 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

I hate to see UCF and ECU go for historic/rivalry reasons but they have to do what they think is best for them. I can see good rivalries forming with this new group. A tighter geographic grouping of schools that will have just as good or better basketball, and the potential that we could surpass the American 12 with a larger TV deal from Fox after our current deal runs out in 2016. Especially if we have some school in CUSA step up run the table occasionally and get one of the better bowl bids.

There is absolutley no way I would support a move to the American 12. Could not justify the investment to leave CUSA and the investment to enter a league that has no real direction or stability. A league that is starting from the ground up with a new name and widespread travel. An absolute lateral move at best. Sorry. It is what it is. The only remaining attraction or value is gone (The Big East Name) or soon to be gone (Cincy)

No need to flame me fellas.....just my opinion. Everyone has one. Calling it like I see it.


"Try to discover
The road to success
And you'll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind."
~ Robert Brault

It's easy to pretend your in paradise when you know your not even on the short list of candidates.

If this group of schools is so great why didn't Marshall leave conference USA to join the more regional "Slum Belt" as you guys called it a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with being content with reality but no need to lie about your situation.

The fact that the A-12 will be on ESPN getting two mil per year alone justifies moving up.

Good post... I'd also mention that there's one huge difference between Marshall and USM: Marshall has made progress compared to where they were in 1980 (or 1990, or even 2000). So there's not as much humiliation associated with playing all those SBC teams for Marshall. There's a regional aspect as well... we're right in the thick of all those SBC schools and always have been. Letting them into our conference is conceding a level of equality that wouldn't even have been considered just a few years ago.

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

Nobody shows up at MTSU, LTU, UAB, Charlotte (nobody will, trust me), FIU, FAU, etc games either.

Let's get real here. Marshall fans are excited to have a bunch of crappy football programs in their division they can beat up on and hopefully get back to their MAC domination status. They've got 2 South Florida schools, Charlotte and Norfolk areas in which to recruit players with at least a pulse academically.

I hope like hell USM AND Tulsa get out of that mess.

(03-14-2013 11:28 AM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

Nobody shows up at MTSU, LTU, UAB, Charlotte (nobody will, trust me), FIU, FAU, etc games either.

Let's get real here. Marshall fans are excited to have a bunch of crappy football programs in their division they can beat up on and hopefully get back to their MAC domination status. They've got 2 South Florida schools, Charlotte and Norfolk areas in which to recruit players with at least a pulse academically.

I hope like hell USM AND Tulsa get out of that mess.

I think a lot of USM fans also fantasize about having an undefeated regular season in the new CUSA. Personally, I think that's absurd. You get the recruits your conference affiliation justifies.

(03-14-2013 01:07 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 02:42 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  No USM does not really want to turn a A12 invite down.

It's more of a self defense mechanism to not be seen as weak because they think they wont be invited. No one in their right mind would rather be with Middle Tenn, FIU, FAU, UTEP, North Texas, and La Tech over Tulane, Houston, SMU, UCF, and USF.

I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

I hate to see UCF and ECU go for historic/rivalry reasons but they have to do what they think is best for them. I can see good rivalries forming with this new group. A tighter geographic grouping of schools that will have just as good or better basketball, and the potential that we could surpass the American 12 with a larger TV deal from Fox after our current deal runs out in 2016. Especially if we have some school in CUSA step up run the table occasionally and get one of the better bowl bids.

There is absolutley no way I would support a move to the American 12. Could not justify the investment to leave CUSA and the investment to enter a league that has no real direction or stability. A league that is starting from the ground up with a new name and widespread travel. An absolute lateral move at best. Sorry. It is what it is. The only remaining attraction or value is gone (The Big East Name) or soon to be gone (Cincy)

No need to flame me fellas.....just my opinion. Everyone has one. Calling it like I see it.


"Try to discover
The road to success
And you'll seek but never find,
But blaze your own path
And the road to success
Will trail right behind."
~ Robert Brault

It's easy to pretend your in paradise when you know your not even on the short list of candidates.

If this group of schools is so great why didn't Marshall leave conference USA to join the more regional "Slum Belt" as you guys called it a few years ago. There is nothing wrong with being content with reality but no need to lie about your situation.

The fact that the A-12 will be on ESPN getting two mil per year alone justifies moving up.

How do you know that we weren't on the short list of candidates?

The bottom line.....you are obviously upset over the current situation of being left out. You would give your left nut to be part of CUSA and be in our situation. Enjoy whats left of the scumbelt! Hahahah

(03-14-2013 11:28 AM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(03-13-2013 08:19 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  I guess I'm not in my "right mind" then...LOL. I would much rather play MTSU, La Tech, Southern Miss, ODU, Charlotte, FIU/FAU over the likes of Tulame, Temple, SMU etc. Sorry but those schools do nothing for me. Gets old to watch CUSA games on TV at those venues with nobody in the stands or in the arena.

Nobody shows up at MTSU, LTU, UAB, Charlotte (nobody will, trust me), FIU, FAU, etc games either.

Let's get real here. Marshall fans are excited to have a bunch of crappy football programs in their division they can beat up on and hopefully get back to their MAC domination status. They've got 2 South Florida schools, Charlotte and Norfolk areas in which to recruit players with at least a pulse academically.

I hope like hell USM AND Tulsa get out of that mess.

I'm sure you are really worried about the situation for USM and Tulsa.....

At the end of the day we are all part of the "Group of Five".....one team gets the big bid. The largest alumni population in one city for Marshall is in Charlotte. Tons of Marshall alumni in Virgina and Florida as well. I have no issue with being where we are.

Maybe y'all see why I'm not exactly thrilled about adding SBC teams...