With CUSA going to 16 members and splitting into two 8 team divisions, it is creating its own downfall.

In the west is already 4 Texas schools. IMO they will all vote for Texas St and Arkansas St and have the other western schools on board.
This will create a 5 school Texas schools and loyal friends voting power.
Possible West-UTEP,North Texas,UTSA, Rice, Texas St.,LaTech,Ark St,SouthernMiss
East and West will really butt heads over control of the conference.

The West will be very strong and solid.
They will have markets.
They will have strong football and basketball.
Especially with Southern Miss in the fold.

All it would take is for a network to meet with the politics and western schools and revive the SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE.

Does anyone else see this doom CUSA split coming?

I think Louisiana has a better chance than TxState. More history, better facilities, and (in my opinion) a better mascot.

The original SWC was doomed because its hyper-regional model couldn't financially compete with the TV deals being given to trans-regional conferences of the day.

That couldn't happen to this one because there is no AQ money waiting for any of the new teams.

If CUSA goes to 16 I can see a split happening. It'll be after a few years of being a 16 team conference for it to materialize. Having 2 very distinct geographic and cultural divisions, they are basically conferences will eventually lead to a split. Then the Sunbelt leftovers will merged with the East CUSA division as they will have the auto-bid already.

(04-08-2013 04:48 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  The original SWC was doomed because its hyper-regional model couldn't financially compete with the TV deals being given to trans-regional conferences of the day.

That couldn't happen to this one because there is no AQ money waiting for any of the new teams.

For a 'contract' conference yes, but for a Go5 conference, the hyper regional is better for $$ savings.

(04-08-2013 04:50 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 04:48 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  The original SWC was doomed because its hyper-regional model couldn't financially compete with the TV deals being given to trans-regional conferences of the day.

That couldn't happen to this one because there is no AQ money waiting for any of the new teams.

For a 'contract' conference yes, but for a Go5 conference, the hyper regional is better for $$ savings.

The TV money is a factor, but those of us in the dredges are not large TV contracts and payouts. I want to say that SBC and CUSA are slotted to get less than $1M per school per year. All so ESPN can schedule us for a Tuesday night game.

A new SWC made up of TX, NM, LA, AR, and MS schools would fit the model for Fox Sports Southwest and ESPN Regional. Even if it was less money, we are more likely to get a game on a Saturday. Close teams means butts in the seats rather than playing some cross country conference mate.

(04-08-2013 05:16 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 04:50 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 04:48 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  The original SWC was doomed because its hyper-regional model couldn't financially compete with the TV deals being given to trans-regional conferences of the day.

That couldn't happen to this one because there is no AQ money waiting for any of the new teams.

For a 'contract' conference yes, but for a Go5 conference, the hyper regional is better for $$ savings.

The TV money is a factor, but those of us in the dredges are not large TV contracts and payouts. I want to say that SBC and CUSA are slotted to get less than $1M per school per year. All so ESPN can schedule us for a Tuesday night game.

A new SWC made up of TX, NM, LA, AR, and MS schools would fit the model for Fox Sports Southwest and ESPN Regional. Even if it was less money, we are more likely to get a game on a Saturday. Close teams means butts in the seats rather than playing some cross country conference mate.

Maybe...maybe not. The MAC is hyper regional, but it hasnt meant large 50K crowds. Most of thier schools probably 12-25K in attendance--even though some of thier schools have sizable enrollments. Hyper regional does guarantee lower travel costs.

(04-08-2013 05:34 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 05:16 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 04:50 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 04:48 PM)10thMountain Wrote:  The original SWC was doomed because its hyper-regional model couldn't financially compete with the TV deals being given to trans-regional conferences of the day.

That couldn't happen to this one because there is no AQ money waiting for any of the new teams.

For a 'contract' conference yes, but for a Go5 conference, the hyper regional is better for $$ savings.

The TV money is a factor, but those of us in the dredges are not large TV contracts and payouts. I want to say that SBC and CUSA are slotted to get less than $1M per school per year. All so ESPN can schedule us for a Tuesday night game.

A new SWC made up of TX, NM, LA, AR, and MS schools would fit the model for Fox Sports Southwest and ESPN Regional. Even if it was less money, we are more likely to get a game on a Saturday. Close teams means butts in the seats rather than playing some cross country conference mate.

Maybe...maybe not. The MAC is hyper regional, but it hasnt meant large 50K crowds. Most of thier schools probably 12-25K in attendance--even though some of thier schools have sizable enrollments. Hyper regional does guarantee lower travel costs.

But remember...this is Texas. They are football crazed. Their high school games have thousands of fans. It could work. Even if they named it the SW Division or something...

I'd like to see that happen actually.

I believe Rice still owns the name SouthWest Conference.
Just saying

I think the East Coast schools would be better off going with a regional conference approach. Seems like you would have better rivalries with ECU, Charlotte, App State, Old Dominion, James Madison, etc... In one conference rather than being spread out the way they are.

Count me in. C-USA is toast. Looks like Banowsky's main interest is not in the conference, but in his position. Always has been.
Further additions just consolidates his power.
Sixteen teams are way too unwieldy, & there's going to be a split.
A group with vision, influence, & connections could make this SWC idea a reality.

(04-08-2013 07:41 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  Count me in. C-USA is toast. Looks like Banowsky's main interest is not in the conference, but in his position. Always has been.
Further additions just consolidates his power.
Sixteen teams are way too unwieldy, & there's going to be a split.
A group with vision, influence, & connections could make this SWC idea a reality.

Who would be in? USM ... Rice ... UTEP ... LaTech ... ULALA ... UTSA ... UNT ... UNM (??? with a UTEP concurrence only though) ...

Personally, if it's a 9 team conference I'd prefer it be a bit different....

Include the old C-USA teams - given for me...

USM ... Rice ... UTEP ... Marshall ... UAB ... add LaTech ... WKU ... MTSU ... ODU or ULALA or Appy State or Charlotte or USA....but not all, just one. UTEP would remain an outlier and when they depart for MWC go with one of the previously left out of ODU, ULALA, USA, Charlotte and Appy State (only FCS I personally think there should be any interest in).

(04-08-2013 08:02 PM)WinOrLoseEAGLE Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 07:41 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  Count me in. C-USA is toast. Looks like Banowsky's main interest is not in the conference, but in his position. Always has been.
Further additions just consolidates his power.
Sixteen teams are way too unwieldy, & there's going to be a split.
A group with vision, influence, & connections could make this SWC idea a reality.

Who would be in? USM ... Rice ... UTEP ... LaTech ... ULALA ... UTSA ... UNT ... UNM (??? with a UTEP concurrence only though) ...

Personally, if it's a 9 team conference I'd prefer it be a bit different....

Include the old C-USA teams - given for me...

USM ... Rice ... UTEP ... Marshall ... UAB ... add LaTech ... WKU ... MTSU ... ODU or ULALA or Appy State or Charlotte or USA....but not all, just one. UTEP would remain an outlier and when they depart for MWC go with one of the previously left out of ODU, ULALA, USA, Charlotte and Appy State (only FCS I personally think there should be any interest in).

More like.
UTEP, UNT, UTSA, Rice, LA Tech, Ark St., Louisana, Tx. St., USM...to start. Maybe add NMSU if UTEP doesn't mind to get to a 10 team conference.

CUSA is toast doesn't matter if they go to 16 today or stay at 14.

Wal-Mart didn't replace Sears as the world's largest retailer by following the Sears model.
Apple didn't grow past Microsoft by following the Microsoft model.
GM didn't get passed by Toyota because Toyota followed the GM model.

Right now AAC and CUSA are trying to follow the SEC/ACC/Big XII model and because of it they are doomed.

Sooner or later someone understands they cannot make fat money on national TV and their only path to national TV is minor channels or attendance killing weeknights.

Eventually someone goes to regional TV for their money and they go to YouTube, or Netflix or Hulu or Amazon or even video game producers to distribute their games nationally on Saturdays. They will want to be there because those are easy to use, installed on a huge number of the new TV and Blu-ray players. They are easily accessible not just on TV but on iPhones, iPads, Kindles, and Android phones which means that's where the recruits are watching.

Odds are the one who figures it out first is either CUSA West or someone sitting at the University of Houston figures it out, convinces the AD and president and the president starts making phone calls. The Fox SW family covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and bits of Mississippi and New Mexico.

They will offer something that hasn't been offered before. A large inventory of intra-regional games by relevant teams.

Overhead was be dramatically lower, many games within driving distance of fans and potentially fan drawing rivalries far exceeding such greats as Houston vs. USF, UTSA vs. UAB, and Arkansas State vs. Georgia State.

(04-08-2013 08:08 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 08:02 PM)WinOrLoseEAGLE Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 07:41 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote:  Count me in. C-USA is toast. Looks like Banowsky's main interest is not in the conference, but in his position. Always has been.
Further additions just consolidates his power.
Sixteen teams are way too unwieldy, & there's going to be a split.
A group with vision, influence, & connections could make this SWC idea a reality.

Who would be in? USM ... Rice ... UTEP ... LaTech ... ULALA ... UTSA ... UNT ... UNM (??? with a UTEP concurrence only though) ...

Personally, if it's a 9 team conference I'd prefer it be a bit different....

Include the old C-USA teams - given for me...

USM ... Rice ... UTEP ... Marshall ... UAB ... add LaTech ... WKU ... MTSU ... ODU or ULALA or Appy State or Charlotte or USA....but not all, just one. UTEP would remain an outlier and when they depart for MWC go with one of the previously left out of ODU, ULALA, USA, Charlotte and Appy State (only FCS I personally think there should be any interest in).

More like.
UTEP, UNT, UTSA, Rice, LA Tech, Ark St., Louisana, Tx. St., USM...to start. Maybe add NMSU if UTEP doesn't mind to get to a 10 team conference.

I would think Southern Miss would be in favor of UAB. But going by your scenario, the east CUSA schools would probably do something like this...

Charlotte
Florida Atlantic
FIU
Marshall
Middle Tennessee
Old Dominion
UAB
Western Kentucky
+
Georgia State
James Madison

Fun facts:

Marshall University is named after John Marshall the fourth Chief Justice of the United States.

James Madison University is named after James Madison (Duh) the fourth President of the United States.

Marbury vs. Madison went through John Marshall's court.

James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA) and Marshall University (Huntington, WV) are separated by only 292 miles.

Marshall University and James Madison University are on nearly the same latitude.

Marshall University - 38.423431
James Madison University - 38.437184
Difference 0.013753

(04-08-2013 08:09 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  CUSA is toast doesn't matter if they go to 16 today or stay at 14.

Wal-Mart didn't replace Sears as the world's largest retailer by following the Sears model.
Apple didn't grow past Microsoft by following the Microsoft model.
GM didn't get passed by Toyota because Toyota followed the GM model.

Right now AAC and CUSA are trying to follow the SEC/ACC/Big XII model and because of it they are doomed.

Sooner or later someone understands they cannot make fat money on national TV and their only path to national TV is minor channels or attendance killing weeknights.

Eventually someone goes to regional TV for their money and they go to YouTube, or Netflix or Hulu or Amazon or even video game producers to distribute their games nationally on Saturdays. They will want to be there because those are easy to use, installed on a huge number of the new TV and Blu-ray players. They are easily accessible not just on TV but on iPhones, iPads, Kindles, and Android phones which means that's where the recruits are watching.

Odds are the one who figures it out first is either CUSA West or someone sitting at the University of Houston figures it out, convinces the AD and president and the president starts making phone calls. The Fox SW family covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and bits of Mississippi and New Mexico.

They will offer something that hasn't been offered before. A large inventory of intra-regional games by relevant teams.

Overhead was be dramatically lower, many games within driving distance of fans and potentially fan drawing rivalries far exceeding such greats as Houston vs. USF, UTSA vs. UAB, and Arkansas State vs. Georgia State.

The thing is--thats valueless. CUSA is essentially doing that now. Thier contract is CBS-Sports (national first tier for 7 million a year) and Fox-Sports Net. The Fox Sports New is for 7 million a year. Getting the #1 game is not worth 7 more million to Fox Sports Net because they are only going to show it regionally. So maybe they would pay another million for the first tier game--maybe 2. Thats an 8 million dollar a year model for total media revenue. Thats just not a model I see anyone rushing to embrace. Thats a last ditch model. CUSA makes 14 million with thier current model.

If you'll notice, the two most regional FBS conferneces have the lowest media rights. The MAC and Sunbelt are barely a step above paying the networks for exposure. There is no real media value in a regional confernece. Hasnt been for years. Theres a reason nobody is doing what you are suggesting--there is just simply no money in it.

[quote='arkstfan' pid='9212558' dateline='1365469777']
CUSA is toast doesn't matter if they go to 16 today or stay at 14.

Wal-Mart didn't replace Sears as the world's largest retailer by following the Sears model.
Apple didn't grow past Microsoft by following the Microsoft model.
GM didn't get passed by Toyota because Toyota followed the GM model.

Right now AAC and CUSA are trying to follow the SEC/ACC/Big XII model and because of it they are doomed.

Sooner or later someone understands they cannot make fat money on national TV and their only path to national TV is minor channels or attendance killing weeknights.

Eventually someone goes to regional TV for their money and they go to YouTube, or Netflix or Hulu or Amazon or even video game producers to distribute their games nationally on Saturdays. They will want to be there because those are easy to use, installed on a huge number of the new TV and Blu-ray players. They are easily accessible not just on TV but on iPhones, iPads, Kindles, and Android phones which means that's where the recruits are watching.

Odds are the one who figures it out first is either CUSA West or someone sitting at the University of Houston figures it out, convinces the AD and president and the president starts making phone calls. The Fox SW family covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and bits of Mississippi and New Mexico.

They will offer something that hasn't been offered before. A large inventory of intra-regional games by relevant teams.

Overhead was be dramatically lower, many games within driving distance of fans and potentially fan drawing rivalries far exceeding such greats as Houston vs. USF, UTSA vs. UAB, and Arkansas State vs. Georgia State.
[/quo

What you are looking at above is a sketch of the business model for the future relating to distribution of conference athletic content at the G5 level......and it is coming down the pike sooner than anyone expects.

(04-08-2013 09:18 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(04-08-2013 08:09 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  CUSA is toast doesn't matter if they go to 16 today or stay at 14.

Wal-Mart didn't replace Sears as the world's largest retailer by following the Sears model.
Apple didn't grow past Microsoft by following the Microsoft model.
GM didn't get passed by Toyota because Toyota followed the GM model.

Right now AAC and CUSA are trying to follow the SEC/ACC/Big XII model and because of it they are doomed.

Sooner or later someone understands they cannot make fat money on national TV and their only path to national TV is minor channels or attendance killing weeknights.

Eventually someone goes to regional TV for their money and they go to YouTube, or Netflix or Hulu or Amazon or even video game producers to distribute their games nationally on Saturdays. They will want to be there because those are easy to use, installed on a huge number of the new TV and Blu-ray players. They are easily accessible not just on TV but on iPhones, iPads, Kindles, and Android phones which means that's where the recruits are watching.

Odds are the one who figures it out first is either CUSA West or someone sitting at the University of Houston figures it out, convinces the AD and president and the president starts making phone calls. The Fox SW family covers Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and bits of Mississippi and New Mexico.

They will offer something that hasn't been offered before. A large inventory of intra-regional games by relevant teams.

Overhead was be dramatically lower, many games within driving distance of fans and potentially fan drawing rivalries far exceeding such greats as Houston vs. USF, UTSA vs. UAB, and Arkansas State vs. Georgia State.

The thing is--thats valueless. CUSA is essentially doing that now. Thier contract is CBS-Sports (national first tier for 7 million a year) and Fox-Sports Net. The Fox Sports New is for 7 million a year. Getting the #1 game is not worth 7 more million to Fox Sports Net because they are only going to show it regionally. So maybe they would pay another million for the first tier game--maybe 2. Thats an 8 million dollar a year model for total media revenue. Thats just not a model I see anyone rushing to embrace. Thats a last ditch model. CUSA makes 14 million with thier current model.

If you'll notice, the two most regional FBS conferneces have the lowest media rights. The MAC and Sunbelt are barely a step above paying the networks for exposure. There is no real media value in a regional confernece. Hasnt been for years. Theres a reason nobody is doing what you are suggesting--there is just simply no money in it.

But what about when Foxsports rolls out their national sports network this year?

If you mean a K-Mart Blue light special version of the SWC then.... sure, I guess.