(04-10-2013 11:45 AM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Why don't the two conferences merge, and just be done with it.

What would actually make sense would be for all the G5 to merge and reorganize on a geographic basis, starting from the Pacific Ocean. So all the current MWC plus Idaho, BYU, UTEP and NMSU would be in the Western Conference.

Tulsa, UNT, SMU, Houston, Rice, TxSt, UTSA, USM, LTU, ULM, UL and Tulane would be in the Southwestern Conference.

Memphis, ASU, UAB, MTSU, WKU, USA, Troy, GaSt, GaSo, ApSU, Charlotte, ODU and ECU would be the Atlantic Conference.

Marshall would go back to the MAC, the rest of whose members would remain intact.

Of course, that or something like it will never happen.

(04-10-2013 11:32 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I pretty much agree with everything Turnberry said.

The CUSA TV deals expire in 2016 which happens to be about the projected point for the marketplace to be 3/5ths smart TV's.

Remember timining matters. The marketplace had changed this last go-round and the Big XII schools who thought they had a great TV deal suddenly didn't like it any more when the SEC and Big 10 deals started rolling out. Nearly blew the league up because they weren't getting their money. So the deal got modified to reflect how things changed and they became happy again.

The AAC deal who REALLY thought that deal was going to knock the roof off? Everyone who gave it big value was gone. It was a greatest hits of CUSA based on a best guess of TV value with UConn, Navy and Temple thrown in and it looks a lot like the money CUSA received in 2011 adjusted for inflation and culling a few lower value programs.

I believe when the Tier I Sun Belt deal expires in 2020 that the Belt's ability to make money with this line-up plus one good addition will be as good or better as CUSA's because by 2020 the ability to measure actual viewers and pursue them will be greater and the content delivery model will be different. Having a group of schools who can stick 20,000+ in a stadium on a given Saturday will hold better value than having a bunch of people live near by who might watch for that reason even if they won't buy a ticket.

But we've got to get to 2020 with this line-up and one quality addition.

If CUSA is looking to go to 16 the odds of that are slim. If Big 10 raids the ACC or who raids the AAC who raids CUSA, the odds of that are slim.

I don't think we are close to done with realignment. The marketplace is changing too quickly and leagues will have to evolve in how they do rights fees and how they structure their membership to take advantage.

Win games and sell tickets is about the only safe answer out there.

Bingo.

(04-10-2013 11:51 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 11:45 AM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Why don't the two conferences merge, and just be done with it.

It's less a merger and more of a de facto acquisition by C-USA...similar to what the MW did to the WAC.

Indeed, but my point is by doing it as done thus far, you're forcing the SBC to bring up more FCS teams, and increasing numbers in the FBS ranks, thereby diluting $$. Merge, and be done with it, if all of your targets are SBC teams to begin with at this point.

(04-10-2013 12:05 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 11:45 AM)BLEEDITRED Wrote:  Why don't the two conferences merge, and just be done with it.

What would actually make sense would be for all the G5 to merge and reorganize on a geographic basis, starting from the Pacific Ocean. So all the current MWC plus Idaho, BYU, UTEP and NMSU would be in the Western Conference.

Tulsa, UNT, SMU, Houston, Rice, TxSt, UTSA, USM, LTU, ULM, UL and Tulane would be in the Southwestern Conference.

Memphis, ASU, UAB, MTSU, WKU, USA, Troy, GaSt, GaSo, ApSU, Charlotte, ODU and ECU would be the Atlantic Conference.

Marshall would go back to the MAC, the rest of whose members would remain intact.

Of course, that or something like it will never happen.

Would be interesting to see happen, but like you said, never will. Too many moving parts, and differing opinions and/or motives.

If CUSA's last 5 expansion teams have all come from one conference, and the next couple will as well, seems like a merger makes more sense than forcing the SBC's hand to continue to call up FCS programs.

(04-10-2013 11:08 AM)Turnberry79 Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 10:00 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  This is as good a thread as any for this.


But we aren't pushing anyone down like George Costanza fleeing a fire because right now there isn't a fire.

Furthermore, if C-USA chooses to expand to 16 schools they would be cutting up a depleted reservoir of rights money with two additional schools. The 16 school model will work for most of the top tier conferences as there is money to support it, but in G5 that is all very suspect, especially with collegiate athletics being in a state of turmoil where everyone involved is, even if they won’t admit it, working in dark on many of these issues.

Turnberry - As always, your thoughts are appreciated, and I believe you are spot-on with your argument. I don't think this 16 team concept is something CUSA presidents are fully supporting, and certainly without some assurances that this will have a positive impact on revenue.

I'm curious as to your thoughts on SBC expansion, specifically anything you can share on JMU. Given the schools similarities, I would think that AppState is working behind the scenes to encourage Madison to make the move.

(04-10-2013 10:18 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  Come on asf'. I know you're trying to play 'hard to get' or something but if you get an invite and putz around with it and C-USA invites UL-L, NMSU, Ga State and Texas St and you're sitting their holding the bag. And even worse, the SBC somehow gets WAC'd and your on the outside looking in; how foolish will you really look then given some of these 'we'll see' comments.

No offense but the Sun Belt after further realignment is going to be left with a lot of small town schools stretching from southern Georgia to central Idaho. And some of these places aint the easiest to get to, esp. when your sending all your oly' sports out there.

It's nice to say some of the things you're saying here on the Belt board, but let's try to keep it real huh.

p.s. I do appreciate your behind the scenes in-sights just don't think anyone can afford to be too aloof these days; the stakes are just too high.

I think the big point is that every single person in the ASU administration believes that we will be succesful regardless of what league we play in.

Right now we have a large amount of clout in the state legislature, and have wrestled some exposure away from the University of Arkansas. All of that was done as an SBC member, not because someone thought we had a chance at another league.

We wont move to CUSA without a clear indication that the league wont fall apart on a minutes notice.

(04-10-2013 12:33 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  [quote='FIUFan' pid='9219339' dateline='1365607127']

We wont move to CUSA without a clear indication that the league wont fall apart on a minutes notice.

Yeah...we would.

(04-10-2013 12:39 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:33 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  [quote='FIUFan' pid='9219339' dateline='1365607127']

We wont move to CUSA without a clear indication that the league wont fall apart on a minutes notice.

Yeah...we would.

You might...but our administration wont.

(04-10-2013 12:42 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:39 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:33 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  [quote='FIUFan' pid='9219339' dateline='1365607127']

We wont move to CUSA without a clear indication that the league wont fall apart on a minutes notice.

Yeah...we would.

You might...but our administration wont.

Yes they would. Just like every other SBC team that has gotten an invite so far has...and just like any other SBC program left would.

Our admins are not idiots.

The SBC is already in far more danger of going away than CUSA.

Your argument is dumb. You hate the CUSA patch so much that it has addled your brain.

(04-10-2013 12:42 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  We wont move to CUSA without a clear indication that the league wont fall apart on a minutes notice.

You mean like what the Sun Belt is doing now? History is littered with those who have turned down exceptional opportunities.

chiefsfan...

Please don't go all "Burn The Horse" on us...

(04-10-2013 12:42 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:39 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:33 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  [quote='FIUFan' pid='9219339' dateline='1365607127']

We wont move to CUSA without a clear indication that the league wont fall apart on a minutes notice.

Yeah...we would.

You might...but our administration wont.

I don't want us to appear desperate, but I want them to show that they are aggressive and proactive. I don't mind us being cautious, but I don't want to see us being complacent.

(04-10-2013 10:39 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  If I'm a Texas State fan I'd be very worried about the possibility of ULL and Ark St leaving. Having NMSU and ULM as your closest football rivals with few possible replacements close by has to be a scary thought.

When UL and ASU leave, get Lamar and McNeese State to move up!

(04-10-2013 05:36 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 10:39 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  If I'm a Texas State fan I'd be very worried about the possibility of ULL and Ark St leaving. Having NMSU and ULM as your closest football rivals with few possible replacements close by has to be a scary thought.

When UL and ASU leave, get Lamar and McNeese State to move up!

You're not going anywhere. Coosa doesn't need ya now.

(04-10-2013 05:38 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 05:36 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 10:39 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  If I'm a Texas State fan I'd be very worried about the possibility of ULL and Ark St leaving. Having NMSU and ULM as your closest football rivals with few possible replacements close by has to be a scary thought.

When UL and ASU leave, get Lamar and McNeese State to move up!:puke:

You're not going anywhere. Coosa doesn't need ya now.

I figure CUSA will stick with their divisional alignment problems for now.

There is only further movement below if one of the big boys above moves.

(04-10-2013 12:55 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  chiefsfan...

Please don't go all "Burn The Horse" on us...

Burn has a lot of good qualities...

Besides, I am preparing for life as an SBC member when ASU inevitably doesn't get that CUSA invite. Why would I trash the league?

And frankly, I am more excited about playing App State and Georgia Southern than I ever was for the 2 Florida Schools and UNT.

(04-10-2013 05:48 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 05:38 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 05:36 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 10:39 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  If I'm a Texas State fan I'd be very worried about the possibility of ULL and Ark St leaving. Having NMSU and ULM as your closest football rivals with few possible replacements close by has to be a scary thought.

When UL and ASU leave, get Lamar and McNeese State to move up!

You're not going anywhere. Coosa doesn't need ya now.

I figure CUSA will stick with their divisional alignment problems for now.

There is only further movement below if one of the big boys above moves.

If GO5 money is capped at 12 million per league max, as is rumored. I wonder if CUSA would ever get the votes to go to 16.

(04-10-2013 06:08 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 05:48 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 05:38 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 05:36 PM)Louisianafanrcajun90 Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 10:39 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  If I'm a Texas State fan I'd be very worried about the possibility of ULL and Ark St leaving. Having NMSU and ULM as your closest football rivals with few possible replacements close by has to be a scary thought.

When UL and ASU leave, get Lamar and McNeese State to move up!

You're not going anywhere. Coosa doesn't need ya now.

I figure CUSA will stick with their divisional alignment problems for now.

There is only further movement below if one of the big boys above moves.

If GO5 money is capped at 12 million per league max, as is rumored. I wonder if CUSA would ever get the votes to go to 16.

Can't imagine it really. I'm guessing movement is stopped at our level until the big boys decide to move.

(04-10-2013 06:07 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:55 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  chiefsfan...

Please don't go all "Burn The Horse" on us...

Burn has a lot of good qualities...

Besides, I am preparing for life as an SBC member when ASU inevitably doesn't get that CUSA invite. Why would I trash the league?

And frankly, I am more excited about playing App State and Georgia Southern than I ever was for the 2 Florida Schools and UNT.

Agree with you on the App State and Ga Southern > UNT and F_U, but even you have to admit that losing WKU and MTSU was a huge blow. If we could get those two back and then get rid of Idaho, then we'd be stronger than we were two years ago.

(04-10-2013 06:14 PM)gostAte870 Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 06:07 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-10-2013 12:55 PM)mathenis89 Wrote:  chiefsfan...

Please don't go all "Burn The Horse" on us...

Burn has a lot of good qualities...

Besides, I am preparing for life as an SBC member when ASU inevitably doesn't get that CUSA invite. Why would I trash the league?

And frankly, I am more excited about playing App State and Georgia Southern than I ever was for the 2 Florida Schools and UNT.

Agree with you on the App State and Ga Southern > UNT and F_U, but even you have to admit that losing WKU and MTSU was a huge blow. If we could get those two back and then get rid of Idaho, then we'd be stronger than we were two years ago.

We're not getting anyone back. Let's try to give up on that concept.