Andrewhere's post about him hopping off the USM bandwagon did get me thinking. Unlike Andrewhere, I am not going to stop being a USM fan or following the program or the conference. I can't bring myself to desert this team or conference. I've learned that bandwagon fans come and go, but the fans you remember the most stick around through the good times and the bad times. I'm proud to say that I'm one of those fans, and I salute the others who are like myself.

Will I miss playing East Carolina, Memphis, and Houston in football? Definitely. The other teams that left I can honestly say I don't care about as much, although I do admire Calallen Stang as a fan of a team that has really struggled to be relevant. An SMU fan is a true rarity to me.
That being said, I will say this: I don't think that this C-USA is going to be as bad as people think it is. Will it be as good as the old one? Probably not for awhile, but in time, this one might surpass it. You never know. Then again, it might not. However, unlike Andrewhere, I will give this new C-USA time to make an impression on me, good or bad, before I make a judgment on it. I love the enthusiasm of the conference's new members' fans. And I really look forward to playing Louisiana Tech long term. They just might be the rival USM has been looking for in a long time. UAB made some strides, but it's always been hard for me to accept them as a rival of USM in football. In basketball, that's another story. I'm sure UAB fans feel the same about USM viewing them as a rival in basketball.
East Carolina I definitely view as a rival, but more of the way we UGa fans feel about Auburn as opposed to how we feel about UF/GT. I've been wanting USM to get UF/GT level rivalry for years, and I feel that Louisiana Tech is our best bet for that, my sincere condolescences UAB fans. UAB is to me how UGa views S.Carolina. A growing, emerging threat; but not quite the history of ECU or the potential/history of LTU. FYI, I'd love to play ECU in OOC play every year and work out some type of rotational deal with Memphis and Houston.

I hate the thought of not playing ecu, tulane, memphis & houston.

do i like the new cusa line up? no not really but it is what it is. I as a fan will support USM as I always have. i will hope that the new teams will grow & get better & more importantly will all be crushed under the boot stamped with SOUTHERN MISS all over it!

As a Marshall fan, I've really come full circle with all of CUSA's changes. I didn't really care about Memphis, Tulane, Houston or SMU leaving as we didn't have much history or many significant games with any of them. But losing ucf really irked me - that rivalry has been fun; and then losing ECU seriously pissed me off, considering our two schools' ties.

After the rage and frustration subsided, it really all came down to one question - is anything really worth me giving up supporting Marshall sports? No, not really, and especially not some conference shuffling. Bottom line for us is that there are more teams in this iteration of the conference that provide much more opportunity for regional rivalries and regional fan travel. I don't live near Huntington anymore so all I can really ask for in new teams is either quality programs or opportunities for our fan base to really care about that program (i.e. rivalries) and I think Marshall comes out of this ok.

When it's all said and done, there's no way to know if this conference's current lineup will be as successful as the previous one, but there's no reason to think it can't be. BRING ON FOOTBALL SEASON!

(05-02-2013 09:18 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  As a Marshall fan, I've really come full circle with all of CUSA's changes. I didn't really care about Memphis, Tulane, Houston or SMU leaving as we didn't have much history or many significant games with any of them. But losing ucf really irked me - that rivalry has been fun; and then losing ECU seriously pissed me off, considering our two schools' ties.

After the rage and frustration subsided, it really all came down to one question - is anything really worth me giving up supporting Marshall sports? No, not really, and especially not some conference shuffling. Bottom line for us is that there are more teams in this iteration of the conference that provide much more opportunity for regional rivalries and regional fan travel. I don't live near Huntington anymore so all I can really ask for in new teams is either quality programs or opportunities for our fan base to really care about that program (i.e. rivalries) and I think Marshall comes out of this ok.

When it's all said and done, there's no way to know if this conference's current lineup will be as successful as the previous one, but there's no reason to think it can't be. BRING ON FOOTBALL SEASON!

Actually, there is plenty of reason to think it can't be... but we can either be a realist about that and let it drive us to seek for our conference to become something better, or we can become MAC clones and just settle in and be content with the situation.

I can count the times on one hand I went to watch USM play because of the opponent.

(05-02-2013 09:21 AM)_sturt_ Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 09:18 AM)RedParallax Wrote:  As a Marshall fan, I've really come full circle with all of CUSA's changes. I didn't really care about Memphis, Tulane, Houston or SMU leaving as we didn't have much history or many significant games with any of them. But losing ucf really irked me - that rivalry has been fun; and then losing ECU seriously pissed me off, considering our two schools' ties.

After the rage and frustration subsided, it really all came down to one question - is anything really worth me giving up supporting Marshall sports? No, not really, and especially not some conference shuffling. Bottom line for us is that there are more teams in this iteration of the conference that provide much more opportunity for regional rivalries and regional fan travel. I don't live near Huntington anymore so all I can really ask for in new teams is either quality programs or opportunities for our fan base to really care about that program (i.e. rivalries) and I think Marshall comes out of this ok.

When it's all said and done, there's no way to know if this conference's current lineup will be as successful as the previous one, but there's no reason to think it can't be. BRING ON FOOTBALL SEASON!

Actually, there is plenty of reason to think it can't be... but we can either be a realist about that and let it drive us to seek for our conference to become something better, or we can become MAC clones and just settle in and be content with the situation.

I think we were both being optimistic about the situation, just in very different ways. Haha.

(05-02-2013 09:23 AM)Big Dub Wrote:  I can count the times on one hand I went to watch USM play because of the opponent.

...couldn't have said it better....

(05-02-2013 09:23 AM)Big Dub Wrote:  I can count the times on one hand I went to watch USM play because of the opponent.

Not me -- you don't really "count" to zero.

UTSA can turn into a nice rival for UTEP. Same for UNT.

MTSU and La Tech have nothing but upside.

ODU and Charlotte already have name recognition.

I'll have to learn more about the others. Still not sold on being a 14 team league.

(05-02-2013 10:50 AM)WinOrLoseEAGLE Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 09:23 AM)Big Dub Wrote:  I can count the times on one hand I went to watch USM play because of the opponent.

Not me -- you don't really "count" to zero.

BINGO!

There is only one school I will miss and thats is ECU. I couldn't care for anyone else. Never had a history with the likes of SMU, Houston, Tulane or Tulsa. Although the games with Tulsa were competitive and fun. The only 2 schools we had played before joining CUSA was ECU and UCF. I see UCF as a MAC school in terms of playing them, Id rather not.

Nothing could keep me from supporting "The Herd". We are in the midst of some exciting times in Huntington. In the past 3 years we've had the #3, #1 and #1 NAQ recruiting class and it looks like we are about to finally get back to playing Marshall Football. Also the new facilities going up should solitify our position as one of the top in CUSA. Before Kopp and Hamrick arrived in Huntington we had not built a new facility since 1991.

I'm not crazy about it, but it's not a HUGE drop from who left.

Tech is already an upgrade from Tulane
MTSU might be an upgrade from Memphis (total overall program)
WKU is probably an upgrade from ECU (total overall program)
Can UNT become as good as SMU in football? Maybe
UTSA has shown potential
ODU and Charlotte look very promising
FIU and FAU have work to do

MTSU has a 16-8-1 record against Memphis in football, including 10-2 at home, and 4-1 since restarting the series in 2007. They are better in men's basketball, but we beat them in most other sports already.

I guess age has one big advantage which is the experience of watching something over a period of decades and knowing when something has grown from same to a larger place. I have attended and followed USM since the late 50s when they played teams that were anything but known. I remember USM when it was Mississippi Southern College with the nickname of Southerners. If we played Ole Miss, Alabama, Miss. State, or any of the other major programs around, it was a blow out and strictly a money game to serve as fodder for them. I saw the year we played NO HOME GAMES because the stadium was being built and when we hardly won a game even against teams that were not known beyond their own campus. I saw the end of the Pie Vann era, the rise and end of the Bobby Collins era, saw Jeff Bower and Jeff Hammond playing QB at USM, and also the lean seasons like in 1993. I can remember before the 94 season how people thought if USM won a game or two that would be about what they expected but a 6-5 season was thought to be impossible although that is exactly what happened as an 18 season winning streak started. I remember USM struggling to get games because they had become too tough for a powder puff game so nobody really wanted to deal with USM on their schedule, and the rise of fans who bled black and gold until the team turned in a poor game, but they would come back when the team started winning a big game or two.

I follow Arizona State football because I live close to the ASU campus, but if they turned in a season like USM just did, I would just turn my attention elsewhere since I am not a base fan, but USM I followed all 12 games and pulled for them in each one. I hated it but I understand that is part of being a loyal fan. I really don't care who we play, or what conference my heart is with the Golden Eagles and I can't understand what reason would be good enough to turn away, but then I am proud to be an Alumnus of USM and no matter what I want them to do good in sports, academics, and all other areas. I guess I am old fashioned, but I am committed to USM

(05-02-2013 12:01 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  I'm not crazy about it, but it's not a HUGE drop from who left.
WKU is probably an upgrade from ECU (total overall program)

I don't really agree with this. Basketball has been better historically and I'd personally wager it will be better going forward than ECU's program, but ECU is far better in football and baseball historically.

I loved the WKU addition, but I don't think they're an upgrade over ECU for two of the three sports people pay attention to.

(05-02-2013 02:07 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  I guess age has one big advantage which is the experience of watching something over a period of decades and knowing when something has grown from same to a larger place. I have attended and followed USM since the late 50s when they played teams that were anything but known. I remember USM when it was Mississippi Southern College with the nickname of Southerners. If we played Ole Miss, Alabama, Miss. State, or any of the other major programs around, it was a blow out and strictly a money game to serve as fodder for them. I saw the year we played NO HOME GAMES because the stadium was being built and when we hardly won a game even against teams that were not known beyond their own campus. I saw the end of the Pie Vann era, the rise and end of the Bobby Collins era, saw Jeff Bower and Jeff Hammond playing QB at USM, and also the lean seasons like in 1993. I can remember before the 94 season how people thought if USM won a game or two that would be about what they expected but a 6-5 season was thought to be impossible although that is exactly what happened as an 18 season winning streak started. I remember USM struggling to get games because they had become too tough for a powder puff game so nobody really wanted to deal with USM on their schedule, and the rise of fans who bled black and gold until the team turned in a poor game, but they would come back when the team started winning a big game or two.

I follow Arizona State football because I live close to the ASU campus, but if they turned in a season like USM just did, I would just turn my attention elsewhere since I am not a base fan, but USM I followed all 12 games and pulled for them in each one. I hated it but I understand that is part of being a loyal fan. I really don't care who we play, or what conference my heart is with the Golden Eagles and I can't understand what reason would be good enough to turn away, but then I am proud to be an Alumnus of USM and no matter what I want them to do good in sports, academics, and all other areas. I guess I am old fashioned, but I am committed to USM

I really didn't want to follow up on my original post, but this is perhaps the most inaccurate, misleading thing I've ever read here.

USM (whatever it was called back then) was a powerhouse in the 1950s. We won 86 games in that decade. We had multiple victories over FSU, Louisville, and NC State. We had at least one victory over Bama, Georgia and VA Tech. We tied Alabama on another occasion in the 1950s.

My source here is DatabaseFootball.com.

(05-02-2013 11:42 AM)mistabinks Wrote:  UTSA can turn into a nice rival for UTEP. Same for UNT.

MTSU and La Tech have nothing but upside.

ODU and Charlotte already have name recognition.

I'll have to learn more about the others. Still not sold on being a 14 team league.

...is the best part about this board

...most likely will not be the last iteration

(05-02-2013 02:28 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 02:07 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  I guess age has one big advantage which is the experience of watching something over a period of decades and knowing when something has grown from same to a larger place. I have attended and followed USM since the late 50s when they played teams that were anything but known. I remember USM when it was Mississippi Southern College with the nickname of Southerners. If we played Ole Miss, Alabama, Miss. State, or any of the other major programs around, it was a blow out and strictly a money game to serve as fodder for them. I saw the year we played NO HOME GAMES because the stadium was being built and when we hardly won a game even against teams that were not known beyond their own campus. I saw the end of the Pie Vann era, the rise and end of the Bobby Collins era, saw Jeff Bower and Jeff Hammond playing QB at USM, and also the lean seasons like in 1993. I can remember before the 94 season how people thought if USM won a game or two that would be about what they expected but a 6-5 season was thought to be impossible although that is exactly what happened as an 18 season winning streak started. I remember USM struggling to get games because they had become too tough for a powder puff game so nobody really wanted to deal with USM on their schedule, and the rise of fans who bled black and gold until the team turned in a poor game, but they would come back when the team started winning a big game or two.

I follow Arizona State football because I live close to the ASU campus, but if they turned in a season like USM just did, I would just turn my attention elsewhere since I am not a base fan, but USM I followed all 12 games and pulled for them in each one. I hated it but I understand that is part of being a loyal fan. I really don't care who we play, or what conference my heart is with the Golden Eagles and I can't understand what reason would be good enough to turn away, but then I am proud to be an Alumnus of USM and no matter what I want them to do good in sports, academics, and all other areas. I guess I am old fashioned, but I am committed to USM

I really didn't want to follow up on my original post, but this is perhaps the most inaccurate, misleading thing I've ever read here.

USM (whatever it was called back then) was a powerhouse in the 1950s. We won 86 games in that decade. We had multiple victories over FSU, Louisville, and NC State. We had at least one victory over Bama, Georgia and VA Tech. We tied Alabama on another occasion in the 1950s.

My source here is DatabaseFootball.com.

You really need to stop now....that post was wrong.

You asked for it....own it!

(05-02-2013 12:01 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  I'm not crazy about it, but it's not a HUGE drop from who left.

Tech is already an upgrade from Tulane
MTSU might be an upgrade from Memphis (total overall program)
WKU is probably an upgrade from ECU (total overall program)
Can UNT become as good as SMU in football? Maybe
UTSA has shown potential
ODU and Charlotte look very promising
FIU and FAU have work to do

For FIU our attendance may not be as good as UCF for a while but our products on football field and in basketball arena should be better than you think we are. Just give us some time to prove it

(05-02-2013 02:28 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 02:07 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  I guess age has one big advantage which is the experience of watching something over a period of decades and knowing when something has grown from same to a larger place. I have attended and followed USM since the late 50s when they played teams that were anything but known. I remember USM when it was Mississippi Southern College with the nickname of Southerners. If we played Ole Miss, Alabama, Miss. State, or any of the other major programs around, it was a blow out and strictly a money game to serve as fodder for them. I saw the year we played NO HOME GAMES because the stadium was being built and when we hardly won a game even against teams that were not known beyond their own campus. I saw the end of the Pie Vann era, the rise and end of the Bobby Collins era, saw Jeff Bower and Jeff Hammond playing QB at USM, and also the lean seasons like in 1993. I can remember before the 94 season how people thought if USM won a game or two that would be about what they expected but a 6-5 season was thought to be impossible although that is exactly what happened as an 18 season winning streak started. I remember USM struggling to get games because they had become too tough for a powder puff game so nobody really wanted to deal with USM on their schedule, and the rise of fans who bled black and gold until the team turned in a poor game, but they would come back when the team started winning a big game or two.

I follow Arizona State football because I live close to the ASU campus, but if they turned in a season like USM just did, I would just turn my attention elsewhere since I am not a base fan, but USM I followed all 12 games and pulled for them in each one. I hated it but I understand that is part of being a loyal fan. I really don't care who we play, or what conference my heart is with the Golden Eagles and I can't understand what reason would be good enough to turn away, but then I am proud to be an Alumnus of USM and no matter what I want them to do good in sports, academics, and all other areas. I guess I am old fashioned, but I am committed to USM

I really didn't want to follow up on my original post, but this is perhaps the most inaccurate, misleading thing I've ever read here.

USM (whatever it was called back then) was a powerhouse in the 1950s. We won 86 games in that decade. We had multiple victories over FSU, Louisville, and NC State. We had at least one victory over Bama, Georgia and VA Tech. We tied Alabama on another occasion in the 1950s.

My source here is DatabaseFootball.com.

I'm not that old but I do know people didn't really brag about victories over Virginia Tech back then, unless you were VMI.

(05-02-2013 02:36 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 02:28 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  

(05-02-2013 02:07 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  I guess age has one big advantage which is the experience of watching something over a period of decades and knowing when something has grown from same to a larger place. I have attended and followed USM since the late 50s when they played teams that were anything but known. I remember USM when it was Mississippi Southern College with the nickname of Southerners. If we played Ole Miss, Alabama, Miss. State, or any of the other major programs around, it was a blow out and strictly a money game to serve as fodder for them. I saw the year we played NO HOME GAMES because the stadium was being built and when we hardly won a game even against teams that were not known beyond their own campus. I saw the end of the Pie Vann era, the rise and end of the Bobby Collins era, saw Jeff Bower and Jeff Hammond playing QB at USM, and also the lean seasons like in 1993. I can remember before the 94 season how people thought if USM won a game or two that would be about what they expected but a 6-5 season was thought to be impossible although that is exactly what happened as an 18 season winning streak started. I remember USM struggling to get games because they had become too tough for a powder puff game so nobody really wanted to deal with USM on their schedule, and the rise of fans who bled black and gold until the team turned in a poor game, but they would come back when the team started winning a big game or two.

I follow Arizona State football because I live close to the ASU campus, but if they turned in a season like USM just did, I would just turn my attention elsewhere since I am not a base fan, but USM I followed all 12 games and pulled for them in each one. I hated it but I understand that is part of being a loyal fan. I really don't care who we play, or what conference my heart is with the Golden Eagles and I can't understand what reason would be good enough to turn away, but then I am proud to be an Alumnus of USM and no matter what I want them to do good in sports, academics, and all other areas. I guess I am old fashioned, but I am committed to USM

I really didn't want to follow up on my original post, but this is perhaps the most inaccurate, misleading thing I've ever read here.

USM (whatever it was called back then) was a powerhouse in the 1950s. We won 86 games in that decade. We had multiple victories over FSU, Louisville, and NC State. We had at least one victory over Bama, Georgia and VA Tech. We tied Alabama on another occasion in the 1950s.

My source here is DatabaseFootball.com.

I'm not that old but I do know people didn't really brag about victories over Virginia Tech back then, unless you were VMI.

....what is sad about these types of responses is just the lack of respect.

I hope you are not a parent.

I will fire back and say that your response is like USM not being proud about beating LSU in Hallman's last year or shutting out bammer in b'ham when they had Dubose....etc......

I will never have to worry about my daughter having job security with your generation. So to that, I say thanks and keep up the poor work.