Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

No mo' FCS

(07-12-2013 02:34 PM)Monarch_Pride Wrote:  I disagree with that. CFB is all about egos and who's better than who. C-USA would lose any kind of perception it has of being better than the SBC if they merged. That would never happen.

That's exactly why the BE didn't merge with CUSA...nobody will publicly say it, but that is a dead-on bulls-eye. Did both make sense? Absolutely. Did either conference president want to step down. Napes. There it is in a nutshell.

(07-12-2013 02:21 PM)T_Won1 Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 01:46 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 01:43 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  UTEP fits better in the MWC...but I think the MWC is happy with their current setup.

totally agree.... I feel for the Miners. They are on an outpost and didn't deserve it.

They really never should have joined CUSA in the first place.

Disagree. CUSA has been great to UTEP. Remember, we didn't choose CUSA over the MWC. We left a dying WAC to join CUSA. The MWC wasn't an option at the time.

(07-12-2013 02:38 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

So what has changed now for UTEP to be channeling their inner ECU and begging to join another conference? I remember many posts from UTEP posters where they condemned ECU's strategy to leave, but now it looks like UTEP is doing it.

I'd be fine if JMU never became FBS... That's just more competition for recruits... I think 3 fbs teams in Virginia is just fine.

(07-12-2013 02:34 PM)Monarch_Pride Wrote:  I disagree with that. CFB is all about egos and who's better than who. C-USA would lose any kind of perception it has of being better than the SBC if they merged. That would never happen.

So add 3 programs that had been playing 2 years or less at the time was better for perception? Come on.

(07-12-2013 02:45 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:38 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

So what has changed now for UTEP to be channeling their inner ECU and begging to join another conference? I remember many posts from UTEP posters where they condemned ECU's strategy to leave, but now it looks like UTEP is doing it.

First, I don't think they have been quite as public as ECU about it. In public, our AD is nothing but loyal to CUSA. Everything about UTEP to MWC is rumors and speculation. Nothing public.

Second, at this point, MWC is just a stronger and better conference. Oddly enough, I'm fine with CUSA 3.2. UTEP is in a no lose situation.

I think that Marshall, USM, UTEP, and UAB are all being punked right now. All these FCS schools coming in we may actually be going back down instead of them coming up. Adding anymore FCS schools would further erode what little reputation is left in CUSA. I like CUSA the way it is but if two more FCS schools come in here I am going to want out. This getting dumb.

(07-12-2013 02:51 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  So add 3 programs that had been playing 2 years or less at the time was better for perception? Come on.

Obviously, the benefits are expected to outweigh the negatives. Come on.

(07-12-2013 02:28 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:03 PM)wh49er Wrote:  At this point if we add 2 more take Arkansas State and ULL force the SunBelt's hand.

I said it about 100 times. It would've made more sense for post-Big East raid CUSA to have just merged w/ SBC and been done with it instead of both conferences promoting from FCS. No offense to Charlotte and ODU.

Wasn't the plan to merge with the Mountain West after the Big East raid? I always thought the reasons that fell through were kinda lame. For whatever reason, CUSA decided that going regional was the better concept for its members. I cant remember, how many teams were actually committed to the Sunbelt at the time of the BE raid?

(07-12-2013 02:54 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:45 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:38 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

So what has changed now for UTEP to be channeling their inner ECU and begging to join another conference? I remember many posts from UTEP posters where they condemned ECU's strategy to leave, but now it looks like UTEP is doing it.

First, I don't think they have been quite as public as ECU about it. In public, our AD is nothing but loyal to CUSA. Everything about UTEP to MWC is rumors and speculation. Nothing public.

It's public. If ESPN is dropping dimes then that means that someone from the MWC has told ESPN that UTEP is interested in joining. I remember that the MWC and ESPN just entered some kind of long term rights deal a few months back, so you know that ESPN is dishing now and they are trying to get content. I wouldn't be surprised to see an ESPN crawl any week now announcing that move.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...oise-state

(07-12-2013 03:01 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:28 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:03 PM)wh49er Wrote:  At this point if we add 2 more take Arkansas State and ULL force the SunBelt's hand.

I said it about 100 times. It would've made more sense for post-Big East raid CUSA to have just merged w/ SBC and been done with it instead of both conferences promoting from FCS. No offense to Charlotte and ODU.

Wasn't the plan to merge with the Mountain West after the Big East raid? I always thought the reasons that fell through were kinda lame. For whatever reason, CUSA decided that going regional was the better concept for its members.

Nope. The plan was before when CUSA had all the v2.0 membership in tact.

(07-12-2013 01:36 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  CUSA may end up at 16:

"The next movement out of the CAA could be James Madison. JMU is currently weighing what it will do with football. If it were to upgrade, then the first phone call could be to join ODU in CUSA. If that were to happen then CUSA would have to grab one more school to get to an event number, likely looking toward the Sun Belt again."

***

"Oh, and UTEP would love to be in the Mountain West instead of CUSA, according to industry sources."


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...gic-number

Southern Miss is headed to the AAC or Indy, UTEP and most likely Rice to MWC, and when that happens you will see Marshall back to the MAC. Consider that when debating how many or who will be filling the vacancies.

(07-12-2013 03:02 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:54 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:45 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:38 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

So what has changed now for UTEP to be channeling their inner ECU and begging to join another conference? I remember many posts from UTEP posters where they condemned ECU's strategy to leave, but now it looks like UTEP is doing it.

First, I don't think they have been quite as public as ECU about it. In public, our AD is nothing but loyal to CUSA. Everything about UTEP to MWC is rumors and speculation. Nothing public.

It's public. If ESPN is dropping dimes then that means that someone from the MWC has told ESPN that UTEP is interested in joining. I remember that the MWC and ESPN just entered some kind of long term rights deal a few months back, so you know that ESPN is dishing now and they are trying to get content. I wouldn't be surprised to see an ESPN crawl any week now announcing that move.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...oise-state

Right, and I'm not dumping on ECU, but I was referring to statements from UTEP. I'm sure all schools not in the SEC are actively trying to better themselves behind close doors. Im just saying, in public, UTEP is 100% loyal to CUSA. Even when addressing boosters and other fundraising events. We are not publicly vying for an MWC invite.

(07-12-2013 03:05 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 03:01 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:28 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:03 PM)wh49er Wrote:  At this point if we add 2 more take Arkansas State and ULL force the SunBelt's hand.

I said it about 100 times. It would've made more sense for post-Big East raid CUSA to have just merged w/ SBC and been done with it instead of both conferences promoting from FCS. No offense to Charlotte and ODU.

Wasn't the plan to merge with the Mountain West after the Big East raid? I always thought the reasons that fell through were kinda lame. For whatever reason, CUSA decided that going regional was the better concept for its members.

Nope. The plan was before when CUSA had all the v2.0 membership in tact.

There was a rushed press conference in October of 2011 announcing the merger for football only--but everyone knew that several CUSA teams were probably headed to the Big East. Then later, after the defections were official, the plan morphed into a full merger. The thing I do remember is thinking that even if the Big East thing didn't work out for us, that at least the combined MW/CUSA football league would be pretty interesting. I still think they should have moved forward on that. I do agree with you, if the new CUSA plan was to go regional, a simple merging with the Sunbelt could have been an effective way to accomplish that.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...rts-merger

(07-12-2013 03:05 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 01:36 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  CUSA may end up at 16:

"The next movement out of the CAA could be James Madison. JMU is currently weighing what it will do with football. If it were to upgrade, then the first phone call could be to join ODU in CUSA. If that were to happen then CUSA would have to grab one more school to get to an event number, likely looking toward the Sun Belt again."

***

"Oh, and UTEP would love to be in the Mountain West instead of CUSA, according to industry sources."


http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketba...gic-number

Southern Miss is headed to the AAC or Indy, UTEP and most likely Rice to MWC, and when that happens you will see Marshall back to the MAC. Consider that when debating how many or who will be filling the vacancies.

The most idiotic thing ever said on this thread.

(07-12-2013 02:45 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:38 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

So what has changed now for UTEP to be channeling their inner ECU and begging to join another conference? I remember many posts from UTEP posters where they condemned ECU's strategy to leave, but now it looks like UTEP is doing it.

I don't remember any post from UTEP fans condemning ecu for begging the big east (I might be wrong though, but I don't think UTEP fans really cared, it was ucf fans who gave you guys crap). I do remember UTEP fans giving some ecu fans a hard time for all the constant complaining about travel. I remember UTEP fans being upset that the ecu AD wanting so many east coast teams only to have them leave. I remember (myself included), that when the rumor was that exit fees were over 6 million and big east fans claiming a 10 million per year payday, speaking about how financially it would was a dumb move for teams to leave.

UTEP has never publicly stated we want to move, on the contrary, our AD and president have constantly praised Cusa and claimed that this is our conference... The whole UTEP to the MWC rumor was leaked by utah state admin, not UTEP. According to USU we were announcing the move right after the New Mexico bowl, but UTEP declined the invitation so USU convinced the MWC to add SJSU. At the time, the MWC had just lost BYU and Utah and were at 10 teams.

(07-12-2013 03:34 PM)randaddyminer Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:45 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-12-2013 02:38 PM)mistabinks Wrote:  Regarding UTEP, two things happened for certain but I'm not sure in what order.

1. UTEP was going to slide to the MWC side in the Merger/Alliance.

2. UTEP turned down 'feeler' from MWC and chose to stay with a CUSA that had Houston and SMU. Our spot eventually went to SJSU.

Also, BYU and the WAC really wanted UTEP to be a vital part of 'The Project' and UTEP passed on that as well.

Loyalty pays dividends, right?

So what has changed now for UTEP to be channeling their inner ECU and begging to join another conference? I remember many posts from UTEP posters where they condemned ECU's strategy to leave, but now it looks like UTEP is doing it.

I don't remember any post from UTEP fans condemning ecu for begging the big east (I might be wrong though, but I don't think UTEP fans really cared, it was ucf fans who gave you guys crap). I do remember UTEP fans giving some ecu fans a hard time for all the constant complaining about travel. I remember UTEP fans being upset that the ecu AD wanting so many east coast teams only to have them leave. I remember (myself included), that when the rumor was that exit fees were over 6 million and big east fans claiming a 10 million per year payday, speaking about how financially it would was a dumb move for teams to leave.

UTEP has never publicly stated we want to move, on the contrary, our AD and president have constantly praised Cusa and claimed that this is our conference... The whole UTEP to the MWC rumor was leaked by utah state admin, not UTEP. According to USU we were announcing the move right after the New Mexico bowl, but UTEP declined the invitation so USU convinced the MWC to add SJSU. At the time, the MWC had just lost BYU and Utah and were at 10 teams.

I understand every schools motives for doing what they did/are doing; so I have never cared when schools left or joined a new confernce. And in all seriousness I am pretty sure that UTEP will be gone from CUSA, long before Charlotte and ODU ever play one down of football in CUSA. What I never understood was what was the need for all of these clandestine meetings behind the back of your current conference members. That seems like a backstabby way of doing it. So when UTEP eventually leaves, and who are we fooling, they are going to leave; it is going to seem like a sucker punch to the gut of CUSA.

Mind you now I don't blame UTEP for doing what they are trying to do; but IMO it is silly to pretend to only have eyes for your wife, when you are trying to step out with another woman who works at your job.

You don't have to worry about JMU or any FCS school...There are not enough votes for any more start-ups.... The only guy that was pushing JMU was the ODU AD Wood Selig.
And he said after the last meeting, he said, Expansion was over.

That is because the consensus at the meeting was no more FCS schools and if C-USA
lost any members they would replace with already FBS schools.