if C-USA were to lose its top programs, and none of our teams jumped ship, I think they would suffer the same fate as the WAC. a spread out league with teams few care about.

In that scenario, we could poach the two programs we wanted out of the leftovers and probably steal atleast one of their bowls. I'd be interested in Southern Miss and either Memphis or UAB...although both of the latter have annoying self-rightious fanbases.

(10-14-2011 12:53 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  if C-USA were to lose its top programs, and none of our teams jumped ship, I think they would suffer the same fate as the WAC. a spread out league with teams few care about.

First of all they won't have anywhere near as bad as the WAC.

They could lose six members(they won't) and still have one member more than the WAC was left with and they could pick up enough members without phoning a single Sun Belt member to get back to 8 or 9.

That's irrelevant though because they won't lose six and regardless of how many they lose, no Sun Belt school is going to turn down a CUSA invite, it's just not going to happen. We can all be idealists and optimists and claim solidarity, but it's just not realistic. Can the Sun Belt be better than a rebuilt CUSA without Sun Belt members? Maybe. Would CUSA rebuilt with Sun Belt members be better than the Sun Belt? Yes.

CUSA likes:
1. Schools that are academically compatible with the four privates vision of themselves.
2. Schools in large markets without regard to success or support.
3. Schools in small markets with an extensive record of success and very large season ticket bases.

Remember that CUSA has not had a BCS buster and hasn't had a close call since Louisville left. The MAC has come closer to being a buster than CUSA has in the post-Louisville era.

UNT, MTSU, FIU and FAU most closely fit the bill for the CUSA expansion model.

(10-14-2011 12:36 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  why does everyone think C-USA is going to maintain it's tv and bowl contracts if their top teams are snatched up? the WAC didn't.

They won't, but it's unlikely that CUSA's TV and Bowl deals will be reduced to where the Belt/WAC/MAC are.

(10-14-2011 09:26 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU a definate possibility. WKU & ASU, no way.

I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

You're right! Maybe they're looking for a team that gets their A$$ handed to them at home every game and losses to 44-16 to the Indiana State's of the world.

(10-16-2011 08:13 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 09:26 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU a definate possibility. WKU & ASU, no way.

I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

(10-16-2011 08:25 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  You're right! Maybe they're looking for a team that gets their A$$ handed to them at home every game and losses to 44-16 to the Indiana State's of the world.

(10-16-2011 08:13 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 09:26 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU a definate possibility. WKU & ASU, no way.

I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

Truth hurts about your pathetic basketball attendance, doesn't it? And you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the CUSA can use your "gym" as a storage site--ala a conference Store-All. No one else is using it. Why not?

Or, you know, your football stadium...how many people there during your last game? Too busy with the local farm animals?

(10-16-2011 08:13 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 09:26 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU a definate possibility. WKU & ASU, no way.

I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

Why the personal attack on FIU? No one has come out and attacked WKU (esp. not FIU). Our attendance for basketball was in the 1,300 range, not great but a marked improvement from years past.

And again FPF; why take the bait here? We've got much bigger things to worry about than one puffed up hill-toppers inferiority complex.

(10-17-2011 06:31 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-16-2011 08:25 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  You're right! Maybe they're looking for a team that gets their A$$ handed to them at home every game and losses to 44-16 to the Indiana State's of the world.

(10-16-2011 08:13 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 09:26 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU a definate possibility. WKU & ASU, no way.

I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

Truth hurts about your pathetic basketball attendance, doesn't it? And you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the CUSA can use your "gym" as a storage site--ala a conference Store-All. No one else is using it. Why not?

Your game is weak. You come after them for their basketball attendance, they come back after you for your football and you completely disregard that comment and go back to ragging on their basketball and saying "the truth hurts".

I don't think you'll find too many people outside of Bowling Green who thinks WKU is ahead of FIU in regards to CUSA candidacy. The truth hurts doesn't it?

(10-17-2011 11:13 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 06:31 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-16-2011 08:25 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  You're right! Maybe they're looking for a team that gets their A$$ handed to them at home every game and losses to 44-16 to the Indiana State's of the world.

(10-16-2011 08:13 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 09:26 AM)MG61 Wrote:  FIU a definate possibility. WKU & ASU, no way.

I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

Truth hurts about your pathetic basketball attendance, doesn't it? And you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the CUSA can use your "gym" as a storage site--ala a conference Store-All. No one else is using it. Why not?

Your game is weak. You come after them for their basketball attendance, they come back after you for your football and you completely disregard that comment and go back to ragging on their basketball and saying "the truth hurts".

I don't think you'll find too many people outside of Bowling Green who thinks WKU is ahead of FIU in regards to CUSA candidacy. The truth hurts doesn't it?

Suck up to them. You might grow another tooth--that truth is painful, eh?

(10-17-2011 12:39 PM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 11:13 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 06:31 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-16-2011 08:25 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  You're right! Maybe they're looking for a team that gets their A$$ handed to them at home every game and losses to 44-16 to the Indiana State's of the world.

(10-16-2011 08:13 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  I'm sure the CUSA is just dying to tap in those 10 people who attend FIU basketball games. Think of the market.

Truth hurts about your pathetic basketball attendance, doesn't it? And you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the CUSA can use your "gym" as a storage site--ala a conference Store-All. No one else is using it. Why not?

Your game is weak. You come after them for their basketball attendance, they come back after you for your football and you completely disregard that comment and go back to ragging on their basketball and saying "the truth hurts".

I don't think you'll find too many people outside of Bowling Green who thinks WKU is ahead of FIU in regards to CUSA candidacy. The truth hurts doesn't it?

Suck up to them. You might grow another tooth--that truth is painful, eh?

You're still dodging the criticisms of your own program. It's clear you have no intentions of having a real discussion.

(10-17-2011 12:41 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 12:39 PM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 11:13 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 06:31 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-16-2011 08:25 AM)FIU Panther Fan Wrote:  You're right! Maybe they're looking for a team that gets their A$$ handed to them at home every game and losses to 44-16 to the Indiana State's of the world.

Truth hurts about your pathetic basketball attendance, doesn't it? And you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the CUSA can use your "gym" as a storage site--ala a conference Store-All. No one else is using it. Why not?

Your game is weak. You come after them for their basketball attendance, they come back after you for your football and you completely disregard that comment and go back to ragging on their basketball and saying "the truth hurts".

I don't think you'll find too many people outside of Bowling Green who thinks WKU is ahead of FIU in regards to CUSA candidacy. The truth hurts doesn't it?

Suck up to them. You might grow another tooth--that truth is painful, eh?

You're still dodging the criticisms of your own program. It's clear you have no intentions of having a real discussion.

Because you have no point. Except for the one on your head.

The only people mentioning WKU and ASU are fans on message boards. Why post this? Either way, if UNT were to go to C-USA, I'd love for ASU to come with. I've always liked ASU.

If the most recent reports are true that Mizzou to SEC is imminent, that means that Big East is likely to lose one to four more to the Big XII, depending on whether they want to get to 10 or 12 and whether they can iron something out with BYU.

If they lose four, the Big East is down to a mere two football schools. There aren't likely six football schools that could get votes to get into Big East. They would have to back off the opposition to Temple, they would probably have to take soon to be FBS UMass. UCF would likely still pursue it in order to be in a league with USF but after that would Houston and SMU remain interested? Could ECU get the votes? Could Marshall slip in?

Gets pretty hairy. If Big East is down to 2 makes better sense to just join CUSA for football only if CUSA would go for it.

(10-17-2011 01:14 PM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 12:41 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 12:39 PM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 11:13 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(10-17-2011 06:31 AM)WKUSledgeHammer Wrote:  Truth hurts about your pathetic basketball attendance, doesn't it? And you have no one to blame but yourselves. Maybe the CUSA can use your "gym" as a storage site--ala a conference Store-All. No one else is using it. Why not?

Your game is weak. You come after them for their basketball attendance, they come back after you for your football and you completely disregard that comment and go back to ragging on their basketball and saying "the truth hurts".

I don't think you'll find too many people outside of Bowling Green who thinks WKU is ahead of FIU in regards to CUSA candidacy. The truth hurts doesn't it?

Suck up to them. You might grow another tooth--that truth is painful, eh?

You're still dodging the criticisms of your own program. It's clear you have no intentions of having a real discussion.

Because you have no point. Except for the one on your head.

Yep, you're right I have no point. FIU's basketball attendance is a big red flag, WKU's abysmal football on the other hand, that's a non-issue.

(10-14-2011 12:29 PM)RedWolfRunning Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 11:41 AM)JSinLR Wrote:  

(10-14-2011 10:47 AM)RedWolfRunning Wrote:  For now, I think ASU is right where we need to be considering our size and budget. I agree with Fanof49ASU, we can't afford to move right now. Give us a few years of winning consistently and our funds will improve. At that point we may either dominate the SunBelt or, if the opportunity arrises, move on to a bigger conference. But as of right now, I think I am with most loyal ASU fans in saying that we are not ready to move and really don't need to move right now.
Go Red Wolves....2011 SunBelt Champions!!!

So are you saying we would be worse off or less qualified than anyone else in the SBC? I think we are in a better spot in some areas than other SBC schools.

1.) Less I-A competition in AR based on "public perception" (#2 behind AR)
Examples: WKU is number 3 behind KY & LOU
MTSU is number 4 behind TN, Vandy, Memphis
Troy number 3 behind Auburn & Bama...some at UAB might argue that and USA is coming next year.
ULL number 3 behind LSU, Tulane and arguably number 4 behind LTU...plus competition from ULM.
ULM...see above.
UNT...(UT, A&M, Houston, SMU, TCU, Rice, UTEP, Baylor, Texas Tech...not sure where UNT falls but they have a lot of competition)
USA...see Troy above.
FAU/FIU...they trail in perception behind UF, FSU, Miami, USF, UCF.


2.) No major professional sports to compete with.

Now as for budgets those grow as the conference you are in grows to some degree. If the Big 12 asked ASU (absurd example) our budget would grow immediately due to interest, conference guarantees, etc.

Under the circumstances we can't afford not to accept a better offer. Neither can any other member of the SBC.

With that said, I'm not sure the gutted CUSA is a better option. We'll have to wait and see what's left...we may be picking apart CUSA or the WAC...who knows at this part.

BTW, I'm a loyal ASU fan and I don't agree that we should turn down a "better" offer based on budgets.

Look, I know the SunBelt is often viewed as the bottom of the barrel as far as conferences go, but is C-USA that much better. Sure, there may be more money but some of the top tier C-USA teams are simply superior to ASU right now. We are just now on the cusp of winning again at ASU. Why would we want to throw that away simply to say we are in a "bigger conference". I just don't see the point right now. If we get our program turned around and become a consistently winning program and dominating the SunBelt year after year then heck yeah we need to move up. Right now I think Troy is the only team in the SunBelt who has the "credentials" to move up. They have been the dominate force in the 'Belt for several years now. They may be having an off year this year but they will get back on track. I just think at this point in time it would do more harm than good for the ASU football program to move into a more competitive conference. Give it another 3-5 years and I may change my mind. We may just have to agree to disagree on this.

It comes down to money and facilities that are at hand now. That is why FIU, FAU, UNT and MTSU will get the call before WKU, ULL and Troy. USA would be onthe list as well except we are one year away. It ia all about fanbase and TV contracts.