BMcKitchup
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
Although unlikely, and probably closer to impossible, the Sun Belt did have quite a bit higher final BCS rankings than the remnants of the MWC. Besides ULM the Sun Belt has some fine programs, but I don't see any team from CUSA wanting to share a conference with ULM. If a new Sun Belt could generate a TV deal even close to the Alliance teams would have to look at it, but I don't see how that is possible. The Alliance has a chance to add some of the Sun Belt's top programs in top markets, but if they go the ODU, UMASS route the Alliance could find itself quickly behind a Sun Belt that remains intact and adds LaTech and another school.
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02-18-2012 02:00 PM |
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EdisonDoyle
1st String
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:36 PM)AtlantaEagle Wrote: Although all the C-USA schools are strong links in this, I'd guess USM, ECU & to a slightly lesser extent, Marshall, are the lynchpins in this alliance.
As they go, the alliance goes.
Not really, because they don't have the TV markets. Now they're essential, because they bring the best product (at least USM does); but so are cities with more potential viewers to please TV execs.
If you put ECU and USM in the sunbelt, they'd still get a crappy TV deal.
If you put the others in the sunbelt, they'd still bring a crappy deal because they don't have the product (now).
We need each other.
(This post was last modified: 02-18-2012 02:02 PM by EdisonDoyle.)
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02-18-2012 02:01 PM |
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DrBox
Heisman
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:36 PM)Goldenbuc Wrote: Actually...CUSA should just keep the East and Tulane and expand with the SunBelt teams they want and let UTEP and Tulsa go to the MWC. Grab WKU, FIU, FAU, La Tech, Troy, South Alabama and MTSU...along with USM, ECU, Tulane, Marshall and UAB would be regional and fairly decent. Plus...it gives not one but two Florida teams to hate.
The travel expenses in the proposed CUSA/MWC alliance will be brutal for all-sports. Think about it.
How would you describe the Big East's travel and how can those teams afford it with no AQ easy money? Through a TV deal, same as the Alliance. And if you really believe that the BE football TV deal will lure 10 million per team per year (as some have alleged) while the alliance will get 2 mill in scraps, well, I guess all I can say is we'll see.
In fact, the way the divisions will be set up in the Alliance, we'll have very close to what you suggest, with most travel within one's division.
We are trying to get some strength in numbers. We're trying to get as good a TV deal as possible. We have to do something difference. It's worth the risk, whatever that is.
(This post was last modified: 02-18-2012 02:12 PM by DrBox.)
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02-18-2012 02:04 PM |
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Usajags
Sun Belt Nationalist
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:42 PM)oldtiger Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:37 PM)Blazer88 Wrote: Yea this won't happen, I'm all for the merger and don't want to play crappy sun belt teams.
Even the best SunBelt overall program is a pretty big step down from any CUSA program. The whole Sun Belt/CUSA concept is goofy to start with.
Let's see, let's look at UAB as being the low of the C-USA, they lost to Troy and a then 0-10 FAU team in football this past season. They also lost to USA in basketball this season. So your worst is definitly not better then our best.
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02-18-2012 02:07 PM |
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PGPirate
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:36 PM)Goldenbuc Wrote: The additions of USM, ECU and some others from CUSA could make the SunBelt decent. It'll also allow the schools to actually drive to away games and create more regional rivalries. If the CUSA east and Tulane joined...it could be a pretty good conference. MWC can consume UTEP and Tulsa and remain a decent conference, too.
Actually...CUSA should just keep the East and Tulane and expand with the SunBelt teams they want and let UTEP and Tulsa go to the MWC. Grab WKU, FIU, FAU, La Tech, Troy, South Alabama and MTSU...along with USM, ECU, Tulane, Marshall and UAB would be regional and fairly decent. Plus...it gives not one but two Florida teams to hate.
The travel expenses in the proposed CUSA/MWC alliance will be brutal for all-sports. Think about it.
You're a dumb***. Hell CUSA should add Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. That will make CUSA "could be a pretty good conference".
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02-18-2012 02:08 PM |
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Blazer88
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 02:07 PM)Usajags Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:42 PM)oldtiger Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:37 PM)Blazer88 Wrote: Yea this won't happen, I'm all for the merger and don't want to play crappy sun belt teams.
Even the best SunBelt overall program is a pretty big step down from any CUSA program. The whole Sun Belt/CUSA concept is goofy to start with.
Let's see, let's look at UAB as being the low of the C-USA, they lost to Troy and a then 0-10 FAU team in football this past season. They also lost to USA in basketball this season. So your worst is definitly not better then our best.
Isn't MTSU the best team in the sun belt this year? Yea UAB beat them.
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02-18-2012 02:14 PM |
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58-56
Blazer Revolutionary
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
I'm totally in favor of Central Florida joining the SunBelt.
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02-18-2012 02:15 PM |
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BMcKitchup
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 02:14 PM)Blazer88 Wrote: (02-18-2012 02:07 PM)Usajags Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:42 PM)oldtiger Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:37 PM)Blazer88 Wrote: Yea this won't happen, I'm all for the merger and don't want to play crappy sun belt teams.
Even the best SunBelt overall program is a pretty big step down from any CUSA program. The whole Sun Belt/CUSA concept is goofy to start with.
Let's see, let's look at UAB as being the low of the C-USA, they lost to Troy and a then 0-10 FAU team in football this past season. They also lost to USA in basketball this season. So your worst is definitly not better then our best.
Isn't MTSU the best team in the sun belt this year? Yea UAB beat them.
If you go by that logic Denver beat USM too...Single games aren't exactly the best indicators.
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02-18-2012 02:15 PM |
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FlyHawk98
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:23 PM)oldtiger Wrote: Any mixing of the Sun Belt/CUSA would cause challenges for even the richest Sun Belt schools.
Using the below website, here are the numbers for income from tickets sold and contributions for CUSA and Sunbelt schools. I used those numbers because those are the best indicators that I know of to use as an indication of how supportive alums and the local community are of the program.
Attendance numbers are easily juggled as we've all seen, income from tickets sold isn't as easily inflated.
USA Today College Athletics Finance Data Base, using 2009/2010 which are the latest available.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ncaa-finances.htm
School/Ticket Income/Contributions
ECU /6.1M /4.4M
USM /2.9M /7.3M
UAB /1.2M /4.3M
MU /2.8M /3.6M
UTEP /2.8M /3.3M
(Private schools Tulsa/Tulane/Rice aren't required to report)
ASU /.9M /.6M
WKU /1.7M /2.4M
FIU /.5M /.4M
UNT .7M /.6M
ULM .5M /1.5M
Troy /.9M / 2.3M
MTSU /1.5M /.2M
FAU /.5M /.7M
Going by those numbers the only schools we should be looking at are Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.
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02-18-2012 02:22 PM |
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FlyHawk98
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:44 PM)PATiger Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:13 PM)techdawg88 Wrote: The only way LaTech goes back to Sun Belt is if this new alliance conference turns them down again
La Tech is looking at either being an independent or dropping down to FCS. No one wants them.
Which sucks, I personally would love to add La Tech.
I think they are in similar situations as So Miss, ECU, and Marshall. They would never get poached by the big boys either, but they also have the potential to grow a lot more.
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02-18-2012 02:24 PM |
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FlyHawk98
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
I don't want stuck with the whole Sun Belt, but I wouldn't mind this.
New Conference
North
ECU
Marshall
UMASS
Temple
Old Dominion
Middle Tennessee***
South
UAB
Tulane
So Miss
Ark. St.***
Western Kentucky***
La Tech
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02-18-2012 02:29 PM |
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Goldenbuc
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 02:08 PM)PGPirate Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:36 PM)Goldenbuc Wrote: The additions of USM, ECU and some others from CUSA could make the SunBelt decent. It'll also allow the schools to actually drive to away games and create more regional rivalries. If the CUSA east and Tulane joined...it could be a pretty good conference. MWC can consume UTEP and Tulsa and remain a decent conference, too.
Actually...CUSA should just keep the East and Tulane and expand with the SunBelt teams they want and let UTEP and Tulsa go to the MWC. Grab WKU, FIU, FAU, La Tech, Troy, South Alabama and MTSU...along with USM, ECU, Tulane, Marshall and UAB would be regional and fairly decent. Plus...it gives not one but two Florida teams to hate.
The travel expenses in the proposed CUSA/MWC alliance will be brutal for all-sports. Think about it.
You're a dumb***. Hell CUSA should add Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. That will make CUSA "could be a pretty good conference".
Wow...easy there. Just some thoughts. Maybe substitute South Alabama for Temple. If UCF weren't going to the Big East...I'd prefer to have a regional conference.
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02-18-2012 02:33 PM |
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oldtiger
Forgiven Through Jesus' Grace
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 02:22 PM)FlyHawk98 Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:23 PM)oldtiger Wrote: Any mixing of the Sun Belt/CUSA would cause challenges for even the richest Sun Belt schools.
Using the below website, here are the numbers for income from tickets sold and contributions for CUSA and Sunbelt schools. I used those numbers because those are the best indicators that I know of to use as an indication of how supportive alums and the local community are of the program.
Attendance numbers are easily juggled as we've all seen, income from tickets sold isn't as easily inflated.
USA Today College Athletics Finance Data Base, using 2009/2010 which are the latest available.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ncaa-finances.htm
School/Ticket Income/Contributions
ECU /6.1M /4.4M
USM /2.9M /7.3M
UAB /1.2M /4.3M
MU /2.8M /3.6M
UTEP /2.8M /3.3M
(Private schools Tulsa/Tulane/Rice aren't required to report)
ASU /.9M /.6M
WKU /1.7M /2.4M
FIU /.5M /.4M
UNT .7M /.6M
ULM .5M /1.5M
Troy /.9M / 2.3M
MTSU /1.5M /.2M
FAU /.5M /.7M
Going by those numbers the only schools we should be looking at are Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.
Agreed. The balance of the schools haven't demonstrated local fan/alum commitment to compete season in/season out at CUSA's level.
I don't know of a better way to gauge long-term commitment.
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02-18-2012 02:37 PM |
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ccs178
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:36 PM)Goldenbuc Wrote: The additions of USM, ECU and some others from CUSA could make the SunBelt decent. It'll also allow the schools to actually drive to away games and create more regional rivalries. If the CUSA east and Tulane joined...it could be a pretty good conference. MWC can consume UTEP and Tulsa and remain a decent conference, too.
Actually...CUSA should just keep the East and Tulane and expand with the SunBelt teams they want and let UTEP and Tulsa go to the MWC. Grab WKU, FIU, FAU, La Tech, Troy, South Alabama and MTSU...along with USM, ECU, Tulane, Marshall and UAB would be regional and fairly decent. Plus...it gives not one but two Florida teams to hate.
The travel expenses in the proposed CUSA/MWC alliance will be brutal for all-sports. Think about it.
I understand why the ECU and Marshall fans hate UCF fans now. I used to believe ECU and Marshall fans were just mostly thin-skinned jerks (save for a few buddies I know) and UCF fans were relatively neutral. I was wrong and for that I apologize to the Pirates and Thundering Herd fans.
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02-18-2012 02:39 PM |
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Goldenbuc
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 01:41 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:36 PM)Goldenbuc Wrote: The additions of USM, ECU and some others from CUSA could make the SunBelt decent. It'll also allow the schools to actually drive to away games and create more regional rivalries. If the CUSA east and Tulane joined...it could be a pretty good conference. MWC can consume UTEP and Tulsa and remain a decent conference, too.
Actually...CUSA should just keep the East and Tulane and expand with the SunBelt teams they want and let UTEP and Tulsa go to the MWC. Grab WKU, FIU, FAU, La Tech, Troy, South Alabama and MTSU...along with USM, ECU, Tulane, Marshall and UAB would be regional and fairly decent. Plus...it gives not one but two Florida teams to hate.
The travel expenses in the proposed CUSA/MWC alliance will be brutal for all-sports. Think about it.
Do you understand the geography for ECU? The Sun-Belt isn't that good for ECU, and isn't a driving league. There's zero positive in it for ECU. It's a silly and stupid idea.
How's the geography now, for ECU? Even with CUSA in its current state, it's not ideal for ECU. The ACC would be the most ideal for ECU....but they're not calling. It's not all about what ECU, anyhow.
The Big East will have some football travel...but UCF doesn't have to travel out west for all-sports...just football. There's a difference, there. CUSA/MWC will be nice at first to play some new teams...but after a while, that'll become tough and costly. Like I said before...if UCF wasn't going to the Big East, I'd prefer the local regional conference.
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02-18-2012 02:40 PM |
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RUNVSFD MINER
The voice in your head...See?
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
Just a bad thread, citing a bad source, with a bad idea, creating a bad reaction, and is going to have a bad ending.
Did I just create a run-on sentence? My bad.
Read again, by substituting "bad", with "f^%$ed up"
(This post was last modified: 02-18-2012 02:46 PM by RUNVSFD MINER.)
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02-18-2012 02:42 PM |
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Usajags
Sun Belt Nationalist
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
Careful Goldenbuc, anything that looks like your talking in common sense will result in warnings and all out attacks by C-USA people.
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02-18-2012 02:42 PM |
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RUNVSFD MINER
The voice in your head...See?
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 02:42 PM)Usajags Wrote: Careful Goldenbuc, anything that looks like your talking in common sense will result in warnings and all out attacks by C-USA people.
..... with bad schools joining in on the bad conversation....
feel free to sub "bad" with "f'd up" [/b]
(This post was last modified: 02-18-2012 02:45 PM by RUNVSFD MINER.)
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02-18-2012 02:44 PM |
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Goldenbuc
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RE: USM, ECU, UAB and possibly others to Sun Belt?
(02-18-2012 02:39 PM)ccs178 Wrote: (02-18-2012 01:36 PM)Goldenbuc Wrote: The additions of USM, ECU and some others from CUSA could make the SunBelt decent. It'll also allow the schools to actually drive to away games and create more regional rivalries. If the CUSA east and Tulane joined...it could be a pretty good conference. MWC can consume UTEP and Tulsa and remain a decent conference, too.
Actually...CUSA should just keep the East and Tulane and expand with the SunBelt teams they want and let UTEP and Tulsa go to the MWC. Grab WKU, FIU, FAU, La Tech, Troy, South Alabama and MTSU...along with USM, ECU, Tulane, Marshall and UAB would be regional and fairly decent. Plus...it gives not one but two Florida teams to hate.
The travel expenses in the proposed CUSA/MWC alliance will be brutal for all-sports. Think about it.
I understand why the ECU and Marshall fans hate UCF fans now. I used to believe ECU and Marshall fans were just mostly thin-skinned jerks (save for a few buddies I know) and UCF fans were relatively neutral. I was wrong and for that I apologize to the Pirates and Thundering Herd fans.
Why the hate? I'm a UCF fan, but also follow WKU. My folks, sister and bro-in-law all went to WKU. They're up and coming. I know UCF is going to the Big East, but no reason to hate. ECU, Marshall and USM would've made the same decision. Especially looking at the CUSA/MWC merger for all-sports. I'm not a big fan of the spread out geography of conferences, either...including the Big East. But it's one thing to have to travel like that for football only....another for all sports.
I'm a big college football fan and think regional rivalries are what makes college football great. I think a regional CUSA combined with some SunBelt teams can be pretty special, if given the chance. USM fans could play Troy, UAB, La Tech and Tulane in the same year and attend all of their home and away conference games.
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02-18-2012 02:47 PM |
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