(04-20-2012 10:13 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  For the Sun-Belt to pass C-USA every Sun-Belt member would have to be willing to turn down a C-USA invite and continue to grow together and put C-USA in a tough position. That's just not going to happen though. I can't say that every Sun-Belt member would take a C-USA invite, although I suspect all would. Competition wise C-USA isn't a huge step up, in fact if we are just talking purely about on the field the best of the Sun-Belt match up well with the best of C-USA in football. Of course on the field means almost nothing in conference realignment.

Exactly i would love to see USM,Marshall and ECU matched against ASU,FIU and ULL every year..

(04-18-2012 03:38 PM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 09:39 AM)cajunhawk Wrote:  Attendance numbers would disagree with that "Tulane is #2" statement. That's even with Tulane using "creative" attendance counting practices(1=50, rinse & repeat). Tech uses blue tarps to disguise empty seats, and ULM shows episodes of Duck Dynasty on the jumbotron to try to get people out to Malone Stadium. There is a #2 team in attendance in the state of Louisiana...it's not in New Orleans, it's not in Ruston, and it sure as **** isn't in Monroe.

The emerging Louisiana football program and the Cajun attendance figures are the elephants in the room that everybody discussing realignment pretends not to notice and hopes will just go away.

It makes me laugh.

A person would have to be sniffing glue to believe Rice or Tulane would tolerate the idea of adding a large public university located between them being in their conference and being their perceived equal.

Sometimes it ain't market size but location.

(04-21-2012 11:33 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 03:38 PM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 09:39 AM)cajunhawk Wrote:  Attendance numbers would disagree with that "Tulane is #2" statement. That's even with Tulane using "creative" attendance counting practices(1=50, rinse & repeat). Tech uses blue tarps to disguise empty seats, and ULM shows episodes of Duck Dynasty on the jumbotron to try to get people out to Malone Stadium. There is a #2 team in attendance in the state of Louisiana...it's not in New Orleans, it's not in Ruston, and it sure as **** isn't in Monroe.

The emerging Louisiana football program and the Cajun attendance figures are the elephants in the room that everybody discussing realignment pretends not to notice and hopes will just go away.

It makes me laugh.

A person would have to be sniffing glue to believe Rice or Tulane would tolerate the idea of adding a large public university located between them being in their conference and being their perceived equal.

Sometimes it ain't market size but location.

Guys, there are plenty of large public institutions that have the role of mass education in C-USA. East Carolina, Marshall, Southern Miss, UAB, and UTEP, etc. Given the CUSA expansion opportunities, it appears that there will only be 3 private schools in CUSA. Most of the CUSA is basically 'open enrollment'. They aren't an 'academic conference'.

Rice and Tulane don't draw heavily from Lafayette. I don't think that either of them really care about ULL. I don't think they really care about football either. That's the CUSA's problem. I don't think that either Tulane or Rice is going to block a ULL if ULL kept up their success for a few more years.

(04-20-2012 08:12 PM)cajunhawk Wrote:  

(04-20-2012 02:45 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(04-20-2012 02:23 PM)cajunhawk Wrote:  

(04-20-2012 10:13 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  For the Sun-Belt to pass C-USA every Sun-Belt member would have to be willing to turn down a C-USA invite and continue to grow together and put C-USA in a tough position. That's just not going to happen though. I can't say that every Sun-Belt member would take a C-USA invite, although I suspect all would. Competition wise C-USA isn't a huge step up, in fact if we are just talking purely about on the field the best of the Sun-Belt match up well with the best of C-USA in football. Of course on the field means almost nothing in conference realignment.

Let's say USM and ECU get Big 12 or Big East bids...then where is CUSA compared to the Sun Belt. That's a massive drop off, and a very real possibility.

Sure if somehow both were gone you'd be right, but both aren't going to be gone anytime soon if ever.

Every good program leaves CUSA...thats what they do.

No that's not what happens, every large market program who is decent leaves. USM is the best program in the history of C-USA, and sadly they are stuck here just like ECU.

(04-21-2012 11:46 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(04-21-2012 11:33 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 03:38 PM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  

(04-18-2012 09:39 AM)cajunhawk Wrote:  Attendance numbers would disagree with that "Tulane is #2" statement. That's even with Tulane using "creative" attendance counting practices(1=50, rinse & repeat). Tech uses blue tarps to disguise empty seats, and ULM shows episodes of Duck Dynasty on the jumbotron to try to get people out to Malone Stadium. There is a #2 team in attendance in the state of Louisiana...it's not in New Orleans, it's not in Ruston, and it sure as **** isn't in Monroe.

The emerging Louisiana football program and the Cajun attendance figures are the elephants in the room that everybody discussing realignment pretends not to notice and hopes will just go away.

It makes me laugh.

A person would have to be sniffing glue to believe Rice or Tulane would tolerate the idea of adding a large public university located between them being in their conference and being their perceived equal.

Sometimes it ain't market size but location.

Guys, there are plenty of large public institutions that have the role of mass education in C-USA. East Carolina, Marshall, Southern Miss, UAB, and UTEP, etc. Given the CUSA expansion opportunities, it appears that there will only be 3 private schools in CUSA. Most of the CUSA is basically 'open enrollment'. They aren't an 'academic conference'.

Rice and Tulane don't draw heavily from Lafayette. I don't think that either of them really care about ULL. I don't think they really care about football either. That's the CUSA's problem. I don't think that either Tulane or Rice is going to block a ULL if ULL kept up their success for a few more years.

Tulane already did....