(12-22-2012 10:03 AM)Cooglius Caeser Wrote:  houston doesn't want to be flying all over the western states earning 43% less on the TV dollar and playing in markets that kill our recruiting.

We recruit California more than we recruit the east coast or northeast. The nationwide model was perfect for us, but it appears that option will be removed from the buffet. East or west--we are the outliers either way and will be doing more travel than any other conference mate (other than Hawaii) regardless of which way we look.

(12-22-2012 08:44 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The funny thing about waiting for Boise State is that the Broncos more than any school in this mix could be fools gold. The day they stop winning they become just another western school but if they continue to win they are like nobody else in college football.

I think we wait to see how this fight plays out.

If the west bails, here is the best eastern league you can come up with.

North: UConn, Temple, Navy, Cincinnati, Marshall, ECU
South: USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

Go a little bit bigger and add Umass and Army, keep the Big East name because the conference would replicate the old footprint.
All sports with this group wouldn't be awful

Uconn, Temple, Cincinnati, UMass, Marshall, ECU, USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

This group would certainly be a strong #6 conference contender. So Fla, UCF, ECU, Cincy, Houston form a strong football base (others could improve as well) and the travel to the far west wouldn't be and issue. If Boise bails (I never thought Boise and SDSU was a great idea for the Big East anyway) this grouping would still be a viable league for the above schools. I would try to find a spot for So. Miss to solidify football. They had a down year but their history is very solid for football.

(12-22-2012 10:28 AM)Yoda Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 10:24 AM)Cubanbull Wrote:  Don't carried away. The game is far from over.

I agree. I prefaced this with "...if this happens and BSU/SDSU go back to the MWC...". That hasn't happened yet and I'm not convinced that it will. Everybody is responding to rumors of offers that may have been nothing more than informal, and futile, discussions.

Yoda out...

Ehhh, when's the last time in realignment that rumors got this specific (not just "NSEW looking to expand, reportedly considering This State U, U of That State and Metro State U" but "THIS school to THAT conference") and this widespread (ESPN, CBS, SI, Idaho Statesman, many others reporting that "CBS/ESPN/SI reported....", even though Dodds' take is wildly off-base), schools clearly got THIS froggy, and the school came to the brink and didn't jump?

The only case I can think of is the two PAC-16 attempts, (and maybe Oklahoma to the PAC) where we know for a fact that there were real, serious negotiations that broke down.

Steve Thamel and co aren't The Dude of WV or MHVer3 or other message-board/anonymous radio clowns. This is happening.

(12-22-2012 10:37 AM)First Mate Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 08:44 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The funny thing about waiting for Boise State is that the Broncos more than any school in this mix could be fools gold. The day they stop winning they become just another western school but if they continue to win they are like nobody else in college football.

I think we wait to see how this fight plays out.

If the west bails, here is the best eastern league you can come up with.

North: UConn, Temple, Navy, Cincinnati, Marshall, ECU
South: USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

Go a little bit bigger and add Umass and Army, keep the Big East name because the conference would replicate the old footprint.
All sports with this group wouldn't be awful

Uconn, Temple, Cincinnati, UMass, Marshall, ECU, USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

This group would certainly be a strong #6 conference contender. So Fla, UCF, ECU, Cincy, Houston form a strong football base (others could improve as well) and the travel to the far west wouldn't be and issue. If Boise bails (I never thought Boise and SDSU was a great idea for the Big East anyway) this grouping would still be a viable league for the above schools. I would try to find a spot for So. Miss to solidify football. They had a down year but their history is very solid for football.

I don't really care how strong the conference is on paper. Everybody needs TV money, that is my biggest concern. I don't trust my Bearcats or UConn being happy in this conference. As a fan, I am cool with it but I doubt the AD's at either schools would be happy. Cincy, UConn, and USF had a nice payday and now its all up in the air. Those schools will do whatever they can to run to the money.

(12-22-2012 10:37 AM)First Mate Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 08:44 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The funny thing about waiting for Boise State is that the Broncos more than any school in this mix could be fools gold. The day they stop winning they become just another western school but if they continue to win they are like nobody else in college football.

I think we wait to see how this fight plays out.

If the west bails, here is the best eastern league you can come up with.

North: UConn, Temple, Navy, Cincinnati, Marshall, ECU
South: USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

Go a little bit bigger and add Umass and Army, keep the Big East name because the conference would replicate the old footprint.
All sports with this group wouldn't be awful

Uconn, Temple, Cincinnati, UMass, Marshall, ECU, USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

This group would certainly be a strong #6 conference contender. So Fla, UCF, ECU, Cincy, Houston form a strong football base (others could improve as well) and the travel to the far west wouldn't be and issue. If Boise bails (I never thought Boise and SDSU was a great idea for the Big East anyway) this grouping would still be a viable league for the above schools. I would try to find a spot for So. Miss to solidify football. They had a down year but their history is very solid for football.

S Miss and Tulsa are the top on the list for solid replacements. After those two, the rest of the pack is a clear step or two behind. The next replacements will not be nearly as solid as the two on deck schools.

(12-22-2012 10:43 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 10:37 AM)First Mate Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 08:44 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The funny thing about waiting for Boise State is that the Broncos more than any school in this mix could be fools gold. The day they stop winning they become just another western school but if they continue to win they are like nobody else in college football.

I think we wait to see how this fight plays out.

If the west bails, here is the best eastern league you can come up with.

North: UConn, Temple, Navy, Cincinnati, Marshall, ECU
South: USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

Go a little bit bigger and add Umass and Army, keep the Big East name because the conference would replicate the old footprint.
All sports with this group wouldn't be awful

Uconn, Temple, Cincinnati, UMass, Marshall, ECU, USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

This group would certainly be a strong #6 conference contender. So Fla, UCF, ECU, Cincy, Houston form a strong football base (others could improve as well) and the travel to the far west wouldn't be and issue. If Boise bails (I never thought Boise and SDSU was a great idea for the Big East anyway) this grouping would still be a viable league for the above schools. I would try to find a spot for So. Miss to solidify football. They had a down year but their history is very solid for football.

I don't really care how strong the conference is on paper. Everybody needs TV money, that is my biggest concern. I don't trust my Bearcats or UConn being happy in this conference. As a fan, I am cool with it but I doubt the AD's at either schools would be happy. Cincy, UConn, and USF had a nice payday and now its all up in the air. Those schools will do whatever they can to run to the money.

The end game for this conference in CUSA circa 2011 (maybe even with a few teams of lesser quality). There will be no big money.

(12-22-2012 10:43 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 10:37 AM)First Mate Wrote:  

(12-22-2012 08:44 AM)bearcatlawjd Wrote:  The funny thing about waiting for Boise State is that the Broncos more than any school in this mix could be fools gold. The day they stop winning they become just another western school but if they continue to win they are like nobody else in college football.

I think we wait to see how this fight plays out.

If the west bails, here is the best eastern league you can come up with.

North: UConn, Temple, Navy, Cincinnati, Marshall, ECU
South: USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

Go a little bit bigger and add Umass and Army, keep the Big East name because the conference would replicate the old footprint.
All sports with this group wouldn't be awful

Uconn, Temple, Cincinnati, UMass, Marshall, ECU, USF, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, Tulane

This group would certainly be a strong #6 conference contender. So Fla, UCF, ECU, Cincy, Houston form a strong football base (others could improve as well) and the travel to the far west wouldn't be and issue. If Boise bails (I never thought Boise and SDSU was a great idea for the Big East anyway) this grouping would still be a viable league for the above schools. I would try to find a spot for So. Miss to solidify football. They had a down year but their history is very solid for football.

I don't really care how strong the conference is on paper. Everybody needs TV money, that is my biggest concern. I don't trust my Bearcats or UConn being happy in this conference. As a fan, I am cool with it but I doubt the AD's at either schools would be happy. Cincy, UConn, and USF had a nice payday and now its all up in the air. Those schools will do whatever they can to run to the money.

Trust me, ECU and every other school will jump to another conference for a bigger payday. UC is not alone in that desire. Other leagues are facing this as well, you dont think the ACC is worried about teams leaving for more $$? That doesn't mean you don't try to make the best decisions you can for the conference you are currently in. Boise is a terrible TV market and everyone is doom and gloom because they may bail. The BE needs to realize (finally) now is the time to take the best teams available-you still have enough markets to make a decent tv $$. Good teams make good conferences. TV markets are great but if the teams suck it doesn't matter. TV market should be a factor but not the only factor at this point.

If Boise and SDSU go back to MWC we end up with something that's in between CUSA-1.0 and CUSA-1.5. I'd want it to look like this.

West - Houston, SMU, Tulsa, Memphis, USM, Tulane (great rivalries in that division and very compact)
East - USF, UCF, ECU, Temple, Cincy, UConn

Swap in some combo of Marshall, UMass, UAB (hopefully not them), ODU or Charlotte if/when Cincy & Uconn leave. I think top to bottom this would be a great all sports league considering our options out there.

Why do people keep sending Houston to the MWC? Houston is not in the West and are not going to go to the MWC. The only West league they will join is the PAC12.

Boise St is fool's gold.

(12-22-2012 06:20 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  If Boise and SDSU go back to MWC we end up with something that's in between CUSA-1.0 and CUSA-1.5. I'd want it to look like this.

West - Houston, SMU, Tulsa, Memphis, USM, Tulane (great rivalries in that division and very compact)
East - USF, UCF, ECU, Temple, Cincy, UConn

Swap in some combo of Marshall, UMass, UAB (hopefully not them), ODU or Charlotte if/when Cincy & Uconn leave. I think top to bottom this would be a great all sports league considering our options out there.

This setup would be a darn good league. Whatever the name is- you have some excellent programs that have won big in the past. I think this lineup would be able to keep some good bowl tie ins and make a run at the BCS bid every year. Whatever we end up with let's lock it in and move forward---->