(01-01-2013 01:09 PM)Beagleagle23 Wrote:  USM will accept an invite IF offered IMO. Not a single Eagle fan wants to stay in this dump of a conference.

We should be glad USM decision to leave CUSA isn't contingent on you, Andre, and few others who actually believe they represent the entire USM fanbase and administration.

Good luck trying to get schools to come back unless you can revoke offers to incoming members.

(01-01-2013 01:19 PM)Beagleagle23 Wrote:  Sorry. But every usm fan I know would accept an invite to the nBE.

You assigned a statement to ALL USM fans which simply isn't true and I would hope you would admit you made a mistake in posting it. I have been a fan of USM since the late 50s and grew up in the shadows of the school. I attended USM and knew the players on the football team in 82. I stated my objection to your post and it also proves you made an error. Please accept you made a mistake and admit you did.

When two teams from C-USA head to the MWC we have room to accept 4 teams back getting us to 16 teams. Two 8 team divisions. Which 4 teams do we let in? These is zero value in leaving C-USA. We are in a position of power.

Both the MWC and C-USA will both end up at 16 teams each.

You don't have to like it but that is where it is going. This has been in the works for over a year.

(01-01-2013 01:35 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  When two teams from C-USA head to the MWC we have room to accept 4 teams back getting us to 16 teams. Two 8 team divisions. Which 4 teams do we let in? These is zero value in leaving C-USA. We are in a position of power.

Both the MWC and C-USA will both end up at 16 teams each.

You don't have to like it but that is where it is going. This has been in the works for over a year.

I agree

(01-01-2013 12:57 PM)pirateradio97 Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 12:07 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  Do exactly what the MWC did by coming together and as a group telling the remaining Big East members 'No".

Enough is enough. If they have interest in "working together" in a way that the two conferences can work together and make good regional sense that that is fine. Other than that, No.

At this point, I don't see how any current school in CUSA would want to pay the big exit fees to join a group of schools that we've been playing the last several years. How stupid is that?

Come together, hold our ground. If we do that, that only option they have is Sunbelt or existing Mac schools. They can have that if they want.

and Once again..if your AD Hamrick got the call..he would say yes in a heartbeat..Ask any of your fans..Would they rather play UCF, ECU, USF, Cincy etc then UTSA, North Texas, ot FIU..No disrespect to those schools..but Marshall is hurting in attendance right now..you need all the help you can get..I like Marshall, but to say you are in a better position then you were is not true

Not sure we are hurting in attendance as much as you would think. We are still getting 25-27K on average through these down years in football and are averaging 6K in basketball. Expanding the stadium suites this year due to high demand. I guarantee those averages are near the top 3-4 in CUSA in both football and basketball.


That being said, I have no idea what AD Hamrick or any other AD would do if called.

You have to ask yourself....at what point would any CUSA school consider it a wise investment to pay 6.5 Million in exit fees and then whatever it would cost to enter the nBE? I think entry is 5 Million? At what point is a 12.5 Million dollar investment worthwhile? Obviously the TV contract for the nBE is shot.

Where would be the return on investment? We all have the same level of access now. The numbers don't add up.

(01-01-2013 01:35 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  When two teams from C-USA head to the MWC we have room to accept 4 teams back getting us to 16 teams. Two 8 team divisions. Which 4 teams do we let in? These is zero value in leaving C-USA. We are in a position of power.

Both the MWC and C-USA will both end up at 16 teams each.

You don't have to like it but that is where it is going. This has been in the works for over a year.

Not sure how much power C-USA has since the nBE, even if they lose both SMU and Houston, would still have 9 schools for football if Navy stays committed. They might be able to add 3 more C-USA schools to get to 12. It will be interesting to see how it goes but I could see Rice, USM and Marshall going with Conference America. Maybe Tulsa too unless they go to the MWC or decide C-USA is their home for the long haul.

When is someone going to actually post a link that shows the exit fee is 7 million? I've read the bylaws and there is no mention of that, just 500k and then whatever amount of damages to the TV deal, which might be zero.

(01-01-2013 01:45 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  When is someone going to actually post a link that shows the exit fee is 7 million? I've read the bylaws and there is no mention of that, just 500k and then whatever amount of damages to the TV deal, which might be zero.

This is where I got if from Bonds.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x6...-for-C-USA


C-USA alone will realize $6.63 million apiece from Memphis, UCF, SMU and Houston when they leave to join the Big East after the 2013 basketball season, according to C-USA assistant commissioner for public affairs Courtney Morrison-Archer.

That will produce a sum of $26,520,000 to be split between the eight remaining members.

(01-01-2013 01:25 PM)pirateradio97 Wrote:  Not spinning it..just telling the truth..remember ECU folks know how Hamrick operates..and you cant say that your attendance isnt hurting..

So you are telling me Marshall would be in a better postion if they shell out 10-12 million dollars to just have the same access and money. I just don't see it. And Hamrick doesn't have the final say. That goes to Dr Steven J Kopp.

(01-01-2013 01:01 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  I can see why that group of schools looks good to you but it doesn't intrigue me very much. I don't mean to denigrate the group at all because there are both strong and weak programs in that group.

I really am liking the west C-USA group but that could change if Tulsa, Rice and USM are poached. If no further poaching is done, I like that group plus La Tech, UNT and UTSA just fine.

UTEP and Tulsa are in unique situations because of locations and previous history with some of the MWC programs. It's easy to see why an eastern based conference wouldn't be very attractive to both programs.

Relating this process to buying a home......

CUSA is in a "known" and mostly stable neighborhood with new neighbors moving in. Some of those new neighbors are perfect fits while others are first-time homeowners that will have to stretch a bit to fit in. However, home values are well known and not expected to decrease.

The other option for some may be to move to another neighborhood that is rebuilding in a previously successful but currently run-down area downtown. While some of the old neighbors recently moved in the rebuilding area, the neighborhood could possibly moderately improve or turn out to be a money pit that might never reach its potential.

...and the whole process stinks because it's driven by factors outside any of our making or control.

Probably a poor analogy for some, but it fits in my mind.

(01-01-2013 01:32 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Good luck trying to get schools to come back unless you can revoke offers to incoming members.

What if SDSU, Houston, SMU go to the MWC and UCONN goes to the ACC? And then CUSA schools do turn down nBE? You're stuck with seven members, what's the better option? Go back to CUSA or try to find 2-5 new adds out of the Sun Belt, MAC and FCS?

I'm personally not expecting CUSA schools to turn down the Big East, but I don't think it's a totally outlandish idea.

(01-01-2013 02:25 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 01:32 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Good luck trying to get schools to come back unless you can revoke offers to incoming members.

What if SDSU, Houston, SMU go to the MWC and UCONN goes to the ACC? And then CUSA schools do turn down nBE? You're stuck with seven members, what's the better option? Go back to CUSA or try to find 2-5 new adds out of the Sun Belt, MAC and FCS?

I'm personally not expecting CUSA schools to turn down the Big East, but I don't think it's a totally outlandish idea.

I'd rather add UMASS and someone else then rejoin C-USA under any circumstances.

(01-01-2013 02:41 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 02:25 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 01:32 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Good luck trying to get schools to come back unless you can revoke offers to incoming members.

What if SDSU, Houston, SMU go to the MWC and UCONN goes to the ACC? And then CUSA schools do turn down nBE? You're stuck with seven members, what's the better option? Go back to CUSA or try to find 2-5 new adds out of the Sun Belt, MAC and FCS?

I'm personally not expecting CUSA schools to turn down the Big East, but I don't think it's a totally outlandish idea.

I'd rather add UMASS and someone else then rejoin C-USA under any circumstances.

I think feelings are mutual.

C-USA should add, Tulane, Memphis, WKU & UCF.

(01-01-2013 03:05 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 02:41 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 02:25 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 01:32 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Good luck trying to get schools to come back unless you can revoke offers to incoming members.

What if SDSU, Houston, SMU go to the MWC and UCONN goes to the ACC? And then CUSA schools do turn down nBE? You're stuck with seven members, what's the better option? Go back to CUSA or try to find 2-5 new adds out of the Sun Belt, MAC and FCS?

I'm personally not expecting CUSA schools to turn down the Big East, but I don't think it's a totally outlandish idea.

I'd rather add UMASS and someone else then rejoin C-USA under any circumstances.

I think feelings are mutual.

C-USA should add, Tulane, Memphis, WKU & UCF.

You really think there are any circumstances that UCF is separating from USF? That's stupidity on your part. They have desired for years to be with them and then you think they'd go back to C-USA without them? At least throw out plausible scenarios for your hoping to **** over ECU.

(01-01-2013 01:09 PM)Beagleagle23 Wrote:  USM will accept an invite IF offered IMO. Not a single Eagle fan wants to stay in this dump of a conference.

Speak for yourself Beagle, so don't include me as one of those "not a single Eagle fans". Again, I have no desire to see my school spend $$$ just so we can play ECU, UCF and Memphis again. No, No, No.

We (the University of Southern Mississippi) can make the traditions. We can set the tone for everyone to follow (as many have admitted they've tried to do in the past).

We've got La Tech.. MTSU CAN make something of themselves (again, they were 10-3 just a couple of years ago). (if people would turn off their "They're just a Sun Belt" team.). Let's turn those games into the new big rivalries.

Yes, those teams have to be more consistent, but hell, I didn't hear USM fans screaming about kicking out Tulane because they sucked on the Football field.

PS: And I've been arguing the "go to 16 route" for MWC and C-USA from the get-go of this realignment fiasco... because the numbers are there. (and I'll be honest, from the moment TCU did their bail job from the Big East without playing one game, I've been very dubious about what that conference could do in the future.)

Quote: I think those slots were quickly back filled out of spite and political reasons.

And no, the new adds for C-USA were NOT for spite or political reasons. Plain and simple, if the BE had held together after the adds, we drop to <12, we lose our CCG IMMEDIATELY, and we lose the TV contract immediately. C-USA had to add teams as quickly as possible for that reason and that reason alone (again, you'd have to go find one of MattStarz posts, as he was the one that pointed it out.)

I'm thinking Memphis might make that replay for a BigXII invite though? (weren't they interested in that one? That was the one I was hoping USM was interested in, but that was just wishful thinking on my part.)

(01-01-2013 03:11 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  Stay put, but unfortunately I don't see that happening. As an all-around conference (fball, bball, baseball, soccer) I think we've got something good going.

That said, CUSA West is looking mighty good right now; I think East will be Marshall's for at least two years.

ahem

I am sure ECU would join the current sunbelt before rejoining C-USA. Speaking of Sun Belt... after losing two teams they have not added anyone. Anyone think they are saving room for Big East teams without a home.

(01-01-2013 12:36 PM)MUTeke Wrote:  Merge C-USA and the remnants of the nBE, its the only logical step left. The MWC is putting together a pretty strong group, especially if they add Houston, SMU, UTEP and Tulsa.

Instead of worrying about humiliating defectors out of spite, or silly pride, we need to worry about countering the growing presence in the west. We(C-USA and nBE) can fight each other for the nMWC's scraps or challenge them together for TV dollars and playoff access.

With 20 members we would have a built in hedge against further realignment. If we lose Cincy and UConn we could stay at 18 and be fine.

Couldnt agree more, but pride will prevent this from happening.

(01-01-2013 03:11 PM)smudge12 Wrote:  Stay put, but unfortunately I don't see that happening. As an all-around conference (fball, bball, baseball, soccer) I think we've got something good going.

That said, CUSA West is looking mighty good right now; I think East will be Marshall's for at least two years.

Not a chance Smudge... last year was an aberration for us.. YOu think we'd let them green mountain goat lovers dominate this conference? :)