(01-01-2013 04:43 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 04:24 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 04:19 PM)SgtGoldenEagle Wrote:  I was thinking, how many people remember why C-USA was formed and who the original members were. I am one of those who do, and I have to say it is amusing to think that many of the original members could be right back together. Another example of marching in place it would seem.

I'd love to see something that resembled what C-USA used to be. C-USA used to be a very good league, and if it could end up looking close to the real C-USA then I'll be very happy.

I can remember when it was first reported that the conference was being formed. Many hated it because they said it was just a bunch of schools that were too unimportant to be with the big boys and didn't like being the big fish in the little pond. In fact there were many of the bigger named schools (SEC schools in large part, but others as well) who refused to even schedule games against C-USA members but said they would if they wouldn't be part of the conference.

USM wanted the conference for the same reason the others did, it would take the scheduling burden down immensely, and it gave them a title to play for since a National title was extremely unlikely. Of course after the first football season when USM and Houston were co-champs and Houston got the bowl and USM got left out, the bowl ties became important.

It took a lot of hard work and some great work to get each of the members to where they are today, and frankly USM sacrificed more than most since USM was one of the top Independent and lesser regarded conferences team. It is interesting because basically I see the same old story repeating all these years later and what might happen is most of the same teams will find themselves back together having to build up another conference while looking to jump to a bigger conference. What if everyone had looked more into the future to start with? I don't know what would have happened, but I have to wonder.

History will keep repeating itself. The ACC appears to be poised to take the spot the Big East held as the weakest member of the club that will get raided and then all those not in the club will try to stab everyone in the back to get there just like what happened with the Big East and C-USA. I wish it would stop but it's not going to as long as the revenue differences are so wide.

(01-01-2013 04:52 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 12:47 PM)GreenMississippi Wrote:  If we didn't jump the gun and invite FIU, FAU, La Tech, UNT, UTSA, and MTSU (6); we would have 8 schools and be in position to reabsorb the remnants of the Big East. We did not anticipate the collapse, and that in the end has turned C*USA into the Belt.

We have lost 6 schools, half the conference. If we had not added anyone we would be at 6 and vulnerable to say the least. Maybe adding only 2 would have been more prudent but it is what it is.

The only problem with that is.. with the original 4 we lost, you HAD to add four teams off the bat. We lost most of our eastern Texas recruiting, we were trying to keep ECU/Marshall happy with eastern partners and we HAD to make sure we kept our Florida recruitment area, and we had to keep our CCG for the Fox contract.

You couldn't just go for a "2 replacments for 4 teams" basis. (simply because nobody thought the BE would blow up this quickly).

(01-01-2013 12:47 PM)GreenMississippi Wrote:  If we didn't jump the gun and invite FIU, FAU, La Tech, UNT, UTSA, and MTSU (6); we would have 8 schools and be in position to reabsorb the remnants of the Big East. We did not anticipate the collapse, and that in the end has turned C*USA into the Belt.

So C-USA didn't really need what will soon be the USA's #4 ranked TV market with the one school that has the largest Texas-based DFW area constituency (even over UT and TAMU) in it at all? SMU never wants to be in bed with us because our UNT System surrounds their limited little private school domain in almost every direction in the DFW Metroplex and they don't want to compete with any of that ever (no matter what other lame brain excuses they give with all their forever class warfare and "we rich--they po' distinctions). Fact is, SMU has a completetly different mission than schools like UNT, UTEP, UTSA, UT, TAMU, Texas Texas, UH, etc, etc, etc,

Yet I thought that the Big East started all their own expansions last year with schools that came from very large TV markets so....has that now changed?:)

I assure you that TV markets will still reign as king when all the dust settles with this among the Group of 5 no matter what and no matter what year or decade.

SMU and UH can dance all over the "we want to be in this conference" or "we want to be in that conference" NCAA map till the cows come home,
but just watch a school from CUSA pull a "Northern Illinois" while those 2 Texas schools continue their "search for some version of the NCAA holy grail."
Hint to UH and SMU: You ain't going to find your holy grail in the Group of 5 in any way you mix it.......sorry, but TCU found your holy grail first.

GMG!

Quote:So C-USA didn't really need what will soon be the USA's #4 ranked TV market with the one school that has the largest Texas-based DFW area constituency (even over UT and TAMU) in it at all

Weatherford, just ask the BE how that "drive" for Markets is playing out right now. And I don't think it matters at all, honestly- It's recruiting grounds and travel partners. Every "major" TV market has MULTIPLE options for games, not just the local teams. That's why I think TV markets are so overrated for a purpose to add a school

Again, that's not to knock UNT (or the Dallas market... DIE COWBOYS DIE!) or any specific school that was added, but that's why a lot of people question how fast the adds were done. (again, I'm one of those that thought that the moves _HAD_ to be done fast... or the conference was in bad shape)(.

If we didn't add fast, Sun Belt would be in a position of power over C-USA.

(01-01-2013 03:48 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  The easy thing to do is to dismiss what I wrote as some jerk ECU fan posting that his school is better than others. Read it as you may. No AD could afford not to leave Conf USA if they can. Again if you think the new teams are as good for your school to compete against as the ones in the BE, then we simply have differing opinions.

If the move was free, sure. For around $12.5 million that we're hearing? With the exact same access to the new BCS games? Your opinion isn't worth much, nor founded in reality.

(01-01-2013 05:06 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

Quote:So C-USA didn't really need what will soon be the USA's #4 ranked TV market with the one school that has the largest Texas-based DFW area constituency (even over UT and TAMU) in it at all

Weatherford, just ask the BE how that "drive" for Markets is playing out right now. And I don't think it matters at all, honestly- It's recruiting grounds and travel partners. Every "major" TV market has MULTIPLE options for games, not just the local teams. That's why I think TV markets are so overrated for a purpose to add a school

Again, that's not to knock UNT (or the Dallas market... DIE COWBOYS DIE!) or any specific school that was added, but that's why a lot of people question how fast the adds were done. (again, I'm one of those that thought that the moves _HAD_ to be done fast... or the conference was in bad shape)(.

The Big East main problem is that they couldn't deliver the TV bucks that they got most of the CUSA and MWC schools to leave for in the first place. Obviously, buyers remorse has set in with many of those schools with some going to have to come up with $5 million exit fees I presume. 'Twill be interesting to see how all this plays out, though.

Commish Bano needs to band CUSA presidents together and tell them to hold the rope. The nBE is crumbling and the schools that left knew the risks that were involved and now they have to deal with the reprocussions of those decisions.

(01-01-2013 05:14 PM)WeatherfordMeanGreen Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:06 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

Quote:So C-USA didn't really need what will soon be the USA's #4 ranked TV market with the one school that has the largest Texas-based DFW area constituency (even over UT and TAMU) in it at all

Weatherford, just ask the BE how that "drive" for Markets is playing out right now. And I don't think it matters at all, honestly- It's recruiting grounds and travel partners. Every "major" TV market has MULTIPLE options for games, not just the local teams. That's why I think TV markets are so overrated for a purpose to add a school

Again, that's not to knock UNT (or the Dallas market... DIE COWBOYS DIE!) or any specific school that was added, but that's why a lot of people question how fast the adds were done. (again, I'm one of those that thought that the moves _HAD_ to be done fast... or the conference was in bad shape)(.

The Big East main problem is that they couldn't deliver the TV bucks that they got most of the CUSA and MWC schools to leave for in the first place. Obviously, buyers remorse has set in with many of those schools with some going to have to come up with $5 million exit fees I presume. 'Twill be interesting to see how all this plays out, though.

How do you know buyers remorse has set in? I have not heard one AD from any of the schools that left Conf USA say this.

(01-01-2013 05:37 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:14 PM)WeatherfordMeanGreen Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:06 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

Quote:So C-USA didn't really need what will soon be the USA's #4 ranked TV market with the one school that has the largest Texas-based DFW area constituency (even over UT and TAMU) in it at all

Weatherford, just ask the BE how that "drive" for Markets is playing out right now. And I don't think it matters at all, honestly- It's recruiting grounds and travel partners. Every "major" TV market has MULTIPLE options for games, not just the local teams. That's why I think TV markets are so overrated for a purpose to add a school

Again, that's not to knock UNT (or the Dallas market... DIE COWBOYS DIE!) or any specific school that was added, but that's why a lot of people question how fast the adds were done. (again, I'm one of those that thought that the moves _HAD_ to be done fast... or the conference was in bad shape)(.

The Big East main problem is that they couldn't deliver the TV bucks that they got most of the CUSA and MWC schools to leave for in the first place. Obviously, buyers remorse has set in with many of those schools with some going to have to come up with $5 million exit fees I presume. 'Twill be interesting to see how all this plays out, though.

How do you know buyers remorse has set in? I have not heard one AD from any of the schools that left Conf USA say this.

Do you expect a public statement? When Houston & SMU bolts, you still might not hear it, but you will know it exists.

Again, I don't think any former Conf USA team that left the Conf has buyers remorse. Being in the BE imo is still better for ECU than remaining in Conf USA.

Bottom line is, if you are good, people will tune in to watch. If you suck, they won't. Markets don't mean anything, especially in an age where I can watch any game I want anytime with the click of a mouse.

(01-01-2013 05:53 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Bottom line is, if you are good, people will tune in to watch. If you suck, they won't. Markets don't mean anything, especially in an age where I can watch any game I want anytime with the click of a mouse.

I've always agreed with that, but if markets don't matter then C-USA didn't take the right approach to expansion either. They'd have taken ULL, Ark State, and WKU instead of 3 large market FCS teams. So if the Big East was wrong then C-USA is just as wrong.

(01-01-2013 05:48 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  Again, I don't think any former Conf USA team that left the Conf has buyers remorse. Being in the BE imo is still better for ECU than remaining in Conf USA.

True, but the degree of "better" is getting smaller every week. At what point is the the degree of "better" not worth the $10 million it costs to leave. For most teams left in C-USA, forking over $10 mill would have been a struggle 1 yr ago, and looks down right foolish today. Should Cincy, UConn, Houston, & SMU leave, It'd would be like flushing $10 million down the drain... Don't know any president in C-USA ready to do that. If Houston & SMU turn down MWC, then maybe.

(01-01-2013 05:58 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:48 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  Again, I don't think any former Conf USA team that left the Conf has buyers remorse. Being in the BE imo is still better for ECU than remaining in Conf USA.

True, but the degree of "better" is getting smaller every week. At what point is the the degree of "better" not worth the $10 million it costs to leave. For most teams left in C-USA, forking over $10 mill would have been a struggle 1 yr ago, and looks down right foolish today. Should Cincy, UConn, Houston, & SMU leave, It'd would be like flushing $10 million down the drain... Don't know any president in C-USA ready to do that. If Houston & SMU turn down MWC, then maybe.

The MWC is paying Boise's Big East exit fee, and my guess is at this point the Big East is flush with enough buyout cash that they can afford to help with anyone's buyouts if necessary. Do you really think at this point the Big East is going to allow itself to die because it won't get rid of the entrance fee and help pay exit fees?

I believe that to be the case. Markets are potential, and ok to add one here ir there, but both conferences made some huge mistakes essentially basing their entire confernces in hope that they will catch a flash in the pan. The Big Ten could afford to do that with Rutgers... if they happen to have a miracle year, the conference will make a fortune. CUSA... not so much luxury. They had $100, and instead of throwing it in a mutual fund to grow, they bought 5 $20 scratch lottery tickets. I know this post isn't going to make many friends here and I know ODU is a beneficiary of this poor strategy, but it is just how I see it.

(01-01-2013 06:03 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:58 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:48 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  Again, I don't think any former Conf USA team that left the Conf has buyers remorse. Being in the BE imo is still better for ECU than remaining in Conf USA.

True, but the degree of "better" is getting smaller every week. At what point is the the degree of "better" not worth the $10 million it costs to leave. For most teams left in C-USA, forking over $10 mill would have been a struggle 1 yr ago, and looks down right foolish today. Should Cincy, UConn, Houston, & SMU leave, It'd would be like flushing $10 million down the drain... Don't know any president in C-USA ready to do that. If Houston & SMU turn down MWC, then maybe.

The MWC is paying Boise's Big East exit fee, and my guess is at this point the Big East is flush with enough buyout cash that they can afford to help with anyone's buyouts if necessary. Do you really think at this point the Big East is going to allow itself to die because it won't get rid of the entrance fee and help pay exit fees?

If that will be the case... Then all bets are off. I think you need about 4 new teams....

(01-01-2013 05:53 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Markets don't mean anything, especially in an age where I can watch any game I want anytime with the click of a mouse.

And thats where ESPN in the next few years (say 7-10 years) may get phased out. In the near future I expect all conferences to have something like the CUSA Network, PAC 12 Network and others. Where you can go buy either single games, whole season passes or the whole conference pass. And everything will be a click of the mouse.

This could be where conferences are being formed wrong as we speak.

No way does Southern Miss fork over several million to rejoin teams that never filled up MM Roberts anyways. If your talking ACC SEC or Big 12 sure but paying several million just for the right to play Memphis ECU UCF UCONN Temple and USF, no thanks rather play La Tech UAB Tulsa MTSU RICE and UTEP and put those exit fees to good use around our basketball facilities.

(01-01-2013 05:56 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(01-01-2013 05:53 PM)EverRespect Wrote:  Bottom line is, if you are good, people will tune in to watch. If you suck, they won't. Markets don't mean anything, especially in an age where I can watch any game I want anytime with the click of a mouse.

I've always agreed with that, but if markets don't matter then C-USA didn't take the right approach to expansion either. They'd have taken ULL, Ark State, and WKU instead of 3 large market FCS teams. So if the Big East was wrong then C-USA is just as wrong.

I believe market size was not the only reason ODU and Charlotte were invited to C*USA. Marshall and a former C*USA member, I think from North Carolina (thank you TH,) wanted those two added because they desired some geographically closer teams.