Quote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:It's not so much a knock on CUSA and your collective future as much as it is a statement about where things are heading in the bcs vs non bcs arena....CUSA could do very well and because of the gap or perceived gap, they would be considered "king of the turds" at best....so what I'm saying is, I hope you guys get off that sinking ship (not cusa, but non bcs affiliation in general)....does that clear that up?

There is a philosophical saying to the effect that the only constant is the fact that everything changes. The BCS has changed every year and will continue to do so and may even cease to exist. Another possibilty is C-USA becoming a full BCS conference. I think when our schools begin playing in BCS bowls (already doable), perceptions will change and that could start a dominoe effect.

Gray Avenger Wrote:We have already, in our first year, surpassed expectations of most observers.

I think most nationally would probably disagree. Also, you sure didn't meet expectations if we go off what most on the CUSA board claimed.

The main positive was that CUSA showed that if someone absolutely destroys the rest of the league and beats quality non-conference teams, they will get a top seed.

The other side is that I'd say CUSA was about what the national media predicted, but below what the fans claimed. By that I mean only 2 NCAA bids, and no Top 25 teams for football. In fact, this was definitely one of the weakest years ever for CUSA football. No one in the league this past year would have even come close to hanging with the CUSA champs from most of the other years this decade.

Improvement can certainly be had, but there weren't exceeded expectations.

Quote:

CollegeCard Wrote:

Gray Avenger Wrote:We have already, in our first year, surpassed expectations of most observers.

I think most nationally would probably disagree. Also, you sure didn't meet expectations if we go off what most on the CUSA board claimed.

The main positive was that CUSA showed that if someone absolutely destroys the rest of the league and beats quality non-conference teams, they will get a top seed.

The other side is that I'd say CUSA was about what the national media predicted, but below what the fans claimed. By that I mean only 2 NCAA bids, and no Top 25 teams for football. In fact, this was definitely one of the weakest years ever for CUSA football. No one in the league this past year would have even come close to hanging with the CUSA champs from most of the other years this decade.

Improvement can certainly be had, but there weren't exceeded expectations.

Like many of my Tiger brethren, you seem to be blinded to all but basketball. I was talking in terms of the total picture. When C-USA was decimated by the departure of 7 schools, there were predictions of doom and gloom, especially with respect to bowl games and media contracts. Instead, we built a viable 12-school all-sports conference, improved TV contracts, landed 6 (50%) of our football teams in bowls and had a #1 NCAA basketball seed (which, incidentally, was probably more due to beating the likes of Gonzaga, UCLA, Cincinnatti, Alabama and Tennessee than from destroying C-USA). Gonzaga and George Mason illustrate how quickly basketball programs can be built, even without history and C-USA has several schools (Tulsa, UTEP, Houston, Memphis) with plenty of history, as well as important large markets. I stand on my statement: C-USA has exceeded expectations in our first year, and I predict much better for the future.

Gray Avenger Wrote:

Quote:

CollegeCard Wrote:

Gray Avenger Wrote:We have already, in our first year, surpassed expectations of most observers.

I think most nationally would probably disagree. Also, you sure didn't meet expectations if we go off what most on the CUSA board claimed.

The main positive was that CUSA showed that if someone absolutely destroys the rest of the league and beats quality non-conference teams, they will get a top seed.

The other side is that I'd say CUSA was about what the national media predicted, but below what the fans claimed. By that I mean only 2 NCAA bids, and no Top 25 teams for football. In fact, this was definitely one of the weakest years ever for CUSA football. No one in the league this past year would have even come close to hanging with the CUSA champs from most of the other years this decade.

Improvement can certainly be had, but there weren't exceeded expectations.

Like many of my Tiger brethren, you seem to be blinded to all but basketball. I was talking in terms of the total picture. When C-USA was decimated by the departure of 7 schools, there were predictions of doom and gloom, especially with respect to bowl games and media contracts. Instead, we built a viable 12-school all-sports conference, improved TV contracts, landed 6 (50%) of our football teams in bowls and had a #1 NCAA basketball seed (which, incidentally, was probably more due to beating the likes of Gonzaga, UCLA, Cincinnatti, Alabama and Tennessee than from destroying C-USA). Gonzaga and George Mason illustrate how quickly basketball programs can be built, even without history and C-USA has several schools (Tulsa, UTEP, Houston, Memphis) with plenty of history, as well as important large markets. I stand on my statement: C-USA has exceeded expectations in our first year, and I predict much better for the future.

The majority of "doom & gloom" predictions were in the heads of CUSA fans who are paranoid.

I think if we took a vote of national sports writers on this topic, about 10-15% would agree that CUSA exceeded expectations. Everyone is entitled to their opinion though.

Bearcats#1 Wrote:that may be true, but CUSA can improve stock all they want...it still won't matter.....I only see the gap between BCS and Non-BCS (haves vs. have nots) getting wider, not closer so either way, Memphis needs to jump off the Titantic as soon as they can.....I believe most BE fans would be happy with Memphis....you guys are respected and it also would be nice to unit with UC and UofL yet again.....IMO

I don't know if that statement can be proven true. The majority of Louisville fans and some Cincinnati fans might be happy with Memphis, but there is no history between the Tigers and the rest of the league, so there are no strong feelings. I would bet the five Northeast schools would grudgingly "accept" Memphis, due to a lack of other viable options, but I highly doubt our fanbases or leaders would be "thrilled" with them. Don't take this as a knock against Memphis. It's just an honest opinion. The five Northeast schools have a different history and a different set of relationships than Louisville and Cincinnati had during the past.

Quote: don't know if that statement can be proven true. The majority of Louisville fans and some Cincinnati fans might be happy with Memphis, but there is no history between the Tigers and the rest of the league, so there are no strong feelings. I would bet the five Northeast schools would grudgingly "accept" Memphis, due to a lack of other viable options, but I highly doubt our fanbases or leaders would be "thrilled" with them. Don't take this as a knock against Memphis. It's just an honest opinion. The five Northeast schools have a different history and a different set of relationships than Louisville and Cincinnati had during the past.

-- If you polled the fans of the four old eastern Indys and Uconn...My guess is navy and army would be #s 1 and 2 on the wish list of schools that are not currently in another BCS league


Jackson

Quote:

Jackson1011 Wrote:[quote] don't know if that statement can be proven true. The majority of Louisville fans and some Cincinnati fans might be happy with Memphis, but there is no history between the Tigers and the rest of the league, so there are no strong feelings. I would bet the five Northeast schools would grudgingly "accept" Memphis, due to a lack of other viable options, but I highly doubt our fanbases or leaders would be "thrilled" with them. Don't take this as a knock against Memphis. It's just an honest opinion. The five Northeast schools have a different history and a different set of relationships than Louisville and Cincinnati had during the past.

-- If you polled the fans of the four old eastern Indys and Uconn...My guess is navy and army would be #s 1 and 2 on the wish list of schools that are not currently in another BCS league

I don't doubt that, at least for football, and it is understandable due to geography, familiarity and the respect that the Service Academies deserve. I admire them greatly myself, and if Memphis were ever to be a part of an "EAC", my fondest hope would be for Army, Navy and Notre Dame to also be involved. I also like to think that over time, your northeastern fans would grow to enjoy the uniqueness of an association with the Memphis Tigers. Despite every suppression effort of Tennessee and Ole Miss for the last 100 years, we have scratched, clawed and fought to be where we are and know that major success lies just ahead. We DON'T beg or want any damned handouts.

Gray, I hear you, I felt the same way you do when we were in CUSA, but the BCS offer came and we toke it and ran with it. I suspect Memphis will do the same, if the offer is made.

Krocker Krapp Wrote:

Bearcats#1 Wrote:that may be true, but CUSA can improve stock all they want...it still won't matter.....I only see the gap between BCS and Non-BCS (haves vs. have nots) getting wider, not closer so either way, Memphis needs to jump off the Titantic as soon as they can.....I believe most BE fans would be happy with Memphis....you guys are respected and it also would be nice to unit with UC and UofL yet again.....IMO

I don't know if that statement can be proven true. The majority of Louisville fans and some Cincinnati fans might be happy with Memphis, but there is no history between the Tigers and the rest of the league, so there are no strong feelings. I would bet the five Northeast schools would grudgingly "accept" Memphis, due to a lack of other viable options, but I highly doubt our fanbases or leaders would be "thrilled" with them. Don't take this as a knock against Memphis. It's just an honest opinion. The five Northeast schools have a different history and a different set of relationships than Louisville and Cincinnati had during the past.

There is nothing wrong with that statement and nothing to be offended about. It works in the other way, meaning Memphis would surely accept an invite but people in Tenn and their surrounding tri-state area aren't going to initially be excited about playing UConn and Rutgers in football. There just is no history.