(05-20-2015 08:23 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 05:46 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 01:54 PM)Eagleholic Wrote:  Name the great players that have played in CUSA...

Here are a few to get us started...
Football...
Deangelo Williams
Roddy White
Chris Johnson
Adalius Thomas
Michael Boley
Patrick Surtain
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw

David Grarrad
Dwayne Harris
Justin Hardy
Case Keenum
Joe Webb
Austin Davis
David Ragone
Stefan LeFors
CJ Wilson
Linval Joseph
Ricky Stokes
Jeff Kerr
Leonard Henry
DeVone Claybrooks
Terrance Cooper
Rode Coleman

Can't believe I forgot him, the highest paid Full back in NFL history,

Vonte Leach

Have to add Vinny Curry. He hasn't made his mark in the NFL yet, but he decimated the offenses of CUSA. Philly Eagles switching coaches sort of misplaced his role but I think he'll shine in the long run.

Way too much football in this thread. This league's reputation was built on hoops, including trips to the Final Four by Memphis, Marquette, and Louisville. And Cincinnati was the standard bearer, with multiple seasons that they were the top ranked team in the country during long stretches of the season. Charlotte was the 2nd most successful team in the league during their initial membership, winning the 2nd most #of league games (just edging out Memphis) and going to the NCAA tournament 7 times in 10 years. So many great memories of those teams. Here is just one. Eddie Basden, CUSA POTY 2004-2005. Cal said after this play "that's a man, right there". He had quite a few other amazing plays, including a nasty teabag of a hapless Houston defender, but this one sticks out in my mind, because Eddie emphatically showed whose house it was (and notice the crowd... Regular occurrence back then... Cincy-Charlotte rivalry was even carried as a feature of ESPN, and on ABCs rivalry week):

(05-20-2015 06:21 AM)BoKnows Wrote:  Instead of lamenting on the change in composition of the conference due to realignment, I really think that the history of CUSA, as a relevant conference, should be celebrated during our telecasts this year.
Seriously, this conference has 20 years in now, and a boatload of highlights and accomplishments that should be applauded. It's our history and we shouldn't run from it. No matter who is or isn't in our conference now, our record books are what they are. They are full of great individuals and team performances.
IMO, it wouldn't hurt to start a campaign THIS YEAR centered around having 20 YEARS in as a conference. A logo with the 20 in it should be designed and we should use our library of conference highlights to construct highlight packages that show the relevance CUSA has had on the collegiate sports landscape in the last 20 years.
Sure, many of the highlights will show teams that are no longer in the conference anymore, but so did the Big East's video packages last year that were drawing on old traditions. The important thing is that the stability of the brand over the years (as well as the great performances from the past) gives our present conference the support it needs for better things ahead.
They are our record books. Let's open them up. I'd love to see flashbacks of Southern Miss vs TCU, Southern Miss vs Houston, Some of the great UAB footage under Mike Anderson, Clips of Roddy White, D Wade and Marquette, Memphis missing those free throws in the CUSA Championship vs Louisville, Bob Huggins and those Cinci teams, Memphis choking (again) in the National Championship game, etc.

I think our story should be seen as a continuation of all of that. I know it is for UAB, Southern Miss, Charlotte, Rice, UTEP, etc. And, the conference should not be viewed as a new league.

The focus should be on respecting the past - in the context of better days ahead. 20 Years as a new conference. It's a milestone worth noting.

Can the alumni attend if we bring a covered dish?

(05-20-2015 10:45 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  I would be absolutely shocked if there's not some year-long acknowledgement in the works.

Me too.

With Charlotte rejoining the fold, it just seems like a fitting (and necessary) way to turn the page.

A few MLB names, Chad Tracey, Seth Maness, and Mike Wright.

NICE!

Look at what I found with a random image search.

It looks like CUSA has started the 20 Year Commemorative Campaign...

It looks like a good start.

For so long, CUSA's lack of tradition has been used against the Conference. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with the #CUSA20 Campaign.

20 years!

#CUSA20

Back in the day, the struggle was real:

(07-10-2015 12:08 PM)49RFootballNow Wrote:  Back in the day, the struggle was real:

Glad to have Charlotte back. They (and St. Louis) NEVER should have left in the first place.

IMO, CUSA's basketball struggles of late have been a self-inflicted wound. Having Charlotte and St. Louis to bolster Memphis after the first wave of defections would have kept our basketball reputation in tact. We had some very good teams that weren't extended a bid because we were perceived as Memphis and the rest.

I really like the basketball programs in our conference right now. It's a shame we're still fighting ghosts from the past.

The tradition we have now will serve us well. Charlotte will be back, and teams like ODU, La Tech, WKU, etc, will really help the no tradition, fledgling programs, like a Rice.

Glad 'The Trinity' (originals) USM, Charlotte, UAB, is here to lead the way.

Timeline:

memorable C-USA games involving ECU vs. conference mates...

(05-20-2015 01:54 PM)Eagleholic Wrote:  Name the great players that have played in CUSA...

Here are a few to get us started...
Football...
Deangelo Williams
Roddy White
Chris Johnson
Adalius Thomas
Michael Boley
Patrick Surtain
Matt Forte
Ahmad Bradshaw

Brandon Marshall
Assante Samuel
Kevin Smith

(07-11-2015 12:20 PM)BoKnows Wrote:  Timeline:

For anyone that doesn't realize what CUSA 1.0 was, look at that Red Arrow showing those 9 teams we lost in the first wave.

Louisville (ACC)
TCU (Big 12)
Cincinnati (AAC)
USF (AAC)
Marquette (Big East)
DePaul (Big East)
Army (Indy)
St. Louis (A10)
Charlotte (A10, now CUSA)

















Those defections made a great conference in their own right.

Okay, okay....I'm sold. You guys have finally convinced me that CUSA 1.0 --with Louisville, TCU, Houston, Cincinnati, etc...-- would have been better CUSA mates than some of you current CUSA legacy guys. But, we're stuck with you anyway. So we'll just have to make it work.

Can we quit posting about it now?

Let's be clear: Most CUSA "newbie" fans would prefer to be in a conference with Louisville and TCU instead of you too. Maybe it's the newbies who should be complaining about being stuck with the CUSA leftovers?

(07-13-2015 10:59 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  Okay, okay....I'm sold. You guys have finally convinced me that CUSA 1.0 --with Louisville, TCU, Houston, Cincinnati, etc...-- would have been better CUSA mates than some of you current CUSA legacy guys. But, we're stuck with you anyway. So we'll just have to make it work.

Can we quit posting about it now?

Let's be clear: Most CUSA "newbie" fans would prefer to be in a conference with Louisville and TCU instead of you too. Maybe it's the newbies who should be complaining about being stuck with the CUSA leftovers?

Well done.

I get that people have to vent, and I'd would've liked for USM to have moved up the ladder, too, but damn. It's water under the bridge at this point. Nobody can even so much as post a sport schedule without somebody flying off into a "This conference sucks" rant like the Grumpy Old Man from Weekend Update (the true lug nuts push returning to Independent status). Enough. We are where we are. Either deal with it or GTFO. Either way, just please shut up. It's like somebody spending 5 minutes out of every hour of single day reminding you that the sun came up.

What's especially funny to me is how all those years, people complained about playing the very same freaking teams they now fondly remember as great, stadium-packing rivals. "Fans" said the same exact crap over the past 20 years about being locked in to playing Cincinnati, Memphis, and Tulsa that they do now about playing UNT, Tech, and ODU. That just might have something to do with why we find ourselves where we are today.

Well, let me just add that I'm glad USM is here... even though you've cost us a lot over the years with your performances against TCU and Houston.

(05-20-2015 06:50 PM)eager eagle Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 06:06 PM)ecumbh1999 Wrote:  One of the funniest games I've ever watched, back and forth. It had everything, Kick off return for a TD, Pick 6, OT INT for the win.

Its really sad but the glory days of cusa are gone forever. It is nothing more than a Sunbelt bunch on steroids.

To "celebrate" our 20th season in the conference we should wear a black armband with the CUSA logo and the number 20.