(05-26-2020 04:39 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  No doubt changes are on the way. It's inevitable.

Of the three G5s in the southeast we could not be in a better position. We're rolling forward while the other two are either stuck and concerned or arguably moving in the wrong direction. We're no longer that conference at the bottom. We're somewhere in the middle trending upward significantly but our footprint is GOLDEN. Golden due to the tight footprint in the southeast and the gap that separates the AAC and CUSA from Florida that we own. That is the definition of leverage. Take the top 4 G5 programs and drop them in the Sun Belt. What do you have? Outstanding exposure in your region, more money, and the number one G5 by a mile.

We shouldn't be concerned about the SBC, except maybe for TXST. Could definitely help them to be in a conference with the G5 Texas teams, but like I posted earlier, would like for them to stay in the belt. JMO.

Nothing about UAB to the belt or a C-belt merger excites the UAB fans. Our sports rival is Memphis. Our peer institutions from an academics perspective are in the AAC.

Troy and South make for good OOC games. But we can schedule those games at an athletic department level without involving any sort of scheduling agreement or realignment headache. GA state/Ga Southern have potential to be close travel games too. But again, we can schedule those between our ADs and we don't have much if any previous history.

Every scenario I've seen puts UAB as the most eastern school in a TX based conference and that is already the scenario we are in with C-USA west.

(05-26-2020 08:15 PM)Dracorex Wrote:  Nothing about UAB to the belt or a C-belt merger excites the UAB fans. Our sports rival is Memphis. Our peer institutions from an academics perspective are in the AAC.

Troy and South make for good OOC games. But we can schedule those games at an athletic department level without involving any sort of scheduling agreement or realignment headache. GA state/Ga Southern have potential to be close travel games too. But again, we can schedule those between our ADs and we don't have much if any previous history.

Every scenario I've seen puts UAB as the most eastern school in a TX based conference and that is already the scenario we are in with C-USA west.

I’d agree, but also add that you guys got left behind all the old CUSA schools when they went to the AAC. If the AAC were to get a spot open, I think you guys would be the first call for them. Problem is, if they get an opening, it’s probably because Memphis and Cincinnati left for the BIG XII.

(05-26-2020 08:22 PM)Usajags Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 08:15 PM)Dracorex Wrote:  Nothing about UAB to the belt or a C-belt merger excites the UAB fans. Our sports rival is Memphis. Our peer institutions from an academics perspective are in the AAC.

Troy and South make for good OOC games. But we can schedule those games at an athletic department level without involving any sort of scheduling agreement or realignment headache. GA state/Ga Southern have potential to be close travel games too. But again, we can schedule those between our ADs and we don't have much if any previous history.

Every scenario I've seen puts UAB as the most eastern school in a TX based conference and that is already the scenario we are in with C-USA west.

I’d agree, but also add that you guys got left behind all the old CUSA schools when they went to the AAC. If the AAC were to get a spot open, I think you guys would be the first call for them. Problem is, if they get an opening, it’s probably because Memphis and Cincinnati left for the BIG XII.

The AAC is at 11 schools for both football and basketball. They don't seem to be in a hurry to add a twelfth school. More mouths to feed with not much added income. The NCAA removed the 12 school minimum for conference championships. They pay the same to every conference for the BCS/playoff payment regardless of conference. I totally get it for them.

rumor has it, the BOT had planned on shutting down our football program before realignment happened. That our athletic department didn't return the calls originally. Don't know how true that actually is though. Basically we didn't get left behind, we were murdered and Tulane took our spot.

Had it not been for Clark’s success in the planned final year, UAB would probably be in the Big East right now.

(05-26-2020 02:57 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 01:31 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 11:08 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 09:56 AM)Oldyeller Wrote:  

(05-25-2020 06:28 PM)_x_ Wrote:  This falls into the category of someone just realigning for what's best for their school, but for TXST I think best case scenario would maybe be replacing UTA and Little Rock with UNT and Rice. We already play UTSA almost every year, let them rot in CUSA and continue to play them. USA could permanently go to the east division for every sport and we get some in-state conference mates.

I think our fanbase recently have mostly all come to a consensus that we prefer the Sun Belt over CUSA overall but just hate not having any other in-state football playing schools with us. 6-7 years ago most of our fanbase preferred CUSA. It's probably about an even split now, some prefer the better overall conference, some would prefer the conference with in-state ties. If the Sun Belt just had a couple more Texas schools it would be perfect for us.

If a major shuffle breaks out I'd give up say Marshall for a nice add in Texas say Houston assuming we would add UCF or USF. Take it to 14 and add say Tulane and both UCF and USF. That's a solid wrap on Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, North Caroline, Arkansas and Georgia at this level and we're at 14.

Houston's a proud member of the P6, and looking for a seat in The Big XII.

Why would they take your suggested "downgrade?"

No way would they. Some people just get all caught up when realignment is mentioned.

Ha pot calling the kettle. We all just having fun speculating.

If the AAC blows up what then if Houston is left behind along with UCF and USF.

The Sun Belt is an ideal landing spot. Think of it this way. with a quick shuffle to 14 with all Sun Belt teams staying put add Houston UCF and USF as well as one other say Tulane or maybe USM or Marshall. That's a wrap on Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and maybe Mississippi or Kentucky. This includes a LOT of population in a very tight footprint. With Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Mobile, That's an attractive line up and saves a TON of money. I know for a fact lil ole GS would bring more interest to Florida than more than half of the current AAC lineup. Travel for fans would be much more doable and there's no way the current AAC arrangement could do any better. Likely a significant increase in attendance for everyone. Bam! You have your new number one G5.

We would go to the Mountain West or drop football before we join that clown show.

(05-26-2020 02:57 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 01:31 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 11:08 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 09:56 AM)Oldyeller Wrote:  

(05-25-2020 06:28 PM)_x_ Wrote:  This falls into the category of someone just realigning for what's best for their school, but for TXST I think best case scenario would maybe be replacing UTA and Little Rock with UNT and Rice. We already play UTSA almost every year, let them rot in CUSA and continue to play them. USA could permanently go to the east division for every sport and we get some in-state conference mates.

I think our fanbase recently have mostly all come to a consensus that we prefer the Sun Belt over CUSA overall but just hate not having any other in-state football playing schools with us. 6-7 years ago most of our fanbase preferred CUSA. It's probably about an even split now, some prefer the better overall conference, some would prefer the conference with in-state ties. If the Sun Belt just had a couple more Texas schools it would be perfect for us.

If a major shuffle breaks out I'd give up say Marshall for a nice add in Texas say Houston assuming we would add UCF or USF. Take it to 14 and add say Tulane and both UCF and USF. That's a solid wrap on Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, North Caroline, Arkansas and Georgia at this level and we're at 14.

Houston's a proud member of the P6, and looking for a seat in The Big XII.

Why would they take your suggested "downgrade?"

No way would they. Some people just get all caught up when realignment is mentioned.

Ha pot calling the kettle. We all just having fun speculating.

If the AAC blows up what then if Houston is left behind along with UCF and USF.

The Sun Belt is an ideal landing spot. Think of it this way. with a quick shuffle to 14 with all Sun Belt teams staying put add Houston UCF and USF as well as one other say Tulane or maybe USM or Marshall. That's a wrap on Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and maybe Mississippi or Kentucky. This includes a LOT of population in a very tight footprint. With Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Mobile, That's an attractive line up and saves a TON of money. I know for a fact lil ole GS would bring more interest to Florida than more than half of the current AAC lineup. Travel for fans would be much more doable and there's no way the current AAC arrangement could do any better. Likely a significant increase in attendance for everyone. Bam! You have your new number one G5.

We would go to the Mountain West or drop football before we join that clown show.

(05-27-2020 04:24 PM)Red Dragon Coog Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 02:57 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 01:31 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 11:08 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 09:56 AM)Oldyeller Wrote:  If a major shuffle breaks out I'd give up say Marshall for a nice add in Texas say Houston assuming we would add UCF or USF. Take it to 14 and add say Tulane and both UCF and USF. That's a solid wrap on Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, North Caroline, Arkansas and Georgia at this level and we're at 14.

Houston's a proud member of the P6, and looking for a seat in The Big XII.

Why would they take your suggested "downgrade?"

No way would they. Some people just get all caught up when realignment is mentioned.

Ha pot calling the kettle. We all just having fun speculating.

If the AAC blows up what then if Houston is left behind along with UCF and USF.

The Sun Belt is an ideal landing spot. Think of it this way. with a quick shuffle to 14 with all Sun Belt teams staying put add Houston UCF and USF as well as one other say Tulane or maybe USM or Marshall. That's a wrap on Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, and maybe Mississippi or Kentucky. This includes a LOT of population in a very tight footprint. With Atlanta, Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Mobile, That's an attractive line up and saves a TON of money. I know for a fact lil ole GS would bring more interest to Florida than more than half of the current AAC lineup. Travel for fans would be much more doable and there's no way the current AAC arrangement could do any better. Likely a significant increase in attendance for everyone. Bam! You have your new number one G5.

We would go to the Mountain West or drop football before we join that clown show.

Looking forward to seeing you in the Boro in September big fella.

(05-26-2020 09:26 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Had it not been for Clark’s success in the planned final year, UAB would probably be in the Big East right now.

have you looked at the map of the current Big East? we don't fit in at all. we would have been relegated to the SOCON OVC or the belt as a non football member. None of those options put basketball or UAB in general in a better position than we were in with football. C-USA was in process of kicking us out.

What we need to do is make an actual effort to attract USM and either Marshall or UAB away from CUSA. Offer some kind of financial incentive plus maybe waiving any entrance fees. Then we send the non-football schools on their way and have 12 all-sport schools. CUSA in the meantime will crumble under it's own weight without 2 of those 3 mentioned.

In these times why would we do anything to lower the money we get. I doubt either of these school would add enough cash league wide to be a good add.

(05-29-2020 01:06 AM)Dracorex Wrote:  

(05-26-2020 09:26 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Had it not been for Clark’s success in the planned final year, UAB would probably be in the Big East right now.

have you looked at the map of the current Big East? we don't fit in at all. we would have been relegated to the SOCON OVC or the belt as a non football member. None of those options put basketball or UAB in general in a better position than we were in with football. C-USA was in process of kicking us out.

Change your name to Saint/Cardinal UAB and you'll be in

Question: Since travel costs have been brough up as the main driving force, has anyone actually considered what travel partners there might be in a new league? The partnerships set up nicely in the current SBC but may not in a new league:

FAU <-> FIU
UAB <-> Georgia State
Georgia Southern <-> Coastal
App <->UNC
South Alabama <-> Troy

Then what about Marshall, WKU, MTSU, and ODU? There seems to be no good way to break them up into pairs. Travel partnerships save dollars and if you don't have them that's just another blow to the reduced travel costs argument.

(05-29-2020 03:02 PM)EigenEagle Wrote:  Question: Since travel costs have been brough up as the main driving force, has anyone actually considered what travel partners there might be in a new league? The partnerships set up nicely in the current SBC but may not in a new league:

FAU <-> FIU
UAB <-> Georgia State
Georgia Southern <-> Coastal
App <->UNC
South Alabama <-> Troy

Then what about Marshall, WKU, MTSU, and ODU? There seems to be no good way to break them up into pairs. Travel partnerships save dollars and if you don't have them that's just another blow to the reduced travel costs argument.

WKU <-> MTSU
Marshall <-> ODU

How hard was that???