I may be one of the few ODU fans who likes CUSA it seems and see no real reason to move horizontally to another conference (or backwards by going back to FCS or Independent). People are always looking for something to complain about.

(05-17-2020 01:22 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  A10 and Indy is an interesting prospect for me. Any league less prestigious than the A10 ain't happening though.

Totally agree. A good basketball league like the A10 that doesn't support FBS is probably the only way ODU would go Indy. However, we would probably try to jump ship to the AAC as soon as possible so I'm not sure the A10 would take us. But, who knows?

(05-18-2020 06:42 AM)FTW ODU Wrote:  I may be one of the few ODU fans who likes CUSA it seems and see no real reason to move horizontally to another conference (or backwards by going back to FCS or Independent). People are always looking for something to complain about.

I'd take the AAC over CUSA. There's a chance I'm not the only one here who feels that way.

If I'm being honest (I think I am, unless I'm just lying to myself), a fully actualized CUSA is better for ODU than an indy/A-10 mix. Most of CUSA's major programs either have tradition, potential, or both. Of course, it's not realistic to expect everyone to be the best versions of themselves, but there's really no reason CUSA shouldn't at least be in the at-large discussion most years and in the NY6 mix every few seasons.

Travel's a pain and with the pandemic/recession, cost-cutting measures are essential, but even so, I think travel concerns are lessened if the teams they're playing are really good. Put a number to the left of UTSA or UTEP on the score bug, and I doubt you'll find too many ODU fans complaining about the schlep out there.

Plus I kinda think the A-10 is overrated anyway. They've had good seasons in recent history, but they've fallen from 3-4 bids to 1-2 as a reasonable expectation. If the Big East takes Dayton or St. Louis, they're going to be weaker for it. And the A-10 has the same number of schools as CUSA, with even less of a reason to expand (at least you can make the case that eight-team divisions cut down on football travel).

Here's how I'd rank my preferred ODU destinations based on what's out there now (no CUSA/Sun Belt realignment; no Mythical East Coast Conference; no A-Sun FBS conference, the UFC or whatever it's called; no Great Northern Conference, no "conferences are cancelled and everyone eats what they kill" future):

1. ACC fortifies its tennis, adds ODU and Charlotte. Duh.
2. Some other P5 is all "call the cops, i don't give a h*ck" and invites ODU
3. AAC
4. CUSA
5. Indy football/A-10 all sports
6. Sun Belt
7. MAC
8. Hosting the 2020 Cough, Sneeze and Spit Triathlon
9. CAA

(05-18-2020 09:47 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  

(05-18-2020 06:42 AM)FTW ODU Wrote:  I may be one of the few ODU fans who likes CUSA it seems and see no real reason to move horizontally to another conference (or backwards by going back to FCS or Independent). People are always looking for something to complain about.

I'd take the AAC over CUSA. There's a chance I'm not the only one here who feels that way.

If I'm being honest (I think I am, unless I'm just lying to myself), a fully actualized CUSA is better for ODU than an indy/A-10 mix. Most of CUSA's major programs either have tradition, potential, or both. Of course, it's not realistic to expect everyone to be the best versions of themselves, but there's really no reason CUSA shouldn't at least be in the at-large discussion most years and in the NY6 mix every few seasons.

Travel's a pain and with the pandemic/recession, cost-cutting measures are essential, but even so, I think travel concerns are lessened if the teams they're playing are really good. Put a number to the left of UTSA or UTEP on the score bug, and I doubt you'll find too many ODU fans complaining about the schlep out there.

Plus I kinda think the A-10 is overrated anyway. They've had good seasons in recent history, but they've fallen from 3-4 bids to 1-2 as a reasonable expectation. If the Big East takes Dayton or St. Louis, they're going to be weaker for it. And the A-10 has the same number of schools as CUSA, with even less of a reason to expand (at least you can make the case that eight-team divisions cut down on football travel).

Here's how I'd rank my preferred ODU destinations based on what's out there now (no CUSA/Sun Belt realignment; no Mythical East Coast Conference; no A-Sun FBS conference, the UFC or whatever it's called; no Great Northern Conference, no "conferences are cancelled and everyone eats what they kill" future):

1. ACC fortifies its tennis, adds ODU and Charlotte. Duh.
2. Some other P5 is all "call the cops, i don't give a h*ck" and invites ODU
3. AAC
4. CUSA
5. Indy football/A-10 all sports
6. Sun Belt
7. MAC
8. Hosting the 2020 Cough, Sneeze and Spit Triathlon
9. CAA

clt would prefer option one be SEC. we can improve tennis and bring the NC & VA markets.

(05-18-2020 09:28 AM)Murray007 Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 01:22 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  A10 and Indy is an interesting prospect for me. Any league less prestigious than the A10 ain't happening though.

Totally agree. A good basketball league like the A10 that doesn't support FBS is probably the only way ODU would go Indy. However, we would probably try to jump ship to the AAC as soon as possible so I'm not sure the A10 would take us. But, who knows?

Yeah, and it's not like I hate C-USA either. I really like being in a conference with WKU, Marshall, UNC-C, UAB, and LaTech (no offense to other schools, these are just my faves), but I'd be lying if I didn't say that being in the A10 and adding some fuel back to the VCU/GMU/Richmond rivalries as well as easier fan travel is appealing.

The A10/Indy idea isn't one I think we'd see in the near future, only if the AAC was confirmed an absolute no-go and C-USA revenues declined or something like that.

(05-17-2020 02:18 AM)spenser Wrote:  Army already has their schedule figured out for a while. And UConn is unlikely to play them aswell, they are trying to get Autonomous 5 buy games to subsidize their team.

I don't what they put in that crappy chili up there but you are a fool if you think UCONN isn't begging for teams to play. They can't play all 12 games as payout games. They might as well drop it if that's the plan.

FWIW, I think CIncy is a beautiful city, but why is your chief export cuisine that nasty gazpacho y'all call chili?

(05-18-2020 07:37 PM)PAAcocahesAssociation Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 02:18 AM)spenser Wrote:  Army already has their schedule figured out for a while. And UConn is unlikely to play them aswell, they are trying to get Autonomous 5 buy games to subsidize their team.

I don't what they put in that crappy chili up there but you are a fool if you think UCONN isn't begging for teams to play. They can't play all 12 games as payout games. They might as well drop it if that's the plan.

FWIW, I think CIncy is a beautiful city, but why is your chief export cuisine that nasty gazpacho y'all call chili?

Let’s have another round!

(05-18-2020 07:37 PM)PAAcocahesAssociation Wrote:  

(05-17-2020 02:18 AM)spenser Wrote:  Army already has their schedule figured out for a while. And UConn is unlikely to play them aswell, they are trying to get Autonomous 5 buy games to subsidize their team.

I don't what they put in that crappy chili up there but you are a fool if you think UCONN isn't begging for teams to play. They can't play all 12 games as payout games. They might as well drop it if that's the plan.

FWIW, I think CIncy is a beautiful city, but why is your chief export cuisine that nasty gazpacho y'all call chili?

Its Saltsa kima and its Greek.

i get poo poo'd on our team board for saying similar thoughts about this about Charlotte, but IMO it's logical. We are reaching a point where there's enough close independent teams to easily schedule. Much of the ACC and SEC has open dates later in the season. If we can save on travel costs, and possibly get a TV deal to just get our games on in Charlotte, I think that's likely a better situation than CUSA and the 600k or so we make.

Honestly, I think there's enough basketball minded schools in a similar spot to make a mid atlantic basketball centric league work. I Imagine you could talk VCU and George Mason into it if you got Liberty and JMU involved. That would be hard for Charlotte to turn down. If you got all that, Umass would probably have to take a long hard look. Possibly Delaware. I imagine some of our hoops friends in CUSA could be swayed into that. I see similar football value in a league like that relative to CUSA (remember we only make 600k from TV), and a real chance at multiple basketball bids with less mouths to feed.

I would gladly go independent for ODU football, starting tomorrow. For all other sports, any current conference below the MWC/AAC level (I don't think the A10 is on that level) are generally equal. If Central Michigan does something crazy after the dropping of track, or if the Sun Belt offers an all-but-football offer, I would hope ODU says yes to any conference that is more regionalized.
Our school President announced his retirement yesterday effective next summer, that will play into the decisions for ODU.

(05-19-2020 11:44 AM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  I would gladly go independent for ODU football, starting tomorrow. For all other sports, any current conference below the MWC/AAC level (I don't think the A10 is on that level) are generally equal. If Central Michigan does something crazy after the dropping of track, or if the Sun Belt offers an all-but-football offer, I would hope ODU says yes to any conference that is more regionalized.
Our school President announced his retirement yesterday effective next summer, that will play into the decisions for ODU.

Sun Belt for all but football? Crazy talk. The A10 is the only acceptable non fb conference to go independent fb short of the BE or something which ain't happening and I doubt that would be acceptable to the admin. No, we're in CUSA until it blows up or the AAC comes knocking.

All this talk about moving/merging with this conference or that is just a bunch of people discussing which house in the slums they would rather live in if given their choice.

(05-19-2020 03:37 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  All this talk about moving/merging with this conference or that is just a bunch of people discussing which house in the slums they would rather live in if given their choice.

Does the roof leak? How many deadbolts on each door? These things matter.

C-USA East fan here. It's where we belong.

(05-17-2020 07:21 AM)JCMiner Wrote:  In season home and away with Liberty and UMass. That’s four games! Nmsu scheduled them and they are over 2000 miles apart.

That’s not “independent”.

More like Co-dependent...

I would hate to leave C-USA and become independent. The C-USA East Division and League Championship is really the only thing we can play for that means something. There's no banner to hang on the wall that is associated with being Independent.

I'd love to have the Championship Game come to Norfolk.