(06-01-2020 09:54 AM)Florida RedWolf Wrote: I haven't seen an article from a USA school desiring a merger of any sort. Wish you could link me. On the other hand, SBC fans seem very high on the idea. I can believe the bored comment, think we all are but also think its time for a good dose of realism to be expressed. The only articles I have seen is from smaller town newspaper looking for discussion.
Took the time to find all of the links. There are some others I can't find at the moment where ODU's Wood Selig was interviewed.
So here you go:
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THIS article from 2020, CUSA's financial burdens during COVID-19 are discussed with various CUSA admin.
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THIS article from 2017, an un-named CUSA AD says "Conference USA's current financial model is unsustainable", with the article mentioning CUSA has to change. MTSU AD Chris Massaro also said "It's inevitable that there's going to be some kind of consolidation among the Group of Five," he said. "I don't think we're there yet, but eventually we will be." ODU's president John Broderick, in that same article, said he isn't necessarily in favor of a merger, but agrees it needs to be considered. He said "Anything that would help our student-athletes and is more responsive to budgetary concerns deserves a look."
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THIS article from 2020, is from a roundtable of a consulting firm specialist/former AD about the CUSA model and how it can't last in its current form.
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THIS article, from 2020, is a very interesting one from the James Madison AD, talking about how COVID-19 is stretching money thin and that he's heard through the "grapevine" that there is discussion about what will happen among certain conferences in regards to their future. It also mentions that ODU had an independent study commissioned, which led to them shutting down some of their sports programs. The same study also "concluded that ODU must make a decision on conference membership to reduce travel expenses, cut down missed class time and generate more fan interest." East Carolina's AD also says "I think the TV networks obviously would want to hold the conference alignment as they are for football and men’s and women’s basketball. But I think it is time to discuss that every other sport go to a regional-type format where we are playing schools that are close to us. Our athletes could play a lot of schools on a road trip that takes place maybe even in the same day, and I think those are discussions we should start having in earnest.”
And these articles are just opinion pieces that are originating from CUSA beat writers, and not from SBC sites as you mentioned:
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It's past time for radical change in Conference USA
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CUSA, Sun Belt Realignment needed for benefit of membership
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Conference USA is no longer a good fit for ODU
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C-USA should dissolve or get creative to survive
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CUSA, Sun Belt merger can't come fast enough
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Realignment is inevitable for Conference USA
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Conference USA & Sun Belt could combine in pandemic recovery