(09-11-2021 01:23 AM)JSchmack Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 11:09 PM)Steve1981 Wrote:  No, the MAC got to decide. The media contract went up from 1.3M to 8M and then 10M, plus CFP came about adding even more money. The MAC universities decided there was no sense in adding a 14th member and keeping UMass and diluting the money to each university. But legally the MAC had to invite UMass all in. So the MAC vetted JMU and UMass declined the all sports invite. It was very predictable and the MAC was happy, without us. Mind you the football program went from elite FCS to mediocre at best with the promotion of Morris as head coach and then we went FBS. It has been one miss step after another. Walt Bell knew the situation but was up for the challenge and wanted to become a head coach. His first year we hit rock bottom and had 52 healthy scholarship players. The APR hit the toilet under Whipple and there was house cleaning of scholarship players that did not toe the mark academically. We are all hoping for improvement but are extremely young and open with two top 40 teams and have 2 more during the season. Our quarterback is banged up from the OL not preforming well. Post on the MAC board because do like the MAC and one of the minority that wished we went all in to the MAC. Think more will find CUSA acceptable for football and posting in this thread.

I'm an A-10 guy, and I love you (you meaning Doctor J, Marcus Camby, John Calipari getting his butt kicked in a press conference by John Cheney, struggling to win in Olean, UMass hoops-centric athletic department).

I read what you wrote, and I can't tell if you're correcting me on a UMass decision or telling me how the MAC went. You know, from A-10 boards that I love whiskey and reading comprehension with my A-10 degree is tough...

UMasss belongs in the A-10, focusing on basketball first, hockey second and football third. If you upgrade your status in the FBS universe, we wish you well. If no one wants you in football, the A-10 is there when you recognize who you really are.

While the hoop folks are very vocal, the casual fan measured by attendance says the opposite. Casual fans love a winner. Did not total total attendance for hockey, but for 6 games and a non performing team, total attendance was much higher for football than basketball with 16 home games.

(09-10-2021 01:09 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  How would this play out?

ODU, FIU to AAC
Marshall, FAU to the SBC
Charlotte A10/Indy

Then CUSA could return to 10 with NMSU.

Interesting idea for all involved. Marshall could get in the SBC to play App St and GS in a more compact division.

NMSU to CUSA makes sense, especially since UTEP a main rival is in that conference.

(09-10-2021 03:35 PM)JSchmack Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 02:50 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  The remaining 4 non-power conferences could work together to dismantle CUSA - not that they would or should - and end up with 4 14-school conferences.

MWC + UTEP, UTSA
AAC + Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion, Rice, Southern Miss, UAB
SBC + Charlotte, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, North Texas
MAC + Middle Tennessee St, Western Kentucky

MWC
Mountain: Air Force, Colorado St, New Mexico, Utah St, UTEP, UTSA, Wyoming
West: Boise St, Fresno St, Hawaii*, Nevada, San Diego St, San Jose St, UNLV
* Football-only

AAC
East: East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Florida, Temple, UAB
West: Memphis, Navy*, Rice, SMU, Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa
* Football-only
^ Non-football: Wichita St

SBC
East: Appalachian St, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia St, Troy
West: Arkansas St, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, South Alabama, Texas St, UL Lafayette, UL Monroe
^ Non-football: Arkansas - Little Rock, Texas - Arlington

MAC
East: Akron, Bowling Green St, Buffalo, Kent St, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo
West: Ball St, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Middle Tennessee St, Northern Illinois, Western Kentucky, Western Michigan

But why? The tendency in conference realignment talk is to open excel and make nice neat columns. That's just your brain craving symmetrical order out of the chaos you're reading about every day.


This is about DOLLARS, not the MAP. There's no reason for the MWC to invite UTEP and UTSA when UTEP is 23-70 in football the last eight years. How does THAT make the MWC better?

How is MTSU and WKU getting more TV dollars going from a mediocre/bad league that has teams in Miami, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio to a mediocre/bad league that has teams in Ohio, Michigan, Muncie and DeKalb?

Why would the AAC pick THOSE four schools? Southern Miss doesn't win enough to overcome that they're in Hattiesburg (La Tech does a far better job of winning more than their market). Does FAU win enough to bring viewers even though they are in a great market? (North Texas wins a lot more in Dallas, and UTSA wins more and has far less competition in San Antonio).


This isn't a kindergarden class where everyone divides up evenly into group and each member of each group gets a cupcake from one of four boxes. This is ruthless Darwinist Capitalism where the one holding the best box of cupcakes makes the other kids fight each other to try and get one, and no one wants to join the group with sugar free veggie biscuits.

FAU has won 2 of the last 4 Conference USA championships. Utsa and north Texas have none.

Sent from my Pixel 3 using Tapatalk

Concerning UMass, if CUSA offered, say 100% for football only and 30% for all sports, so unlikely for all sports but possible. Depends on the push back from the basketball folks as it is a one bid conference. There are teams that we are familiar with. If ODU leaves, will take it down to 2%

(09-10-2021 12:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

True.

But the key word there is “could”.

(09-12-2021 08:19 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Concerning UMass, if CUSA offered, say 100% for football only and 30% for all sports, so unlikely for all sports but possible. Depends on the push back from the basketball folks as it is a one bid conference. There are teams that we are familiar with. If ODU leaves, will take it down to 20%.

I watched the Pitt UMass game last week and I though UMass looked improved but was doomed by a bad OL and young receivers. Looks like you guys played much better this week against Boston College. Bell appears to have the Minutemen on the right path.

UMass has improved their facilities, state flagship and a piece of the Boston DMA. UMass has potential to be a good add

(09-10-2021 01:16 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  ESPN hard at work.

It's an interesting strategy and makes me wonder if the MAC is involved, too, since it's also an "ESPN" conference. The only C-USA schools that would likely interest the MAC are Marshall, ODU, WKU and MTSU.

Marshall isn't interested the the MAC. Been there, done that, played in empty stadiums. NO FN THANKS !!!!!!

The only school some and I do say some even care to play is Ohio. And for the most part those are old school Marshall fans.

(09-10-2021 02:56 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Running with the rumor a little here...

In CUSA you have MT, WKU, Marshall, ODU, Charlotte all in the East division which overlaps with the SBC (App, Coastal, GS/GSU) and AAC (ECU).

AAC goes with 4 (WKU, UAB, ODU, Charlotte) and the SBC takes in the other 2 (Marshall, MT). This effectively destroys any chance at an eastern upshot league and reduces CUSA to a more Southwest conference + FAU/FIU.

I don't think its completely the best idea for the AAC (they should try the western expansion path first) but it would rebuild geography for the conference.

Just like you aren't going to split up the F_Us. I don't think you will be able to split up WKU/MTSU. They both might be red headed step children but they are both basically going in the same place. At one time Cincy and Louisville was like that until someone asked Louisville to the prom.

(09-10-2021 03:01 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  These are some of the most farcical post in memory. Glad you guys know the future. Any stock tips?

(09-12-2021 10:39 AM)No Bull Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:19 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Concerning UMass, if CUSA offered, say 100% for football only and 30% for all sports, so unlikely for all sports but possible. Depends on the push back from the basketball folks as it is a one bid conference. There are teams that we are familiar with. If ODU leaves, will take it down to 2%.

I watched the Pitt UMass game last week and I though UMass looked improved but was doomed by a bad OL and young receivers. Looks like you guys played much better this week against Boston College. Bell appears to have the Minutemen on the right path.

UMass has improved their facilities, state flagship and a piece of the Boston DMA. UMass has potential to be a good add

Change the chances on UMass all sports to 2% if ODU leaves and think there is a better than 50% chance that will happen.

No Bull thanks on the kind comments and UMass has spent around 50M on upgrades, probably half what will be considered solid, but not bad. The stadium is the last piece and small improvements as the scoreboard, new bathrooms, and Commonwealth Club in the south end zone. Some other minor improvements schedule, but expanding the stadium will take time.

(09-11-2021 01:23 AM)JSchmack Wrote:  ... I read what you wrote, and I can't tell if you're correcting me on a UMass decision or telling me how the MAC went. You know, from A-10 boards that I love whiskey and reading comprehension with my A-10 degree is tough...

UMasss belongs in the A-10, focusing on basketball first, hockey second and football third. If you upgrade your status in the FBS universe, we wish you well. If no one wants you in football, the A-10 is there when you recognize who you really are.

The deal was an two sided option. Once the contractually set time elapsed after one of the two leaving, the MAC had the option to let the deal continue with the other one or to issue the ultimatum. If they issued the ultimatum, THEN the affiiate had the option to either join as full members or leave.

If Temple had stayed and UMass had left (for whateve reason), same would have applied to Temple.

The MAC reputedly had JMU lined up in case UMass joined -- which was not the expected choice, but they weren't going to be caught flat footed. However, the FB-affiliate system they signed UMass up to was built for a pair of A10 schools giving a total of 4H/4A OOC MBB games annually ... and due to the departure of Temple, it never came to pass. Since the departure of Temple ... which is to say, UMass's entire time in the conference ... they were counting down the time until they could issue the ultimatum.

(09-10-2021 01:16 PM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  ESPN hard at work.

It's an interesting strategy and makes me wonder if the MAC is involved, too, since it's also an "ESPN" conference. The only C-USA schools that would likely interest the MAC are Marshall, ODU, WKU and MTSU. ...

Why would the MAC be foolish enough to invite Mashall?

I'd think ODU's interest would be between diddly and squat, but if ODU was interested, say due to CUSA East being raided and the balance of gravity moving even further west ... that would be with JMU if with anyone.

(09-13-2021 09:19 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  Why would the MAC be foolish enough to invite Mashall?

If they had interest (and I doubt they do), why would this be foolish?

(09-13-2021 09:48 AM)Schadenfreude Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 09:19 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  Why would the MAC be foolish enough to invite Mashall?

If they had interest (and I doubt they do), why would this be foolish?

What would be the benefit to the MAC? The fruitful Huntington recruiting grounds? Perhaps the years trying to sort out a 14th for Mashall, only to have to find a 14th for that school when Marhsall moves on again, which they will as fast as they can manage it.

(09-10-2021 12:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

Which region?

(09-12-2021 10:39 AM)No Bull Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:19 AM)Steve1981 Wrote:  Concerning UMass, if CUSA offered, say 100% for football only and 30% for all sports, so unlikely for all sports but possible. Depends on the push back from the basketball folks as it is a one bid conference. There are teams that we are familiar with. If ODU leaves, will take it down to 20%.

I watched the Pitt UMass game last week and I though UMass looked improved but was doomed by a bad OL and young receivers. Looks like you guys played much better this week against Boston College. Bell appears to have the Minutemen on the right path.

UMass has improved their facilities, state flagship and a piece of the Boston DMA. UMass has potential to be a good add

The game against BC was one of the most exciting ones we've had in a while. A team getting votes in the poll, from the ACC, coming to campus. Already a good get.

Then we stay competitive for most of the game, score 4 TDs on offense while starting (and playing for the whole game) a true freshmen...first time in a while we're actually excited to see what next week's game will look like.

FYI, the game could have been even closer: BC put up a goal line stand against UMass in the first half, there was a fumble on a punt return that BC ran in for a TD (though UMass got gifted a TD on a muffed punt as well), and BC ran a kickoff back for a TD toward the end of the game.


Now we need to just convert that into actual wins.

(09-13-2021 10:26 AM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

Which region?

Best case scenario for CUSA

AAC takes UAB and Rice

MWC takes UTEP and UNT

Sunbelt takes USM and UTSA

That leaves 8 members in CUSA, La Tech with the 7 CUSA East. The formation of an Eastern Centric league would be possible as La Tech is cool with being an outlier and does not want to be in the Sunbelt. Those 8 could add JMU and 1 other school and then have UConn and UMass affiliate if they would like as well.

(09-10-2021 06:51 PM)JSchmack Wrote:  There's zero point in paying "fair market value" to the C-USA because the brands don't bring viewers, the stakes bring the viewers. 1 vs 2 in Sun Belt cost you Atlanta, Mobile, Dothan, Boone prices; while 1 vs 2 in C-USA costs you Houston, Dallas, Miami prices.

A minor quibble, and it really doesn't change your point at all, but troy's market is not Dothan at all. It'd be Montgomery.

The trojans are only carried on a single AM radio station in Dothan, and that's just for football, not basketball.

That said, I think the only Sun Belt team who might leave the conference at this point would be Georgia State. Atlanta is the only major market represented in the Sun Belt at this time. The Panthers would jump at the chance to be among larger market peers in a different conference.

The other member schools are, for the most part, very happy in the Sun Belt, and even more happy with the Sun Belt's leadership and vision in recent years, especially when compared to some other G5 conferences. And despite their success on the gridiron and court, most Sun Belt schools don't exactly have markets or names which would bring any kind of prestige to a higher tier conference. I think those schools are where they need to be.

(09-12-2021 11:08 AM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 02:56 PM)Kit-Cat Wrote:  Running with the rumor a little here...

In CUSA you have MT, WKU, Marshall, ODU, Charlotte all in the East division which overlaps with the SBC (App, Coastal, GS/GSU) and AAC (ECU).

AAC goes with 4 (WKU, UAB, ODU, Charlotte) and the SBC takes in the other 2 (Marshall, MT). This effectively destroys any chance at an eastern upshot league and reduces CUSA to a more Southwest conference + FAU/FIU.

I don't think its completely the best idea for the AAC (they should try the western expansion path first) but it would rebuild geography for the conference.

Just like you aren't going to split up the F_Us. I don't think you will be able to split up WKU/MTSU. They both might be red headed step children but they are both basically going in the same place. At one time Cincy and Louisville was like that until someone asked Louisville to the prom.

There was a time I would have agree with this 100%, but MTSU is in a real rut and if we are tossed a life boat I think we will take it, no strings attached. MTSU needs a new AD yesterday.

(09-13-2021 10:26 AM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

Which region?

North America.

(09-13-2021 11:29 AM)Todor Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 10:26 AM)DFW HOYA Wrote:  

(09-10-2021 12:48 PM)solohawks Wrote:  A healthy pruning of CUSA could leave the product leaner, meaner, and with a stronger regional identity.

Which region?

North America.

By some definitions, this stretches all the way down to the isthmus in Panama. Get the University of Panama involved and invite them to compete as "The Panama Canals" - they have >50,000 students.