I give CUSA leadership a B- for the 2013 expansion.

As we are seeing, CUSA expanded to 14 schools for just this occasion. That was forward thinking... CUSA leadership has now been vindicated for the 14 team expansion.
For years they've been questioned for growing so large.

Unforeseen Consequences:

The decision to expand to 14 (and even elevate programs to FBS) in 2013 was largely defensive - to buffer against a future raid.
Unfortunately, 14 proved cumbersome for conference metrics and revenue, and in the process the Sunbelt gained football ground because their teams weren't beat up as much. (Also, many have pointed out, CUSA has been decent in MBB on the high end but since it supports so many teams no one notices.)

I would grade CUSA's 2013 expansion an A- BUT they failed to foresee the Sunbelt becoming a threat to poach even more teams, after the AAC takes their pick.

The "double poach" is now an existential threat to CUSA.

What could've CUSA have done different?
Simple. CUSA should have gone to 16 teams. However, that's counterintuitive and many on this board scoffed when that idea was brought up. CUSA could've staved off the Sunbelt raid if only they took 2 teams (which would've eaten more revenue but cut travel costs).

I feel bad for the teams that will be left. They invested their resources into building these teams (for a wall of defense) and now they will be left to pick up the pieces.

However, at least they will have more to work with than if they stayed at 12.

(09-14-2021 09:53 PM)TroyTBoy Wrote:  What could've CUSA have done different?
Simple. CUSA should have gone to 16 teams. However, that's counterintuitive and many on this board scoffed when that idea was brought up. CUSA could've staved off the Sunbelt raid if only they took 2 teams (which would've eaten more revenue but cut travel costs).

You're assuming any of the leftover teams in 2013 wanted to stave off teams leaving. All of us wanted nothing to do with staying in CUSA at that time. We weren't given a choice. And no one really cared who was added because we all thought the endgame would happen sooner and we'd be reshuffled. Then 3 more left in 2014 and it was already bleak at that point. Our leadership said markets and potential. That is why they get an F. 12 teams all capable of winning seasons in any given year would certainly have been the better way to go.

You don't have to write all that garbage to gloat that we're falling apart. Most of us have no sentimental attachment to this behemoth and would just as soon get it over with.