(10-25-2021 10:11 PM)ClaudeFunston Wrote:  I don't know where all these Tarleton State rumors are coming from.

Tarleton State is a small 14k enrollment college out in Stephenville Texas, which is 1+ hours SW of Ft Worth. They just jumped to the WAC and the FCS last year. They are nowhere near ready now, or in the near future, to be a FBS team. I can't believe they are even being mentioned. This would be a terrible thing for the 'G' conferences.

And yes, I have been to Stephenville and Tarleton.

Lamar would be a better option then them, they have a 16,000 seat stadium all ready to go.

(10-25-2021 09:54 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 09:43 PM)NM_StateFan Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 09:01 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  Eight or nine schools are plenty. With our paycheck (and transportation costs) we don't need too many mouths to feed. It also dilutes conference strength. NMSU is already going to be a HEAVY anchor in FB.

I know NM State has been historically bad in football. However I think NM State football program wouldn’t suck so bad in CUSA. We are 3-1 against UTEP in the last 4 years and they are one of the better teams in CUSA this year, and that’s with a recruiting disadvantage and not playing in a conference. NM State despite being 1-7 this year has actually been pretty competitive with all the teams it’s played this year (Not including UTEP). Actually the few times NM State has been bowl Eligible was while apart of an Eastern Based conference (Sun Belt 2002, 2017) and in 2017 NM State had bigger crowds. Proves Las Cruces wants to support winner. Although I think it’s time for our administration to pony up some of the casino money to kick start a football program.

Also, I know not popular within our fan base I think a move to CUSA would be a great move for us and CUSA. NM State would be a solid add and our basketball team deserves to be ranked consistently. Despite wins against #6 Miami, Illinois, Az State, Davidson and close calls to #2 Kansas and Auburn being in the WAC has held us back with us only sniffing #26 since the new WAC. In a new CUSA playing better teams might gives us a better ranking and better tournament seeds. In adding NM State CUSA would get one of the best basketball programs in the West and another UTEP like football team who would benefit IMO from eastern exposure.

I really hope this happens I would love to see my Aggies playing in a real FBS conference again.

P.S we all ready dont play on National TV and we have Aggie Vision.

Your AD and prez were supposed to huddle yesterday after returning from the fb game at Hawaii. Heard anything?

Oh, and yes your fb is 3-1 vs UTEP the last 4 years but they are 3-9 over the last 12. I just had to mention it.

I hope NMSU joins as it improves cusa basketball immediately and creates a true conference rival for UTEP. The fb game should come at the end of the seasom imo. It also frees up an ooc game. Good luck.

Lol touché. But NM State football would benefit being in an FBS conference with eastern ties and make extra money via CFB playoff money (that we don’t receive now) also it would be our wet dream finally playing in a conference with UTEP. Imagine how much more hype the rivalry would be. Btw where does CUSA host its MBB tournament?

(10-25-2021 10:26 PM)NM_StateFan Wrote:  Lol touché. But NM State football would benefit being in an FBS conference with eastern ties and make extra money via CFB playoff money (that we don’t receive now) also it would be our wet dream finally playing in a conference with UTEP. Imagine how much more hype the rivalry would be. Btw where does CUSA host its MBB tournament?

Uh oh. You asked what must not be asked

ETSU is worth looking at too. Ranked in football and has done well in BB too.

(10-25-2021 10:33 PM)ODU-Z8 Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:26 PM)NM_StateFan Wrote:  Lol touché. But NM State football would benefit being in an FBS conference with eastern ties and make extra money via CFB playoff money (that we don’t receive now) also it would be our wet dream finally playing in a conference with UTEP. Imagine how much more hype the rivalry would be. Btw where does CUSA host its MBB tournament?

Uh oh. You asked what must not be asked

Ooops. Regardless of where it’s at I’m sure NM State would travel well. They usually travel pretty nicely to Vegas.

WKU an Middle need to leave and go to the MAC. Be good fits in a solid conference, a real D1 conference. My God, I don't wish this new conference usa on any of our conference mates. Not even ODU. If anything the schools that deserve this new line ho are the ones that are going to the AAC and destroyed cusa, except for UAB.

I believe Missouri State would come if Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee stay.

Would Sam Houston come without Stephen F. Austin?

Abilene beat Texas-Austin last season in the NCAA Tournament. They typically play a strong schedule and habitually have 20+ wins. Plus, their football is decent. I was hard on Abilene last week, but I would much rather see Abilene over Tarleton or Stephen F. Austin, BUT I would much rather have SFA over Tarleton.

I think Jacksonville State also needs to be added. And actually, remove Illinois State instead from the map. Their basketball brand would not warrant an addition.

The league needs brands that will sell. Proximity would be nice, but this league is not going to get that and have brands that ESPN, CBS, or Fox will care about. Traveling to Florida and Georgia and every hot recruiting state in the South would be nice, but that's probably not going to happen either.

This overlapping footprint with the AAC and the Sun Belt needs to stop. That's why this conference is the most raided 1-A conference of the last 25 years. The AAC and Mountain West are always going to look here for new members because CUSA keeps adding members in their footprints or areas the Mountain West would be interested.

It would be nice and beneficial to the league as a whole to add members that have brand power and that no other 1-A conference has dared to touch. It's a mistake to continue to brush off the Dakota State schools.

The league's next media deal as with every media deal is based on what brands a league has, and are they marketable? The two Dakota State schools are the most marketable brands in the country that are not Division 1-A. I would place them over everyone in the Big Sky, the Atlantic Sun, and the WAC.

It is a mistake to continue to suggest passing over them because they are too far or "my school can't recruit there" or because the Dakotas are low-populated states. Wyoming is less populated than either Dakota, and their FBS school in Laramie (a much smaller market than Fargo) is in one of the stronger leagues among the Gang of 5 conferences.

It is frustrating that this league could add members that could produce a 2-3 bid league in both men's and women's basketball as well as competing at a higher level in football than what Conference USA currently does and just refuse to because of proximity or recruiting or State population. I really hope the remaining 5 presidents have better foresight than the fans.

(10-26-2021 12:08 AM)All4One Wrote:  I believe Missouri State would come if Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee stay.

Would Sam Houston come without Stephen F. Austin?

Abilene beat Texas-Austin last season in the NCAA Tournament. They typically play a strong schedule and habitually have 20+ wins. Plus, their football is decent. I was hard on Abilene last week, but I would much rather see Abilene over Tarleton or Stephen F. Austin, BUT I would much rather have SFA over Tarleton.

I think Jacksonville State also needs to be added. And actually, remove Illinois State instead from the map. Their basketball brand would not warrant an addition.

The league needs brands that will sell. Proximity would be nice, but this league is not going to get that and have brands that ESPN, CBS, or Fox will care about. Traveling to Florida and Georgia and every hot recruiting state in the South would be nice, but that's probably not going to happen either.

This overlapping footprint with the AAC and the Sun Belt needs to stop. That's why this conference is the most raided 1-A conference of the last 25 years. The AAC and Mountain West are always going to look here for new members because CUSA keeps adding members in their footprints or areas the Mountain West would be interested.

It would be nice and beneficial to the league as a whole to add members that have brand power and that no other 1-A conference has dared to touch. It's a mistake to continue to brush off the Dakota State schools.

The league's next media deal as with every media deal is based on what brands a league has, and are they marketable? The two Dakota State schools are the most marketable brands in the country that are not Division 1-A. I would place them over everyone in the Big Sky, the Atlantic Sun, and the WAC.

It is a mistake to continue to suggest passing over them because they are too far or "my school can't recruit there" or because the Dakotas are low-populated states. Wyoming is less populated than either Dakota, and their FBS school in Laramie (a much smaller market than Fargo) is in one of the stronger leagues among the Gang of 5 conferences.

It is frustrating that this league could add members that could produce a 2-3 bid league in both men's and women's basketball as well as competing at a higher level in football than what Conference USA currently does.

Agree. I would place NDSU, SHSU, and SDSU as the top 3 fcs must add for CUSA. Along with NMSU this will get CUSA to 9 full members for a round robin schedule to integrate. I would add more only if FIU demands a travel partner or to generate necessary inventory for media broadcasts.

(10-25-2021 10:15 PM)Utgrizfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:11 PM)ClaudeFunston Wrote:  I don't know where all these Tarleton State rumors are coming from.

Tarleton State is a small 14k enrollment college out in Stephenville Texas, which is 1+ hours SW of Ft Worth. They just jumped to the WAC and the FCS last year. They are nowhere near ready now, or in the near future, to be a FBS team. I can't believe they are even being mentioned. This would be a terrible thing for the 'G' conferences.

And yes, I have been to Stephenville and Tarleton.

Lamar would be a better option then them, they have a 16,000 seat stadium all ready to go.

Our stadium capacity at Tarleton is just over 16,000 already, and we had over 16,000 at our last game, and probably all the home games we have left will be in that range. We plan to expand our stadium to between 20-25k in the next 18 months. Tarleton has the will and the $$$ to move up and that has been the goal for awhile. Tarleton never intended to stay FCS long, just long enough to make the transition. Tarleton and SHSU are the strongest FCS candidates that would be available unless Montana and the the 2 Dakota "State" schools wanted to move up. I think both of the Dakota's want to but I do not think Montana wants to or ever will. Montana is pretty die hard about staying FCS .

(10-26-2021 12:21 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:15 PM)Utgrizfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:11 PM)ClaudeFunston Wrote:  I don't know where all these Tarleton State rumors are coming from.

Tarleton State is a small 14k enrollment college out in Stephenville Texas, which is 1+ hours SW of Ft Worth. They just jumped to the WAC and the FCS last year. They are nowhere near ready now, or in the near future, to be a FBS team. I can't believe they are even being mentioned. This would be a terrible thing for the 'G' conferences.

And yes, I have been to Stephenville and Tarleton.

Lamar would be a better option then them, they have a 16,000 seat stadium all ready to go.

Our stadium capacity at Tarleton is just over 16,000 already, and we had over 16,000 at our last game, and probably all the home games we have left will be in that range. We plan to expand our stadium to between 20-25k in the next 18 months. Tarleton has the will and the $$$ to move up and that has been the goal for awhile. Tarleton never intended to stay FCS long, just long enough to make the transition. Tarleton and SHSU are the strongest FCS candidates that would be available unless Montana and the the 2 Dakota "State" schools wanted to move up. I think both of the Dakota's want to but I do not think Montana wants to or ever will. Montana is pretty die hard about staying FCS .

That's good to know I didn't realize you already had those types of facilities in place, appreciate the info. And actually we're not against moving to FCS. Back when the WAC was trying to survive they actually invited us and we were seriously considering it. The two big factors were financially it wasn't worth it and the fact that they didn't want to bring Montana State as well, we are a dual package.

.

Here are the distances from MTSU (near the center of the CUSA's footprint) to various schools that are being discussed, "as the crow flies":

Sacramento St: 1,930 miles
U. Montana: 1610 miles
Montana St: 1451 miles
NMSU: 1,190 miles
UTEP: 1,187 miles
N. Colorado: 1043 miles
N. Dakota: 998 miles
NDSU: 933 miles
UMass: 867 miles
UConn: 863 miles
S. Dakota St.: 804 miles
Abilene Christian U: 799 miles
S. Dakota: 740 miles
FIU: 712 miles
Sam Houston St.: 637 miles
U. Delaware: 637 miles
Lamar U.: 600 miles
NC A&T: 584 miles
Northfolk St. 565 miles
Northern Iowa: 564 miles
S.F. Austin: 557 miles
McNeese St: 556 miles
Tarleton St: 520 miles
La. Tech: 425 miles
Liberty U.: 412 miles
Missouri St: 395 miles
Florida A&M: 392 miles
Illinois St.: 353 miles
Cent. Ark. St: 342 miles
Jackson St.: 328 miles
EKU: 175 miles
Kennesaw St: 161 miles
Jacksonville St.: 144 miles
U. North Ala: 103 miles
WKU: 79 miles
Austin Peay U: 73 miles


https://www.freemaptools.com/how-far-is-it-between.htm

(10-26-2021 12:53 AM)Utgrizfan Wrote:  

(10-26-2021 12:21 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:15 PM)Utgrizfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:11 PM)ClaudeFunston Wrote:  I don't know where all these Tarleton State rumors are coming from.

Tarleton State is a small 14k enrollment college out in Stephenville Texas, which is 1+ hours SW of Ft Worth. They just jumped to the WAC and the FCS last year. They are nowhere near ready now, or in the near future, to be a FBS team. I can't believe they are even being mentioned. This would be a terrible thing for the 'G' conferences.

And yes, I have been to Stephenville and Tarleton.

Lamar would be a better option then them, they have a 16,000 seat stadium all ready to go.

Our stadium capacity at Tarleton is just over 16,000 already, and we had over 16,000 at our last game, and probably all the home games we have left will be in that range. We plan to expand our stadium to between 20-25k in the next 18 months. Tarleton has the will and the $$$ to move up and that has been the goal for awhile. Tarleton never intended to stay FCS long, just long enough to make the transition. Tarleton and SHSU are the strongest FCS candidates that would be available unless Montana and the the 2 Dakota "State" schools wanted to move up. I think both of the Dakota's want to but I do not think Montana wants to or ever will. Montana is pretty die hard about staying FCS .

That's good to know I didn't realize you already had those types of facilities in place, appreciate the info. And actually we're not against moving to FCS. Back when the WAC was trying to survive they actually invited us and we were seriously considering it. The two big factors were financially it wasn't worth it and the fact that they didn't want to bring Montana State as well, we are a dual package.

https://twitter.com/TSUCasey/status/1451...32923.html

p.s. Montana St would have been more than welcome to join the WAC with you fyi! Weber and Idaho said no as well. The problem with the WAC football wise is that the Utah schools will probably not want to move to FBS and Tarleton has been the only school that has been vocal about moving the WAC to FBS.

(10-26-2021 03:04 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  p.s. Montana St would have been more than welcome to join the WAC with you fyi! Weber and Idaho said no as well. The problem with the WAC football wise is that the Utah schools will probably not want to move to FBS and Tarleton has been the only school that has been vocal about moving the WAC to FBS.

When the WAC invited us last it was still an FBS league and they only invited us. This was years ago. If the new WAC goes FBS I'd love it if both Montanas and Dakota States joined.

If the Montana's and Dakota's join the WAC, may even convince Weber and Idaho or the U of Dakotas and have 6 North and 6 South schools. The WAC would go FBS in a year or 2. Relegate Dixie and SUU to the BSC. Would love for that to happen, but it most likely will not so C-USA is our best shot of going FBS. Tarleton and NMSU have been extremely vocal about moving the WAC back to FBS but the Utah schools are highly unlikely to move up ( SUU has been extremely pessimistic) and the other Texas WAC schools ( SHSU, SFA, LAMAR, and ACU) are in the "wait and see" mode. ACU has the facilities and Money to do so, but the other Texas public WAC schools do not have the financial backing that Tarleton has to upgrade the facilities and cover expanded travel cost etc...(While Tarleton voted last year to increase athletic fees to the state max allowed (around $23 per credit hour) SHSU just voted down a lesser increase in athletic fees) that Tarleton has access to being on the Texas A&M system and having access to PUF https://www.utsystem.edu/puf (Permanent University Funds...doled out to UT and A&M and their system schools from west Texas oil money) Funds. Currently Tarleton has almost $400M in planned projects including an Aquatics center and New $75M Basketball Arena (Convocation center)

(10-26-2021 03:58 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  If the Montana's and Dakota's join the WAC, may even convince Weber and Idaho or the U of Dakotas and have 6 North and 6 South schools.

I'd be a fan of this to, however its doubtful Idaho jumping up again with the current leadership they have. Ideally for me:

WAC NORTH

Montana, MSU, NDSU, SDSU, Idaho/North Dakota, Idaho State/South Dakota

Granted though this all falls apart if yall jump to CUSA, I don't see the WAC moving to FBS at that point. From a Montana fan I'd like yall to wait on the WAC eventually moving up but it's your call.

Those of you complaining about inviting FCS schools to save CUSA...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsx2vdn7gpY

Game over, dude! We FIVE: Tech, WKU, MTSU, UTEP, FIU have very little in the way of choices and don't have the luxury of being picky.

(10-25-2021 09:45 PM)OsageJ Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 09:35 PM)Utgrizfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 09:31 PM)cleburneslim Wrote:  Wouldn't that be the point to save money with divisions so you basketball softball tennis golf etc...doesn't have to fly cross country every week.
What you collect from a small conference would soon be spent in travel costs.

One of the reasons I proposed this Conference:

WEST

UTEP, NMSU, LT, MSU, SHSU

EAST:

MTSU, FIU, WKU, EKU, Chattanooga

Outside of FIU Eastern travel would be super easy and convenient for all of the schools involved. Out west you're going to have to travel unfortunately due to a lack of schools.

Also I can understand the issue of not wanting teams in the same state to move up however in the case of EKU it's a foregone conclusion. They are joining ASUN for that very reasons as both The ASUN and WAC are looking to eventually grow to FBS. Might as well strike while the iron is hot and get a team that wants to move up.

The same issue does not apply to Chattanooga however so you can easily replace them with another FCS school or if y'all can somehow get Liberty to change their mind.

To get Liberty you are gonna have to let them pay their way in. They have tried to twice before. Its all they know.

______________________________

You sound Salty.... Still mad about the loss back in 2014 to a FCS program? Don't worry on September 28, 2024 Liberty football will be in Boone. can't wait..

(10-26-2021 12:21 AM)Spolovilo4EVER Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:15 PM)Utgrizfan Wrote:  

(10-25-2021 10:11 PM)ClaudeFunston Wrote:  I don't know where all these Tarleton State rumors are coming from.

Tarleton State is a small 14k enrollment college out in Stephenville Texas, which is 1+ hours SW of Ft Worth. They just jumped to the WAC and the FCS last year. They are nowhere near ready now, or in the near future, to be a FBS team. I can't believe they are even being mentioned. This would be a terrible thing for the 'G' conferences.

And yes, I have been to Stephenville and Tarleton.

Lamar would be a better option then them, they have a 16,000 seat stadium all ready to go.

Our stadium capacity at Tarleton is just over 16,000 already, and we had over 16,000 at our last game, and probably all the home games we have left will be in that range. We plan to expand our stadium to between 20-25k in the next 18 months. Tarleton has the will and the $$$ to move up and that has been the goal for awhile. Tarleton never intended to stay FCS long, just long enough to make the transition. Tarleton and SHSU are the strongest FCS candidates that would be available unless Montana and the the 2 Dakota "State" schools wanted to move up. I think both of the Dakota's want to but I do not think Montana wants to or ever will. Montana is pretty die hard about staying FCS .

Lol this a real life Tarleton fan in the wild? That is a real school afterall? Hahahaab

(10-25-2021 11:28 PM)goherd24herdfans Wrote:  WKU an Middle need to leave and go to the MAC. Be good fits in a solid conference, a real D1 conference. My God, I don't wish this new conference usa on any of our conference mates. Not even ODU. If anything the schools that deserve this new line ho are the ones that are going to the AAC and destroyed cusa, except for UAB.

Trust me our AD wants too, our fanbase wants too, no one wants to be in the Southland Conference. Just no one knows if its going to happen at this point. Agreed I would not wish this on my worst enemies. Complete disaster.