It seems like UConn would be better off, would rather, remain independent than join whatever survives CUSA(if anyone does). Is starting a FB only eastern conference a viable option?
UConn
UMass
Temple (other sports back to A10)
Liberty

could they get Navy to be a part of this? I dont think Army would be interested. What about some FCS schools? Any of them ready and or willing to step up? Delaware, URI, Stony Brook?

Nobody but Notre Dame is better as an independent.

CFP payouts, conference championships and bowl deals are all better in conferences. Even Notre Dame had to partially join a conference for scheduling and bowls.

Army is better as an Indy.

(10-30-2021 09:50 AM)bullet Wrote:  Nobody but Notre Dame is better as an independent.

CFP payouts, conference championships and bowl deals are all better in conferences. Even Notre Dame had to partially join a conference for scheduling and bowls.

And even Notre Dame saw the writing on the wall and "kind of" joined a conference with their ACC agreement.

I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

(10-30-2021 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

Much of the A-10 plays in gyms that would embarrass an Indiana HS. You've got Dayton, St. Louis, UMass and VCU who are the only ones with good attendance. Some of the others are decent, but not good.

(10-30-2021 10:57 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(10-30-2021 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

Much of the A-10 plays in gyms that would embarrass an Indiana HS. You've got Dayton, St. Louis, UMass and VCU who are the only ones with good attendance. Some of the others are decent, but not good.

Davidson typically averages about 4,000 per season, which is respectable. And I seem to recall Rhode Island can draw fairly well (but I might be wrong).

The future AAC will offer some attendance questions/concerns. I'm hoping UAB and Charlotte see an uptick by being in a new league.

I cannot say this enough. Temple is not leaving. To join UConn and umass in a football only league??? Stop the madness.

(10-30-2021 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

The Pioneer does it. Are rules different at that level? Was the BE able to do it since they already existed? Temple did well in the A10. They are now even more of the outlier in the AAC (save Navy FB) Is the value that SMU and Memphis bring worth the offerings that some of the newcomers may or may not bring at this time? Some claim the B12 isn't done yet at that Memphis has a packed suitcase by the door just in case that call comes in. Would that be a catalyst for Temple to look elsewhere?

(10-30-2021 02:34 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  

(10-30-2021 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

The Pioneer does it. Are rules different at that level? Was the BE able to do it since they already existed? Temple did well in the A10. They are now even more of the outlier in the AAC (save Navy FB) Is the value that SMU and Memphis bring worth the offerings that some of the newcomers may or may not bring at this time? Some claim the B12 isn't done yet at that Memphis has a packed suitcase by the door just in case that call comes in. Would that be a catalyst for Temple to look elsewhere?

The Pioneer and MVFC are both FCS level conferences.

I think uconn football is in as good of a spot as it can be in until 2036 when the ACC gets raided and that opens up a better spot for uconn assuming they become respectable at football. They are putting together solid schedules against regional teams and have a decent TV contract that's making them more than they would've gotten in c-usa. They also have 3 other independents in their region (2 of them being solid) that they can play regularly to help fill in the back half of their schedule when everyone is in conference play. It just makes sense for army, uconn and liberty to stay independent until the next round of realignment. I understand why umass and nmsu are desperate to join a conference asap though.

(10-30-2021 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

Yea for UConn I could see football independence because of their basketball, though I think their football will struggle long term. UMass not so much, they have a reasonably good BB team but the A-10 isn't worth THAT much.

(10-30-2021 02:34 PM)gosports1 Wrote:  

(10-30-2021 10:06 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  I agree that UConn is better off as an independent compared to C-USA, but you can’t have a football-only conference.

The best that you could do is have a scheduling arrangement between all of those schools (which is sort of what’s already happening informally).

By the way, as long as Memphis, SMU and Wichita State are in the AAC, I don’t see how it makes sense for Temple to leave. While the A-10 might be a little deeper as a basketball league now, this isn’t like a Big East-level gap. It’s not worth it for Temple in the way that it was for UConn going to the Big East. You can see it with the comments from the UMass AD about how important a football conference is to them - I don’t think that the A-10 provides nearly enough for basketball to justify football independence as of now.

The Pioneer does it. Are rules different at that level?

Yes

Quote:Was the BE able to do it since they already existed?

When the (separate) Big East Football Conference formed, you could do that. When the rules changed, the BEFC was consolidated into the Big East, as far as the NCAA was concerned. (They still had a separate TV contract, separate corporate charter, but were governed under the Big East bylaws, which had all kinds of provisions for what was a Football MAtter that only the footbal schools would vote on.

To be really specific, a bunch of FBS schools could form a corporate body that did some conference-like things--scheduling, making bowl arrangements, handing CFP negotiations, TV contracts. But they wouldn't be a Conference in the eyes of the NCAA. That matters for NCAA legislation voting (they'd be represented through their basketball conferences, whether FCS or nonfootball or whatever), and they wouldn't be able to issue invitations to FCS schools to upgrade to FBS.

If I understand it right, back in the days before CUSA, there was some sort of Independent Alliance that shared a Liberty Bowl bid--I think it was Memphis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Tulane, Southern Miss, East Carolina? Something like that.