I'm glad C-USA will continue into the future and I will be pulling for C-USA to exceed expectations. From the lens of an ECU fan's perspective, C-USA was a lifeboat as the major independents and bowls started to align and consolidate. ECU went with the major players in college football back in '78 with the 1A/1AA split. The Pirates were independents from then all the way until joining C-USA in '97. The precursor to C-USA was the Liberty Bowl Alliance which included ECU, USM, Tulane, Cincy, & Memphis. It was created in '94. ECU won it both years of its existence and went to back-to-back Liberty Bowls, winning one and losing one.
As I posted on the Memphis board, despite winning the 'Alliance' both years of it's existence, ECU was left out of the 1st season of C-USA. Liberty Bowl officials weren't happy about that as ECU had just capped off a top 25 season with a win over Stanford in the '95 edition, bringing a lot of fans to the game (me included as a 16 yr old kid). In fact, even after the other 4 members of the 'Alliance' teamed up with UH & Louisville in '96, the Liberty Bowl pushed for ECU's inclusion by taking the stance that they may elect to take ECU (8-3) even over the inaugural C-USA champ UH (7-4). Ultimately, they took UH to support the new league but their vocal support for ECU was perhaps what got ECU over the hump to join the following year in '97, Louisville's objections notwithstanding. Army, TCU, UAB, & USF joined a few years thereafter.
C-USA was a good home for ECU despite frustrations at times. The Pirates finished 2nd more than a handful of times, in tantalizing and heartbreaking fashion (only actual championships were in '08 & '09, although if C-USA would have gone ahead and formed in '94 instead of the 'Alliance' ECU would have had 3 more titles from '94-96). USM usually had our number and we blew more than a couple of championships with a wtf inexplicable loss on numerous occasions. ECU held their own in football but were out of our league in basketball. Nevertheless, C-USA helped elevate ECU and many other programs. I know there are concerns about leadership (and rightfully so) but I'm glad to know that C-USA will continue to serve as a vehicle for teams that either need the league or can at least benefit from the conference moving forward.
(This post was last modified: 11-17-2021 07:34 PM by Indiana Bones.)
The original CUSA lineup was quite impressive, which really isn’t surprising knowing that Mike Slive was the first commissioner, before taking over the SEC and it cementing it’s spot as THE power conference.
(11-17-2021 07:31 PM)Indiana Bones Wrote: I'm glad C-USA will continue into the future and I will be pulling for C-USA to exceed expectations. From the lens of an ECU fan's perspective, C-USA was a lifeboat as the major independents and bowls started to align and consolidate. ECU went with the major players in college football back in '78 with the 1A/1AA split. The Pirates were independents from then all the way until joining C-USA in '97. The precursor to C-USA was the Liberty Bowl Alliance which included ECU, USM, Tulane, Cincy, & Memphis. It was created in '94. ECU won it both years of its existence and went to back-to-back Liberty Bowls, winning one and losing one.
As I posted on the Memphis board, despite winning the 'Alliance' both years of it's existence, ECU was left out of the 1st season of C-USA. Liberty Bowl officials weren't happy about that as ECU had just capped off a top 25 season with a win over Stanford in the '95 edition, bringing a lot of fans to the game (me included as a 16 yr old kid). In fact, even after the other 4 members of the 'Alliance' teamed up with UH & Louisville in '96, the Liberty Bowl pushed for ECU's inclusion by taking the stance that they may elect to take ECU (8-3) even over the inaugural C-USA champ UH (7-4). Ultimately, they took UH to support the new league but their vocal support for ECU was perhaps what got ECU over the hump to join the following year in '97, Louisville's objections notwithstanding. Army, TCU, UAB, & USF joined a few years thereafter.
C-USA was a good home for ECU despite frustrations at times. The Pirates finished 2nd more than a handful of times, in tantalizing and heartbreaking fashion (only actual championships were in '08 & '09, although if C-USA would have gone ahead and formed in '94 instead of the 'Alliance' ECU would have had 3 more titles from '94-96). USM usually had our number and we blew more than a couple of championships with a wtf inexplicable loss on numerous occasions. ECU held their own in football but were out of our league in basketball. Nevertheless, C-USA helped elevate ECU and many other programs. I know there are concerns about leadership (and rightfully so) but I'm glad to know that C-USA will continue to serve as a vehicle for teams that either need the league or can at least benefit from the conference moving forward.
Nice post, IB. ECU does have some solid history. I remember watching you beat Miami (FL) when the were ranked VERY highly. I think the game was moved due to a hurricane.
(11-17-2021 07:31 PM)Indiana Bones Wrote: I'm glad C-USA will continue into the future and I will be pulling for C-USA to exceed expectations. From the lens of an ECU fan's perspective, C-USA was a lifeboat as the major independents and bowls started to align and consolidate. ECU went with the major players in college football back in '78 with the 1A/1AA split. The Pirates were independents from then all the way until joining C-USA in '97. The precursor to C-USA was the Liberty Bowl Alliance which included ECU, USM, Tulane, Cincy, & Memphis. It was created in '94. ECU won it both years of its existence and went to back-to-back Liberty Bowls, winning one and losing one.
As I posted on the Memphis board, despite winning the 'Alliance' both years of it's existence, ECU was left out of the 1st season of C-USA. Liberty Bowl officials weren't happy about that as ECU had just capped off a top 25 season with a win over Stanford in the '95 edition, bringing a lot of fans to the game (me included as a 16 yr old kid). In fact, even after the other 4 members of the 'Alliance' teamed up with UH & Louisville in '96, the Liberty Bowl pushed for ECU's inclusion by taking the stance that they may elect to take ECU (8-3) even over the inaugural C-USA champ UH (7-4). Ultimately, they took UH to support the new league but their vocal support for ECU was perhaps what got ECU over the hump to join the following year in '97, Louisville's objections notwithstanding. Army, TCU, UAB, & USF joined a few years thereafter.
C-USA was a good home for ECU despite frustrations at times. The Pirates finished 2nd more than a handful of times, in tantalizing and heartbreaking fashion (only actual championships were in '08 & '09, although if C-USA would have gone ahead and formed in '94 instead of the 'Alliance' ECU would have had 3 more titles from '94-96). USM usually had our number and we blew more than a couple of championships with a wtf inexplicable loss on numerous occasions. ECU held their own in football but were out of our league in basketball. Nevertheless, C-USA helped elevate ECU and many other programs. I know there are concerns about leadership (and rightfully so) but I'm glad to know that C-USA will continue to serve as a vehicle for teams that either need the league or can at least benefit from the conference moving forward.
Nice post, IB. ECU does have some solid history. I remember watching you beat Miami (FL) when the were ranked VERY highly. I think the game was moved due to a hurricane.
Yes, Greenville was decimated by a hurricane but that same week, ECU defeated the #9 ranked Hurricanes in NCSU's stadium. ECU actually had beaten a top 10 Miami a few years before that 31-6 in the Orange Bowl as well. Miami hated ECU back in their heyday. ECU beat all 5 OOC P5 opponents that year, WVU, Duke, Miami, South Carolina, & NCSU. Unfortunately, a couple games after Miami was an all too common occurrence. USM crushing the #16 Pirate's dreams.
Pat Dye coached at ECU before going on and having a good run at Auburn. I was at the 1978 Independence Bowl....ECU 35 Tech 13....ugh! They were very good. The saving grace of that day was seeing John Wayne in person when he was awarded the Omar Bradley Spirit of Independence award.
CUSA continues...perhaps that's about all that can be said about it right now. But, where there is life, there is hope. It lives on!
(11-18-2021 08:17 AM)Tech80 Wrote: Pat Dye coached at ECU before going on and having a good run at Auburn. I was at the 1978 Independence Bowl....ECU 35 Tech 13....ugh! They were very good. The saving grace of that day was seeing John Wayne in person when he was awarded the Omar Bradley Spirit of Independence award.
CUSA continues...perhaps that's about all that can be said about it right now. But, where there is life, there is hope. It lives on!
(11-18-2021 08:17 AM)Tech80 Wrote: I was at the 1978 Independence Bowl....ECU 35 Tech 13....ugh! They were very good. The saving grace of that day was seeing John Wayne in person when he was awarded the Omar Bradley Spirit of Independence Award.
One of his very last public appearances. He died <6 months later, on June 11, 1979.
And of course LT’s coach Maxie Lambright didn’t live much longer himself, dying of a stroke in January 1980. I believe that Independence Bowl was his last game as HC
(This post was last modified: 11-18-2021 01:42 PM by Native Georgian.)
(11-18-2021 08:17 AM)Tech80 Wrote: Pat Dye coached at ECU before going on and having a good run at Auburn. I was at the 1978 Independence Bowl....ECU 35 Tech 13....ugh! They were very good. The saving grace of that day was seeing John Wayne in person when he was awarded the Omar Bradley Spirit of Independence award.
CUSA continues...perhaps that's about all that can be said about it right now. But, where there is life, there is hope. It lives on!
Obvious miscommunication on that play, the WR #5 Pree turned it up while the QB Barkley thought he was running an out pattern. No excuse for that since both Barkley and Pree were veterans and this was a frickin' bowl game. They played together all season!
(11-18-2021 08:17 AM)Tech80 Wrote: Pat Dye coached at ECU before going on and having a good run at Auburn. I was at the 1978 Independence Bowl....ECU 35 Tech 13....ugh! They were very good. The saving grace of that day was seeing John Wayne in person when he was awarded the Omar Bradley Spirit of Independence award.
CUSA continues...perhaps that's about all that can be said about it right now. But, where there is life, there is hope. It lives on!
Obvious miscommunication on that play, the WR #5 Pree turned it up while the QB Barkley thought he was running an out pattern. No excuse for that since both Barkley and Pree were veterans and this was a frickin' bowl game. They played together all season!
Coach Ruff shouldn't have cut it inside & just stayed up the sideline and I think he could have taken it to the house. Either that or slow down enough to get the blocks in place. He was skinny back in the day.
(11-17-2021 07:31 PM)Indiana Bones Wrote: I'm glad C-USA will continue into the future and I will be pulling for C-USA to exceed expectations. From the lens of an ECU fan's perspective, C-USA was a lifeboat as the major independents and bowls started to align and consolidate. ECU went with the major players in college football back in '78 with the 1A/1AA split. The Pirates were independents from then all the way until joining C-USA in '97. The precursor to C-USA was the Liberty Bowl Alliance which included ECU, USM, Tulane, Cincy, & Memphis. It was created in '94. ECU won it both years of its existence and went to back-to-back Liberty Bowls, winning one and losing one.
As I posted on the Memphis board, despite winning the 'Alliance' both years of it's existence, ECU was left out of the 1st season of C-USA. Liberty Bowl officials weren't happy about that as ECU had just capped off a top 25 season with a win over Stanford in the '95 edition, bringing a lot of fans to the game (me included as a 16 yr old kid). In fact, even after the other 4 members of the 'Alliance' teamed up with UH & Louisville in '96, the Liberty Bowl pushed for ECU's inclusion by taking the stance that they may elect to take ECU (8-3) even over the inaugural C-USA champ UH (7-4). Ultimately, they took UH to support the new league but their vocal support for ECU was perhaps what got ECU over the hump to join the following year in '97, Louisville's objections notwithstanding. Army, TCU, UAB, & USF joined a few years thereafter.
C-USA was a good home for ECU despite frustrations at times. The Pirates finished 2nd more than a handful of times, in tantalizing and heartbreaking fashion (only actual championships were in '08 & '09, although if C-USA would have gone ahead and formed in '94 instead of the 'Alliance' ECU would have had 3 more titles from '94-96). USM usually had our number and we blew more than a couple of championships with a wtf inexplicable loss on numerous occasions. ECU held their own in football but were out of our league in basketball. Nevertheless, C-USA helped elevate ECU and many other programs. I know there are concerns about leadership (and rightfully so) but I'm glad to know that C-USA will continue to serve as a vehicle for teams that either need the league or can at least benefit from the conference moving forward.
Nice post, IB. ECU does have some solid history. I remember watching you beat Miami (FL) when the were ranked VERY highly. I think the game was moved due to a hurricane.
David Garrard was ECU’s qb. UAB beat them later that year.
UAB and USF were founding members of CUSA, however. They conference was originally made up of a merger of the old Metro and Great Midwest conferences. They were one of the old Metro schools that helped form the conference. CUSA didn’t begin offering football until a year after it began offering the other sports because it had to wait for Houston to join in 96. USF and UAB were not in the original lineup for football in 96, but they were in the conference for other sports starting in 95.
The very original lineup in 95 when m/w basketball, baseball, Olympic sports, etc began was USM, Cincinnati, Tulane, Louisville, Memphis, UAB, USF, Charlotte, Marquette, DePaul and St. Louis (and Louisville had not hired Pitino and Memphis had not hired Calipari yet so Cincy was the only consistent basketball power in the early years). Houston listed as a founding member because it committed to joining when the conference was being formed but it was still in the Southwest Conference until the spring of 96 because of obligations it had to that conference. Also, ECU was initially a football only member and didn’t become an all sports member until 2001.
(This post was last modified: 11-20-2021 11:47 AM by usmjournalism.)
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