Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
Who were the 30?
Author Message
Bookmark and Share
All4One Offline
Banned

Posts: 3,332
Joined: Aug 2021
I Root For: Genuine & Unprivileged
Location:
Post: #1
Who were the 30?
You'll recall back in early November when it was speculated that Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee would go to the MAC leaving CUSA with seven members--UTEP, La Tech, and FIU along with newly invited New Mexico State, Liberty, Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston. CUSA at the time was looking to add an 8th team and had 30 prospects according to Dodd. Now, granted it's likely some of these schools would not satisfy the 8th full member requirement required by the NCAA, but it's likely that there would be a mix of football only schools and non-football that reached out to the league.


https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...alignment/

Quote:Sources tell CBS Sports that Conference USA commissioner Judy MacLeod has received calls from up to 30 prospective members to fill that eighth spot.

An unanswered question that may have rested in the back of the minds of many a CUSA fan or college football realignment follower since this take by Dodd of CBS Sports is just which 30 schools may have contacted Conference USA.

We don't know if they all applied for membership, sent brochures about their schools, or if they were simply making a brief inquiry.

In this post, I compile a list of schools I believe may have contacted Conference USA some with more serious intentions than others.


1. UMass (football only)--sent out brochures; made it no secret that they were interested

2. UConn (football only)--likely an inquiry with no real serious consideration

3. Arkansas-Little Rock (non-football)--knew the Sun Belt was going to kick them out and many CUSA schools remember UALR

4. Texas-Arlington (non-football)--knew the Sun Belt would expel them and likely inquired given CUSA's Texas presence

5. Tarleton State--after NMSU and SHSU were invited, Tarleton made it no secret that they were interested

6. Stephen F Austin--longstanding rival to Sam Houston likely reached out to CUSA with hopes to continue that history; largely considered a frontrunner in the next expansion

7. Abilene Christian--another strong Texas presence from the WAC putting out feelers after the SHSU invitation became official

8. McNeese State--it's largely thought that the retracted invitation to the WAC may be because the school had reason to believe Conference USA could be calling them soon

9. Central Arkansas--after Jacksonville State was brought in, many ASUN schools likely saw that as a possible sign of moving to the next level

10. North Alabama--whether seriously considered or not, UNA likely saw an opportunity, and wanted to take it

11. University of the Incarnate Word--the Southland has been shaky, and there's reason to think that before UIW formally accepted the WAC invitation that they likely inquired to Conference USA

12. Eastern Kentucky--has made FBS aspirations no secret; likely the next school from Kentucky to go FBS

13. Kennesaw State--larger market school likely put out feelers knowing a Georgia presence would be a good add for CUSA

14. Florida A&M--the school almost went FBS before but times have changed and the necessity to find members to bridge gaps to FIU would likely be intriguing

15. North Carolina A&T--largely believed to be the next N.C. school to make the jump and has not shied away from intentions of wanting to go FBS

16. Missouri State--suggestions say they ultimately didn't want to join, but they were part of the equation when the league was seriously searching

17. North Dakota State--as a possible football affiliate, NDSU has their sights on the Mountain West, but it's highly likely that an inquiry to CUSA was made

18. South Dakota State--likely made an inquiry as a possible travel partner to NDSU

19. (To be continued....)
(This post was last modified: 01-28-2022 11:46 AM by All4One.)
01-28-2022 11:41 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


BeatWestern! Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,756
Joined: Feb 2018
Reputation: 306
I Root For: Central Michigan
Location:
Post: #2
RE: Who were the 30?
(01-28-2022 11:41 AM)All4One Wrote:  You'll recall back in early November when it was speculated that Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee would go to the MAC leaving CUSA with seven members--UTEP, La Tech, and FIU along with newly invited New Mexico State, Liberty, Jacksonville State, and Sam Houston. CUSA at the time was looking to add an 8th team and had 30 prospects according to Dodd. Now, granted it's likely some of these schools would not satisfy the 8th full member requirement required by the NCAA, but it's likely that there would be a mix of football only schools and non-football that reached out to the league.


https://www.cbssports.com/college-footba...alignment/

Quote:Sources tell CBS Sports that Conference USA commissioner Judy MacLeod has received calls from up to 30 prospective members to fill that eighth spot.

An unanswered question that may have rested in the back of the minds of many a CUSA fan or college football realignment follower since this take by Dodd of CBS Sports is just which 30 schools may have contacted Conference USA.

We don't know if they all applied for membership, sent brochures about their schools, or if they were simply making a brief inquiry.

In this post, I compile a list of schools I believe may have contacted Conference USA some with more serious intentions than others.


1. UMass (football only)--sent out brochures; made it no secret that they were interested

2. UConn (football only)--likely an inquiry with no real serious consideration

3. Arkansas-Little Rock (non-football)--knew the Sun Belt was going to kick them out and many CUSA schools remember UALR

4. Texas-Arlington (non-football)--knew the Sun Belt would expel them and likely inquired given CUSA's Texas presence

5. Tarleton State--after NMSU and SHSU were invited, Tarleton made it no secret that they were interested

6. Stephen F Austin--longstanding rival to Sam Houston likely reached out to CUSA with hopes to continue that history; largely considered a frontrunner in the next expansion

7. Abilene Christian--another strong Texas presence from the WAC putting out feelers after the SHSU invitation became official

8. McNeese State--it's largely thought that the retracted invitation to the WAC may be because the school had reason to believe Conference USA could be calling them soon

9. Central Arkansas--after Jacksonville State was brought in, many ASUN schools likely saw that as a possible sign of moving to the next level

10. North Alabama--whether seriously considered or not, UNA likely saw an opportunity, and wanted to take it

11. University of the Incarnate Word--the Southland has been shaky, and there's reason to think that before UIW formally accepted the WAC invitation that they likely inquired to Conference USA

12. Eastern Kentucky--has made FBS aspirations no secret; likely the next school from Kentucky to go FBS

13. Kennesaw State--larger market school likely put out feelers knowing a Georgia presence would be a good add for CUSA

14. Florida A&M--the school almost went FBS before but times have changed and the necessity to find members to bridge gaps to FIU would likely be intriguing

15. North Carolina A&T--largely believed to be the next N.C. school to make the jump and has not shied away from intentions of wanting to go FBS

16. Missouri State--suggestions say they ultimately didn't want to join, but they were part of the equation when the league was seriously searching

17. North Dakota State--as a possible football affiliate, NDSU has their sights on the Mountain West, but it's highly likely that an inquiry to CUSA was made

18. South Dakota State--likely made an inquiry as a possible travel partner to NDSU

19. (To be continued....)

I think you're trackin'! I was told by a UMass insider that had WKU and MTSU gone to the MAC that C-USA was prepared to invite UMass and UConn as football affiliates. If this were indeed the case, it means at least one other all-sports member would've been invited, too, thus giving C-USA eight full members and 10 for football.
01-28-2022 12:22 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
TOPSTRAIGHT Online
Heisman
*

Posts: 7,784
Joined: May 2013
Reputation: 451
I Root For: WKU
Location: Glasgow,KY.
Post: #3
RE: Who were the 30?
ELEVEN to go... (we're in David St. territory now) even Northern Iowa and Lincoln Memorial may be mentioned next.


All kidding aside-- I think a couple of those thirty would really be a surprise and I wish we knew who.
01-28-2022 03:13 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
eku05 Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 787
Joined: Nov 2020
Reputation: 33
I Root For: EKU & U of L
Location: Louisville
Post: #4
RE: Who were the 30?
Quote:12. Eastern Kentucky--has made FBS aspirations no secret; likely the next school from Kentucky to go FBS

I'm not saying it's for sure that Kentucky will get a next FBS team, but if they do it will be us. There is not another school in the state that has even the slightest chance of ending up there.
01-28-2022 03:38 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


THUNDERStruck73 Offline
Complete Jackass
*

Posts: 13,166
Joined: Feb 2012
Reputation: 981
I Root For: Herd, Our Lady, & Heels
Location: Huntington, WV
Post: #5
RE: Who were the 30?
Dodd reads DavidSt’s posts.
01-28-2022 05:35 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
THUNDERStruck73 Offline
Complete Jackass
*

Posts: 13,166
Joined: Feb 2012
Reputation: 981
I Root For: Herd, Our Lady, & Heels
Location: Huntington, WV
Post: #6
RE: Who were the 30?
There are only a handful of FCS schools (discounting the ones who refuse to move up) that are financially capable of doing so within the CUSA footprint. And that is a stretch
01-28-2022 05:38 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
All4One Offline
Banned

Posts: 3,332
Joined: Aug 2021
I Root For: Genuine & Unprivileged
Location:
Post: #7
RE: Who were the 30?
(01-28-2022 03:13 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  ELEVEN to go... (we're in David St. territory now) even Northern Iowa and Lincoln Memorial may be mentioned next.


All kidding aside-- I think a couple of those thirty would really be a surprise and I wish we knew who.

Nope, neither of those two.
01-28-2022 08:26 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Thegoldstandard Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 6,823
Joined: May 2009
Reputation: 370
I Root For: Southern Miss
Location:
Post: #8
RE: Who were the 30?
That list would likely include some swac schools. Jackson st for sure they have mentioned it in the past
01-28-2022 10:35 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
sstaedtler88 Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,424
Joined: Dec 2019
Reputation: 61
I Root For: Liberty, Army
Location:
Post: #9
RE: Who were the 30?
Would Delaware or Villanova have inquired? Both have the money and Delaware already gets over 14,000 fans a game average.
01-29-2022 02:22 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
All4One Offline
Banned

Posts: 3,332
Joined: Aug 2021
I Root For: Genuine & Unprivileged
Location:
Post: #10
RE: Who were the 30?
(01-29-2022 02:22 AM)sstaedtler88 Wrote:  Would Delaware or Villanova have inquired? Both have the money and Delaware already gets over 14,000 fans a game average.

I think Delaware and Stony Brook both probably very likely did when there was serious consideration to add a flank of northeast schools with the MAC barreling down on WKU and MTSU. It doesn't hurt to inquire.
01-29-2022 03:54 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


AssKickingChicken Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 2,373
Joined: Jan 2022
Reputation: 204
I Root For: Jax State
Location:
Post: #11
RE: Who were the 30?
Wouldn’t surprise me if Chicago State made a call since they are desperate for a home. They seem to have contacted several already.
01-29-2022 08:29 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
sstaedtler88 Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,424
Joined: Dec 2019
Reputation: 61
I Root For: Liberty, Army
Location:
Post: #12
RE: Who were the 30?
(01-29-2022 03:54 AM)All4One Wrote:  
(01-29-2022 02:22 AM)sstaedtler88 Wrote:  Would Delaware or Villanova have inquired? Both have the money and Delaware already gets over 14,000 fans a game average.

I think Delaware and Stony Brook both probably very likely did when there was serious consideration to add a flank of northeast schools with the MAC barreling down on WKU and MTSU. It doesn't hurt to inquire.

Delaware is still less than 5 hours from Liberty. It isn't as far out there as UConn or UMass, but it's not great geographically. I still think it will be Tarleton State, McNeese State, or EKU, because all seem to want to move to FBS.
(This post was last modified: 01-29-2022 12:29 PM by sstaedtler88.)
01-29-2022 12:27 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
owl at the moon Offline
Eastern Screech Owl
*

Posts: 15,238
Joined: Aug 2013
Reputation: 1596
I Root For: rice,smu,uh,unt
Location: 23 mbps from csnbbs
Post: #13
Who were the 30?
You’re also assuming the commissioner can actually count to 30.

This is the league that sent out the note encouraging all *12* league teams to rally on the behalf of C-USA as rumors of realignment began to swirl.

At the time CUSA had a membership of 14.
01-30-2022 07:19 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


lakesbison Offline
Moderator
*

Posts: 809
Joined: May 2012
Reputation: 16
I Root For: NDSU
Location:
Post: #14
RE: Who were the 30?
if CUSA would PUBLICLY invite NDSU there'd be enough fan/media pressure to get that done, I guarantee
01-30-2022 08:30 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
All4One Offline
Banned

Posts: 3,332
Joined: Aug 2021
I Root For: Genuine & Unprivileged
Location:
Post: #15
RE: Who were the 30?
(01-30-2022 08:30 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  if CUSA would PUBLICLY invite NDSU there'd be enough fan/media pressure to get that done, I guarantee

CUSA has reached out, but I believe North Dakota State is waiting to see what happens with the changes in the D1 constitution. The Missouri Valley could legitimately be in the same subdivision as the MAC, Mountain West, AAC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA in less than 5 years.
01-30-2022 10:12 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
whupemall Online
Special Teams
*

Posts: 872
Joined: Jan 2021
Reputation: 109
I Root For: Jax State
Location: Newton, AL
Post: #16
RE: Who were the 30?
(01-30-2022 10:12 PM)All4One Wrote:  
(01-30-2022 08:30 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  if CUSA would PUBLICLY invite NDSU there'd be enough fan/media pressure to get that done, I guarantee

CUSA has reached out, but I believe North Dakota State is waiting to see what happens with the changes in the D1 constitution. The Missouri Valley could legitimately be in the same subdivision as the MAC, Mountain West, AAC, Sun Belt, and Conference USA in less than 5 years.

Exactly. And even if that doesn't happen, in 3-5 years both JSU and SHSU will have completed the transition to FBS, and CUSA could look at another round of expansion (if they still want to do it) without worrying about "watering down" the conference too much with FCS teams.

(Lest any NDSU fans get offended, by "watering down" I don't mean you'd weaken the conference. It's just that too many transitional teams in one FBS conference is not a good thing. It's best to proceed in steps.)

For other potential candidates, like KSU, SFA, and any of the other "30" who might still be interested in CUSA, that 3-5 year window gives them time to impress conference officials and address concerns. Facilities not up to par? Upgrade. Budget laughably low? Increase it. Revenue sports ranked poorly? Find out why and fix it.

Can't do all that in 3-5 years? Then you're not ready for FBS. Nothing to be offended by... Your school may just need a more long-term plan... 8-10 years or even 10-15 years. Maybe by then, there'll be another opening in CUSA, or SBC, or some other FBS conference. Just be ready when it comes.
01-31-2022 10:21 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.