(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  ECU has played three football games against SBC opponents in the last 10 years. ECU lost every time (to App, Georgia State, and Louisiana).

Just pointing that out.

Make that four. Let's ignore the ODU games though lol

(03-23-2022 11:37 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  ECU has played three football games against SBC opponents in the last 10 years. ECU lost every time (to App, Georgia State, and Louisiana).

Just pointing that out.

Make that four. Let's ignore the ODU games though lol

Neither ODU or JMU were SBC members for those games, so I didn't count them in my stat.

But, ECU will play SBC opponents six times in the next four seasons (all against App, ODU, and Marshall).

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Why exactly are we pretending the Sun Belt has a league of full stadiums? Pretty sure we have to get used to playing in empty stadiums in any league we go to.

(03-23-2022 12:04 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Why exactly are we pretending the Sun Belt has a league of full stadiums? Pretty sure we have to get used to playing in empty stadiums in any league we go to.

Well that's kind of the SBC experiment. You place like minded regional schools around each other, to which should build familiarity over time. The leagues growth and an increase in league prominence is vital to get the overall fanfare where we all want it to be. People WILL attend games that mean more. Having good regional games with big G5 implications is the goal. Not saying it will happen overnight, but the groundwork has been laid. It's a matter of continuing to produce as a league now.

JMU, Marshall, and ODU should bring 1-3k more fans than western schools. If App schedules the western teams for homecoming and family day we should see sellouts for a minimum of four games.

(03-23-2022 11:36 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

There won't be a lifeboat for you this time. Not to the Big 12 at least. Unless 75% of that conference leaves, you're too far down in the pecking order.

A little harsh but the truth. There's at least Memphis, Boise, SMU, and USF ahead with potentially a few others like SDSU and Colorado State. If it did reach the point where the Big 12 takes ECU, it's back to looking like AAC 1.0 at best. But I personally don't see the Big 12 losing anymore teams and needing to backfill. Currently don't see a home for any B12 team to go to.

(03-23-2022 01:26 PM)space orange Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:36 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

There won't be a lifeboat for you this time. Not to the Big 12 at least. Unless 75% of that conference leaves, you're too far down in the pecking order.

A little harsh but the truth. There's at least Memphis, Boise, SMU, and USF ahead with potentially a few others like SDSU and Colorado State. If it did reach the point where the Big 12 takes ECU, it's back to looking like AAC 1.0 at best. But I personally don't see the Big 12 losing anymore teams and needing to backfill. Currently don't see a home for any B12 team to go to.

I don't disagree that by the time ECU got into the B12 it would just be C-USA 1.0/AAC 1.0 again. As for whether that happens or not really just all depends on how stable the leagues above the B12 are. I agree currently it doesn't look like there are any homes for B12 teams, but if an ACC raid happens down the road then everything changes, they probably backfill with B12 members, and the whole process rolls downhill from there. If the other power leagues remain stable then I don't really see any movement from anyone for a while.

(03-23-2022 01:02 PM)TealNation Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 12:04 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Why exactly are we pretending the Sun Belt has a league of full stadiums? Pretty sure we have to get used to playing in empty stadiums in any league we go to.

Well that's kind of the SBC experiment. You place like minded regional schools around each other, to which should build familiarity over time. The leagues growth and an increase in league prominence is vital to get the overall fanfare where we all want it to be. People WILL attend games that mean more. Having good regional games with big G5 implications is the goal. Not saying it will happen overnight, but the groundwork has been laid. It's a matter of continuing to produce as a league now.

I think the Sun Belt had a very good long term strategy, and has implemented it very well so far. I also think maybe the biggest factor that enabled you guys to pass C-USA is something that I'm guilty of championing over a decade ago on these boards, C-USA ditching ESPN and not just ditching them but napalming the bridge as they left. While everyone loves to use Judy as the punching bag for why C-USA fell apart she didn't take over until after all the damage had been done regarding ESPN, the AAC raids, and the additions. Lord Britton really skates away unscathed because he was smart enough to escape the sinking ship before that first C-USA 3.0 TV deal got finalized.

(03-22-2022 03:09 PM)eagleinatlanta Wrote:  Here's an overlay of the 3 conferences:

https://i.imgur.com/OanUktz.jpg

Seems like you could save a ton on travel costs if two super conferences were made. Eliminate cost one full set of conference admins as well. Looks like TXST would be better off attendance and travel-wise being in either the AAC or CUSA.

Probably is what should have happened but people and stuff. I do not believe this is settled. We still have to see what happens when the P5ish does when the playoffs expand. Might see programs just give up on the FBS altogether if we are shut out.

(03-23-2022 01:02 PM)TealNation Wrote:  Well that's kind of the SBC experiment. You place like minded regional schools around each other, to which should build familiarity over time. The leagues growth and an increase in league prominence is vital to get the overall fanfare where we all want it to be. People WILL attend games that mean more. Having good regional games with big G5 implications is the goal. Not saying it will happen overnight, but the groundwork has been laid. It's a matter of continuing to produce as a league now.

That's the part I'm most excited for with the SBC. You throw certain teams in the stadium, it's going to put butts in seats and eyes on TVs/tablets/phones.

It's like us putting Ohio on the schedule. I hate that "rivalry". We gain nothing if we win, our season takes a hit if we lose, but the fans love it and the folks from Athens travel well to it (same with our fans going to Athens). That was arguably one of the perks of being in the MAC.

(03-23-2022 12:04 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Why exactly are we pretending the Sun Belt has a league of full stadiums? Pretty sure we have to get used to playing in empty stadiums in any league we go to.

I’m sure there’s a new AAC vs new SBC attendance comparison somewhere… I’m assuming App, Marshall, and JMU will easily lead attendance in the East? I’m not too familiar with other SBC school attendance averages

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

(03-23-2022 06:01 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

No, but that's pretty much life in a non-power conference unless you want to be in the MAC.

(03-23-2022 06:51 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:01 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

No, but that's pretty much life in a non-power conference unless you want to be in the MAC.

The MAC, not unlike the Sun Belt, seems to be pretty happy.

(03-23-2022 06:51 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:01 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

No, but that's pretty much life in a non-power conference unless you want to be in the MAC.

No, that's pretty much life in CUSA and the AAC.

I think all CUSA 1.0 teams didn't want to be there and all of you keep inching to other conferences. Wasting millions of dollars to leave certain teams only to invite them when others leave.

MW, MAC and SBC are pretty stable and it's not because of lack of good football. They've all decided to make something of where they're at and build on what they have. The grass isn't always greener.

(03-23-2022 07:21 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:51 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:01 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

No, but that's pretty much life in a non-power conference unless you want to be in the MAC.

The MAC, not unlike the Sun Belt, seems to be pretty happy.

The MAC, not unlike the Sun Belt and the MWC, seem to be pretty happy.

I think I said it in this thread but I'll say it again. CUSA and CUSA 1.5 (2001 ECU/TCU adds) was never a cohesive conference. They never worked for the good of the conference they were all racing to the locked door on the other side with only a few with the code to unlock the door.

As far as ECU getting the last lifeboat now will be 10x more difficult. ECU just let at least 3 programs in that will jump them in line now with UTSA, FAU and UNT. All top 25 markets. And it wouldn't surpise me if Charlotte hasn't jumped Greenville NC too.

(03-24-2022 07:25 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:51 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:01 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

No, but that's pretty much life in a non-power conference unless you want to be in the MAC.

No, that's pretty much life in CUSA and the AAC.

I think all CUSA 1.0 teams didn't want to be there and all of you keep inching to other conferences. Wasting millions of dollars to leave certain teams only to invite them when others leave.

MW, MAC and SBC are pretty stable and it's not because of lack of good football. They've all decided to make something of where they're at and build on what they have. The grass isn't always greener.

Ummm how many MWC teams have left that league since the year 00? How about Sun Belt teams. The MAC is the only non power conference that has the vast majority of the teams it had at the turn of the century.

(03-23-2022 02:00 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 01:02 PM)TealNation Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 12:04 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:16 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 10:12 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  You likely don't mind traveling if the conference opponent is Cincy or Houston, but now it's FAU and North Texas...

Maybe they enjoy playing in empty stadiums. They are back in CUSA again. It's like divorcing Betsy and marrying Suzie. Then Suzie leaves so they ask Betsy to move back in but only under the condition that they can call her Suzie.

Why exactly are we pretending the Sun Belt has a league of full stadiums? Pretty sure we have to get used to playing in empty stadiums in any league we go to.

Well that's kind of the SBC experiment. You place like minded regional schools around each other, to which should build familiarity over time. The leagues growth and an increase in league prominence is vital to get the overall fanfare where we all want it to be. People WILL attend games that mean more. Having good regional games with big G5 implications is the goal. Not saying it will happen overnight, but the groundwork has been laid. It's a matter of continuing to produce as a league now.

I think the Sun Belt had a very good long term strategy, and has implemented it very well so far. I also think maybe the biggest factor that enabled you guys to pass C-USA is something that I'm guilty of championing over a decade ago on these boards, C-USA ditching ESPN and not just ditching them but napalming the bridge as they left. While everyone loves to use Judy as the punching bag for why C-USA fell apart she didn't take over until after all the damage had been done regarding ESPN, the AAC raids, and the additions. Lord Britton really skates away unscathed because he was smart enough to escape the sinking ship before that first C-USA 3.0 TV deal got finalized.

The oddity is that the people who burned that bridge are all largely in the AAC now, where they have an ESPN Contract.

(03-24-2022 11:39 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-24-2022 07:25 AM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:51 PM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 06:01 PM)Porcine Wrote:  

(03-23-2022 11:29 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  Of course we are "back in C-USA again." Heck we honestly never left it in the first place. Joining the AAC just got us essentially back into C-USA 1.0 and now the AAC is making its always inevitable shift into looking like C-USA 2.0, and then eventually the B12 will morph into the new C-USA 1.0 and we'll hope to catch the lifeboat onto that and not get stuck when the AAC looks like C-USA 3.0.

Do y'all like doing that?

No, but that's pretty much life in a non-power conference unless you want to be in the MAC.

No, that's pretty much life in CUSA and the AAC.

I think all CUSA 1.0 teams didn't want to be there and all of you keep inching to other conferences. Wasting millions of dollars to leave certain teams only to invite them when others leave.

MW, MAC and SBC are pretty stable and it's not because of lack of good football. They've all decided to make something of where they're at and build on what they have. The grass isn't always greener.

Ummm how many MWC teams have left that league since the year 00? How about Sun Belt teams. The MAC is the only non power conference that has the vast majority of the teams it had at the turn of the century.

Since 2000 these schools have left (only full members listed)...

MWC
TCU
BYU
Utah

MAC
Marshall
UCF

SBC
FIU
FAU
MTSU
WKU
UNT

AAC
Louisville
Rutgers
UCONN
Cincinnati
Houston
UCF

CUSA
Cincinnati
Louisville
USF
Charlotte
SoMiss
UAB
Memphis
Tulane
Houston
ECU
Army
TCU
UCF
SMU
Tulsa
Marshall
Rice
FAU
UNT
UTSA
ODU

Looks like the least satisfied schools come from CUSA and AAC which has only been around for 11 years.