(11-29-2023 12:07 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  Just bring in UMass and then sit tight for the foreseeable future.

That is the best move we can make I think. For all their struggles, they are already FBS. NMSU showed that a conference home and a decent coach can quickly change your prospects. UMass basketball is on a dry spell, but still well supported and would be an asset to the conference. As much as I don't care for "media marketz", UMass does get a bit of attention in the New England region. UMass + Delaware should give us solid (albeit small) amount of coverage in the northeast where we currently have none.

If UMass balks then I hope it is Missouri State. They have potential in football. Solid facilities, solid basketball, great baseball, good geography, and would be the 2nd FBS program in Missouri with a good "name" recognition to boot.

(11-29-2023 11:40 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 11:05 AM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  Football is a requirement for membership. They passed that years ago which forced out Charlotte and St. Louis. Charlotte rejoined when they launched football.

I agree on no football affiliates. I know Dallas is strong in baseball but I would just rather not have them on principle but they do balance UTEP.

Thanks! Not at all privy to CUSA history, but remember UAB cutting football and the issues surrounding their membership in CUSA. Didn’t know if there was something requiring full membership for fb playing schools. I also side with yourself and armymike in that full membership, at least for FB and M/WBB member schools, should be highly preferred.

Cons outweigh the pros of NDSU membership. Even if they’re super competitive, and have beat writers begging for entrance into our league.

Curious as to what the cons are of adding NDSU as a football only?

(11-29-2023 12:21 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 12:07 PM)Blue Raider Dave Wrote:  Just bring in UMass and then sit tight for the foreseeable future.

That is the best move we can make I think. For all their struggles, they are already FBS. NMSU showed that a conference home and a decent coach can quickly change your prospects. UMass basketball is on a dry spell, but still well supported and would be an asset to the conference. As much as I don't care for "media marketz", UMass does get a bit of attention in the New England region. UMass + Delaware should give us solid (albeit small) amount of coverage in the northeast where we currently have none.

If UMass balks then I hope it is Missouri State. They have potential in football. Solid facilities, solid basketball, great baseball, good geography, and would be the 2nd FBS program in Missouri with a good "name" recognition to boot.

Ditto!!!

A lot of "off the wall" names mentioned here. There are several threads right here on this sub forum that show how VERY unlikely some are compared to others.

Just look at the numbers, analytics, and $$$. Geography is way down the list. In fact Geography has "left the building".

Won't waste my time telling why Campbell and others have no chance.

Research, public comments by officials, statistics-tons, Reputable media stories, etc..

Articles in The Athletic, ESPN, newspapers, Chris Vannini, Matt Brown and more.

A recent strong trend by CUSA (see Delaware and KSU) to focus on schools with Large athletic budgets, large enrollments and near large media markets.

Posters new to this forum should go back and read some earlier posts IMO.

Taking ALL this into account we come back to a familiar list.

Leaders>>> UMASS and Missouri State

Next>>>>> EKU, SFA, Tarleton

Darkhorse>> NDSU/SDSU--FB only

LOOK>> JMHO.

(11-29-2023 12:59 PM)NDSUguy Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 11:40 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 11:05 AM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  Football is a requirement for membership. They passed that years ago which forced out Charlotte and St. Louis. Charlotte rejoined when they launched football.

I agree on no football affiliates. I know Dallas is strong in baseball but I would just rather not have them on principle but they do balance UTEP.

Thanks! Not at all privy to CUSA history, but remember UAB cutting football and the issues surrounding their membership in CUSA. Didn’t know if there was something requiring full membership for fb playing schools. I also side with yourself and armymike in that full membership, at least for FB and M/WBB member schools, should be highly preferred.

Cons outweigh the pros of NDSU membership. Even if they’re super competitive, and have beat writers begging for entrance into our league.

Curious as to what the cons are of adding NDSU as a football only?

The cons for NDSU football only are: poor geography (but airplanes exist so meh), and partial members don't count towards conference membership if the crap ever hits the fan again.

Performance wise you guys would be a home run. I just don't see it being a great fit unless its all sports, and to make all sports work we would need a regional block/cluster and need to be willing to go to 16. Not sure either side is really ready for that. With the fate of the PAC2/MWC not set in stone it probably makes more sense for NDSU to wait for now and see what happens on that front. It is going to cost 5 mil either way now, so no real immediate pressure to rush things.

(11-29-2023 12:59 PM)NDSUguy Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 11:40 AM)EatEmUp11 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 11:05 AM)AssKickingChicken Wrote:  Football is a requirement for membership. They passed that years ago which forced out Charlotte and St. Louis. Charlotte rejoined when they launched football.

I agree on no football affiliates. I know Dallas is strong in baseball but I would just rather not have them on principle but they do balance UTEP.

Thanks! Not at all privy to CUSA history, but remember UAB cutting football and the issues surrounding their membership in CUSA. Didn’t know if there was something requiring full membership for fb playing schools. I also side with yourself and armymike in that full membership, at least for FB and M/WBB member schools, should be highly preferred.

Cons outweigh the pros of NDSU membership. Even if they’re super competitive, and have beat writers begging for entrance into our league.

Curious as to what the cons are of adding NDSU as a football only?

Poor geographic fit, awful travel in CUSA already obviously no need to make it worse.

Tiny state, no major population center nearby. No good recruiting grounds. CUSA has record of preferring these locations.

NDSU’s media deal is better than CUSA’s, would they give that up?

Awkwardness of 11 full members. Who, if anyone, comes in for MBB?

Providing NDSU with short term launch pad without long-term benefit for conference, potentially?

The only possible way NDSU makes sense (whether all sports or football only) would be if CUSA moves to 16 and SDSU and the Montanas come along for the ride.

I don't see us ever moving to 16 teams, and if we do, I hope to God it's because CBS or someone has made us an offer we can't refuse. I'm talking crazy millions here.

If THAT happens, then I'd be open to a 16-team football conference and 12-team OLY sports conference.

Either way, I'd want the groupings to be individualized for each school. No strict geographical divisions. It's too confining when/if we need to replace teams. For example, let's say we magically found a formula which created four 4-team pods, each with a wonderfully tight regional footprint. Then the SEC comes calling for New Mexico State. (We all know it's just a matter of time.)

Suddenly, we'd then have to look way over in the far west for a replacement to try to maintain such perfection, even if EKU is still sitting there all tanned, rested, and ready in the east, waiting to get the call.

No. Throw out the antiquated regional division model and let each team have its own individualized pod. It's not a perfect system, but the pod that works best for Jax State is not necessarily the pod that works best for MTSU, even though these two teams are only 3 hours apart.

Anyway, I digress. Back to reality... NDSU and the other far north MVFC teams would all be amazing additions, but there's just too much going against them in CUSA. They are a much better fit for the MVC when the time comes for that conference to backfill. And that time could be very, very soon if the 2PAC gets its way.

NDSU/SDSU as FB-only are a Long shot because of>>>No media, No recruiting grounds, not large enough enrollment or budget<<<<<compared to current possibilities UMASS and Mo St..

Missouri State Presidential search is down to four candidates. Supposedly "some" of those are very sports-minded. Exactly WHO the Bears choose will be critical. You would expect most boards to choose someone who reflects their goals.

If January passes and the rumor of a Tarleton add has Not happened... Then Missouri State (if they have a pro-FBS president) may become the top prospect.

(12-01-2023 01:36 PM)unalions Wrote:  From Matt Brown’s newsletter today:

So what’s next?

With the addition of Delaware, Conference USA now has 11 football-playing institutions. Rawak told me that the league does intend to eventually get to 12, but “probably not significantly more than that.” While she agreed that it would be nice to have a travel partner (the closest full-member right now, Liberty, is about 280 miles away), she was mum about confirming any potential candidates or timelines.

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/heres-de...comes-next

Intersting statement here. Is going to 14 on the table?

(12-01-2023 04:59 PM)unalions Wrote:  

(12-01-2023 01:36 PM)unalions Wrote:  From Matt Brown’s newsletter today:

So what’s next?

With the addition of Delaware, Conference USA now has 11 football-playing institutions. Rawak told me that the league does intend to eventually get to 12, but “probably not significantly more than that.” While she agreed that it would be nice to have a travel partner (the closest full-member right now, Liberty, is about 280 miles away), she was mum about confirming any potential candidates or timelines.

https://www.extrapointsmb.com/p/heres-de...comes-next

Intersting statement here. Is going to 14 on the table?

That is interesting and I read over that. That definitely suggests 14.

IMHO the ONLY way CUSA considers 14 is IF they are able to add Both UMASS And Missouri St.--which seems unlikely.

(12-01-2023 08:17 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  IMHO the ONLY way CUSA considers 14 is IF they are able to add Both UMASS And Missouri St.--which seems unlikely.

Maybe it’ll all come back around to what I said was gonna happen back on the first post of page one…..

UMass…………Kennesaw St.
Delaware……Jax St.
Liberty……….Missouri St.
FIU…………….La. Tech
WKU…….…..Sam Houston St.
EKU…………..UTEP
MTSU………..New Mexico St.

And, there won’t be any divisions, just a plan to schedule as regionally as possible or as to what will bring in the most money and good publicity for the conference

(12-02-2023 02:13 AM)army56mike Wrote:  

(12-01-2023 08:17 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  IMHO the ONLY way CUSA considers 14 is IF they are able to add Both UMASS And Missouri St.--which seems unlikely.

Maybe it’ll all come back around to what I said was gonna happen back on the first post of page one…..

UMass…………Kennesaw St.
Delaware……Jax St.
Liberty……….Missouri St.
FIU…………….La. Tech
WKU…….…..Sam Houston St.
EKU…………..UTEP
MTSU………..New Mexico St.

And, there won’t be any divisions, just a plan to schedule as regionally as possible or as to what will bring in the most money and good publicity for the conference

That's a solid conference.

(12-02-2023 08:07 PM)KATatonic Wrote:  

(12-02-2023 02:13 AM)army56mike Wrote:  

(12-01-2023 08:17 PM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  IMHO the ONLY way CUSA considers 14 is IF they are able to add Both UMASS And Missouri St.--which seems unlikely.

Maybe it’ll all come back around to what I said was gonna happen back on the first post of page one…..

UMass…………Kennesaw St.
Delaware……Jax St.
Liberty……….Missouri St.
FIU…………….La. Tech
WKU…….…..Sam Houston St.
EKU…………..UTEP
MTSU………..New Mexico St.

And, there won’t be any divisions, just a plan to schedule as regionally as possible or as to what will bring in the most money and good publicity for the conference

That's a solid conference.

Yes, yes it would be.

Don't sleep on Missouri State. Soon after their new president gets started (not even named yet) we'll know where they stand.