Or ULL, Ark ST., GA St., or TX St., every one of whom will joyfully bolt to CUSA in a heartbeat if they're invited during the next round of realignment. Until that fact changes, any digs at CUSA are really pretty ridiculous.
[/quote]

Last spring I would have agreed with you but now I'm not so sure. A lot would depend on who is left in CUSA if another round of realignment happens. CUSA stands to lose some $ in the next round of TV contracts and may lose some bowl games. For me, USM and La Tech are the only real football draws left in the conference. The rest don't get me too excited and when you consider the exit and entry fees that MTSU and FAU have coughed up, it may not work out financially. My preference would be the CUSA western division model with ULL included. Otherwise, I don't see a lot of upside to playing a lot of the eastern schools.

(07-13-2013 10:21 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  CUSA is better conference for bowl opportunities and money, which is important, and is where the draw is for teams from the SBC to leave. However, the SBC is more talented on the field, and the separation will be even larger once Texas State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern get a few years under their belt. The bowl contracts will eventually be renegotiated. CUSA has the advantage in perception only, but that won't last much longer. The SBC just needs to hold on to the teams we have and not let anyone else jump ship. Long term, the SBC appears to have the advantage.

I don't think Conf USA is going to be able to maintain its bowl or money advantage over the SBC. The new teams that were added really bring little tradition of winning or fan support. These two items are not going to magically change for them. Right now CUSA has the advantage because of the name and the programs that built it, all of which are gone now except for Southern Miss. I see no reason that the SBC cannot pull even or even surpass CUSA.

(07-14-2013 08:53 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(07-13-2013 10:21 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  CUSA is better conference for bowl opportunities and money, which is important, and is where the draw is for teams from the SBC to leave. However, the SBC is more talented on the field, and the separation will be even larger once Texas State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern get a few years under their belt. The bowl contracts will eventually be renegotiated. CUSA has the advantage in perception only, but that won't last much longer. The SBC just needs to hold on to the teams we have and not let anyone else jump ship. Long term, the SBC appears to have the advantage.

I don't think Conf USA is going to be able to maintain its bowl or money advantage over the SBC. The new teams that were added really bring little tradition of winning or fan support. These two items are not going to magically change for them. Right now CUSA has the advantage because of the name and the programs that built it, all of which are gone now except for Southern Miss. I see no reason that the SBC cannot pull even or even surpass CUSA.

I feel the same way about CUSA over the AAC.

(07-13-2013 09:23 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  CUSA will be clear cut better in basketball, obviously that matters to WKU fans.

However in football, I am not sure that is true at all.

.
Looks like everyone only thinks about football. Which I have stated before, which true there is not a lot of seperation between the two leagues. It's the other sports, other than maybe baseball, where CUSA has the upper hand. I bet you most college sports fans outside of SBC fans would consider CUSA a step up.

CUSA has a market advantage and an advantage in secondary sports. They start out with a holdover perception advantage.

It is not clear yet whether they can maintain those advantages.

The advantage gap however is the lowest it has ever been.

We still have our work cut out for us.

(07-14-2013 11:01 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  CUSA has a market advantage and an advantage in secondary sports. They start out with a holdover perception advantage.

It is not clear yet whether they can maintain those advantages.

The advantage gap however is the lowest it has ever been.

We still have our work cut out for us.

ArkState and ULL are already better than 3/4 of Conf USA. Ga Southern and App State, have winning traditions with very loyal fans. These four teams alone, bring good value to the SBC. I see no reason why the SBC cannot overtake Conf USA in several years

(07-14-2013 08:53 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  I don't think Conf USA is going to be able to maintain its bowl or money advantage over the SBC. The new teams that were added really bring little tradition of winning or fan support. These two items are not going to magically change for them. Right now CUSA has the advantage because of the name and the programs that built it, all of which are gone now except for Southern Miss. I see no reason that the SBC cannot pull even or even surpass CUSA.

UAB, Marshall and La Tech carry more name recognition than the best that was left in the Sun Belt. I do think the Sun Belt will eventually add another bowl game and with all the tie ins have a similar bowl situation to Conf USA, but in terms of name programs, there is more name recognition in Conf USA, even after ECU and Memphis leave.

(07-14-2013 12:59 PM)BlueRaiderFan. Wrote:  

(07-14-2013 08:53 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  I don't think Conf USA is going to be able to maintain its bowl or money advantage over the SBC. The new teams that were added really bring little tradition of winning or fan support. These two items are not going to magically change for them. Right now CUSA has the advantage because of the name and the programs that built it, all of which are gone now except for Southern Miss. I see no reason that the SBC cannot pull even or even surpass CUSA.

UAB, Marshall and La Tech carry more name recognition than the best that was left in the Sun Belt. I do think the Sun Belt will eventually add another bowl game and with all the tie ins have a similar bowl situation to Conf USA, but in terms of name programs, there is more name recognition in Conf USA, even after ECU and Memphis leave.

Ok...you take the names and I'll take the wins.

I'll take the extra bowl games that are now available.

(07-14-2013 08:53 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(07-13-2013 10:21 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  CUSA is better conference for bowl opportunities and money, which is important, and is where the draw is for teams from the SBC to leave. However, the SBC is more talented on the field, and the separation will be even larger once Texas State, Appalachian State and Georgia Southern get a few years under their belt. The bowl contracts will eventually be renegotiated. CUSA has the advantage in perception only, but that won't last much longer. The SBC just needs to hold on to the teams we have and not let anyone else jump ship. Long term, the SBC appears to have the advantage.

I don't think Conf USA is going to be able to maintain its bowl or money advantage over the SBC. The new teams that were added really bring little tradition of winning or fan support. These two items are not going to magically change for them. Right now CUSA has the advantage because of the name and the programs that built it, all of which are gone now except for Southern Miss. I see no reason that the SBC cannot pull even or even surpass CUSA.

Bowls are two fold. First thing is television makes the call, but the bowl needs fans. The remains of CUSA at this point do not portend good bowl fans. UNT, FAU, FIU, all terrible fans. UNT did bring a goodly amount to NOLA Bowl, but that was a long, time ago and their fans have shrunk in the decade.

That leaves television. The television market is about exciting football, not local markets only. TooLame is lame. Southern Miss despite short term problems are a good TV draw, UAB not, Rice ok, UTEP ok.

Appy State and Ga Southern? Appy has a big upset on a declining Michigan team, and Ga Southern always competitive with BCS teams it seems.

2014 will be important. I am confident USA is going right, Tx State going right, Ga Southern and Appy struggle but not much. Ga State total unknown, NMSU total struggle, as well as Idaho.


Troy, ULM, AState, UL all could be very good.