Wilkie01 Wrote:Marshall
Western Kentucky
Middle Tennessee
Memphis
East Carolina
UAB
Soutthern Miss
Troy
Central Florida
Florida Atlantic

Excuse me while I go blow my brains out.

Here is my guess in about a few years.

Memphis
UAB
UCF
Marshall
East Carolina
Tulane
Western Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
Florida International

CollegeCard Wrote:

StillJonesing Wrote:

Jugnaut Wrote:That would be a bold move by ECU. It's essentially banking on a football-only invite and no split. Leaving C-USA would kill all their other sports and the Big East would never want them as a full member. Going Indy would basically be putting all your eggs into the football only basket. C-USA would be fine and would add La. Tech. I don't think C-USA is having problems. It appears to be a very stable setup. Going Indy could backfire big time for a Big East invite. Say ECU does really well and goes 9-3 or something a couple of seasons, but doesn't have a conference for bowl affliation. Would they still get a bowl? And what if UCF or Memphis has the same record but gets conference titles to go with the record. I would think UCF or Memphis would have the upper hand. Not to mention being better in the all-sports area.

You're two years removed from the A-Sun apparently it didn't hurt you in your opinion of your "all sports" program When we were an Indy we had an individual TV deal with ESPN and an individual bowl tie in with the Liberty Bowl. I'm not supporting a move but I don't nessasarly think those are hurdles we couldn't overcome if we choose that path. As far as our other sports I could remind you we have already been in a league with programs like Louisville, Cincy, USF etc. Not the A-Sun so come off your mountain you built for yourself when talking about our other sports because you have no clue what will or will not happen. The only fact is we were playing with the likes of Louisville, Marquette, USF, Depaul, and Cincy two years ago in all sports and you were playing with the likes of Campbell.

We don't need a ECU-UCF whip it out and measure show down. I wouldn't be bragging too much on the other sports unless its soccer or baseball maybe. The last winless team in the nation, 0-25 North Florida, picked up a win tonight. I'm pretty sure ECU basketball now owns the longest losing streak among 336 D-1 teams at 20 games.

As for indy status, the early '90's and today are worlds apart when it comes to college football. ECU isn't going to get a national TV contract, that's just the situation. That isn't to say you wouldn't get on due to a certain week's opponent, but an actual contract would not be forthcoming. I agree with Jackson, there is no way ECU does this unless they have been guaranteed admission at a certain later date. The program would die otherwise. They are not Notre Dame, or anything close.

BTW UCF isn't a stranger to a losing streak if you recall, things can turn pretty quick. Let 12 players leave your program in 2 years and lose scholarships in hoops and you wouldn't be in very good shape either. Two of the players are playing significant minutes for ranked Big East teams currently, we can recruit to that level we just could never keep them 4 years and I think that's changing.

On the TV and Bowls, there are more TV stations and twice the Bowls today as 1996. I think it is very resonable to assume we could get those kinds of deals again. I'm sure you said the same crap back then and you would have been wrong.

Say, for sh*ts and giggles, things do change up, for whatever reason, in CUSA:

(12)
Marshall
Southern Miss
ECU
UAB
Memphis
Toledo
Miami, OH
Northern Illinois
UCF
Ohio
Troy
Bowling Green

(9)
Marshall
Southern Miss
ECU
UAB
Memphis
Toledo
Miami, OH
Northern Illinois
Troy

The first leak is out but where are the leaks from the other suppositly disgruntled members of USM, UAB, and Marshall. Nothing yet. May be a ploy by ECU to gather more BE interest. I think we need to hear from the other schools before anything comes of this leak. Also I am surprised that no one from UWV has heard or posted anything on this board previously. West Virginia is kind of small and I would thik that UWV people would be hearing Marshall's grumblings prior to this. The schools tabbed in this rumor are walking away from bowl deals, TV revenue, basketball credits, and the security of a realitively stable and new conference. I think their commish has done a good job for them despite the upheavel of 2003. I'll wait to see of this is true by waiting to hear from the other schools otherwise it just sounds as if there is just one disgruntled program in the mix.

ECU fans talk about the ESPN contract they had. Was it truly their own contract or were they part of the CFA with the SEC, WAC, ACC, Big East and others?

Just asking.

panite Wrote:The first leak is out but where are the leaks from the other suppositly disgruntled members of USM, UAB, and Marshall. Nothing yet. May be a ploy by ECU to gather more BE interest. I think we need to hear from the other schools before anything comes of this leak. Also I am surprised that no one from UWV has heard or posted anything on this board previously. West Virginia is kind of small and I would thik that UWV people would be hearing Marshall's grumblings prior to this. The schools tabbed in this rumor are walking away from bowl deals, TV revenue, basketball credits, and the security of a realitively stable and new conference. I think their commish has done a good job for them despite the upheavel of 2003. I'll wait to see of this is true by waiting to hear from the other schools otherwise it just sounds as if there is just one disgruntled program in the mix.

I'm not going on record as saying that the "plans" spelled out above are actually on the table or not, but what I will say is that some of you folks are missing the bottom line point on this issue....ECU and some of the other schools mentioned are absolutely losing their shirts in CUSA financially, and that is simply not going to change unless somehow CUSA becomes a full-fledged BCS conference (yeah, right). Unfortunately, it is all about the almighty dollar these days, and if you don't have the BCS teat to suck off of, you'd damn well better be set up in situation where you're not continually in the red just trying to compete. We at ECU have raised giving levels for Pirate Club members, instituted special funding for coaching continuity, and developed other funding pipelines for supporters to help out, which, to be honest, are bleeding the ECU fanbase dry. Fact of the matter is that CUSA is just not financially feasible for some of these schools. I realize the BE fans here cannot understand that concept (not your fault), but that is the reality of the situation. Like I said, I can't confirm or deny what was written above, but I can tell you unequivically that wheels ARE turning in important folks' heads at ECU and elsewhere about how to put their schools in the best financial and athletic shape they can be in, and if "changes" to the current set-up are what it takes, those folks are willing to make a move......

Just say no to ECU. Even if its football only. The hybrid BE won't last forever and we will pick up full members at some point. History says it will happen.

Maize Wrote:Here is my guess in about a few years.

Memphis
UAB
UCF
Marshall
East Carolina
Tulane
Western Kentucky
Florida Atlantic
Florida International

Bring in Georgia Southern, Troy and Middle Tennessee and it 12 schools.

mattsarz Wrote:ECU fans talk about the ESPN contract they had. Was it truly their own contract or were they part of the CFA with the SEC, WAC, ACC, Big East and others?

Just asking.

......

Quote:"TV is on the way. Those poor Pirates are much richer after signing a deal with ESPN worth a minimum of $2 million for ECU. The deal, which calls for eight games televised over five years, makes ECU one of only two independents with a network TV contract - Notre Dame is the other.

Conference affiliation still eludes ECU, but that, too, might be in the works. Last month, the Liberty Bowl announced that ECU would be part of a two-year deal between the Big East and Conference USA to send teams to the bowl. The Pirates will compete against the Conference USA champion, based on overall record, for a Liberty berth against the No. 4 Big East team.

``I think that's a pretty bold statement about what people in Memphis (site of the Liberty Bowl) think of East Carolina,'' ECU athletic director Mike Hamrick said.

Hamrick said the next step will be to push for membership in Conference USA, which rejected ECU when the conference formed last year.

``The Liberty Bowl people said they'd love to see us in Conference USA,'' Hamrick said. ``I've had some informal talks with Conference USA. We will have formal talks soon. "

ESPN TV deal in a time when they were the only sports cable station and Liberty Bowl tie in when they were one of only 18 bowls not 31. I don't think it's out of the realm of possiblity to get those types of deals today with more cable TV stations and Bowls if we were to go indy again.

L-yes Wrote:Just say no to ECU.

We LOVE hearing that...so keep on saying it....it'll make it all the sweeter when......

Capital Pirate Wrote:

panite Wrote:The first leak is out but where are the leaks from the other suppositly disgruntled members of USM, UAB, and Marshall. Nothing yet. May be a ploy by ECU to gather more BE interest. I think we need to hear from the other schools before anything comes of this leak. Also I am surprised that no one from UWV has heard or posted anything on this board previously. West Virginia is kind of small and I would thik that UWV people would be hearing Marshall's grumblings prior to this. The schools tabbed in this rumor are walking away from bowl deals, TV revenue, basketball credits, and the security of a realitively stable and new conference. I think their commish has done a good job for them despite the upheavel of 2003. I'll wait to see of this is true by waiting to hear from the other schools otherwise it just sounds as if there is just one disgruntled program in the mix.

I'm not going on record as saying that the "plans" spelled out above are actually on the table or not, but what I will say is that some of you folks are missing the bottom line point on this issue....ECU and some of the other schools mentioned are absolutely losing their shirts in CUSA financially, and that is simply not going to change unless somehow CUSA becomes a full-fledged BCS conference (yeah, right). Unfortunately, it is all about the almighty dollar these days, and if you don't have the BCS teat to suck off of, you'd damn well better be set up in situation where you're not continually in the red just trying to compete. We at ECU have raised giving levels for Pirate Club members, instituted special funding for coaching continuity, and developed other funding pipelines for supporters to help out, which, to be honest, are bleeding the ECU fanbase dry. Fact of the matter is that CUSA is just not financially feasible for some of these schools. I realize the BE fans here cannot understand that concept (not your fault), but that is the reality of the situation. Like I said, I can't confirm or deny what was written above, but I can tell you unequivically that wheels ARE turning in important folks' heads at ECU and elsewhere about how to put their schools in the best financial and athletic shape they can be in, and if "changes" to the current set-up are what it takes, those folks are willing to make a move......

I think a FB only to the Big East and all the other sports in the Southern or CAA would be a very viable option for ECU. Anyone with a sense of geography knew CUSA was a cluster "F" of varying degress for several of the teams (ECU, Marshall, UCF and UTEP). USF as you stated above can subsidize their geographical remoteness with BCS money.

That said I rank order the FB onlies to the BE as: UCF, ECU, Memphis. I would be happy with any of the above joining to make 9 in FB.

But there is not even a majority of BE football schools that want ecu.

tigersharktwo Wrote:But there is not even a majority of BE football schools that want ecu.

I dont think there is a majority that wants anyone.. yes scheduling is a pain.. but is it worth splitting the $$$$ 9 ways rather than 8.. I dont think so.. with the new 1 1aa toward a bowl eligible every year... u can keep a 1aa on schedule... as a reasonably priced home game.. 2 to 3 non bcs schools which u can usually do 2 for 1s with.. and 1 or 2 bcs conf teams .. to fill it all out. there is no real need for a 9th school... if there was they would have voted UCF in when the split happened.. it was talked about but not done then... nothing has changed.

Wow, this is new to me. I had no idea things where so bad at ECU. If there is a big east invitation, then yes they are gone. If no be invitation, then the next question is this. Does ECU have enough national attention to attract other teams from other conferences to form a new conference?
(imy opinion, NO). With the bowls situation, it seems that all are tied in with conferences, therefore they will be bound to wait and see if any conference doesnt fill its quote and pray(unless they steal the Car Care bowl-just kidding) You guys know what I mean by this from the ECU crowds. Going independance would be suicide for them. Trying to compete with Navy and Notre Dame would be to much for them and will alway leave them in 3rd choice, that is if Army gets better and then they will be move to 4th on that list(as far as indy goes). I dont believe that any CUSA east team will go with them either. That will not happen at all. But if all this is true, then allow me to say WE will miss your baseball program, sorry I cant say that about anything any other of your sports programs. Good luck to ECU on whatever your decision is.

gdayre Wrote:Wow, this is new to me. I had no idea things where so bad at ECU. If there is a big east invitation, then yes they are gone. If no be invitation, then the next question is this. Does ECU have enough national attention to attract other teams from other conferences to form a new conference?
(imy opinion, NO). With the bowls situation, it seems that all are tied in with conferences, therefore they will be bound to wait and see if any conference doesnt fill its quote and pray(unless they steal the Car Care bowl-just kidding) You guys know what I mean by this from the ECU crowds. Going independance would be suicide for them. Trying to compete with Navy and Notre Dame would be to much for them and will alway leave them in 3rd choice, that is if Army gets better and then they will be move to 4th on that list(as far as indy goes). I dont believe that any CUSA east team will go with them either. That will not happen at all. But if all this is true, then allow me to say WE will miss your baseball program, sorry I cant say that about anything any other of your sports programs. Good luck to ECU on whatever your decision is.

I think the travel strain with C-USA is overblown. The schools aren't going bankrupt. Shoot, Marshall and UCF are making more money now than they did in the MAC. I think its just some at ECU feel like they're entitled to BCS money.

Some elements might be true, ECU is po'd where they are, but i don't buy it. I don't know why ECU would want to park their programs in the southern conf, which is about to go to 12 with samford, and than become indy for football. Guess they would be just hoping for a big east invite but that sure is a downgrade from CUSA + it really doesn't add up for the southern conf to even take ECU. I could also see Marshall not liking the current set up do to travel but can't really understand why UAB,Memphis or S.Miss would leave. A better idea would be for the CUSA to expand to 14 to help the travel issue but than you cut the pie more. Yet, you could put La Tech in a 7 team western division and than add ?, ohioU or maybe Ga southern move up, to a 7 team eastern division and it gives the league or divisions more of an identity.

CUSA
East
Memphis
S.Miss
UAB
G.Southern
C.Florida
E.Car
Marshall

West
Tulsa
Smu
UTEP
Houston
Rice
Tulane
La Tech

tigersharktwo Wrote:But there is not even a majority of BE football schools that want ecu.

Majority of FB schools don

I know of one and think they could be very competitived.

Seems like class time missed will be the catalyst if it does happen. CUSA seems unwilling to budge.

http://media.www.marshallparthenon.com/m...9208.shtml