(01-23-2015 10:54 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 09:39 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 09:05 PM)CameramanJ Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 08:53 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 08:16 PM)rknj8993 Wrote:  I don't foresee Georgia Southern going anywhere on their own right now.

I don't think that is something that our administration is pursuing at all. We're a better fit for the Belt and it might be better financially to stay put.

From what I know of GA Southern, that is correct. Y'all have a pretty good thing going and you're only one year in.

Thanks. We do need to schedule some CUSA opponents like, I don't know, ODU? I think a home-and-home would be fun and within the realm of possibility. We don't have to worry about the stadium capacity issue because they're roughly the same size. There's already a little history there, we haven't beaten you in a couple years, and we don't like your coach very much.

Staff from athletic departments read the boards, get on it! But seriously, 2019/2020/2021 is looking wide open for both of us, I hope it happens. Round 3 of Air Raid vs. Triple Option would be fun to watch, especially considering the FCS playoff history the two teams have. Hopefully 3rd round will be the charm for us.

The last meeting reminded me of Ali and Frazier. Likely provided more, from a marketing standpoint, for both programs than the previous two, three seasons combined. Perfect timing in all respects. Epic!

(01-24-2015 10:06 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

If CSUA takes GaSt, I'm not worried about back filling, what ever we add will be better then that lack of a football program. It is obvious that the SBC a is trying to be a football conference, so the loss of a decent basketball program just really doesn't hurt.

CUSA rebuilt by adding some FCS teams, start-ups and weak FBS teams. The only new ones that I really respect or enjoyed competing against were La Tech, MTSU, and WKU.

I really don't see much of a benefit for stAte unless 4 things happened:
1. Western division with tight footprint and crossover games to keep travel costs lower.
2. waiver of the entrance fee. Isn't it like $2 million? Not sure it would make a lot of sense to pay that fee if the TV contract doesn't make up for it, and we get a smaller share of BCS $$.
3. Assurances that the TV contract will be better or just as good when it expires in a few years.
4. Better bowl desitinations for travel purposes. New Mexico, Hawaii, Bahamas, Boca are all inconvienent and not condusive to fanbase travel.

If CUSA expanded to 16 and asked us, UL and a couple of others to join, I assume we would join for fear of being left behind but I wouldn't be leaping for joy. It would be a more "wait and see" approach and I would miss some of the riavalries that have started to develop with the current SBC programs.

(01-24-2015 09:30 AM)cleburneslim Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:29 AM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  Cusa will do one of two things. Either stand firm at 13 or go to 16. If they go to 16 then the Sun Belt is in deep do doo. Most likely candidates for 16 will be from NMSU, Texas St, Louisiana and stAte. I know some will argue against this, but USM wants to stay in the East to continue to remain with Marshall. From my info the leaders are NMSU, Texas St and Louisiana. Now the eastern schools may demand an Eastern add and that may happen but it would likely be either JMU or App St. The Georgia schools have an outside shot at getting in but it will have to be a team that Marshall and USM agree upon.

Imagine if cusa added 3 and then the big 12 a month later added 2.

So you say the SBC loses 5?

(01-23-2015 04:02 PM)ValleyBoy Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 03:50 PM)Herd_fever Wrote:  The only Sun Belt schools that will be considered will be ULL, Arkansas State, and Georgia Southern. But don't rule out Akron, Toledo, or Northern Illinois

Why would we want to trade one goat humper for another goat humper. If we have to be in a conference with goat humpers we would rather it our goat humpers since we already know there goat humping style.

Yeah, and we have tons of film, too!

(01-24-2015 11:53 AM)alpha_eagle Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 04:02 PM)ValleyBoy Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 03:50 PM)Herd_fever Wrote:  The only Sun Belt schools that will be considered will be ULL, Arkansas State, and Georgia Southern. But don't rule out Akron, Toledo, or Northern Illinois

Why would we want to trade one goat humper for another goat humper. If we have to be in a conference with goat humpers we would rather it our goat humpers since we already know there goat humping style.

Yeah, and we have tons of film, too!

So y'all have film of goat humping??? Not sure I'd be bragging about my viewing habits if that is what I wanted to view.....

(01-24-2015 11:56 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 11:53 AM)alpha_eagle Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 04:02 PM)ValleyBoy Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 03:50 PM)Herd_fever Wrote:  The only Sun Belt schools that will be considered will be ULL, Arkansas State, and Georgia Southern. But don't rule out Akron, Toledo, or Northern Illinois

Why would we want to trade one goat humper for another goat humper. If we have to be in a conference with goat humpers we would rather it our goat humpers since we already know there goat humping style.

Yeah, and we have tons of film, too!

So y'all have film of goat humping??? Not sure I'd be bragging about my viewing habits if that is what I wanted to view.....

It's like a year around study to be prepped up for when App St comes to town and vice versa. Sorta like the zombie apocalypse. Sure everyone thinks you are bat crap crazy for having all the guns, a safe house, and an armored vehicle, but you would rather be safe than sorry.

(01-24-2015 09:51 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  If Ark St put out any effort at all in pursuing the next available spot in CUSA, I believe that the Red Wolves would be the clear frontrunner. But for whatever reason, Ark St's administration doesn't seem interested. Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

What do you mean by effort? Increasing budget to $20 million? Building an indoor practice facility? New video board? Press box rebuild/upgrade?

Or do you mean kissing asses and being publicly disloyal crybabies about your current conference?

Well, for one thing, I would make it clear to the presidents of CUSA member universities that you are interested in the possibility of CUSA membership. If you call that ass kissing, then yes, I would do some of that. I see no need to be publicly disloyal to your current conference. That is something that must be done behind the scenes. Increasing your budget, along with adding to, and upgrading facilities are some of the reasons I think you guys could be at the top of CUSA's list if you wanted to be.

(01-24-2015 12:25 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 09:51 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  If Ark St put out any effort at all in pursuing the next available spot in CUSA, I believe that the Red Wolves would be the clear frontrunner. But for whatever reason, Ark St's administration doesn't seem interested. Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

What do you mean by effort? Increasing budget to $20 million? Building an indoor practice facility? New video board? Press box rebuild/upgrade?

Or do you mean kissing asses and being publicly disloyal crybabies about your current conference?

Well, for one thing, I would make it clear to the presidents of CUSA member universities that you are interested in the possibility of CUSA membership. If you call that ass kissing, then yes, I would do some of that. I see no need to be publicly disloyal to your current conference. That is something that must be done behind the scenes. Increasing your budget, along with adding to, and upgrading facilities are some of the reasons I think you guys could be at the top of CUSA's list if you wanted to be.

Your fear pours through every post.

So does this mean LaTech is now begging stAte to beg CUSA for an invite so that ULaLa doesn't get an invite. That's a new concept.

(01-24-2015 12:41 PM)Usajags Wrote:  So does this mean LaTech is now begging stAte to beg CUSA for an invite so that ULaLa doesn't get an invite. That's a new concept.

They live off of perception. They have owned us over the last 10 games in football, but in all sports over the last decade we own a 27-4 record over La Tech.

Their fear is now openly stated.

(01-24-2015 12:25 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 09:51 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  If Ark St put out any effort at all in pursuing the next available spot in CUSA, I believe that the Red Wolves would be the clear frontrunner. But for whatever reason, Ark St's administration doesn't seem interested. Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

What do you mean by effort? Increasing budget to $20 million? Building an indoor practice facility? New video board? Press box rebuild/upgrade?

Or do you mean kissing asses and being publicly disloyal crybabies about your current conference?

Well, for one thing, I would make it clear to the presidents of CUSA member universities that you are interested in the possibility of CUSA membership. If you call that ass kissing, then yes, I would do some of that. I see no need to be publicly disloyal to your current conference. That is something that must be done behind the scenes. Increasing your budget, along with adding to, and upgrading facilities are some of the reasons I think you guys could be at the top of CUSA's list if you wanted to be.

CUSA and Fox Sports will make internal calculations on what makes them the most money with the least problems. If those calculations show A-State fits the criteria then they WILL contact A-State for more information and discussion. If A-State does not fit that criteria then no amount of begging or pleading or pimping will accomplish anything other than harpooning our own dignity.

If we do get contacted we'll also crunch numbers and figure out what makes the most money with least problems and do that. It won't be an "I want ice cream!" type decision.

We are determined to increase our budget and improve our facilities and advance no matter what the conference situation is.

It's also unwise to trash your own house...and doubly unwise to trash your own house before you have a new place to sleep. So we will continue to try to fix up and improve the house we are actually living in and encourage the others living in it to do the same because some, if not all, of us are going to be in it for a long time.

(01-24-2015 12:41 PM)Usajags Wrote:  So does this mean LaTech is now begging stAte to beg CUSA for an invite so that ULaLa doesn't get an invite. That's a new concept.

Which is kind of strange when you consider that we had a huge rivalry with La Tech until the Bulldogs left for the WAC.

(01-24-2015 12:41 PM)Usajags Wrote:  So does this mean LaTech is now begging stAte to beg CUSA for an invite so that ULaLa doesn't get an invite. That's a new concept.

LaTech would be nuts to let ULL get invited to CUSA. That isn't to say they won't let ULL get invited to CUSA because they are actually....sorta nuts.

(01-24-2015 12:32 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 12:25 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 09:51 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  If Ark St put out any effort at all in pursuing the next available spot in CUSA, I believe that the Red Wolves would be the clear frontrunner. But for whatever reason, Ark St's administration doesn't seem interested. Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

What do you mean by effort? Increasing budget to $20 million? Building an indoor practice facility? New video board? Press box rebuild/upgrade?

Or do you mean kissing asses and being publicly disloyal crybabies about your current conference?

Well, for one thing, I would make it clear to the presidents of CUSA member universities that you are interested in the possibility of CUSA membership. If you call that ass kissing, then yes, I would do some of that. I see no need to be publicly disloyal to your current conference. That is something that must be done behind the scenes. Increasing your budget, along with adding to, and upgrading facilities are some of the reasons I think you guys could be at the top of CUSA's list if you wanted to be.

Your fear pours through every post.

Don't confuse fear with intelligence. A person can say something complimentary about another SBC member without it being a covert attack on UL-L. I think UL-L has a lot going for it too, but you guys lack something that stAte has going for it, and that's the fact that CUSA has no presence in the state of Arkansas right now. Adding stAte would add the state of Arkansas to the footprint of CUSA. I think that's an advantage they have over UL-L and TX St.

(01-24-2015 12:56 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 12:32 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 12:25 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 09:51 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  If Ark St put out any effort at all in pursuing the next available spot in CUSA, I believe that the Red Wolves would be the clear frontrunner. But for whatever reason, Ark St's administration doesn't seem interested. Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

What do you mean by effort? Increasing budget to $20 million? Building an indoor practice facility? New video board? Press box rebuild/upgrade?

Or do you mean kissing asses and being publicly disloyal crybabies about your current conference?

Well, for one thing, I would make it clear to the presidents of CUSA member universities that you are interested in the possibility of CUSA membership. If you call that ass kissing, then yes, I would do some of that. I see no need to be publicly disloyal to your current conference. That is something that must be done behind the scenes. Increasing your budget, along with adding to, and upgrading facilities are some of the reasons I think you guys could be at the top of CUSA's list if you wanted to be.

Your fear pours through every post.

Don't confuse fear with intelligence. A person can say something complimentary about another SBC member without it being a covert attack on UL-L. I think UL-L has a lot going for it too, but you guys lack something that stAte has going for it, and that's the fact that CUSA has no presence in the state of Arkansas right now. Adding stAte would add the state of Arkansas to the footprint of CUSA. I think that's an advantage they have over UL-L and TX St.

Dude there are several La Tech posters who have openly stated that Louisiana added to CUSA would be the demise of the La Tech football program. I don't buy that, but that's how yall feel.

(01-24-2015 12:56 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 12:32 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 12:25 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 09:51 AM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  If Ark St put out any effort at all in pursuing the next available spot in CUSA, I believe that the Red Wolves would be the clear frontrunner. But for whatever reason, Ark St's administration doesn't seem interested. Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

What do you mean by effort? Increasing budget to $20 million? Building an indoor practice facility? New video board? Press box rebuild/upgrade?

Or do you mean kissing asses and being publicly disloyal crybabies about your current conference?

Well, for one thing, I would make it clear to the presidents of CUSA member universities that you are interested in the possibility of CUSA membership. If you call that ass kissing, then yes, I would do some of that. I see no need to be publicly disloyal to your current conference. That is something that must be done behind the scenes. Increasing your budget, along with adding to, and upgrading facilities are some of the reasons I think you guys could be at the top of CUSA's list if you wanted to be.

Your fear pours through every post.

Don't confuse fear with intelligence. A person can say something complimentary about another SBC member without it being a covert attack on UL-L. I think UL-L has a lot going for it too, but you guys lack something that stAte has going for it, and that's the fact that CUSA has no presence in the state of Arkansas right now. Adding stAte would add the state of Arkansas to the footprint of CUSA. I think that's an advantage they have over UL-L and TX St.

I love that we're in the conversation. Hell, I'd love the invite (because of the 4 TX schools in CUSA). But the very thing that makes the conference attractive for us . . Is the same thing that I believe takes us out of any realistic shot at an invite . . . The number of CUSA schools in TX . . . How's that for a "Catch 22?"

(01-24-2015 12:56 PM)BRtransplant Wrote:  Don't confuse fear with intelligence.

It would be intelligent to fear in some instances.

(01-24-2015 12:55 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 12:41 PM)Usajags Wrote:  So does this mean LaTech is now begging stAte to beg CUSA for an invite so that ULaLa doesn't get an invite. That's a new concept.

LaTech would be nuts to let ULL get invited to CUSA. That isn't to say they won't let ULL get invited to CUSA because they are actually....sorta nuts.

They are just 1 vote. If ULL is deemed the best program to add then LA Tech can throw a fit but I doubt they could get a block of schools to go with them to block ULL. Not 1 other school would have a problem with ULL.

Same would go with UTEP and NMSU. The thing is I don't think UTEP will ever have to worry about that.

I mean what is Tech going to do, leave the conference, unlikely.

(01-24-2015 10:39 AM)Rik Flair Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 10:06 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 05:05 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  Maybe they truly prefer the current SBC lineup over what CUSA offers. I have no problem with that, but I think it is somewhat short sighted. We've all seen the domino effect in action when realignment moves start. When CUSA has lost members, it was able to backfill with schools from the SBC. The SBC had to look to FCS programs to rebuild. You guys did a remarkable job of rebuilding after being raided in the last round. Maybe you can do it again, but you just don't find programs like those at App St and GSU easily. In all likelihood, another round of realignment would leave the SBC severely weakened, which is why I think it is shortsighted of Ark St's administration when they choose not to pursue an available spot in CUSA.

If CSUA takes GaSt, I'm not worried about back filling, what ever we add will be better then that lack of a football program. It is obvious that the SBC a is trying to be a football conference, so the loss of a decent basketball program just really doesn't hurt.

CUSA rebuilt by adding some FCS teams, start-ups and weak FBS teams. The only new ones that I really respect or enjoyed competing against were La Tech, MTSU, and WKU.

I really don't see much of a benefit for stAte unless 4 things happened:
1. Western division with tight footprint and crossover games to keep travel costs lower.
2. waiver of the entrance fee. Isn't it like $2 million? Not sure it would make a lot of sense to pay that fee if the TV contract doesn't make up for it, and we get a smaller share of BCS $$.
3. Assurances that the TV contract will be better or just as good when it expires in a few years.
4. Better bowl desitinations for travel purposes. New Mexico, Hawaii, Bahamas, Boca are all inconvienent and not condusive to fanbase travel.

If CUSA expanded to 16 and asked us, UL and a couple of others to join, I assume we would join for fear of being left behind but I wouldn't be leaping for joy. It would be a more "wait and see" approach and I would miss some of the riavalries that have started to develop with the current SBC programs.

The only advantage that I see CUSA has is the TV revenue and the current CUSA TV contract ends in 2015-2016. The only way this next CUSA deal gets bid up to the level of the current contract is if ESPN wants to the contract. ESPN has nine of the ten FBS conferences under contract, so they really do not need CUSA. So if ESPN is not in, Fox is bidding against Fox. CUSA is getting $7 million per year from Fox and there is no reason for Fox to increase that figure unless they have real bidding competition.

If the SBC can just land the same deal that the MAC has with ESPN, there is no reason to leave for CUSA. Leaving will cost the last year of SBC revenue and there will be that $2 million entrance fee to CUSA. But there is nothing special about CUSA anymore and I would rather be on ESPN.

(01-24-2015 02:59 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  The only advantage that I see CUSA has is the TV revenue and the current CUSA TV contract ends in 2015-2016. The only way this next CUSA deal gets bid up to the level of the current contract is if ESPN wants to the contract. ESPN has nine of the ten FBS conferences under contract, so they really do not need CUSA. So if ESPN is not in, Fox is bidding against Fox. CUSA is getting $7 million per year from Fox and there is no reason for Fox to increase that figure unless they have real bidding competition.

FOX will (should) absolutely bump the price and try to get a renewal before the contract comes up. Without C-USA, FOX has no rights to live content and is completely out of the college sports broadcasting race before their new sports network even begins to get a legitimate foothold. C-USA may actually be in a very good position to get paid well above and their actual value. FOX has to hold onto their rights, no matter the cost. ESPN is certainly able to match any offer. If ESPN is ready to put their thumb down, a bidding war could get shocking.