I'm sure this has been discussed but can't find it anywhere:

Any talk/desire on South Alabama's end to replace UAB in CUSA? Seems to me you all would be the best geographical fit, and as a WKU fan you all would be my No. 1 choice.

Any rumblings in Mobile?

(01-23-2015 03:49 PM)ToppersInDaVille Wrote:  I'm sure this has been discussed but can't find it anywhere:

Any talk/desire on South Alabama's end to replace UAB in CUSA? Seems to me you all would be the best geographical fit, and as a WKU fan you all would be my No. 1 choice.

Any rumblings in Mobile?

Not much talk about it because it is generally felt that USM would keep us out plus the probable pick of the Belt teams would be ULL.

(01-23-2015 03:49 PM)ToppersInDaVille Wrote:  I'm sure this has been discussed but can't find it anywhere:

Any talk/desire on South Alabama's end to replace UAB in CUSA? Seems to me you all would be the best geographical fit, and as a WKU fan you all would be my No. 1 choice.

Any rumblings in Mobile?

In the past we had no chance because USM blocked us and UAB supported USM. If UAB is kicked out, then would anyone side with USM? Would USM still have the same position? Would WKU and MTSU go to bat for us? There are a lot of unknowns, but all USA can do is support the conference we are in...

Thanks for the replies.

You hear that a lot with conference maneuvering, that one school (USM) can block another one (USA). I always wonder if that's more paranoia than anything or actually true. I mean, can one school override the wishes of the rest of the conference? (Not that the rest of the conference is pining for USA.)

I would think you'd have great support from WKU in this matter. Was simply curious about your wishes.

(01-23-2015 04:06 PM)ToppersInDaVille Wrote:  Thanks for the replies.

You hear that a lot with conference maneuvering, that one school (USM) can block another one (USA). I always wonder if that's more paranoia than anything or actually true. I mean, can one school override the wishes of the rest of the conference? (Not that the rest of the conference is pining for USA.)

I would think you'd have great support from WKU in this matter. Was simply curious about your wishes.

Hypothetical: If USM wanted to block USA but didn't mind inviting EKU, and WKU didn't want EKU but didn't mind USA, then USM and WKU could partner together where WKU joined in blocking USA if USM joined in blocking EKU.

When CUSA was first formed USM tried to block USA, but Louisville went to bat for us and got us the votes to get in despite USM's no vote. Our president turned down the offer at the last minute (our AD was at the airport to go accept the invite and everything). So USM can't block USA all alone, but being a charter member USM is sure to have allies that would support them.

If a bid comes, USA will look at it.

That being said...USA's football expansion didn't have joining CUSA as a critical success factor. We've been in the Belt for 40 years. We're prepared to stay here another 40.

At any rate, I think that USA's candidacy to CUSA is a long shot for a variety of reasons. We wish WKU the best in its new conference affiliation and look forward to some OOC games in the future.

At this point a move to CUSA would not necessarily be a giant step, but there are so many other SBC teams (fans) salivating to exit the Belt for "higher ground", so who knows what the future holds for the Sun Belt? No one knows at this point what Conference USA is going to do with the UAB situation and everyone is in a holding pattern.

(01-23-2015 04:06 PM)ToppersInDaVille Wrote:  Thanks for the replies.

You hear that a lot with conference maneuvering, that one school (USM) can block another one (USA). I always wonder if that's more paranoia than anything or actually true. I mean, can one school override the wishes of the rest of the conference? (Not that the rest of the conference is pining for USA.)

I would think you'd have great support from WKU in this matter. Was simply curious about your wishes.

It's not just paranoia. It happens fairly regularly. Usually it's a verbal agreement to support another school's wishes in exchange for getting something that they want.

In the SBC version, The Cajuns have an all out block on all Southland Members joining the league. While they are the primary instigator of the block, Arkansas State usually supports this because the Cajuns will support us on another issue that we want.

The Paranoia factor is the fans version in which fans have this wide idea that blocking is some concerted effort to keep a school out, when in reality its mostly a political thing.

20 years ago it would have been a great move for South. But the past is the past. Other then USM, there really isn't anyone else in that conference that excites me. I still stand by my want of having the SBC extend an invite to them, publicly. Announce it, post it on ESPN. Force the SBC out in front of CUSA. We need a commish with a set that is willing to start making noise, perception is everything, make the perception of the SBC better then that of CUSA. It wouldn't take much to do that.

The ONLY reason I would support South Alabama joining C-USA would be for the basketball. Other sports it'd be no more than a lateral move IMO. All added up, I simply do not care one way or the other if we get an invite. The prospect makes me yawn and shrug.

How is CUSA's baseball in comparison to the Sun Belt's?

I honestly don't know and am not trying to stir a hornet's nest.

I know basketball wise, CUSA > SBC
I know this season in football, CUSA > SBC (last year, it was the other way, next year is TBD)
Baseball? I dunno

University CEO's love consensus. They work in an environment where they have to try to keep the board, the government, faculty, students, alums and the community happy.

The ACC has a bylaw that requires any motion to add a member in an existing state to be made by a member from that state, but as a general proposition leagues don't put that in writing. When Texas State and UTSA approached the Sun Belt the bylaws said anyone could make the motion. The talk was the votes were there and UNT indicated they would make a motion to add UTSA. When they got to new business on the agenda, UNT said nothing so it never received consideration because no one was going to buck UNT on Texas schools.

The league did not take that approach when Georgia Southern was being considered.

When the Sun Belt and American South merged UALR's entry to Sun Belt was set to be effective the day after the merger. The president of Lamar asked AState's president if we wanted a vote to revoke UALR's invite (we had just had a nasty dispute that cost AState several thousand dollars when UALR was forced by their board to break a multi-year contract when we had a press conference to invite UArk to play in our tournament). We obviously declined but that's how leagues work internally.

UTEP didn't want NMSU in the WAC but when the league was reeling from another raid they assented once UNT said no thanks. They made another run at UNT, then ULL, and AState and MTSU and only then did Boise agree to take Idaho because there wasn't enough support for the terms that UNT, UL, AState, MTSU put forward, take all of us.

If and lacking direct knowledge I stick with if, USM objects to USA, the rest of the members would weigh that heavily. Now if Fox is saying the only way CUSA gets the same or more money is to get back in Alabama, then USM's concerns won't carry much weight. If Fox is agnostic or has a list of multiple acceptable schools USA wouldn't be sunk. If say the list is UL, TXST, USA, NMSU, and AState, you could have groups of schools wanting to block NMSU (UTEP and schools not wanting the travel), TXST (UTSA, Rice, UNT), UL (LaTech and say Rice and USM), and AState (anyone objecting to the travel or current state of basketball), leaving USA as acceptable to more schools than any other candidate.

(01-24-2015 10:17 AM)Usajags Wrote:  20 years ago it would have been a great move for South. But the past is the past. Other then USM, there really isn't anyone else in that conference that excites me. I still stand by my want of having the SBC extend an invite to them, publicly. Announce it, post it on ESPN. Force the SBC out in front of CUSA. We need a commish with a set that is willing to start making noise, perception is everything, make the perception of the SBC better then that of CUSA. It wouldn't take much to do that.

A USM rivalry would be a good thing and I suspect USA has a few supporters who feel hoops has gotten the short end of the financial stick lately who would appreciate but I wonder how those fans would feel if UAB were to join the Sun Belt. Would that appease the USA hoops hardcores?

(01-24-2015 08:05 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 10:17 AM)Usajags Wrote:  20 years ago it would have been a great move for South. But the past is the past. Other then USM, there really isn't anyone else in that conference that excites me. I still stand by my want of having the SBC extend an invite to them, publicly. Announce it, post it on ESPN. Force the SBC out in front of CUSA. We need a commish with a set that is willing to start making noise, perception is everything, make the perception of the SBC better then that of CUSA. It wouldn't take much to do that.

A USM rivalry would be a good thing and I suspect USA has a few supporters who feel hoops has gotten the short end of the financial stick lately who would appreciate but I wonder how those fans would feel if UAB were to join the Sun Belt. Would that appease the USA hoops hardcores?

Speaking of UAB, do you think they would have the league's support if CUSA boots them? I mean, if we're not going to give NMSU an invite because of travel concerns, than UAB makes a ton of sense.

(01-24-2015 07:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  How is CUSA's baseball in comparison to the Sun Belt's?

I honestly don't know and am not trying to stir a hornet's nest.

I know basketball wise, CUSA > SBC
I know this season in football, CUSA > SBC (last year, it was the other way, next year is TBD)
Baseball? I dunno

According to warren Nolan rpi, for last year cusa finished 8th or 2nd in G5 conferences with the sunbelt coming in at 11 or 4th out of G5 schools.

(01-24-2015 08:10 PM)GeauxUL Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 07:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  How is CUSA's baseball in comparison to the Sun Belt's?

I honestly don't know and am not trying to stir a hornet's nest.

I know basketball wise, CUSA > SBC
I know this season in football, CUSA > SBC (last year, it was the other way, next year is TBD)
Baseball? I dunno

According to warren Nolan rpi, for last year cusa finished 8th or 2nd in G5 conferences with the sunbelt coming in at 11 or 4th out of G5 schools.

We traded a floundering WKU program to CUSA though and picked up two of the better programs in the South. Those numbers will change most likely.

And I always evaluate CUSA's numbers sans Rice, whose just in a whole other world in baseball.

(01-24-2015 08:12 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:10 PM)GeauxUL Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 07:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  How is CUSA's baseball in comparison to the Sun Belt's?

I honestly don't know and am not trying to stir a hornet's nest.

I know basketball wise, CUSA > SBC
I know this season in football, CUSA > SBC (last year, it was the other way, next year is TBD)
Baseball? I dunno

According to warren Nolan rpi, for last year cusa finished 8th or 2nd in G5 conferences with the sunbelt coming in at 11 or 4th out of G5 schools.

We traded a floundering WKU program to CUSA though and picked up two of the better programs in the South. Those numbers will change most likely.

And I always evaluate CUSA's numbers sans Rice, whose just in a whole other world in baseball.

Guess you need to look at sunbelt without our rpi ranking of 6th last year then...

(01-24-2015 08:14 PM)GeauxUL Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:12 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:10 PM)GeauxUL Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 07:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  How is CUSA's baseball in comparison to the Sun Belt's?

I honestly don't know and am not trying to stir a hornet's nest.

I know basketball wise, CUSA > SBC
I know this season in football, CUSA > SBC (last year, it was the other way, next year is TBD)
Baseball? I dunno

According to warren Nolan rpi, for last year cusa finished 8th or 2nd in G5 conferences with the sunbelt coming in at 11 or 4th out of G5 schools.

We traded a floundering WKU program to CUSA though and picked up two of the better programs in the South. Those numbers will change most likely.

And I always evaluate CUSA's numbers sans Rice, whose just in a whole other world in baseball.

Guess you need to look at sunbelt without our rpi ranking of 6th last year then...

Not the same, you guys don't dominate the SBC every single year. Rice is one of the top 15 programs in the country. You guys missed the SBC tourney a couple years ago.

(01-24-2015 08:17 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:14 PM)GeauxUL Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:12 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 08:10 PM)GeauxUL Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 07:38 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  How is CUSA's baseball in comparison to the Sun Belt's?

I honestly don't know and am not trying to stir a hornet's nest.

I know basketball wise, CUSA > SBC
I know this season in football, CUSA > SBC (last year, it was the other way, next year is TBD)
Baseball? I dunno

According to warren Nolan rpi, for last year cusa finished 8th or 2nd in G5 conferences with the sunbelt coming in at 11 or 4th out of G5 schools.

We traded a floundering WKU program to CUSA though and picked up two of the better programs in the South. Those numbers will change most likely.

And I always evaluate CUSA's numbers sans Rice, whose just in a whole other world in baseball.

Guess you need to look at sunbelt without our rpi ranking of 6th last year then...

Not the same, you guys don't dominate the SBC every single year. Rice is one of the top 15 programs in the country. You guys missed the SBC tourney a couple years ago.

And what other better program did we pick up besides GS? Both app and Georgia state were about 40-50 spots lower than wku last year...

(01-24-2015 08:05 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-24-2015 10:17 AM)Usajags Wrote:  20 years ago it would have been a great move for South. But the past is the past. Other then USM, there really isn't anyone else in that conference that excites me. I still stand by my want of having the SBC extend an invite to them, publicly. Announce it, post it on ESPN. Force the SBC out in front of CUSA. We need a commish with a set that is willing to start making noise, perception is everything, make the perception of the SBC better then that of CUSA. It wouldn't take much to do that.

A USM rivalry would be a good thing and I suspect USA has a few supporters who feel hoops has gotten the short end of the financial stick lately who would appreciate but I wonder how those fans would feel if UAB were to join the Sun Belt. Would that appease the USA hoops hardcores?

I agree a USM rivalry would be a good thing. It would also be a good thing for USM to stop blocking USA to C-USA because it is Darwinian. They used to OWN the Mobile area 3*'s and now they've lost their recruiting prowess to USA in our area. Again, I'm NOT pimping for USA to C-USA - I couldn't care any less. I'm just stating the obvious- that USM is shooting themselves in the foot by continuing their irrelevance in Mobile.

As for UAB b-ball and even other oly sports -- YUP-- all... for... it.