(06-17-2016 12:33 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 11:40 AM)JTApps1 Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 11:16 AM)HoustonCajun Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 08:09 AM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  

(06-17-2016 07:30 AM)runamuck Wrote:  seems to me that it would be in everyones best interest for the future to just have a meeting of all the cusa and sbc ad's and realign the members in maybe an east/west, oldtime rivalry type of arrangement with some schools just changing conferences. try to reach the setup that makes the most folks happy. no need to fret about auto bids that way but maybe renegotiate some of the media deals. I know those of us in the west would be able to get more fans to come out for games against regional rivals. uta would have some good crowds for games against utep-unt-txst-stAte-ulaf-rice-nmsu. you guys along the east would probably be able to gin up some good regional matchups that the fans would be excited about. the current makeup of the two conferences is a little bit of a hodge-podge because of the last round of realignment and departures.

This is something that a lot agree on, but its the details that get in the way. There are 24 total teams (26 if you include Idaho and NMSU). I really don't see Idaho being a part of this regionalization though, so that means NMSU is odd man out or if CCU can't get their stadium upgraded maybe drop them (I'm not saying I want this to happen, but just looking for an easy way to even numbers out) or maybe see if JMU finally wants to move up into this new East conference (CUSA 4.0). I really don't want to go past 12 teams though. You dilute the money too much that way, but less travel and more regional games may offset this with increase tickets sales and cheaper travel. See what I mean about the details? Also, you may have schools that just don't wanna align with others or feel they should be with other schools even if they fit better in another conference. There may still be overlap to make the majority happy.

Lets say you take the 11 most eastern schools, including CCU, and add JMU. This is the new-new CUSA

Then the take the 13 western schools and add NMSU. This would be the new-new SBC.

Would everyone be good with this?

Here is how I would restructure.

Divide the SBC and CUSA into 2 conferences:

SBC - change name to SWC

South - USM, Louisiana, Rice, Texas State, UTSA, UTEP
North - Ark State, La Tech, N. Texas, WKU, MTSU, Marshall

CUSA

North - ODU, Charlotte, Ga State, Ga Southern, App State, Coastal
South - FIU, FAU, Troy, USA, ULM, UAB

Geography makes sense, but I don't see App, GS, and Troy wanting to be with so many startup programs. I realize we just moved up two years ago, but we all have years of history and strong fan bases.

Sorry Houston Cajun, don't see those eastern schools agreeing to be put together without Marshall, WKU, and MTSU. I understand the cherry picking but if you are going to do it go all out.
Here's another question, out of the current SBC and CUSA schools what is the best overall conference you can make? This may be different based on what school you belong to (I'm assuming everyone will put there own school in this best-of conference). You may be influenced by history or potential or like-mindedness. Whatever... Just what is your personal best of conference. Not sure if I have one, but will try...

GS
Appy
USM
WKU
Marshall
ULL
ArkSt
Troy
MTSU
FAU
ODU
Coastal

This is just my preference based on geography, overall program strengths, and yes bias. I could look at a map and maybe change my mind, cause I'm sure I forgot someone that I would want. But to me this would be a solid conference that wold allow rivalries to grow and easy travel for fans and teams. This is strong football and baseball conference with pretty good basketball.

Just playing along.

So if that would leave these two conferences and these splits?

--------------------------------------------
Conference 1
--------------------------------------------
GS
FAU
Coastal
USM
ULL
Troy
///////////
Appy
WKU
Marshall
ArkSt
MTSU
ODU

================================
----------------------------------------
Conference 2
----------------------------------------
Charlotte
ULM
GAST
USA
UAB
FIU
///////////
LTech
TXST
N.TX
Rice
TX SanAnt
TX El Paso
======================================

Weakest links in conference 1 until proven otherwise:
Coastal,FAU, or Troy????

Strongest links in conference 2 until proven otherwise:
La Tech, TX State, ????

IDK?