(05-23-2013 12:47 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.

Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

The opportunity is there for sure, more so then at any other time the talent gap between the Go5 schools is at the narrowest its ever been.

It is. Many CUSA fans don't want to hear that they have a lot of work to do and are sort of deluding themselves into thinking that they've finally reached their destination and fallen into the easy life. That may be one advantage the SBC has.

The five of us leaving for CUSA being a good move and the Sun Belt being on the rise are not mutually exclusive.

I do think some of you still in the Sun Belt are overblowing our attitude regarding the move. I haven't seen anyone from the departing fan bases say that we've "arrived" or are on easy street. We could be joining the 2004 CUSA lineup and I'd hardly consider that arriving.

(05-23-2013 12:20 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:12 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 11:38 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Never seen so many people drooling to do something that very well may not help their schools in
the long run. Hard to see the forest for the trees.
Hope everyone gets what they want.

Being in a conference with 4 in-state rivals, cutting travel costs considerably, increased bowl tie-ins, better TV exposure. . . . what part of the forest am I missing? Not trying to piss anyone off, simply the benefit of a cusa invite that I see . . .

Because you wouldn't then be in a conference with all of us.
You like us better than them, don't you?

Niiiiiice . . . I've got no axe to grind with anyone here . . . and am fine being in the SBC, but at the same time recognize that there are other conferences where we might be a better fit . . .

(05-23-2013 01:04 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  The five of us leaving for CUSA being a good move and the Sun Belt being on the rise are not mutually exclusive.

I do think some of you still in the Sun Belt are overblowing our attitude regarding the move. I haven't seen anyone from the departing fan bases say that we've "arrived" or are on easy street. We could be joining the 2004 CUSA lineup and I'd hardly consider that arriving.

You should check out the North Texas board.

(05-23-2013 12:50 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:47 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.

Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

The opportunity is there for sure, more so then at any other time the talent gap between the Go5 schools is at the narrowest its ever been.

It is. Many CUSA fans don't want to hear that they have a lot of work to do and are sort of deluding themselves into thinking that they've finally reached their destination and fallen into the easy life. That may be one advantage the SBC has.

I think the same could be said about a rebuilding Sun Belt Conference and it's fans. Those same people keep pointing to Old Dominion and UTSA while at the same time the Sun Belt is counting on GSU, South Alabama, Georgia Southern and App State to regain it's glory year of four bowl teams? Anyway you spin it, the rebuilding project is 4 to 5 years away with any reasonable evaluation. On the other hand, UTSA is moving along quickly and I certainly don't expect USM to lose another 11 games this season. They have been one the most consistant mid-mjor programs over the past 15 years. Are the two conferences miles apart, no!

Now lets look at it from a regional footprint, in the C-USA West Division UL would have drive trips to UTSA, UNT, Rice, Louisiana Tech and USM. That is six conference opponents within 8 hours or less drive. UAB would be in the range as well. In addition to that, you can look at the current crossover television contracts and Fox Sports and at least for UL, C-USA means a better footprint and regional exposure for its athletic programs.

Now I don't give a damn who that insults.

(05-23-2013 12:46 PM)slycat Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.
Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

I would like to see the conference stick together and pass CUSA. It will be interesting to see that happen.

As long as NMSU and Idaho are in the line-up,you're not going to pass anyone.

(05-23-2013 01:04 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:20 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:12 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 11:38 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Never seen so many people drooling to do something that very well may not help their schools in
the long run. Hard to see the forest for the trees.
Hope everyone gets what they want.

Being in a conference with 4 in-state rivals, cutting travel costs considerably, increased bowl tie-ins, better TV exposure. . . . what part of the forest am I missing? Not trying to piss anyone off, simply the benefit of a cusa invite that I see . . .

Because you wouldn't then be in a conference with all of us.
You like us better than them, don't you?

Niiiiiice . . . I've got no axe to grind with anyone here . . . and am fine being in the SBC, but at the same time recognize that there are other conferences where we might be a better fit . . .

I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of fans of other SBC teams that feel there are other conferences they'd be a better fit in.

(05-23-2013 01:27 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:46 PM)slycat Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.
Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

I would like to see the conference stick together and pass CUSA. It will be interesting to see that happen.

As long as NMSU and Idaho are in the line-up,you're not going to pass anyone.

Same could be said about having some of the teams CUSA took from the SBC....Idaho made a bowl three years ago.

(05-23-2013 01:27 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:46 PM)slycat Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.
Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

I would like to see the conference stick together and pass CUSA. It will be interesting to see that happen.

As long as NMSU and Idaho are in the line-up,you're not going to pass anyone.

Says the guy in a conference with UAB, FAU and UNCC.

(05-23-2013 01:26 PM)CrazyCajun Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:50 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:47 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.

Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

The opportunity is there for sure, more so then at any other time the talent gap between the Go5 schools is at the narrowest its ever been.

It is. Many CUSA fans don't want to hear that they have a lot of work to do and are sort of deluding themselves into thinking that they've finally reached their destination and fallen into the easy life. That may be one advantage the SBC has.

I think the same could be said about a rebuilding Sun Belt Conference and it's fans. Those same people keep pointing to Old Dominion and UTSA while at the same time the Sun Belt is counting on GSU, South Alabama, Georgia Southern and App State to regain it's glory year of four bowl teams? Anyway you spin it, the rebuilding project is 4 to 5 years away with any reasonable evaluation. On the other hand, UTSA is moving along quickly and I certainly don't expect USM to lose another 11 games this season. They have been one the most consistant mid-mjor programs over the past 15 years. Are the two conferences miles apart, no!

Now lets look at it from a regional footprint, in the C-USA West Division UL would have drive trips to UTSA, UNT, Rice, Louisiana Tech and USM. That is six conference opponents within 8 hours or less drive. UAB would be in the range as well. In addition to that, you can look at the current crossover television contracts and Fox Sports and at least for UL, C-USA means a better footprint and regional exposure for its athletic programs.

Now I don't give a damn who that insults.

We return 3 of those 4 bowl teams. If I am gambling on futures, I fell good about the FCS teams we added who have won multiple national titles. UTSA is no more impressive than Texas State.

How would you rank the go5 conferences in the major sports?

Football = 1. MWC 2. AAC 3. SBC/MAC/CUSA all pretty much even
Basketball = 1. AAC 2. MWC. 3. CUSA 4. SBC 5. MAC
Baseball = 1. CUSA 2. SBC 3. AAC 4. MWC 5. MAC

The SBC needs to improve basketball a little, but otherwise we are just as good as the other go5 conferences and the competition gap is not very much.

(05-23-2013 01:27 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:46 PM)slycat Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.
Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

I would like to see the conference stick together and pass CUSA. It will be interesting to see that happen.

As long as NMSU and Idaho are in the line-up,you're not going to pass anyone.

As long as NMSU's Sports are divided we will always be looking for another home where all can be in the same conference. Our BOR has stated they want them all in one conference and most fans feel the same way.

(05-23-2013 01:37 PM)Rik Flair Wrote:  How would you rank the go5 conferences in the major sports?

Football = 1. MWC 2. AAC 3. SBC/MAC/CUSA all pretty much even
Basketball = 1. AAC 2. MWC. 3. CUSA 4. SBC 5. MAC
Baseball = 1. CUSA 2. SBC 3. AAC 4. MWC 5. MAC

The SBC needs to improve basketball a little, but otherwise we are just as good as the other go5 conferences and the competition gap is not very much.

I wouldn't put CUSA ahead of the SBC in baseball. And I expect we got stronger with the new adds.

(05-23-2013 01:36 PM)Crump1 Wrote:  We return 3 of those 4 bowl teams. If I am gambling on futures, I fell good about the FCS teams we added who have won multiple national titles. UTSA is no more impressive than Texas State.

Not sure if stAte and UL's recent success is cyclical or not. However, looking at it in a more historic frame of reference, the current top-3 SBC schools (UL, ASU and Troy) v. the top-3 C-USA schools (USM, La Tech and Marshall) leaves a lot to be desired.

Every conference has had its programs cherry-picked and it's going to take five years (if the SBC history serves as any guide) for things to shake themselves out. Each conference has had its legs knocked out from under them so the pecking order is going to hold for a while.

The MAC is better than the SBC at Basketball.

Ohio was in the sweet sixteen the year before last and Kent and Akron are always good.

All of the good BBall teams in the SBC except UALR are going to CUSA (MTSU, WKU)

Also, I don't think you can put the SBC on equal footing with the MAC and CUSA in football given that the SBC has never had a ranked team and is bringing on essentially 5 call ups in an 11 team league, while CUSA and the MAC always have at least 1 ranked team each season.

Baseball could be a toss up on a year to year basis except for the MAC, who still had a CWS team in Kent St.

Football: 1.AAC/MWC 2. CUSA/MAC 3. SBC
Basketball: 1. AAC 2. MWC 3. CUSA 4. MAC 5. SBC
Baseball: year to year

(05-23-2013 01:22 PM)Crump1 Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 01:04 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  The five of us leaving for CUSA being a good move and the Sun Belt being on the rise are not mutually exclusive.

I do think some of you still in the Sun Belt are overblowing our attitude regarding the move. I haven't seen anyone from the departing fan bases say that we've "arrived" or are on easy street. We could be joining the 2004 CUSA lineup and I'd hardly consider that arriving.

You should check out the North Texas board.

Folks on the North Texas board are just happy to be in a conference that is a more regional fit. Something we've wanted for years.

(05-23-2013 02:08 PM)HCJag Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 01:37 PM)Rik Flair Wrote:  How would you rank the go5 conferences in the major sports?

Football = 1. MWC 2. AAC 3. SBC/MAC/CUSA all pretty much even
Basketball = 1. AAC 2. MWC. 3. CUSA 4. SBC 5. MAC
Baseball = 1. CUSA 2. SBC 3. AAC 4. MWC 5. MAC

The SBC needs to improve basketball a little, but otherwise we are just as good as the other go5 conferences and the competition gap is not very much.

I wouldn't put CUSA ahead of the SBC in baseball. And I expect we got stronger with the new adds.

Thank you sir, thank you. We will try to not disappoint. We are a little distracted now, battling for our second NCAA appearance in a row.

(05-23-2013 02:12 PM)mufanatehc Wrote:  The MAC is better than the SBC at Basketball.

Ohio was in the sweet sixteen the year before last and Kent and Akron are always good.

All of the good BBall teams in the SBC except UALR are going to CUSA (MTSU, WKU)

Also, I don't think you can put the SBC on equal footing with the MAC and CUSA in football given that the SBC has never had a ranked team and is bringing on essentially 5 call ups in an 11 team league, while CUSA and the MAC always have at least 1 ranked team each season.

Baseball could be a toss up on a year to year basis except for the MAC, who still had a CWS team in Kent St.

Football: 1.AAC/MWC 2. CUSA/MAC 3. SBC
Basketball: 1. AAC 2. MWC 3. CUSA 4. MAC 5. SBC
Baseball: year to year

I don't disagree mch with basketball, but you are deluding yourself if you think the MAC compares to the Belt in baseball. One team in the CWS doesn't mean much if you are looking at it from top to bottom.

(05-23-2013 01:56 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 01:27 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:46 PM)slycat Wrote:  

(05-23-2013 12:41 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  It would be easy to see how some SunBelt members could get agrivated with Louisiana fans. At almost every turn they keep talking about wanting to go to CUSA.
Call me an optimist if you want but I really see the SunBelt as a conference on the rise. Appalachian and us are good football programs and I think will help the SunBelt.

I would like to see the conference stick together and pass CUSA. It will be interesting to see that happen.

As long as NMSU and Idaho are in the line-up,you're not going to pass anyone.

As long as NMSU's Sports are divided we will always be looking for another home where all can be in the same conference. Our BOR has stated they want them all in one conference and most fans feel the same way.

. . . would love to have you guys ALL IN in the SBC!

(05-23-2013 01:04 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  I do think some of you still in the Sun Belt are overblowing our attitude regarding the move. I haven't seen anyone from the departing fan bases say that we've "arrived" or are on easy street. We could be joining the 2004 CUSA lineup and I'd hardly consider that arriving.

You need to read your own boards. Geesh.

The MAC is better than the SBC at Basketball.

Ohio was in the sweet sixteen the year before last and Kent and Akron are always good.

All of the good BBall teams in the SBC except UALR are going to CUSA (MTSU, WKU)

UL and South Alabama would like a word with you.

Also, I don't think you can put the SBC on equal footing with the MAC and CUSA in football given that the SBC has never had a ranked team and is bringing on essentially 5 call ups in an 11 team league, while CUSA and the MAC always have at least 1 ranked team each season.

I think the MAC has a several year head start, since the SBC has only played football for a decade. So naturally, you've got a leg up.

Baseball could be a toss up on a year to year basis except for the MAC, who still had a CWS team in Kent St.

That's a push, UL went to the CWS in 2000 and finished 3rd