(05-30-2013 10:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 12:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If everyone would have stayed put the Big East football would have died

That was true in 2003 (maybe that's what you are referring to).

After BC, Miami, and VT all announced their defections to the ACC by September 2003, the Big East was projected to have:

1. Syracuse
2. Pitt
3. Rutgers
4. West Virginia

Plus they were in the process of expelling Temple and promoting UConn, so they had a total of 5 football-playing members.

If C-USA of 2003 had held firm, they could have forced a merger of the two football-leagues, thus resulting in the following 16-team football league:

Cincinnati
Connecticut
East Carolina
Houston
Louisville
Memphis
Rutgers
Pittsburgh
South Florida
Southern Miss
Syracuse
TCU
Tulane
UAB
West Virginia

With either Temple or UCF as #16. Army would have withdrawn no matter what.

What might have been...

Wow. That aint bad....the west would be kinda lonely though. Best I could come up with is not very western--but it would be a good division.

TCU
Memphis
Houston
Tulane
S Miss?
UAB?
Cinci?
Louisville?

(05-30-2013 10:34 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 10:27 PM)Native Georgian Wrote:  What might have been...

Wow. That aint bad....the west would be kinda lonely though. Best I could come up with is not very western--but it would be a good division.

Yeah, I think the split would've been east/west like so:

West:
Cincinnati - Houston - Louisville - Memphis - Southern Miss - TCU - Tulane - UAB

East:
East Carolina - Pittsburgh - Rutgers - South Florida - Syracuse - UConn - West Virginia, plus UCF or Temple.

(05-30-2013 12:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If everyone would have stayed put the Big East football would have died and we would be a league that could overtake the MWC but greed has diluted everyone's minds. Now all these leagues are on the same level begging for scraps outside the power 5.

UTSA for example has the same access to the playoff as everyone that has left. In the process basketball is diluted. Thanks.

*sigh*

I hesitate to climb back onto my high horse about this, because it makes
me genuinely angry.

it wasn't greed. it was basic dishonesty. it was morally vile. first, the
oBE commissioner sold AQ status that didn't exist any more. yet people
bought it. then, he sold a mega-$ tv contract that he knew wasn't going
to happen. and people bought it again. and all this while, he knew that
at some point, the C7 schools would bail out on him -- he needed to fool
enough schools into buying into his bullsnit before the collapse came.

the folks at the AAC board seem to be split on their commissioner, but
they oughta erect statues in honor of the evil bastard. what he did was
reprehensible, but he managed to remain alive. I'm positive that it
degraded college football in general, and only serves to perpetuate the
big 5 status quo. but he managed to remain employed.

I am sure that there is a special place in hell reserved for that guy. I
hope his prick rots off. I hope his wife has an affair with his father. I
hope his daughter becomes a porn star. I wish him long life, but
poor health, and much misery.

(05-27-2013 11:27 PM)L1C4 Wrote:  rThis was usually a 5 bid league which ranked up there near the top.

5 is a stretch.

1995-96 - 4 NCAA teams. 4 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 6
1996-97 - 4 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
1997-98 - 3 NCAA teams. 1 team in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
1998-99 - 4 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 6
1999-00 - 4 NCAA teams. 1 team in final AP poll. Conference rank = 6
2000-01 - 2 NCAA teams. No teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
2001-02 - 3 NCAA reams. 2 teams in Final AP poll. Conference rank = 7
2002-03 - 3 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 7
2003-04 - 6 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
2004-05 - 4 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8

If C-USA had never been raided it would be a top 4 league in both sports in my opinion. The only problem was C-USA never got that respect and therefore the money wouldn't be there to do so. That's the part I hate most about college athletics.

(06-01-2013 03:15 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(05-27-2013 11:27 PM)L1C4 Wrote:  rThis was usually a 5 bid league which ranked up there near the top.

5 is a stretch.

1995-96 - 4 NCAA teams. 4 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 6
1996-97 - 4 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
1997-98 - 3 NCAA teams. 1 team in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
1998-99 - 4 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 6
1999-00 - 4 NCAA teams. 1 team in final AP poll. Conference rank = 6
2000-01 - 2 NCAA teams. No teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
2001-02 - 3 NCAA reams. 2 teams in Final AP poll. Conference rank = 7
2002-03 - 3 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 7
2003-04 - 6 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8
2004-05 - 4 NCAA teams. 2 teams in final AP poll. Conference rank = 8

It could have been a 5 bid league. For example in 2003-2004 all 6 of the teams that made the NCAA field had top 40 RPIs. The conference was rated the 3rd best in the RPI that season I believe.

We all got stuck with 7-9 seeds except our champion Cincinnati who got a damn 4 seed. We never got the respect we deserved.

CollegeRPI has CUSA 5th ranked conference in 2003-04. It was by far the best year.

Cincinnati was ranked 11th and Louisville had an RPI of 24. The other four teams were ranked in the 30's. Back then, the RPI was a bigger factor in the selection process. Today, they would not have chosen six teams.

(06-01-2013 08:16 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  CollegeRPI has CUSA 5th ranked conference in 2003-04. It was by far the best year.

Cincinnati was ranked 11th and Louisville had an RPI of 24. The other four teams were ranked in the 30's. Back then, the RPI was a bigger factor in the selection process. Today, they would not have chosen six teams.

Good stuff. Thanks for looking it up. As I said we still deserved more then what we got.

(05-27-2013 11:27 PM)L1C4 Wrote:  Hope you allow a UofL fan here for a second. I have always had a tremendous respect for C-USA. One of the more programs I always enjoyed playing in football was Southern Miss. Back in the 90's when this league was formed they are who we strived to be. I remember this league being an underrated basketball conference with programs such as Cincinnati, Charlotte, Louisville, Memphis, DePaul, UAB all who made regular NCAA Tournament appearances. This was usually a 5 bid league which ranked up there near the top. Baseball was always fun playing Tulane when they were a power along with Southern Miss.

My question is to the fans of Tulane, UAB, Southern Miss, Memphis, Houston, etc what are your thoughts on how much the league has changed? When you first remember it back in the mid 90's was there any chance you would believe all the major changes it has gone through? Weird question probably, but hey its the offseason

I am 60 years old and have followed Southern Miss as far back as I can remember. I remember Louisville and USM having some pretty interesting games like in 81 when USM had only the blemish of a tie to Alabama on our record only to bomb against Louisville on national TV for our only regular season loss. Of course, USM returned the favor later on, but the two have had some very tough rides in the past not only from being in the same conference, but before. I do have problems with Louisville after how they messed up the start of football in the conference, some of the hideous fans I saw when Louisville came into Hattiesburg that were so poor on sportsmanship that I wondered if they took lesson on poor sportsmanship for Ole Miss. I also have encountered some pretty good U of L fans but not enough to offset the negativity past U of L fans and Coach Cooper created, as well as the reputation of anything to win even if it takes just getting players who couldn't pass high school without cheating. I think U of L has gone beyond that, but I honestly, don't miss U of L. I do hate to see some our former conference mates gone, like Memphis, Central Fla., Cincy, and hate to see ECU and Tulsa gone. I am glad to see Marshall, UAB, UTEP still in conference and welcome La. Tech, WKU, MTSU and think we have some that are going to be great additions but have some growing to do to be a force.

I have been honest about Louisville and hope it was taking as an honest reply, and I also hope them the best because the last few times we have played them, they seem to have made their program more respectable than it use to be.

(06-01-2013 02:18 PM)EagleX Wrote:  I am sure that there is a special place in hell reserved for that guy. I hope his prick rots off. I hope his wife has an affair with his father. I hope his daughter becomes a porn star. I wish him long life, but poor health, and much misery.

Well, god-damn!

(06-01-2013 02:18 PM)EagleX Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 12:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If everyone would have stayed put the Big East football would have died and we would be a league that could overtake the MWC but greed has diluted everyone's minds. Now all these leagues are on the same level begging for scraps outside the power 5.

UTSA for example has the same access to the playoff as everyone that has left. In the process basketball is diluted. Thanks.

*sigh*

I hesitate to climb back onto my high horse about this, because it makes
me genuinely angry.

it wasn't greed. it was basic dishonesty. it was morally vile. first, the
oBE commissioner sold AQ status that didn't exist any more. yet people
bought it. then, he sold a mega-$ tv contract that he knew wasn't going
to happen. and people bought it again. and all this while, he knew that
at some point, the C7 schools would bail out on him -- he needed to fool
enough schools into buying into his bullsnit before the collapse came.

the folks at the AAC board seem to be split on their commissioner, but
they oughta erect statues in honor of the evil bastard. what he did was
reprehensible, but he managed to remain alive. I'm positive that it
degraded college football in general, and only serves to perpetuate the
big 5 status quo. but he managed to remain employed.

I am sure that there is a special place in hell reserved for that guy. I
hope his prick rots off. I hope his wife has an affair with his father. I
hope his daughter becomes a porn star. I wish him long life, but
poor health, and much misery.

Karma is ***** buddy, careful what you wish on others. Aresco is a human being like the rest of us. Your last paragraph is disgusting and out of line.

(06-03-2013 08:41 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(06-01-2013 02:18 PM)EagleX Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 12:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If everyone would have stayed put the Big East football would have died and we would be a league that could overtake the MWC but greed has diluted everyone's minds. Now all these leagues are on the same level begging for scraps outside the power 5.

UTSA for example has the same access to the playoff as everyone that has left. In the process basketball is diluted. Thanks.

*sigh*

I hesitate to climb back onto my high horse about this, because it makes
me genuinely angry.

it wasn't greed. it was basic dishonesty. it was morally vile. first, the
oBE commissioner sold AQ status that didn't exist any more. yet people
bought it. then, he sold a mega-$ tv contract that he knew wasn't going
to happen. and people bought it again. and all this while, he knew that
at some point, the C7 schools would bail out on him -- he needed to fool
enough schools into buying into his bullsnit before the collapse came.

the folks at the AAC board seem to be split on their commissioner, but
they oughta erect statues in honor of the evil bastard. what he did was
reprehensible, but he managed to remain alive. I'm positive that it
degraded college football in general, and only serves to perpetuate the
big 5 status quo. but he managed to remain employed.

I am sure that there is a special place in hell reserved for that guy. I
hope his prick rots off. I hope his wife has an affair with his father. I
hope his daughter becomes a porn star. I wish him long life, but
poor health, and much misery.

Karma is ***** buddy, careful what you wish on others. Aresco is a human being like the rest of us. Your last paragraph is disgusting and out of line.

nope. I spoke with karma. Fate, destiny, and payback, too. they all understand that this is the Internet, and are totally fine with the whole thing.

(06-03-2013 09:07 PM)EagleX Wrote:  

(06-03-2013 08:41 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(06-01-2013 02:18 PM)EagleX Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 12:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If everyone would have stayed put the Big East football would have died and we would be a league that could overtake the MWC but greed has diluted everyone's minds. Now all these leagues are on the same level begging for scraps outside the power 5.

UTSA for example has the same access to the playoff as everyone that has left. In the process basketball is diluted. Thanks.

*sigh*

I hesitate to climb back onto my high horse about this, because it makes
me genuinely angry.

it wasn't greed. it was basic dishonesty. it was morally vile. first, the
oBE commissioner sold AQ status that didn't exist any more. yet people
bought it. then, he sold a mega-$ tv contract that he knew wasn't going
to happen. and people bought it again. and all this while, he knew that
at some point, the C7 schools would bail out on him -- he needed to fool
enough schools into buying into his bullsnit before the collapse came.

the folks at the AAC board seem to be split on their commissioner, but
they oughta erect statues in honor of the evil bastard. what he did was
reprehensible, but he managed to remain alive. I'm positive that it
degraded college football in general, and only serves to perpetuate the
big 5 status quo. but he managed to remain employed.

I am sure that there is a special place in hell reserved for that guy. I
hope his prick rots off. I hope his wife has an affair with his father. I
hope his daughter becomes a porn star. I wish him long life, but
poor health, and much misery.

Karma is ***** buddy, careful what you wish on others. Aresco is a human being like the rest of us. Your last paragraph is disgusting and out of line.

nope. I spoke with karma. Fate, destiny, and payback, too. they all understand that this is the Internet, and are totally fine with the whole thing.

Being a sports fan is intended for entertainment and taking your mind off the serious things that we deal with.....this ain't life and death stuff.

(06-01-2013 02:18 PM)EagleX Wrote:  

(05-30-2013 12:09 PM)ATTALLABLAZE Wrote:  If everyone would have stayed put the Big East football would have died and we would be a league that could overtake the MWC but greed has diluted everyone's minds. Now all these leagues are on the same level begging for scraps outside the power 5.

UTSA for example has the same access to the playoff as everyone that has left. In the process basketball is diluted. Thanks.

*sigh*

I hesitate to climb back onto my high horse about this, because it makes
me genuinely angry.

it wasn't greed. it was basic dishonesty. it was morally vile. first, the
oBE commissioner sold AQ status that didn't exist any more. yet people
bought it. then, he sold a mega-$ tv contract that he knew wasn't going
to happen. and people bought it again. and all this while, he knew that
at some point, the C7 schools would bail out on him -- he needed to fool
enough schools into buying into his bullsnit before the collapse came.

the folks at the AAC board seem to be split on their commissioner, but
they oughta erect statues in honor of the evil bastard. what he did was
reprehensible, but he managed to remain alive. I'm positive that it
degraded college football in general, and only serves to perpetuate the
big 5 status quo. but he managed to remain employed.

I am sure that there is a special place in hell reserved for that guy. I
hope his prick rots off. I hope his wife has an affair with his father. I
hope his daughter becomes a porn star. I wish him long life, but
poor health, and much misery.

Damn what a post. Honestly though I wish when Ban Ban and Thompson wanted to talk about a 3 conference merger that Marinara would have listened. It basically would have resulted in the gang of 3 instead of the gang of 5. That and the merger didn't happen because the Big East basically killed both, and that's actually harmed all 3 leagues long term. Essentially the Big East's quest to remain a power conference and ahead of both the MWC and C-USA helped to ensure that they ended up being grouped as peers of those leagues without the benefits of working together.