You have a lot of flexibility with that many members. Those divisions aren't perfect geographically, but politically they possibly work, and that's what's necessary to make this possible. Otherwise you aren't going to be able to convince La Tech to be in the same conference with ULaMo.

(03-14-2019 12:53 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 11:51 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 11:40 AM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-12-2019 11:17 AM)MU ATO Wrote:  Remove all teams West of the Mississippi and call it a day.

I'm actually good with that, except IMO the line needs to be moved eastward just enough to include USM and UAB. That leaves the following:

LA Tech
USM
UAB
UNT
UTSA
Rice
UTEP

That's 7 schools from only 4 contiguous states (AL, MS, LA & TX). From there, "CUSA 4.0" can add 2 or three 3 other high quality schools that already sit within that pretty tight footprint. But no more than 9 members (optimum for football) or 10 members (probably best for all other sports), tops. And without the baggage in the east, we'll have a whole lot less beeching too.

...like Texas State, Troy, New Mexico State, ULL, and Arkansas State. I could handle that.

FIFY....

That's what I was thinking too. Every year we have to scramble to find bowl games for the schools in the east. No offense to the east, but we just don't need 'em. They are unnecessary baggage for those in the west. The CUSA East schools add little value to CUSA (I don't mean competitively, I mean strategically). The East adds no desirable bowl games, no tournament sites (e.g., literally no city in the east bid to host the CUSA Basketball tournament for 2020 & 2021) and they are a very tough "sell" back home to most fans in western CUSA. Nobody in Ruston or Denton or Hattiesburg gets excited about ODU, or Charlotte or the F_U's coming to town.

And yes, I know the reverse is true as well. All the more reason we should seriously agree to consider parting company.

The point is, these 7 specific schools that could make up "CUSA 4.0" in the west already have access to everything needed to be successful as a newer, smaller (in membership numbers) conference. Excluding the major bowl games --such as the Sugar, Cotton, etc.-- I counted at least 10 Bowl games in TX (5), LA (2) & Ala (3) that could easily involve these western schools at any time. There's just no need for this group to be carrying the eastern teams who probably should have never been added in the first place.

So, I say...just add 2 or 3 new members (maximum) to these 7 "CUSA 4.0" schools I mentioned, and market the crap out of this NEW conference throughout the 4 (or what could possibly be a 5-state) region. Become a household name. Schedule most OOC games against Big XII, SEC & AAC teams first and foremost, in this footprint. Hold the conference baseball tournaments in such Big Time venues as Frisco's Dr Pepper Park. Rotate the conference football championship between such big media markets as Dallas-Ft Worth (including Frisco), San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. The CUSA West schools already have EVERYTHING we need within a half day's drive for most of us in this footprint.

Speaking as one who is a fan of one of the unnecessary baggage teams, I like the idea in principal if for nothing else- reducing operating costs for travel and create more interesting regional matchups for media partners.

(03-14-2019 03:20 PM)Roy Munson Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 12:53 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 11:51 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 11:40 AM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-12-2019 11:17 AM)MU ATO Wrote:  Remove all teams West of the Mississippi and call it a day.

I'm actually good with that, except IMO the line needs to be moved eastward just enough to include USM and UAB. That leaves the following:

LA Tech
USM
UAB
UNT
UTSA
Rice
UTEP

That's 7 schools from only 4 contiguous states (AL, MS, LA & TX). From there, "CUSA 4.0" can add 2 or three 3 other high quality schools that already sit within that pretty tight footprint. But no more than 9 members (optimum for football) or 10 members (probably best for all other sports), tops. And without the baggage in the east, we'll have a whole lot less beeching too.

...like Texas State, Troy, New Mexico State, ULL, and Arkansas State. I could handle that.

FIFY....

That's what I was thinking too. Every year we have to scramble to find bowl games for the schools in the east. No offense to the east, but we just don't need 'em. They are unnecessary baggage for those in the west. The CUSA East schools add little value to CUSA (I don't mean competitively, I mean strategically). The East adds no desirable bowl games, no tournament sites (e.g., literally no city in the east bid to host the CUSA Basketball tournament for 2020 & 2021) and they are a very tough "sell" back home to most fans in western CUSA. Nobody in Ruston or Denton or Hattiesburg gets excited about ODU, or Charlotte or the F_U's coming to town.

And yes, I know the reverse is true as well. All the more reason we should seriously agree to consider parting company.

The point is, these 7 specific schools that could make up "CUSA 4.0" in the west already have access to everything needed to be successful as a newer, smaller (in membership numbers) conference. Excluding the major bowl games --such as the Sugar, Cotton, etc.-- I counted at least 10 Bowl games in TX (5), LA (2) & Ala (3) that could easily involve these western schools at any time. There's just no need for this group to be carrying the eastern teams who probably should have never been added in the first place.

So, I say...just add 2 or 3 new members (maximum) to these 7 "CUSA 4.0" schools I mentioned, and market the crap out of this NEW conference throughout the 4 (or what could possibly be a 5-state) region. Become a household name. Schedule most OOC games against Big XII, SEC & AAC teams first and foremost, in this footprint. Hold the conference baseball tournaments in such Big Time venues as Frisco's Dr Pepper Park. Rotate the conference football championship between such big media markets as Dallas-Ft Worth (including Frisco), San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. The CUSA West schools already have EVERYTHING we need within a half day's drive for most of us in this footprint.

Speaking as one who is a fan of one of the unnecessary baggage teams, I like the idea in principal if for nothing else- reducing operating costs for travel and create more interesting regional matchups for media partners.

Yeah but USM and UAB can come east if they want.

Well there is no A in the word Cluster, so there goes my marketing idea

(03-14-2019 03:46 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  Well there is no A in the word Cluster, so there goes my marketing idea

CLUSTA?

clt’s new conference USA

Charlotte
Odu
Fau
Coastal
Central Tennessee
Richmond
Ga state/southern
Jmu

(03-14-2019 03:56 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 03:46 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  Well there is no A in the word Cluster, so there goes my marketing idea

CLUSTA?

More along the lines of dropping the A and calling it CUS

Then we could market
You cant spell cluster without CUS

(03-14-2019 03:04 PM)USM@FTL Wrote:  You have a lot of flexibility with that many members. Those divisions aren't perfect geographically, but politically they possibly work, and that's what's necessary to make this possible. Otherwise you aren't going to be able to convince La Tech to be in the same conference with ULaMo.

That's true, but I'm pretty sure that ULM wouldn't be invited.. There are a couple schools in the Sun Belt that belong in FCS.

(03-14-2019 03:35 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 03:20 PM)Roy Munson Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 12:53 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 11:51 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 11:40 AM)HogDawg Wrote:  I'm actually good with that, except IMO the line needs to be moved eastward just enough to include USM and UAB. That leaves the following:

LA Tech
USM
UAB
UNT
UTSA
Rice
UTEP

That's 7 schools from only 4 contiguous states (AL, MS, LA & TX). From there, "CUSA 4.0" can add 2 or three 3 other high quality schools that already sit within that pretty tight footprint. But no more than 9 members (optimum for football) or 10 members (probably best for all other sports), tops. And without the baggage in the east, we'll have a whole lot less beeching too.

...like Texas State, Troy, New Mexico State, ULL, and Arkansas State. I could handle that.

FIFY....

That's what I was thinking too. Every year we have to scramble to find bowl games for the schools in the east. No offense to the east, but we just don't need 'em. They are unnecessary baggage for those in the west. The CUSA East schools add little value to CUSA (I don't mean competitively, I mean strategically). The East adds no desirable bowl games, no tournament sites (e.g., literally no city in the east bid to host the CUSA Basketball tournament for 2020 & 2021) and they are a very tough "sell" back home to most fans in western CUSA. Nobody in Ruston or Denton or Hattiesburg gets excited about ODU, or Charlotte or the F_U's coming to town.

And yes, I know the reverse is true as well. All the more reason we should seriously agree to consider parting company.

The point is, these 7 specific schools that could make up "CUSA 4.0" in the west already have access to everything needed to be successful as a newer, smaller (in membership numbers) conference. Excluding the major bowl games --such as the Sugar, Cotton, etc.-- I counted at least 10 Bowl games in TX (5), LA (2) & Ala (3) that could easily involve these western schools at any time. There's just no need for this group to be carrying the eastern teams who probably should have never been added in the first place.

So, I say...just add 2 or 3 new members (maximum) to these 7 "CUSA 4.0" schools I mentioned, and market the crap out of this NEW conference throughout the 4 (or what could possibly be a 5-state) region. Become a household name. Schedule most OOC games against Big XII, SEC & AAC teams first and foremost, in this footprint. Hold the conference baseball tournaments in such Big Time venues as Frisco's Dr Pepper Park. Rotate the conference football championship between such big media markets as Dallas-Ft Worth (including Frisco), San Antonio, Houston and New Orleans. The CUSA West schools already have EVERYTHING we need within a half day's drive for most of us in this footprint.

Speaking as one who is a fan of one of the unnecessary baggage teams, I like the idea in principal if for nothing else- reducing operating costs for travel and create more interesting regional matchups for media partners.

Yeah but USM and UAB can come east if they want.

UAB is a eastern school if you ask me, but I doubt Southern Mississippi would choose to go that way.

I would bet that USM would prefer to stay with UAB and Marshall

(03-14-2019 06:20 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  I would bet that USM would prefer to stay with UAB and Marshall

At one time it wasn’t true but now I think we would

(03-14-2019 07:18 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 06:20 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  I would bet that USM would prefer to stay with UAB and Marshall

At one time it wasn’t true but now I think we would

Why is that?

(03-14-2019 08:44 PM)Ourland Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 07:18 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 06:20 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  I would bet that USM would prefer to stay with UAB and Marshall

At one time it wasn’t true but now I think we would

Why is that?

Pure speculation here, but if the Big12 and then AAC are raided, Tulane, SMU, and Tulsa would definitely be left behind. At that point, the new West conference could absorb those three, and we could split into two divisions.

The prospect of having three Louisiana schools right next store might be too much to resist.

I'm not sold that USM is necessarily connected at the hip with UAB or Marshall. The fact that they've just scheduled a home and home with Tulane tells me that they want Louisiana rivals and/or recruits, and I don't know if a rivalry with Marshall would mean more to them than that.

(03-14-2019 02:05 PM)USM@FTL Wrote:  Merge. Get a waiver for conferences larger than 15 to have a 4-team playoff. Then:
Marshall
WKU
MTSU
ODU
Charlotte
Appy State

Coastal Carolina
Georgia State
Georgia Southern
South Alabama
Troy
ULaMo

FIU
FAU
UAB
USM
La Tech
ULaLa

Ark State
Rice
UNT
UTSA
UTEP
Texas State

Phuck no

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

(03-14-2019 05:35 PM)ghostofclt! Wrote:  clt’s new conference USA

Charlotte
Odu
Fau
Coastal
Central Tennessee
Richmond
Ga state/southern
Jmu

ODU
Charlotte
MTSU
WKU
Marshall
Richmond
JMU
Liberty

Leave it at that. 8 teams, 1 bid, play everyone in FB and everyone twice in basketball. If you really want to go to 10, add App St and Delaware... or get VCU and George Mason to start FB.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

(03-14-2019 09:01 PM)Ourland Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 08:44 PM)Ourland Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 07:18 PM)Thegoldstandard Wrote:  

(03-14-2019 06:20 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  I would bet that USM would prefer to stay with UAB and Marshall

At one time it wasn’t true but now I think we would

Why is that?

Pure speculation here, but if the Big12 and then AAC are raided, Tulane, SMU, and Tulsa would definitely be left behind. At that point, the new West conference could absorb those three, and we could split into two divisions.

The prospect of having three Louisiana schools right next store might be too much to resist.

I'm not sold that USM is necessarily connected at the hip with UAB or Marshall. The fact that they've just scheduled a home and home with Tulane tells me that they want Louisiana rivals and/or recruits, and I don't know if a rivalry with Marshall would mean more to them than that.

If you look from the time we joined the league, there were only 2 additions we were really happy about at the time. ECU was one. Marshall the other. The only negative we have with marshall is travel between the 2 schools is not that easy.

But when you get down to which direction we would want to go its simple. We want to go in the opposite direction Judy goes. I think she is more likely joned to the texas schools

I think Southern Miss and UAB are the glue to this current league. My guess is the eastern schools would love to leave the Texas schools behind and the Texas schools probably feel the same about the eastern schools. The problem is both would prefer USM and UAB to go with them.

I doubt Judy has a future in this business, especially if her conference folded and split in two, which is probably inevitable at this point.

Carl Benson can't be much better. The old WAC died under his watch, and he lost several of his SB members to us. That doesn't inspire much confidence. Who really knows how good or bad either is at their job? They're commissioneres of two very weak conferences. There's not much to work with.

Only time will tell. I would certainly hope USM would come West. You guys seem like a better fit culturally to the south-southwest than to the east, but I honestly don't know. You've got a strong rivalry with Louisiana Tech. In the end, it probably comes down to which region most of your alumni reside. I think that's Louisiana and Texas.

(03-15-2019 12:02 AM)Herd6993 Wrote:  I think Southern Miss and UAB are the glue to this current league. My guess is the eastern schools would love to leave the Texas schools behind and the Texas schools probably feel the same about the eastern schools. The problem is both would prefer USM and UAB to go with them.

This is true. I know the Texas and Louisiana schools in any new conference would want Southern Miss, but not so much UAB.

(03-15-2019 12:34 AM)Ourland Wrote:  I doubt Judy has a future in this business, especially if her conference folded and split in two, which is probably inevitable at this point.

Carl Benson can't be much better. The old WAC died under his watch, and he lost several of his SB members to us. That doesn't inspire much confidence. Who really knows how good or bad either is at their job? They're commissioneres of two very weak conferences. There's not much to work with.

Only time will tell. I would certainly hope USM would come West. You guys seem like a better fit culturally to the south-southwest than to the east, but I honestly don't know. You've got a strong rivalry with Louisiana Tech. In the end, it probably comes down to which region most of your alumni reside. I think that's Louisiana and Texas.

if there's one thing you can book....this conference doesn't last once the P5 tv contracts expire....

one wouldn't think it, but their world is going to get woke again very soon.....if that happens, it's going to be a major impact on how the minors and leftovers merge...

my money is on us merging with a regional mixture moving forward....