UMass maybe... otherwise, MAC would be looking at a MVFC call up. Can't see it. WKU will probably collect their exit fees first before paying MTSU and friends.

What's more unbelievable to me is that Liberty signed up to join CUSA. The only way I can make sense of it is they've negotiated a sweetheart deal so they can maintain their ESPN presence.

(11-10-2021 11:24 AM)All4One Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:13 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  Incredible.

What an awful, short-sighted decision, especially if the reason was about short-term exit fees.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

The Mid-American Conference isn't in a rush to expand. They will always be there.

No reason to think Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky couldn't explore this again if things don't get better for Conference USA after 2023 when the media rights comes up for negotiation.

Except for the fact that this all played out in public. They look like idiots right now and possibly burnt a bridge. CUSA 4.0 (?) is going to be a horrible conference for WKU and MTSU.

There has to be more to this than we can see now.

Maybe MTSU has a donor who doesn’t want the MAC and they didn’t want to cross him. Or the MAC offered MTSU a much-less-than-full revenue share like the new AAC members will be getting. Or MTSU told the MAC, “Give us a couple years to get our share of all those CUSA exit fees paid to us, and then we’ll join you.”

(11-10-2021 12:14 PM)Wedge Wrote:  There has to be more to this than we can see now.

Maybe MTSU has a donor who doesn’t want the MAC and they didn’t want to cross him. Or the MAC offered MTSU a much-less-than-full revenue share like the new AAC members will be getting. Or MTSU told the MAC, “Give us a couple years to get our share of all those CUSA exit fees paid to us, and then we’ll join you.”

They'd eventually have to pay the exit fee, but they'd be 4-5 million dollars richer by staying put and can fund future exit/entrance fees. It makes no sense leaving all that on the table.

I don't think the MAC is offended. It's a perfectly reasonable thing to wait it out. If WKU wants to move, more power to them. I don't think they will. Conf USA isn't all that bad. Just needs a few years and some luck to at least get back to par with a conference like the MAC, which is still the worst G4 IMO.

(11-10-2021 10:38 AM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 10:37 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

A midwestern city in hockey, a southern city in football.

They have ice hockey in Murfreesboro?

Air Force fans and boosters didn’t want to go east. MTSU fans and boosters didn’t want to go north. Sometimes the customer’s opinion matters.

(11-10-2021 12:05 PM)b2b Wrote:  What's more unbelievable to me is that Liberty signed up to join CUSA. The only way I can make sense of it is they've negotiated a sweetheart deal so they can maintain their ESPN presence.

Not hard. Liberty won't survive this without being in a conference. Ultimately, Liberty saved Conference USA.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.propubl...saults/amp

(11-10-2021 12:05 PM)b2b Wrote:  What's more unbelievable to me is that Liberty signed up to join CUSA. The only way I can make sense of it is they've negotiated a sweetheart deal so they can maintain their ESPN presence.

NY6/G5 Access Bowl - only open to conference Champs. They are in the club. That is more valuable.

(11-10-2021 12:08 PM)b2b Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:24 AM)All4One Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:13 AM)Frank the Tank Wrote:  Incredible.

What an awful, short-sighted decision, especially if the reason was about short-term exit fees.

Penny wise and pound foolish.

The Mid-American Conference isn't in a rush to expand. They will always be there.

No reason to think Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky couldn't explore this again if things don't get better for Conference USA after 2023 when the media rights comes up for negotiation.

Except for the fact that this all played out in public. They look like idiots right now and possibly burnt a bridge. CUSA 4.0 (?) is going to be a horrible conference for WKU and MTSU.

Actually, WKU didn't burn a bridge with the MAC; MTSU did. If the offer to join was only "for the two, together" and WKU never said no but MTSU did, then WKU hasn't rejected the MAC. If they never said yes either - then they haven't done anything to tick off CUSA either (although that matters less since they are already in CUSA).

Although I used to live in Tennessee and have seen MTSU play in a few sports, so I guess I'm supposed to see things a little slanted toward MTSU - actually, I mostly just feel bad for WKU. This latest version of CUSA is a horrible geographic conference with many too many call-ups to be absorbed by so few established programs. This is going to be tough for all of the current members of CUSA - and especially tough for a school that had a ticket out and was unable to punch it. Hopefully, the MAC either takes them on their own - or pairs them with another school so WKU can still leave.

Overall, it's a terrible day for MTSU sports (that they will likely regret) - but a tragic one for WKU.

(11-10-2021 12:26 PM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  Air Force fans and boosters didn’t want to go east. MTSU fans and boosters didn’t want to go north. Sometimes the customer’s opinion matters.

Which AD's/Presidents/Realignmentologists fail to understand at times.

Add McNeese to that list as well.

Even though we are leaving CUSA, I really did not want to see the conference implode. MTSU is making the decision that is right for them, at this time, and it has the advantage of cementing a future CUSA with 8 members (and possibly 9 if WKU stays.).

As it sits (not considering WKU for the moment) the West seems fairly solid and moderately compact at UTEP, NMSU, LaTech and SHSU. The East is a bit more far flung, but not unreasonable considering CUSA's historical divisions with FIU, MTSU, Liberty and JSU. WKU would certainly tie down the East, meaning one more add for the West to reach 10, where Judy could sit and take her time on 2-4 more. In fact, basketball may be the driving force here as WKU, MTSU, NMSU and UTEP and solid basketball schools. That may the best answer (i.e. basketball centric) for their future.

All in all, I understand MTSU's decision, and I can't see it as a bad one for them, for now. And I am happy CUSA will survive.

(11-10-2021 10:45 AM)Todor Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 10:38 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I wouldn’t be surprised if the MAC actually did play a little rough with both MTSU and WKU about future/any long-term commitment. And for either of these two, who may be just on the outside of one move by either the Sun Belt or AAC losing another school and backfilling, both are “next in.”

Disappointing yet relieved for MAC. But, I trust they know what they’re doing. Revolving door types needn’t apply.

So, I wonder if MAC growth does happen. UMass, MoState, Stony, Dakota State, UNI…get on those phones NOW. Or, surprise me…Towson?

If you meant either North Dakota State or South Dakota State, I get it, but Dakota State is NAIA and in the North Star Conference.

Yeah, I meant it as NDSU and/or SDSU.

And I know both UNI and Towson are not tossed around as upgrade/FBS candidates much/at all. But, the facilities and other components are MAC-like, or getting there. For UNI especially (and not unlike MoState), seeing MVC flip to a private conference and watching it push deliberately east, not backfilling western losses…what is MVC going to do for these two if the conference now has this private tilt that seems to have it out for public members?

Or is it that the MAC may just be that choosy and not liking expansion to the west?

(11-10-2021 12:05 PM)b2b Wrote:  What's more unbelievable to me is that Liberty signed up to join CUSA. The only way I can make sense of it is they've negotiated a sweetheart deal so they can maintain their ESPN presence.

Liberty makes sense. Better basketball league than Asun. CFP check and access.

MTSU passing on the lifeboat is a puzzle. CUSA will be a clear #10 of 10. CUSA is now very scattered with no real rivals except maybe WKU if they stay.

(11-10-2021 12:36 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 10:45 AM)Todor Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 10:38 AM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I wouldn’t be surprised if the MAC actually did play a little rough with both MTSU and WKU about future/any long-term commitment. And for either of these two, who may be just on the outside of one move by either the Sun Belt or AAC losing another school and backfilling, both are “next in.”

Disappointing yet relieved for MAC. But, I trust they know what they’re doing. Revolving door types needn’t apply.

So, I wonder if MAC growth does happen. UMass, MoState, Stony, Dakota State, UNI…get on those phones NOW. Or, surprise me…Towson?

If you meant either North Dakota State or South Dakota State, I get it, but Dakota State is NAIA and in the North Star Conference.

Yeah, I meant it as NDSU and/or SDSU.

And I know both UNI and Towson are not tossed around as upgrade/FBS candidates much/at all. But, the facilities and other components are MAC-like, or getting there. For UNI especially (and not unlike MoState), seeing MVC flip to a private conference and watching it push deliberately east, not backfilling western losses…what is MVC going to do for these two if the conference now has this private tilt that seems to have it out for public members?

Or is it that the MAC may just be that choosy and not liking expansion to the west?

West: NDSU*, SDSU*, NMSU, UTEP, SHSU, La. Tech.
East: Jacksonville State, MTSU, WKU, Liberty, FIU, UMass*.

The Bison and Jackrabbits remain in the Summit for all other sports, UMass stays in the A-10 for non-FB sports.

(11-10-2021 11:31 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  Excellent decision to focus on opportunity over a myopic focus on stability that results in extreme mediocrity. CUSA will quickly reestablish itself as a good conference and superior to the MAC in both major sports.

CUSA was already worse than the MAC in basketball before the latest round of defections, and had been for some time. Same with the Sunbelt. And there was very little difference in football.

(11-10-2021 11:26 AM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 10:47 AM)stever20 Wrote:  

Judy taking a victory lap with that tweet

WAC FBS dreams, ASUN FBS dreams, MAC Nashville dreams...who will be next to enter Judy's Graveyard of Victims?

(11-10-2021 12:54 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:31 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  Excellent decision to focus on opportunity over a myopic focus on stability that results in extreme mediocrity. CUSA will quickly reestablish itself as a good conference and superior to the MAC in both major sports.

CUSA was already worse than the MAC in basketball before the latest round of defections, and had been for some time. Same with the Sunbelt. And there was very little difference in football.

CUSA basketball is going to be fine. NMSU is better than anyone in the MAC save Buffalo, then you add in Liberty to go with WKU and the good teams that MTSU and La Tech have put out recently, you're in pretty good shape. Add in UTEP's historical prowess, and CUSA basketball could be flying under the radar good. FIU is the only black hole; even Sam Houston and Jax State have been at least acceptable.

On the football field, the MAC is undeniably the worst conference. Frank the Tank keeps pointing out that the MAC has had two BCS/NY6 teams while CUSA has had none. Indeed, but NIU didn't even have a good regular season win (lost to their only non-Kansas AQ opponent) and got curbstomped by FSU. They got in solely because the other non-AQs beat each other up. Tulsa and Boise would have clobbered NIU. And the same thing with Row the Boat in 2016...the G5 beat each other up. At least WMU didn't embarrass themselves in the game like NIU did.

(11-10-2021 01:14 PM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 12:54 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:31 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  Excellent decision to focus on opportunity over a myopic focus on stability that results in extreme mediocrity. CUSA will quickly reestablish itself as a good conference and superior to the MAC in both major sports.

CUSA was already worse than the MAC in basketball before the latest round of defections, and had been for some time. Same with the Sunbelt. And there was very little difference in football.

CUSA basketball is going to be fine. NMSU is better than anyone in the MAC save Buffalo, then you add in Liberty to go with WKU and the good teams that MTSU and La Tech have put out recently, you're in pretty good shape. Add in UTEP's historical prowess, and CUSA basketball could be flying under the radar good. FIU is the only black hole; even Sam Houston and Jax State have been at least acceptable.

On the football field, the MAC is undeniably the worst conference. Frank the Tank keeps pointing out that the MAC has had two BCS/NY6 teams while CUSA has had none. Indeed, but NIU didn't even have a good regular season win (lost to their only non-Kansas AQ opponent) and got curbstomped by FSU. They got in solely because the other non-AQs beat each other up. Tulsa and Boise would have clobbered NIU. And the same thing with Row the Boat in 2016...the G5 beat each other up. At least WMU didn't embarrass themselves in the game like NIU did.

Make all your attempts to slam the MAC. Fact is, the conference has had two BCS teams. Something SBC and CUSA have never achieved. UCF went winless its last season in the MAC then turns around and does well in CUSA the next season lol. Temple never beat a MAC team with a winning record then goes to the AAC and competes well over there. Marshall had its best success in the MAC (even with their cheating involved).

That FSU team NIU played had something like 17 players drafted into the NFL. They were a pretty good team.

(11-10-2021 12:54 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(11-10-2021 11:31 AM)CitrusUCF Wrote:  Excellent decision to focus on opportunity over a myopic focus on stability that results in extreme mediocrity. CUSA will quickly reestablish itself as a good conference and superior to the MAC in both major sports.

CUSA was already worse than the MAC in basketball before the latest round of defections, and had been for some time. Same with the Sunbelt. And there was very little difference in football.

5 of the past 6 CUSA NCAA autobids have won a game in the Tournament. I know Ohio and Buffalo have done well themselves.