(06-24-2013 11:53 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  An ODU-ECU rivalry makes utter sense, but the only way that can happen is if they're in the same conference. Otherwise, they'll likely be playing each other in scattered two-year spurts.

Not from our stand point. I support not playing ODU, UNCC, or App State ever. There are only 4 OOC games anyway and I want to play Big 5 schools, beyond that though there is nothing to gain by winning and only potiental loss to be had on our end.

It's the same approach that many schools have taken with local programs with up and coming aspirations and it's the smart position when you have the leverage. Pirate fans can say whatever about our battles to play UNC or State but it was the smart move by State and UNC. Whoever didn't like it would be free to get the NC legislature behind them like we did.

The crap Holland sold us about how good it was to have 7k App fans in our 43k seat stadium at the time on opening day was just crap. Who wants 7k fans from another school in your stadium anyway. Most of these games will be opening the season or early when the game would sell out regardless of who we played.

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  I seriously think that if ODU and UNCC do well, they will both be in the AAC in the next 5 years or so.

I would seriously bet my house against that happening even in the next 10 years.

Old Dominion (and UTSA and Charlotte) have lots of potential.

Old Dominion seems to have fan support on their side. I suspect the stadium will have 40,000 seats in 10 years. Norfolk will probably host a bowl game.

The challenge with ODU is building depth. That's the same challenges most schools not name Ohio State and Florida experience.

(06-24-2013 12:14 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  I seriously think that if ODU and UNCC do well, they will both be in the AAC in the next 5 years or so.

I would seriously bet my house against that happening even in the next 10 years.

It really depends. Will the experience be "USF" or "UAB"? The opportunity to grow is there.

(06-24-2013 12:14 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  I seriously think that if ODU and UNCC do well, they will both be in the AAC in the next 5 years or so.

I would seriously bet my house against that happening even in the next 10 years.

Maybe, but who says it's the AAC that may come calling? Never can tell with conference realignment.

(06-24-2013 12:25 PM)chess Wrote:  It really depends. Will the experience be "USF" or "UAB"? The opportunity to grow is there.

Not really. There is zero incentive to go beyond 12 and it wouldn't matter unless the AAC needed teams. You think the Big 5 wants anyone else in the AAC besides UConn and Cincy? They don't even want them so there will be very little movement fromt he AAC. They only way they even take them is if they were raided and the ACC all but stopped that with the Grant of Rights until 2026 and pseudo adding Notre Dame.

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  Once UConn and Cincy leave (and Navy could always stay indy if that happens) I would think the AAC will come looking again. It makes too much sense geographically and from a rivalry standpoint.

Where are they going exactly with the ACC Grant of Rights in place until 2026? If the Big 12 had any interest in them or diluting their money they would already have them as well. Also why would anyone else in the AAC want ODU or UNCC from a geographical reason? ECU is the only close team and has new leadership that is a lot more likely to view you as stepping on our toes this time.

Quote:Houston and USM are pretty far away from PA and Connecticut too.

Why would that matter if hypothetically UConn left? The AAC could just as easily build from Texas or the Deep South if not more likely to when you look at the rest of the conference make up.

(06-24-2013 12:34 PM)VA49er Wrote:  Maybe, but who says it's the AAC that may come calling? Never can tell with conference realignment.

Dude, where do you see all this movement in the next 15 years coming from exactly? Do you really think any Big 5 conference wants USF, Houston, or Memphis or any of the rest of us. Memphis couldn't even make the first, second or 3rd cuts in the AAC. That's the only place any expansion that would affect either of our conferences would start and UConn and Cincy are about as hard as they would swallow and take and only if they had too. The big shake up has happened and movement has all but been nixed for a long time. These presidents all got really tired of dealing with it.

(06-24-2013 12:41 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 12:34 PM)VA49er Wrote:  Maybe, but who says it's the AAC that may come calling? Never can tell with conference realignment.

Dude, where do you see all this movement in the next 15 years coming from exactly? Do you really think any Big 5 conference wants USF, Houston, or Memphis or any of the rest of us. Memphis couldn't even make the first, second or 3rd cuts in the AAC. That's the only place any expansion that would affect either of our conferences would start and UConn and Cincy are about as hard as they would swallow and take and only if they had too. The big shake up has happened and movement has all but been nixed for a long time. These presidents all got really tired of dealing with it.

It's not over.

I'm not saying anything is going to happen in the next 5 years. I'm talking 10, 20, 30 years down the road.

(06-24-2013 12:14 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  I seriously think that if ODU and UNCC do well, they will both be in the AAC in the next 5 years or so.

I would seriously bet my house against that happening even in the next 10 years.

Whys that? Cause ECU doesn't want us? There's more members than just EZU in the AAC. If we can prove we're good enough, I can see us in the AAC whether ECU wants us or not.

Either way, I'm excited to be in CUSA, and I can't wait to play against Marshall and UNC-C.

Read above. There are many reasons I listed. The main because there is zero incentive to go beyond 12 teams, and there is no Big 5 conference that really want UConn or Cincy. The AAC has already expressed intrested in other candidates as well if there was an unforseen need.

I didn't see this otherwise mentioned, but VA (especially HR) is very "trendy".

The entire reason ODU has been so slow to decide on a stadium size is that if they start losing, they have 30,000 seats they can't sell.

Don't believe me? Look at the men's basketball team. So, to answer the OP - ODU has as much upside as downside. It's like playing the mega millions by buying up half of the tickets... win big or lose big. I personally think they'll do ok as long as they don't start getting slaughtered regularly.

The key is their defense.

I could see ODU or Charlotte vaulting up the pecking order if they a) have quality teams and b) have high budgets. And b) is the separator as they are growing schools, and in the era of student fees to finance your program, growing enrollment = growing revenue.

Ted Constant Center is ridiculously nice. Will easily be the nicest home court in C-USA.

I think it's a more outlandish statement to say that schools that have both been playing for 0 to 3 years and that both have yet to even take an FBS snap are going to jump dozens of other schools all with in 5 years than to suggest there will likely be no movement. USF was about as special a circumstance as you get too.

USF
50k enrolment(top 5 nationally)
In Florida hot bed
NFL stadium
30k+ fans in the seats
Entered D1 at a really high level winning 9 games and beating top 25 teams/in the top 25 in the BCS poll early

There was also great turnover and desparation in the Big East at the time just to get back to enough teams to field a conference. If that's your model it doesn't really fit nor the scenerio that made it possible.

I agree that the AAC won't expand for the sake of expanding, unless it is simply to cover old friends who would be interested like USM and Rice. I actually think that would be a good idea, but it's unlikely.
But if you're talking when spots open say 5 years from now, it's a matter of who has the money, who will invest the money, the market, etc. It's open.

(06-24-2013 02:05 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  I think it's a more outlandish statement to say that schools that have both been playing for 0 to 3 years and that both have yet to even take an FBS snap are going to jump dozens of other schools all with in 5 years than to suggest there will likely be no movement. USF was about as special a circumstance as you get too.

USF
50k enrolment(top 5 nationally)
In Florida hot bed
NFL stadium
30k+ fans in the seats
Entered D1 at a really high level winning 9 games and beating top 25 teams/in the top 25 in the BCS poll early

There was also great turnover and desparation in the Big East at the time just to get back to enough teams to field a conference. If that's your model it doesn't really fit nor the scenerio that made it possible.

The Tidewater area is a hotbed of talent.

USF's timing was not a "special circumstance" any more than UTSA or ODU is a "special circumstance". The demand is there.

In many markets, a NFL team is considered a detriment to growing a college football program.

Once again, there is plenty of opportunity for these college teams to grow.

(06-24-2013 01:15 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 12:14 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  I seriously think that if ODU and UNCC do well, they will both be in the AAC in the next 5 years or so.

I would seriously bet my house against that happening even in the next 10 years.

Whys that? Cause ECU doesn't want us? There's more members than just EZU in the AAC. If we can prove we're good enough, I can see us in the AAC whether ECU wants us or not.

Well ODU certainly isn't going to move "up" to a new conference anytime soon just because they want to.

I'm not saying there isn't potential, but a lot has to happen to make it so. Maybe Wilder is a good coach and ODU does well. Good luck keeping him.

I'm happy to play ODU, UNCC, App St. once in awhile, to show we aren't scared, to smash them on the field, and show the recruits what's really going on. I'd rather our team play and take the chance than to be looked at as afraid, like we look at State.

I'm sticking to the "Anytime, Anywhere" mantra. This is one Pirate who is confident of what we put on the field, and I am not scared at all of playing any team, FCS, Sun Belt, C-USA, SEC or otherwise.

(06-24-2013 12:09 PM)monarx Wrote:  From what I hear, ODU was offered a spot in the MAC too(behind closed doors). The Monarchs wanted CUSA, especially with ECU in it for a regional rival, and were offered. The rest is history. Sucks that ECU left, but it was still the right move. I seriously think that if ODU and UNCC do well, they will both be in the AAC in the next 5 years or so. It makes too much sense geographically and from a rivalry standpoint. Once UConn and Cincy leave (and Navy could always stay indy if that happens) I would think the AAC will come looking again. Houston and USM are pretty far away from PA and Connecticut too. I could see the AAC going after UMass as well, but ODU and UNCC have more potential, especially in football. And football is the only reason the AAC even exists.

I do feel like our Universities have quite a unique relationship. While I can't wait to start playing (and hopefully beating) you guys in all sports, I think the best thing for our programs is that both of us are successful. If both our programs are run well consistently we make quite the package deal in further realignment. If only one of us is good, it is much less attractive IMO.

My dream isn't that ODU will begin to look attractive to the AAC, it's that C-USA will rise to a level where on-field success and TV rating give us enough leverage to demand a seat at the table. It will take a lot of work, but with the way sports networks are developing and the location of our schools, we have an opportunity to bust the door down on the P5 party. It won't be easy and it will take a decade at least (probably longer), but it can be done.

Maybe I'm still in that lovey-dovey stage because of our new relationship, but I love C-USA as it stands now, and I love having good schools nearby that we can play OOC, especially in basketball.

(06-24-2013 02:52 PM)chess Wrote:  The Tidewater area is a hotbed of talent.

It's not FL, or a in state that is growing and has the future potiental of FL either. None of the other things USF had going for it fit either like 50k enrolment, NFL stadium, immediate top 25 type success etc.

Quote:USF's timing was not a "special circumstance" any more than UTSA or ODU is a "special circumstance". The demand is there.

It certainly was a special circumstance moving up to another conference so quick. The AAC is not in danger of losing anymore than 2 teams and even that is a very low risk after the Grant in Rights. The AAC has no incentive to go beyond 12 and could just as easily stay at 10 even if they lost Cincy and UConn.

When USF was added the Big East needed another team just to remain a conference at the time, and they really needed a FL to open recruiting in FL back up because of all the northern teams that relied on FL. No one really cares about Virginia like that. There isn't a need, and they don't have they kind of enrolment or potiental. No one really did.

Quote:Once again, there is plenty of opportunity for these college teams to grow.

I've never said that ODU couldn't grow. I've actually said several times they have a lot of potiental, particularly to hurt us. I do not believe in this notion that they are calling the shots and control their destiny on moving to the AAC isn't the case, especially with in 5 years.