(03-12-2016 05:00 PM)usmbacker Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 04:57 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  It's going to come down to similar budget to the AAC schools and academics... That is who will get the nod

Then ODU is it.

Wouldn't surprise me a bit...

(03-12-2016 02:50 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  It's hilarious to me how many usm fans say they don't want to be in the AAC, but yet whenever something like this pops up they lose their minds with excitement.

But... I will be the first to say, I would be extremely disappointed to lose usm to the AAC

IT's not a case of not taking an invite.. but as a fan, I honestly don't care anymore. If we go great, we renew some old rivalries.

If not, we sit right here and we make work with our current rivalries and make some new ones.

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Nope

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

ODU has a good size budget, but it is heavily, heavily, did I say heavily, subsidized. To be on par with AAC schools you would need another $10-$15MM in annual subsidies plus about $100MM for facility improvements (i.e. The new football stadium they would require you build). That's a lot of money for a couple extra million a year in revenue and an even worse football record.

Not going to be anyone from C-USA. If 2 are needed by the AAC it will be the AFA and UMass. That is all.

Charlotte and ODU, not really hard to figure out if it happens. Another PR ploy by USM.

(03-12-2016 06:15 PM)wh49er Wrote:  Charlotte and ODU, not really hard to figure out if it happens. Another PR ploy by USM.

Actually it is a diversion ploy. USM is really getting ready to accept that Big 12 invite. AAC just not at the level we want. Will probably only stay in the Big 12 for a couple of years and will then move to the SEC. Can't wait.

I can definitely still see a way forward within CUSA if this doesn't work out.

(03-12-2016 04:31 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Why wouldn't the AAC just add LA Tech?

Hey Guys! Since we've been mentioned a few times in this thread, and a few of the ltur3 fellas have expressed their opinions, thought you might like to have a few facts brought forth, so a more informed opinion can be made, lol:



1. No, ltur3 does not travel well.....to their own venues....much less outside Ruston. The most current state budgets back this fact up:

Total Ticket Sales:
Ltur3: 1,723,061
UL: 2,992,952 (2,008,725, FB alone)

In other words, our FB sales alone outsell all of their other sports, combinded.

2. Whatever success is happening on the FB field is also not helping the bottom line:

Program, novelty, parking + Royalties, licensing, ads:
Ltur3: 134,767 + 290,213 = 424,980
UL: 670,257 + 948,931 = 1,619,188

https://app.lla.state.la.us/PublicReport...00CA4C.pdf

https://app.lla.state.la.us/PublicReport...00C7A4.pdf

3. Ltur3's credit rating has been recently downgraded to A3, which is below our and ULM's A2. And further downgrading is likely.

"Each university’s ability to adjust to the budget cuts and potential enrollment volatility will be evaluated as the creditor decides whether campuses’ financial expectations should be lowered. Reliance on state funding, expense flexibility, pricing power, strength of cash flow, and liquidity will factor into our assessment of ratings and outlooks for each university."

http://theadvocate.com/news/14966384-123...downgrades

4. Given the on-going budget crisis, the 'creative' accounting practices that ltur3 has been using to hide the true costs of their athletic programs will continue to come under scrutiny. This will no doubt have a negative impact on their already dismal budget numbers.

"Some schools charge athletic salaries to other departments, non-athletic departments. This year La. Tech budgeted $727,151 in athletic salaries to non-athletic departments. If the state didn't allow that, (ltur3) would be over the maximum allowed to supplement athletics."

http://www.fox8live.com/story/31259464/z...s-spending

5. I believe we have already discussed the recent downgrading of ltur3's Carnegie classification from R2 to R3....so that they are at the same level of ULM; UL remains an R2. We've also noted that the CC comes out only once every five years, where as the USNWR's tier rating is annual.....and that there are no other public universities are R3 and T1. So the next five years ought to be very interesting in regards to ltur3's T1 status.

As I said....If we are going to compare the two programs, I just wanted to give a more accurate portrait.

(03-12-2016 02:50 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  It's hilarious to me how many usm fans say they don't want to be in the AAC, but yet whenever something like this pops up they lose their minds with excitement.

But... I will be the first to say, I would be extremely disappointed to lose usm to the AAC

We have a small portion of our fanbase, a very loud group, that doesn't want the AAC. They are simply butt hurt over being left behind, think jilted lover.

One day they will argue you down that football is better in CUSA. The next day they will say our path to an access bowl is easier here. WTF? The older guys here will remember Eagle In Yune, also known here as In the Know, Cage Fighter and Legendary Eagle. Was banned under each name. I'd like to repeat some of the things he said but honestly, it would be too embarrassing.

There are a lot of ifs and buts before it might happen for us or anyone else in the conference. But I will say this, USM owes a lot to CUSA. It single handily has done more for us since I've been a fan.

(03-12-2016 07:19 PM)LaCajunsFan Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 04:31 PM)HogDawg Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 02:25 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  It would be a great opportunity to add ULL.

Why wouldn't the AAC just add LA Tech?

Hey Guys! Since we've been mentioned a few times in this thread, and a few of the ltur3 fellas have expressed their opinions, thought you might like to have a few facts brought forth, so a more informed opinion can be made, lol:



1. No, ltur3 does not travel well.....to their own venues....much less outside Ruston. The most current state budgets back this fact up:

Total Ticket Sales:
Ltur3: 1,723,061
UL: 2,992,952 (2,008,725, FB alone)

In other words, our FB sales alone outsell all of their other sports, combinded.

2. Whatever success is happening on the FB field is also not helping the bottom line:

Program, novelty, parking + Royalties, licensing, ads:
Ltur3: 134,767 + 290,213 = 424,980
UL: 670,257 + 948,931 = 1,619,188

https://app.lla.state.la.us/PublicReport...00CA4C.pdf

https://app.lla.state.la.us/PublicReport...00C7A4.pdf

3. Ltur3's credit rating has been recently downgraded to A3, which is below our and ULM's A2. And further downgrading is likely.

"Each university’s ability to adjust to the budget cuts and potential enrollment volatility will be evaluated as the creditor decides whether campuses’ financial expectations should be lowered. Reliance on state funding, expense flexibility, pricing power, strength of cash flow, and liquidity will factor into our assessment of ratings and outlooks for each university."

http://theadvocate.com/news/14966384-123...downgrades

4. Given the on-going budget crisis, the 'creative' accounting practices that ltur3 has been using to hide the true costs of their athletic programs will continue to come under scrutiny. This will no doubt have a negative impact on their already dismal budget numbers.

"Some schools charge athletic salaries to other departments, non-athletic departments. This year La. Tech budgeted $727,151 in athletic salaries to non-athletic departments. If the state didn't allow that, (ltur3) would be over the maximum allowed to supplement athletics."

http://www.fox8live.com/story/31259464/z...s-spending

5. I believe we have already discussed the recent downgrading of ltur3's Carnegie classification from R2 to R3....so that they are at the same level of ULM; UL remains an R2. We've also noted that the CC comes out only once every five years, where as the USNWR's tier rating is annual.....and that there are no other public universities are R3 and T1. So the next five years ought to be very interesting in regards to ltur3's T1 status.

As I said....If we are going to compare the two programs, I just wanted to give a more accurate portrait.

Between the lax requirements of the TOPs program and the athletic spending no wonder La is broke. I wish we got that kind of subsidy. Where the lsu section of the legislature gives you money basically to be happy and stay quiet ours is the opposite. The om faction passed laws in Ms that we can only use 1 million of state funds to be spread over all auxiliary depts, which are athletics, housing, physical plant and food service. That happen to become an issue JUST as the sec payouts became large back in the early 90's.

(03-12-2016 04:57 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  It's going to come down to similar budget to the AAC schools and academics... That is who will get the nod

Yes, exactly. Budgets, budgets, budgets.

(03-12-2016 05:22 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 02:50 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  It's hilarious to me how many usm fans say they don't want to be in the AAC, but yet whenever something like this pops up they lose their minds with excitement.

But... I will be the first to say, I would be extremely disappointed to lose usm to the AAC

IT's not a case of not taking an invite.. but as a fan, I honestly don't care anymore. If we go great, we renew some old rivalries.

If not, we sit right here and we make work with our current rivalries and make some new ones.

^^^

that and it would give us another home game at Tulane.....

I'm indifferent relative to the matter at this point...

and to Andre's point above, it's good to see him out and about.....

also, if it were to happen, I would hope we would be able to retain OOC relationships with Tech (assuming they don't also get chosen), UAB, and Marshall unlike what ECU and MEM have displayed to date....(no disrespect meant towards other current CUSA members)

(03-12-2016 06:41 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  I can definitely still see a way forward within CUSA if this doesn't work out.

I have no problem with the current setup....other than the availability of access to watching other teams play.....

I've always said that the two are basically the same in talent at the top (basketball has obviously under performed.....they got us on that one)

(03-12-2016 08:08 PM)stinkfist Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 05:22 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(03-12-2016 02:50 PM)ODU2011 Wrote:  It's hilarious to me how many usm fans say they don't want to be in the AAC, but yet whenever something like this pops up they lose their minds with excitement.

But... I will be the first to say, I would be extremely disappointed to lose usm to the AAC

IT's not a case of not taking an invite.. but as a fan, I honestly don't care anymore. If we go great, we renew some old rivalries.

If not, we sit right here and we make work with our current rivalries and make some new ones.

^^^

that and it would give us another home game at Tulane.....

I'm indifferent relative to the matter at this point...

and to Andre's point above, it's good to see him out and about.....

also, if it were to happen, I would hope we would be able to retain OOC relationships with Tech (assuming they don't also get chosen), UAB, and Marshall unlike what ECU and MEM have displayed to date....(no disrespect meant towards other current CUSA members)

Notice the article that said Tulane supports us. The NEED us right now. One thing that hasnt changed with this group of schools is no one travels well at all. Tulane has a new erector set that it cant fill. They need us to fill it for them one every other year.
Plus they need a baseball school. Our attendance a year ago would have been number 1 in the aac.

F UCF

(03-12-2016 09:28 PM)MU ATO Wrote:  F UCF

you can say that again

(03-12-2016 09:28 PM)MU ATO Wrote:  F UCF

I kinda wish there was a mutual benefit to a series between us, just for an excuse to beat you guys yearly again.

If we had played last year, somehow, some way, we would have been 1-11 instead of 0-12.

You do know we have the series lead in every sport, don't you...including football. It would have been a forty point win for USM after we called the dogs off...

(03-12-2016 10:12 PM)nastybunch Wrote:  You do know we have the series lead in every sport, don't you...including football. It would have been a forty point win for USM after we called the dogs off...

getting an invite wont be nearly the fun as the meltdown has been