Hey, it's all good. We'll play who we play regardless. I can't do squat about it anyway. I just show up to the games and enjoy watching us win when we can. UNT and UTSA has changed coaches in FB. Let's hope that helps them be stronger. Rice has gone downhill. Let's hope they get back. If USM and LaTech repeat last year, then the entire conference is stronger.

WKU, Marshall and us should be there in the east. It's up to Charlotte, ODU, FAU and FIU to improve. I hope they can. In B-Ball, the east is pretty good and should get better. Some of the older conference members need to pull their weight too. Just sayin.

I hated to see ECU leave in 2013. They were a dang good team to have in our conference. Tulane didn't bother me leaving at all. Tulsa was whatever. Those teams should be in the Sun Belt. If USM left, I would be happy for them but would be ok with it. I'd go after Appy st., Ga Southern, Ark st or ULL. Appy st. is a good pickup if we could get em. Why a Charlotte got in before them is beyond me. Ga Southern and Appy st. are good teams to get. Very few folks want to play them. WKU, Marshall or La Tech leaving would be devastating in my opinion.

(03-14-2016 10:26 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(03-14-2016 09:14 AM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  I thought the entire conference's exit fees got restructured before the former commish left where they were much higher after ECU and Tulane left. I also thought that USM didn't have a ton of cash. They let Monken just walk out the door. If they had cash, they could have bumped him up to keep him. Plus, 7-8 other coaches passed on them before they finally got Hopson. It's not like they are doing that well financially. If they were, they wouldn't be having those issues and probably would have left when ECU did.

1. I don't believe they were restructured, but I also don't believe USM gets a founders discount.

2. We don't have a ton of money.

3. We didn't let Monken leave. It wasn't a money issue for him. He turned down multiple power 5 deals worth over 2 million a year to stay. The reason he left is because the guy who got the Tampa Bay job is one of his best friends. Hard to turn down that opportunity. It wasn't about bumping his pay, which we were doing.

4. This is just wrong. 7-8 other coaches didn't pass on us. I don't think you realize how attractive a job we are. Despite the last three years, people believe they can win here and they are expected to. There was a lot of interest and McGillis chose who he wanted. Those saying they "pulled out" were turned down, according to what I've heard. I'm sure that's not the case for every one, but the majority it is.

5. Leaving when ECU did didn't come down to financials. Everyone thought market was everything last round. Why do you think we picked up a bunch of bad Sun Belt schools? Markets. Hattiesburg isn't a big market. With that said, USM consistently draws better average viewership than over half of the teams in the AAC because of the brand we created in the 80s and 90s as the "giant killer". Knowledgeable football fans know who we are, Brett Favre, etc. And this go round, it's not about market. It's about bringing in a team that can win and get the G5s access bowl spot. That's where the money is.

Better average viewership than half the AAC? Where are you getting your numbers?

(03-14-2016 01:00 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(03-14-2016 10:26 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(03-14-2016 09:14 AM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  I thought the entire conference's exit fees got restructured before the former commish left where they were much higher after ECU and Tulane left. I also thought that USM didn't have a ton of cash. They let Monken just walk out the door. If they had cash, they could have bumped him up to keep him. Plus, 7-8 other coaches passed on them before they finally got Hopson. It's not like they are doing that well financially. If they were, they wouldn't be having those issues and probably would have left when ECU did.

1. I don't believe they were restructured, but I also don't believe USM gets a founders discount.

2. We don't have a ton of money.

3. We didn't let Monken leave. It wasn't a money issue for him. He turned down multiple power 5 deals worth over 2 million a year to stay. The reason he left is because the guy who got the Tampa Bay job is one of his best friends. Hard to turn down that opportunity. It wasn't about bumping his pay, which we were doing.

4. This is just wrong. 7-8 other coaches didn't pass on us. I don't think you realize how attractive a job we are. Despite the last three years, people believe they can win here and they are expected to. There was a lot of interest and McGillis chose who he wanted. Those saying they "pulled out" were turned down, according to what I've heard. I'm sure that's not the case for every one, but the majority it is.

5. Leaving when ECU did didn't come down to financials. Everyone thought market was everything last round. Why do you think we picked up a bunch of bad Sun Belt schools? Markets. Hattiesburg isn't a big market. With that said, USM consistently draws better average viewership than over half of the teams in the AAC because of the brand we created in the 80s and 90s as the "giant killer". Knowledgeable football fans know who we are, Brett Favre, etc. And this go round, it's not about market. It's about bringing in a team that can win and get the G5s access bowl spot. That's where the money is.

Better average viewership than half the AAC? Where are you getting your numbers?

Don't expect an answer.

Fellow fans say this often, but ask where those numbers are located brings a quick silence.

I'd love to believe we do, but can't without actual evidence.

(03-13-2016 08:43 PM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  USM doesn't have the budget to even make the move. Doesn't CUSA have a large buyout to move or would the AAC pick it up? La Tech or Marshall would be a better pick though.

Good grief, last time I checked our budget, however small is larger than Techs.

We didn't have the money to fire Ellis Johnson either, but we did.

As for us letting Monken just leave...yeah because anyone in CUSA can compete with the NFL.

(03-14-2016 03:05 PM)StandingInEE Wrote:  

(03-13-2016 08:43 PM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  USM doesn't have the budget to even make the move. Doesn't CUSA have a large buyout to move or would the AAC pick it up? La Tech or Marshall would be a better pick though.

Good grief, last time I checked our budget, however small is larger than Techs.

We didn't have the money to fire Ellis Johnson either, but we did.

As for us letting Monken just leave...yeah because anyone in CUSA can compete with the NFL.

Don't drag us into this mess. We aren't trying to go anywhere. We are happy just were we are.

(03-14-2016 03:05 PM)StandingInEE Wrote:  

(03-13-2016 08:43 PM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  USM doesn't have the budget to even make the move. Doesn't CUSA have a large buyout to move or would the AAC pick it up? La Tech or Marshall would be a better pick though.

Good grief, last time I checked our budget, however small is larger than Techs.

We didn't have the money to fire Ellis Johnson either, but we did.

As for us letting Monken just leave...yeah because anyone in CUSA can compete with the NFL.

That poster is a MTSU fan, not Tech.

I would put the odds at about 10% of this happening for USM.

(03-13-2016 10:18 AM)Cyniclone Wrote:  ODU fans' AAC expansion suggestion list:

1. ODU
2. Middle Tennessee (if ODU is not invited)
68. (tie). Everyone else
100,000,001. Middle Tennessee (if ODU is invited)

(03-12-2016 04:07 PM)USM@FTL Wrote:  Competitively, there's not much difference. 85 scholarships and all. It's a lateral move mostly. Fewer newbies. Houston! Crickets.

(03-14-2016 03:13 PM)usmbacker Wrote:  I would put the odds at about 10% of this happening for USM.

I'm thinking less than that but agree with your thinking. The way things have gone for USM the last 10 or so years I wouldn't be shocked if come April 1 someone comes out and says "APRIL FOOLS"

(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

Everyone in this conference wants in the AAC.

Its kind of like the hot girl. Dudes all say they wouldn't want to date her knowing they have no shot to feel better about themselves, and say its because she is "insert reason here". Yet, she shows interest and they are ready to jump at the opportunity.

(03-14-2016 01:00 PM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(03-14-2016 10:26 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(03-14-2016 09:14 AM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  I thought the entire conference's exit fees got restructured before the former commish left where they were much higher after ECU and Tulane left. I also thought that USM didn't have a ton of cash. They let Monken just walk out the door. If they had cash, they could have bumped him up to keep him. Plus, 7-8 other coaches passed on them before they finally got Hopson. It's not like they are doing that well financially. If they were, they wouldn't be having those issues and probably would have left when ECU did.

1. I don't believe they were restructured, but I also don't believe USM gets a founders discount.

2. We don't have a ton of money.

3. We didn't let Monken leave. It wasn't a money issue for him. He turned down multiple power 5 deals worth over 2 million a year to stay. The reason he left is because the guy who got the Tampa Bay job is one of his best friends. Hard to turn down that opportunity. It wasn't about bumping his pay, which we were doing.

4. This is just wrong. 7-8 other coaches didn't pass on us. I don't think you realize how attractive a job we are. Despite the last three years, people believe they can win here and they are expected to. There was a lot of interest and McGillis chose who he wanted. Those saying they "pulled out" were turned down, according to what I've heard. I'm sure that's not the case for every one, but the majority it is.

5. Leaving when ECU did didn't come down to financials. Everyone thought market was everything last round. Why do you think we picked up a bunch of bad Sun Belt schools? Markets. Hattiesburg isn't a big market. With that said, USM consistently draws better average viewership than over half of the teams in the AAC because of the brand we created in the 80s and 90s as the "giant killer". Knowledgeable football fans know who we are, Brett Favre, etc. And this go round, it's not about market. It's about bringing in a team that can win and get the G5s access bowl spot. That's where the money is.

Better average viewership than half the AAC? Where are you getting your numbers?

Just looking at bowl ratings and average viewership when we used to play on ESPN. I don't have a link if that's what you're looking for.

(03-13-2016 11:39 AM)usmbacker Wrote:  

(03-13-2016 11:05 AM)EagNBran Wrote:  

(03-13-2016 01:21 AM)Noodles Wrote:  Just say no to the AAC.

We'd be committing football suicide if we did. If you get the invite, you take it. I don't care what biased standpoint we have on this board, outsider perception says AAC is better. If you ever want to get to the top, you have to take every opportunity.

Please explain how getting into another G5 conference is getting to the top.

Pretty simple, where is the B12 going for new teams? It ain't CUSA.

Their conference pay out is almost double ours and will soon be over that.

Exposure, in all sports is head and shoulders better than ours. And it's about to get worse.

They average 10,000 more in attendence at football games. We are slightly ahead of the Sun Belt.

I could go on....

(03-14-2016 11:25 PM)StandingInEE Wrote:  Pretty simple, where is the B12 going for new teams? It ain't CUSA.

The Big 12 won't go for new teams now that they can play a championship game with the 10 teams they have. Try to keep up.

(03-14-2016 11:58 PM)demiveeman Wrote:  

(03-14-2016 11:25 PM)StandingInEE Wrote:  Pretty simple, where is the B12 going for new teams? It ain't CUSA.

The Big 12 won't go for new teams now that they can play a championship game with the 10 teams they have. Try to keep up.

I think this has been settled the last three months. We won't see movement for at least five years. IMHO, The "P5 powers that be" gave the Big Twelve an out so they wouldn't have to add what they felt were undeserving programs to the big table.

I think y'all haven't been paying attention at all. The Big XII commish has said they're looking to get back to 12 because of revenue. If I recall correctly, he said that if they don't get up to 12, they're going to fall so far behind the other P5 in revenue that it'll be like 10m to 20m a year. They don't want that to happen.

BYU and Boise st. are also high on their list as well. No one knows which way they'll go.

Houston is the most desirable from the AAC. The other teams are dreaming a bit.

(03-15-2016 12:11 PM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  Houston is the most desirable from the AAC. The other teams are dreaming a bit.

I approve of your blind hatred for Mempiss.

(03-15-2016 01:36 PM)wh49er Wrote:  

(03-15-2016 12:11 PM)BlueraiderJT Wrote:  Houston is the most desirable from the AAC. The other teams are dreaming a bit.

I approve of your blind hatred for Mempiss.

I second that approval.

I'm hoping for the trickle down effect. If they poach MWC then maybe UTEP gets in the MWC.