(12-03-2012 08:14 PM)blunderbuss Wrote:  Hope so, that would mean we (and Rutgers, Marlyand & Tulane) are leaving early. Lame duck seasons aren't good for anyone.

Write a big enough check and we'll let you go. What are you offering?

(12-03-2012 10:22 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 10:02 PM)Proud El Pasoan Wrote:  "Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic will join the league no later than the 2014-15 season, though C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky indicated there are ongoing talks with the Sun Belt that could have them joining sooner."

http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_221...ig-markets

Hope so, so we can welcome FAU & MTSU fans to El Paso for the 2014 C-USA Basketball Tournaments.

My impression after reading that...... Sounds like we might have a current conference member that might be leaving a little earlier than expected.......And it may not be by choice.

What gives you that impression, other than the talks with the Belt? They aren't going to kick anyone out.

I don't want to leave early. I want another last go round with great long-time friends in C-USA. I like playing the C-USA teams, and one round with the newbies would be fun too. You've got to take opportunities when offered, but I'll miss C-USA a lot.

Nobody is moving early. Not Rutgers and Maryland. Not ECU and Tulane. Not FAU and MTSU. Lame duck seasons are usually the rule. Not the exception.

(12-04-2012 07:05 AM)Lolly Popp Wrote:  Nobody is moving early. Not Rutgers and Maryland. Not ECU and Tulane. Not FAU and MTSU. Lame duck seasons are usually the rule. Not the exception.

That's my thought as well, but it seems there is a lot more talk about it then normal, with CUSA actively saying they are working with the SBC on an early exit for both.

Just seems kind of strange.

(12-04-2012 07:05 AM)Lolly Popp Wrote:  Nobody is moving early. Not Rutgers and Maryland. Not ECU and Tulane. Not FAU and MTSU. Lame duck seasons are usually the rule. Not the exception.

All we have to pay is $1 million at the most. The Sun Belt doesn't have an exit fee for those giving more than 12 months notice, and $1 million for those with less than 12 months notice. We have the money. Banowsky has already said he can accomodate us. We're out.

See you guys on the field in 2013.

MTSU to contest $1 million exit fee

This is a great read by the way.

"C-USA has given MTSU the option to join in July 2013 or July 2014, and McPhee ultimately will make that decision."

Sounds like the ball is in your court MTSU.

"Massaro said each member school receives between $35,000 and $50,000 in annual revenue sharing from the Sun Belt office, with adjustments made for bowl expenses and NCAA basketball tournament shares.

Massaro said C-USA projects it will hand out about $2 million annually to each member school, although reduction in revenue for entrance fees could trim that figure early in membership."


WOW...did not know it was that much of a difference. It would be worth it to pay the $1 million to leave early.

$35K to $50K payout in the SBC? That's just pathetic.

(12-04-2012 10:26 AM)blunderbuss Wrote:  $35K to $50K payout in the SBC? That's just pathetic.

Yep. Like I said, there's almost no reason imaginable for us to be playing Sun Belt football in 2013. The Sun Belt office doesn't have the funds to take us to court even if they wanted to. We'll probably negotiate the buyout, but at worst we're paying $1 million and rolling out.

(12-03-2012 09:23 PM)MTowho Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:12 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:06 PM)Chappy Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 08:16 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  It all depends on the Belt teams having enough games. CUSA would let you in early but we can't do it and leave the SB with only 7 conference games.

I don't think anyone cares about how many teams it leaves the SBC with... I think it is going to come down to whether Rutgers & Maryland are moving in 2013 instead of 2014.

I wouldn't expect you guys to worry about the Belt. The only issue is that there is a timeline after which teams are not allowed to leave. Unless some sort of arraingement can be worked out, its going to be very difficult for the Belt teams to fill their schedule (especially for teams needing another home game or two). The question is going to come down to the legal obligations of MTSU and FAU. My guess is that FAU can't afford what the Belt will demand (for the record WV paid the Big East 20 Million to leave early - partly over this issue) and will have to stay for another year to avoid lawsuits.

I'd hope for something to be worked out, but I just don't see how. And I doubt MTSU and FAU can bolt in 2013 without getting sued. The Belt doesn't want them, but we need the home games. And even the SEC would have trouble filling slots at this late date for next year.

We leave. FAU doesn't. Belt still has 9 teams and an 8 game conference schedule instead of 10 teams and an 8 game conference schedule. Ta da.

In order to keep divisions equal in 2013 it would have to be both MT and FAU.

(12-04-2012 10:35 AM)MUTeke Wrote:  In order to keep divisions equal in 2013 it would have to be both MT and FAU.

True, but it's not like unequal divisions haven't been done before. The MAC has done it for years. FAU may have more trouble coming up with the funds to make next year happen.

(12-04-2012 10:35 AM)MUTeke Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:23 PM)MTowho Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:12 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:06 PM)Chappy Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 08:16 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  It all depends on the Belt teams having enough games. CUSA would let you in early but we can't do it and leave the SB with only 7 conference games.

I don't think anyone cares about how many teams it leaves the SBC with... I think it is going to come down to whether Rutgers & Maryland are moving in 2013 instead of 2014.

I wouldn't expect you guys to worry about the Belt. The only issue is that there is a timeline after which teams are not allowed to leave. Unless some sort of arraingement can be worked out, its going to be very difficult for the Belt teams to fill their schedule (especially for teams needing another home game or two). The question is going to come down to the legal obligations of MTSU and FAU. My guess is that FAU can't afford what the Belt will demand (for the record WV paid the Big East 20 Million to leave early - partly over this issue) and will have to stay for another year to avoid lawsuits.

I'd hope for something to be worked out, but I just don't see how. And I doubt MTSU and FAU can bolt in 2013 without getting sued. The Belt doesn't want them, but we need the home games. And even the SEC would have trouble filling slots at this late date for next year.

We leave. FAU doesn't. Belt still has 9 teams and an 8 game conference schedule instead of 10 teams and an 8 game conference schedule. Ta da.

In order to keep divisions equal in 2013 it would have to be both MT and FAU.

Or we could allow Tulane to join the Big East immediately.

If MTSU is here for 2013 that means USM moves west and Tulsa and USM can get a game for 2013. Both schools want that.

I have more respect for USM than any school in the country.

(12-04-2012 11:10 AM)panicstricken Wrote:  If MTSU is here for 2013 that means USM moves west and Tulsa and USM can get a game for 2013. Both schools want that.

I have more respect for USM than any school in the country.

That certainly may have been a factor in Banowsky opening the door for us next year.

USM (and I dont mean this as a bash) has seemed to be pretty content with a Southern Conference.

Im surprised they havent lobbied for Troy.

Troy will never get in due to market and academics. It is going to be interesting to see what happens to their football in general. There was always fights on our boards about a Yeti-like APR exemption that allowed them to bring in player that others couldn't take a chance on. There was never any proof that it existed but it supposedly expired a few years ago. It could be a coincidence but there play on the field has dropped signicantly. Plus a lot of the AQ transfers seem to be spreaded around a little more even. It will be interesting to see if they can turn things around. If so that should settle the APR debate. If not I imagine people will still talk about it.

(12-04-2012 11:39 AM)panicstricken Wrote:  USM (and I dont mean this as a bash) has seemed to be pretty content with a Southern Conference.

Im surprised they havent lobbied for Troy.

Location. The big thing was the fact that the exploratory committees did go to Troy U. at one point, but the fact that it took an airline flight AND a long road trip to get there sort of put off a lot of the exploratory committee personnel.

(12-04-2012 11:08 AM)ICB Wrote:  

(12-04-2012 10:35 AM)MUTeke Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:23 PM)MTowho Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:12 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(12-03-2012 09:06 PM)Chappy Wrote:  I don't think anyone cares about how many teams it leaves the SBC with... I think it is going to come down to whether Rutgers & Maryland are moving in 2013 instead of 2014.

I wouldn't expect you guys to worry about the Belt. The only issue is that there is a timeline after which teams are not allowed to leave. Unless some sort of arraingement can be worked out, its going to be very difficult for the Belt teams to fill their schedule (especially for teams needing another home game or two). The question is going to come down to the legal obligations of MTSU and FAU. My guess is that FAU can't afford what the Belt will demand (for the record WV paid the Big East 20 Million to leave early - partly over this issue) and will have to stay for another year to avoid lawsuits.

I'd hope for something to be worked out, but I just don't see how. And I doubt MTSU and FAU can bolt in 2013 without getting sued. The Belt doesn't want them, but we need the home games. And even the SEC would have trouble filling slots at this late date for next year.

We leave. FAU doesn't. Belt still has 9 teams and an 8 game conference schedule instead of 10 teams and an 8 game conference schedule. Ta da.

In order to keep divisions equal in 2013 it would have to be both MT and FAU.

Or we could allow Tulane to join the Big East immediately.

They may not have a choice when its all said and done. It could be independence for a year. It could be Big East if they will take them in early. It could be that they end up staying one more year. I think we'll know the answer soon. My gut tells me that if MTSU comes in for 2013....then Tulane might need to be making arrangements for leaving early.

(12-04-2012 04:27 PM)MUHERD76 Wrote:  They may not have a choice when its all said and done. It could be independence for a year. It could be that the Big East will let them go in early. It could be that they end up staying one more year. I think we'll know the answer soon.

Yea, CUSA is going to kick them out. Sure.