(03-17-2013 11:23 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 08:37 AM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 06:28 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 10:34 AM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 12:12 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Sun Belt DOES NOT own the New Orleans Bowl. The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation owns it.

The computers will determine the performance shares. G5 picks how their funds are distributed and CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt ARE NOT stupid enough to hand that over to a committee.

Sun Belt did not screw MTSU. The Liberty did by backing out of the handshake deal to take the ASU-MTSU winner. By that point Indy had already agreed to take ULM ruling MTSU out and WKU had been working with Detroit for weeks and had a relationship developed. The league had a meeting to determine whether to send MTSU or WKU and the ADs voted to allow Detroit to invite whomever they wanted. EXACTLY the same thing done in 2011 with Beef O'Brady who took FIU over #2 WKU.

Again link to this? Show me something that says the current computer model is going to determine shares for the non G5 conferences. You keep repeating yourself with no proof because you have none.

This is because everybody knows that the computers don't work and are seriously flawed. That is why they were thrown out of the new system. The only people that use the computers as arguments are idiots whose teams happen to be rated higher in that particular year by the farce formulas.

Rationalize it how you want on ULM getting the spot over MT. It was politics all the way. MT deserved it more and La Tech also deserved a bowl berth. No matter how you guys spin it, you know that MT/La Tech were bowl calibre teams last year.

Go with the Sun Belt pride stuff all you want but homer Sun Belt fans are the only ones that rank the Sun Belt over CUSA or the MAC. The league had a good year last year but that isn't the norm and you guys will be purged even further when WKU leaves.

Also it is pretty laughable for anyone to talk FCS or non experience. Yeah Texas State, Georgia State, South Alabama and all the FCS callups are the beacon of experienced FBS football programs....

But we got better now that you are gone.

You've been playing FBS for 8 years. Congrats on finishing 7-6 four years ago. But now you're losing to South Alabama (!) and hosting 4500 real people in your stands for your home games. You nearly lost to a non-qualifying FCS team last year. You haven't had a winning record in 4 years. Your athletic program is broke and has to sell off home games to pay for your empty stadium. In 2013 you only have one OOC game at home (vs NMSU) and 2 hopeless away games. In 2014, you have Tulsa at home and... 2 hopeless away games. In basketball, for all your supposed talent...your last NCAA bid was 11 years ago.

You and your buddies at FIU are a national laughingstock (see F_U in the ESPN bottom 10).

I'm disappointed MTSU left. I understand why UNT left. I rank F_U to the CUSA on the same level as Tulane to the A-12.

I own a condo in FLL and am quite familiar with exactly how much support you guys have there. Its a flatline.

I see you have Miami coming to your place in 3 years. Between the two teams, will you even break 20,000 fans in the stadium?

The Sun Belt is not going to be better without FAU/FIU. Georgia State is not a better program than either. And with all the teams you guys are losing, you may add more FCS programs that aren't better.

FAU has been down in football for the last couple of years. Sun Belt homers like yourself like to ignore anything past the last 2-3 years and that is your agenda. I have said that many of times on here. Teams go up and down all the time. We kept an older coach a few years too long and are paying for it. But to act like FAU can not get better and improve is laughable.

It's just hilarious to me how idiots like yourself act like UL Monroe and such are great programs when they have done nothing to show it. FAU/FIU have actually won bowl games. They along with WKU/MT/S. Alabama have actually contended or won bball titles in the last few years in the Sun Belt. FAU/FIU are also in the top half of the SUn Belt in baseball as well.

Keep trying to act like they aren't a loss and have done nothing positive for the Sun Belt. And that adding Georgia State is an upgrade along with all the FCS that will trickle in when you guys continue to lose members. The only people that think you guys got better with these moves are the looney Sun Belt people that aren't rational at all.

Georgia State was a mistake.

F_U was also a mistake.

I'm sure you will do so much better with attendence playing UNT, FIU, MTSU in CUSA as you did in the SBC. And replacing Troy, ULL, and stAte with UAB, Rice, Old Dominion, and UNCC will do wonders for your program. That plus the FAU strategy (ULM is guilty of that too - but at least they've won a couple of those games) of scheduling at least 2 hopeless away payday games, 1 ridicuously easy home game and one game you have about a 5% chance of winning (I'm not sure you've ever won one of those). At least FIU schedules properly.

You won 8 OOC conference games in your 8 years in the Belt. Lets recap. Three wins against UAB. 2 Wins against FCS. You beat two teams (Memphis and CMU - who had 9 losses between them going into their bowl game with you). Oh, yes and you beat a 1-11 Minnesota at home. Congrats. Maybe you are a better fit for CUSA because you seem to have a much easier time dealing with UAB than with South Alabama.

ULM has had only one good year. But at least they have a couple of high profile OOC wins to show for it. And yes beating a Nick Saban led Alabama team and Arkansas are high profile, regardless of their records. I wish they wouldn't schedule like they (and you) do, but at least they have something to show for those games other than a check and a seemingly permanent place in the ESPN Bottom 10. There is something worse than being in the ESPN bottom 10. Its being in the bottom 10 and being such a laughingstock as to have to share that position with another program.

MTSU was a loss. Ga State was a mistake. FAU was no loss. I don't think FAU has any cause to call any other program out. Or any conference.

They aren't permanently in the bottom 10. They have had 3-4 bad years following because they kept their 1st coach around too long so he could open the stadium he helped to build. If anything they were just too nice and grateful. Don't see the harm in having some loyalty in days where there isn't much of that anymore.

FAU was a loss. These higher ups in the conference added them over the FCS stuff you guys are going to bring now. And the CUSA leaders added them over the teams left so they obviously have value. I will take their opinions over Sun Belt homers who can't accept that their conference is at the bottom of the totem pole. And I said that while FAU was in the Sun Belt too. It is a conference where teams get a start and then bolt if they have a chance to do so.

FAU at least won 2 bowls games. ULM has made one and got their asses handed to them. There is no way you can say ULM as a program is a bigger get and more valuable than FAU. They lose in most every category to FAU. They have the fanbase on us but hey it is hard to get people in S Florida out to see bottom of the barrel Sun Belt games. The fanbases in S Florida are all bad but maybe CUSA will get them some boost in that area.

The added money will help with the scheduling as well. And despite what the idiots of your league think, CUSA will continue to make more than the Sun Belt. I know that is hard for you guys to accept. And I know you guys try to spin all of this as a positive. Trust me though, anyone outside the Sun Belt rates you guys as the lowest and will continue to do so with these moves.

Glad you are happy we are gone. I am happy we are gone too. We are all happy so this is great for all of us.

(03-17-2013 08:37 AM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 06:28 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 10:34 AM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 12:12 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Sun Belt DOES NOT own the New Orleans Bowl. The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation owns it.

The computers will determine the performance shares. G5 picks how their funds are distributed and CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt ARE NOT stupid enough to hand that over to a committee.

Sun Belt did not screw MTSU. The Liberty did by backing out of the handshake deal to take the ASU-MTSU winner. By that point Indy had already agreed to take ULM ruling MTSU out and WKU had been working with Detroit for weeks and had a relationship developed. The league had a meeting to determine whether to send MTSU or WKU and the ADs voted to allow Detroit to invite whomever they wanted. EXACTLY the same thing done in 2011 with Beef O'Brady who took FIU over #2 WKU.

Again link to this? Show me something that says the current computer model is going to determine shares for the non G5 conferences. You keep repeating yourself with no proof because you have none.

This is because everybody knows that the computers don't work and are seriously flawed. That is why they were thrown out of the new system. The only people that use the computers as arguments are idiots whose teams happen to be rated higher in that particular year by the farce formulas.

Rationalize it how you want on ULM getting the spot over MT. It was politics all the way. MT deserved it more and La Tech also deserved a bowl berth. No matter how you guys spin it, you know that MT/La Tech were bowl calibre teams last year.

Go with the Sun Belt pride stuff all you want but homer Sun Belt fans are the only ones that rank the Sun Belt over CUSA or the MAC. The league had a good year last year but that isn't the norm and you guys will be purged even further when WKU leaves.

Also it is pretty laughable for anyone to talk FCS or non experience. Yeah Texas State, Georgia State, South Alabama and all the FCS callups are the beacon of experienced FBS football programs....

But we got better now that you are gone.

You've been playing FBS for 8 years. Congrats on finishing 7-6 four years ago. But now you're losing to South Alabama (!) and hosting 4500 real people in your stands for your home games. You nearly lost to a non-qualifying FCS team last year. You haven't had a winning record in 4 years. Your athletic program is broke and has to sell off home games to pay for your empty stadium. In 2013 you only have one OOC game at home (vs NMSU) and 2 hopeless away games. In 2014, you have Tulsa at home and... 2 hopeless away games. In basketball, for all your supposed talent...your last NCAA bid was 11 years ago.

You and your buddies at FIU are a national laughingstock (see F_U in the ESPN bottom 10).

I'm disappointed MTSU left. I understand why UNT left. I rank F_U to the CUSA on the same level as Tulane to the A-12.

I own a condo in FLL and am quite familiar with exactly how much support you guys have there. Its a flatline.

I see you have Miami coming to your place in 3 years. Between the two teams, will you even break 20,000 fans in the stadium?

The Sun Belt is not going to be better without FAU/FIU. Georgia State is not a better program than either. And with all the teams you guys are losing, you may add more FCS programs that aren't better.

FAU has been down in football for the last couple of years. Sun Belt homers like yourself like to ignore anything past the last 2-3 years and that is your agenda. I have said that many of times on here. Teams go up and down all the time. We kept an older coach a few years too long and are paying for it. But to act like FAU can not get better and improve is laughable.

It's just hilarious to me how idiots like yourself act like UL Monroe and such are great programs when they have done nothing to show it. FAU/FIU have actually won bowl games. They along with WKU/MT/S. Alabama have actually contended or won bball titles in the last few years in the Sun Belt. FAU/FIU are also in the top half of the SUn Belt in baseball as well.

Keep trying to act like they aren't a loss and have done nothing positive for the Sun Belt. And that adding Georgia State is an upgrade along with all the FCS that will trickle in when you guys continue to lose members. The only people that think you guys got better with these moves are the looney Sun Belt people that aren't rational at all.

FIU/FAU haven't really been a great fit for the SBC. They came into the Belt on short notice when we needed them to and we shouldn't forget that.

But I don't know any Belt fan that really considered the loss to be a huge downer. They had some success in the Belt but never really "gelled" in the minds of SBC fans. Part of it was lack of fan interaction and energy.

UNT wasn't mourned because SBC fans for the most part recognized that this was the offer they had to accept. UNT was a major positive in the early years of Belt football and played a major role in building the conference but had stagnated.

MTSU is another story and losing them is a bit of a downer.

That said, most SBC fans, I think, suspect that App State, TXST, and Georgia Southern will bring great fan interaction and energy that we didn't have with FIU/FAU and thus improve the conference.

There is no crime in recognizing that FIU/FAU might not have been the best fit for the SBC and that others might be more exciting part of the SBC culture.

It is possible for both parties to get stronger after a divorce. Happens sometimes.

(03-16-2013 10:34 AM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 12:12 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Sun Belt DOES NOT own the New Orleans Bowl. The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation owns it.

The computers will determine the performance shares. G5 picks how their funds are distributed and CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt ARE NOT stupid enough to hand that over to a committee.

Sun Belt did not screw MTSU. The Liberty did by backing out of the handshake deal to take the ASU-MTSU winner. By that point Indy had already agreed to take ULM ruling MTSU out and WKU had been working with Detroit for weeks and had a relationship developed. The league had a meeting to determine whether to send MTSU or WKU and the ADs voted to allow Detroit to invite whomever they wanted. EXACTLY the same thing done in 2011 with Beef O'Brady who took FIU over #2 WKU.

Again link to this? Show me something that says the current computer model is going to determine shares for the non G5 conferences. You keep repeating yourself with no proof because you have none.

This is because everybody knows that the computers don't work and are seriously flawed. That is why they were thrown out of the new system. The only people that use the computers as arguments are idiots whose teams happen to be rated higher in that particular year by the farce formulas.

Rationalize it how you want on ULM getting the spot over MT. It was politics all the way. MT deserved it more and La Tech also deserved a bowl berth. No matter how you guys spin it, you know that MT/La Tech were bowl calibre teams last year.

Go with the Sun Belt pride stuff all you want but homer Sun Belt fans are the only ones that rank the Sun Belt over CUSA or the MAC. The league had a good year last year but that isn't the norm and you guys will be purged even further when WKU leaves.

Also it is pretty laughable for anyone to talk FCS or non experience. Yeah Texas State, Georgia State, South Alabama and all the FCS callups are the beacon of experienced FBS football programs....

Two can play the insolent game. SHOW ME ONE LINK THAT SAYS COMPUTERS WON'T DETERMINE REVENUE DISTRIBUTION.

All you can do is repeat yourself becase you have no proof.

Last year's distribution was 1. WAC 2. MAC 3. Sun Belt. You are out of your ever loving mind if you think MAC Sun Belt CUSA would go with a committee or reputation to determine distribution because they would be the permanent 3 4 5. If your president or AD supports that they are utterly incompetent.

You can't even get your story correct. MTSU was never on the I-Bowl's radar ULM was the only Sun Belt they considered once the Cajuns were selected to the New Orleans Bowl.

The purported Sun Belt politics thing was Detroit

If you are just going to throw out randomly generated garbage at least stock your auto post script with correct information or sensible information.

List of seasons when FAU or FIU won an outright Sun Belt title in Football or men's basketball an men's basketball tournament championships.
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Hate to see them go because it was a fun but expensive trip but perspective does matter.

(03-17-2013 12:44 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 10:34 AM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 12:12 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  Sun Belt DOES NOT own the New Orleans Bowl. The Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation owns it.

The computers will determine the performance shares. G5 picks how their funds are distributed and CUSA, MAC, Sun Belt ARE NOT stupid enough to hand that over to a committee.

Sun Belt did not screw MTSU. The Liberty did by backing out of the handshake deal to take the ASU-MTSU winner. By that point Indy had already agreed to take ULM ruling MTSU out and WKU had been working with Detroit for weeks and had a relationship developed. The league had a meeting to determine whether to send MTSU or WKU and the ADs voted to allow Detroit to invite whomever they wanted. EXACTLY the same thing done in 2011 with Beef O'Brady who took FIU over #2 WKU.

Again link to this? Show me something that says the current computer model is going to determine shares for the non G5 conferences. You keep repeating yourself with no proof because you have none.

This is because everybody knows that the computers don't work and are seriously flawed. That is why they were thrown out of the new system. The only people that use the computers as arguments are idiots whose teams happen to be rated higher in that particular year by the farce formulas.

Rationalize it how you want on ULM getting the spot over MT. It was politics all the way. MT deserved it more and La Tech also deserved a bowl berth. No matter how you guys spin it, you know that MT/La Tech were bowl calibre teams last year.

Go with the Sun Belt pride stuff all you want but homer Sun Belt fans are the only ones that rank the Sun Belt over CUSA or the MAC. The league had a good year last year but that isn't the norm and you guys will be purged even further when WKU leaves.

Also it is pretty laughable for anyone to talk FCS or non experience. Yeah Texas State, Georgia State, South Alabama and all the FCS callups are the beacon of experienced FBS football programs....

Two can play the insolent game. SHOW ME ONE LINK THAT SAYS COMPUTERS WON'T DETERMINE REVENUE DISTRIBUTION.

All you can do is repeat yourself becase you have no proof.

Last year's distribution was 1. WAC 2. MAC 3. Sun Belt. You are out of your ever loving mind if you think MAC Sun Belt CUSA would go with a committee or reputation to determine distribution because they would be the permanent 3 4 5. If your president or AD supports that they are utterly incompetent.

You can't even get your story correct. MTSU was never on the I-Bowl's radar ULM was the only Sun Belt they considered once the Cajuns were selected to the New Orleans Bowl.

The purported Sun Belt politics thing was Detroit

If you are just going to throw out randomly generated garbage at least stock your auto post script with correct information or sensible information.

You have no link because it isn't happening that way. You are just too dumb to figure that out. Yeah they are going to eliminate the computers in deciding who goes to the 4 team playoff but they are going to keep them around in their current form to determine payouts for non G5 conferences? Think about what you are saying. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

If the computers were deemed to be this flawed, they damn sure aren't going to be used in this form to determine anything. And even if they were, CUSA would be above the Sun Belt in more years than not. Last year wasn't the norm.

(03-17-2013 12:47 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  List of seasons when FAU or FIU won an outright Sun Belt title in Football or men's basketball an men's basketball tournament championships.
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Hate to see them go because it was a fun but expensive trip but perspective does matter.

2 can play this game:

FAU bowl wins in Sun Belt era: 2

Arkansas State : 1

FAU and Arkansas State both have 1 NCAA tourney appearance in basketball. But at least FAU won the regular season title in 2010-2011. It's a one bid conference so they didn't get in. They didn't have luck like MT to have a bunch of bubble teams lose to propel them in after losing the conference tourney.

Baseball. FAU has 7 D1 NCAA tourney appearances. Arkansas State has 1 according to you guys. (I can't find record of any).

Market: You guys get crushed by FAU.

Recruiting area for fellow conference teams: You guys lose that in a landslide.

Plus let's ask visiting fans if they would rather go to Boca Raton, Florida or craphole bible belt Jonesboro, Arkansas.....

Also when listing the teams we are going to play, it is funny that Tom left out Marshall. Marshall has more presence in Florida than any opponent outside Florida in the Sun Belt.

The one thing you guys have is fan support over us. Brag about that all you want but you are just one person as I am. I can't control what others in our fanbase do. If I am the only one to show up for a game with my group, then that is all I can control.

FAU just started football from scratch in 2001. You guys started in 1911. The situations aren't equal here.

Takes a little time to build a fanbase and get a program together. You guys have had 90 more years to do so. The growth potential for our program is big. Could be great (in regards to mid major great) or could continue to flounder. You guys act like the last 3-4 years are going to be the norm. I chose to think they can improve. We will see what happens. But to act like FAU adds absolutely nothing is a joke.

(03-17-2013 01:53 PM)Ragu Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 12:47 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  List of seasons when FAU or FIU won an outright Sun Belt title in Football or men's basketball an men's basketball tournament championships.
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-
-
-
-

Hate to see them go because it was a fun but expensive trip but perspective does matter.

2 can play this game:

FAU bowl wins in Sun Belt era: 2

Arkansas State : 1

FAU and Arkansas State both have 1 NCAA tourney appearance in basketball. But at least FAU won the regular season title in 2010-2011. It's a one bid conference so they didn't get in. They didn't have luck like MT to have a bunch of bubble teams lose to propel them in after losing the conference tourney.

Baseball. FAU has 7 D1 NCAA tourney appearances. Arkansas State has 1 according to you guys. (I can't find record of any).

Market: You guys get crushed by FAU.

Recruiting area for fellow conference teams: You guys lose that in a landslide.

Plus let's ask visiting fans if they would rather go to Boca Raton, Florida or craphole bible belt Jonesboro, Arkansas.....

Also when listing the teams we are going to play, it is funny that Tom left out Marshall. Marshall has more presence in Florida than any opponent outside Florida in the Sun Belt.

The one thing you guys have is fan support over us. Brag about that all you want but you are just one person as I am. I can't control what others in our fanbase do. If I am the only one to show up for a game with my group, then that is all I can control.

FAU just started football from scratch in 2001. You guys started in 1911. The situations aren't equal here.

Takes a little time to build a fanbase and get a program together. You guys have had 90 more years to do so. The growth potential for our program is big. Could be great (in regards to mid major great) or could continue to flounder. You guys act like the last 3-4 years are going to be the norm. I chose to think they can improve. We will see what happens. But to act like FAU adds absolutely nothing is a joke.

Except that FAU is moving backwards. You probably could have beaten South Alabama with your 2002 team. Too bad your 2012 couldn't. Its more than just one game. And one season. For all the talk of your huge market and enrollment.....where are they on FAU home Saturdays? Not at FAU Stadium, that's for sure.

You went from garbage to 7-6 and then sunk back again. But your program appears to be worse now that it was when you entered FBS. You have four lifetime FBS wins over FBS teams that had a winning record. Your biggest win ever..over a 8-5 Central Michigan team. That's all you have to show for your 8 years at this level.

I just don't see FAU as ever being viable at any level above where it is now (lower tier Belt/CUSA). Part of it is that your market really isn't a market. Only about 10% of the population there comes from a college football watching pedigree and half of them are from elsewhere (and don't support or care about FAU football). The U can't draw 30,000 for high profile matchups while ranked and after winning multiple national FBS championships. I find it laughable that FAU will be able to do that playing UNCC.

The Miami-Fort Laud-WPB 'market' for college football is a mirage.

We'll see how much that market is worth when everything goes to a la carte for college sports in the next 5 years.

Attendence isn't everything. But when you don't have football success (and you don't), its at least something.

FAU does bring something to the table. An assist to other teams that want to recruit down there (not that any of our teams really recruit down there). You brought fantastic game day experiences of watching games with 4500 people (including the bands and the relatives of team players) cheering. You brought an AD that schedules to fail and then fails.

My favorite FAU experience. 1 first down in an entire game versus Michigan State. That was last year. One. First. Down. in an entire game. Way to bring it, FAU!

Blowing a 14 point 4th quarter lead at South Alabama was also pretty telling about your program too.

Yeah this all rings hollow coming from a guy that thinks if South Alabama is forced back to down to FCS they will take a lot of teams with them. As if South Alabama matters at all as well.

I am sure if another team joined CUSA, you guys would bash them too and only look at the positives for FAU if they stayed. That is how you guys operate. Continue on with that message while you play in the conference that is at the bottom to everyone outside of homer Sun Belt fans who are delusional.

All of the remaining Sun Belt schools would trip over themselves running for the door if an offer from C-USA came.

(03-17-2013 02:23 PM)Ragu Wrote:  Yeah this all rings hollow coming from a guy that thinks if South Alabama is forced back to down to FCS they will take a lot of teams with them. As if South Alabama matters at all as well.

I am sure if another team joined CUSA, you guys would bash them too and only look at the positives for FAU if they stayed. That is how you guys operate. Continue on with that message while you play in the conference that is at the bottom to everyone outside of homer Sun Belt fans who are delusional.

I'm not happy with MTSU. But at least they have something (anything) to hang their hat on.

You got nothing. At all. There really aren't any positives for FAU. And I felt that before you left. No fan support. No football success. Your program is flat broke too. You schedule to lose all your OOC games that mean anything and succeed at losing.

Again, I'm glad you're gone. MTSU leaving hurt. If Troy, ULL, stAte, or WKU leaves...that would hurt too. Bye. I guess you're glad to be leaving the Belt and all its moveups because you can't beat those moveups.

But hey, maybe you can manage 2 first downs in one of your two payday games next year. I guess that would be progress.

South Alabama will not be forced back down to FCS. Unlike FAU, we have fan support and tons of money. My comment was that if the Belt has to take a bunch of FCS moveups, it increases the liklihood that there will be another split in FBS. And in that split, the CUSA and the MAC would be in with the Belt. I didn't say it would happen. I made a comment saying that having the Belt add a ton of move ups increases the liklihood that there will be another split in FBS.

Heck, if the NCAA started enforcing the 15,000 average attendence rule and started counting butts in the seats, you'd be shoved down before we would. EMU, FAU, Tulane, FIU, Idaho, NMSU and a couple of other MAC teams would be in real trouble.

(03-17-2013 11:23 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Georgia State was a mistake.

F_U was also a mistake.

I'm sure you will do so much better with attendence playing UNT, FIU, MTSU in CUSA as you did in the SBC. And replacing Troy, ULL, and stAte with UAB, Rice, Old Dominion, and UNCC will do wonders for your program. That plus the FAU strategy (ULM is guilty of that too - but at least they've won a couple of those games) of scheduling at least 2 hopeless away payday games, 1 ridicuously easy home game and one game you have about a 5% chance of winning (I'm not sure you've ever won one of those). At least FIU schedules properly.

You won 8 OOC conference games in your 8 years in the Belt. Lets recap. Three wins against UAB. 2 Wins against FCS. You beat two teams (Memphis and CMU - who had 9 losses between them going into their bowl game with you). Oh, yes and you beat a 1-11 Minnesota at home. Congrats. Maybe you are a better fit for CUSA because you seem to have a much easier time dealing with UAB than with South Alabama.

Just curious, how many teams has FAU beaten in the last 8 years that finished the year with a winning record against FBS competition? The answer is four and two of those were over teams that finished 7-6. So once every two years, you'll beat a team that finishes 7-6 or so. That includes SBC games.

ULM has had only one good year. But at least they have a couple of high profile OOC wins to show for it. And yes beating a Nick Saban led Alabama team and Arkansas are high profile, regardless of their records (Alabama went to a bowl that year). I wish they wouldn't schedule like they (and you) do, but at least they have something to show for those games other than a check and a seemingly permanent place in the ESPN Bottom 10. There is something worse than being in the ESPN bottom 10. Its being in the bottom 10 and being such a laughingstock as to have to share that position with another program.

Trading FAU for Appy or Ga Southern isn't gong to cause the Sun Belt to get worse. Trading UNT for Texas State...probably a bit of a loss. FIU for USA (a loss at present). Losing MTSU was a hit. But then again, adding UTSA, Old Dominion, and UNCC isn't gonna do much for CUSA either.

MTSU was a loss. Ga State was a mistake. FAU was no loss. I don't think FAU has any cause to call any other program out. Or any conference.

I think you're wrong. Granted adding FCS programs doesn't add to CUSA's credibility but I do believe that these programs add significant value.

ODU and Charlotte are tremendous schools. They have a ton of potential. If no one has explained their benefits just ask on their respective pages. Honestly, any conference invite is an investment. But if either ODU or Charlotte wins the right games, makes a successful program, and establishes their dominance then CUSA just won and the risk is all payed off. The dollars will flow and that's all the conference cares about.

I'm sure all the Sun Belt schools are tremendous too, but I only know people that go to Troy. My friends that go there like it and I'm really glad for them.
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Now here's my perspective on this: When I lived in Florida, I went with a family friend (she was in the band at Troy, which is very good) to see a football game at Troy between them and MTSU. The atmosphere was pretty good. The game was decent. I enjoyed it. The fans were loud and the bands were too. I was a high school freshman at the time.

Forward a few years.... I now live in Virginia. Those high school years are long gone now (for better or for worse ). I have been to many ODU football games and I can assure you there is no comparison between any ODU game and that game I saw between Troy and MTSU.

In Norfolk, the crowds are electric and the game is truly great. I've lost my voice way too many times to count. It's so much blatant fun! Granted, I now attend ODU so that's my frame of reference. Put a nice package on the court/field and we'll yell our hearts out!

Maybe I caught Troy at a bad time but that's just my take. Sorry for any disrespect.

(03-17-2013 09:13 PM)Murray007 Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 11:23 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Georgia State was a mistake.

F_U was also a mistake.

I'm sure you will do so much better with attendence playing UNT, FIU, MTSU in CUSA as you did in the SBC. And replacing Troy, ULL, and stAte with UAB, Rice, Old Dominion, and UNCC will do wonders for your program. That plus the FAU strategy (ULM is guilty of that too - but at least they've won a couple of those games) of scheduling at least 2 hopeless away payday games, 1 ridicuously easy home game and one game you have about a 5% chance of winning (I'm not sure you've ever won one of those). At least FIU schedules properly.

You won 8 OOC conference games in your 8 years in the Belt. Lets recap. Three wins against UAB. 2 Wins against FCS. You beat two teams (Memphis and CMU - who had 9 losses between them going into their bowl game with you). Oh, yes and you beat a 1-11 Minnesota at home. Congrats. Maybe you are a better fit for CUSA because you seem to have a much easier time dealing with UAB than with South Alabama.

Just curious, how many teams has FAU beaten in the last 8 years that finished the year with a winning record against FBS competition? The answer is four and two of those were over teams that finished 7-6. So once every two years, you'll beat a team that finishes 7-6 or so. That includes SBC games.

ULM has had only one good year. But at least they have a couple of high profile OOC wins to show for it. And yes beating a Nick Saban led Alabama team and Arkansas are high profile, regardless of their records (Alabama went to a bowl that year). I wish they wouldn't schedule like they (and you) do, but at least they have something to show for those games other than a check and a seemingly permanent place in the ESPN Bottom 10. There is something worse than being in the ESPN bottom 10. Its being in the bottom 10 and being such a laughingstock as to have to share that position with another program.

Trading FAU for Appy or Ga Southern isn't gong to cause the Sun Belt to get worse. Trading UNT for Texas State...probably a bit of a loss. FIU for USA (a loss at present). Losing MTSU was a hit. But then again, adding UTSA, Old Dominion, and UNCC isn't gonna do much for CUSA either.

MTSU was a loss. Ga State was a mistake. FAU was no loss. I don't think FAU has any cause to call any other program out. Or any conference.

I think you're wrong. Granted adding FCS programs doesn't add to CUSA's credibility but I do believe that these programs add significant value.

ODU and Charlotte are tremendous schools. They have a ton of potential. If no one has explained their benefits just ask on their respective pages. Honestly, any conference invite is an investment. But if either ODU or Charlotte wins the right games, makes a successful program, and establishes their dominance then CUSA just won and the risk is all payed off. The dollars will flow and that's all the conference cares about.

I'm sure all the Sun Belt schools are tremendous too, but I only know people that go to Troy. My friends that go there like it and I'm really glad for them.
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Now here's my perspective on this: When I lived in Florida, I went with a family friend (she was in the band at Troy, which is very good) to see a football game at Troy between them and MTSU. The atmosphere was pretty good. The game was decent. I enjoyed it. The fans were loud and the bands were too. I was a high school freshman at the time.

Forward a few years.... I now live in Virginia. Those high school years are long gone now (for better or for worse ). I have been to many ODU football games and I can assure you there is no comparison between any ODU game and that game I saw between Troy and MTSU.

In Norfolk, the crowds are electric and the game is truly great. I've lost my voice way too many times to count. It's so much blatant fun! Granted, I now attend ODU so that's my frame of reference. Put a nice package on the court/field and we'll yell our hearts out!

Maybe I caught Troy at a bad time but that's just my take. Sorry for any disrespect.

The C-USA commish has admitted that these schools are an investment in the future for the conference. To not see the potential for ODU, Charlotte and UTSA is similar to sticking your head in the sand. C-USA takes a hit for FB rating for the first few years but the long term looks very good. There are other good choices to be made as well in WKU, ASU and ULL. It's only a matter of time.

(03-17-2013 09:19 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 09:13 PM)Murray007 Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 11:23 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  Georgia State was a mistake.

F_U was also a mistake.

I'm sure you will do so much better with attendence playing UNT, FIU, MTSU in CUSA as you did in the SBC. And replacing Troy, ULL, and stAte with UAB, Rice, Old Dominion, and UNCC will do wonders for your program. That plus the FAU strategy (ULM is guilty of that too - but at least they've won a couple of those games) of scheduling at least 2 hopeless away payday games, 1 ridicuously easy home game and one game you have about a 5% chance of winning (I'm not sure you've ever won one of those). At least FIU schedules properly.

You won 8 OOC conference games in your 8 years in the Belt. Lets recap. Three wins against UAB. 2 Wins against FCS. You beat two teams (Memphis and CMU - who had 9 losses between them going into their bowl game with you). Oh, yes and you beat a 1-11 Minnesota at home. Congrats. Maybe you are a better fit for CUSA because you seem to have a much easier time dealing with UAB than with South Alabama.

Just curious, how many teams has FAU beaten in the last 8 years that finished the year with a winning record against FBS competition? The answer is four and two of those were over teams that finished 7-6. So once every two years, you'll beat a team that finishes 7-6 or so. That includes SBC games.

ULM has had only one good year. But at least they have a couple of high profile OOC wins to show for it. And yes beating a Nick Saban led Alabama team and Arkansas are high profile, regardless of their records (Alabama went to a bowl that year). I wish they wouldn't schedule like they (and you) do, but at least they have something to show for those games other than a check and a seemingly permanent place in the ESPN Bottom 10. There is something worse than being in the ESPN bottom 10. Its being in the bottom 10 and being such a laughingstock as to have to share that position with another program.

Trading FAU for Appy or Ga Southern isn't gong to cause the Sun Belt to get worse. Trading UNT for Texas State...probably a bit of a loss. FIU for USA (a loss at present). Losing MTSU was a hit. But then again, adding UTSA, Old Dominion, and UNCC isn't gonna do much for CUSA either.

MTSU was a loss. Ga State was a mistake. FAU was no loss. I don't think FAU has any cause to call any other program out. Or any conference.

I think you're wrong. Granted adding FCS programs doesn't add to CUSA's credibility but I do believe that these programs add significant value.

ODU and Charlotte are tremendous schools. They have a ton of potential. If no one has explained their benefits just ask on their respective pages. Honestly, any conference invite is an investment. But if either ODU or Charlotte wins the right games, makes a successful program, and establishes their dominance then CUSA just won and the risk is all payed off. The dollars will flow and that's all the conference cares about.

I'm sure all the Sun Belt schools are tremendous too, but I only know people that go to Troy. My friends that go there like it and I'm really glad for them.
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Now here's my perspective on this: When I lived in Florida, I went with a family friend (she was in the band at Troy, which is very good) to see a football game at Troy between them and MTSU. The atmosphere was pretty good. The game was decent. I enjoyed it. The fans were loud and the bands were too. I was a high school freshman at the time.

Forward a few years.... I now live in Virginia. Those high school years are long gone now (for better or for worse ). I have been to many ODU football games and I can assure you there is no comparison between any ODU game and that game I saw between Troy and MTSU.

In Norfolk, the crowds are electric and the game is truly great. I've lost my voice way too many times to count. It's so much blatant fun! Granted, I now attend ODU so that's my frame of reference. Put a nice package on the court/field and we'll yell our hearts out!

Maybe I caught Troy at a bad time but that's just my take. Sorry for any disrespect.

The C-USA commish has admitted that these schools are an investment in the future for the conference. To not see the potential for ODU, Charlotte and UTSA is similar to sticking your head in the sand. C-USA takes a hit for FB rating for the first few years but the long term looks very good. There are other good choices to be made as well in WKU, ASU and ULL. It's only a matter of time.

I dont know much about odu or nc-c but I lived many years in san antonio and my sister has a degree in architecture from utsa. they are a good add for c-usa because they are the only college sports in a million+ city and they imediately lift the profile of any conference because they are able to schedule home games with the biggest names in college football because they all want to come to san antonio to recruit. They have literally no on campus facilities and I wouldnt want to go to school there but having use of the alamodome and strong support from the city has propelled them into the c-usa

ODU, UTSA, etc. have potential in the sense that they'll probably get to build nice 30,000 seat erector set stadiums with lots of family-friendly amenities, and have a good AAA baseball-style game-day experience. But I don't think they have much chance of ever reaching the point where they're well-known nationally or considered anything close to major. A lot of CUSA fans like to say that ODU will be another ECU, UNT will be another UH, etc., but to me that's a joke. ECU has top ten AP finishes in football. Houston won a Heisman. The new teams will never even have the opportunity to compete for such things, or even for the semi-prestigious Liberty, Sun, Independence, and Capital One bowl berths that the CUSA 1.0 teams got back in the 1980s and 1990s. Maybe one or two of them will get a chance to be led to BCS slaughter, NIU-style, but as for making an impact nationally like the CUSA 1.0 teams got to do, I don't see it happening. There are too many mouths at the table now, and too many FBS wannabes for anyone but the die-hards to care about or even notice these new teams. AAA baseball (or ECHL hockey) is what they're targeting, and this is to the detriment of USM, a school that once aspired to so much more.

(03-18-2013 01:22 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  ODU, UTSA, etc. have potential in the sense that they'll probably get to build nice 30,000 seat erector set stadiums with lots of family-friendly amenities, and have a good AAA baseball-style game-day experience. But I don't think they have much chance of ever reaching the point where they're well-known nationally or considered anything close to major. A lot of CUSA fans like to say that ODU will be another ECU, UNT will be another UH, etc., but to me that's a joke. ECU has top ten AP finishes in football. Houston won a Heisman. The new teams will never even have the opportunity to compete for such things, or even for the semi-prestigious Liberty, Sun, Independence, and Capital One bowl berths that the CUSA 1.0 teams got back in the 1980s and 1990s. Maybe one or two of them will get a chance to be led to BCS slaughter, NIU-style, but as for making an impact nationally like the CUSA 1.0 teams got to do, I don't see it happening. There are too many mouths at the table now, and too many FBS wannabes for anyone but the die-hards to care about or even notice these new teams. AAA baseball (or ECHL hockey) is what they're targeting, and this is to the detriment of USM, a school that once aspired to so much more.

Have got to agree. The new G5 system regulates the top champion to play a team rated #10-#12. That is a step back from the previous system where a Top 16 team could get a crack at a Top 8 AQ like Boise State did with Oklahoma.

As for CUSA, considering that Southern Miss didn't make the dance with an RPI rated #34 in the country with Memphis in CUSA....without Memphis its definitely looking like a 1 bid league.

That is a shame in my opinion because I watched the CUSA final and USM's basketball team had Memphis on the ropes 20T in the conference finals while looking very capable talent wise for winning a game or 2 in the NCAA's.

Meh who knows on the leagues. The MAC is mostly a 1 bid league as well and so is the Sun Belt. But the MAC has had 2 before and the Sun Belt has 2 this year (2 that are in and could very well be in CUSA). I am sure there will be some years where CUSA could have 2-3 teams in the tourney. You are losing Memphis which hurts but Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Old Dominion and Charlotte are coming in and have made the tourney in recent years.

(03-18-2013 03:14 PM)Ragu Wrote:  Meh who knows on the leagues. The MAC is mostly a 1 bid league as well and so is the Sun Belt. But the MAC has had 2 before and the Sun Belt has 2 this year (2 that are in and could very well be in CUSA). I am sure there will be some years where CUSA could have 2-3 teams in the tourney. You are losing Memphis which hurts but Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Old Dominion and Charlotte are coming in and have made the tourney in recent years.

Well, if you only consider basketball, a lot of this realignment crap doesn't matter. There are bonafide championship contenders all over the place. Being in CUSA or the MWC isn't the kiss of death, like it is in football. It's football that has really hurt USM recently.

(03-18-2013 01:22 PM)AndreWhere Wrote:  ODU, UTSA, etc. have potential in the sense that they'll probably get to build nice 30,000 seat erector set stadiums with lots of family-friendly amenities, and have a good AAA baseball-style game-day experience. But I don't think they have much chance of ever reaching the point where they're well-known nationally or considered anything close to major. A lot of CUSA fans like to say that ODU will be another ECU, UNT will be another UH, etc., but to me that's a joke. ECU has top ten AP finishes in football. Houston won a Heisman. The new teams will never even have the opportunity to compete for such things, or even for the semi-prestigious Liberty, Sun, Independence, and Capital One bowl berths that the CUSA 1.0 teams got back in the 1980s and 1990s. Maybe one or two of them will get a chance to be led to BCS slaughter, NIU-style, but as for making an impact nationally like the CUSA 1.0 teams got to do, I don't see it happening. There are too many mouths at the table now, and too many FBS wannabes for anyone but the die-hards to care about or even notice these new teams. AAA baseball (or ECHL hockey) is what they're targeting, and this is to the detriment of USM, a school that once aspired to so much
more.

I agree with you in many aspects. Namely, the bold sections. USM is a great institution. It's an honor that ODU is aspiring to be in a conference with USM because that school carries a lot of clout. Should USM be in a more elite conference? Absolutely.

I'm not well versed on the legacy of USM athletics but I know that USM still carried some clout from the old timers in Florida when I lived there. Even some of 1990s FSU fans knew that Southern Miss was a pretty decent football program and can even remember when the Noles didn't emerge victorious with the Golden Eagles. Does ODU rank up there with that type of legacy? Maybe in women's bball but certainly not in football.

But.... Does ODU have the potential to be a new ECU? I'm inclined to believe it does. We need more tradition, more winning, and most importantly more time.

I disagree with the italicized points. Norfolk is a AAA town. That's just a fact. It's what it has always has been. But, there is an opportunity to change that and it starts with ODU.

I highly doubt there will ever be a professional sports team in Hampton Roads. It just won't happen because DC is too close. But... Collegiate sports is the next best thing. ODU can make happen. Lots of alumni. Lots of support. Just keep adding the right ingredients (time, tradition, and winning) and it will happen.

CUSA has given ODU that opportunity and we will seize it. It won't be easy but we will win a lot of games and one day (hopefully soon) you might see a 50,000 seat stadium right on the banks of the Elizabeth River.

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Now, onto whether the Group of 5 can compete with the rest of the conferences... The answer is no. You're completely right. We will get scraps while the B1G and the PAC-12, etc. get to feast.

I think (but do not hope) there will come a time when there will be a divide between the FBS groups. The elite conferences will leave to form their own league and the leftovers will be argued about between the CUSAs and the Sun Belts. Heck, it's practically happened.
The alternative is to have an FCS type playoff and a true FCS type playoff. I really hope that happens because it will help save college football. That's the scenario that will help ODU, USM, and all the rest of the non-AQ world.

The AQ conferences are just too rich and have the resources. Heck, that's why this forum exists (for the most part, some exceptions)! So that the smaller schools can see if they can get the last few invites to the blissful paradise of AQ land.

Will ODU get a Heisman? Extremely unlikely. But it's possible and thus why I disagree with you. We just need one special player from Hampton Roads to stick around....

Anyway, that's that. By the way, Southern Miss should be in the NCAA tourney and I was amazed you all didn't get in. Good luck to the Golden Eagles!!

(03-18-2013 03:14 PM)Ragu Wrote:  Meh who knows on the leagues. The MAC is mostly a 1 bid league as well and so is the Sun Belt. But the MAC has had 2 before and the Sun Belt has 2 this year (2 that are in and could very well be in CUSA). I am sure there will be some years where CUSA could have 2-3 teams in the tourney. You are losing Memphis which hurts but Middle Tennessee, Western Kentucky, Old Dominion and Charlotte are coming in and have made the tourney in recent years.

The MAC, SBC and CUSA will be 1-2 bid leagues like most leagues rated #11 to #20 are on a typical season.

The A10 and WCC will be 2-3 bid leagues. MVC 1-2 bids without Creighton. MVC has only 2 at large bids total in the last 6 years with Creighton as a member.

Murray007, I appreciate your kind words.

If ECU has a big stadium full of people rooting for a team that's basically not allowed to actually accomplish anything, and ODU has the same, as does USM, and maybe even UTSA... what's the point? It does end up resembling AAA baseball.

Realistically, it's probably a moot point. Outside of Greenville, it's difficult to get 50,000 people to pay money and scream their lungs out without something real on the line. As USM football loses significance, the crowds will slowly dry up, until we're left with a DIII-style crowd consisting largely of the band's parents.

USM has made a little headway recently with the AAA baseball model (comfier, more kid-friendly stadium), but it's not the kind of progress I'm really hoping for.