Another CUSA Positive

[Stallion]

due to geography I would think Dallas and New Orleans would be prime locations for future Conference title games-

[Buddha]

Absolutely, Stallion!
Are you talking SuperDome down there? (That's where they play, right?)
And .... Texas Stadium here?

[FloridaMustang]

I'm sure that factored into the decision.

Is C-USA really expecting to lose 5 teams?

Interesting article about UCF and USF possibly to the Big East. Not sure if it's been posted yet.


C-USA invite likely to come Knights’ way

By Alan Schmadtke | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted October 15, 2003

Tired of waiting, Conference USA presidents decided Tuesday to authorize invitations to prospective new members, including UCF, as a hedge against schools that might defect to the Big East and the Atlantic 10.

Although the Big East has not extended bids to four C-USA members it is eyeing -- Louisville, Cincinnati, Marquette and DePaul -- C-USA presidents gave Commissioner Britton Banowsky the power to invite five schools into the fold, C-USA sources told The Tampa Tribune. The five: UCF, SMU, Tulsa, Rice and Marshall.

Banowsky on Monday called the Mid-American Conference, the Atlantic Sun and then UCF Athletic Director Steve Orsini to set the table for an invitation, Orsini said.

"He let us know that we were in line for an all-sports invitation," Orsini said.

"I don't know about Conference USA's time frame, but he let me know we are on their radar screen, and they were quite interested. At this point, we have only one offer on the table, but we're constantly monitoring what's going on."

The MAC, to which UCF belongs in football, issued an all-sports invitation to the Golden Knights two weeks ago.

Although he has had no contact with anyone connected to the Big East, Orsini said he was told that all the speculation coming out of the Northeast is correct, that the rebuilding Big East wants to explore USF as a full member and UCF as a football-only member.

"I take [Big East Commissioner] Mike Tranghese at his word that, from what I've heard and read, the Big East wants to make some firm decisions about their future in November,'' Orsini said. "We haven't heard anything directly from the Big East.''

In addition to losing four members -- or five, if USF is included -- to the Big East, C-USA is reportedly set to lose two other schools (Charlotte and St. Louis) to the Atlantic 10.

"No member has formally withdrawn, and no new members have been added," Banowsky said in a statement Tuesday. "It remains inappropriate to speculate on particular members that might be leaving or joining the conference. We did, however, have an open and active conversation about what is both possible and desirable. We are genuinely excited about the opportunities this change represents and are well-prepared."

Alan Schmadtke can be reached at [email protected].