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This may be one of the first of many rumors on CUSA expansion and it suggests Toledo may be a candidate.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20040203/SPORTS11/40203020/-1/SPORTS

Previously, Miami (OH),UTEP, La Tech, Temple and N. Texas were mentioned. However, I can't see Toledo doing anything by themselves.

Two or three MAC members might be appealing. With Marshall and Memphis needing soulmates, along with ECU, the idea of Miami (OH), Toledo and/or Bowling Green or NIU wouldn't be bad.

Or how about a North Texas and Northern Illinois combo; two emerging, large state schools in big markets?

There appears to be no general concensus for a particular school or strategy emerging. One could make a case for any one of the above and that is why going beyond 12 may appeal to CUSA decision makers, including the desire of having some affiliation with Navy and Army.

In the meantime, let's look forward to Spring practice which will include the new JUCOs. We have lots of work ahead of us. Go Mustangs!

:hmm:

<small>[ 02-04-2004, 02:35 PM: Message edited by: Water Pony ]</small>

If we got any of the MAC schools it would be incredible.

I'm beginning to warm to the idea of a 14 member CUSA of we could pull a trifecta and get Toledo, Miami-Ohio and Bowling Green. After all, this is football driven and all three of those programs have visited the top 25 in recent years.

Would be nice if that moved USM and Memphis into our division. The big issue would be whether CUSA could get enough bowl spots to keep 4-5 teams in bowls every year.

would be possibly interesting if we teamed up with another conference thru some binding agreement for tv $$$ or playoff for the additional bcs-bs bowl or whatever...but then again....naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....then we're giving in........forget it - its just time to sue the bastards & start all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :devil:

Now you tell me, would a BG, Toledo, and Miami-Ohio trade for TCU be better for C-USA. I say yes.

I could only see MAC schools coming if it were 2 or 3 and those schools thought that there was an impending MAC meltdown due to attendance problems.

Having said that, adding 3 of the top MACs, or 2 of them plus Temple to make 14 makes a nice BBALL conference and could make CUSA-West more balanced moving USM and Memphis out west.

Originally posted by Navy&Crimson:
would be possibly interesting if we teamed up with another conference thru some binding agreement for tv $$$ or playoff for the additional bcs-bs bowl or whatever...but then again....naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.....then we're giving in........forget it - its just time to sue the bastards & start all over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :devil:

Yeah, I wish that president from Tulane would get some traction again. The BCS is KILLING div 1a football.

Originally posted by Charleston Pony:
I'm beginning to warm to the idea of a 14 member CUSA of we could pull a trifecta and get Toledo, Miami-Ohio and Bowling Green. After all, this is football driven and all three of those programs have visited the top 25 in recent years.

Would be nice if that moved USM and Memphis into our division. The big issue would be whether CUSA could get enough bowl spots to keep 4-5 teams in bowls every year.

Whatever happens, CUSA must build equity in its line-up by neither altering it for a period of at least 5 years, nor having partial members at any time.

Posted by Southland:

"Whatever happens, CUSA must build equity in its line-up by neither altering it for a period of at least 5 years, nor having partial members at any time."

Excellent point and part of a successful sports business model.

<small>[ 02-05-2004, 11:22 AM: Message edited by: Cheesesteak ]</small>

2 Things,

1st what is wrong with this portion of the article?
"C-USA is a member of the Bowl Championship Series" (I wish)

2nd do we lose any bowl tie-ins from the teams leaving the conference? a-la TCU and Ft. Worth bowl? I know they don't own the bowl game, but I wonder if there is a stipulation in the contract that TCU must be a member of C-USA.
List of Bowls:
— the AXA Liberty Bowl (champion), GMAC Bowl, Hawaii Bowl, Fort Worth Bowl and the New Orleans Bowl.

looking at the most likely "single" western division invitees, I'm a bit surprised to see that SMU sponsors more sports than any of the public schools being talked about (UTEP, UNT or La Tech). Must admit I haven't looked that closely at the MAC schools, but our $18M budget surpasses several of those being considered.

It is a fact! 70% of the TV viewers live in the eastern time zones! We need teams on EST in big media markets.

The silent on this topic from CUSA and even the media is very interesting. Could be surprise pick or picks. Also, raiding the MAC and going for 2 or 3 candidates would be shades of the ACC's run at the Big East.

I think we could be pleasantly surprised when real information starts to appear. :hmm:

Originally posted by Charleston Pony:
looking at the most likely "single" western division invitees, I'm a bit surprised to see that SMU sponsors more sports than any of the public schools being talked about (UTEP, UNT or La Tech). Must admit I haven't looked that closely at the MAC schools, but our $18M budget surpasses several of those being considered.

Would like to see 14 team league if we get any MAC teams...

looking at last year's attendance figures, you can't help but notice that almost half of the MAC teams are averaging under the required 15k attendance to remain at I-A status. Gotta believe Miami-Ohio, Toledo, NIU and BGSU are concerned and may well consider CUSA invites

http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2004 ... relyDI.htm