A Conference of Low Expectations

[Stallion]

Ok have we seen our program delivered to its "Final Resting Place" now that even the DMN has reported that TCU will likely go to the MWC. Conference USA likely withered in the future to schools like SMU, Rice, Tulsa, Tulane, Army, Navy where they can all pretend to play big time football but with very low expectations, high graduation rates, low costs, little national profile in bowl games and TV revenue, and high academic standards.

<small>[ 11-03-2003, 02:02 PM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[Hoop Fan]

Yea, in the end, did we really think that there would be no ramifications to a winless season and that we would ride off into the sunset to CUSA? Whats probably happened is that TCU has been watching the weeks go by and our sitation looks more and more pathetic. On one hand they probably want to play us, have regional games, but on the other, why not eliminate their competition and kick us while we are down?

[Sam I Am]

TCU is reacting not just to SMU joining the
C-USA, but also Rice and Tulsa. Fundamentally they are right about the MWC being stronger than a private schools Western Div of the C-USA. Maybe TCU will become what Baylor thought they could become when they joined the Big 12.

[Hoop Fan]

Sam, the ironic part is that TCU had to at least support the invites or it never would have happened. Maybe they knew they were going west all along and this is part of a plan by Craig Thompson to kill off the pesky WAC. Hmmmm.

[Stallion]

I think Kevin Sherrington said it best in today's DMN when he referred to the private schools in CUSA West as the "Geeks and Nerds"

[gostangs]

Look - the $200,000 travel delta is B.S. and everyone with a brain knows it - the cost for all their teams flying all over the West is much higher then that - they see this as their only shot to move up and have a shot at BCS - and they are probably correct - It does come with a risk, which is higher costs lower revenue (say goodbye to any visting fans - how well do we know that?) and lesser recruiting success due to the idiodic travel schedule.

Our situation in CUSA is much better the it was in the WAC - with our without TCU. (It would be nicer with them, but no big deal) Now lets fix our admission issues - create an easy place to stash some plyers curriculum-wise, get some wins now that some of the attendence pressure is off our out of conference schedule.

[Mike Damone]

Stallion-
While I agree with you on some of those points, there are also some schools in C-USA that won't die out. I see USM remaining around forever. They are now the largest state school in Mississippi. Marshall just keeps moving up in status. Memphis will remain alive. Not all the schools in C-USA have the lack of dedication that you speak of.

[Stallion]

OK I want to make clear that I think CUSA is our best option at this point although I had hoped that really dead wood programs like Rice and Tulsa didn't come along. Don't worry Owls and Hurricanes I know SMU is a Dead Wood Program too. I see further deterioration in this league just as we have seen in the SWC, WAC-16, WAC-8 and WAC 10. Once again the dividing line is the academically superior programs who have no real intention of competing at the highest levels of Division 1A. Schools like Houston, Marshall, Central Florida, East Carolina, Memphis and Southern Miss will do whatever is necessary to put the best team on the field-their goals are completely different than the private school's goals. . Soon they will realize these private schools except perhaps Tulane really aren't pulling their weight and once again this conference will splinter because the private schools don't want to admit that they can't compete strongly in Division 1A without making the concessions to compete on an even playing field. Without a real Commitment from the private schools, I see probably by the next round of TV Contracts SMU stuck in a league with Rice, Tulsa, Tulane, Navy, Army and maybe Temple without a TV Contract, without a bowl connection and likely circling the drain of Division 1A. At the very least if those school refuse to change their admission policies perhaps they could survive by at least imploding venues like Autry Court and Skelly Stadium and renovating Moody.

<small>[ 11-04-2003, 12:34 PM: Message edited by: Stallion ]</small>

[OldPony]

I feel sorry for TCU. They have tried to rebuild and have shown they can compete. Now their best option is to go back to the teams who didn't want them only a few years ago. The MWC is not much, if any, any better than the eastern CUSA. I had hoped that TCU would stay just because they could win every year in the West and at least get to the CUSA Championship game where the competition would be pretty good. Perhaps some of the others in the West will improve over time but I don't blame TCU for leaving, I just feel sorry for them for not having better choices. The MWC will throw them over the first time they see a benefit to inviting someone else or consolidating again. The Frogs don't deserve this. We, on the other hand, deserve what we have. A CUSA West that is terribly weak but one in which we can't compete. Let's hope Stallion is wrong about this being a "final" resting place but the Pony is 0-9 and moving toward the graveyard.

[Bergermeister]

I knew Scallion would find the silver lining in all of this. This change is really something to celebrate.

[Southland]

Originally posted by Stallion:
Without a real Commitment from the private schools, I see probably by the next round of TV Contracts SMU stuck in a league with Rice, Tulsa, Tulane, Navy, Army and maybe Temple without a TV Contract, without a bowl connection and likely circling the drain of Division 1A.

I wouldn't worry about not having a TV deal…

By 2015, VOD will have modified all Networks need for software. If the BCS conferences’ greed continues, it is likely they will be launching their own channels (not just for sports), and all the pro sports will have taken their packages away from ESPN and Turner by running their leagues' national cable package on their own channel (a solid distribution strategy).

CSTV will have distribution around 65M by then. Add in ESPN, ESPN 2, Fox Sports Network, Jefferson Pilot and other independents... if anything, the smaller conferences will have more opportunity because of a fragmented hardware, limited software, and VOD. It is more probable that SMU, and all schools, would have all games televised and accessible coast-to-coast by 2015-2020, rather than your suggestion.

By the next contracts Stallion, obscure Division 1AA games will be more accessible to viewers than the Mountain West or CUSA games are today. We have nothing to worry about in terms of TV exposure or revenues.

Also, I spoke with a Board member recently at a conference, and he insisted that there is a faction of University leadership that is pushing for the steady elimination of the recruiting restrictions put on the athletic program in 1988. As you know, the first step was the elimination of the visitation rule; next will be full access to JC players; then will come the ability to red tag (I think you would agree this is the most important). It’s not going to happen tomorrow, but “by 2010 the University will be on the same level as a Vanderbilt or Duke” - was how he put it. Maybe a 0-12 season will expatiate the need for change, although he also made sure to point out that academic concerns will always come first.

Also, he shared that there are Board members who are concerned about the University’s academic reputation (which isn’t as strong outside Texas) and might not go for the reductions. A major concern is red tagging would further magnify the Universities 77% acceptance ratio, which is incredibly damaging for the University in ranking guides. Personally, I think that is more of a ‘pay expensive tuition to attend a small school in middle America’ predicament, but the concern is there nonetheless.

If anything, I would call those who monotonously complain on the Internet, to voice your opinion through Gerald Turner’s office (via his assistant Mary who screens all email) [email protected] … mind you, aggressive blathering will never get your message heard.

[Mike Damone]

And by 2020 I can jet-pack to all the games.

[MizterTea]

Originally posted by Mike Damone:
And by 2020 I can jet-pack to all the games.

NO [deleted].

what in the Hell is that sucka talkin' all that jibba jabba about !?

[gostangs]

2010? Are you kidding - this is not putting a man on the moon - they need ot get this done yesterday. Our acceptance rate will decrease once our application rate increases - and what is one of the best ways to do that - get better known by haveing top notch sports programs particularly football. - Change it now - thanks fo the e-mail to turner - i will pull my thoughts stogether more coherently and use it -

[Diehard Pony]

Southland,

What specifically does "red tag" mean? Partial qualifiers, Prop 48 kids, or what?

Thanks.