Mark Gommesen

Let's us hope.

Long shot at joining the Sun belt as a football only member. But, I doubt it.

13 weeks prior to Memorial day.

18 teams would allow you to establish a six team pod structure. Interesting. But, any way you slice it, that's a power conference. The Big South Conference Rice Houston UNT UTEP UTSA SMU ODU EC Charlotte Memphis Marshall Tulsa FIU UCF UAB So Miss Tulane La Tech Or traditional divisions, Rice Houston UNT UTEP UTSA SMU Tulsa Tulane La Tech ODU EC Charlotte Memphis Marshall FIU UCF UAB So Miss

I don't think they have and automatic return to the C-USA. UCF and Memphis may wish to stay in the Big East for basketball. Remember Boise State never formally left the MWC! They haven't signed the divorce papers. This why the MWC has kept their 11th and 12th slots open. I could see the C-USA inviting back Memphis and Houston to the C-USA, SMU offers very little value to the C-USA; now that the conference has added UNT. Memphis is a large media market and would be a nice addition to ODU, Charlotte and UNT in Basketball. Houston has an emerging football program. Additionally, by adding Memphis and Houston, you're adding one team to the east and one team to the west. But what value is SMU? The only reason they were invited to the East was to be a regional playmate for Houston and are the Dallas media market, neither of which the C-USA needs.

Should Boise State choose to stay in the MWC, most certainly San Diego State will follow suit. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/boise-state-bye-bye-big-east-fan-reaction-133400389--ncaaf.html

I think that is a valid point. But, because the Big East has not begun negotiating its new media deal estimated to worth in excess of 150 million and with NBC sports looking to become a bigger player, major networks maybe looking at finding quality product at a better price.

http://www.cbssports...-about-big-east Should Boise State and San Diego elect to stay in the MWC, It would made since for the MWC/CUSA to merge and arguably become the new power conference and began negotiating new media contracts before the Big East begins their negotiations September 1.

Major networks maybe starting to experience "sticker shock" from the major conferences and may wish to seek a quality product at a lower price. Creating a real opportunity for the mwc/cusa. http://collegesportsinfo.com/2011/02/17/source-espn-wont-pay-for-pac-12-football/

Great link The numbers are little outdated the ACC and the Big 12 have even improved their contracts. So what is the MWC/C-USA ...chopped liver?

Please excuse me while I climb on my soap box. The new league is seeking to take advantage of the self-inflicited wound in college sports scheduling. The NCAA has abandoned avid college fans for large portion of the year. For 2008 and succeeding seasons, the NCAA has mandated the first ever start date for Division I baseball. This day is exactly thirteen weeks before the selection of the NCAA tournament field, which takes place on Memorial Day. That places the start of the baseball season in mid to late February right when the college basketball is peaking. The NCAA needs to shift the season forward four to six weeks. First, this would avoid a conflict with basketball. Second, the start of the NCAA season would start at time similar time as the profesional leagues when sport fans are beginning to direct their attention to baseball. Third, it would encourage the growth of colligate baseball in the frost belt. The result is increase in the interest in, and attendance at colligate baseball. This would also remove many of the impediments for major conferences from insisting the baseball and softball be included in major media contracts. There is absolutely no reason, why baseball cannot and should not be a major revenue generating sport for universities.

The pick of the litter, Kameel Jackson wants to transfer to Texas A&M. If that does not work out he might be worth a look see. http://oklahoma.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1362735&PT=4&PR=2

***************** UPDATE ************* http://hamptonroads.com/2012/05/monarchs-possible-cusa-move-about-timing

I like that statement that by one of the moderator, " UNT athletic programs are as good as SMU." Damn straight.

Sun Belt Commissioner says geographic expansion, NMSU invitation haven't been discussed http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_20565611/sun-belt-commissioner-says-geographic-expansion-nmsu-invitation Mr Benson does a little back tracking...

Sun Belt Commissioner says geographic expansion, NMSU invitation haven't been discussed http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sports/ci_20565611/sun-belt-commissioner-says-geographic-expansion-nmsu-invitation

I love this: The sad thing if ODU declines the C-USA, there is a high likelihood ODU would end back in the Sun Belt, unless it reverses it commitment to football.

That's thing about musical chairs, someone is always left standing.

May you laugh? GMoney you're one sick puppy.

I think someone needs to explain to ODU and UTSA fans some simple truths. UTSA will NOT be invited to the Big 12 in the next 5 years and ODU will NOT be invited to the ACC in the next 5 years. Now the good news you will be a member of a major conference with 7 bowl tie-ins. A conference with built n relational rivalries A conference with Media and other revenues that are substantially higher than the conferences you left and are expected to improve. The C-USA your school and athletes will receive national exposure. With the end of automatic qualifiers and institution of playoffs by the BCS. All division 1 conferences are structurally equal. The key will be the quality of the level of play in the conference. There is no reason why the C-USA cannot have two or three of the next "Boise States" or "TCUs" and send send teams to major bowls or a national championship playoff. Just think, UTSA if your team wins the C-USA championship in football and is ranked within the top 6 in the country, you could be competing for a national championship. And ODU, you will have quality competition in basketball in the C-USA, but the chances of winning a conference championship and the NCAA tournament are far better than if you join the Atlantic 10.

Currently CBS Sports Network has an arrangement where it shares the rights to some C-USA games with the NBC Sports network. Lately NBC Sports network ratings have been disappointing and might benefit from additional college football NBC's regional sports networks- Comcast Sportnet do have some overlap with the mid-Atlantic schools of the C-USA and the far west schools of the MWC. NBC has an exclusive contract with Notre Dame, which began in 1991. Since that time, NBC has carried nationally all of Notre Dame's home games, paying at least $9 million per season for broadcast rights. Recently, Notre Dame's ratings have been down significantly due to relatively poor play; Notre Dame games on NBC drew less than half the ratings that CBS and ABC averaged for their college football games. Should NBC decide to become a bigger player in college sports MWC/CUSA conference might be a great place to start. Currently CUSA and MWC have contracts with CBS Sportsnet. MWC contract is up for renewal. If NBCSports was interested in making a major move with both conferences. The MWC and CUSA could dissolve and merge and create a new legal entity, thus invalidating all existing media contracts and be able to negotiate freely or MWC/CUSA could form an alliance but still would be encumbered by existing media contracts but would have added clout.

http://www2.timesdis...//bit.ly/KRRnwu

looking forward to it.

Is there a priority list or a capital budget? There must be.

I would like to see a baseball facility/stadium as the next major expenditure. Build it and they will come.