Mark Gommesen

On Wednesday, the ACC and ESPN announced a new television deal. A person familiar with the agreement told The Associated Press that it’s worth $3.6 billion over the 15 years. !

If the MWC/C-USA can improve upon existing media contracts or negotiate new contracts it will become even less financially advantageous to join the Big East. The Big East just isn't as attractive of an option for a C-USA school. The Big East will be seeking schools which offer a large media market or increase their ranking as a football conference or both. There really aren't any C-USA schools that currently meet those criteria at this time.

http://www.statesman...ff-2347784.html

In all reality Louisville/UConn/Rutgers/Cincy have biting at the bit for years. It's no secret that ECU, and Marshall would love to bump up from the C-USA. Problem is where would Louisville, UConn, Rutgers, or Cincy go. The Big ten doesn't appear interested in expansion. The Big 12 just complete a 2 billion dollar tv deal, they are fat and happy. They certainly do not want to renegotiate the a new media deal because of expansion. ECU and Marshall are in very small media markets and really have little to offer the Big East. Sorry girls, he just not into you. The ACC has already has grabbed the pick of the litter from the Big East. With all due respect, I do not believe that C-USA is threaten by this news. I think a much greater possibility is that Boise State and San Diego State return to the MWC. If the BCS develops a playoff scheme centered around conference champions, than suddenly Notre Dame and BYU come into play for the Big East.

That's what is so confusing. I thought the stated objective was to create a 12 team football conference with two regional divisions. I don't know how a NMSU or an Idaho could fit it. The Sun Belt has so many other options that could make this happen.

As always Cerebus, you make some excellent points. In many ways, the A-10 is good fit for the VCU/GMU. It is true, A10 sent THREE teams to the NCAA Mens Finals last year. All of them won at least one game, one of them made it to the Sweet 16. The A10 has been a multibid conference 26 out of the 35 years it has existed. CUSA is losing Memphis with its 3 final fours, 8 elite eights and 11 sweet 16s. But, this maybe extactly why C-USA maybe more appealing than the A-10. First, the three teams that made it to the NCAA Mens Finals last year are not going anywhere. By joining the A-10, GMU/VCU are entering an almost impossible enivironment to win a conference championship or an additional at large bid to the NCAA. Can VCU/GMU stand out in a crowded room? However in the C-USA, with the addition of Old Dominion and Charlotte, not to mention up and coming programs like UNT, there will still be plenty of quality basketball. With Memphis leaving it creates a vaccuum but also a unique opportunity, GMU/VCU would be in the hunt for a conference championship and an automatic NCAA bid, almost immediately. In the C-USA GMU/VCU would certainly stand out in a room with bigger media exposure and money. Let's be honest at best GMU/VCU coming to the C-USA is a long shot. But wouldn't it be great to watch some of these teams at the Superpit?

Hopefully someone will stop Mr. Benson's attempt to conquer the world. Should the Sun belt wish to expand there better options than New Mexico State or Idaho. Should Old Dominion decline an invite to the C-USA, it could be a target for the Sun belt. The Sun Belt has other options in FCS. Appalachian State could step into the SBC and compete immediately, but would the SBC be a significant enough upgrade to justify the increase in fees for more scholarships and stadium expansions. Georgia Southern and Jacksonville State ranked just behind ODU in attendance last season. GSU is a standard bearer in FCS football, and JSU has seen an uptick in its on-field product recently. Both make geographic sense for the SBC. Lamar is another program that reintroduced football recently, kicking off in 2010. The Cardinals would give Texas State a neighbor and natural rival for football. LU averaged a healthy 16,000-plus in attendance, ranking just behind fellow reclassifying programs Georgia State and South Alabama both of which are Sun Belt-bound. It does not make since nor is it necessary for the Sun belt Conference to dramatically expand it's geographical territory for schools which have so little to offer. NCAA rules dictate that an institution must join a conference before it can make the move from the FCS to the FBS.

I think you're right, in this divorce is the big issue who gets custody of which kids. NCAA rules do not permit the creation of a football only conference. Those schools who see themselves as primarily football schools would have to form a new conference in all sports including basketball and meet Title IX requirements. What happens to the twins, Memphis and Temple, do they go with mommy (basketball) or daddy (football). My bet is mommy. What happens to Boise State and San Diego State, the two foster children, they are football only members. Do they go with Daddy, but add their other sports because of Title IX issues. They could be placed in new foster home the MWC. If I was one of the foster kids I be hoping for a new home before things get ugly between mommy and daddy. My bet is daddy gets to keep the house (remains the Big East Conference) and mommy moves out (forms a new conference.) Some of the older children like Louisville may want strike on there own and head west to to a grandparent (the BIG 12 or the BIG 10). The foster children are placed in a new home (MWC). Finally the concern Aunt (C-USA) sits back and enjoys the show.

Should the Sun Belt become the "Island of Unwanted Toys?" http://www.klewtv.co...-149950865.html "I want the University of Idaho to succeed in all of this," said Benson. "I will do whatever I can from a personal standpoint or a professional standpoint to help. You know at the end of the day I report to a board of directors now that will indicating to me what direction we need to head." http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_20576856/nmsu-president-weighs-options-athletics-conferences?source=most_viewed According to New Mexico State President, Barbara Coulture, "We have made overtures to the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt, I think, has not completed its program of the shape of its particular confe " rence. We certainly would welcome an opportunity to talk with the Sun Belt as we would with the Mountain West, or with Conference USA, while we are still working hard to strengthen the position of the WAC. We are leaving all of those positions open at this point." I cannot believe that current and future members of the Sun Belt Conference would wish to incur the huge travel expenses to these schools

Mr. Odoh letter of intent was with UNT not with the coach. UNT was willing to fulfill his commitment. Letters of intent must stand for something, you cannot release a player thinks he can get a better deal else where.

I hope ULM sticks it out in the SB. It would be nice if Texas State had a playmate.

Berglund's time at Kansas was tumultuous. He didn't practice with the Jayhawks last season as he dealt with an assault charge, which has since been dismissed. The view is he has serious attitude problems.

Posted Today, 04:07 PM http://nebraska.scou.../2/1172207.html New Nebraska head basketball coach Tim Miles has begun the rebuilding process. That process did not include junior college power forward Keith Coleman. After signing a National Letter of Intent with the Huskers back in the fall, Coleman and Miles talked on Tuesday according to the Times-Republican. The verdict - to each go their “separate ways.” Big Red Report tried to reach Coleman before and after the news broke, but he has not been available for comment. The nation's No. 22 center in 2011, Coleman averaged eight points and seven rebounds a game in his first year at Marshalltown Community College (IA). He was a honorable mention pick in NJCAA Division I Region XI. "(Miles) was a straight-shooter in the sense of he just wanted to see where Keith was at. Once Keith explained to him where he was at, he was very understanding. Nobody wanted to waste anybody’s time in this whole thing," Marshalltown head coach Brynjar Brynjarsson told the Times-Republican. It still remains to be seen if junior college products Jerran Young and Fahro Alihodzic also are in Miles plan.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120303/BIGRED/703039774 NU recruit Coleman remains an enigma Coleman didn't qualify academically out of high school, so he spent a year in prep school at Lee Academy in Maine. He was expected to play a second year at Lee, but transferred this fall to Marshalltown. "To have three years left, I could think of about 60 schools that would drool over having a guy like that," Brynjarsson said. Last winter while at Lee Academy, Coleman had scholarship offers from Virginia Tech, La Salle, Rutgers and Seton Hall. After his move to Marshalltown and an appearance at a showcase event late last summer, Brynjarsson said, he took calls from Iowa, Missouri, USC and Penn State. An April 2011 evaluation from ESPN's basketball insider recruiting site addressed the challenge ahead for Coleman, and why he intrigues recruiters. "Keith is still very raw with a limited understanding of the game. He takes very bad shots, rifles poor passes, doesn't know how to establish position in the post and lacks a go-to move. "Despite his flaws, there simply aren't too many players out there who can match his combination of physical gifts."

ESPN Analyst Updated 04/07/2011 Srengths: Coleman is a physical specimen with explosive power and leaping ability. He's just as strong in his lower body as he is his upper body and able to elevate through contact to make plays around the rim on both ends. He is a big time finisher who dunks with both ... Boys, we got our self a beast.

The Big 12′s member presidents just have verbally agreed to a TV deal worth a combined $2.6 billion with ESPN and FOX, CBSSports is reporting. I doubt the Big 12 is interested in expansion and renegotiating media contracts.

Nice pick up. Needed depth in the post.

I like it. But, don't forget the cleats. Maybe we can do something snappy like Notre Dame's Irish Flag Cleats. Perhaps we can get more clever with texture and color like Oregon. (Yes, sarcasm!!)

How about new cleats? You know to complete the ensemble. Perhaps something like Notre Dames Irish flag cleats.

Sorry did not mean to mislead, probably should started with an IF. You have a valid point, the Big East seems to be dividing along football and non-football schools. But, much of that, in my opinion, is because of the poor management of the prior commissioner.

I beg your pardon, no offense intended. I was trying to be helpful. Please note, I had differences in counts and provided additional information for clarification.

ODU vs MTSU comparisons Old Dominon: Endwoment:............170 Million Students:................24K Athletic Budget:.......32 Million Baketball Att:...........7,745 Football Att:............19,818....3 years of consecutive sell outs with big waiting list for season tickets. MTSU: Endowment:...........52.4 Million Students:..............24K Athletic Budget:.....20 Mill Basketball Att:.......3,640 Football Att:..........18,407 After looking at the comparisons, I think its absolutely clear as to why CUSA prefers ODU over MTSU.

As members of the C-USA they have greater media payout and national exposure and recruiting. The A-10 has loss both Temple and Charlotte and is not has attractive has it once was. The travel expense profile of A-10 is not all that better than the C-USA. It would allow VCU and GM to maintain traditional rivalries with ODU. It would also permit new rivalries with Charlotte and ECU. Adding VCU and GM has basketball only members can be beneficial to both the C-USA and the individual schools. Especially when larger conferences are monopolizing media access.

Off the top of my head... SBC Titles Football (4) Sun Belt Conference 2001*, 2002, 2003, 2004 Men's Basketball (2) Sun Belt Conference Tournament: 2007, 2010 Men's Outdoor Track and Field (2) Sun Belt Conference 2000, 2003 Men's Cross Country (1) Sun Belt Conference 2000 Men's Golf (2) Sun Belt Conference 2003 2012 Women's Soccer (4) Sun Belt Conference 2001, 2004, 2005,2011 Women' Tennis (2) Sun Belt Conference 2010, 2012 Women's Outdoor Track and Field (1) Sun Belt Conference 2003 Volleyball (1) Sun Belt Conference 2010* * denotes shared conference title Division titles Men's Basketball (1) Sun Belt Conference (West Division) 2009-10 Bowl Titles New Orleans Bowl 2002

Finally someone who understands that the importance of increasing media market size without without extending the conference geographic footprint. He's right the upside potential of schools like UNT, UTSA, Charolotte, and ODU are enormous!