Mark Gommesen

FIU and FAU are only sixty miles a part and would not be natural rivals for other members of the C-USA. Georgia Tech has numerous problems including the lack of facilities. You right they might draw some viewers from Georgia Tech...that's the problem. The CBS has 850,000,000. dollar contract with the SEC CBS is one the principle media contracts with the C-USA. CBS will not consider it favorably if the C-USA was to compete in the same media markets as the SEC Vanderbilt of the SEC is in Nashville and Georgia of the SEC is in Atlanta, which is tough luck for Middle Tennessee State and Georgia State. Since the C-USA/MWC are seeking to improve their media contracts, they will avoid expansion into markets where the SEC has an established presence.You don't bite the hand that feeds you. This perhaps why neither were given serious consideration in recent expansion talks or campus visits and why Georgia State was happy to accept an invite to the Sunbelt. I see no real advantage to the C-USA in attempting to kick the SBC out of Florida. There are much greater recruiting competitors in Florida than the SBC. http://www.sportsbus...n-Annually.aspx

Here the current contracts. I haven't heard if the cusa and mwc are negotiating has an alliance or separately. CUSA 5 years, $35 million, CBS College Sports (through 2016) 5 years, $35 million, Fox (through 2016) Annual: $14 million Average Annual per School: $1.17 million Mountain West 10 years, $120 million, CBS College Sports (through 2016) Annual: $12 million Average Annual per School: $1.33 million Notes: losses and additions now have the MWC at 10 members with Hawaii as a football only member, will lower per school payout

Sounds good to be me.

There is no SEC School in the following media markets. Dallas Miami San Antonio Ruston La. Norfolk, Va. Jumping all around without landing in the backyard of the SEC.

Admittedly, this is speculation, but it would explain a lot.

OOPS

The CBS has 850,000,000. dollar contract with the SEC CBS is one the principle media contracts with the C-USA. CBS will not consider it favorably if the C-USA was to compete in the same media markets as the SEC Vanderbilt of the SEC is in Nashville and Georgia of the SEC is in Atlanta, which is tough luck for Middle Tennessee State and Georgia State. Since the C-USA/MWC are seeking to improve their media contracts, they will avoid expansion into markets where the SEC has an established presence. This perhaps why neither were given serious consideration in recent expansion talks or campus visits and why Georgia State was happy to accept an invite to the Sunbelt. http://www.sportsbus...n-Annually.aspx

I think you hit the nail on head. The CUSA/MWC is looking at best media markets so they can knit together the best possible media deal.

Yes, Atlanta is the11th largest media market. But, it dominated by Georgia Tech (ACC) and Georgia (SEC), it would be impossible to to put a crack in this market with a team that has not played a single down of BCS football. Old Dominion is in a large market where they are the only major player. Secondly Georgia State has not made the investment in facilities. FAU and FIU share the same media market (Miami).

ODU's total athletic department budget, with revenue of just over $29 million, was larger than all but two C-USA schools, however. East Carolina reported $32.5 million and Tulane $30.2 million.

Excellent analysis. It's a money game. The upside is that the Big East has a huge media contract with ABC/ESPN. The collapse of the Big East may provide some opportunities for up and comers like MWC/CUSA.

Historically MWC has done better in terms of media dollars than C-USA, but both are about even. However, this may change with then new additions/ deletions of schools and contract negotiations.

What do you think can MWC/CUSA get a better contract from CBS sports if they negotiate together? Keeping teams in the C-USA and MWC is less about AQs and more about money.The only way C-USA and MWC can make any gains to combine forces and not offer a competitive products. If you are keeping score in the money game the score stands at: CUSA 5 years, $35 million, CBS College Sports (through 2016) 5 years, $35 million, Fox (through 2016) Annual: $14 million Average Annual per School: $1.17 million Mountain West 10 years, $120 million, CBS College Sports (through 2016) Annual: $12 million Average Annual per School: $1.33 million Notes: losses and additions now have the MWC at 10 members with Hawaii as a football only member, will lower per school payout. SEC 15 years, $2.25 billion, ESPN (through 2024) 15 years, $825 million, CBS (through 2024) Annual: $205 million Average Annual per School: $17.1 million Notes: contract is expected to be renegotiated with the addition of Texas A&M, maintaining the current per-school payout. The SEC may be on it’s way to starting it’s own network that depending on future additions, could gain the conference and additional $10-$20 million per school per year). Big 12 13 years, $1.17 billion, Fox (through 2025) 8 years, $480 million, ABC/ESPN (through 2016) Annual: $150 million Average Annual per School: $15 million Notes: The Big 12 contract is expected to remain as it is if a 10th school is added to replace Texas A&M. If the conference opts to expand to 12, the per-school payouts would likely remain the same with the total overall annual increasing. Expansion to 12 would also add a championship game expected to fetch a payout of $10-$18 million per year. Big East 6 years, $200 million, ABC/ESPN [CBS contributes $9 million of total] (through 2013) Annual: $40 million Average Annual per School: $3.18 million for football schools, $1.56 million for non-football schools Notes: contract is expected to change with the losses of Syracuse and Pittsburgh but will still grow due to the valuation of available conference television contracts (Big East is next conference up for renewal). Big 12 13 years, $1.17 billion, Fox (through 2025) 8 years, $480 million, ABC/ESPN (through 2016) Annual: $150 million Average Annual per School: $15 million Notes: The Big 12 contract is expected to remain as it is if a 10th school is added to replace Texas A&M. If the conference opts to expand to 12, the per-school payouts would likely remain the same with the total overall annual increasing. Expansion to 12 would also add a championship game expected to fetch a payout of $10-$18 million per year.

Unfortunately mega- or super- conferences appear to be the trend of the future. I think in the near future conferences as large as 18 teams will not be unusual. Why, conferences want to grab as big of slice of media dollars as possible. Media market size will be the key factor as conferences expand. The C-USA could grow to 16 in a very short time if they can find schools in rapidly growing media markets. Obviously C-USA/MWC expansion plans were motivated in part by media considerations. That's why NMSU and Idaho are out in the cold and a major factor why UTSA is in the C-USA. A MWC/CUSA media alliance might be necessary to have the economies of scale to complete for media dollars with the Big 12 or the SEC. This isTHE unfortunate or sad truth of college sports.

I cannot imagine why the Sunbelt would want NMSU. Just do not have that much to offer except increase travel costs.

Men's Basketball Attendance 2011 Rank Name #ofGames Total Average. 64. Notre Dame 17 132,350 7,785 65. UCLA 18 139,670 7,759 66. Old Dominion 16 123,922 7,745 67. DePaul 17 130,486 7,676 Women's 41. Old Dominion 16 48,121 3,008 42. Auburn 15 45,087 3,006 43. South Carolina 19 56,925 2,996 44. North Carolina 18 52,995 2,944

Well, thank you. We're thrilled to be here.

The classy move would be for NMSU to realize that the WAC is dead and they have little or no chance of relocating to another FBS conference and release these players.

You are right when it comes to the NCAA tournament revenues. my point was if a national super conference was created and generated national media exposure. Most likely it would be in the best interest of the NCAA.to assure more than one team from that conference was included in the tournament. I also believe that the number of automatic qualifiers per conference will soon be come an issue. As some conferences expand to 14 or more while others remain at 10 or even less. Only by a merger and developing a national media presence can the MWC/CUSA play big boy ball with the SEC, BIG 10, etc. Without the merger MWC/CUSA will lack influence in the NCAA or BCS and will be treated as the minor leagues. Please note, I am not advocating this should happen immediately . First expansion. Second, media alliance to expand national media presence and than and only than merger. The automatic qualifier is not an insurmountable issue.

You're right the landscape of college football is constantly changing. However, my premise that 24 team or larger conference would be a dominate force in the BCS stills stands.

A 24 team national conference in multiple large media markets can certainity demand greater revenues than a regional conference of 10 or 14 teams. Most sports and television networks are national. This is particularly true if some groups schools in conference are dominate in certain sports but not in the same region. For example, New Mexico and Old Dominion are excellent basketball schools. Let's say C-USA is dominates football, but the MWC dominates basketball. Broadcasters are virtually guaranteed a quality product throguht the year.

Do not think this is an insurmountable problem. The NCAA cannot ignore a super conference with 24 or more schools. with a huge media contract. Such an entity could have the potential bargaining power as a Big 10 or the SEC. First expansion, second media alliance, third merger...fourth the world. Additionally, if a merger was to occur , because of the sheer size of conference one can reasonably assume that one or two at large slots would go to a member of this conference. A super conference would result in more funding and media exposure increasing the likelihood of securing at large slots. If a 24 team conference cannot capture at least one at large slot, it probably has greater issues.

Having Virginia Commonwealth and GMU for Basketball would be awesome.

Old Dominion University is located in the Norfolk, Va. metropolitian area of 1,672,319 43rd Largest Media Market and has no other major University. That's a larger media market than Louisville, Memphis or New Orleans. Old Dominion has made a massive investment in sports facilities. http://www.odusports...facilities.html Old Dominion University athletic teams have captured 28 team national championships and four individual titles. The school's best-known sports team is the Lady Monarchs basketball team, which has won three national championships in 1979 (AIAW), 1980 (AIAW) and 1985 (NCAA). The Lady Monarchs also made it to the 1997 Women's NCAA Championship Game, losing to Tennessee. ODU athletic teams have won a further 28 national championships including 15 in men's and women's sailing and 9 in women's field hockey. The Lady Monarchs' nine national titles in field hockey are unprecedented in NCAA record books for most titles in that sport by the same school. In addition, Old Dominion's athletic teams have captured 49 championships in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Old Dominion University Monarchs (men's) basketball team have captured six CAA championship titles (1992, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2010, and 2011) since their conference admission in 1992, which is the most among all CAA schools. In 2007, they received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, when the team went 24-8 and finished 37th in RPI. That season included a notable 13-point win at 8th ranked Georgetown. Their most recent trip to the NCAA tournament was with an automatic bid after capturing the 2010 CAA title. During the NCAA tournament, the 11th seeded Monarchs managed a 1-point first-round upset over the 6th seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. In 2002 ODU opened the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the 2002-2003 basketball season. "The Ted" has 8,600 fully cushioned seats, 16 luxury suites, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. In addition to being used for home basketball games, the Constant Center hosts family-oriented events as well as concerts, lectures, and commencement ceremonies. On June 14, 2005, the Board of Visitors approved with a 14-0 vote to create a new football team to compete at the NCAA Division I level, along with university's other sports teams, and to begin play in 2009. On February 9, 2007, Athletic Director Jim Jarrett announced that Bobby Wilder, then the associate head football coach at the University of Maine, would be the head coach, and the team signed its first recruiting class in 2008. As is the case with many new football programs, all players in 2008 were redshirted. These players, along with the recruiting class of 2009 and transfer players comprised the initial 2009 roster. Old Dominion began play in 2009 as an independent team at the Division I FCS level (formerly I-AA), and joined the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2011 season. In 2009, their first competitive season in 68 years, the Monarchs finished 9–2. That was the best winning record ever for a first-year program in college football's modern era. The Monarchs were outscored by a total of only eight points in their two losses. Wilder's inaugural team finished the year ranked in the top ten in five FCS statistical categories, including second in sacks allowed, third in scoring offense, turnover margin and net punting. The 2009 Monarchs were ninth in rushing offense. In its first three years of competition after its rebirth, Old Dominion compiled a 26-7 record and earned a berth in the 2011 FCS playoffs, hosting, and defeating, crosstown rival Norfolk State. Also in 2011, after playing 27 games in its "modern era", ODU received its first Top 25 ranking on October 3, coming in at No. 21 in The Sports Network poll. The Monarchs were ranked among the Top Ten after competing in 33 games. ODU was fifth in FCS attendance in 2009, selling out all of their home games in the 19,782-seat Foreman Field. Season tickets for the Monarchs' inaugural season sold out quickly and the school had to refund 1,065 orders.

Old Dominion University is located in the Norfolk, Va. metropolitian area of 1,672,319 43rd Largest Media Market and has no other major University. That's a larger media market than Louisville, Memphis or New Orleans. Old Dominion has made a massive investment in sports facilities. http://www.odusports.com/ot/oldd-new-facilities.html Old Dominion University athletic teams have captured 28 team national championships and four individual titles. The school's best-known sports team is the Lady Monarchs basketball team, which has won three national championships in 1979 (AIAW), 1980 (AIAW) and 1985 (NCAA). The Lady Monarchs also made it to the 1997 Women's NCAA Championship Game, losing to Tennessee. ODU athletic teams have won a further 28 national championships including 15 in men's and women's sailing and 9 in women's field hockey. The Lady Monarchs' nine national titles in field hockey are unprecedented in NCAA record books for most titles in that sport by the same school. In addition, Old Dominion's athletic teams have captured 49 championships in the Colonial Athletic Association. The Old Dominion University Monarchs (men's) basketball team have captured six CAA championship titles (1992, 1995, 1997, 2005, 2010, and 2011) since their conference admission in 1992, which is the most among all CAA schools. In 2007, they received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, when the team went 24-8 and finished 37th in RPI. That season included a notable 13-point win at 8th ranked Georgetown. Their most recent trip to the NCAA tournament was with an automatic bid after capturing the 2010 CAA title. During the NCAA tournament, the 11th seeded Monarchs managed a 1-point first-round upset over the 6th seeded Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. In 2002 ODU opened the Ted Constant Convocation Center for the 2002-2003 basketball season. "The Ted" has 8,600 fully cushioned seats, 16 luxury suites, and a state-of-the-art scoreboard. In addition to being used for home basketball games, the Constant Center hosts family-oriented events as well as concerts, lectures, and commencement ceremonies. On June 14, 2005, the Board of Visitors approved with a 14-0 vote to create a new football team to compete at the NCAA Division I level, along with university's other sports teams, and to begin play in 2009. On February 9, 2007, Athletic Director Jim Jarrett announced that Bobby Wilder, then the associate head football coach at the University of Maine, would be the head coach, and the team signed its first recruiting class in 2008. As is the case with many new football programs, all players in 2008 were redshirted. These players, along with the recruiting class of 2009 and transfer players comprised the initial 2009 roster. Old Dominion began play in 2009 as an independent team at the Division I FCS level (formerly I-AA), and joined the Colonial Athletic Association for the 2011 season. In 2009, their first competitive season in 68 years, the Monarchs finished 9–2. That was the best winning record ever for a first-year program in college football's modern era. The Monarchs were outscored by a total of only eight points in their two losses. Wilder's inaugural team finished the year ranked in the top ten in five FCS statistical categories, including second in sacks allowed, third in scoring offense, turnover margin and net punting. The 2009 Monarchs were ninth in rushing offense. In its first three years of competition after its rebirth, Old Dominion compiled a 26-7 record and earned a berth in the 2011 FCS playoffs, hosting, and defeating, crosstown rival Norfolk State. Also in 2011, after playing 27 games in its "modern era", ODU received its first Top 25 ranking on October 3, coming in at No. 21 in The Sports Network poll. The Monarchs were ranked among the Top Ten after competing in 33 games. ODU was fifth in FCS attendance in 2009, selling out all of their home games in the 19,782-seat Foreman Field. Season tickets for the Monarchs' inaugural season sold out quickly and the school had to refund 1,065 orders. ODU finished 9-2 in their first season in the CAA, good enough for second place in the conference. Many pundits had picked ODU to finish near the bottom of the conference, however ODU smashed those predictions and ultimately hosted a first round FCS playoff game. On the 26th of November, 2011 the ODU Monarchs crushed their crosstown rivals, the Norfolk State Spartans, 35-18 to advance to the second round of the 2011 FCS playoffs. ODU then traveled Georgia to take on Georgia Southern in the second round of the playoffs where they lost 55-48.