wardly

do they get as little sports coverage in El Paso as they do in Albuquerque?

if Las Cruces is considered a major market by the Belt,then we are all in trouble. i would like for the dust to settle on the new National Conference expansion plans so the Belt knows what they have to work with. i also would like to see UTA replace Denver as basketball/baseball addition to balance out with UALR. also, i don't see what La. Tech brings to the table. we already have 2 Louisiana schools. lets kill thr WAC and let La. Tech die as an independent.

in the short term,perhaps. however, their additions would give us a regional division along with A.State, ULL, and Monroe. this should be considered a "fall back" position should we be left behind in the new National Conference

i could be wrong, but with USA coming we should have 10 football programs. also, La. Tech is about as interested in rejoining the belt as i am in having them. how many schools do we need from Louisiana? assuming we loose FIU to the new National conference, i would rather add UTSA,Texas State, and NMSU. just an old man's opinion.

great information! hope you are right that this is whats driving expanson. CUSA has excellent opportunity to enter Philly,Miami, and DFW. MWC could pick up San Jose and San Antonio markets. i just get concerned when it appears The National Conference will add Temple and FIU on the west to get to 18 programs, and may just add 2 more for a total of 20.i would be much more confortable with 24 programs, as ECU/Marshall are pushing hard for more east coast teams.

if you view the Tulane fan forum you will see them say the same about CUSA/MWC. surprisingly [at least to me] they hope for a Big 12 invite.

i don't know about SJSU, but my son is a UAB grad and they have no plans to drop down. their plans for a new stadium were set back by Bear Bryant Jr., chair of the Alabama Board of Regents, but is not dead yet, although they may wish Jr. was.

i agree. in a 24 team conference, MTSU, FAU, and La. Tech would be competeing for 2 remaining slots. again, ECSU is pushing hard for east coast schools. plus no one seems to know if Tulane will support or oppose LA. Tech.[think SMU]

i don't see La. Tech making the cut. think UAB in a 6 team.

i think our best chance for inclusion is a 24 team conference.UTEP moves west, as does UTSA, SJSU and USU giving MWC 12 schools.CUSA is down to 7, and must add 5 schools to get to 12. my best guess would be Temple[football only],FIU,and UNT.i don't know who the other 2 would be except the futher east the better. that would probably leave La. Tech out and give FAU and MTSU a chance. i don't know how much stroke ECU has , but they are really pushing for more east coast teams.

i doubt any Belt expansion takes place until MWC/CUSA fill their plate. then it makes sense for the remaining Belt and WAC schools to merge. both Belt and WAC could loose as many as 3 schools each.[just guessing,UNT,FIU,FAU,SJSU,USU,&UTSA]. that would leave 7 Belt and 3 WAC schools. i am not including Idaho, as they will probably drop down to Big Sky.

we will never move up until fans attend games to watch UNT play instead of who they play.

if the National Conference goes to 24, then we should be in. looks like UTEP moves west, Temple joins east for football only, and FIU for all sports. that gives them 18 football schools, 9 &9. MWC adds SJSU, Utah State, and UTSA to get to 12. CUSA adds UNT, FAU, and either MTSU or LA. Tech. NMSU and Texas State move to Sun Belt, Idaho drops down to Big Sky. it gets dicey if they go from 16 to a number less that 24.just a guess, and i havn't been right very often on this issue. i still can't let go of Memphis to Big East, but am working on it.

i doubt that 90% of team was using drugs. however, i bet 100% of team knew which players were dealing.

what i am fishing for is the relationship between La. Tech and Tulane. for example, SMU will never let UNT in the same conference that they are in. does Tulane feel the same way about La. Tech, or would they support them in their efforts to join the new National Conference. anyone know?

does anyone know Tulane's position in adding La. Tech to their new National Conference? pro or con?

i think Temple and FIU are targeted with UTEP moving west, giving them 2 football only and 16 all sports members.

does anyone have an idea as to how Tulane feel about La.Tech? would they oppose the Bulldogs inclusion into the National Conference or support them? just asking.

my take on this merger[i have been more wrong than right so far] is that UTEP moves west to old MWC,Temple old CUSA joins for football only,and FIU for all sports. that gets them to 18. where they go from there is anyone's guess.

if the WAC falls apart, schools like IDAHO and NMSU, just to name a few, may have to drop down. regardless of what happens with the CUSA/MWC merger, i feel the Belt comes out stronger, and has a chance to pick up at least 2 WAC teams to create regional east/west divisions.

if they do not merge, will UTEP stay in CUSA or move to MWC? both conferences will need to add teams, as 8 is not enough.if they do, then CUSA is down to 7 schools. however, i am afraid that with all the presidents meeting in Dallas monday that the 16 school merger is a go.

considering events beyond his control that he had to deal with over the years, i think he would be a good choice to move the Belt forward. just an old man's opinion.

perception sometimes becomes reality. i don't understand the perception that La. Tech has the market, budget, and fan base to be considered for CUSA, but they are. go figure.

from what i read, which you can take with a grain of salt, Temple does not want to leave A-10 in basketball, which which goes along with your best guess that they to CUSA for football only. i still can't get over Memphis to Big East for all sports. that gives them CFU,MEmphis,Houston, and SMU for all sports,and NAVY,BOISE,and SDSU football only. looks like they are hedging their bets should Louisville bolt for Big 12.

i have spent way too much time googleing "Big East Expansion" thinking they wanted another "football only" school only to be blindsided by Memphis as an "all sports"addition to believe anything speculation i read. having said that, UTEP's AD said they were moving to MWC since SMU and Houston were leaving CUSA. this may change things. hope Harry is right. UNT and FIU would be good fits for CUSA.