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Former Texas-El Paso coach Mike Price's lasting legacy isn't that he won four or five games in five of last seven seasons with the Miners, but that he made winning four or five games a disappointment. Stick with me here. UTEP played football before Price arrived, did so for the better part of a century, yet never — OK, almost never — did it well. How many times did the Miners win four or more games from 1975 through 2003, the year prior to Price's arrival? Six times. So Price's run ended on a low note, especially given how well the Miners opened under his watch — at least eight wins each season in 2004 and '05 — but in the long run, Price changed the way UTEP views itself. That's some legacy, right? In short, UTEP needs quite a bit to go its way in order to crack through the ceiling and reach bowl eligibility. The year could get out of control before it begins, thanks to a tough early stretch, and the Miners also get Houston and Southern Mississippi on the road over the final four games. If UTEP wins three or four games, does the program make a coaching change? If the school wants to snap out of this funk, it might have no choice. 2012 RECAP — In a nutshell: Price's run with UTEP ended poorly, at 3-9, though the Miners can take some solace in the fact that six of those nine losses were by 11 points or fewer. A seventh loss came to Oklahoma, 24-7, and an eighth to Mississippi. On the other hand, the three wins came against New Mexico State, Tulane and Southern Mississippi — nothing to write home about, in short. So this wasn't a great team by any means; nor was it a terrible team, and certainly not one that should have lost nine games during the regular season. Eight, maybe. Seven. Not nine. — High point: A 34-33 win over Southern Mississippi in November. UTEP could exhale: USM was winless, and no one wants to lose to a winless team in November. — Low point: The offense was missing in action most of last season, but never more so than Oct. 6 in a 17-0 loss to SMU. The shutout was the second of Price's career, joining a 48-0 loss to Montana State as the coach at Weber State in 1984. — Tidbit: UTEP has only two winning streaks of more than six games in program history: 2004 (under Price) and 2000 (under Gary Nord). The Miners have only one 10-win season, the fewest of any FBS program in the state of Texas with the exception of Texas-San Antonio, which only christened its program in 2011. — Tidbit (turnovers edition): UTEP is 10-6 the past six seasons when not committing a turnover. As that total suggests, it's not an overly common occurrence. Twice in this span, in 2011 and 2007, UTEP had at least one giveaway in every game. FORMER PLAYERS IN THE NFL — 10: WR Kris Adams (New York Giants), G Eloy Atkinson (Tennessee), RB Joe Banyard (Minnesota), S Antwon Blake (Jacksonville), CB Cornelius Brown (San Diego), OT Oniel Cousins (Cleveland), S Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith (Pittsburgh), WR Donavon Kemp (Dallas), CB Drew Thomas (St. Louis), CB Darren Woodard (St. Louis). ARBITRARY TOP FIVE LIST — Alabama coaches, 1997-2007 1. Dennis Franchione (18-8, 2001-02). 2. Mike Price (0-0, 2003). 3. Mike Shula (26-23, 2003-06). 4. Joe Kines (0-1, 2006). 5. Mike DuBose (24-23, 1997-2000). COACHING — Sean Kugler (UTEP '89), entering his first season. Kugler played at UTEP and later spent eight seasons as an assistant, the last six with the offensive line, making him an attractive candidate for the university following Price's retirement after last season. "We're so pleased to get Sean back at UTEP," UTEP athletics director Bob Stull said when Kugler was hired, and the feeling is mutual. After spending a dozen years away, one on the FBS level and 11 in the NFL, Kugler is back at his alma mater. Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/05/21/utep-college-football-countdown-2013-preview/2326879/

It's safe to be excited about the future of Tulane football even if the Green Wave's recent results – say, over the past 14 years – paint a picture of a program stuck in a long, painful and irreversible malaise. Here are three reasons for optimism: One is the coach, Curtis Johnson, the former Miami (Fla.) and New Orleans Saints assistant with the inroads and recruiting touch to eventually bolster Tulane's roster with the sort of talent needed to win not merely once but consistently. The second is Tulane's upcoming conference swap, with the American Athletic Conference replacing Conference USA beginning with the 2014 season. Say what you will about the AAC, that it's a glorified rehash of Conference USA's elite or that it lacks staying power; at the same time, there's little doubt that the league is a definite upgrade over Tulane's current home. Then there's this, and it's the biggest of all: Tulane has started construction on a new on-campus stadium, right on the site of a former practice facility, with an unveiling set for 2014. The Green Wave haven't played games on campus since 1980, when the school demolished old Tulane Stadium. No. 125 to No. 1: College football countdown LAST YEAR'S PREDICTION But can Tulane take this newfound energy and turn it into a substantial increase in the win column? While there are things to like on this team, I don't think we're going to see a major jump in Johnson's first season. While every team hits a learning curve under a first-year head coach, I'm worried about the lack of time this team spent with the new staff before heading to the summer. This will make August key for this team; it's over this month that the Green Wave need to gel as a group in advance of the tough start to the season. What do I think about the future of Tulane football? With a promising coach and a new stadium on the horizon, the future looks brighter than ever. Even a struggle of a 2012 season doesn't change that fact. 2012 RECAP — In a nutshell: A few things remained the same, unfortunately: Tulane lost 10 games, scored less than 300 points, allowed more than 415 points, was outscored by more than 200 points, lost to a Sun Belt team and beat only one team of consequence. These are recognizable facts and figures for anyone familiar with Tulane's recent history. So what changed? While Tulane did hang tight with more than a few teams during Conference USA play, the changes occurred primarily off the field and on the recruiting trail, where Johnson has made a definite mark after little more than a year in his new position. More is needed, of course, but progress is progress, and Tulane will take it where it comes. — High point: A 27-26 win against SMU on Oct. 13. The Green Wave would top UTEP two weeks later, giving the team two wins over a three-week span for the second time in three years. — Low point: Ten losses, some worse than others, but none worse than a 63-10 loss at home to Louisiana-Monroe. Not to rag on the Warhawks, who were a great story last fall, but to lose at home by 53 points to any team from the Sun Belt is completely and utterly inexcusable. Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/05/25/tulane-college-football-countdown-2013-preview/2358619/

The American Athletic Conference isn't the only league looking into creating a bowl game. Conference USA is on the ground floor of a start-up bowl in Boca Raton, according to sources, with one source saying the league "likes the chances of it happening." Conferences are exploring their bowl options as the current contracts expire after this season. American commissioner Mike Aresco told the Tampa Bay Times that he thinks his league creating its own bowl is "doable" and the finances can work. The Times points out that Marlins Park in Miami is a possible venue. FAU Stadium, where new league member FAU plays football, is considered the primary option for the bowl site, according to a source, while a bowl name and a conference playing partner have not yet been determined. Read more: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/jeremy-fowler/22295986/c-usa-looking-into-creating-bowl-game-in-boca-raton

The Sun Belt currently has deals with the New Orleans Bowl and GoDaddy. A third is likely to come in the form of a new game being worked on in Little Rock, Ark., with Conference USA providing a possible opponent. Benson hopes as that as the Sun Belt improves, and it is undergoing another membership overhaul in the next two seasons, it will attract more bowl partners. For now, though, he sees value in being in what he calls the at-large pool, being able to fill spots left open when a bowl doesnt have an eligible team available in its contracted conference, and no plan B. In my history in the WAC, said Benson, who led the Western Athletic Conference for more than a decade, fairly regularly we were able to place teams outside contracts. Last season, the Sun Belt was able to get Louisiana-Monroe into the Independence Bowl via that route, and had a chance to move Arkansas State into the Liberty Bowl. Benson said his priority will always be to get his league champion into the best possible bowl game, even if that means going outside of contracts. But he is also realistic and knows the Sun Belt will likely be playing most of its bowl games against what he calls its peer conferences the group of five that also consists of The American Athletic Conference (former Big East), the Mountain West, C-USA and the MAC. Read more: http://www.thenewsstar.com/viewart/20130516/SPORTS/305160045/Sun-Belt-MAC-trying-expand-bowl-lineup

Conference USA Concludes 2013 Spring Meetings DESTIN, Fla. Conference USA concluded its annual Spring Meetings today in Destin, Fla. C‐USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky and staff hosted Athletics Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Faculty Athletics Representatives and head coaches for football, men's and women's basketball from its 16 member institutions for the upcoming 2013‐14 season. The meetings launched on Monday and both coaches and administrators discussed key topics for the newly aligned membership, including NCAA national governance, scheduling, formatting, revenue distribution, video and television. Eight potential bowl partners participated in the weeks activities as the league looks at its future bowl agreements. Conference television partners also attended to focus on current and future distribution through television and streaming. Sites for several Conference USA Championships were selected and will be given to the C‐USA Board of Directors for final approval. As previously announced, the 2014 C‐USA Mens and Womens Basketball Championship will be hosted by UTEP. We had an amazing week, C‐USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky said. Our members were focused and worked hard on policies and platforms to prioritize the things that will add to our success moving forward. A set of principles was developed that includes operational integrity, support of the academic missions of our universities and unwavering commitment to student‐athlete welfare. Most of all, we truly enjoyed the opportunity to have this time together. The Conference USA Board of Directors will meet on Monday, June 10. Read more: http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/c-usa/genrel/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/2013springmeetings.pdf OR http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/conference_usa_concludes_sprin.html#incart_river

RUSTON There are many challenges facing college athletic conferences, but none of them are keeping Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky awake at night. On a recent visit to Ruston to spend time with outgoing Louisiana Tech president Dan Reneau, Banowsky said pizza during the day is the only thing interrupting his sleep. I dont worry too much about the work. Athletics is difficult. Its challenging, but its athletics, Banowsky said in a news conference. Its not like were saving lives here, so we have to keep it in some degree of perspective. If we were trying to keep world peace, I might lose sleep. But at the end of the day, well play the game, and therell be a winner and a loser. Well go home, and then well play another game. Thats the way its always been. The fun aside, the commish said fiscal responsibility is one of the greatest challenges universities face currently and in the immediate future. Travel expenses continue to escalate, game guarantees are rising, and coaches salaries have bucked the economic downturn of the past few years. If I were to pick one of the big ones, that would be it. Expenses are growing at such a rate across all of athletics. Its staggering, Banowsky said. We went through what some people suggest is the worst economic period since the great depression in the last six years, and during that period, coaches salaries went up 25 percent a year. How does that happen? We have some fundamental things to deal with. Read more: http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20130512/SPORTS0203/305120029/C-USA-commissioner-Britton-Banowsky-Challenges-ahead?nclick_check=1

The following is a recap from North Texas Head Coach Tony Benford’s speech at the UNT Coaches Caravan stop held at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas on May 7th, 2013. After an introduction from UNT Athletic Director Rick Villarreal: Benford said that he appreciated “Coach V’s” support but after a long meeting today he told RV, I’m a big guy – of course I need to drop some pounds and I’m working on that (audience laughter) – but no, what I said was coach, I can take care of myself -I’m a big boy and I’ve been doing this a long time and I know what it takes to win and what I have to do to get this program to the level that we aspire to be at. He personally thanked Ernie Kuehne (called him the Godfather of North Texas basketball) and Julie (wife of David) Anderson from Texas Capital Bank who helped to set up the event to the applause of the crowd. He said he appreciated everyone's support and would do his very best to build a program they could be proud of. On the new Ernie Kuehne practice facility: The facility is phenomenal, what Mr. Kuhne and others have done for us is unbelievable from a recruiting standpoint. We have a building that we can sell. The one thing I tell recruits all the time is we are going to invest in them, not only as a person but also on the court in terms of their game. With the new practice facility – there’s no excuses. With the facilities we have and the new Jumbotron and some other things that we’re doing there are no excuses. We have a phenomenal institution – we just have to get the word out and we’re doing that. read more:

RUSTON — Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said Thursday he likes a 16-member football model, but he said he doesn’t know if the league will expand soon. Banowksy visited the Louisiana Tech campus to chat with outgoing president Dan Reneau, a long-time friend, and to meet other officials as Tech prepares for its official move to C-USA this summer. “People that know me know that I am comfortable with large models of conferences,” Banowsky said. “There are efficiencies that grow from a two-division model of eight in each division that’s beneficial. “I also know that we want to manage the growth in a way that we continue to create stability as opposed to volatility. I’m not sure yet whether we will move to a platform of 16 members, but I know I’ve been asked to model 16, so that’s what I plan on doing.” Louisiana Tech is in a large group of schools joining C-USA, including fellow Western Athletic Conference member Texas-San Antonio, Sun Belt Conference schools Middle Tennessee, Florida Atlantic, Florida International and North Texas, Atlantic 10 member North Carolina-Charlotte and Colonial Athletic Association member Old Dominion. Western Kentucky will join in 2014 and ODU and UNCC will play C-USA football in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Banowsky didn’t mention specific schools in which C-USA might pursue to get to 16, but Sun Belt members Arkansas State and ULL could be attractive. ULL athletics director Scott Farmer told The Daily Advertiser in April that the Ragin’ Cajuns would be interested in the move. Conference USA’s membership grab is in response to four schools leaving for the American Athletic Conference this year (Memphis, Houston, Central Florida and Southern Methodist) and three next year (Tulane, Tulsa and East Carolina). Banowsky said he believes C-USA still has a national brand, and that by adding the San Antonio market and keeping the Dallas market, the conference is moving in a positive direction. He added that the C-USA trend has been to add large universities in populated markets, but Tech was the exception. Read more: http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/20130510/SPORTS/305100023/CUSA-commish-likes-16-team-league-won-t-guarantee-it

ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN, announced that the Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 24, on Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. Kickoff is 3 p.m. HT (8 p.m. ET) and the game will be televised nationally on ESPN. Now in its 12th year, the bowl will pit a team from the Mountain West against a team from Conference USA. The game will be played on Christmas Eve for the ninth time. “We are excited to pair our warm weather with some great football for the entire nation to view on ESPN,” said David Matlin, Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl Executive Director. “While mainland families are enjoying their Christmas Eve traditions in frigid winter conditions, they can escape from the weather for a few hours for football in paradise.” Last year’s Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl featured Fresno State of the Mountain West and SMU of Conference USA. The Mustangs earned the victory while tying an NCAA record for interceptions returned for touchdowns in a season, defeating the Bulldogs, 43-10. The Sheraton Hawai‘i Bowl has been known for its high-scoring (the winning team has scored 40 or more points nine times), thrilling offenses, and close games (two overtime games and five games decided by one touchdown or less). Read more: http://www.nola.com/tulane/index.ssf/2013/04/conference_usas_tie-in_sherato.html

Influential El Pasoans should push hard for UTEP's admittance into the Mountain West Conference. Sell UTEP -- plus El Paso --to conference members. UTEP officials either are not trying to move this city up in the collegiate athletics world, don't think they can compete favorably in the MWC, or have been told by the MWC to just buzz off. In any case, UTEP or the MWC would not be expected to comment if there's a push going on or not. These things are all behind-the-scenes stuff. There's no transparency, nor can there be. You don't announce which teams you've invited to join your league, and then name the schools you didn't choose. You don't embarrass people in that way. But since UTEP isn't saying anything, either way, one can wonder if the university is even trying. So, this push for MWC membership could be a job for our new mayor, County Judge Veronica Escobar and the city swells who make up the Paso del Norte Group. That's some oomph. Of course, UTEP President Diana Natalicio and Athletic Director Bob Stull would have to back the effort. We're making too many positive strides in this city not to have our school in a healthy athletic situation. The Miners are our "major league" franchise. They're our Dallas Cowboys, our New York Yankees, our LA Lakers. We're bringing in Triple-A baseball in 2014. We've approved construction of a new multi-use arena. Our Downtown is getting a good spiff-up. A fourth large mall is under way. Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_22970734/joe-muench-city-bigwigs-should-push-utep-into

Which newcomer will make the biggest splash in 2013? The Buzz: Only three of the six new additions – Middle Tennessee State, Louisiana Tech and UTSA – had winning records in 2012. Middle Tennessee State is coming off an 8-4 season its since 2009, but the Blue Raiders, who have only had three winning seasons in the past 10 years, return 18 starters and make a strong case to be the best of the newcomers. UTSA returns 20 starters from a team that finished 8-4, but the Roadrunners were 4-4 last season against FBS opponents with wins against teams that were a combined 8-41 overall. Louisiana Tech is coming off its best season since 1997 when it went 9-3. The Bulldogs were even ranked at one point in 2012, but success comes at a price and coach Sonny Dykes left to take the Cal job. Skip Holtz was hired after being fired from USF and takes over a program that returns only eight starters from 2012 and will need to adapt to his coaching style. Is Tulsa the team to beat this season? The Buzz: If there has been at least one constant in Conference USA over the last decade, it’s the play of Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes have played in four of the league’s last eight conference championships and have won all of them including last season. Over the past decade, the program has enjoyed moderate success with a record of 72-34. This year’s team is no exception bolstered by the return of quarterback Cody Green and running backs Trey Watts and Ja’Terian Douglas. The duo rushed for more than 2,000 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns. The defense lost some pop with the departures of DeAndre Brown and Dexter McCoil, but linebacker Shawn Jackson should be a force in the middle. Three of Tulsa’s first four games are winnable and the rest of the schedule looks easy. It will be tough not to see them repeat in their final season in the league. Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/blogs/college-gridiron-365/os-5-conference-usa-stories-to-watch-20130410,0,5777901.post

“I do know, we’re getting more comparable in the way we appear,” Blankenship said. “We’re some bigger kids, faster kids.” * Entry into the new American Athletic Conference in 2014 should be good for Tulsa. Many of the same faces from Conference USA, but some of the sleepy southern schools have been replaced by Cincinnati, Connecticut and South Florida. “Conference USA has been great for us,” Blankenship said. But C-USA changed. Coming into the league are North Texas, Louisiana Tech, Texas-San Antonio, Florida International, Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee. “There’s a big difference, going to Orlando (Central Florida) and New Orleans (Tulane) and Memphis, then we’re going to Ruston (La.) and wherever. From a recruiting standpoint, it was a big deal.” Actually, the new C-USA members come from some big markets. Miami, Dallas, San Antone, Nashville. But the caliber of competition will be better in the new conference. Blankenship said conference upheaval really doesn’t affect players. And on the recruiting end, the effect is “probably moreso with parents,” he said. “The best thing I can do is help our team win. I just want us to grow.” * Tulsa went 11-3 last season. Lost at Iowa State 38-23, lost 19-15 at Arkansas and lost 35-27 at SMU. “Five or six plays (difference), we could have been in the Orange Bowl,” Blankenship said. “Five or six or the other way, we could have been in no bowl.” Don’t laugh. He’s right. Northern Illinois made the Orange Bowl with a 12-1 record and a weaker schedule. And TU did skate by with some narrow wins: 27-26 over Fresno State, 49-42 over Alabama-Birmingham, 45-38 at Marshall, 28-24 over Rice, 23-21 and 33-27 in overtime against Central Florida. Read more: http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2013/04/09/tulsa-football-more-from-bill-blankenship/

Reacting to a national website story regarding potential Conference USA expansion, UL athletic director Scott Farmer said Monday that the Ragin’ Cajuns have interest in joining a 16-member C-USA. Conference USA’s rumored contemplation of an increase to 16 is not new, but commissioner Britton Banowsky did publicly acknowledge the possibility in a CBSSports.com report. “I think the number of teams isn’t as important as the teams we would compete against,” Farmer said. “We want our athletic teams facing the best competition possible. “Yeah, we’d be interested. Yes. I would want to look at division alignment and dive into that, but sure we’d be interested.” UL officials have worked quietly the last year-and-a-half to study, and position themselves for, a possible conference move. The program’s candidacy got a boost with its recent reveal of a $115 million athletic facilities masterplan that includes $70 million in Cajun Field football stadium upgrades. “We have spoken to several people trying to explore what conference would be best for the Ragin’ Cajuns athletic department,” Farmer said. “We’ve shared our information. We’ve talked about all of the bragging points, from the teams we have and the coaches we have to the great fan support we have, to now we can include the masterplan.” UL belongs to the Sun Belt Conference, which is losing current members North Texas, Middle Tennessee, Florida Atlantic and FIU to C-USA on July 1. Current member Western Kentucky follows in 2014. After several months’ worth of extensive conference-member realignment, other football programs currently on C-USA’s 2014 roll are adds Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion and Texas-San Antonio and existing members UAB, Marshall, Southern Mississippi, Rice and UTEP. Charlotte, transitioning from FCS, becomes a 14th football-playing member in 2015. Whether C-USA indeed grows 16 remains to be seen. “We’ve modeled it at 16,” Banowsky told CBSSports.com, “and it does kind of create some divisions that are a little more geographically connected. Read more: http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20130409/SPORTS0201/304090005/Conference-USA-eyes-expansion-16-teams-UL-possible-candidate

I really liked how they provided a map based on enrollment and geography. Also a brief synopsis of each member school. http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/hilltoppers-will-have-plenty-of-familiar-foes-in-new-c/article_fe472519-b129-5f65-83f4-6c8689ef61f0.html?mode=image&photo=0

Roadrunners open C-USA play at UTEP on Sept. 21 All 12 of the Roadrunners' opponents this season are members of the Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A. UTSA kicks off its third season at New Mexico on Aug. 31, and plays Big 12 team Oklahoma State in its home opener on Sept. 7. The Roadrunners play three of their first games on the road, including their C-USA opener at UTEP on Sept. 21. "It's another challenge," quarterback Eric Soza said when asked about the schedule. "We've got to take that next step. There's a lot of doubters out there, but we try not to worry about that. We try to worry about what we can control. "We need to focus on the spring right now and get better as a team. Competition is great. That's why we came here. The administration promised us that we were going to get big D-I football and it's finally here." Soza, who will be a senior this season, said the difference between UTSA's first spring training in 2011 and now is "night and day." "The speed's totally different," he said. "It looks like we're a college football team, not just a bunch of high school guys. It's a great thing because there's a lot of competition, both offensively and defensively. It's exciting. It's the reason why we're three years down the road." Read more: http://www.kens5.com/news/C-USA-opener-still-six-months-away-but-UTSA-football-team-back-at-work-199683171.html

Returning starters: 10 (7 offense, 3 defense). Five players to watch: QB Cody Green, RB Trey Watts, OT Garrett Stafford, LB Shawn Jackson, S Marco Nelson. Spring questions: 1. How much of a concern are the losses? Tulsa does return only 10 starters, one of the lowest totals of any team in college football. Perhaps on a different team, in a different conference, this would be an overriding concern. It doesn't seem as troublesome to Tulsa and coach Bill Blankenship, who have experienced similar roster turnover in the recent past yet remained among Conference USA's elite upper slice. Remaining in that spot in 2013 will merely take some fine-tuning over the next 15 practices. 2. Is this Cody Green's team? The former Nebraska transfer had his moments last fall, his first as Tulsa's starting quarterback, but his bouts with inconsistency prevented the passing game from reaching its full potential during Conference USA play. It's expected that Green will largely put those troubles behind him in 2013. Beyond his on-field play, however, has Green become the unquestioned leader this offense needs from its quarterback? With a younger and less experienced team taking the field in August, Tulsa desperately needs players like Green to take on a leadership role on and off the field. Position battles: 1. Defensive line. Tulsa's front four was a menace on passing downs a year ago, ranking third nationally in sacks and leading the way for a defense that ranked 11th in the FBS in yards per carry. All four starters are gone, unfortunately. To say that the depth chart is wide open would be an understatement. While Brentom Todd, Jack Jewell, Derrick Alexander and Derrick Luetjen might be considered the favorites up front, Tulsa wants to go seven or eight deep in its rotation. Look for this to be the most spirited position battle during both spring drills and fall camp. read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/03/07/2013-ncaa-spring-football-tulsa/1971965/

Thoughts?

This is the first of a two-part blog series looking at UNTs football schedule for 2013. A lot of people have weighed in since it was released. I waited a bit for people to let it sink in. Today, we look at the teams on UNTs slate, what they have coming back next year and the bottom line in terms of the importance of the game to UNTs prospects next season and other reasons why the game could be big for the program from recruiting rivalries, to fan interest. I will come back later with an overall look at what is realistic considering what UNT is facing. Aug. 31 Idaho 2012 record 1-11 Returning starters Nine offense, five defense About Idaho Idaho hired longtime assistant Paul Petrino, who was Arkansas offensive coordinator, in the off-season after a terrible finish in 2012. The Vandals have nine offensive and five defensive starters set to return, but kicked quarterback Dominique Blackman off the team in the middle of last season after he threw for 1,610 yards. Bottom line UNT paid to bring Texas Southern in for a nearly guaranteed win last year and is going the same route with Idaho next year. The Vandals should be down way down next season. UNT is rolling out throwback jerseys and making a big production out of its first opener at home since 2001. UNT has to win this one. Expect mass panic among the fandom if it doesnt. Sept. 7 at Ohio 2012 record 9-4 (Beat Louisiana-Monroe in the Independence Bowl) Returning starters Eight offense, four defense About Ohio The Bobcats beat Penn State in their opener and won their first seven games before stumbling down the stretch. Ohio lost four of five before righting the ship at beating Louisiana-Monroe in the Independence Bowl. Ohio has 12 starters returning and should be good again next year. Tyler Tettleton threw for 2,844 yards, Donte Foster caught 59 passes for 659 yards and Ben Blankenship rushed for 1,604. Bottom line This will be a really tough game for UNT on the road. Ohio has its key skill position players back on offense, not to mention the core of what should be a pretty good defense. Sept. 14 Ball State 2012 record 9-4 (Lost to UCF in the Beef OBradys Bowl) Returning starters Seven offense, eight defense About Ball State The Cardinals posted one of their best seasons in years, winning six straight games before falling to UCF in the Beef OBradys Bowl. Ball State has a trio of key offensive players returning in quarterback Keith Wenning, running back Jahwan Edwards and wide receiver Willie Snead. Wenning threw for 3,095 yards, Edwards rushed for 1,410 and Snead finished with 89 catches for 1,148 yards and nine touchdowns. Bottom line Ball State will present a pretty big challenge at home for UNT. The Cardinals should enter the season on a roll and have the core players from its offense returning. Like Ohio, a game against Ball State does not rank high on the list of potential wins. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/01/8462.html/

"I don't want to speak for the conference, but when Charlotte and Old Dominion are up and running with their football programs, there's a good chance for Southern Miss to shift to the west (division). "I'm excited about that relationship because the competition goes back decades. We also have a chance to develop new rivalries, like with North Texas." Van De Velde serves on the league's television committee, and he said Tech has an opportunity to bundle games not picked up C-USA's television partners (ESPN, CBS and Fox Sports). "Maybe there are one or two games that won't be picked up by (C-USA) partners, now the university has the opportunity to bundle and sell them," Van De Velde said. "We might take the leftover football games and put them with four or five basketball games and televise them statewide, like with Fox Sports New Orleans. "The WAC didn't give us that opportunity. Exposure is tremendous in recruiting and fundraising."

North Texas will stay a little closer to home once football season rolls around — both this year and for the foreseeable future in Conference USA. UNT will play its first season in C-USA next season, when the Mean Green will play host to Rice, Texas-San Antonio and UTEP. Those three games were announced, along with the league’s full schedule and its divisional lineup, on Wednesday. UNT will join Louisiana Tech, Rice, Tulane, Tulsa, UTEP and UTSA in C-USA’s West Division. The East Division will include East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss and UAB. “It’s great,” UNT coach Dan McCarney said of C-USA’s lineup. “There is nothing better than football in Texas, and we have four Texas teams and two Louisiana teams. It’s a tremendous conference with teams from all over the South and Southeast.” UNT announced its schedule for its first season in C-USA in conjunction with the league announcing its divisions and schedule. UNT will open at home against Idaho on Aug. 31 before going to Ohio (Sept. 7), Ball State (Sept. 14) at home and traveling to Georgia (Sept. 21). The Mean Green then will play four home games and four road games in C-USA on dates that have yet to be determined. UNT will play host to Rice, UTSA, UTEP and former Sun Belt Conference rival Middle Tennessee. The Mean Green will travel to Tulane, Tulsa, Southern Miss and Louisiana Tech. Ohio, Georgia, Rice and Tulsa all won bowl games last season, while Ball State also played in a postseason game. Louisiana Tech and MTSU finished 9-3 and 8-4, respectively, but were not selected for bowl games. UTSA finished 8-4 but was still in the process of joining the Football Bowl Subdivision ranks and was not eligible for the postseason. Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130124-football-notebook-unt-learns-c-usa-details.ece “This has to be one of the most challenging schedules in the history of our program,” McCarney said.

If you look at what we know - based on this map from the Orlando Sentinel (Link) it's pretty clear how the conference divisions will shake out. Please note that they mistakenly left ECU and Tulane out on this map. If you assume Tulsa leaves in 2014 -- then here's how it could play out and it also highlights the need for a WESTERN replacement to even out the divisions...if your Western Kentucky that has to concern you a bit -- because the new C-USA east has become very East heavy on teams.. if you are Ark State it could mean good news for your future C-USA prospects. C-USA 2013 (12 Teams) C-USA EAST (6) East Carolina Marshall FIU UAB USM La. Tech (could be east or west switch with Tulane) C-USA West (6) UTEP North Texas UTSA Rice Tulsa Tulane (could be east or west switch with (La. Tech) C-USA 2014 (12 Teams) C-USA EAST (6) Old Dominion Marshall FIU FAU UAB Middle Tennessee C-USA West (6) UTEP North Texas UTSA Rice La. Tech USM C-USA 2015 (13-Teams) C-USA EAST (7) Old Dominion Marshall FIU FAU UAB Middle Tennessee Charlotte C-USA West (6) UTEP North Texas UTSA Rice La. Tech USM

GRAPEVINE, Texas – Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State are negotiating to exit the Sun Belt Conference a year early and join Conference USA in 2013, a person briefed on the talks told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the negotiations are supposed to be private. A decision about which league the schools will play in next season should be finalized by Feb. 1 so that football schedules can be completed. If the schools stay until 2014, neither will owe the Sun Belt an exit fee, the person said. Schools are supposed to pay a $1 million penalty for leaving early, but the current negotiations center on whether they would owe the full amount. The person said Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee are joined at the hip and will either stay in the Sun Belt or join C-USA together. Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sunbelt/2013/01/17/conference-usa-sun-belt-florida-atlantic-middle-tennessee-state/1843111/

Florida Atlantic should know by the end of the month whether it will become a member of Conference USA for competition in the fall of 2013 or will have to wait until 2014. Conference USA will hold its annual winter in Miami beginning on January 22, followed by a conference call with the Board of Trustees on January 24. At that point Conference USA will need to finalize the schedules for the 2013 fall sports, including football. "We're planning on being a 14-team league, but it definitely could be a 16 team league if MTSU and FAU want to join for next year," Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs Courtney Morrison Archer said. FAU officials say they are still trying to determine whether the move to Conference USA in 2013 is the right move. "We're talking about it. We're definitely talking about it," FAU President Mary Jane Saunders said. Saunders and C-USA Commissioner Britton Banowsky will likely have face-to-face conversations about the timeline next week. Banowsky has scheduled visit to the Boca Raton campus, Saunders said. In late November, Conference USA accepted FAU's application to join the league for the 2014 season, but left open the possibility that the Owls could join the conference a year sooner. Read more: http://www.fauowlaccess.com/articles/104/fau-will-learn-soon-if-move-to-c-usa-in-2013-will-happen.aspx

Tulsa may already be in the best position possible for the new BCS formula and playoff. In 2014, just one slot will be available to the highest ranked team from five conferences, the so-called "group of five." That group includes Conference USA, the Big East, Mountain West, Mid-America and Sun Belt. The five power leagues will each be guaranteed one slot in the new BCS bowl and playoffs. Those leagues are the Big 12, Big 10, Southeastern, Pac-12 and ACC. The "group of five" conferences will get an average of about $17.25 million (25 percent of the new contract's payout) each, and the five power conferences will each receive an average of about $91 million (75 percent of the payout), according to an ESPN report. So it begs the question: If moving conferences doesn't involve moving up to one of the five power conferences, why do it? That's the question facing Houston, SMU, Memphis, Boise State and the others that have jumped from one "group of five" league to another. In other words, what's the advantage? Answer? None. Maybe you'll get a little more television revenue, but even that is in question. There is no way anyone with the Big East can predict what the new television deal will be for the Big East or how it will stack up against the Conference USA deal. It might be wise for TU to follow the path of Northern Illinois, which turned a Mid-America Conference championship into an Orange Bowl invitation. Or Boise State, which beat up on a weak WAC to become the darling of the non-BCS leagues. Read More: http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?articleid=20121224_203_B1_TULSAM110266

Harry’s Projected 2014 North Texas C-USA Football Schedule (* denotes conference games) Sat, Aug 30 University of Texas at Austin, TX (Game currently on schedule) Sat, Sep 06 SMU Denton, TX TBA (Game currently on schedule) Sat, Sep 13 Tulsa* at Tulsa, OK TBA (Game currently on schedule as non-conf) Sat, Sep 20 Houston Denton, TX TBA (Game not currently on schedule but UH interested) Sat, Sep 27 Rice* at Houston, TX TBA (Game not currently on schedule but Rice in C-USA) Sat, Oct 04 Indiana at Bloomington, IN TBA (Game currently on schedule as non-conf) Sat, Oct 11 La. Tech* Denton, TX TBA - (Game not currently on schedule but La. Tech in C-USA) Sat. Oct 18 Marshall* at Denton, TX TBA (Game not currently on schedule but Marshall in C-USA) Sat, Oct 25 Tulane* at New Orleans, LA TBA (Game not currently on schedule but Tulane in C-USA) Sat, Nov 1 UTEP* Denton, TX TBA (Game not currently on schedule but UTEP in C-USA) Sat, Nov 8 Southern Mississippi* Denton, TX TBA (Game not currently on schedule but USM in C-USA) Sat, Nov 15 UTSA* at San Antonio, TX TBA (Game not currently on schedule but UTSA in C-USA) Sat, Nov 22 BYE WEEK Sat, Dec 6th East Carolina vs. North Texas at Greenville, NC TBA (C-USA Championship Game) Wed. Dec 31 Texas A&M vs. North Texas at Memphis, TN TBA (Liberty Bowl)