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How much does it cost to restart an FBS football program? It's got to be a big chunk of change.
UAB - the ULM of CUSA. CUSA is far too spread out with few natural rivalries, unattractive conference games, minimal conference travel of opposing fans, reduced attendance, higher travel costs, and lower conference revenue. A lot of that could be corrected by splitting CUSA and SBC teams into Western and Eastern based conferences.
Drip drip drip.. CUSA is dying on the vine, the writing is on the wall.. And they've known it for a while.
Only a fool would believe the current CUSA would get the same or better money than the CUSA GAME of yesterday. And fools are quickly parted with their money.
At one time, I would have given my right nut to be in that conference. Now, I would have to rethink the whole issue especially if is gonna implode in a few years.
ngram said, "but it's not something football has done that has caused a problem per se. It is simply the lack in conference distribution that we have received versus what we expected to receive that has been a significant difference.
That was from the last paragraph of the article. Found that very interesting.
Best case scenario is we find ourselves in some sort of scheduling alliance with USM, LaTurd, UAB, WKU, MTSU, Rice, UNT from CUSA. Then Tulsa, Tulane, Houston, and Memphis from the AAC.
Ideally we alternate playing LaTurd and Tulane for 10 game series each. Alternate home and away on even years for LaTurd and odd years for Tulane. We need to make that happen it benefits all three programs. Recreates ivalries and generates more statewide interest. It also would allow us the opportunity to become the clear cut number 2 program within this state.
Here is something to consider, since we are killing time anyway until the season starts. Assuming we have no shot at the AAC, but do need to improve our conference affiliation, ...
Why not simply form a regional conference with the following schools and solve a lot of scheduling issues?
SWC
South - Rice, TX State, UTSA, Louisiana, S. Miss, LA Tech
North - N. Texas, Ark State, MTSU, W. KY, Marshall, App State
Can strengthen conference with 12 teams by adding Marshall and App State, both in Western parts of W. VA and N.C. and not that far from MTSU and W KY (better fit for them than Florida, Georgia, S. Carolina and Alabama schools). Or, remain at 10 schools without Marshall and App State.
Would make a hell of a conference to compete with the AAC and MWC. UTEP and NMSU are too far west and belong in the MWC. Other schools can form an Eastern based conference.
Much better geographical fit, Southern Division games are all natural rivalries, are all drivable, better schedule for fans so better travel and home attendance, still have bowl alliances, lower travel costs for all sports, perhaps results in a better conference TV package, and more competitive with AAC and MWC than current SBC and CUSA.
Like the AAC does, play 8 conference games and a championship game, with 4 OOC games, 2 vs. P5 and either 2 games vs. Tulane, Houston, Memphis, Tulsa or SMU on a rotating basis or 1 game vs. those schools and 1 game vs. an FCS school (like Houston is doing vs. TX Southern, Rice, TX Tech and Arizona).
This came out last month about wku.
https://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/w...effa0ef97.html
pretty good read. one interesting note was, back in feb. WKU announced a budget stabilization plan. It recommended a cut to the school's athletic department of more than $1 million.
This is a good time to give Scott Farmer some props...he knew exactky what he was doing by not chasing that "dream" of many...