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Post by Whup Em All on Nov 27, 2023 11:10:00 GMT -6
That would put CUSA at 11 teams in 2025. I expect they are going after at least one more team to join in 2025 as well to get to and even 12. Most likely would see divisions form then as well. Exciting stuff to see happening! Our footprint is imperfect for east-west divisions. But it works well for pods. With credit to Whup and operating under the assumption we take UMass, the pod system looks like this: EastFIU Liberty Delaware UMass Central
Jax State Kenny MTSU WKU WestSammy LaTech UTEP NM State The traditional east/west division would look like, assuming UMass doesn't make the cut: WestUTEP NM State Sammy LaTech FIU (Because everyone flies there anyway) (Missouri State, Tarleton, SFA) EastJax State Kenny MTSU WKU Liberty Delaware The three-pod format would be just as you posted it. The Central pod in this scenario is outstanding. Every team would develop a rivalry with every other team, simply because of the distances involved. The longest distance between Central opponents would be 288 miles between WKU and KSU. I think if we went to East-West divisions, I think it would end up looking more like this: EASTDelaware Liberty UMass or EKU WKU MTSU FIU WESTKennesaw St Jax St La Tech SHSU UTEP NMSU This format would preserve rivalries by keeping MTSU/WKU and JSU/KSU in the same divisions. On that note, if UMass joins, there's a rivalry with Delaware. If EKU joins, they'd be another rival for WKU. Despite having to fly to every game anyway, FIU would balk at being in the West. Besides, it kind of makes sense having them play teams along the Atlantic coast. The Gamecocks would still have long distance trips to UTEP and NMSU, but would not have to make the long treks to FIU, UMass, UD, and Liberty. It balances out. We have a history with Sammy, and La Tech's not *terribly* far away, so there'd be some familiarity there. And the lucky JSU fans who get to travel to La Tech games would get to enjoy some of the authentic Cajun cooking in Ruston. (Consider me envious.) Tarleton and SFA are notably missing from this list. (So is MOST, but I don't really care about them.) If the conference ever had financial incentive to expand to 16, though, those are the teams I'd choose, along with whichever team from EKU/UMass didn't get the invite this go round.
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stevo
Full Member
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Post by stevo on Nov 27, 2023 11:12:43 GMT -6
The Blue Hens are ranked #11 in the latest STATS football poll, and face Montana in the 2nd round of the playoffs. They averaged 15,500 fans at home during the regular season. Their men's hoops team is ranked #154 (KenPom) which would be good enough for 5th in CUSA. Their baseball team finished the 2022-23 season ranked #111. That places them 4th behind DBU (#13), Sammy (#74), and Liberty (#97) among current CUSA teams. If this is what it means to be "more like FCS" then I'm all for it. I know UMass is being rumored as the 12th team, but I'm still holding out hope for EKU or SFA. (Tarleton's a distant 3rd.) The Minutemen bring nothing for football and are WAY out of the current footprint, but like Delaware, they bring a heckuva lot to the table in other sports. If they get the call, I'll support it. They're just not who I would've picked. That's fine if you want expansion. I don't currently. BUT if you know that WKU and MTSU are going to take the MAC invite, you have to consider it. OR If you think that UTEP and NMSU will go to the MWC when Oregon St and Wash St poach some MWC schools to build their new PAC you have to consider Delaware. OR If you think that Liberty will go to the AAC when Oregon St and Wash St poach some AAC schools (UTSA, N TX, Mem, Rice, Tulsa) to build their new PAC you have to consider Delaware.
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Post by Whup Em All on Nov 27, 2023 12:00:40 GMT -6
The Blue Hens are ranked #11 in the latest STATS football poll, and face Montana in the 2nd round of the playoffs. They averaged 15,500 fans at home during the regular season. Their men's hoops team is ranked #154 (KenPom) which would be good enough for 5th in CUSA. Their baseball team finished the 2022-23 season ranked #111. That places them 4th behind DBU (#13), Sammy (#74), and Liberty (#97) among current CUSA teams. If this is what it means to be "more like FCS" then I'm all for it. I know UMass is being rumored as the 12th team, but I'm still holding out hope for EKU or SFA. (Tarleton's a distant 3rd.) The Minutemen bring nothing for football and are WAY out of the current footprint, but like Delaware, they bring a heckuva lot to the table in other sports. If they get the call, I'll support it. They're just not who I would've picked. That's fine if you want expansion. I don't currently. BUT if you know that WKU and MTSU are going to take the MAC invite, you have to consider it. OR If you think that UTEP and NMSU will go to the MWC when Oregon St and Wash St poach some MWC schools to build their new PAC you have to consider Delaware. OR If you think that Liberty will go to the AAC when Oregon St and Wash St poach some AAC schools (UTSA, N TX, Mem, Rice, Tulsa) to build their new PAC you have to consider Delaware. I totally get not wanting expansion currently. In fact, I agree with this sentiment 100%. Ten's a great number for CUSA for the immediate future, for a number of reasons. I just disagree that adding Delaware is "Making CUSA more like FCS."
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Post by gemofthehills on Nov 27, 2023 12:23:55 GMT -6
Blue Hens are coming in 2025 Making CUSA more like FCS. I guess we will look FCS like the SBC or AAC. Delaware is on par with JMU, Marshall, App, CCU, ODU or any other FCS add in the last 2-3 decades.
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Post by pascal on Nov 27, 2023 13:09:04 GMT -6
Per ESPN
Delaware to CUSA!
On ESPN front page right now.
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Post by pascal on Nov 27, 2023 13:42:20 GMT -6
Per ESPN Delaware to CUSA! On ESPN front page right now. Per Pete Thamel
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Post by gemofthehills on Nov 27, 2023 13:51:33 GMT -6
Hope this means the any new adds will come from the eastern part of the country. Chattanooga or EKU would be a good number 12 for an even number.
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Post by jsu02 on Nov 27, 2023 14:15:36 GMT -6
Hope this means the any new adds will come from the eastern part of the country. Chattanooga or EKU would be a good number 12 for an even number. I saw a post on CSNbbs board that Extra Points was reporting the 12th team would be from the "west". Poor EKU, I don't seem how they get in before the GoR is up. Nooga waiting on that SEC invite.
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Post by sprout203 on Nov 27, 2023 16:12:50 GMT -6
At $5 million that is significant for most FCS schools. That is roughly 25% of our entire athletic budget. One has to assume these programs already have that fee accounted for in their program,
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Post by Cleburneslim on Nov 27, 2023 17:05:34 GMT -6
The Blue Hens are ranked #11 in the latest STATS football poll, and face Montana in the 2nd round of the playoffs. They averaged 15,500 fans at home during the regular season. Their men's hoops team is ranked #154 (KenPom) which would be good enough for 5th in CUSA. Their baseball team finished the 2022-23 season ranked #111. That places them 4th behind DBU (#13), Sammy (#74), and Liberty (#97) among current CUSA teams. If this is what it means to be "more like FCS" then I'm all for it. I know UMass is being rumored as the 12th team, but I'm still holding out hope for EKU or SFA. (Tarleton's a distant 3rd.) The Minutemen bring nothing for football and are WAY out of the current footprint, but like Delaware, they bring a heckuva lot to the table in other sports. If they get the call, I'll support it. They're just not who I would've picked. That's fine if you want expansion. I don't currently. BUT if you know that WKU and MTSU are going to take the MAC invite, you have to consider it. OR If you think that UTEP and NMSU will go to the MWC when Oregon St and Wash St poach some MWC schools to build their new PAC you have to consider Delaware. OR If you think that Liberty will go to the AAC when Oregon St and Wash St poach some AAC schools (UTSA, N TX, Mem, Rice, Tulsa) to build their new PAC you have to consider Delaware. Some of all this will likely happen soon enough. But the trick is what when? I'm pro u del and anti UMass. But with one or both these additions I am definitely pro three divisional/pods. Easy and west or north south will be a travel nightmare.
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Post by gemofthehills on Nov 27, 2023 17:12:52 GMT -6
Would love a pod with MTSU, WKU and KSU. Probably being greedy but thats ok with me.
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Post by Cleburneslim on Nov 27, 2023 17:15:59 GMT -6
Would love a pod with MTSU, WKU and KSU. Probably being greedy but thats ok with me. Plus Chattanooga. Rivalries on top of rivalries.
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Post by Whup Em All on Nov 27, 2023 17:22:57 GMT -6
Hope this means the any new adds will come from the eastern part of the country. Chattanooga or EKU would be a good number 12 for an even number. I saw a post on CSNbbs board that Extra Points was reporting the 12th team would be from the "west". This "12th team from the west" comment (which was also repeated by the All4OneCUSA twitter account... not sure which came first) troubles me, at least in the short term. Now, All4One also claims the 12th team will NOT be UMass, but that UMass is still under consideration for when the conference expands to 14, which is, apparently, the ultimate goal. So at 14, things could change. But here's my problem with 12: CONFERENCE USA GEOGRAPHY (not proposed divisions, so this will be uneven):EAST (7)Delaware Liberty FIU Kennesaw State Jax State WKU MTSU WEST (5)La Tech Sam Houston State NMSU UTEP "A team from the West" - aka Tarleton, SFA, Mo State, UCA, or someone else. You have 12 teams. To get to two 6-team divisions, you need to move ONE team from the East to the West. Now, if you move one, the obvious choice would be FIU, since they have to fly everywhere anyway. The problem is, this would be unpopular with FIU, the teams in the West, and (believe it or not) the teams in the East. The issue for everyone else in CUSA is that they like having a presence in the recruiting hotbed of South Florida. If you take that away from JSU, Liberty, MTSU, WKU, etc., then you don't make friends in the East. The western teams don't recruit Florida as much (they have Texas) but don't want to have an imbalance of power in the conference which leans so heavily to the Atlantic coast. So putting far-east FIU in the West, instead of expanding to add an actual western team, would not be viewed favorably. The West, especially the Texas schools and La Tech, are more open to a central team being moved. Travel's a bit easier, and there's more of a chance of their alumni working in Alabama or Tennessee than Miami. So instead of moving FIU, it'll have to be one of the following -- just one: JSU, KSU, WKU, MTSU. KSU doesn't make sense since they're from an actual Atlantic coast state. WKU is the farthest west team of the bunch, but is tied at the hip to MTSU, and really hopes to develop a rivalry with Liberty. The Hilltoppers are an Appalachian basketball school and don't much want to be relegated to the great state of Texas for all their divisional games. MTSU is tied at the hip to WKU. They also want to be with other Appalachian schools instead of schools in the Chihuahuan Desert. So that leaves JSU. We're in the Appalachians as well, of course. But we're also one of the new kids, and don't have the power of CUSA veterans like WKU and MTSU. But we're an hour and change away from Kennesaw, and just over 3 hours away from MTSU. Why on earth would you put us in the West, where our nearest conference rival would be nearly 500 miles away? The ONLY way any of this would make sense would be to move TWO teams, both rivals. And the two rivals that make the most sense would be Jax State and KSU. (Both have a history, of sorts, with Sam Houston. MTSU and WKU do not.) As I mentioned in an earlier post, this would be a decent trade off. We'd still have our major rival in our division. We'd give up divisional travel to FIU, Liberty, and Delaware, and replace it with NMSU and UTEP. The problem is, the ONLY way it makes sense to move two teams from the East to the West would be for one more team to be added to the East. UMass, or EKU, or NCAT, or SOMEBODY. Wouldn't matter who, just so they're roughly east of WKU and MTSU. And none of those teams are "from the West". So divisions, potentially, are going to suck for awhile. And when/if we expand from 12 to 14, both teams will HAVE to come from the West: Tarleton, SFA, Mo State, whoever. This would shift JSU and KSU back to the East where we belong. But it really screws over EKU, unless we can convince FIU to leave...
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Post by Cleburneslim on Nov 27, 2023 17:47:10 GMT -6
I saw a post on CSNbbs board that Extra Points was reporting the 12th team would be from the "west". This "12th team from the west" comment (which was also repeated by the All4OneCUSA twitter account... not sure which came first) troubles me, at least in the short term. Now, All4One also claims the 12th team will NOT be UMass, but that UMass is still under consideration for when the conference expands to 14, which is, apparently, the ultimate goal. So at 14, things could change. But here's my problem with 12: CONFERENCE USA GEOGRAPHY (not proposed divisions, so this will be uneven):EAST (7)Delaware Liberty FIU Kennesaw State Jax State WKU MTSU WEST (5)La Tech Sam Houston State NMSU UTEP "A team from the West" - aka Tarleton, SFA, Mo State, UCA, or someone else. You have 12 teams. To get to two 6-team divisions, you need to move ONE team from the East to the West. Now, if you move one, the obvious choice would be FIU, since they have to fly everywhere anyway. The problem is, this would be unpopular with FIU, the teams in the West, and (believe it or not) the teams in the East. The issue for everyone else in CUSA is that they like having a presence in the recruiting hotbed of South Florida. If you take that away from JSU, Liberty, MTSU, WKU, etc., then you don't make friends in the East. The western teams don't recruit Florida as much (they have Texas) but don't want to have an imbalance of power in the conference which leans so heavily to the Atlantic coast. So putting far-east FIU in the West, instead of expanding to add an actual western team, would not be viewed favorably. The West, especially the Texas schools and La Tech, are more open to a central team being moved. Travel's a bit easier, and there's more of a chance of their alumni working in Alabama or Tennessee than Miami. So instead of moving FIU, it'll have to be one of the following -- just one: JSU, KSU, WKU, MTSU. KSU doesn't make sense since they're from an actual Atlantic coast state. WKU is the farthest west team of the bunch, but is tied at the hip to MTSU, and really hopes to develop a rivalry with Liberty. The Hilltoppers are an Appalachian basketball school and don't much want to be relegated to the great state of Texas for all their divisional games. MTSU is tied at the hip to WKU. They also want to be with other Appalachian schools instead of schools in the Chihuahuan Desert. So that leaves JSU. We're in the Appalachians as well, of course. But we're also one of the new kids, and don't have the power of CUSA veterans like WKU and MTSU. But we're an hour and change away from Kennesaw, and just over 3 hours away from MTSU. Why on earth would you put us in the West, where our nearest conference rival would be nearly 500 miles away? The ONLY way any of this would make sense would be to move TWO teams, both rivals. And the two rivals that make the most sense would be Jax State and KSU. (Both have a history, of sorts, with Sam Houston. MTSU and WKU do not.) As I mentioned in an earlier post, this would be a decent trade off. We'd still have our major rival in our division. We'd give up divisional travel to FIU, Liberty, and Delaware, and replace it with NMSU and UTEP. The problem is, the ONLY way it makes sense to move two teams from the East to the West would be for one more team to be added to the East. UMass, or EKU, or NCAT, or SOMEBODY. Wouldn't matter who, just so they're roughly east of WKU and MTSU. And none of those teams are "from the West". So divisions, potentially, are going to suck for awhile. And when/if we expand from 12 to 14, both teams will HAVE to come from the West: Tarleton, SFA, Mo State, whoever. This would shift JSU and KSU back to the East where we belong. But it really screws over EKU, unless we can convince FIU to leave... Your not accounting for the schools who will soon leave due to realignment involving the pac and whichever conferences they raid. Ps I despise the JSU KSU to the west notion. Adding udel is a move because they are available, soon other teams will leave other conferences and who is leaving and who is available is pure guesswork. Add udel and remain non-divisional, playing as round robin as possible.
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Post by gemofthehills on Nov 27, 2023 18:30:00 GMT -6
Would Buffalo be an option? Its a long ways away but that doesnt seem to be a concern in realignment.
Do Pods
UTEP Sam LA Tech NMSU
MTSU WKU KSU JSU
Liberty Delaware UMASS/Buffalo FIU
Miami is loaded with NE transplants
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