wardly

there are a few Southland schools in the Belt[which we won twice in 12 years].i don't think a program that has won 18 games[5 of which were last year] in the past 7 years in one of the weakest conferences in the nation can turn up their noses at anyone.

plus they are not real happy that CUSA basketball tourney is in El Paso this year. truth of the matter is that Marshall should have stayed in MAC where they were more than competative. as for ECU, they have been actively seeking Big East admission [think LA. Tech / CUSA ] for years, and would leave CUSA in a heartbeat.because of that, i don't see why they would have a voice at the table, but if they do only folks i can think of are W.K. and MTSU.

agreed! plus i would add UTA and their new $79 million dollar basketball arena to offset UALR, giving us 12 football programs and 14 basketball. we would gain 3 Texas rivals, and certainly don't need a 3rd Lousiana program. let La. Tech play as an independent.

Temple has a 2 year exit notice, and must pay $2.5 million if they leave early. the Big East could pick it up for them with some of the $20million they got from West Virginia and Big 12.

thought this issue was dead since they merged with CUSA?

besides 8 conference games, are we still at LSU,K.State,Houston,and home against Texas Southern?

thats what we will wear if we don't get in.

sounds like a plan!

you are 100% correct on ECU. in short term, Temple moving to Big East[we can only hope] might benefit FAU as well as FIU and MTSU if the pirates have their way.

someone else posted the idea that UNT might have to move west to be included in the MWC/CUSA merger. i must admit that this never crosed my mind. what are your thoughts?

sqeaky wheel usually gets the grease, but ECU is over the top. 2 more schools in N.Carolina, one of which is 1AA, and i don't think NCC fields a team as yet. talk about having your own agenda without regard for your conference. these guys should join the MAC along with Marshall.

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.