wardly

because they are replacing CFU in CUSA?

i don't know if these numbers are 100% accurate, but i saw somewhere ASU is paying new head coach about $250,000 with remaining $600,000 coming from alumni. i assume that alumni helping out on this hire as well as mens head basketball coach. perhaps our ArkState fan can shead some light on the subject.

makes sense.if UTEP moves to MWC, which appears likely, then CUSA is down to 8, and puts MWC at 9 football playing programs. if CUSA adds both Temple and FIU to get to 10,[ ECU and Marshall are pushing hard for eastern expansion],then MWC has a slot open. it could be between SHSU and Utah State, but both bring little to the table. if Temple stays put, then CUSA adds FIU and both congerences have 9 programs, with a combined footprint from California to Florida.i really don't know if UNT or UTSA are in play because of their markets or not.

in the early 80's my son and i were visiting Mizzo, and attended the 5th down game against Colorado, who were ranked #1 at that time. UC got an extra play that allowed them to score a t.d.on the 5th down which was the game winner. the error occurred simply because the ref on field responsible for flip chart didn't turn down sign over after 2nd down. it was missed by both coaching staffs as well as radio announcer, but not by the fans. Mizzo afterwards asked UC to do the honorable thing and forfit the game. UC responded that the state of Missouri review its "the show me state"motto, and finished the season ranked #1 in nation.i doubt the Belt can do anything but chalk up the ULL/WK game as "pilot error."

this is somewhat of a repeat of a previous post by yours truly, but LSU looks at NT as their opener next year the same way we look at Texas Southern. the difference is that LSU fans go to see the tigers play,while NT fans go to see who the eagles are playing.big difference in fan thought process and support, and until we make that transion we will always be an athletic afterthough.just an old man's opinion.

check out C.S.U.

LSU fans probably feel the same way about opening with us 2012, but the game will be a sell out because their fans come to see the Tigers play, not WHO the Tigers play.

and averaged 32,000+ in attendance. compare that to Tex. St., NMSU, La. Tech, etc. when smoke clears and IF we are still in belt, i would like to expand to 12 or 14 with East/West divisions and a meaningless play off game.

ECU submitted paperwork to join Big East as soon as ink was dry on Pitt and Syracuse being accepted by ACC, so i don't think this means much at this time. i'm sure Utah State also has done the same with MWC. the proposed CUSA/MWC merger now depends on whether or not MWC gets AQ status. i assume they will know before merger meeting scheduled for 1/15/12.if MWC get BCS status,merger is off, and they will have 8 football schools. i don't know what their goal is;9,10,or 12, so UTEP could still be in the mix. i hope AQ for MWC aproved and UTEP moves west.

why not? a number of conferences have added members for football only. is this a NCAA rule? just asking.also, still wondering why Big East shows no interest in ECU as a football only member.

i don't disagree with your statement, but why the lack of Big East interest in adding ECU for football only? small market? just asking.

its odd that they are agressively campaigning for Big East admitance while at the same time demanding more east coast schools in CUSA. don't know how much creditability that gives them during MWC/CUSA merger talks scheduled for january 15th.

still a moving number. ECU is desperate to get the last "football only" slot in Big East, as is Temple. however, Nova' dead set against Temple, so ECU might be "last best available", but odds are against them. they have no real sponsor for admittance, but do average 50,000 in attendance.

reminds me of the 1st half dozen or so New Orleans Bowls.

congrats to La. Tech.! even though they lost, i felt that they stood toe to toe with TCU all evening.i would love to have our football program reach their level in the next few years. also interesting Sonny Dykes agreed to 5 year contract extension. i would have thought he had other opportunities after a stellar year. i have a hard time believing that he would stay unless he thought the Bulldogs were not long for the WAC, but just a guess.

Idaho and NMSU are best served by the Big Sky conference, and i can't think of a single reason Ohio would leave the MAC. in my opinion, a footprint in Florida is worth perserving, as both programs have recently built new stadiums and made financial committments to their programs. in a perfect world, i would trade ULM for La.Tech,add UTSA and Tex.State to create a Western division with regional rivals, and probably add UTA to balance UALR.of course in a really perfect world we would get SMU's open slot in CUSA.by the end of January we should have a better picture of our and the Belts future.

t.v.money. the chancellor of LSU said in jest,that when its all said and done there will be 2 conferences;ESPN and Fox Sports.those words may be more accurate that they were intended to be. thats why i think UNT,UTSA,and F_U have a better chance to get into an expanded CUSA than La.Tech.now its all about t.v. markets. some schools are in major and mid-major conferences that could not get in today because of their small population base.[and then there is Boise, an exception to my statement]however, in general i feel accurate in my statement. just an old man's opinion.

i read the article and admit it could get interesting for the BELT.as of today, the Big East needs to add 1 more football only school to get to 12 teams. front runners are Temple and ECU. i think AFA is staying in MWC despite Navy's eventual move to Big East. MWC now has 8 football teams, has applied for AQ status,and they should know status by 1/15/2012, the date MWC/CUSA meet to decide on merger. if MWC gets AQ status, merger is off, and they can just add SJSU and USU to get back to 10 football teams which will kill the WAC. if they fail to obtain AQ status, then the merged "Continental Conference" will have 17 football schools. the ECU president says the magic number is 18 football teams [as he is trying to leave for Big East].if so then the BELT would indeed be vulnerable, as the merged conference has no presence in Florida,DFW,or San Antonio [don't sell UTSA short].if a few teams are plucked from the WAC or BELT, then the remainder will consolidate. i don't see anyone interested in Idaho or NMST,and they probably will have to drop down.best case for UNT is MWC gets AQ status,merger fails, and CUSA adds 3 to get back to 12.even better if ECU moves and CUSA adds 4. and yes, it is a little scary.

the price of poker just went upn the Belt. Successful head coaches will expect that kind of money.

google "Big East Expansion"

Navy just announced they are moving football to Big East, but because of existing t.v. contracts it might take them to 2018 to get there.by my count when smoke clears that gives them 8 schools for all sports, and 3 football only, leaving 1 football only slot to reach desired goal of 12. come on E.C.U.!

we talk about how the lack of a baseball program could hurt other conference opportunities for North Texas. with the loss of SMU,Houston, and UCF, 7 of remaining 9 CUSA schools offer baseball,with Tulsa and UTEP being the exceptions[sMU dropped their program in mid 60's]. with the loss of Boise and SDSU, the MWV is down to 5 schools, only 3 of which play baseball. they will pick up 2 more baseball teams when Fresno and Nevada/Reno join. Hawaii is joining for football only, and putting baseball and all their other sports in Big West. this will leave MWC with 8 schools and 5 baseball programs.[9 schools and 5 programs if UTEP moves to MWV].my question:is having a baseball program necessary to move up to CUSA or MWC, or is it just a peace of our athletic puzzle that would be nice to have.just asking, as i have no personal opinion.

i missed the banquet, and have no inside information other than we are not sitting on our butts, and did not mean to imply i knew otherwise.Hawaii is in MWC football only,with all other sports in Big West. merger is up in air because ECU has outside chance as football only member in Big East since Navy is unavailable before 2014.in addition, MWC has applied for AQ status on its own, which also puts merger on hold until they get an answer.still a lot of moving parts. and yes,i certainly agree that there is a lot of lobbying for entrance into MWC and CUSA as either stand alone conferences or as a merged one. i would guess,and it is just a guess, that UNT,UTSA, and La.Tech are competeing for a western slot in CUSA should UTEP move to MWC.

The Belt has been good for UNT. we just seem to think we have out grown it. whether we have or not will be decided in the marketplace as other conference oppenings become available. regarding W.K. sitting at home with a 7&5 record, it again proves that while you can schedule a 1aa team, you can't get pounded by them. that was a bad loss which kept them from a bowl. T.C.U.'s loss to S.M.U. was a bad loss which kept them from a BCS bowl. these things happen. the Belt has 1/3rd of its teams in bowls, which isn't all bad.

i was at an informal social function last week that had Dan Smith, Rick Villarreal, and Lane Rawlings in attendance.i can assure you that " island eagle " hit the nail on the head.