Side Show Joe

Left out again. If we are always chasing C-USA's tail, the view will never change, and it's always going to stink.

I'm going with the WAC. Now that Boise is off the table for the MWC, the WAC will retain its standing as the second best non AQ. I feel the gap between the WAC and C-USA could widen in the years to come. The WAC can now afford to focus on strengthening its conference, while C-USA could be focusing on rebuilding its eastern division. 5 years from now, Houston and UTEP could both be looking at separating from the Texas private schools and forming an eastern division of a WAC that is by then considerably stronger then C-USA. 5 years from now, we might be left out.

Clemson's QB Parker got drafted today. 26th overall.

I don't think Boise staying in the WAC hurts our chances at getting picked up. The Pac 10 has been playing with 10 teams for a long time. Why couldn't the WAC? They do still want us, don't they?

I'd rather see us open the stadium against a name team we might have better odds against. Indiana would be fine with me. In 2009 they beat Eastern Kentucky be 6 points, and only beat Western Michigan by 4. Washington State might do also. If we couldn't land a BCS school, I'd settle for Tulane. They only beat Army by 1 point last season. I'm not saying any of these match ups is a guaranteed victory, but I think these teams represent programs with names that we at least have a fair chance a beating. No one wants to open that stadium with a lose, and Indiana or Washington might get us a televised game.

I'd rather take this poll after seeing what the SEC is planning to do. After the Pac 10 news, I'd be surprised if at least one of these conferences isn't out of FBS business by 2012. I'll let you guys debate which of the conferences that could be.

Circumstances surrounding this round of realignment are changing daily. Three days ago I would not have believed the Pac10 would attempt to absorb half of the Big 12. The arguments for and against a conference move are based on the information available at the time. I too think a dismantled Big 12 creates a whole new set of opportunities for North Texas. With it looking like Missouri and Nebraska will probably leave for the Big 10, and now the Pac 10's move, I think there are a few question we need to find the answers to before we make a choice that will effect our potential for success in the long term. 1. What are Baylor, Kansas State, Kansas, and Iowa State planning to do in response? They may go to the MWC or try to reform the Big 12. 2. Would the Mega Pac 16, effect the SEC's expansion plan? I don't think they want a West Coast BSC conference claiming Texas all for themselves. 3. Would the demise of the Big 12 be the straw that broke the C-USA in half? I could see every Texas school defecting for a chance to join the remaining Big 12 schools. I think we have a fair understanding of where the Big 10 and Pac 10 are heading. When the SEC shows its cards, then we can really start to debate where our best opportunities are. I still think the WAC is an option we should not dismiss, but given the new circumstances regarding the Pac 10 and Big 12, it would be a mistake not to step back and re-evaluate our options.;

I agree. If there is no invite from C-USA, we need to go to the WAC. When looking at national rankings for teams, recruiting, budgets, and academics, the WAC is ahead of the Sun Belt. Yes they play late games, but that should mean more opportunities to play on T.V. Even without Boise, I think they are a better option then staying in the Belt.

I did not say we were better then those schools. I said we were ahead of them. I would think everyone on this board would want to stay ahead of them. Not to would be like taking a 45 to nothing lead into the 4th quarter against WKU, and then forfeiting the game.

I have no interest in watching our program grow with Texas State or UTSA. To do that would mean North Texas would be doing nothing to better its current situation. We are ahead of those two programs. We need to stay ahead, not sit around until someone else can help us advance. I believe to a large extent, people make their luck. When the realignment happens, we need to think long term. Right now I don't what that is, but I'm confident the right choice will be to land in a conference where schools have committed real money to athletics, not loose change, like half of the Belt.

I think everyone is excited about what Canales could bring to UNT. I believe he was the OC at South Florida when they reached the number 2 ranking in the country. Last year we lost 5 games by a combined 17 points. That's less then 3.5 points a game. We averaged less then 10 yards per catch. We had no deep ball, too many turnovers, and some questionable play calling. At times it was like watching a one legged guy in an ass kicking contest. That said, I think last season was a case where solid talent maybe wasn't operating a system that gave it the best chance for success. I feel we will be even more talented on offense this season. Is Canales the best OC since Bill Snyder? Based on your opinion of last seasons offensive problems, how big of an impact is it fair to expect fron Canales in his first season here? Maybe it's just that time of the year where the green kool-aid is tasting good, but I'm really starting to think that this team might just do more then most people think. Rice and Army are looking more winnable. If we take those two games, 7-5 or 8-4 would be very possible.

I heard some sad news, and I hope it is not true. The President will not be visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. I hear he is going on vacation. If this is true, this really bothers me. Our soldiers deserve to be honored. I don't know why he is choosing not to attend, and right now I don't care to speculate. I don't want to make this political. I don't care if you are a Republican or Democrat. I just want to request a favor. If we have any Eagles or know anyone in the D.C. area, it would be nice if you people might stop by Arlington for a few minutes and pay respect. As a nation, we must not forget what these soldiers gave for us to be free. This weekend I will talk to my great uncle, who fought in WWII, and I'll be thinking about my wifes grand father, who served in Korea. Have a good Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all of our military.

If Boise were to leave the WAC, and they were the only team to leave, I would still be in favor of joining the WAC. By leaving Boise will prove that dominating that league and winning impressive ooc games is a magic formual for advancing in the college football world. We won 4 straight conference titles in the Belt, and most people still didn't care. We won 26 straight conference games in that span. We were never able to put up impressive ooc wins like Boise, but most of those ooc schedules weren't intended to be wins. They were money games. Troy has won 4 straight titles now, and they have some impressive ooc wins, but big conferences aren't looking to add them. I think it comes down to the Sun Belt being weighed down by under funded teams, that have to take bodybag games to keep in operation. A Sun Belt team has no realistic chance at an undefeated season like Boise, be cause funding issues will always require them to accept bodybag games on the road against the reigning, or future National Championship team. In my opinion, that's not a formual for growth or success. Any way I look at it, if we can't get into C-USA then I'm ready for the WAC. I don't think our program can afford to stay in the Sun Belt for 10 more seasons. If we do, Texas State and UTSA will probably pass us by.

If the WAC is a train to nowhere, what is the Sun Belt? The WAC has an average athletic budget of $20.7 million. The Sun Belt average is $13.9 million. The WAC has sent Boise to a BCS bowl twice. That's the nowhere I'd like to see North Texas at. We send our champ to a bowl that pays $350,000!? Like I said, things could be different after the realignment, but if the WAC is unchanged, and we are not in C-USA, I say it's time to bolt. The Sun Belt is a train to nowhere. Too many schools in this conference are unwilling to do what is necessary to improve this conference. I have seen nothing that makes think the Sun Belt will ever be more then purgatory for teams wanting to move up to an established conference.

I know the world that is going to hell in a hand-basket, but a man's word should still be worth something. R.V. said .500, and 3 games is not half of the season. I'm sorry, but I can't get on board with this one.

The Belt was good to us, but has the time come to move on? I'm not in favor of any move until we see how the realignment turns out. But I will say this, if after it is all said and done, we are still in the belt, I would be in favor of moving to the WAC, if it is unchanged from its current configuration. Playing Boise, Fresno, L.A. Tech, New Mexico State, Nevada, and Hawaii every year sounds alot better then most of who we play in the Sun Belt. I think it would be easier to recruit quality players if we were in the WAC. We were the Belt champs for four straight seasons. Now Troy has been the champs for four straight season, and nobody outside of the Sun Belt cares. Boise has proved that dominating the WAC will advance a program. L.A. Tech only has a budget of about $16.5 million and they play in the WAC. The athletic budget at North Texas is around $15.7 million. We should be able to afford the travel cost, especially with the new fee. I don't think the other schools in the Belt are seroius about building this conference. Monroe has a budget of $8.4 million. Arkansas State's is $9.1 million. Too many or our schools operate under wavier that exempt them from academic accountability. And many Sun Belt schools have terrible attendance numbers. I don't see these problems being addressed by these schools any time soon, and I don't think North Texas can afford to stay in the Sun Belt for another decade, hoping C-USA will invite us in next time expansion comes around. I think the WAC has been good to L.A. Tech. I wonder where North Texas football would be right now if we would have left for the WAC back in 2004? We couldn't be worse then where we are right now, coming off a 5th straight losing season, and a 2-10 record.

I totally agree with you.

I made the same case for North Texas and Houston going to the SEC a few weeks ago, though not as biblically as you. With our size and T.V. markets, UNT and UH would be the best option if the SEC is thinking of their best interest 15 or 20 years from now. Having to compete with the SEC for top recruits and fans in markets that have been almost exclucive to the Big 12 would be another blow, in addition to losing teams like Missouri, or Colorado.

I stopped by on Sunday, and that thing is looking great! By the way, down by the stairs that lead up to the balcony, they have set up a few differnt stone and brick combos to choose a facade from. They look very nice.

I like this, but I have a few questions. First, where is UTEP? I would think they would want in on this too. Would we get an offer ahead of them? Did they burn that bridge when they left the WAC back in 2005 for C-USA? And second, would Houston be willing to leave Rice behind? Would they even be allowed to?

Great news. I think Rick has been one of the best ADs in the country over the last 10 years. Our athletics and facilities have improved exponentially under his leadership.

That's very sad if Houston views playing home and home series with Texas State and UTSA as better then playing us. We have much more work to do in the PR department then I thought.

North Texas and Houston are about the same size, are located the two largest T.V. markets in Texas, and are both public universities. We are both tier 4, both have crappy stadiums, though we are fixing that problem, and neither of us is in an auto-bid conference. Why don't we play each other? We should have a strong relationship. They should be an annual non-conference game for us. There should be a rivalry between us. We should have been working on this since we moved back up to D1. Can it still happen? Would any North Texas fan support this move? If so, we need to make it known.

Kind of strange only extending four offers. It would put the conference at 15 teams. I bet they don't expect Notre Dame to accept. I think the other schools will. This could be bad news for all those C-USA East teams. With only one Big East team getting an offer, the conference might have only one opening. I think they would be smart to expand to a least 12 and shore up that BCS auto bid. With Missouri and Nebraska leaving, I can only see the Big 12 filling its openings with MWC teams, like BYU, Air Force, and maybe Colorado State. This could be good for us. The MWC will have to pull from the WAC and the C-USA West. I could see UTEP or Tulsa getting an invite. We might just fall into the C-USA West. Of course by next week it will all change again.

I agree. I went by there the other day. Next to the athletic center there is a trail down the hill that leads to the balcony. It's a really great view from there. Anyone who can, should go check it out.