Conference Usa Keeps An Eye On Expansion Talks

[MeanGreen61]

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2010/05/conference_usa_keeps_eye_on_expansion_talks.html

[Daddy Dumpsalot]

Doesn't look like they are looking for any schools from a dying conference.

But schools mentioned as possible targets if C-USA were to expand included Temple, Louisiana Tech and TCU, or perhaps some schools from larger conferences that might begin to fall apart during realignment, according to some people connected to C-USA.

[UNTLifer]

Doesn't look like they are looking for any schools from a dying conference.

But schools mentioned as possible targets if C-USA were to expand included Temple, Louisiana Tech and TCU, or perhaps some schools from larger conferences that might begin to fall apart during realignment, according to some people connected to C-USA.

Out of the three schools you listed, CUSA only has a realistic shot at one. TCU will not move back to CUSA. They have higher aspirations than that, and the only way I see them rejoining CUSA is if everything implodes and that is their only choice.

Temple has their eyes set on the Big East, which would elevate their basketball program that is currently happy in a typically strong A-10 conference.

La Tech would jump at the chance to move to CUSA.

[NT80]

Doesn't look like they are looking for any schools from a dying conference.

But schools mentioned as possible targets if C-USA were to expand included Temple, Louisiana Tech and TCU, or perhaps some schools from larger conferences that might begin to fall apart during realignment, according to some people connected to C-USA.

Not good for UNT that La Tech was mentioned and we are not.

[forevereagle]

Temple has their eyes set on the Big East, which would elevate their basketball program that is currently happy in a typically strong A-10 conference.

Wasn't Temple in the Big East and removed? Does the Big East want to retread that road with them?

[UNTLifer]

Wasn't Temple in the Big East and removed? Does the Big East want to retread that road with them?

Probably not, but I would think that is where Temple would like to be. Philadelphia doesn't really fit the CUSA footprint especially if ECU bolts and Marshall heads back to the MAC.

[GrayEagle]

We could be jumping at conclusions since we don't know who, or if, the unofficial source was that spoke into the reporter's ear.

But, if correct, I'd think that only La Tech would be a strong expansion candidate. TCU would not return unless there is no invite from an AQ conference or both BYU and Utah left for another conference. Temple has failed attendance wise in the Big East and MAC. They are a large school in a large market and improved dramatically last year under Coach Golden. He will likely get higher offers if he can succeed another year. They have historically been one of the lowest ranked teams in the FBS which accounts, at least in part, for their low attendance in a higher profile conference. Also, it's farther away from the core of CUSA. Tech has had a good football program but little else since their storied women's basketball program sank from its once lofty heights. Their attendance hasn't been first rate and won't get appreciably better due to size, revenue and market area. Their best chance for huge success would come if ULM and Grambling were combined into Louisiana Tech. I have some serious doubts that that will ever happen but in these troubled financial times who knows?

One other thing. Britton Banowsky certainly knows us and we've applied to CUSA before with weaker credentials. It's hard to believe that our name never came up in any expansion discussion.

Edited May 25, 2010 by GrayEagle