C-USA Sun Belt merger would be best for South Alabama

[Harry]

All this begs a few questions.

Aside from rivalries with Southern Miss and UAB, what is so great about C-USA for the Jags? Granted, the Sun Belt isn't the SEC, but it's competitive and offers a closer regional base, which helps with attendance and travel costs.

A move to C-USA for South Alabama would in some ways be a lateral move, considering the current state of conference alignments and how those alignments could change in a matter of days. There certainly isn't as much to gain by such a move today as there would have been five years or even three years ago.

Perhaps there is a better solution.

Wouldn't a merger of C-USA and the Sun Belt make more sense? Wouldn't that offer stability for its would-be members, a more regional base, several natural rivalries and a more cost-efficient move for all concerned? It would provide 19 schools, 18 of which play football. There is strength in numbers, which is quite a plus these days.

Consider this general C-USA/Sun Belt lineup:

West Division: Tulsa, UTEP, Rice, North Texas, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe and UALR; Central: Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Tulane, Louisiana-Lafayette; East: Marshall, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Troy and UAB.

It would be the best of both worlds for South Alabama, which would have a conference association with UAB, Troy, Southern Miss and Tulane, as well as other Sun Belt schools with which the Jags have established rivalries.

Consider the football scheduling -- the short trips for road games and the good crowds that should develop for home games -- as well as the competition in other sports, and it's the perfect plan.

Instead of leaving for Conference USA, South Alabama should hope C-USA and its members come to it and the rest of the Sun Belt.

Read more: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/02/c-usa_sun_belt_merger_would_be.html

[Mean Green 93-98]

Moot point. As if C-USA would come calling for South Alabama.

[FirefightnRick]

I have to give them credit though. At least the donors and season ticket holders in the "Hairless Mole Rat" Nation are getting some kind of information that there is talk about them in regards to conference realignment?

Rick