C-USA tries to get back on track after recent defections

Harry · February 11, 2012

“I don’t see it being a 24-team league,” Giannini said. “I see it being at 16. It may end up being like the Big East with some football-only playing institutions.”

Whatever new members the new league brings in, Giannini sees it following many of the same motives that pushed the Big East.

“I hear they are looking at Temple and I know they’ve looked at the Florida schools, including (Florida International) in Miami,” said Giannini, who is starting in a new line of work as a consultant, working with bowl games. “It’s going to be about TV markets.
That’s what the whole thing is. It’s all about money. They’re going to take in teams that are going to produce the most revenue.”

Conference USA has lost the majority of its presence in the key markets of Dallas, Orlando, Houston and Memphis, further creating the need for more TV sets for the league.

According to reports, C-USA and the Mountain West are likely to dissolve as conferences before they re-emerge as a new league and negotiate a new TV deal.

Louisiana Tech has actively pursued a spot in Conference USA, but the school’s lack of a large media market could hinder its chances.

North Texas, Texas-San Antonio and Charlotte, which doesn’t have an FBS football program, are regional schools that could bring the desired TV markets.

Read more: http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120211/SOUTHERNMISS/120210022