Unity is Key

[Harry]

That's why the size of the league might not be as important as some believe. In fact, Benson argues that an 18- or 20-team league might be easier for scheduling.

"In a 16-team league, there is a need for some crossover games between divisions to make the schedule work," said Benson. "If you have an 18- or 20-team league, you can make the scheduling work within the division as a stand-alone entity.

"That creates an equal schedule among every team within the division. There is no inequity of scheduling like you might have in a 16-team league."

That's why the idea of a Conference USA merger with the Mountain West, and possibly other leagues, is an intriguing idea.

Why stop at 16? Add the WAC or the Sun Belt. Now you could mold the league into regional divisions and give some common sense to scheduling.

It makes far more sense for Tulsa to be in a division with UTSA or Louisiana Tech than it does to be playing Fresno State.

Still, common sense is not something that has been in abundance during conference realignment.

How Conference USA reorganizes itself, and where Tulsa lands, could be a foreshadowing of the future of college athletics.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/article.aspx?subjectid=203&articleid=20120212_203_B1_TULSAC808889

[NorthTexan95]

I love the conferences combining ... as long as we get in.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Someone's crying, Lord, kumbay-ya...

...oh, different kind of unity. Sorry.

[NT91]

Is NT going to get the shaft after all is done?

[GrayEagle]

If this merger does not have interdivisional play it will be a consortium or alliance; not a conference. Why not just make a financial consortium where each member agrees to combine forces under one umbrella for a TV contract and let each conference operate otherwise on their own?

If there is no interdivisional play there can be no games televised against a conference member in the other division, except the championship game, because they will never play. A conference member that you never play? Really?

My choice would be a 20-team conference with two geographically based sections of five in each division. You would play the four in your section every year, two in the other section of your division and one in each section of the other division every year. Under this scenario you would play each member of the conference at least once every five years. Not great, but it would give the conference some sense of unity.

Otherwise, give a board composed of equal numbers from the two conferences, power to negotiate TV contracts and some input into scheduling in each conference. You could even require a certain number of households totally and let each conference determine the teams in their conference as long as certain requirements are met.

[UNT90]

Is NT going to get the shaft after all is done?

My guess is yes.

But no one really knows.

[Harry]

Merger appears a lock. There's just too many local articles quoting CUSA officials going on record to support it. It gets them out of some crappy TV contracts and someone's telling them the can get as much or more as a merged conference. Lot of Internet sentiment towards going to 18 with Temple going football only (leveling out Hawaii in west) and FIU all sports shifting UTEP west. If it ends up 20 or more I think we would have a good shot. UNT 90 is correct who really knows for sure.

CUSA

USM

ECU

UAB

Tulsa

Tulane

Rice

Marshall

Temple (football only)

FIU

MWC

UNLV

Hawaii (FB Only)

Wyoming

Fresno St

UTEP

New Mexico

CSU

Air Force

Nevada

What I wonder is if the West wants to add Utah State or if they get the shaft in this round?

[DeepGreen]

"What I wonder is if the West wants to add Utah State or if they get the shaft in this round?"

Utah State could be the "North Texas" of the west. (getting the shaft)

[DeepGreen]

What does Temple offer CUSA as a "football only" member? Market? Without Temple basketball I see no value in Temple. Might as well bring in Louisiana Tech for their football.

Wait.............did I just say that?