(Probably) My Last Realignment Thread

[GrayEagle]

Let me preface this item by saying that I'm glad that North Texas will be in Conference USA. I look forward to some great rivalries. However, I must say that the two universities that make the eastern division for me are Southern Miss and East Carolina.

I know that it's pure speculation but several articles have appeared questioning Boise State and San Diego State being solid commitments to the Big East. Some have suggested that if the Broncos and the Aztecs do stay in the Mountain West that the Big East will then try to tap East Carolina and Southern Miss as replacements. ECU's 50,000 attendance average does indeed look attractive. USM's attendance is good but the market is even smaller and their status is a lot more iffy. In the event that the Big East wants East Carolina only (and the Pirates accept) then I hope that we have the good sense to make the conference more regional.

Here would be my choices for a new split of CUSA and the Sun Belt+:

New Mexico State

UTEP

UTSA

Texas State

North Texas

Rice

Tulsa

Arkansas State

Louisiana Tech

Louisiana

Tulane

Southern Miss

This would at least cut travel expenses; save New Mexico State and their good basketball program; and add a couple of deserving Sun Belt teams. Texas State is a large university with a possible Hall of Fame coach. We could do worse.

The eastern division of CUSA would then combine with the eastern Sun Belt to form another more geographically sensible conference.

Personally, I hope that no one in CUSA defects to the Big East but if they do rethink cutting costs because the big attendance won't be there.

[H-towngreen]

So what would we do with FIU, ODU, and charlotte?

[wardly]

Not even the Belt , nor Big Sky, wants New Mexico State. They are in the middle of nowhere,600 miles from Dallas, have a terrible football program, and almost no fan base. Their basketball program is decent, and they do field a baseball team, but thats like" staying married for the kids".They bring nothing to the table, and will be lucky to find a conference for their other sports, let alone football.If UTEP or UNM wanted them in CUSA of MWC, they would be in. But they don't, so they are not.

[GrayEagle]

So what would we do with FIU, ODU, and charlotte?

As I mentioned in the original post the eastern CUSA and the eastern Sun Belt would merge. That would make a weaker conference but still consist of current or future FBS teams. That would be Marshall, Old Dominion, Charlotte, Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, UAB, Troy, South Alabama, FAU, FIU, and Georgia State. The twelfth would be ULM but they appear strapped for the money to stay in the FBS and now might be a good time to let them return to the FCS. If that happened, they could possibly be replaced by Appalachian State, Delaware, James Madison or Georgia Southern.

[GrayEagle]

Not even the Belt , nor Big Sky, wants New Mexico State. They are in the middle of nowhere,600 miles from Dallas, have a terrible football program, and almost no fan base. Their basketball program is decent, and they do field a baseball team, but thats like" staying married for the kids".They bring nothing to the table, and will be lucky to find a conference for their other sports, let alone football.If UTEP or UNM wanted them in CUSA of MWC, they would be in. But they don't, so they are not.

New Mexico State has been in the highest division in NCAA football a lot longer than North Texas and that tradition needs to be preserved if possible. Their football is not at the level for the Mountain West Conference and they are too distant for the Sun Belt or even the Big Sky for that matter. They are, however, less than 40 miles from UTEP. They draw well against each other and both were in the old Border Conference many years ago. With the right coach they could be competitive but admittedly, they haven't found the right coach since Warren Woodson which was 50 years ago. Their other sports, especially women's sports, are pretty competitive.

[UNTexas]

Did I miss something? I thought we left the Sunbelt? Why would some of the aforementioned Universities be in the same discussion as UNT?

[SilverEagle]

New Mexico State has been in the highest division in NCAA football a lot longer than North Texas and that tradition needs to be preserved if possible. Their football is not at the level for the Mountain West Conference and they are too distant for the Sun Belt or even the Big Sky for that matter. They are, however, less than 40 miles from UTEP. They draw well against each other and both were in the old Border Conference many years ago. With the right coach they could be competitive but admittedly, they haven't found the right coach since Warren Woodson which was 50 years ago. Their other sports, especially women's sports, are pretty competitive.

I'm SilverEagle, and I approve this message.

[LakeTravis]