Official Statement from C-USA's Britton Banowsky

[Harry]

"We thank East Carolina and charter member Tulane for all their contributions to the league and wish them well," Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said in a statement. "These are unprecedented times in higher education. Notwithstanding the changes, we are excited about our future and we remain committed to our strategic plan - a major market, two-division conference that is student-athlete friendly.

"To be clear, we have several options but no new member agreements have made at this time. We appreciate the support of our members and will immediately begin a presidentially led process to evaluate our future options."

read more: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/11/conference_usa_commissioner_re.html

[greenminer]

I'm not gonna lie, I would love for LaLa to be in the mix as a fellow CUSA member.

[SilverEagle]

I'm not gonna lie, I would love for LaLa to be in the mix as a fellow CUSA member.

Me too.

[DeepGreen]

I think this was the same talking point made by Bensen when WAC was sinking like the titanic.

[ntmeangreen11]

So...

If the MWC decides to grab UTEP, Rice, Tulsa & UTSA, WTH do we do?

[Harry]

So...

If the MWC decides to grab UTEP, Rice, Tulsa & UTSA, WTH do we do?

I doubt that the MWC would skip DFW if they were taking those other schools no? That's a doomsday scenario but also illogical.

[oldguystudent]

I doubt that the MWC would skip DFW if they were taking those other schools no? That's a doomsday scenario but also illogical.

When has anything related to UNT sports ever been logical?

[Mean Green 93-98]

So...

If the MWC decides to grab UTEP, Rice, Tulsa & UTSA, WTH do we do?

I doubt that the MWC would skip DFW if they were taking those other schools no? That's a doomsday scenario but also illogical.

It's not that far-fetched at all. I am guessing that MWC's order of desirability would be:

1. Tulsa

2/3. UTEP/Rice

4/5/6. UTSA/LaTech/UNT

And it wouldn't surprise me if their 4,5,6 is in that exact order. So if my order is close to correct, and if they add less than 6 teams, we might very well get left out.

We need to jump at any chance to get in the MWC, before this ship sinks.

[H-towngreen]

It's 75% tv markets and 25% the athletics at each school

Rice=Houston

UNT=Dallas

UTEP=El Paso

UTSA=San Antonio

Tulsa=Tulsa

La Tech=ummmmm

[Harry]

It's not that far-fetched at all. I am guessing that MWC's order of desirability would be:

1. Tulsa

2/3. UTEP/Rice

4/5/6. UTSA/LaTech/UNT

And it wouldn't surprise me if their 4,5,6 is in that exact order. So if my order is close to correct, and if they add less than 6 teams, we might very well get left out.

We need to jump at any chance to get in the MWC, before this ship sinks.

You forget what is driving all of this...ESPN and TV Money. The Mountain West will not pass over the DFW market. They will also want Houston and SA. Tulsa is a good program but they are the least desirable from a TV Market standpoint. Tulane did not go the the Big East because they were winning football games.

[UNT90]

It's 75% tv markets and 25% the athletics at each school

Well then, we better have a 70% lead in TV market...

[UNT90]

You forget what is driving all of this...ESPN and TV Money. The Mountain West will not pass over the DFW market. They will also want Houston and SA. Tulsa is a good program but they are the least desirable from a TV Market standpoint. Tulane did not go the the Big East because they were winning football games.

I agree that we should be VERY proactive in talking with the MWC.

[Mean Green 93-98]

You forget what is driving all of this...ESPN and TV Money. The Mountain West will not pass over the DFW market. They will also want Houston and SA. Tulsa is a good program but they are the least desirable from a TV Market standpoint. Tulane did not go the the Big East because they were winning football games.

No, I understand that markets are the main mover in all this. But that's the only reason why Tulsa is undervalued and there for the taking. The same thing happened with ECU. . . . they may not have been the BE's first choice, but they saw an undervalued team still sitting there, and they grabbed them.

TV markets are the main factor, but not the only factor. . . . otherwise, the BE would have picked us way ahead of ECU. Quality is still a consideration, as is attendance.

Unless we can start making some noise in basketball and especially in football, we are going to be left without a chair when the music stops. The time for slowly building programs is past . . . we've got to start winning now.

[glick1980]

The MWC is one of the few conferences that doesn't seem to add schools strictly based on markets. Reports were that UTSA had a choice between the MWC and CUSA. This may not end well for us, but what else is new. I have a feeling one of UTEP/Tulsa/UTSA/Rice/UNT will be left out and my guy is that it will be us.

[GangGreen]

So...

If the MWC decides to grab UTEP, Rice, Tulsa & UTSA, WTH do we do?

Just say "F it" and quit.

[CurveItAround]

Best soccer only stadium in the nation?

[UNTLifer]

^{Honest question, why is the Mountain West attractive? No television deal to speak of and schools outside of our market.}

[Mark Gommesen]

You forget what is driving all of this...ESPN and TV Money. The Mountain West will not pass over the DFW market. They will also want Houston and SA. Tulsa is a good program but they are the least desirable from a TV Market standpoint. Tulane did not go the the Big East because they were winning football games.

With the obvious exception of UTEP, why would any other C-USA school even consider the MWC? I think a merger between the C-USA and the MWC is more likely.

[FireFightnJoey]

TV markets are the main factor, but not the only factor. . . . otherwise, the BE would have picked us way ahead of ECU. Quality is still a consideration, as is attendance.

They already have the DFW market with SMU.

[UNTexas]

Here is a novel idea. Play a single game in our new conference and win a game in this new conference that everyone was so happy to be in yesterday. Try a winning for once??? Geeze.

[ForneyGreen]

With the obvious exception of UTEP, why would any other C-USA school even consider the MWC? I think a merger between the C-USA and the MWC is more likely.

Good point - and I'm not even sure that MWC is really very attractive to UTEP, especially that they now have UNT, UTSA, Rice, Tulsa, and LaTech as close schools.

If you are a mid-major program, sticking with schools in the East and Central parts of the country are really the best way to go. That is where the markets and money are located. Plus, I don't think UTEP would give up its Texas identity by going West.

CUSA is still in a poachers position for mid-major programs. I really think that MTSU would make a lot of sense as a new member because of its Nashville proximity (37th largest market) and strong programs.

[greenminer]

When has anything related to UNT sports ever been logical?

When has anything related to UNT sports ever NOT been doomsday?

[UNTflyer]

Why dont we just invite MTSU, ULL, and Arkansas State? We can then call it Sun Belt II, hold hands, and walk into a giant woodchipper.

[UNTLifer]

Let's just shut everything down.

[Mean Green Matt]

Why dont we just invite MTSU, ULL, and Arkansas State? We can then call it Sun Belt II, hold hands, and walk into a giant woodchipper.

I almost threw up when I read the first part of this post...then burst out when I read the second part. +1.