Tulane to Big East, spot open in C-USA

[Gonzo]

Cobb spoke to the paper this morning and suggested this may open a few doors in the C-USA. Nothing fantastically new in this article but our administration is definitely on top of it. Most on here seem to think UNC-Charlotte would not be interested in having us, but do you think with ECU gone there may be more of an interest for UNC-Charlotte to push for us as a travel partner? ODU isn't far away of course but we would make a great travel partner and the games would be great for the western side of NC and an opportunity to build a great rivalry like Duke/UNC in basketball certainly exists, though it would take years to build.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/fo ... 0f31a.html

Are you f***ing kidding me? Cobb is STILL jock sniffing CUSA and not even remotely exploring the superior Sunbelt conference?! What is wrong with this guy?

Not only is CUSA a revolving door of premadonas and glorified community colleges like UNCC, the comish has explicitly said that they will be attempting to replace the departing schools with big markets. It would be a dumb move for us, we have a much better and viable option, and they don't want us in the first place. It's really going to take another round of CUSA invites with ASU not getting a mention for this guy to see reality.

I certainly hope he's talking to the SBC too. This CUSA tunnel vision is royally screwing us.

[WVAPPeer]

Does anyone really think Charlie Cobb and Chancellor Peacock are not doing everything thing they can for the betterment of ASU?????????????? ---
REALLY !!!

[appst89]

Cobb spoke to the paper this morning and suggested this may open a few doors in the C-USA. Nothing fantastically new in this article but our administration is definitely on top of it. Most on here seem to think UNC-Charlotte would not be interested in having us, but do you think with ECU gone there may be more of an interest for UNC-Charlotte to push for us as a travel partner? ODU isn't far away of course but we would make a great travel partner and the games would be great for the western side of NC and an opportunity to build a great rivalry like Duke/UNC in basketball certainly exists, though it would take years to build.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/fo ... 0f31a.html

Are you f***ing kidding me? Cobb is STILL jock sniffing CUSA and not even remotely exploring the superior Sunbelt conference?! What is wrong with this guy?

Not only is CUSA a revolving door of premadonas and glorified community colleges like UNCC, the comish has explicitly said that they will be attempting to replace the departing schools with big markets. It would be a dumb move for us, we have a much better and viable option, and they don't want us in the first place. It's really going to take another round of CUSA invites with ASU not getting a mention for this guy to see reality.

I certainly hope he's talking to the SBC too. This CUSA tunnel vision is royally screwing us.

Agreed 100%. Of all the potential options available to ASU, I see C-USA as the least appealing of them all. I think I'd rate a Sun Belt invite as the best case scenario, with a MAC invite a very close second and C-USA a very, very distant fourth, behind the prospect of a new East Coast Conference in third.

[asumike83]

I didn't get the idea from reading the article that Cobb was only considering C-USA:

“I would think this is that next shift that could reopen that door for us. We’re obviously going to spend a lot of time in the next weeks seeing what opportunities are out there."

That seems to indicate that we are exploring all options. The title of the article only mentions C-USA but the Sun Belt is also mentioned later:

If C-USA chooses to replace ECU and Tulane, ASU perhaps could be considered for one of those spots. If C-USA looks elsewhere for new members, possibly from the Sun Belt Conference, that domino effect could create the possibility of an invitation for ASU to fill an opening from another FBS league.

If C-USA were to give us a call, I don't think there is any question that we'd accept but I don't think that Cobb is in "C-USA or bust" mode by any means. I expect them to take MTSU/WKU and open a spot for us and Georgia Southern in the SBC. Regardless of where we might end up, C-USA's next move could be very important to our future.

[Gonzo]

Here's a little perspective. Anyone mind forwarding this to Charlie? This is a poll on CUSABBS about who the conference should invite next.

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=602857

Of the 9 schools mentioned, ASU is not even on the ballot.

Sure it's a fan poll, but these posters follow their programs much like we follow App. I would consider at least some of them to be authorities on the subject and to provide realistic and educated speculation.

NO ONE on that board sees ASU as a remote possibility. Most App fans don't either. I would venture to say that <100 people in this world are set on ASU to CUSA being a realistic and good idea for both parties and one of those people is Charlie freakin' Cobb.

Mosey on over to the SunBeltBBS section and you will find fans of a conference that is trending upwards and would absolutely love to have us.

[Gonzo]

I didn't get the idea from reading the article that Cobb was only considering C-USA:

“I would think this is that next shift that could reopen that door for us. We’re obviously going to spend a lot of time in the next weeks seeing what opportunities are out there."

That seems to indicate that we are exploring all options. The title of the article only mentions C-USA but the Sun Belt is also mentioned later:

If C-USA chooses to replace ECU and Tulane, ASU perhaps could be considered for one of those spots. If C-USA looks elsewhere for new members, possibly from the Sun Belt Conference, that domino effect could create the possibility of an invitation for ASU to fill an opening from another FBS league.

If C-USA were to give us a call, I don't think there is any question that we'd accept but I don't think that Cobb is in "C-USA or bust" mode by any means. I expect them to take MTSU/WKU and open a spot for us and Georgia Southern in the SBC. Regardless of where we might end up, C-USA's next move could be very important to our future.

I hope you're right. I'd just love to hear the man utter the words "Sun Belt" here and there. Maybe he's playing his cards close to his chest, who knows.

I've decided to stop worrying about it though. Beat Illinois State.

[JTApps1]

Does anyone really think Charlie Cobb and Chancellor Peacock are not doing everything thing they can for the betterment of ASU?????????????? ---
REALLY !!!

At this point I'm not sure about Cobb. In the past I would have said yes, but he has applied for every job opening in the Southeast the past few years so I wonder how dedicated he is to ASU at this point. I could be completely off base, but it raises some doubt in my mind.

[JTApps1]

Cobb spoke to the paper this morning and suggested this may open a few doors in the C-USA. Nothing fantastically new in this article but our administration is definitely on top of it. Most on here seem to think UNC-Charlotte would not be interested in having us, but do you think with ECU gone there may be more of an interest for UNC-Charlotte to push for us as a travel partner? ODU isn't far away of course but we would make a great travel partner and the games would be great for the western side of NC and an opportunity to build a great rivalry like Duke/UNC in basketball certainly exists, though it would take years to build.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/fo ... 0f31a.html

Are you f***ing kidding me? Cobb is STILL jock sniffing CUSA and not even remotely exploring the superior Sunbelt conference?! What is wrong with this guy?

Not only is CUSA a revolving door of premadonas and glorified community colleges like UNCC, the comish has explicitly said that they will be attempting to replace the departing schools with big markets. It would be a dumb move for us, we have a much better and viable option, and they don't want us in the first place. It's really going to take another round of CUSA invites with ASU not getting a mention for this guy to see reality.

I certainly hope he's talking to the SBC too. This CUSA tunnel vision is royally screwing us.

Agreed 100%. Of all the potential options available to ASU, I see C-USA as the least appealing of them all. I think I'd rate a Sun Belt invite as the best case scenario, with a MAC invite a very close second and C-USA a very, very distant fourth, behind the prospect of a new East Coast Conference in third.

How many people would have said that a year or two ago?

[asumike83]

Seems like MTSU to C-USA is a done deal and FAU is a possibility to join them.

Sources: Conference USA adds MTSU

Owls to Conference USA is a real possibility

Could set us up for a spot in the SBC. Would have preferred to have both WKU and MTSU around but if FAU also leaves, that does eliminate one of the longest potential road trips.

This could be a very interesting few weeks/months.

[nomadb]

Does anyone really think Charlie Cobb and Chancellor Peacock are not doing everything thing they can for the betterment of ASU?????????????? ---
REALLY !!!

At this point I'm not sure about Cobb. In the past I would have said yes, but he has applied for every job opening in the Southeast the past few years so I wonder how dedicated he is to ASU at this point. I could be completely off base, but it raises some doubt in my mind.

Athletic Directors at major colleges don't apply for positions. They are typically approached by the school in need to interview and you can't expect the man to not explore options for his career. Just clearing that up.....not like the guy is on Monster.com looking for AD positions

[AppinVA]

[quote="asumike83"]Seems like MTSU to C-USA is a done deal and FAU is a possibility to join them.

Sources: Conference USA adds MTSU

Owls to Conference USA is a real possibility

Could set us up for a spot in the SBC. Would have preferred to have both WKU and MTSU around but if FAU also leaves, that does eliminate one of the longest potential road trips.

This could be a very interesting few weeks/months.[/quote]

Or days/hours.

[ASUMountaineer]

Cobb spoke to the paper this morning and suggested this may open a few doors in the C-USA. Nothing fantastically new in this article but our administration is definitely on top of it. Most on here seem to think UNC-Charlotte would not be interested in having us, but do you think with ECU gone there may be more of an interest for UNC-Charlotte to push for us as a travel partner? ODU isn't far away of course but we would make a great travel partner and the games would be great for the western side of NC and an opportunity to build a great rivalry like Duke/UNC in basketball certainly exists, though it would take years to build.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/fo ... 0f31a.html

Are you f***ing kidding me? Cobb is STILL jock sniffing CUSA and not even remotely exploring the superior Sunbelt conference?! What is wrong with this guy?

Not only is CUSA a revolving door of premadonas and glorified community colleges like UNCC, the comish has explicitly said that they will be attempting to replace the departing schools with big markets. It would be a dumb move for us, we have a much better and viable option, and they don't want us in the first place. It's really going to take another round of CUSA invites with ASU not getting a mention for this guy to see reality.

I certainly hope he's talking to the SBC too. This CUSA tunnel vision is royally screwing us.

It's a smoke screen.

[Gonzo]

Seems like MTSU to C-USA is a done deal and FAU is a possibility to join them.

Sources: Conference USA adds MTSU

Owls to Conference USA is a real possibility

Could set us up for a spot in the SBC. Would have preferred to have both WKU and MTSU around but if FAU also leaves, that does eliminate one of the longest potential road trips.

This could be a very interesting few weeks/months.[/quote]

Or days/hours.

Yeah. If we play our cards right, we could have an announcement to make before Saturday's game.

[bcoach]

Would anyone like to expound on the advantages of one vs. the other?

[Yosef]

It seems like there is going to be a new division formed in a few hours with the rate of all the movement.

[appst890]

Kudos to thoseformer CUSA now Big East schools that figured out a way to jump off that sinking ship and move to a BCS conference thusly bringing in a ton of revenues to their schools!

[bcoach]

I will be very surprised if they stay BCS for very long

[appst89]

Cobb spoke to the paper this morning and suggested this may open a few doors in the C-USA. Nothing fantastically new in this article but our administration is definitely on top of it. Most on here seem to think UNC-Charlotte would not be interested in having us, but do you think with ECU gone there may be more of an interest for UNC-Charlotte to push for us as a travel partner? ODU isn't far away of course but we would make a great travel partner and the games would be great for the western side of NC and an opportunity to build a great rivalry like Duke/UNC in basketball certainly exists, though it would take years to build.

http://www.journalnow.com/sports/asu/fo ... 0f31a.html

Are you f***ing kidding me? Cobb is STILL jock sniffing CUSA and not even remotely exploring the superior Sunbelt conference?! What is wrong with this guy?

Not only is CUSA a revolving door of premadonas and glorified community colleges like UNCC, the comish has explicitly said that they will be attempting to replace the departing schools with big markets. It would be a dumb move for us, we have a much better and viable option, and they don't want us in the first place. It's really going to take another round of CUSA invites with ASU not getting a mention for this guy to see reality.

I certainly hope he's talking to the SBC too. This CUSA tunnel vision is royally screwing us.

Agreed 100%. Of all the potential options available to ASU, I see C-USA as the least appealing of them all. I think I'd rate a Sun Belt invite as the best case scenario, with a MAC invite a very close second and C-USA a very, very distant fourth, behind the prospect of a new East Coast Conference in third.

How many people would have said that a year or two ago?

Not many, I'd say, including me.

I favor the Sun Belt slightly because I prefer the Southern geography, but the MAC might be a stronger option. If Kent St. wins the MAC championship and Stanford beats UCLA in the Pac-12 championship, then Kent St. will move into the top 16 in the BC$ rankings and they will be ahead of the Big East champions which means Kent St. will play in a BC$ bowl this year, likely the Orange Bowl against the ACC champion.

I certainly wouldn't turn away the MAC if they came calling.

[AppGrad78]

Would anyone like to expound on the advantages of one vs. the other?

I'll give it shot:

Conference USA = just enough television revenue to make our jump from FCS to FBS financially feasible.

Sun Belt ... not likely to be enough revenue but it's worth exploring
MAC ... not enough revenue
WAC ... not enough revenue
Mountain West ... not enough revenue

All the other factors are merely ancillary. There's a reason a school like Middle Tennessee would jump from a recently superior conference to a recently inferior one. It's called money. Some of us are over thinking the process here. It's all about money.

[Gonzo]

Would anyone like to expound on the advantages of one vs. the other?

I'll give it shot:

Conference USA = just enough television revenue to make our jump from FCS to FBS financially feasible.

Sun Belt ... not enough revenue
MAC ... not enough revenue
WAC ... not enough revenue
Mountain West ... not enough revenue

All the other factors are merely ancillary. There's a reason a school like Middle Tennessee would jump from a recently superior conference to a recently inferior one. It's called money. Some of us are over thinking the process here. It's all about money.

There you have it folks.

According to the feasibility committee's results, you're correct.