Conference realignment "Rumors" "tweets" "etc"

[WoolyBully]

^--- a fair assessment.

There is no happy way to spin this. The BE is dying on the vine. It may well become CUSA-Phase II, or if it disbands, gravity is not our friend.

It's a lot easier to plummet than to move on up.

[NewEnglandBull]

Call me a unicorn, but I still believe the west side stays in tact (relative to financial considerations if these schools move out). Further, the BB schools who may want to leave simply do not have the votes. Villanova may get the greenlight to move to FB in the BE conference in return for a no vote. If the west stays in tact and we lose just Ville or UCONN this conference is still better than past or current Conf USA. Further, this would still be the conference that gets the access bid in most years and this issue should not be forgotten. Again, I still feel that long term we are ACC bound. Just need FSU to get their asses on the move.

[Florida Bull]

C-USA is now weaker than it was when we joined the Big East. And, there are rumors that some of their recent departing members would go to the MWC instead. So, going back to C-USA could effectively be several steps backwards. We would be worse off, than in 2004.

[BullsFanInTX]

USF would reconstitute the BE if it came to that rather than join CUSA. I don't see USF joining cusa under any circumstances. Lets say worst case the BE loses both UL. and uconn. And Boise and sdsu go back to Mwc. U still have 8 teams left. The remaining teams would add a few teams from cusa. The be name is still more valuable than cusa.

[Mike Stuben]

I did want to remind everyone the disaster for football that being an independent was in our past. We were a I-A Independent in 2001 and 2002. The results: in 2001 we went 7-4 but were bowl ineligible because we scheduled two games that didn't count. So for bowl purposes we were 5-4 (we played two I-AA's, and both didn't count because they didn't award enough scholarships to count, the rules allow you to count 1 win vs. I-AA, but only if you schedule the right I-AA) .... then in 2002 we went 9-2 but as an Independent, 9-2 was not good enough for a bowl game, despite the fact that many 6-5 teams went.

[usfgrad84]

I did want to remind everyone the disaster for football that being an independent was in our past. We were a I-A Independent in 2001 and 2002. The results: in 2001 we went 7-4 but were bowl ineligible because we scheduled two games that didn't count. So for bowl purposes we were 5-4 (we played two I-AA's, and both didn't count because they didn't award enough scholarships to count, the rules allow you to count 1 win vs. I-AA, but only if you schedule the right I-AA) .... then in 2002 we went 9-2 but as an Independent, 9-2 was not good enough for a bowl game, despite the fact that many 6-5 teams went.

100% accurate.

Anyone who thinks being an independent provides any benefit for any team other than. A military academy (questionable) and not named Notre Dame simply doesn't understand what would be involved in scheduling, obtaining TV time and what would be required to get in a bowl game. In addition, being in a conference still provides some bowl money for every conference member. Regardless of bowl participation or not.

There is no benefit whatsoever for USF to not have a conference affiliation.

[South_Florida_Flip]

Great point by Mike.

Independence is only something that the biggest programs can sustain.

[NewEnglandBull]

Perhaps but whatever conference we get into we better not sign up for anything that gives a long term perception (no high buyouts). There will continue to be conference movements and we WILL be positioned well to get out of such a turd of the conference.

[NewEnglandBull]

DW on the radio right now. Here is what he said:

Not surprised with Conf movement

Thinks the fans get hurt

Change is not good for fans

It is all about $

Years from now people may regret it

The only thing that is certain is uncertainty

Positioning the institution for the better

The Western teams are completely committed to the BE. The $ are better here as well as the exposure.

[South_Florida_Flip]

I wish I could believe the comment about the Western teams.