JeeberD
04-14-2004, 05:09 PM
Could UTEP in CUSA be close to happening?
CUSA board thread (http://www.killerfrogs.com/cusa/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=12140&)
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C-USA nearing pick for addition
April 14, 2004
After two days of meetings in Texas, Conference USA athletic directors adjourned Tuesday with no official recommendation on expansion, but that should change soon.
Although the group had hoped to have its membership puzzle solved by today, pieces will fit in time for an April 30 discussion by league presidents, Central Florida AD Steve Orsini said.
"That's our job. We'll come up with one," Orsini said.
C-USA presidents have the final vote on expansion. Athletic directors will have one or more conference calls over the next two weeks to iron out expansion wrinkles.
UTEP is the favored candidate among a list that includes Louisiana Tech and North Texas but no longer includes Temple, Toledo and Miami of Ohio. Temple's interest in C-USA is for football only, and the league is pondering only all-sports members. Mid-American Conference members Toledo and Miami, once on C-USA's expansion radar, on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to staying in the MAC.
C-USA has a roster of 11 schools for 2005-06, when the bulk of conference realignment happens around the country. Although C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said staying at 11 "is still a viable option," he is on record as wanting a league with 12 schools, and athletic directors are expected to follow his lead. A 12-team league allows for divisional play in several sports and also will permit C-USA to have a football championship game.
Despite the lack of a formal announcement Tuesday, Banowsky was pleased.
"I think we took some big steps forward to get to some consensus," he said.
Banowsky said one reason league leaders are taking their time with the expansion evaluation is that the conference, after this decision, does not foresee any more membership changes in the near future.
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MAC makes solidarity vow
By Doug Smock
Staff writer
The 12 soon-to-be-remaining members of the Mid-American Conference issued a joint statement Tuesday saying, in essence, that they will stick together through the current conference reshuffling.
Marshall and the University of Central Florida are leaving the MAC for Conference USA, effective July 1, 2005. Some speculation had Miami, Toledo or even Ohio possibly joining them.
“We feel it is important at this time to publicly affirm the solidarity of the MAC,” said John G. Peters, president of Northern Illinois and chairman of the MAC Council of Presidents. “We are completing one of our strongest years in history, the core of the conference is intact, and we are excited about our future.”
Conference USA athletic directors were scheduled to finish a meeting in Dallas, with potential expansion certainly on the agenda. With the pending defection of Texas Christian, C-USA is down to 11 all-sports members for 2005.
C-USA could stand pat, but would lose the right to conduct an exempt conference championship game. Currently, the Southeast Conference, Big 12 and MAC have such games, with the Atlantic Coast Conference to follow with its new members.
According to some speculation, Texas-El Paso has emerged as the leading candidate for the C-USA vacancy, with Louisiana Tech a distant second. UTEP’s candidacy has been boosted by the revival of its basketball program and the hiring of Mike Price in football.
UTEP enjoys a relatively strong fan base despite its struggles in football. It has averaged 29,000 in attendance over the last four years, including 40,000 per game in the winning season of 2000. In basketball, the Miners averaged 10,282 last season.
Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum was unable to attend the meeting, which coincided with that of the MU Board of Governors. He said there could be an expansion development, but not necessarily right away.
“I would be surprised,” Marcum said Tuesday. “It has to be forwarded to the presidents.”
CUSA board thread (http://www.killerfrogs.com/cusa/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=12140&)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
C-USA nearing pick for addition
April 14, 2004
After two days of meetings in Texas, Conference USA athletic directors adjourned Tuesday with no official recommendation on expansion, but that should change soon.
Although the group had hoped to have its membership puzzle solved by today, pieces will fit in time for an April 30 discussion by league presidents, Central Florida AD Steve Orsini said.
"That's our job. We'll come up with one," Orsini said.
C-USA presidents have the final vote on expansion. Athletic directors will have one or more conference calls over the next two weeks to iron out expansion wrinkles.
UTEP is the favored candidate among a list that includes Louisiana Tech and North Texas but no longer includes Temple, Toledo and Miami of Ohio. Temple's interest in C-USA is for football only, and the league is pondering only all-sports members. Mid-American Conference members Toledo and Miami, once on C-USA's expansion radar, on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to staying in the MAC.
C-USA has a roster of 11 schools for 2005-06, when the bulk of conference realignment happens around the country. Although C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said staying at 11 "is still a viable option," he is on record as wanting a league with 12 schools, and athletic directors are expected to follow his lead. A 12-team league allows for divisional play in several sports and also will permit C-USA to have a football championship game.
Despite the lack of a formal announcement Tuesday, Banowsky was pleased.
"I think we took some big steps forward to get to some consensus," he said.
Banowsky said one reason league leaders are taking their time with the expansion evaluation is that the conference, after this decision, does not foresee any more membership changes in the near future.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAC makes solidarity vow
By Doug Smock
Staff writer
The 12 soon-to-be-remaining members of the Mid-American Conference issued a joint statement Tuesday saying, in essence, that they will stick together through the current conference reshuffling.
Marshall and the University of Central Florida are leaving the MAC for Conference USA, effective July 1, 2005. Some speculation had Miami, Toledo or even Ohio possibly joining them.
“We feel it is important at this time to publicly affirm the solidarity of the MAC,” said John G. Peters, president of Northern Illinois and chairman of the MAC Council of Presidents. “We are completing one of our strongest years in history, the core of the conference is intact, and we are excited about our future.”
Conference USA athletic directors were scheduled to finish a meeting in Dallas, with potential expansion certainly on the agenda. With the pending defection of Texas Christian, C-USA is down to 11 all-sports members for 2005.
C-USA could stand pat, but would lose the right to conduct an exempt conference championship game. Currently, the Southeast Conference, Big 12 and MAC have such games, with the Atlantic Coast Conference to follow with its new members.
According to some speculation, Texas-El Paso has emerged as the leading candidate for the C-USA vacancy, with Louisiana Tech a distant second. UTEP’s candidacy has been boosted by the revival of its basketball program and the hiring of Mike Price in football.
UTEP enjoys a relatively strong fan base despite its struggles in football. It has averaged 29,000 in attendance over the last four years, including 40,000 per game in the winning season of 2000. In basketball, the Miners averaged 10,282 last season.
Marshall athletic director Bob Marcum was unable to attend the meeting, which coincided with that of the MU Board of Governors. He said there could be an expansion development, but not necessarily right away.
“I would be surprised,” Marcum said Tuesday. “It has to be forwarded to the presidents.”