CUSA UPGRADE

[Just1More]

We are making a move. We're doing the things that need to be done to get a serious look from C-USA.

We're winning football games and building a foundation for future success, we're beginning to invest in sorely needed facility enhancements, and we're increasing our budget to match those of C-USA teams. We're not there yet, and it takes more than one or two years to "fix" a program that has been neglected for decades. But we're on the right track and when the next round comes I think we'll have a fighting chance. Last time around we didn't have a chance and it had nothing to do with a PowerPoint. It had to do with the lack of a strong foundation for us to build off of. We're building that foundation in a way we've never been able to before.

And yes you're right. Unless T. Boone Pickens decides to become a Cajun we'll need to get into C-USA before we can start talking about the AAC or major conferences.

I think you're correct on all accounts except for failing to mention the extreme importance in relationship building by the AD and president, with other university ADs and presidents, as an equally, if not more important condition of membership. I'm not sure they aren't working feverishly behind the scenes to build/maintain those relationships. As much as you believe that these memberships over the past 100 years were predicated on some dimensions that everyone had at membership time, you would be entirely incorrect.

IMO We have a management team that believes we have to take a final exam that will be given at some point in the future that will miraculously line up with a membership opening and their completion of some project milestones. Life almost never waits for the perfect point of entry. It takes initiative far beyond the outside measurements to succeed. Now again, if we simply screwed that up in the past, learned our lesson, and are now marketing ourselves out of view of this forum, that's perfectly acceptable. But, not to mention the importance of relationships in these specific conference elevation goals, is missing the largest aspect of the deal. The "T-Boone Pickens ship won't arrive in one man, on one day, in our case".

If anyone doubts my arguments regarding relationship building and marketing perseverance as the key to success, read the autobiographies of some of the world's most successful people (including T-Boone). Their success had absolutely nothing to do with taking a test only after they reached some financial or facilities plateau.

[Hammer58]

And if Benson has his way it will be more than just backfilling with those two because a Benson wants to go to a championship game. We could be stuck in a conference with more d1aa newbies than established D1A programs.

[Zeebart21]

I agree with you Reb on almost your entire post with one exception. Another reason we were snubbed is we were naïve enough to believe our other SBC mates when they stated at the time that they would all stick together and build the SBC. Our A.D. stated this in a quote after FAU and MTSU were invited to CUSA. So we decided to stand pat and had done absolutely nothing in the way of contacting CUSA or their membership....even after La Tech got in months before FAU and MTSU. I do believe NOW that our President is in contact with the CEO's of CUSA member Universities and I believe that contact with the Commissioner of CUSA has made.....in person and continually by phone. I have been told by boosters of AAC Universities that contact with member Universities of the AAC has also been established. My opinion based on speaking to people who are in this business on a National level is that realignment is far from over. In my opinion, CUSA will eventually go to 16 members and the two additional members will be added to their Western Division. I believe that Louisiana, Arkansas State, Texas State and New Mexico State all have a shot. Because of the new College Football Playoff system, and in addition the reserved slot for one team in the G5, I believe that CUSA additions will come from Universities with strong Football programs. The addition of Louisiana and Arkansas ST. would blow a hole in the Sun Belt. South Alabama has almost zero chance to get in because of USM. Texas ST has less of a chance then UL because there are already four Texas Universities as members. New Mexico State makes sense but their Football basically sucks. So we must continue to do all that Reb mentioned and work the other members of these Conferences. If we do not get in CUSA this round then we will be stuck in a Conference with even more FCS start ups because the two new members of CUSA will come from the SBC. That means that the SBC will have to bring up FCS members to back fill.

Another Conference that could really start the Domino effect is the Big XII. The Conference will eventually go to twelve members because there is too much money to be made with a Conference Championship game. Members will have to come from the AAC and/or independent BYU. The ACC was thought to be in big trouble and the possibility at one time of being poached by the Big XII was real. That possibility has probably died on the vine because of the addition of Notre Dame in Olympic sports to the ACC. Notre Dame, as part of this deal, must play five football games a year against ACC Universities. This will give true National exposure to the ACC in Football and I seriously doubt that any ACC members will leave the Conference.
The B1G is still considering expansion because of their Big Ten Network expansion. No one really knows which direction the Conference will go.
Whatever happens, UL must be ready. I do not want to be left behind in a Conference that will eventually have to add Universities like Lamar or Jacksonville ST. to backfill its membership.

make a hire....

Z

[CajunRebel]

I agree with you Reb on almost your entire post with one exception. Another reason we were snubbed is we were naïve enough to believe our other SBC mates when they stated at the time that they would all stick together and build the SBC. Our A.D. stated this in a quote after FAU and MTSU were invited to CUSA. So we decided to stand pat and had done absolutely nothing in the way of contacting CUSA or their membership....even after La Tech got in months before FAU and MTSU. I do believe NOW that our President is in contact with the CEO's of CUSA member Universities and I believe that contact with the Commissioner of CUSA has made.....in person and continually by phone. I have been told by boosters of AAC Universities that contact with member Universities of the AAC has also been established. My opinion based on speaking to people who are in this business on a National level is that realignment is far from over. In my opinion, CUSA will eventually go to 16 members and the two additional members will be added to their Western Division. I believe that Louisiana, Arkansas State, Texas State and New Mexico State all have a shot. Because of the new College Football Playoff system, and in addition the reserved slot for one team in the G5, I believe that CUSA additions will come from Universities with strong Football programs. The addition of Louisiana and Arkansas ST. would blow a hole in the Sun Belt. South Alabama has almost zero chance to get in because of USM. Texas ST has less of a chance then UL because there are already four Texas Universities as members. New Mexico State makes sense but their Football basically sucks. So we must continue to do all that Reb mentioned and work the other members of these Conferences. If we do not get in CUSA this round then we will be stuck in a Conference with even more FCS start ups because the two new members of CUSA will come from the SBC. That means that the SBC will have to bring up FCS members to back fill.

Another Conference that could really start the Domino effect is the Big XII. The Conference will eventually go to twelve members because there is too much money to be made with a Conference Championship game. Members will have to come from the AAC and/or independent BYU. The ACC was thought to be in big trouble and the possibility at one time of being poached by the Big XII was real. That possibility has probably died on the vine because of the addition of Notre Dame in Olympic sports to the ACC. Notre Dame, as part of this deal, must play five football games a year against ACC Universities. This will give true National exposure to the ACC in Football and I seriously doubt that any ACC members will leave the Conference.
The B1G is still considering expansion because of their Big Ten Network expansion. No one really knows which direction the Conference will go.
Whatever happens, UL must be ready. I do not want to be left behind in a Conference that will eventually have to add Universities like Lamar or Jacksonville ST. to backfill its membership.

Good post.

I'm not going to start re-hashing old arguments but I just can't accept that the reason we didn't get in was because we didn't schmooze hard enough. I understand relationships matter and if I had to guess that's not Farmer's strong suit. But the fact is if we were an attractive candidate we would have gotten the invite, plain and simple. You'd better beleive C-USA had done it's due dillegance when they selected their members. They knew exactly what we had to offer them and they decided it wasn't good enough. There were better options than us in 2012, yes even La Tech. We need to work to make sure we're the best option in 2015 and beyond. That's why I'm okay with Farmer. He's getting the **** done that needs to get done. Budgets, facilities, etc. It's not perfect, it's not pretty, and it will never be fast enough, but the results are there.

When we start spinning our wheels on any of those fronts I'll be standing right there with the three amigos when they start their mutiny on Reinhart Dr.

[ulXrunner]

I hope this happens yesterday.

[Just1More]

Relationship building isn't "schmoozing".

It's nice to know that our president is building relationships. Thanks basinbear.

[Turbine]

Good post.

I'm not going to start re-hashing old arguments but I just can't accept that the reason we didn't get in was because we didn't schmooze hard enough. I understand relationships matter and if I had to guess that's not Farmer's strong suit. But the fact is if we were an attractive candidate we would have gotten the invite, plain and simple. You'd better beleive C-USA had done it's due dillegance when they selected their members. They knew exactly what we had to offer them and they decided it wasn't good enough. There were better options than us in 2012, yes even La Tech. We need to work to make sure we're the best option in 2015 and beyond. That's why I'm okay with Farmer. He's getting the **** done that needs to get done. Budgets, facilities, etc. It's not perfect, it's not pretty, and it will never be fast enough, but the results are there.

When we start spinning our wheels on any of those fronts I'll be standing right there with the three amigos when they start their mutiny on Reinhart Dr.

Historically the prettiest girl doesn't get asked out as often as the eager average girl.

Moral of the story is you must at the very least (meaning first and foremost) appear interested to get an invite.

[basinbear]

Good post.

I'm not going to start re-hashing old arguments but I just can't accept that the reason we didn't get in was because we didn't schmooze hard enough. I understand relationships matter and if I had to guess that's not Farmer's strong suit. But the fact is if we were an attractive candidate we would have gotten the invite, plain and simple. You'd better beleive C-USA had done it's due dillegance when they selected their members. They knew exactly what we had to offer them and they decided it wasn't good enough. There were better options than us in 2012, yes even La Tech. We need to work to make sure we're the best option in 2015 and beyond. That's why I'm okay with Farmer. He's getting the **** done that needs to get done. Budgets, facilities, etc. It's not perfect, it's not pretty, and it will never be fast enough, but the results are there.

When we start spinning our wheels on any of those fronts I'll be standing right there with the three amigos when they start their mutiny on Reinhart Dr.

We were not even playing the game Rebel. We never gave ourselves a chance. This is not speculation as I do not accept any opinion at face value. I ask around. We were not a attractive candidate. What I stated was in ADDITION to what you posted....And actually....they did not know what we had to offer them....maybe what we had to offer was not enough.....but you have to get into the game...we are in it now....I think

[Hammer58]

Good post.

I'm not going to start re-hashing old arguments but I just can't accept that the reason we didn't get in was because we didn't schmooze hard enough. I understand relationships matter and if I had to guess that's not Farmer's strong suit. But the fact is if we were an attractive candidate we would have gotten the invite, plain and simple. You'd better beleive C-USA had done it's due dillegance when they selected their members. They knew exactly what we had to offer them and they decided it wasn't good enough. There were better options than us in 2012, yes even La Tech. We need to work to make sure we're the best option in 2015 and beyond. That's why I'm okay with Farmer. He's getting the **** done that needs to get done. Budgets, facilities, etc. It's not perfect, it's not pretty, and it will never be fast enough, but the results are there.

When we start spinning our wheels on any of those fronts I'll be standing right there with the three amigos when they start their mutiny on Reinhart Dr.

I suggest you go back and read the article relating how FIU's AD reached out (made a pest of himself), developed a relationship and sold his program when it hadn't even been on CUSA's radar. Other than being located in Miami and having a new (albeit empty) stadium FIU had little to offer. Yet that AD convinced CUSA that a program located in Miami that no one cares about was a better option than us, a program repeatedly setting record crowds in the New Orleans Bowl.

And seriously, stating that Tech was a better option than us along with being satisfied with Farmer's performance puts you on par with The Deacon.

[CajunRebel]

I think you're correct on all accounts except for failing to mention the extreme importance in relationship building by the AD and president, with other university ADs and presidents, as an equally, if not more important condition of membership. I'm not sure they aren't working feverishly behind the scenes to build/maintain those relationships. As much as you believe that these memberships over the past 100 years were predicated on some dimensions that everyone had at membership time, you would be entirely incorrect.

IMO We have a management team that believes we have to take a final exam that will be given at some point in the future that will miraculously line up with a membership opening and their completion of some project milestones. Life almost never waits for the perfect point of entry. It takes initiative far beyond the outside measurements to succeed. Now again, if we simply screwed that up in the past, learned our lesson, and are now marketing ourselves out of view of this forum, that's perfectly acceptable. But, not to mention the importance of relationships in these specific conference elevation goals, is missing the largest aspect of the deal. The "T-Boone Pickens ship won't arrive in one man, on one day, in our case".

If anyone doubts my arguments regarding relationship building and marketing perseverance as the key to success, read the autobiographies of some of the world's most successful people (including T-Boone). Their success had absolutely nothing to do with taking a test only after they reached some financial or facilities plateau.

Like I said in my other post I don't disagree with what you say and judging by the opinions of others who have interacted with him relationships probably aren't Farmer's strong suit. But at the end of the day we didn't get in because we weren't the most attractive candidate to get in.