CUSA UPGRADE

[ccap05]

Any word on actions to start looking to move up to CUSA? Now would seem to be the time while we have Hud, 3 straight bowl wins, and the probability of another good year in 2014. I look on other fan boards and see that other SBC teams are asking the same question. South Alabama would like to move but I don't think USM or UAB really want them. Additionally, USA has attendance issues but attendance will probably go up when they build their OCS (still in the very early hush hush planning stage). My particular worry is that we waste our position of strength and then if/when Hud leaves we have a couple of re-build years which may leave us a much less attractive addition. I don't pretend to be much more than a casual fan (although I do go to games when not offshore) and I am looking for info from people who may know more than me (which is basically nothing). I know that some of you guys are pushing for a P5 upgrade but I don't see that as being realistic but I would like to see a move to at least CUSA.

[Turbine]

I agree, whether you think UL will be successful or not, now is the time to promote and publicize UL's assets and intentions.

No administrative person should ever utter the phrase "we're not ready."

UL has a fan base with energy and focus. Few schools can make that claim, and this UL asset trumps any other version of "we're not ready."

[Hammer58]

While the ultimate decision on expansion is up to the presidents of the conference, in this case CUSA, you would think that we should strike while the iron is hot and begin making our case. But then, that is not how we do it here. And of course our AD is comfortable in the Sun Belt and thinks we are not ready.

[ccap05]

Hammer58- I don't really have much judgment about the AD because I simply don't follow it enough. However, it just seems common sense to try to make a move now while we are strong. Also, other Universities are not just sitting on their hands. It would be a shame to see USA or somesuch move up which would leave us in an ever worse SBC. I think a lot of emotional energy is spent on the whole ULL vs UL question while not enough is spent on actually making improvements in our current situation. I am not against trying to re-brand but I would rather focus energy on finding out what would make us a more attractive CUSA candidate. However, the silly talk about re-branding tied into joining CUSA as a stepping stone to the Big XII does not seem to be aimed at making us a good partner with other CUSA teams. Last post on this- look forward to replies.

[Hammer58]

Unfortunately we have already seen our AD sit on his hands not once but twice as we watched other Sun Belt members take advantage of CUSA expansion and leave us behind. And branding is tied into conference realignment. It has to do with perception of the University. Conference realignment and selection of members is complicated and involves many things, one of which is the programs others want to be associated with. Programs don't want to be associated with what is perceived (however incorrectly) as small, directional programs. As for using CUSA as a stepping stone, I doubt there is a member in CUSA that isn't already looking to their next move up. On that matter their fan message boards read pretty much like every Sun Belt members board.

[ccap05]

I said I would not reply but can't help myself. Your point about rebranding is well taken and I am not against it. However, I followed and occasionally attended USL games (not as avidly as a winning ULL program) and will continue following and attending no matter how successful the re-branding is. I guess I was looking at it from my perspective (not a donor but a fan) rather than from the bigger picture. As for using the CUSA as a stepping stone, realistically what would be the next step up for the Cajins? I don't see Tulane or the other new AAC teams wanting the Cajins (whether branded as UL or ULL) in the AAC. I, as an admittedly not knowledgeable person on these issues, don't see any other step from CUSA. Of course the reality is that in 5 years there will probably be an entirely new make up of the bigger non-P5 conferences just as we have seen the evolution of CUSA, the Big East and the AAC. As has been repeated so many times, the key seems to be to continue winning (especially in football) and try to grow the local fan base, especially those who show up at games.

[Turbine]

This is free advertising time.

Something to sell.

[CajunRebel]

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.

[Hammer58]

I don't know what the next move would be. Personally, all I'm concerned with is getting out of the Belt with sights set on CUSA given the current landscape. I think you need to get there before talking about the next move. However, I do agree with those talking about AAC , BigXII, etc. that you don't limit yourself by putting a ceiling at CUSA. they key is to keep winning, keep growing the budget, facilities and fan base and above all be aggressive in pursuing those goals rather than passive and reactionary as our admin has been.

[basinbear]

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 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.

[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.