Who would you like to see in a conference with UL?

[DaddyCajun]

Just to pass some of the Sport deprived Summer, "Who might you like to see in a conference with LOUISIANA? CHOOSE ANY ELEVEN!!! LOUISIANA IS AUTOMATIC

I CHOOSE:

LOUISIANA
LaTech
Houston
Marshall
North Texas
Middle Tennessee
Southern Mississippi
Memphis
Troy State
Arkansas State
Rice
Tulane


DaddyCajun

[Turbine]

NICE POLL

Joining Louisiana (AUTOMATIC) I pick
TULSA
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
HOUSTON
ARKANSAS STATE
CENTRAL FLORIDA
RICE
MARSHALL
BAYLOR
TROY STATE
UAB
SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

ps You can remind yourself who you voted for by the Italic text

[DestinCajun]

Turb, your list is interesting due to who isn't on it....


Put me down for the teams that make up the Big XII.

[RaginFan2]

All but one of my selections were in the "mainstream" (10 or more votes out of 18). My one pick outside of that was Central Florida. I picked that school because of the geographic fit and because of the location in Orlando, a growing metro area. I did not pick Baylor or Tulsa, but I like them also. I think those 2 (either one or both) could substitute for some of my other picks. I did pick Middle Tenn. and Ark. State primarily due their amicable affiliation us in the SBC. My other picks were pretty standard for what most of us have been talking about for some time as our "ideal" conference mates: LA Tech, Southern Miss, Tulane, North Texas, Houston, Rice, Memphis, & UAB.

I am a bit surprised that Marshall and UTEP got as many votes as they did. I don't see either as being a good fit in this hypothetical conference.

It's good to dream sometimes. No time like summertime to daydream! I do like Destin's dreaming BIG, too!

[RaginEsquire06]

The conference that I would love to be affiliated with includes...

Lsu
Arkansas
Florida
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia
.........you get the picture!

[Turbine]

.........you get the picture!

WAIT A SEC. . . . nah couldn't be.

[El Sidonio]

I picked:

Marshall
Tulane
Troy
Middle Tennessee
Memphis
UAB
Southern Miss
Baylor
Houston
North Texas
UTEP

because they are in relatively close geographical range. Not only that, but they're the ones I perceived as being the best out of all the selections, and being in a conference with better teams would make us better.

God Bless.

[CajunRebel]

East
LOUISIANA
Houston
North Texas
La Tech
Rice
Tulane

West
Arkansas State
Southern Mississippi
UAB
Marshall
Memphis
Middle Tennessee

A couple comments on my picks...

I would like to see a 10 team conference without the two Tennessee Schools.

I wasn't really looking to pick the members that have the best programs. I wanted to pick the programs that would create the great competition.

The main factor in my picks is geography. With so many schools so close to eachother you save money on travel but more importantly it will create amazing rivalries. Im telling you a conference like this would explode in popularity. Most of these teams have long histories with eachother and the conference matchups that would emerge would create big time interest among the bandwaggon fans. Take us for example where we would have yearly matchups against La Tech, Tulane, Southern Miss, Houston. And the best part is that lots of fans would be willing to make the short drives to catch road games.

The Florida schools are too far away and they aren't that attractive to begin with.

ULM would be average in football, but already drags the Southland Conference down in virtually every other sport. Why would we want that? Plus Monroe is just too small for any major growth.

UALR has no football, and overall their athletics programs are subpar.

[DaddyCajun]

East
LOUISIANA
Houston
North Texas
La Tech
Rice
Tulane

West
Arkansas State
Southern Mississippi
UAB
Marshall
Memphis
Middle Tennessee

A couple comments on my picks...

I would like to see a 10 team conference without the two Tennessee Schools.

I wasn't really looking to pick the members that have the best programs. I wanted to pick the programs that would create the great competition.

The main factor in my picks is geography. With so many schools so close to eachother you save money on travel but more importantly it will create amazing rivalries. Im telling you a conference like this would explode in popularity. Most of these teams have long histories with eachother and the conference matchups that would emerge would create big time interest among the bandwaggon fans. Take us for example where we would have yearly matchups against La Tech, Tulane, Southern Miss, Houston. And the best part is that lots of fans would be willing to make the short drives to catch road games.

The Florida schools are too far away and they aren't that attractive to begin with.

ULM would be average in football, but already drags the Southland Conference down in virtually every other sport. Why would we want that? Plus Monroe is just too small for any major growth.

UALR has no football, and overall their athletics programs are subpar.

Great post CajunRebel, I must say a very well thought out post and very true in reguards to traveling and rivalries!!!

DaddyCajun!!

[HoustonCajun]

Great post CajunRebel, I must say a very well thought out post and very true in reguards to traveling and rivalries!!!

DaddyCajun!!

If I could start a new conference tomorrow, I would like to see:

South

Louisiana
Tulane
Southern Miss.
Houston
Rice
Troy

North

LA Tech
North Texas
SMU
Ark. State
Memphis
UAB or Tulsa

The bubble teams would be UAB, Tulsa, Troy and Middle Tennessee.

The divisional travel would be minimal and mainly by bus. Divisional rivalries would be developed as fans could actually drive to all the games. Inter-divisional games would still not be that far away. Geographically, this set-up would be ideal. And, this would make a great All Sports Conference. No more teams that do not play football or play 1AA football.

This would be my desired conference. Until that day comes, and it might take 5+ years for that to happen, I would rather see ULA, UNT and Ark. State as part of the Eastern Division of the WAC than as part of the Sun Belt.

[RaginEsquire06]

What about UTEP? They would surely be a gem in the conference... Men's Basketball....2004-05' record 27-8, Football record 8-4...with wins over N. Mexico St., Fresno St., La. Tech, Hawaii, and Rice to name a few!

[JMV JustMyView]

A better baseball conference would be nice...It always hurts our sos..