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

[RaginFan2]

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!

While their history in basketball IS significant, their football history is not a lot better than ours. Their recent success is not enough to offset the many years of mediocrity (yet). Besides, El Paso is closer to California than to Louisiana. Not really different than a road trip to New Mexico State. I would not have a major problem with being in a conference with them, but would prefer a number of others ahead of them. They would not make my top 11 to join the Cajuns in this "dream" conference, based especially on geography.

[lxa656]

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.

What he said! Except in mine, I would swap out Troy with Marshall, and I would swap the divisions east and west to where the more western teams are in the west.

[RaginFan2]

East
LOUISIANA
Houston
North Texas
La Tech
Rice
Tulane

West
Arkansas State
Southern Mississippi
UAB
Marshall
Memphis
Middle Tennessee

I like most of your teams, but I'd substitute either Central FL or Troy for Marshall. Also, I'd reverse the division names.

[RaginEsquire06]

Ok everybody......

Louisiana
Louisiana Tech
New Mexico State
Utep
Houston
Baylor


Southern Mississippi
UAB
Troy
Memphis
Marshall
University of Central Florida

Teams on the Bubble would be Rice, Arkansas State, and Tulsa!

[lxa656]

Personally, I am not sold on UTEP! El Paso is about a million miles away and is not a great goegraphical fit. With all of the schools I listed, the furthest one away...I believe...is about 7 hours away.

[RaginEsquire06]

Personally, I am not sold on UTEP! El Paso is about a million miles away and is not a great goegraphical fit. With all of the schools I listed, the furthest one away...I believe...is about 7 hours away.

Ok...I want this conference to be fan friendly...Give El Paso the boot and slip Tulsa in their spot! I'm curious what the average football attendance would be for the teams we are using to create our dream conferences....ummm time to do some research!

[lxa656]

Ok...I want this conference to be fan friendly...Give El Paso the boot and slip Tulsa in their spot! I'm curious what the average football attendance would be for the teams we are using to create our dream conferences....ummm time to do some research!

While you are researching, can you find out the distance of the schools, in terms of hours and miles! I would do it myself, but sneaking on here during work is the best i can do without turning heads! Or maybe Clutch can jump in on this one as well! The one i am most curious about, is Troy!

[Turbine]

Seems like, We LOVE Southern Miss

[studentfan]

Seems like, We LOVE Southern Miss

Everyone likes Southern Miss. because they always have a good football team and a good baseball team. Being in a conference with them would help us with rankings in football and baseball. I'm not sure about their basketball team so I can't comment on that sport.

[RaginEsquire06]

Ok dreamers...this may alter who you initially picked to be in your conference. 2004 football attendance totals and averages! From best to worst...

(THA) Total Home Attendance
(AA) Average Attendance

TOP 12

1. UTEP (THA) 247,256 (AA) 41,209
2. Memphis (THA) 205,874 (AA) 41,175
3. Baylor (THA) 183,518 (AA) 30,586
4. Southern Miss (THA) 144,821 (AA) 28,964
5. Marshall (THA) 129,664 (AA) 25,933
6. Tulane (THA) 136,976 (AA) 22,829
7. Louisiana (THA) 107,006 (AA) 21,401
8. Troy (THA) 106,140 (AA) 21,228
9. Houston (THA) 105,834 (AA) 21'167
10. UAB (THA) 103,032 (AA) 20'606
11. C. Florida (THA) 99,761, (AA) 19,952
12. N. Mexico St. (THA) 91,506 (AA) 18,301

Bottom Half...

13. SMU (THA) 88,530 (AA) 17,706
14. La. Tech (THA) 87,740 (AA) 17,548
15. Tulsa (THA) 101,434 (AA) 16'906
16. Rice (THA) 78,926 (AA) 15,785
17. Arkansas St. (THA) 61,307 (AA) 15,184
18. North Texas (THA) 75,921 (AA) 15'184
19. UL-Monroe (THA) 58,869 (AA) 14'717
20. Middle Ten. (THA) 66'938 (AA) 13,388
21. Florida Atl. (THA) 53'921 (AA) 10'784

See: http://www.kenn.com/sports/football/ncaa/

22. Florida Int. Note: The FIU football team trains and plays at the on-campus facility, FIU Stadium, located on University Park, 11200 Southwest 8 Street, Miami.

See: http://www.fiusports.com/football/stadium.htm

23. Ark. Little Rock (N/A)


Just for fun.......

Sunbelt Football Attendance Increased By: +18,054 (Record High 758,249 total attendance!)

Conference USA Football Attendance Decreased By: -28,359

Western Atlantic Conference Football Attendance Decreased by: -24,529

See: http://www2.ncaa.org/media_and_event...e/4203n11.html

[Boomer]

I like most of your teams, but I'd substitute either Central FL or Troy for Marshall. Also, I'd reverse the division names.

The South---Rice, Houst., UL, Tulane, USM, and UAB-----The NOrth---Tulsa, SMU, NTS, La. T, Mem. St. , Ark ST.

[mickzat]

THE NORTH:
Tulsa
SMU
Baylor
North Texas
La. Tech
Memphis
Middle Tenn

THE SOUTH
Houston
Rice
Louisiana
Tulane
Southern Miss
Try
UAB