TCU is headed to the Big East! (New York Daily News reports)

[HogDawg]

This!

I live in a town with two CUSA teams and watch every game I can on TV. The naked eye says that the WAC has better top end and worse bottom end teams than CUSA. Tech is mid pack and would be mid pack CUSA this year. But, that's our downside. Our long history says that we will always field competitive FB, MBB, WBB and BB teams. And graduate our student atheletes. For those who say CUSA is a stretch I say BS. Based on what? TV market? Really? It's a rare day I hear anything of Rice or UH. That's not a knock on them (I'm a fan of both), just a reality of life in a pro town. I'd bet that both would love to play in our market area. That and they've never had the TV exposure we have had recently in the WAC. We bring more to our next conference than some of you want to think.

A pro town? Houston?


HD

[DogDawg]

A pro town? Houston?


HD

ha. That hurts! Signed crappy Texans, Rockets and Astros.......But maybe next year

[rangerdawg]

Apples and oranges. The BE is looking for TCU to prop up their football and there is a major airport nearby. The WAC has bitched about Tech and having to fly into Dallas or Shreveport forever. And let's face it, we haven't been tearing it up since we won the WAC 10 years ago. It all starts with winning.

They fly charter into Monroe which is 30 miles away. At least for football. Not an argument at all.

[DONW]

UTEP is 6-6 and guaranteed a bowl game this year to break 4 straight losing seasons.

And about market share...TCU is only getting DFW pub based on its football success the last few years. Those future Seton Hall-TCU basketball games will be lucky to get a score mentioned.

You're right, they went 6-6 overall but only 3-5 in conference.

[HogDawg]

You're right, they went 6-6 overall but only 3-5 in conference.

UTEP's football attendance has also declined since the Miners joined CUSA in 2005. See this near the bottom of the attached article:

Make no mistake, UTEP is at a critical juncture after four disappointing seasons, they must reverse the current trend. Attendance has dropped in the last four years from 42,000-plus per game to 29,000 plus last year. This year despite a 5-1 record, attendance has been disappointing, to say the least. This puts an enormous strain on the athletic budget.

http://minerillustrated.com/2010/10/...th-winslosses/


HD

[Designated Hitter]

Anyone else wish we had Dooley driving our ship during all this? I just don't have confidence in BVDV.

Absolutely! However, someone else will drive this and BVDV will be the mouthpiece as usual.

[WWDog]

I thought someone said that Davison had his finger on the pulse some time ago.

[oledawg66]

This!

I live in a town with two CUSA teams and watch every game I can on TV. The naked eye says that the WAC has better top end and worse bottom end teams than CUSA. Tech is mid pack and would be mid pack CUSA this year. But, that's our downside. Our long history says that we will always field competitive FB, MBB, WBB and BB teams. And graduate our student atheletes. For those who say CUSA is a stretch I say BS. Based on what? TV market? Really? It's a rare day I hear anything of Rice or UH. That's not a knock on them (I'm a fan of both), just a reality of life in a pro town. I'd bet that both would love to play in our market area. That and they've never had the TV exposure we have had recently in the WAC. We bring more to our next conference than some of you want to think.

But its not what we think. I wish it was. And its not how competitive we are on the field or the floor or the court. Its how much we put into our programs, how much the university is willing to invest in that side of the ledger. In the last two decades, the answer has been very little. We have all the potential in the world but that may not be enough to carry us. But you're right - we can be competitive. We are a perfect geographical fit. We have a good traveling fan base (that was impossible to show in the WAC). Good academics. .....

[parialex]

UTEP's football attendance has also declined since the Miners joined CUSA in 2005. See this near the bottom of the attached article:

http://minerillustrated.com/2010/10/...th-winslosses/

UTEP's attendance depends a great deal on performance:

(C*USA)
2009 - 29010 (4-8)
2008 - 37296 (5-7)
2007 - 36569 (4-8)
2006 - 42444 (5-7)
2005 - 47899 (8-4)
(WAC)
2004 - Not Available (8-4)
2003 - 20009 (2-11)
2002 - 28310 (2-10)
2001 - 28360 (2-9)
2000 - 44715 (8-4)
1999 - 34334 (5-7)
1998 - 20145 (3-8)

Whether they would get better attendance in the MWC will depend in significant part on whether they win there or not.

[parialex]

[UH and Rice ha]ve never had the TV exposure we have had recently in the WAC. We bring more to our next conference than some of you want to think.

No offense taken, but UH has actually had a lot of TV exposure this year

On ESPN or ESPN2: UCF, UTEP

On CBS College Sports: Tulsa, SMU, Mississippi State, Tulane, Southern Miss

On Fox Sports: UCLA, Texas Tech

Comcast Sports Southwest: Rice, Memphis

Untelevised: Texas State

A lot of people don't get CBSCS, but that's the curse of C*USA (something you guys should know about before getting too excited about our conference). The upshot is they make room for C*USA basketball games so I will get to watch some of those (not sure what, if anything, ESPN or FSN would do for us). Comcast Sports Southwest also has pretty limited availability, but UH and Rice are slated to start appearing on Fox Sports Houston soon since the local pro teams are starting their own network.

Rice has had considerably less in the way of televised games.

[DogDawg]

Thanks for the clarification on CUSA TV Parialex. So, what is the pulse of Cougs? My take is UH will be patient and stay put until a good move materializes. Thoughts?

[DONW]

I thought someone said that Davison had his finger on the pulse some time ago.

I'm glad Steve Davison is on the athletic council. You know he is watching closely.

[parialex]

Thanks for the clarification on CUSA TV Parialex. So, what is the pulse of Cougs? My take is UH will be patient and stay put until a good move materializes. Thoughts?

If a(n all-sports) Big East invite were to come our way, I'm sure we would jump. Not expecting one, thought. I don't see us going to the MWC at this point. Some of the folks over at Coogfans are anxious to get anywhere other than C*USA, but I think they're being overly dramatic with assumptions that we're going to lose the Liberty Bowl or some of our eastern teams. Both are possible, but neither should be assumed. By and large, I am fine in C*USA until such a time as it is holding us back. I think that's the admin's perspective as well.

[DawgFaninHous]

If a(n all-sports) Big East invite were to come our way, I'm sure we would jump. Not expecting one, thought. I don't see us going to the MWC at this point. Some of the folks over at Coogfans are anxious to get anywhere other than C*USA, but I think they're being overly dramatic with assumptions that we're going to lose the Liberty Bowl or some of our eastern teams. Both are possible, but neither should be assumed. By and large, I am fine in C*USA until such a time as it is holding us back. I think that's the admin's perspective as well.

I have to disagree about the fact that would not take the MWC deal. Living here in Houston and knowing some of the folks involved - remotely; I am hearing that they will do anything to get away from Rice (they want separation, just like we do from our nearest neighbors), UAB, Tulane, Marshall, etc. They are actually excited about the chance to play AFA, Co St, Boise (especially), Fresno, Nevada, on the islands, et al.

They have a new AD who wants to make his mark and a new president who just came from So Fla. where they moved to a better spot. Look for the Coogs to get an invite and to take it! It isn't their long term goal, but they see the chance to 'upgrade', they will take it. The question is who will go with them as the 12th team???? DEC 10!

DFiH

[HogDawg]

I have to disagree about the fact that would not take the MWC deal. Living here in Houston and knowing some of the folks involved - remotely; I am hearing that they will do anything to get away from Rice (they want separation, just like we do from our nearest neighbors), UAB, Tulane, Marshall, etc. They are actually excited about the chance to play AFA, Co St, Boise (especially), Fresno, Nevada, on the islands, et al.

They have a new AD who wants to make his mark and a new president who just came from So Fla. where they moved to a better spot. Look for the Coogs to get an invite and to take it! It isn't their long term goal, but they see the chance to 'upgrade', they will take it. The question is who will go with them as the 12th team???? DEC 10!

DFiH

That makes sense. Besides, TCU has already provided the "blueprint" for moving up: you gotta keep improving your level of competition. TCU did this by moving from the WAC to CUSA, then to the MWC, and now to the Big East. You can't sit still and expect to improve.

Houston has a big decision to make; do we sit still and remain attached at the hip with Rice, SMU, etc...? Or do we roll the dice, and attempt to improve our lot by playing tougher competition in the new MWC......the way TCU did?

Houston has a past of strong independence. Houston was the first Texas school to join CUSA. The Coogs moved to CUSA before it became fashionable. While SMU and Rice were testing the WAC 16 in the late 90's, UH was winning CUSA's first football title in 1996.

This historical streak of "independence" --combined with TCU's roadmap of how to reach the promise land-- makes me think Houston will ACCEPT an invite to the MWC is one is issued.


HD