Old Dominion to Join Conference-USA
ODU is returning to CUSA after it left to play in the Atlantic 10. With the addition of ODU, CUSA will now have 14 conference teams.
Early Look at CUSA Line-Up
The conference will still have two divisions, the west and east, which will still allow a conference title game in
football. The conference championship game will be held hosted on the campus by the team with the best overall record or other tie breakers. Look for Southern Miss, Florida International, Alabama-Birmingham, Marshall, East Carolina, University of North Carolina-Charlotte (called Charlotte) and Old Dominion in the east division.
The west side of the house North Texas will face, Rice, Tulane, Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, University of Texas-San Antonio and the University of Texas-El Paso.
Why the additions of some of the programs? UTSA first game brought in 56,743 fans and they ended up averaging 35,521 for their six home games in their first season. It would be one of the top fan supported team in the new or old CUSA. Television likes that.
Charlotte was a former member of CUSA but left to join the Atlantic 10. They were an all-sports member but did not have a football team. They are expected to play FBS in 2015. Their basketball team was always near the top of the conference. They have a extremely large television market.
Another former CUSA member was Old Dominion. Like Charlotte they did not field a football team but now have one playing in the CAA. ODU women's basketball has three national basketball titles and the men's team is always competitive. They are in the larger Norfolk, Va. market and they give exposure to the nation through the Navy personnel stationed there. They still have not announced if they are going to join CUSA.
Florida International brings attention to the Florida market and particularly the huge Miami market.
These three schools provide traveling partners to Marshall, ECU and UAB.
North Texas is in the Dallas market and improved their facilities showing they want to be one of the big boys.
Louisiana Tech is close to most of the schools in the east and west allowing fans to travel. They do not fit in the CUSA footprint which are schools located in large television markets.
If you are looking to interact with CUSA fans here is one of their boards; CUSA NCAABBS
Look for CUSA to expand from the new 14 teams to 16 teams in the future. When they expand, look for schools which fit into the CUSA footprint. The conference is television revenue driven which is why Eagletalk.net has stated for months North Texas was going to be added to CUSA. If the schools are not what the television people want, it will be hard for them to get in.
With the addition of the new teams to CUSA and the two going to the Mountain West, the merger between the two conferences has diminished although there are still on-going discussions.
The two conferences have a good working relationship as evident by the former partnership with the Liberty Bowl where it was the CUSA Champion versus the MWC Champion. CUSA went 4-2 against MWC although they went 6-2 overall against the MWC or its replacement. Two times the MWC Champion went to a BCS bowl and were replaced by a WAC team which CUSA beat.
They two wild card teams in the conference are Southern Miss and Tulane. Both sit closer to the teams in the western side of the house but teams are needed in the eastern side. So it is projected they will stay in the side of the conference they are now in.
The first two years football scheduling will be interesting since Charlotte will not have a football team until 2015. ODU still has not announced the move to CUSA or moving up to the FBS level. They are concerned about traveling and other expenses. Look for the decision to be made around May 15th.
IT's Official North Texas to CUSA
As expected for sometime North Texas will be leaving the Sun Belt Conference to move up the Conference-USA. The last time CUSA looked at North Texas it was not a very appealing situation with the old Fouts Field anchoring the sports programs. With Rick Villarreal at the helm he convinced North Texas students to agree to higher tuition fees in order to fund the Athletic Department and build the new Apogee Stadium now the crown jewel of North Texas Sports.
This time when CUSA looked at North Texas they found a school with new facilities in almost every sport. There was a solid title IX program was in place. There was a men’s basketball program that was on the verge every year of making the NCAA Tournament.
The only thing North Texas did not have was a baseball team which has been a concern for CUSA because there are not enough schools with baseball programs causing scheduling concerns. So much so Dallas Baptist was considered to become a CUSA member for baseball only. However, there are rumors North Texas is considering the addition of baseball.
When this all shakes out, the new conference will generate more money for North Texas. There will be better teams with better fan base to help attendance. There will be more opportunities to get into high profile bowls every year. CUSA offers more television exposure, not only for the CUSA footprint but because of the television, radio and newspaper market coming from the eastern schools. This is a huge exposure that can’t be bought.
The CUSA footprint is to have schools in major television markets, which is why North Texas, Florida International, the University of San Antonio and Charlotte were added. Coming along for the ride will be Louisiana Tech.
What else in store for North Texas is the possibility of future games with schools closer to home and out West. CUSA and the Mountain West are still in formation of a possible 24 team super conference. One sticking point is NCAA rules concerning the amount of games a college football program can play.
The Sun Belt has been good for North Texas allowing Villarreal to build competitive programs but it had its limitations, a lot of those limitations are gone.
One weak area for CUSA has been basketball, they are basically a two bid conference while the Sun Belt garners one bid. So it still is a step up for North Texas’ opportunities to make the big dance.
North Texas fans will now be able to travel to more away games. Four schools, Rice, UTSA, Tulsa and LaTech are within the four to five hour drive window, this will help in recruiting not just for playing teams nearby but for a kicker.
One reason some recruits choose a college is how close the school is so family can see him play. They want to know what teams on the road they will be playing to see if family and friends can see him play on the road.
A recruit wants to play for a team in a good or well known conference. CUSA gives a recruit and the coaches more ammunition for the player to wear green. Here is kicker. North Texas will now be on the airwaves in Tulsa, San Antonio, Tulane, Houston and Ruston. All are nearby where recruits can hear the game on the radio. If family and friends can’t make a game they do have a shot at listening to the game on air. It will help North Texas in getting better recruits.
This is a big day for North Texas and for the fans.
North Texas is Heading To CUSA
North Texas Athletic Director Rick Villarreal's effort to improve North Texas facilities to make it more attractive to a better conference then the Sun Belt has been rewarded. The announcement is expected to be official this coming Friday.
The conference move will mean more revenue for the program but more importantly better national exposure on the college football scene.
It's Official Jones to LSU
Jones will have a challenge facing him with only eight players to be on the team when he arrived in Baton Rouge. Jones has stated "I look forward to the challenges ahead.
"This is certainly a dream come true to return to a place that has so many memories for me." Jones has a total of 27 years associated with LSU from playing days to coaching during LSU's heydays under former Head Coach Dale Brown. One final four as a player and one as a coach.
Jones will leave a North Texas program with young and talented players in the stable including projected NBA player Tony Mitchell. Whoever Villarreal hires will not inherit a program with bare cupboards but a program that has a legit shot at winning the Sun Belt Conference Title and the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Title and the NCAA automatic bid.
LSU Confirms Interview with Jones
Alleva denied reports he has spoken with Dixon about the position and has stated Amaker is not interested in the job.
Dale Brown, the former LSU great head basketball endorses either Jones or Drew. Jones played for Brown from 1980-1984 helping his te
am to the 1981 Final Four. After completing his four years playing time, Brown hired Jones as an assistant coach where he helped coach the team back to the Final Four in 1986. Drew's father, Homer Drew, served as an assistant coach under Brown from 1972-1976. Drew took over the Bear's murder-scandal program in 2003 taking the program to one win away from the Final Four in 2010 and 2012. He is considered one of the hottest coaches in the nation but he may now come with some baggage.
ESPN broke a story that Drew and several assistants broke NCAA rules by supposedly making several hundred text and phones considered improper by the NCAA which resulted in Baylor getting three years probation, forfeiting one scholarship and Drew being suspended for two Big 12 Conference games next year. The Baylor Women's program was also put on three years probation for the same violations.
Brown has stated "when you look at where Baylor was, what Scott Drew did at Baylor is as big an accomplishment as building the Panama Canal."
However, Brown has also said when Alleva stated what he was looking for in a head coach, "That's Johnny." Brown pointed out "Johnny can do this job. Johnny grew up in Louisiana. He knows Louisiana. He knows LSU. He knows the SEC. He can coach. He can recruit. This is a unique place. He knows the culture."
As for either coach taking over the program, Brown feels Drew is happy at Baylor and making close to $2 million dollars a year. Which would be an expensive hire for LSU. Jones on the other hand is making around $200,000 a year making him a less expensive hire.
It is also reported Jones contract buyout is $400,000 but only $200,000 for a SEC school.
Jones is not without his detractors as seen in this story. LSU's Good Ole Boy Politics Returning With A Vengeance In Basketball Coach Search
North Texas Athletic Director Rick Villarreal knew he could not keep Jones forever with the success he has had building the program and the salary North Texas could afford. Villarreal knows it is one of the hazards being in Sun Belt Conference. Once your coach is successful, schools in bigger conferences with more money will be hiring his coaches away.
Villarreal is looking for a new woman's head coach and looks like he maybe looking for a new men's basketball coach.
Mitchell Makes Right Decision
20 at a North Texas games proves the NBA thinks so too. Heck, even kids are asking for his autograph to prove they watched him play in college.Over the course of the season, Jones, using his words carefully has eluded to the fact, it would be best for Mitchell to stay another year at North Texas to hone his skills. Mitchell has stated he will not go for the draft and stay in school, the right choice for several reasons.
First and foremost, he will get better. Second, the better he gets the more he will move up in the draft. Third, most second, third, etc. draft picks do not make it in the NBA, the goal is to be in the first round. Fourth, the more he moves up in the draft the more money he will make.
Okay, North Texas fans want him back because of the prospect of the players returning with him and the ones coming in. It looks like a run toward the NCAA Tournament.
Bottomline, Mitchell made the right decision for him and not for the fans. However, North Texas fans need to enjoy the ride next season and get their tickets early because this is going to be one special season.
Offense Gets Early Jump, Defense Battles Back
The enthusiasm could be felt in the morning light as North Texas Football began the 2012 season on Saturday morning. New Defensive Coordinator John Skladany’s new defensive scheme was not what was expected. Normally, the defense is way ahead of the offensive going into spring practice. However, the offense poured through the defense for two quick scores, not what the new DC wanted to see.
It answered the big question for most North Texas Fans is who would replace running back Lance Dunbar and back James Hamilton? While most fans felt Dunbar was the offense for the last several years, moving the ball early showed the offense they have more weapons this year at various positions then in the past. It also gave them into a glimpse the running back position will be in fine hands.
Derek Thompson was a little rusty but that is to be expected at this point, but ran the offense well.
As the offense was having their way with the defense, Skladany’s crew started to get things together. As the defense started to get comfortable with the new scheme, they started to stop the offensive onslaught, forced turnovers, errors, stops and turned the tide on the offense.All in all, it was a good first outing for North Texas. Next scrimmage the cream of the team will start to rise and players will start getting their names penciled in for their slot on the depth chart.
Next week practices will be critical for players on both sides of the ball. The Spring Game just a short couple of weeks away on Saturday April 21. It will not be long the incoming freshmen will be on campus and then open day at LSU.
Jones Near Top for LSU Gig
As a player for LSU from 1980-1984, he played as a freshman on the 1981 Tiger Final Four team. After his playing career, he was immediately hired by then HC Dale Brown in 1984 as an assistant coach for 12 seasons. Jones helped coach the Tigers back to the 1986 NCAA Final Four.
In 1997 he was hired as an assistant coach by Memphis. He was elevated to top position as interim head coach in 1999-2000 after then HC Tic Price was forced to resign. Jones led Memphis t
o a 15-16 record. He then moved on to Alabama as an assistant coach from 2000-2001before taking over the North Texas position in 2001.He has coached North Texas to two Sun Belt Tournament Championships, 2007 and 2010, resulting in two NCAA Tournament Bids where he is 0-2. He sports a overall 205-162.
Jones has been mentioned before for the top slot at LSU but the Tigers elected to go elsewhere. Background noise about Jones was the concern about him being accused of NCAA violations by Lester Earl. He was cleared of cash payment claims but did have some some minor contact outside of the NCAA rules. With a clean record since then, he looks to be in the top spot with the LSU fans.
Johnson could not parley his recruiting classes into wins. His first season he went 27-8 and the NCAA Tournament. Since then he has guided LSU to an 11-20 and 11-21 seasons before rebounding this year going 18-15 getting a NIT Bid. LSU has only won 12 conference games in the last four years under Johnson and the Tigers fans were becoming restless. He looked to be a sure bet after being hired away from Stanford after he built a powerhouse program that was becoming a regular in the NCAA Tournament.
LSU is looking thin with only eight signed players on the roster. It appears recruiting was the problem for Johnson and speculation is LSU will have to go to the junior college ranks to get some help. Different recruiting sites projected LSU did have two good recruiting classes in the last several years but wins did not come.
Several players have left the LSU program for several reasons including moving on to the NBA.
If Jones gets the position he will be in for a rebuilding project at LSU. He would leave behind a North Texas team that has a great shot at getting back to the NCAA Tournament.