Did you know we are leaving for C-USA?

[ksu sucks]

Don't forget soccer! And once we got there we would be able to get better recruits due to the conference.

We could probably get into the Big East for just soccer right now. We practically have the MAC bending over backwards to keep our soccer program in the conference. Hopefully the same can be said for our hoops in a few years.

[Dead Horse]

Why does this topic keep coming up?

[Zip Watcher]

Why does this topic keep coming up?

:chair: Thank you .. I was wondering when you'd drag your rotting bones around these parts.

[WinZip]

I don't want us to give up the relationships we have in the MAC... at least not until we can really win in a big conference like the big east. I want to have some dominating seasons and God knows we need the fan support....and for anyone who is offended by God I meant Zippy

[Zipsrifle]

Someone said this to me many years ago, and I believe it. The Big 10 wants to have 12 teams, and that 12th spot is for Notre Dame and nobody else.Something to consider, by Brother-in-law went to school at The University of Chicago. He said a long time ago they were part of the Big 10 and left with the option to re-join the conference in the future if they desired...... So, how does Big 13 sound????

[meatwad]

Why does this topic keep coming up?

LOL!

[ZippyRulz]

CUSA would give us exposure to large (southern) markets like Orlando-FL, Birmingham-AL, New Orleans-LA, Houston-TX and Memphis-TN. Baseball/softball, mens and womens soccer and M/W golf would benefit from the milder climates but do the southern schools want to come to northern Ohio regularly? Although, it does seem like a league of (widely-dispersed) misfits...Rice, Marshall, Tulsa, ECU. Unless there's some major conference reorganizations, we probably just fit better in the midwest-based MAC.I think it's pretty obvious the conference-home topic persists because it has a lot to do with the success and direction of a school's athletic program, fan support, finances, etc.

[skip-zip]

This discussion, and the last post, takes me back to some of my beliefs back in the mid-80s, when we became D-1A in both football and basketball. There was a conference at the time called the Metro. They had other city schools from the Midwest like us, such as Cincinnati, Louisville, Memphis, St. Louis, and Tulane. I know....some of these names sound familiar? This old metro conference later merged with the Great Midwest Conference to form Conference USA. And although they've lost a few powerhouses along the way, I still see this as our most logical next step forward. First, I think this is probably our only real possibility as far as acceptance. And secondly, I think it would at least gain us a regional presence, instead of just basically an Ohio/Michigan presence.

[Zipmeister]

I too think we should join a better conference (and we should also cure cancer). Since most of the good schools already have a conference affiliation for football I suggest we start a brand new conference with Notre Dame. We would gain national exposure and our game with ND would be on network TV. Plus, since we would be the only two team conference in the country, we would have a lot of flexibility in OOC scheduling. To make sure we appeal to Midwesterners the name of the conference is obvious - The Big Eleven.

[72 Roo]

I too think we should join a better conference (and we should also cure cancer). Since most of the good schools already have a conference affiliation for football I suggest we start a brand new conference with Notre Dame. We would gain national exposure and our game with ND would be on network TV. Plus, since we would be the only two team conference in the country, we would have a lot of flexibility in OOC scheduling. To make sure we appeal to Midwesterners the name of the conference is obvious - The Big Eleven.

Thanks for getting us into the 2 team Big Eleven and also curing cancer to boot. Obviously, a new conference is the most important of the two achievements, but kicking the big C's butt is nonetheless pretty sweet.For what it's worth, I'm also a proponent of getting into a better conference ASAP. I feel C-USA would be it as things now stand. We aren't ready for the move, so now our focus should be to dominate the MAC and become attractive to other confernce opportunities that may present themselves. C-USA may be one. There also may be a realignment that would make sense for us. In my dreams the Big East asks us in (my dreams are pretty good at times). At best the MAC is a good place to be to build our portfolio for better opportunities. They will come. When, I can't predict. When they come, we must be ready to act. That's all I'm saying. I think Dr. Proenza appreciates this better than we think. The Zips are coming on and will be heard from for many years to come. Fear the Roo!