Jab979 said

Unfortunately this conference shuffle is coming at a bad time for us. No football stadium, baseball stadium is just a disaster plain and simple. As for the burrow, we could get away with having a small gym but we would need to pack it every home game.

My thoughts exactly as far as the timing!  I also agree that the CUSA might be our move that has the best chance, however anything can happen–especially if a larger conference takes a chance on us because of our TV Market, Recruiting Grounds &/OR our phantom stadium (fingers crossed).

GO OWLS!

We will have a stadium in 15-16 months from now.  Basketball arena can be built in a year.

I think our academics and lack of fan support hurt us as much or more than facilities right now.  I agree with Walty that facilities can be built.  It would have to be a conference that gives us significant revenues, however because our issue is we do not generate enough to build better facilities.  Fan support takes much longer to build.  True fan support, not just fans showing up for a big game twice a year.

It is a bit of a catch-22. How do you get more fans?? Generate more interest. How do you generate more interest?? Host better teams.

I've said this many times the casual fan isn't going to drive to lockhart or even to FAU to see us play N. Texas or New Orleans.

The casual fan would show up if we played Memphis or Houston (assuming UCF and ECU move to whatever is left of big east)

Jab979 said

It is a bit of a catch-22. How do you get more fans?? Generate more interest. How do you generate more interest?? Host better teams.

I've said this many times the casual fan isn't going to drive to lockhart or even to FAU to see us play N. Texas or New Orleans.

The casual fan would show up if we played Memphis or Houston (assuming UCF and ECU move to whatever is left of big east)

I buy your idea and it could happen and hope that is the case.

I just don't think we have seen any proof of it happening.  The USF football game was probably the best example of people showing up for a big game, however it could be argued that 40 percent of the fans were from USF.  In basketball, when we have had Miami come to our campus, we get 2,300 fans, many of which are canes fans…that's not enough.  This year in baseball, during a great year, Miami came to our campus and we got 1,300 fans, many of which were canes fans.

As far as casual fans not wanting to drive to Lockhart, I think we have many casual fans that have to drive to campus as well, not everyone lives near campus, so not sure of the entire impact of the on campus stadium.  Of course as the dorms get built that helps for the students.  That's not to say, I don't want the stadium, because I want it yesterday.  I'm just not convinced that it solves our fan support issues.

fauowl said

I think our academics and lack of fan support hurt us as much or more than facilities right now.

I think the academics aren't that bad to hold us back, some of the colleges are highly ranked in their fields.

ESPN is reporting Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to the pac-10. A&M wants to separate itself from Texas and is exploring the SEC.

From what I hear Texas didn't want to go to the SEC because of their academics

Jab979 said

ESPN is reporting Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to the pac-10. A&M wants to separate itself from Texas and is exploring the SEC.

From what I hear Texas didn't want to go to the SEC because of their academics

LOL, makes the UF president look like an even bigger Jackass for grading his school as "prestigious"  :D

If the Big East gets raided, which I fully predict they will be, I'd bet that UCF and ECU make a jump opening up spots in CUSA.

I wouldn't be surprised to see CUSA expand regardless of what happens.

I would predict that FAU and FIU will both be in CUSA once this happens.

mh2os said

fauowl said

I think our academics and lack of fan support hurt us as much or more than facilities right now.

I think the academics aren't that bad to hold us back, some of the colleges are highly ranked in their fields.

Maybe in general, but the conference shifting is about athletics for the most part, and our athletes are not graduating and that is a major problem for us.  No conference will be clamoring for that.

I have taken heat for always defending the athletics department in the stadium situation because of the lack of money and support from alumni, etc.

This issue is directly related to the athletics department and is inexcusable IMO.