ESPN has an article out about ECU and how they're not afraid to play a tough schedule:
"Fresno State might be the most well-known team for its anybody, anywhere, anytime approach to scheduling, but on the other side of the country, East Carolina continues to concoct schedules that deserve a piece of the spotlight. "
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/preview08/...id=3548385
Yep. Holland has done a fantastic job scheduling OOC football games for ECU. No one else in C-USA has come close to equalling it. I wish the local schools around USM would schedule us fairly.
Uh, Tulane plays both LSU and Alabama this season. Both on the road. I would think that comes pretty close, if not tougher.
Yeah, Im like the other Eagle.. I wish more regional teams would schedule us home and home but I do understand why they dont. Im glad we have future home and home games with Nebraska, Kansas and Virginia .. I'd like to see us do some Home and Home games with Fresno State, Toledo and other TOP non-BCS programs.
Yeah, Im like the other Eagle.. I wish more regional teams would schedule us home and home but I do understand why they dont. Im glad we have future home and home games with Nebraska, Kansas and Virginia .. I'd like to see us do some Home and Home games with Fresno State, Toledo and other TOP non-BCS programs.
You're better off playing a bad BCS team. You get more national recognition when you beat a bad BCS team then you do for beating *most* top non-bcs teams. Sad but true.
Yeah, Im like the other Eagle.. I wish more regional teams would schedule us home and home but I do understand why they dont. Im glad we have future home and home games with Nebraska, Kansas and Virginia .. I'd like to see us do some Home and Home games with Fresno State, Toledo and other TOP non-BCS programs.
You're better off playing a bad BCS team. You get more national recognition when you beat a bad BCS team then you do for beating *most* top non-bcs teams. Sad but true.
Yeah that is sad but you're right that is very true.
Uh, Tulane plays both LSU and Alabama this season. Both on the road. I would think that comes pretty close, if not tougher.
Lousiana Monroe, Army < Virginia, NC State
Sorry, but I don't think either Virginia or NC State are all that scary. The two toughest teams on Tulane's schedule are better than any team on ECU's schedule.
Guess ESPN wrote the wrong story.
They are talking about year in and out; not one year dude!
I respect ECU for trying, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing at the end of the day. You have to win more than you lose before it really helps. Over the last 25 years Memphis has beaten the likes of Southern Cal, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. However, we've lost more than we won. It doesn't do much when you lose most of the time even if you have a few big wins.
I respect ECU for trying, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing at the end of the day. You have to win more than you lose before it really helps. Over the last 25 years Memphis has beaten the likes of Southern Cal, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. However, we've lost more than we won. It doesn't do much when you lose most of the time even if you have a few big wins.
yeah, but if you feel like you have the team to compete/win, people definitely take notice of it.
I think GOL was talking about the "buy-games" and not playing them because it puts you in a hole to get bowl-eligible. I think playing like say 1 top team, 2 mid level teams, and a decent/bad team is good.
Top team as in top 20 talent (lsu, v tech, texas - those type games that most c-usa teams are playing) mid "bcs" teams such as NC State, BC. and whatever other team you want is fine to start the season (like UCF playing SC State).
Sorry, but I don't think either Virginia or NC State are all that scary. The two toughest teams on Tulane's schedule are better than any team on ECU's schedule.
Not true. Best ranking in the 2 polls.
LSU #6.............WVU #8
bama #24............VT #15
.........................UVA #38
No one has played near as many BCS teams as we have. Everyone always say "Fresno will play anyone anywhere" We don't have to go anywhere anymore. Last 15 years Fresno played 43 BCS schools, we played 66. There's not even anyone close.
http://www.blocku.com/story/2007/6/27/3124/14028
I respect ECU for trying, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing at the end of the day. You have to win more than you lose before it really helps. Over the last 25 years Memphis has beaten the likes of Southern Cal, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. However, we've lost more than we won. It doesn't do much when you lose most of the time even if you have a few big wins.
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
It's a lot less damaging to lose to NC State or Virginia than it is to Middle Tennessee State or a D1aa like some did last year, & if you play them enough you will drop some of those games just like we will get some upsets of the West Virginia's & Virginia Tech's. If we lose to WVU or VT it doesn't hurt at all, we scored points & respect points for just playing VT close. Hell Louisville when they lost to Miami close a few years ago got more respect in the polls than they ever would have beating a sun belt. Unfortunately that's only a 3rd of our schedule, I wish it was more as a fan, but there are still enough winnable games to have a winning record even if we lose them all vs the BCS which I don't think we will or normally do.
We get all the teams we play on equal terms now. You can't ask for any better than that, & if they are willing to play at your place no way we say forget that & dump them for Buffalo or Elon. That doesn't get you on TV, or ESPN writing articles about you, that doesn't excite recruits or fans & you don't earn respect nationally by beating a D1aa or Sun Belt. I don't care if you beat them all, people still want to see what you will do vs a BCS team to validate it & if you have just done it with smoke & mirrors you will be exposed like Hawaii. No one even on this board respects them it seems, you think the SEC or Big 10 fans do?? That's where we are all measured at the end of the day in the CFB world, by how we do vs the BCS & you can't beat them with out trying.
There's two trains of thought when it comes to scheduling for trying to build a program.
1. The Kansas State model. Play as many cupcakes as you can find OOC just to get a winning record and get bowl eligible, even if it means you get blown out by the powers in your conference and lose your bowl game. The only thing that matters is ending the season above .500.
2. The FSU model. Play as many high profile OOC games as possible. You win some, you lose some...but it seems like you are on tv every week in a high profile game. Early on you take some serious lumps....but the payoff in a few years is you are fielding championship football teams.
Kansas State won 3 division titles and one Big XII title using their method.
FSU won 12 conference titles and 2 national titles using theirs.
You make a good point Cat. Except that FSU was located in a prime recruiting state, whereas KSU had to go find it. It also has to fit the circumstances. FSU was an independent when it started to build, and KSU was a doormat of the big8/12.
Tulane, Rice, SMU should use the KSU model to rebuild. You could also make an argument for UAB. The only problem with the KSU model is sorry attendance - playing powder puff teams hardly insures a good gate - unless it's a SWAC team. However the rest of C-USA should be scheduling top opponents on fair terms (no buy games). USM is slowly shaking off the buy games. I think we might have 2 or 3 left, including this year's game with Auburn.
I like what UTEP has done with the OOC games this year and next. This year there is only one "big" game but next year we play Kansas and Texas along with a return game from Buffalo and our yearly rivalry game with NMSU. I think it is time for UTEP to start playing Arizona and Arizona St. on a regular basis also.
I respect ECU for trying, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing at the end of the day. You have to win more than you lose before it really helps. Over the last 25 years Memphis has beaten the likes of Southern Cal, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. However, we've lost more than we won. It doesn't do much when you lose most of the time even if you have a few big wins.
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
It's a lot less damaging to lose to NC State or Virginia than it is to Middle Tennessee State or a D1aa like some did last year, & if you play them enough you will drop some of those games just like we will get some upsets of the West Virginia's & Virginia Tech's. If we lose to WVU or VT it doesn't hurt at all, we scored points & respect points for just playing VT close. Hell Louisville when they lost to Miami close a few years ago got more respect in the polls than they ever would have beating a sun belt. Unfortunately that's only a 3rd of our schedule, I wish it was more as a fan, but there are still enough winnable games to have a winning record even if we lose them all vs the BCS which I don't think we will or normally do.
We get all the teams we play on equal terms now. You can't ask for any better than that, & if they are willing to play at your place no way we say forget that & dump them for Buffalo or Elon. That doesn't get you on TV, or ESPN writing articles about you, that doesn't excite recruits or fans & you don't earn respect nationally by beating a D1aa or Sun Belt. I don't care if you beat them all, people still want to see what you will do vs a BCS team to validate it & if you have just done it with smoke & mirrors you will be exposed like Hawaii. No one even on this board respects them it seems, you think the SEC or Big 10 fans do?? That's where we are all measured at the end of the day in the CFB world, by how we do vs the BCS & you can't beat them with out trying.
Exactly man - I watched the ECU/V Tech game last year - it was early on in the season and even if I had no interest in CUSA I would have watched the game. It's great to watch a team from a "smaller" conference play the big boys tight. ECU got major respect points for that game - same goes for those that watched UCF play Texas, even though we didn't pull it off, everyone around the nation saw UCF almost upset the number I believe 6? team
There's two trains of thought when it comes to scheduling for trying to build a program.
1. The Kansas State model. Play as many cupcakes as you can find OOC just to get a winning record and get bowl eligible, even if it means you get blown out by the powers in your conference and lose your bowl game. The only thing that matters is ending the season above .500.
2. The FSU model. Play as many high profile OOC games as possible. You win some, you lose some...but it seems like you are on tv every week in a high profile game. Early on you take some serious lumps....but the payoff in a few years is you are fielding championship football teams.
Kansas State won 3 division titles and one Big XII title using their method.
FSU won 12 conference titles and 2 national titles using theirs.
There is also a middle ground. I like our season this year. We get a top nonBCS team at home, a top BCS team away, a SBC team at home and a SBC team in easy driving distance. Granted I'd rather trade the one and done with Auburn with the one and one Virginia or Kansas games, but we are getting there.
I respect ECU for trying, but I'm not sure if it's a good thing at the end of the day. You have to win more than you lose before it really helps. Over the last 25 years Memphis has beaten the likes of Southern Cal, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, Ole Miss, and Mississippi State. However, we've lost more than we won. It doesn't do much when you lose most of the time even if you have a few big wins.
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
It's a lot less damaging to lose to NC State or Virginia than it is to Middle Tennessee State or a D1aa like some did last year, & if you play them enough you will drop some of those games just like we will get some upsets of the West Virginia's & Virginia Tech's. If we lose to WVU or VT it doesn't hurt at all, we scored points & respect points for just playing VT close. Hell Louisville when they lost to Miami close a few years ago got more respect in the polls than they ever would have beating a sun belt. Unfortunately that's only a 3rd of our schedule, I wish it was more as a fan, but there are still enough winnable games to have a winning record even if we lose them all vs the BCS which I don't think we will or normally do.
We get all the teams we play on equal terms now. You can't ask for any better than that, & if they are willing to play at your place no way we say forget that & dump them for Buffalo or Elon. That doesn't get you on TV, or ESPN writing articles about you, that doesn't excite recruits or fans & you don't earn respect nationally by beating a D1aa or Sun Belt. I don't care if you beat them all, people still want to see what you will do vs a BCS team to validate it & if you have just done it with smoke & mirrors you will be exposed like Hawaii. No one even on this board respects them it seems, you think the SEC or Big 10 fans do?? That's where we are all measured at the end of the day in the CFB world, by how we do vs the BCS & you can't beat them with out trying.
Of course you're right. Look what playing quality teams has done for Vandy, Duke, Ole Miss, etc. Losing to superior teams hasn't hurt their image at all. Why, Temple is reveling in their spotlight.
Of course you're right. Look what playing quality teams has done for Vandy, Duke, Ole Miss, etc. Losing to superior teams hasn't hurt their image at all. Why, Temple is reveling in their spotlight.
You're trying to compare circles and squares. #1 someone always has to be at the bottom, they are there because they put academic handcuff on themselves or don't support those programs. They also play 8 teams a year in BCS conferences. We can't play more than half that vs the BCS now even though we want to add more games. We should still have plenty of winnable games.
well it shouldn't be hard for ECU, they are close to those teams that they play... got to win though or the logic just doesn't pan out...
beating BSU was a good start for ECU, time to continue with a win over VT!
Of course you're right. Look what playing quality teams has done for Vandy, Duke, Ole Miss, etc. Losing to superior teams hasn't hurt their image at all. Why, Temple is reveling in their spotlight.
You're trying to compare circles and squares. #1 someone always has to be at the bottom, they are there because they put academic handcuff on themselves or don't support those programs. They also play 8 teams a year in BCS conferences. We can't play more than half that vs the BCS now even though we want to add more games. We should still have plenty of winnable games.
No. I was answering the statement you made concerning quality of teams played against. You offered no caveats regarding academics, or support groups. So, if your premise is correct, the teams I listed should be very well respected. Unfortunately, they aren't. Why? Because they bite off more than they can chew, and the mounting losses discourage respect.
got to win though or the logic just doesn't pan out...
I know where you're comming from, but the logic goes beyond just winning. Win, lose or draw
1. Having 4 BCS teams on your schedule most assuredly helps with recruiting, versus 1 BCS team and three cupcakes if you're the only D1 non-BCS team in the middle of 8 BCS teams across a three state area.
2. When you get 'em to agree to home and home like we have, it makes a huge impact on the financial bottom line for season ticket sales, walk up ticket sales, facilities upgrades, etc.
3. You get more exposure, good or bad. But you do gain in exposure.
4. In my humble opinion you can't elevate your program unless you regularly play teams from the BCS level. If you want your program to play at that level, well you have to play them. You may take your lumps, but over time I believe it pays divedends.
Just my $0.02.
ECU has 10 BCS programs right in their back yard. We have no choice. You want players you have to play solid teams. Simple as that. You guys want BS wins GO FOR it. We'll be fine!
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
That would suggest a big time coaching problem. Despite who is standing on the other side of the field, every game should be the game of the year, shoulder chips and all. Might also explain why ECU has failed to win a seat at the Championship Game or why they have choked away the East the past two seasons. Thats not a flame, just saying, the only bad recipe is to be scared of anybody.
4. In my humble opinion you can't elevate your program unless you regularly play teams from the BCS level.
Actually...you can...and its quite easy.
Just check our your Divisional and Conference standings vs "like institutions" (i.e. other conference members).
Even a 4 year old knows how to read Conference/Divisional standings....as your program will be "elevated" once you start winning division titles and playing in the CUSA Championship Game on a regular basis.
Those that do not win their Divisional Titles (hence, won't play in a CUSA Champ Game) will not elevate their program.
got to win though or the logic just doesn't pan out...
I know where you're comming from, but the logic goes beyond just winning. Win, lose or draw
1. Having 4 BCS teams on your schedule most assuredly helps with recruiting, versus 1 BCS team and three cupcakes if you're the only D1 non-BCS team in the middle of 8 BCS teams across a three state area.
2. When you get 'em to agree to home and home like we have, it makes a huge impact on the financial bottom line for season ticket sales, walk up ticket sales, facilities upgrades, etc.
3. You get more exposure, good or bad. But you do gain in exposure.
4. In my humble opinion you can't elevate your program unless you regularly play teams from the BCS level. If you want your program to play at that level, well you have to play them. You may take your lumps, but over time I believe it pays divedends.
Just my $0.02.
"BCS level??" What the hell is that? Vandy or Ohio State? Louisville or Minnesota?
4. In my humble opinion you can't elevate your program unless you regularly play teams from the BCS level.
Actually...you can...and its quite easy.
Just check our your Divisional and Conference standings vs "like institutions" (i.e. other conference members).
Even a 4 year old knows how to read Conference/Divisional standings....as your program will be "elevated" once you start winning division titles and playing in the CUSA Championship Game on a regular basis.
Those that do not win their Divisional Titles (hence, won't play in a CUSA Champ Game) will not elevate their program.
Bingo!!!
Question: Can a team make it to a BCS game without playing a top 25 BCS team during the course of the season?
Answer: Hawaii.
Question: What elevates the status of a program?
Answer: Winning. Bowl games. BCS bowl.
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
That would suggest a big time coaching problem. Despite who is standing on the other side of the field, every game should be the game of the year, shoulder chips and all. Might also explain why ECU has failed to win a seat at the Championship Game or why they have choked away the East the past two seasons. Thats not a flame, just saying, the only bad recipe is to be scared of anybody.
It's just human nature. If you honestly believe your guys will be more pumped up to play the Sun Belt schools on your schedule than at Auburn you are foolish IMO. I don't care who the coach is. Likewise I'm sure those Sun Belt schools will be a hell of a lot more motivated to play & beat you than Auburn will.
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
That would suggest a big time coaching problem. Despite who is standing on the other side of the field, every game should be the game of the year, shoulder chips and all. Might also explain why ECU has failed to win a seat at the Championship Game or why they have choked away the East the past two seasons. Thats not a flame, just saying, the only bad recipe is to be scared of anybody.
It's just human nature. If you honestly believe your guys will be more pumped up to play the Sun Belt schools on your schedule than at Auburn you are foolish IMO. I don't care who the coach is. Likewise I'm sure those Sun Belt schools will be a hell of a lot more motivated to play & beat you than Auburn will.
If you can't get your team motivated and emotionally pumped for every game, regardless of your opponent, you are not a good coach. The biggest game of the season, is ALWAYS the next game you play.
I would rather go into a game where our guys have the chip on there shoulder & treat it like its one of the biggest games of the year rather than a game where the team we are playing, perhaps out of the D1aa or Sun Belt, are the ones with that edge & our guys secretly think they will blow them away & don't take it serious.That's a bad recipe & what I think happens most of the time & I would much rather be on the other side of.
That would suggest a big time coaching problem. Despite who is standing on the other side of the field, every game should be the game of the year, shoulder chips and all. Might also explain why ECU has failed to win a seat at the Championship Game or why they have choked away the East the past two seasons. Thats not a flame, just saying, the only bad recipe is to be scared of anybody.
It's just human nature. If you honestly believe your guys will be more pumped up to play the Sun Belt schools on your schedule than at Auburn you are foolish IMO. I don't care who the coach is. Likewise I'm sure those Sun Belt schools will be a hell of a lot more motivated to play & beat you than Auburn will.
If you can't get your team motivated and emotionally pumped for every game, regardless of your opponent, you are not a good coach. The biggest game of the season, is ALWAYS the next game you play.
And if you think that your players are just as pumped to play La-La and Arkansas St as they are Auburn and Boise you are only fooling yourself. Vince Lombardi couldn't motivate them to that point.
Yep. Holland has done a fantastic job scheduling OOC football games for ECU. No one else in C-USA has come close to equalling it. I wish the local schools around USM would schedule us fairly.
Southern Miss has a lot of scheduling challenges. That is the crutch you use when you beat everyone in your area.
4. In my humble opinion you can't elevate your program unless you regularly play teams from the BCS level.
Actually...you can...and its quite easy.
Just check our your Divisional and Conference standings vs "like institutions" (i.e. other conference members).
Even a 4 year old knows how to read Conference/Divisional standings....as your program will be "elevated" once you start winning division titles and playing in the CUSA Championship Game on a regular basis.
Those that do not win their Divisional Titles (hence, won't play in a CUSA Champ Game) will not elevate their program.
Do you really think recruits care about a conference USA divisional title? You hardly hear divisional titles mentioned in any conference. You win the conference like UCF did last year, thats impressive. Divisional title, not so much.
4. In my humble opinion you can't elevate your program unless you regularly play teams from the BCS level.
Actually...you can...and its quite easy.
Just check our your Divisional and Conference standings vs "like institutions" (i.e. other conference members).
Even a 4 year old knows how to read Conference/Divisional standings....as your program will be "elevated" once you start winning division titles and playing in the CUSA Championship Game on a regular basis.
Those that do not win their Divisional Titles (hence, won't play in a CUSA Champ Game) will not elevate their program.
What do you think impresses the 4 star recruit from Scotland County, NC, Independence HS in Charlotte, or from the Tidewater area of VA more....."ECU won the East Division of CUSA" a conference full of teams they may or may not have ever heard of or "ECU has beaten NC State, UNC, Virginia, and Duke the past three years." teams they not only have heard of, but get a chance to see every single weekend of football season?
Not only recruits but the regional media could give a $hit if we won CUSA every year if we lost to those regional BCS schools. They would view us like they did App State when they won the 2nd of their D1aa titles & lost by 2 TD's to a 3-9 NC State team. Everyone just said who cares about D1aa football if they can't even hang with a 3-9 NCSU team, it's obviously not worth much or who cares, then they beat Michigan the next year & it's a national story earning respect. Can't win those types of games without playing them. Wins OOC vs high profile teams, & especially vs the BCS conferences are what validates the conference & CUSA teams haven't been doing a very good job of beating the BCS conferences & top 25 games where that respect is won for a CUSA title. Those are the only things that make the conference worth winning & where the respect for it will come from.
Do you really think recruits care about a conference USA divisional title? You hardly hear divisional titles mentioned in any conference. You win the conference like UCF did last year, thats impressive. Divisional title, not so much.
Why yes...as in UCF's case....not only did UCF win the CUSA Eastern Title twice in 3 years....UCF had the best overall CUSA record...so it was able to HOST the CUSA Championship game TWICE!!
That's why winning a divisional title is IMPORTANT.
The surface of the arguement is what impresses, a regional victory in CUSA or regional victories in Carolina. However, what I'm hearing is a lot of disrespect for fellow CUSA programs. To paraphrase, "how can playing, and even beating such grossly inadequate teams as exists in CUSA compare to beating NC State?"
The surface of the arguement is what impresses, a regional victory in CUSA or regional victories in Carolina. However, what I'm hearing is a lot of disrespect for fellow CUSA programs. To paraphrase, "how can playing, and even beating such grossly inadequate teams as exists in CUSA compare to beating NC State?"
Agree.
The surface of the arguement is what impresses, a regional victory in CUSA or regional victories in Carolina. However, what I'm hearing is a lot of disrespect for fellow CUSA programs. To paraphrase, "how can playing, and even beating such grossly inadequate teams as exists in CUSA compare to beating NC State?"
..& that's how most college football fans feel across the nation when comparing BCS teams to non-BCS & there a heck of lot more of thier fans. That's why those games are very important opportunities for CUSA & to give some respect for a CUSA championship, if it is going to ever get any respect outside this board we are going to have to make them believers by beating them.
Why yes...as in UCF's case....not only did UCF win the CUSA Eastern Title twice in 3 years....UCF had the best overall CUSA record...so it was able to HOST the CUSA Championship game TWICE!!
That's why winning a divisional title is IMPORTANT.
UCF can boast about winning 2 divisional titles by a game in the standings, but when you have only beat 2 BCS opponents ever, have no top 25 wins, no bowl wins, no marquee OOC wins ever, & are missing opportunities as one of the better CUSA teams by playing teams like SC State & Buffalo(home & home), they aren't exactly doing much to help the CUSA brand which is already pretty low right now. That's where the respect outside this board is earned both for your team & conf. You think USF, joe 6 pack fan, or top recruits that watch you play in your back yard vs USF respects you because you won CUSA? Get real, how can they when you get trounced by them all the time? The only way you will earn respect from those groups is to beat USF or atleast play more competitively.
You have no respect for your fellow CUSA members. We get it. You have been pushing that message for several years now. We get it. Some of us remember when ECU came into the conference. We were constantly told how ECU was far superior to what the conference had to offer and the Pirates would dominate. Well, that has not worked out. So now the fucus is to look past CUSA to regional, albeit mostly mediocre BCS programs and exhalt them as worthy opponents for the Pirates. We get it.
I just hope this schedule will allow for Holland to keep his mouth shout about expansion. Hopefull these games bring in enough money for ECU to travel without hearing about the cost. Good luck except when they play the Tigers.
So now the fucus is to look past CUSA to regional, albeit mostly mediocre BCS programs and exhalt them as worthy opponents for the Pirates. We get it.
Virginia Tech & West Virginia are real mediocre, except last I checked they are consistently ranked (& ranked high: both top 15 this year), & go to BCS games(like both last year). Another opponent this year is Virginia who went 9-4 & was top 25 much of last year & have about 2 losing season in the last 20 years & then NC State & N. Carolina have new respected coaches taking over & have had good overall histories. Then we start up a series with S. Carolina & Spurrier in a couple years. Real mediocre programs. Not like you haven't been hyping your schedule even on this thread or don't get pumped to play LSU. Get real of course we get pumped to play Virginia Tech or to play & beat instate BCS foes like UNC & NC State. You would be to.
You have no respect for your fellow CUSA members. We get it. You have been pushing that message for several years now. We get it. Some of us remember when ECU came into the conference.
Feel free to tell me how my "message" is wrong? I have said nothing about CUSA other than we need to do more OOC to earn respect for the conference & it's championship & give it more worth.
"If we want to move this league forward, we as a group are going to have to focus on the BCS games, and get ourselves noticed."...George O'Leary
O'leary knows it too. Other than that I have just taken pride in the fact that we have been the best in CUSA at earning respect for the conf by winning more high profile games OOC or in bowls where the respect for the conf is generated. I only mention that when someone like you tries to minimise our accomplishments or rubbing a divisional/CUSA titles we lost in the past by a whole game in our face, even in many cases when we beat those teams that finished on top of the standings. I'm not disappointed in our program, I like having significantly more major conference wins than any non-BCS program, & we don't need to win CUSA to validate our program. In fact I think what we have done OOC over the years is a better way to build respect for your program IMO & as a fan those are the games that get you most juiced. Don't believe me look at your tickets prices for the marquee home games vs BCS teams & the CUSA ones across the conference.
'Not only recruits but the regional media could give a $hit if we won CUSA every year if we lost to those regional BCS schools. They would view us like they did App State when they won the 2nd of their D1aa titles & lost by 2 TD's to a 3-9 NC State team," quote StillJonesing.
And you claim you have said nothing against CUSA. If you don't have the courage to stand up for your team and confernece, how do you expect the media or those not associated to ECU to recognize the value of your school and conference?
(Another opponent this year is Virginia who went 9-4 & was top 25 much of last year & have about 2 losing season in the last 20 years & then NC State & N. Carolina) absolutely mediocre.
And as far as my mentioning LSU, Alabama, et al, it was in response to a thread that said only ECU plays challenging BCS schools. If you check the record (previous posts) you will see that I do not emphasize OOC competition.
BTW, this is not the first year ECU will be playing the type schedule you are so enamored with. Tell us, how has that been working out for you? Have you reached that level of respect it is supposed to provide? Try winning a division or conference title. Maybe that will help.
Sorry, but I don't think either Virginia or NC State are all that scary. The two toughest teams on Tulane's schedule are better than any team on ECU's schedule.
I kindly disagree, sir.
You're saying Alabama > Virginia Tech? No, at least not at the moment.
You're saying LSU > West Virginia? Arguable, I'll call it a push.
There's no way you can compare LA-Monroe and Army with Virginia and NC State. And we're playing both of those ACC schools on the road. You guys are hosting two laughingstocks that'll likely be perennial residents of ESPN's Bottom 10 all season.
careful now. UL-Monroe beat that bama team he is pumping up last year.
Tulane has the toughest non conf schedule in the league this year, wouldn't you say.
Tulane has the toughest non conf schedule in the league this year, wouldn't you say.
Nope.
The surface of the arguement is what impresses, a regional victory in CUSA or regional victories in Carolina. However, what I'm hearing is a lot of disrespect for fellow CUSA programs. To paraphrase, "how can playing, and even beating such grossly inadequate teams as exists in CUSA compare to beating NC State?"
Agree.
What I heard is that CUSA can not help ECU recruit in NC and Virginia, but playing regional teams does help recruiting.
"Not only recruits but the regional media could give a $hit if we won CUSA every year...."
That sound like recruits only to you?