Perspectives - One Man's Out House is Another's Castle

UTSA president Dr. Ricardo Romo stated that since UTSA started football, the dream destination was Conference-USA.  As I've been agitating for since my Houston Cougars announced move to the Big East, their wish came true.  UTSA will start play in C-USA in 2013; the same year the Coogs start Big East play.

Perspectives offer great windows into the thought processes of realignment goals of UH and UTSA.

Houston, formerly of the defunct Southwest Conference, joined C-USA in the wake of Texas, A&M, Baylor and Texas Tech joining up with Big Eight schools to form the Big 12.  At the time, UH football reached a low point following a short run that included nationally ranked teams and a Heisman Trophy winner.  The wheels fell off the program and an already fickle fan base shrank more.  The support sank so low that there was a movement to drop football.

A number of moves by Houston righted the ship and lead to a resurgence of Houston Cougar football.  Athletic Director David Maggard fired Dana Dimel and hired Art Briles.  Briles led the Cougars to new found success that included bowl games.  The Cougars emerged from the depths of the only 0-11 season to a C-USA title in 2006.  Kevin Sumlin then took the Cougars to national rankings and the verge of a BCS bowl game while leading UH to 12 regular season wins.  The program went from the edge of the abyss to national prominence.  With the combination of sustained success, increased fan support, commitment to new or improved facilities and on field success, Houston looked to leave C-USA.  The original goal was the Big 12 after the departures of Nebraska and Colorado.  UH also maintained contact with Mountain West Conference.

Eventually Houston, realizing its goal of leaving C-USA, moved on to the Big East conference.  The motivation of course is money.  TV football money.  UH finally found a home.  Make no mistake about it, if the Big 12 comes calling, and that's a big if, UH will trip over itself taking the invitation.

On the flip side, UTSA wanted to join C-USA.  The goal was to eventually attain C-USA membership while rising up the ranks from Southland to WAC.  The Roadrunners accepted a WAC invitation only to see things break favorably.  C-USA lost Houston, smu and Central Florida to the Big East.  Thus the window opened for UTSA.  After an initial cool reception, C-USA warmed up to the 'runners.  A big push by the school and community made the conference take a second look.  Congrats to UTSA....the will start C-USA play after one year in WAC. The WAC goes on life support with the loss of the football programs.

Houston and its fans viewed C-USA as a holding place until the right time to move on came along after the demise of the SWC.  The Cougars wanted to play the next level up and saw C-USA more of an impediment than an advantage for competition.  The quality from top to bottom in C-USA was lacking respect.  Outside of Houston, Central Florida, Tulsa andSouthern Miss, football languished with anchors like Memphis, UAB, rice and Tulane.  Marshall, UTEP and East Carolina cycled through teams but not on a consistent basis.  Houston felt bigger and better things existed outside of C-USA.

UTSA though, felt that C-USA was an appropriate destination for the fledgling program years down the road.  Things changed quickly and the administration took advantage of the dynamic situation and positioned the 'runners further along ahead of schedule.

Houston's moving on up the Big East side and UTSA gladly took up residence next to Archie Bunker.

I wish nothing but luck to both programs as a San Antonio native but Houston alumnus.

Central Florida, Houston and the Big East

I'm so far behind on my magazine subscriptions and other reading that I've finally decided to drop many of them and read a select few. Still just getting caught up on the ones I have.

One of my favorite publications in the Sporting News Daily. It gives a ton of sports info for only $2.99 a month and is digitally delivered. My only beef with them is other than an iPad, no other portable device supports the Zinio reader.

Enough of that little rant.

I mentioned Zino, delayed reading and Sporting News Daily because I came across an interesting little blurb.

Much speculation has been making the rounds on the Houston Cougar message boards, fans and internet about Big East expansion. Of course we all know that if it's on the internet it must be true.

So I take the blurb on the January 28th Sporting News Daily with a grain of salt.

One of the unconfirmed theories floated by Cougar fans and speculators is that Villanova, Central Florida and Houston are the next choices for Big East expansion. The current thinking is Villanova has a foot up on the other schools should they decided to commit to a BCS level football team. If they don't then its Houston or Central Florida.

Again, unfounded as far as I know, Big East member South Florida is rumored to lobby against Central Florida's membership.

Sporting News Daily reports that USF doesn't wield the power to keep UCF out. The article states instead "there is no school in the Big East with less power, less of commissioner John Marinatto's ear, than USF." According to the article and internet rumor, it's not USF that is UCF's biggest stumbling block. What hurts UCF instead is the close location of USF. The location doesn't add significant recruiting or television markets.

The article mentions in the last paragraph that Houston brings the No. 4 market and a recruiting hotbed. Again, no mention that Houston is actually in the expansion picture but it adds fuel to the fire of internet speculation.