Happy Holidays, Conference USA! Let’s take a look at your life raft.
Your Conference was not doing so well before the American Athletic savaged the Conference with 6 poaches. 3 others bolted for the Sun Belt.
UAB was a quality addition to the American, particularly after its Independence Bowl upset of BYU. So is UTSA, as it ascends under Jeff Traylor.
But look at the quality of the American’s other poaches from USA.
Rice: The Owls cannot draw flies, even in the Texas heat.
Charlotte: Its charming stadium is the smallest in the FBS.
FAU: Another program that plays in front of family and friends.
North Texas: Still pining for the days of Hayden Fry.
So, with 4 “less desirables” leaving for the American and 3 others (Marshall, Southern Miss and Old Dominion) bolting for the Sun Belt, imagine the “quality” of the leftovers in USA.
UTEP: A shame that the program does not deserve the charming Sun Bowl
Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky were so concerned with the mass defections to the American that they flirted with the MAC.
Louisiana Tech: Try getting to Ruston. Not easy!
Florida International: So broke that the program resorted to 2nd-hand equipment.
With only 5 leftovers, who came to the rescue to augment the ailing conference? Independents Liberty and New Mexico State signed up. At least, Conference USA will have a second rivalry game: UTEP vs New Mexico State.
Two FCS thoroughbreds have agreed to join: Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State. The Odyssey does not understand why so many FCS powers want to be a much smaller fish in a larger pond. However, both programs will give Conference USA a touch of class. Badly needed, in our view.
Conference USA’s desperation has to make UMass and UConn feel even worse. The left-out 0rphans without a conference. Although not being sought after by Conference USA is a mixed blessing!