Thanks QUINN
It could be a problem if UTEP goes to Conf USA, and the problem will be UTEP's. They have been associated as a western school and have problems within themselves with what they want in the sport community. UTEP should cleanup and be leaders instead of imitators of the TCU machine. They even are in the mountain time zone and considered more a associated part of New Mexico in economics and school associations with other western schools (NMSU,UNM,UA, ASU), then there own schools in state of Texas. Their association to the west is vital for their sport survival and recognition. I recall years ago that the city of El Paso and the associated county were considering seceding from Texas to join New Mexico (aprox. 1975). Areas west of El Paso and within El Paso city limits even have dual area codes with New Mexico. It would seem that they would just alienate themselves from what they are trying to develop. They should clean up their internal sports problems and if they want to change conference association, try to get into the Mountain West. The Mountain West would be a fit better in the long term. The lead that TCU did in changing conferences does not make that choice a right choice. This will be proven in the near future to be a bad choice like UTEP’s if they deceide to the the leap to Conf. USA. UTEP should not make a change using the same intentions, and will prove the same fate for this Texas school too.....

Any secession by any city or a county in a state must be approved by Congress and the state that the city or county is in. The reason I know this is because I have a relative living in a county of California that considered seceding from the state of California. This county, along with some other counties was going to create a new state called Jefferson. However, California objected and Congress wouldn't approve. There still is the Jefferson State Fair in that county to this day as the lone reminder of that effort.

Any secession by any city or a county in a state must be approved by Congress and the state that the city or county is in. The reason I know this is because I have a relative living in a county of California that considered seceding from the state of California. This county, along with some other counties was going to create a new state called Jefferson. However, California objected and Congress wouldn't approve. There still is the Jefferson State Fair in that county to this day as the lone reminder of that effort.

Any secession by any city or a county in a state must be approved by Congress and the state that the city or county is in. The reason I know this is because I have a relative living in a county of California that considered seceding from the state of California. This county, along with some other counties was going to create a new state called Jefferson. However, California objected and Congress wouldn't approve. There still is the Jefferson State Fair in that county to this day as the lone reminder of that effort.

I apologize for the triple post. my computer was having technical difficulties.

Thanks for the info DawgNDuckFanoffline. Yes, You are right! That is just what was happening back in the 70's in New Mexico and West Texas. I have relatives in Gov. that were involved with that movement. ;)

Will CUSA have another opening soon?

Rice to re-evaluate athletic programs:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=1787287

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Being from the area, I keep thinking this is a political move to give a kick to the pants of the alumni and get funding for a new basketball facility.

CUSA ponders UTEP, LA Tech

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=katz_andy&id=1791934

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UTEP will probably join CUSA today, according to this El Paso Times article:

http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/sports/todaysstories/20040430-112093.shtml

The question is, what becomes of Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Monroe? Don't look for any Sun Belt schools to join the WAC other than Idaho. No Eastern Sun Belt school is interested because of the costs involved.

It's official - CUSA takes UTEP.

http://www.utepathletics.com/news/archive/043004a1.htm

But you all know that they have never filled their own home stadium for a game since it was built.

Wonder if UTEP will bring along the Sun Bowl and have a C-USA team play in it.

Dagoric,

Here's a quick lesson in Louisiana and the way that it works: It is like a third world country in that relationships are everything. Talent does not trump connections.

LSU has a law school (the only one is the state, outside of Tulane) and, therefore, has the majority of the big state lawyers, state congressmen and state senators. As a result, anything is done to prop up LSU. Examples:
1) In 1984, the University of Lousiana is forced to change its name back to USL by the state legislature (even though the UL System Board of Regents approved the name change), after LSU raises hell.
2) With schools like ULa and LA Tech gaining respectability nationally and growing in size, the state legislature passes a law saying that no two universities can offer doctoral degrees in the same field. However, LSU later adds a doctoral degree in Computer Science even though one is already offered by ULa.


Couple with that the fact that there are something like 13 4-year universities for a population of 4.5 million and you have underfunded schools in too many cities, outside of LSU/Baton Rouge. There are three, four year universities with a 60 mile radius in North Louisiana (LA Tech, ULM, Grambling). South Louisiana has four schools within an hour's drive of Lafayette (ULa, LSU-E [JuCo], LSU and McNeese, plus multiple community colleges).


Then, add to that the fact that everyone likes a winner and you've got the entire state pulling for the Tigers at the expense of local teams like the Cajuns, Indians and Bulldogs.

------------------------------------

If the state were to take a tough love approach, they should close or downsize most of the schools and have four large universities: LSU, UNO, LA Tech and ULa. The rest either close or become feeder schools for the aformentioned four. However, anyone that closes the schools will not be re-elected, so it won't ever happen.