C-USA 2022 Football Schedule

[MichiganHerd]

See that Judy released the schedule today, or maybe it was yesterday. She expects the Herd and others who have announced departures to play the 2022 schedule.

Will be interesting to see the Sun Belt schedule released. Herd will have many double headers this year, due to eight C-USA games and eight Sun Belt games. Total of 20 games this year on the schedule, so maybe double digit wins is possible.


Disclaimer: paragraph #2 was for humor purposes only, so please refrain from any negative comments.

 

[awebbOH]

Another example of Judy's infinite wisdom shining.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

@MichiganHerd

 

[RhinoD]

I read somewhere this was all a legal song and dance being performed by both parties (CUSA and the departing teams) before they sue each other... Marshall, ODU and So. Miss all made their announcements to leave after the CUSA schedule was finalized because they have documentation regarding their attempts to contact the league and withdraw from competition prior to the schedule being made. CUSA put those teams on the schedule, and ignored their calls, so the league can say, "We didn't know anything about you guys leaving and the schedule is already done."

It will be up to the lawyers to figure out what we owe, if anything. Either way, we will play Sun Belt football this fall and we all should be happy about that fact!

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I read somewhere this was all a legal song and dance being performed by both parties (CUSA and the departing teams) before they sue each other... Marshall, ODU and So. Miss all made their announcements to leave after the CUSA schedule was finalized because they have documentation regarding their attempts to contact the league and withdraw from competition prior to the schedule being made. CUSA put those teams on the schedule, and ignored their calls, so the league can say, "We didn't know anything about you guys leaving and the schedule is already done."

It will be up to the lawyers to figure out what we owe, if anything. Either way, we will play Sun Belt football this fall and we all should be happy about that fact!

See every conference change since realignment began 15 years ago. Both sides posture, then they "fight" it out in court, then teams pay the exit fee(which is what the court battle was always about), then the team leaves.

The difference here is that CUSA evidently did not put language in the the bylaws, conference contracts, or whatever stating there would be any financial penalties for leaving. Or maybe it was leaving early. From skimming boards it appears you only need to give a 14 month warning.

The only thing I worry about is the AAC teams helping CUSA. They don't get to leave early and there is a 20 page hissy fit about it over on the CUSA board. They may try to stick it to us.

 

[RhinoD]

See every conference change since realignment began 15 years ago. Both sides posture, then they "fight" it out in court, then teams pay the exit fee(which is what the court battle was always about), then the team leaves.

The difference here is that CUSA evidently did not put language in the the bylaws, conference contracts, or whatever stating there would be any financial penalties for leaving. Or maybe it was leaving early. From skimming boards it appears you only need to give a 14 month warning.

The only thing I worry about is the AAC teams helping CUSA. They don't get to leave early and there is a 20 page hissy fit about it over on the CUSA board. They may try to stick it to us.

Totally agree... At the end of the day, we will probably have to pay them something for leaving on short notice but it won't be what they ask for in their complaint. Oh well, such is the cost of doing business.

CUSA is like going to a shitty local carnival... You pay to get in, it offers next to nothing, and after a while you are willing to pay to leave.

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

Totally agree... At the end of the day, we will probably have to pay them something for leaving on short notice but it won't be what they ask for in their complaint. Oh well, such is the cost of doing business.

CUSA is like going to a shitty local carnival... You pay to get in, it offers next to nothing, and after a while you are willing to pay to leave.

" The Marshall exit fee is sponsored by Intuit and Turbo Tax"

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Totally agree... At the end of the day, we will probably have to pay them something for leaving on short notice but it won't be what they ask for in their complaint. Oh well, such is the cost of doing business.

CUSA is like going to a shitty local carnival... You pay to get in, it offers next to nothing, and after a while you are willing to pay to leave.

In reading through the hissy fit thread it seems like there will be cases made on both sides about lost revenue for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. CUSA will want us to pay damages which is equal to however much of the revenue stream we generate and we will try and argue that staying in CUSA is causing us to lose money.

One poster said the SB3 as they're calling us will potentially said that this will likely go before an arbitrator(s). They;; want the books and if the media deal says each schools costs CSUA $500k each for not playing then each of us write a check for $500k. The total distribution is 1.5m per year as he stated.

The difference and what makes this unpredictable compared to other realignment cases is that there is no starting figure because CUSA leadership has been asleep at the wheel this whole time. When Maryland left the ACC they sued to lower their buyout and once that figure was agreed upon they paid it and left. Same with the schools leaving the Big Least after WVU split. There is no terms for us. With no preset amount in the by-laws I don't even know how this is going to work. Could we just walk?

Another interesting note is that according to the CUSA release ODU will be visiting LaTech and according to an ODU fan there was a clause in their contract that they'd never have to go to Ruston to play a football game. He claims they can call breach of contract on that.

Like most things CUSA. This is a complete mess and this time even Jerry Palm can't mediate it.

 

[RhinoD]

Another interesting note is that according to the CUSA release ODU will be visiting LaTech and according to an ODU fan there was a clause in their contract that they'd never have to go to Ruston to play a football game. He claims they can call breach of contract on that.

Like most things CUSA. This is a complete mess and this time even Jerry Palm can't mediate it.

This is the "most CUSA" thing I've heard in a while... How do you bring a team in to your league and give them a "guarantee" they never have to go play at Ruston?

I was reading the CUSA board and the guy who made the most sense was actually a UCF fan who is an attorney... Basically he said MU, USM and ODU will have to pony up some cash but it will be peanuts compared to what it should be, due to CUSA leadership being clueless (as we have all known for a long time). The incoming CUSA teams have to see what a cluster--- they are joining right? Why would you sign a lease in an apartment building that is actively on fire?

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

Does anyone know what the buyout was for the last round of departures?
When ucf, Memphis, SMU, Houston, etc. all left?

 

[BleedsGreen33]

This is the "most CUSA" thing I've heard in a while... How do you bring a team in to your league and give them a "guarantee" they never have to go play at Ruston?

I was reading the CUSA board and the guy who made the most sense was actually a UCF fan who is an attorney... Basically he said MU, USM and ODU will have to pony up some cash but it will be peanuts compared to what it should be, due to CUSA leadership being clueless (as we have all known for a long time). The incoming CUSA teams have to see what a cluster--- they are joining right? Why would you sign a lease in an apartment building that is actively on fire?

I love the WKU fan that is applauding Judy and CUSA. Keeps saying we breached and we will "Pay". Pay what? The contract only stated we give you a 2yrs notice. They forgot to list a penalty lol.

Also to the ODU thing. I could see it if they were trying to lure in a really good team, but it was ODU. ODU being added to CUSA did more for ODU than it did CUSA. Once again showing Judy is completely over her skis and the law firm they hired to draw up the contracts really must be some ambulance chasers with offices that have that old faux wood panel walls from the 80s.

 

[herd66]

The USA schedule Has Appy to be here on the 24th .Is that correct?People who live out of town need to know to schedule hotel rooms etc

 

[whf2]

I'm the outllier in all of this; there are 11 other schools who's finances and plans are being disturbed by three others who teamed with them for the corporate good for up to 17 years. If we were staying in C-USA, we'd be blowing fire about anyone leaving outside the generally accepted, and formally adopted, rules. IMHO, this is the lowest integrity move I've seen MU make in my 52 years of supporting them. Can you imagine of all other current C-USA teams ban together to not play us for a decade or so, take 11 G5 schools, and the others they influence (like the rest of the AAC and new C-USA members) and we could lose 25 to 30 potential opponents for a decade or more.

 

[herd66]

I just checked the Appy schedule and they show the game moved to Sept 24.

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

I'm the outllier in all of this; there are 11 other schools who's finances and plans are being disturbed by three others who teamed with them for the corporate good for up to 17 years. If we were staying in C-USA, we'd be blowing fire about anyone leaving outside the generally accepted, and formally adopted, rules. IMHO, this is the lowest integrity move I've seen MU make in my 52 years of supporting them. Can you imagine of all other current C-USA teams ban together to not play us for a decade or so, take 11 G5 schools, and the others they influence (like the rest of the AAC and new C-USA members) and we could lose 25 to 30 potential opponents for a decade or more.

Go home, you're drunk.

 

[WV_Celt]

Integrity in college athletics and the conferences. Yeah, that's not a thing that actually exists in this new world we live in.

CUSA did absolutely nothing for Marshall or any other school that's leaving. It's cultivated the well earned reputation of people the worst competitively, perceptually, and administratively. There is next to nothing in terms of reasons to show any kind of loyalty to the clown car that is CUSA.

 

[herdfan06]

Hopefully the Sun Belt schedules all the home CUSA games as away games for us, otherwise things may get awkward and cramped with two visiting teams in the Shewey locker room.

 

[RhinoD]

The USA schedule Has Appy to be here on the 24th .Is that correct?People who live out of town need to know to schedule hotel rooms etc

Do NOT go by the CUSA schedule... Because we will not be using that schedule.

The SBC Schedule is supposed to be released March 1.

 

[RhinoD]

IMHO, this is the lowest integrity move I've seen MU make in my 52 years of supporting them. Can you imagine of all other current C-USA teams ban together to not play us for a decade or so, take 11 G5 schools, and the others they influence (like the rest of the AAC and new C-USA members) and we could lose 25 to 30 potential opponents for a decade or more.

This has to be among the most ridiculous statements I've read in a while.

First, this isn't even the "lowest integrity" move MU has made in the past year (see getting rid of former AD via back alley politics).

Second, our non conference schedules are all but complete through 2027, with the exception of adding a FCS team here and there (or trying to find a P5 in 2027). By 2028, our move to the SBC will be long forgotten, and if the CUSA newcomers still have the resolve to "ban together" to not play us in 6 years, oh well. We don't get games with Liberty, New Mexico State, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State or Tarleton State?

 

[TwolfHerdfan]

HD says Marshall alerted CUSA on Dec. 21st that we would not be a part of the league after this school year was completed and we've continued to communicate that to them. Their reluctance to work with us on a resolution has placed the remaining members in a pickle. This is on CUSA for not being proactive, nor very professional.

 

[The Real SamC]

As predicted, this is going to court. A couple of points:

- Marshall is the state. States have immunity from certain types of lawsuits under the 11th Amendment. Among these are contracts. A contract with the state isn’t worth the paper it is printed on. You can have a 10 year contract to sell guardrails to the DOH and they can write you a letter and void it on 30 days notice. Part of doing business with the state.

- This is not uncommon. Probably the same in Virginia and Mississippi.

- This is, BTW, the reason that a lot of coach’s deals buyouts have to be with the booster club or something, since the state can usually just walk away from a lot of things.

- WV law (14-2-2a) says that MU can only be sued in Cabell County.

- CUSA is bluffing. They were offered, apparently, reasonable money, and will end up looking foolish and getting nothing.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

Anyone legitimately freaking out over this may literally have just started watching college football last season. Compared to how all the other conference realignments went down we smell like roses. The "suing" stuff is way overblown. This is the common course of action in order to arrive at the final buyout. The screwy part as I stated earlier is that this will get interesting because CUSA decided not to stipulate an early exit fee/penalty.

Given Judy and CUSA's track record you can almost guarantee you they are going to come to the table with some outrageous amount for damages that will make them look even more dumb.

 

[herdfan06]

Do NOT go by the CUSA schedule... Because we will not be using that schedule.

The SBC Schedule is supposed to be released March 1.

 

[RhinoD]

I don't think the poster I quoted was making a joke... Which is why I didn't quote your post.

 

[herdfan06]

I don't think the poster I quoted was making a joke... Which is why I didn't quote your post.

Oops, sorry. I looked at the username from a distance.

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

As predicted, this is going to court. A couple of points:

- Marshall is the state. States have immunity from certain types of lawsuits under the 11th Amendment. Among these are contracts. A contract with the state isn’t worth the paper it is printed on. You can have a 10 year contract to sell guardrails to the DOH and they can write you a letter and void it on 30 days notice. Part of doing business with the state.

- This is not uncommon. Probably the same in Virginia and Mississippi.

- This is, BTW, the reason that a lot of coach’s deals buyouts have to be with the booster club or something, since the state can usually just walk away from a lot of things.

- WV law (14-2-2a) says that MU can only be sued in Cabell County.

- CUSA is bluffing. They were offered, apparently, reasonable money, and will end up looking foolish and getting nothing.

Yeah, but we all know you're rooting for C-USA to win and keep MU in it...because, "it's so respectable."

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

Anyone legitimately freaking out over this may literally have just started watching college football last season. Compared to how all the other conference realignments went down we smell like roses. The "suing" stuff is way overblown. This is the common course of action in order to arrive at the final buyout. The screwy part as I stated earlier is that this will get interesting because CUSA decided not to stipulate an early exit fee/penalty.

Given Judy and CUSA's track record you can almost guarantee you they are going to come to the table with some outrageous amount for damages that will make them look even more dumb.

I argue the opposite.
Judy will come to the table with a laughably low amount because she seems to de-value anything she's ever worked with.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

I argue the opposite.
Judy will come to the table with a laughably low amount because she seems to de-value anything she's ever worked with.

I just see her and CUSA coming to the table with some comedic amount that even the arbitrator(s) will roll their eyes at. She knows this ship is sinking fast and I guarantee you that she'll try to come out big for two reasons.

1) Illogical hopes that the amount will cause the three of us to remain for the full 14 months.

This would allow CUSA an extended timetable to try and stabilize CUSA for the future. Whatever that may look like and keep the revenue stream somewhat consistent.

2) An attempted money grab.
She knows that we are gone no matter what and just swinging for the fences for a last payday.


The ones that really screwed the pooch for everyone involved is MTSU and them not knowing their current and future place in the FBS. Had they just agreed to terms with the MAC then both MTSU and WKU would be on their way out too, but MTSU felt that there was more movement coming and for sure they are above the MAC. Which they are not. For those two schools the MAC would have ensured them stability for the foreseeable future. No matter what anyone thinks of the MAC that conference is like a cockroach in a nuclear storm. They have and always will exist and for better or worse are largely uninfluenced by what's going on around them.

LaTech just wants to screw everyone too.

The other interesting thing to keep an eye on is FIU. Their final three games are USM, @ODU, Marshall. Their entire final 1/4 of their schedule is gone lol.

 

[W-S HerdFan]

For those two schools the MAC would have ensured them stability for the foreseeable future. No matter what anyone thinks of the MAC that conference is like a cockroach in a nuclear storm. They have and always will exist and for better or worse are largely uninfluenced by what's going on around them.

I believe Sam would concur with that characterization of the MAC!!

 

[RhinoD]

I've been saying the same thing all along... If I am a fan of WKU or MTSU, and my options are new CUSA (FCS teams spread all over the damn country) or the MAC, and leadership chose new CUSA, I would be furious.

The MAC may not be the homecoming queen, but she's a stable, reliable date to the dance, and will be every year... New CUSA is like taking the bipolar bearded lady from the circus.

Not to mention WKU and MTSU bouncing out would have likely killed off CUSA for good (the MWC could have taken UTEP/La Tech and FIU would have gone independent or dropped to FCS). Then the conferences could split the TV money 9 ways instead of 10.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

leadership chose new CUSA

That's the thing though. If only their thinking was that narrowed. It's actually worse. In reading through the CUSA board it appears that MTSU's leadership came to this decision for two reasons.

1) Stick around long enough to get the payout money from the AAC6 and SBC3 and then weigh our options.

2) While the MAC is better than CUSA they firmly believed within the next several years more spots will open up in the AAC or SBC and they didn't want to be locked in with the MAC for 20+ years.

BOTH OF WHICH are severely short sighted. MTSU is pretty far down the pecking order in the FBS. The MAC is a fantastic spot for them even if it was 20-25 years or whatever to agree with the MAC. Shoot WKU was chomping at the bit to ink the deal. IF there are more spots in the future in say the AAC it's because the musical chairs took Memphis and whoever else the Big XII to replace the eventual departures of OkSt, Baylor, Kansas, and TT. What's left the AAC then? Why would you want to gamble the future of your program in hopes of joining a league in the AAC that is a feeder conference that is proving to be very unstable?

Going back to the "sticking around for the payout". It's not going to be that much. What do you maybe stand to gain financially in two years? A few million? So you mortgaged your future for maybe 2-3 million and comments I have read is that the member schools do not get payouts. It all goes to CUSA to pay travel and conference expenses. There's a WKU fan constantly being laughed at over on the CUSA board because he keeps saying the SBC3 is going to be cutting them a big fat check lol.

Now MTSU gets to play with the likes of Tarleton State for the foreseeable future. If were a WKU fan I would hate MTSU. Not your usual fan hate. I mean hate their very existence because of how badly they burned WKU.

Can you imagine what the next media deal is going to be like for CUSA once all of us have left? CUSA might as well do like the WAC and become an FCS conference. Sustainability at the FBS level is going to be extremely tough. It already is.

 

[RhinoD]

What is going to be awesome is after MTSU "saved" CUSA, to watch Judy and the boys give them a 2023 schedule that includes road games in Lynchburg, VA, Boca Raton, FL and Las Cruces, NM... I hope they get frequent flier miles as part of their conference compensation package to go along with the free refills at 7/11 and $43 in TV "revenue" from stadium.com's Facebook page.

 

[marshallherdfan2]

Marshal needs to send the JV to play CUSA.

 

[The Real SamC]

When all of this shakes out, and it will, and very soon, we must remember that for all the bashing of the commissioner, CUSA is a democracy of sorts. There are more schools leaving than staying. All it would take to tell Judy to STFU would be for the future AAC schools to vote with the future SBC school to drop this whole matter, and there you go.

Remember, if you are a fan of a G5 school, and its not in the AAC, your enemy is the AAC and its moronic commissioner, Aresco.

 

[BleedsGreen33]

When all of this shakes out, and it will, and very soon, we must remember that for all the bashing of the commissioner, CUSA is a democracy of sorts. There are more schools leaving than staying. All it would take to tell Judy to STFU would be for the future AAC schools to vote with the future SBC school to drop this whole matter, and there you go.

Remember, if you are a fan of a G5 school, and its not in the AAC, your enemy is the AAC and its moronic commissioner, Aresco.

As I recall once you announce you are leaving the conference you lose all right to vote from there on out.

 

[Dorrej]

Here is an interesting SI article on the dispute: Link

 

[MichiganHerd]

Here is an interesting SI article on the dispute: Link

I liked the last paragraph in that article, where someone from Marshall contacted another C-USA team for a game. Wonder who it could have been? Probably had to be one of five teams - WKU, MTSU, Charlotte, FAU, or FIU.

 

[Herd020]

“It throws the entire system into chaos,” says one college sports executive.

Like NCAA wasn't already thrown into chaos with the Transfer Portal and NIL. It's the Wild West now! What difference does this make?

 

[Dorrej]

“It throws the entire system into chaos,” says one college sports executive.

Like NCAA wasn't already thrown into chaos with the Transfer Portal and NIL. It's the Wild West now! What difference does this make?

I’m looking forward to programs being able to participate in the portal. It’s not right that conferences get to profit off a school’s likeness just because they signed up for it. They should be able to freely move if they desire. Would have been nice a few years ago… “Marshall University enters transfer portal in response to CUSA bungling it’s football championship host decision.”

 

[GoHerdMarshallYes]

All it would take to tell Judy to STFU would be for the future AAC schools to vote with the future SBC school to drop this whole matter, and there you go.

So, I ask, given well documented elements of this whole situation, that there be multiple aspects to entice the commish, Judy, to STFU, I now must ask this question:

What will it take for you to STFU?