You have to admit, El Paso fits rather logically within the great
expanses of the new Conference USA footprint. However, it's beginning to
look like East Carolina doesn't.
From almost every angle, C-USA has morphed into an uncomfortable fit that
no longer is tailored to ECU's needs as an athletics program. Much like the
current era in which sagging jeans are hip attire, C-USA has become so
slovenly assembled that its members are losing appeal on the national scene.
And geography is only one of the issues.
From that perspective, there couldn't be a worse setup for the Pirates
than the addition of Texas-El Paso to C-USA. With league boundaries
extending to within figurative spitting distance of the New Mexico border,
ECU could have a travel budget that rivals any school within the continental
US.
That isn't the type of distinction East Carolina needs at this point in
its sports history. Nor is the lack of respect that is certain to accompany
C-USA membership, much of which can be attributed to its unwieldy geographic
boundaries.
In the west, C-USA has all the attraction of a minor league system for
the highly touted Big XII. The eastern wing looks more like a collection of
schools scattered aimlessly on an airline's map of regional connections.
Mash it together and you have a buffet of institutions with diverse
reputations and wide-ranging interests.
At Rice, its academics with a side order of baseball. Tulsa fans back
basketball, but tend to turn their backs on everything else. Central Florida
made its name as a football sanctuary for exiled transfers.
It's the common theme in the new patchwork C-USA � many schools have a
niche for excelling in one sport, but floundering in most others.
The truth is, UTEP is just the tip of the iceberg. It's potential
inclusion doesn't significantly alter the conference's new direction so much
as it summarizes it.
In fact, UTEP probably is the best addition among the candidates, given
geography and its rich history on the hardwood. While the Miners
traditionally have struggled in football � most seasons they would bow to
Odessa Permian High School � they at least have top-notch facilities, a new
coach with a proven record and a propensity for drawing fans in big numbers
on those sporadic occasions when they field a winner.
What's missing is the strong winning tradition that typically is required
to survive on today's terrain. Rebuilding � or in UTEP's case, building �
projects are especially tough when there is no history on which to fall
back, or there is no direct tie to a Bowl Championship Series game.
The Miners have neither.
Therein lies the ultimate problem for the remodeled C-USA. While
theoretically the conference didn't suffer major losses on the gridiron
during realignment, the potential long-term damages can't be overlooked.
The BCS, while changing, will continue to offer guaranteed bids only to
champions of leagues currently with a direct tie (yes, the Big East
maintains its automatic bid in the new agreement). The addition of a fifth
bowl � providing the market demands one � is more inclusive only by indirect
routes.
In practice, it most likely will provide two additional at-large slots
for current BCS conferences. In other words, more money for the haves and a
wider gap between them and the have-nots.
Talk about lip service.
Of course, this all goes without mentioning C-USA is in danger of losing
its showcase game, the Liberty Bowl. Game officials already have stated they
will court other leagues once the contract with C-USA is up, with the SEC
and ACC as known targets.
Call it ironic, but it looks as if the school that saved the Liberty Bowl
� East Carolina � will become one of the primary victims as a result of the
game's resurgence.
It's a cruel business, Division I athletics. Surviving the realignment
process has proven to be a more difficult task than satisfying The Donald.
For ECU's next athletics director, the mission couldn't be more clear or
challenging. The Pirates desperately need inclusion in a conference that has
a bigger slice of the BCS pie and with schools with which fans can identify.
Nothing against UTEP or Southern Methodist, but neither is a major draw
in Texas, much less Eastern North Carolina. East Carolina would consider it
a windfall to tally 35,000 against either opponent.
The bottom line is the Pirates need an association with schools that have
like-minded football cultures. In the new C-USA, only Southern Miss and
Marshall apply.
That isn't they type of ratio on which ECU can pin its future.
The N.C. High School Athletics Association, East Carolina, and Greenville
are close to finalizing an agreement that will bring the Eastern Regional
finals in football to Dowdy-Ficklen stadium. In fact, all that is missing is
the signed contract, which could be in place within the next two weeks.
NCHSAA executive director Charlie Adams, who is an East Carolina graduate
and member of the Pirates' athletics hall-of-fame, says he is excited about
the move.
"East Carolina being located where they are, the facilities they have,
it's an absolute no-brainer," Adams said. "We thought that if they are
interested in this, we're going to bring a menu to them."
In addition to football, that menu included baseball, volleyball,
wrestling, and tennis. However, it is likely that ECU and the city of
Greenville will pursue only football and baseball.
Adams' hope is to eventually stage four football regional championship
games in Greenville � one on Friday, three on Saturday � which could be
lucrative for both the city and ECU. Last year, Orange County generated
$500,000 for hosting two state championship games in Chapel Hill.
Despite all the positives, however, some of the Pirate faithful believe
Adams and the NCHSAA are merely throwing a bone at ECU, which is the only
Division I football school in the state that doesn't host a championship
game.
"Not at all," Adams said. "If there were any way we could take them the
state (championship), we would do that. We haven't discounted that. That
possibility may arise.
"What we're trying to do is say to East Carolina, 'You have been sitting
on the sidelines asking for some events, and we're trying our best to honor
your request.' I think when somebody wants you, you need to listen to them,
and you need to do what you can to try to meet their request."
To date, East Carolina has not formally requested a spot in the state
championship rotation.
Pirates coach John Thompson stated on National Signing Day that he would
like to see the NCHSAA institute spring football, much like is done in
Florida. But according to Adams, that is unlikely to happen in the near
future.
"Our job is to offer a well-rounded sports program and not have one being
the king," Adams said. "When you allow one sport to do what spring practice
may do, it's going to cut into your track numbers, your baseball numbers,
and we feel like those sports are equally as important and ought to have the
same equitable opportunity that football has.
"I don't think you're going to see North Carolina go to spring practice.
In fact, we just voted not to change the out-of-season skill development
rule for football."
Currently, coaches are allowed to work with one less than the 22 required
to be on the field at a time during the off-season.
