Saturday, December 1, 2012

49ers "staying the course" with Conference USA

   With college athletics conference realignment seemingly changing minute by minute, UNC Charlotte athletics director Judy Rose said Saturday night the 49ers are "staying the course with Conference USA."
  
   "I don't think this is anywhere near over. I don't know if it will go to four or five conferences with 16 or 18 members," she said.

   "We always keep an eye on what's going on. We did that when all of this started 10 years ago - we kept a pulse on what was going on and said, 'Where do we fit?'

   "We're staying the course with Conference USA. That's where we are and that's where we're staying."

   That doesn't mean Charlotte limited its options, Rose said.

   "We will continue to monitor. We're not looking for something but we're also not going to turn our head if there is a different opportunity that is better for our university."

   The 49ers - currently in the Atlantic 10 - join Conference USA next season in all sports except football, which will be played as an independent in NCAA Football Championship Series subdivision.

   Charlotte's football program is slated to join Conference USA in fall 2015.

   - Jim Utter

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't expect her to say anything else publicly.

RljordanII said...

Big East, you know it's bound to happen. It brings back the Cincinnati rivalry in Basketball and can establish one in football assuming the ACC keeps overlooking the bearcats. It also brings an ECU-UNCC football rivalry back into the picture. And can you imagine even in the shorterm until they leave hosting UCONN at Halton Arena and Marquette?

Anonymous said...

quarter century of her at helm...still not a player...who's job is it to create demand for the Niner product? how many schools have surpassed us?

Anonymous said...

Charlotte has hosted MANY great teams at Halton before....to name a few; Cincy, Louisville, Indiana, Alabama, Marquette, Ga. Tech, S. Carolina, Clemson, Va. Tech, Memphis, Tennessee, Miss. State, Miami, etc......almost all of those have left Halton with losses.

Anonymous said...

Charlotte has a lot to offer in a very good overall athletics program and very good facilities - a total package.

Anonymous said...

All to offer except for a fan base. Rarely, maybe once a season, can the Niners fill up a 9,500 seat arena despite having local alumni and a 20K+ and growing student body. Facilities are top-notch, but other than a perceived TV market and successful Olympic sports teams, what would make Charlotte attractive to the Big East. Fan base needs to step it up in order for the Niners to become a player.

Anonymous said...

The Cincinatti rivalry was a Huggins rivalry. It's not a true rivalry. The main issue with C-USA or the Big East is that the rivalries are fabricated. After years of playing in the A-10, who are the rivalries that will carry forward? ECU is regional and provided that opportunity. Charlotte needs more regional rivalries (or local, such as Davidson in basketball).

Anonymous said...

How many of you know we just passed UNC as the 3rd largest University in the state? We're Just a few behind ECU for #2. It will be a while before the UNC System allows us to pass them and then NC State. It will happen.

As for a conference, the Big East is going to fold. The Catholic teams will keep the name for its own hoops league.

Anonymous said...

@Anon 12:03 In the day of CUSA there would be multiple sellouts at Halton - Memphis, UCinn, Louisville and pretty near full crowds for others. As for the BE, someone for the life of me tell me what DePaul, Seton Hall, and Providence have over Charlotte. And I would argue Georgetown also is questionable if looking at all sports and facilities - Georgetown's are very modest. So I believe Charlotte to have a very attractive total package.

Anonymous said...

the myth the Niners have great facilities is just that, a MYTH. UNCC has facilities on par with MTSU. Mid major pretty much top to bottom. Hilarious how many UNCC fans don't want to be with FAU or MTSU, yet both schools have superior football stadiums.

Anonymous said...

Looking at ALL facilities, Charlotte's are MUCH better than MTSu or FAU. I know it's hard for some Haters to deal with facts, but it's a fact.

Anonymous said...

I wouldnt expect her to say anything else... but I wouldnt expect her to do anything else either.

Anonymous said...

6:50....you are wrong, PERIOD!

Anonymous said...

Our facilities are well ahead of MTSU and FAU. Our football stadium will grow and be one of the nicest for its size. May want to do research before you speak.

Anonymous said...

If you haven't seen the campus lately, click this link: http://virtualtour.uncc.edu/
It will blow you away. And, this doesn't include the new Tennis Complex that just opened.

Anonymous said...

@9:14,

I'm about as big of a niner fan as there is and your post is simply not accurate. MTSU's facilities are at least on par with ours and to be honest, I actually like the look of their basketball arena more than ours.

I think our football stadium is better looking, but it is half as large.

FAU's facilities, outside of their brand new football stadium, are garbage, but MTSU has some very nice venues.