Conference USA needs to take risks, capitalize on championship game
COMMENTARY
Carlos Alvarado

Conference USA should take the offensive.

It is difficult for TCU fans to understand this concept. Before the Frogs’ offensive explosion last Saturday against Houston, their beloved Frogs were considered a defensive team that stops the opponent from scoring as opposed to going all out to put as many points on the scoreboard as possible.

The system has worked for the Frogs because it is easier to be a defensive juggernaut and to react to what someone else does. When a team opens up offensively, however, it risks making mistakes and losing the game while trying to win it.

Officials must get C-USA to go deep.

C-USA has an opportunity to take the Big East’s Bowl Championship Series bid from them. With Boston College accepting the Atlantic Coast Conference’s invitation, the Big East is rushing to find ways to save themselves. It isn’t trying to save its conference as much as it is trying to not lose its BCS status, and the big-time money involved.

C-USA should become the conference raiders. It should reach out and snatch West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, and help finally put the nail in the Big East’s coffin. It should not settle for the likes of Southern Methodist, Tulsa and Rice.

The addition of West Virginia, Pittsburgh and Syracuse would give C-USA 13 football members, allowing it to have a championship game. The new C-USA would also look more attractive to the BCS committee than Louisville, Cincinnati and Marshall going to the Big East. The basketball teams already play in two separate divisions, so why should the football teams not follow that structure?

The American division could be comprised of Louisville, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia.

The National division could be comprised of TCU, Tulane, Alabama-Birmingham, Southern Miss, Houston, Memphis and South Florida.

This, of course, could create problems for other sports but that should not matter since BCS money is lucrative. The incentives for becoming a BCS affiliate could be big enough to help teams destined to suffer to forget about the headaches this move would cause.

How would C-USA convince these teams to leave? Money. BCS money is very attractive to those who don’t have it, and coveted by those who don’t want to lose it.

There is no guarantee the BCS would bestow upon the revamped Big East BCS status. It’s a gamble to leave, but it is just as risky to stick around. C-USA officials can convince those other school officials that it is a good gamble.

It is risky, yes, but what has C-USA got to lose? If it wants to be considered one of the big boys, it has to take a chance. If it fails, it will be no better off than where it is now: a mid-major conference struggling for respect without two of its top teams.

This proposed revamped C-USA would be more like the United States than any other conference: Filled with those striving for a better day. It would be one of the few conferences that actually reflects its name.

It’s the American way to take a chance and strive for a better existence. This should be the C-USA way as well.