First C-USA, then NCAA 1st Round

Realize that it's not difficult securing a host site for the NCAA Basketball Tournament 1st Round. It never has been. The city just has to convince the NCAA it can do the work.

If El Paso shows up to the C-USA tournament, with its teams, in March, the NCAA should have no qualms sending ITS teams here.

UTEP hasn't put in NCAA bids because it really doesn't have the staff to handle one. But now that the Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission are going strong (women's national bowling and now men's and women's C-USA basketball), the committees should be well in place to handle a four-day NCAA.

I know this would be down the road. But it does look like the engine is in place for El Paso to be a host city for a lot of things.

If we had decent softball facilities, we could attract all kinds of softball national tournaments in all age groups. Las Cruces has been doing that for two decades. We are getting more soccer fields, but more could make us the same hotbed for that sport as are Phoenix and Albuquerque.

Did you know Hueco Tanks has world-class rock climbing cliffs. We surely do.

It looks like we'll be bidding on this kind of stuff.

And remember, it's not difficult to secure an NCAA host site.

Comments

[Baskerville]

But if El Paso gets to host additional NCAA events, won't the Memphis fans cry???

[shyminer]

Hey Joe, quick question, do you know if UTEP has any type of upgrades in store for the CUSA tourney? Example: Lighting, and a video board in the middle of the arena.

[in the 915]

What about bringing either the Division I Men's and/ or Women's Golf Championship hosted by UTEP at either Butterfield Trail, El Paso Country Club or Coronado Country Club because there is an opening in 2012 for either regionals or title site itself.

[Dreday1977]

You guys are only just now dreaming about, what we have been doing for years....Please stop putting Memphis name in ur mouth! Please! Bookmark this entry....I wonder how many fans show up for the CUSA tourney this year? Ha

[John C]

Mr Dreday or should I say Dreary-Day:

Your command of the english language is compelling evidence that your at it again. Its as if your drooling out your comment and quit before completing your sentence.

It appears that your hitting that mountain-doo again!

If you want to leave a post----get someone else to write it for you using complete sentences that make sense.

[Golden State]

Can you imagine if the Memphis State Tigers had won the national championship in basketball? It sure is a good thing that they didn't. Memphis State would have been the first university to forfeit a national championship. As it is, poor Memphis had to vacate all those ill gotten wins AND pay back all that tasty tourney money. How embarrassing...

And now, all Memphis fans can do is troll message boards of other schools. "Oh we were tough in the good old days." "Oh, it was a minor infraction." "Oh, we're too good for CUSA."

I hear the Memphis State Tigers are headed for a lower division conference where they can be sure to win. I understand it is a requirement of the school that the conference tournament is to be held in Memphis each year because the fans can't be bothered to travel to other cities to support their team.

Good Luck to the Memphis State Tigers. Division II never looked so good.

[miner niner]

typical whiny Memphis Tiger fans that are still sore in the anus from losing the tourney to us....oh well, makes them look like sissies if they have to troll every piece of sports news that is coming out of El Paso, completely unrelated to basketball lol.

God, its not like its just one memphis dude trolling, THEY ALL WHINE AND COMPLAIN LOL!! XD

Its hilarious!!! :D

[Joe Muench]

Re: [Joe on utepia] in the 915 submitted a comment to First C-USA, then NCAA 1st Round

Golf is possible. The NMSU University Course has played host to both, albeit the mens was way back in the Hale Irwin collegiate days.

[Joe]

Once again an EP Times employee can write without doing any research whatsoever. There is a minimum seat requirement for hosting an NCAA tournament game. The Don Haskins Center is close to 4,000 seats short of that requirement ....

[SES]

The Don can seat 12,222. The minimum requirement for 1st and 2nd round games is 12,000. Do the math and you owe someone an apology. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Haskins_Center

Google is your friend, type in "Don Haskins Center sold out" and see how many 12k+ figures you come up with.

[Lorena]

I say GOOD JOB to the CVB and Sports Commission! Brooke Collins and her staff deserve MAJOR kudos for this victory. El Paso is in your debt. Keep up the good work!

[John C]

Joe:

You have made the "Behind the Enemy Lines" on Memphis Commercial Appeal!!

http://blogs.commercialappeal.com/the_memphis_edge/behind-enemy-lines/

Go to C-USA tournament goes to El Paso and read blog and comments about Joe Muench of the El Paso Times thinks it was a good thing abount awarding the CUSA BB tourney to EP.

Since you are really good about ruffling feathers---go after them again!!

It was really interesting reading and responding to the blogsters from Memphis. They were baited into the zingers that ElPaso fans sent their way.

I feel that it is safe to say that a pretty good rivalry has been set up by EPT and Mr Muench between UTEP and Memphis fka Memphis State University.

[John C]

The Memphis fans have to realize that in both football and basketball this upcomeing year, they have to travel to El Paso. No home games in Memphis regarding UTEP football or basketball.

Football: On 9/25/10 Memphis visits UTEP in the Sun Bowl. They think their locker room will be in Mexico----we will see if that can be accomodated.

Basketball: Memphis will play UTEP in the regular season and perhaps in the CUSA tourney all on UTEP home court. They think their side of the court will be in Mexico---we will see if that can be accomodated.

I say to Memphis fans you are more than welcome here in El Paso. And hope you are treated well by all El Pasoans.

But on the football field and basketball court you will not be spared being booed, hissed at, etc...

However, we will not throw barbaque as we know that it is main food staple in Memphis!!

[John C]

El Paso is not the only CUSA city that thinks Memphis is arrogant!!

See the attached article in Huntington, WVa newspaper: City where Marashall University is located.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x957502634/Chuck-Landon-C-USAs-curious-decision