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[QUOTE="billsin01, post: 289904, member: 837"]
I agree with this but I'd suggest that the bigger issue the BE had was that it wasn't quite as strong at the top and didn't therefore get credit for actually having some pretty credible depth as a smaller conference. I mean even in the "glory days" you had really talented Cuse teams that still found a way to lose at least 3 games/year; Va Tech emerging but not really a power pre-Vick, and Miami struggling with probation. 
 
Post-raid it was still a decent conference but the issue then was that it wasn't a team or two that was just really good every year (or almost every year). So WVU had a run, L'ville had a window, Cincy had two really nice years with BK -- but none were able to sustain it. RichRod/Petrino/BK hanging around may have made a difference in time for that conference.
 
But perception to me is often connected to people caring about a program. Even when the Cuse was great in the late 90s, my college buddies from NY, NJ and MD basically were like, "Oh, they're good. That's cool for you, I guess." But they never really cared. Same goes for Cincy/Louisville (perhaps, though to a lesser degree and they have some potential), Pitt, UConn, BC, USF ... Really the only team with a rabid, loyal following was WVU.
 
That issue, unfortunately, still exists in the ACC where the schools have bigger followings but little in the way of sustained on-field success.
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