At the midway point of the Conference USA football season, it’s apparent the league, in its 12th year, has had its better moments.

Here’s just a few:

In 1996, the league’s first year, Memphis upset No. 6 Tennessee, 21-17.

In 1997, Southern Miss finished ranked 19th in both major polls.

In 1998, Tulane went unbeaten — one of two in Division 1-A — and finished ranked seventh in both major polls.

In 1999, Southern Miss finished 13th nationally, Cincinnati upset No. 8 Wisconsin and East Carolina beat No. 9 Miami.

In 2000, Southern Miss beat No. 13 Alabama, 21-0.

In 2001, Louisville ranked 17th nationally.

In 2002, Louisville defeated No. 4 Florida State in overtime and TCU finished ranked 23rd.

In 2003, TCU made a run at a BCS bowl game, reaching No. 6 in the Nov. 10 BCS rankings before dropping a late-season game to Louisville.

In 2004, Louisville went 11-1 overall and 8-0 in the league and finished sixth in the Associated Press poll, the league’s highest end-of-the-season ranking.

In 2005, Memphis running back DeAngelo Williams led the Tigers to their third straight bowl and finished his career as the NCAA’s career leader in all-purpose yards.

In 2006, Rice’s Jarret Dillard led the nation with 21 touchdown pass receptions and scored at least a touchdown in each of the team’s 13 games.

As for 2007, it’s deteriorating into one of the worst in the league’s history.

Consider this:

** C-USA is 0-9 against ranked teams and 13-31 overall versus non-conference opponents.
** Six of the 12 teams head into the weekend with two or fewer victories and only East Carolina, Tulsa and UTEP have winning records.
** Of the six non-conference wins recorded by teams in the league’s East Division, four are against Jacksonville State, UT-Martin, Alcorn State and Louisiana Lafayette.
** Fox Sports ranks each of the nation’s 119 Division 1-A teams and has Memphis at 108. Four — FOUR — C-USA teams are ranked below Memphis.

In an attempt to find something positive to spin, the league sent out a release this week touting C-USA producing a 300-yard rusher and a 300-yard receiver in the same season.

As the league attempts to regain its footing after the mass exodus of Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida three years ago, there’s been little else to spin in what is shaping up to be a forgettable ‘07 season.