The fans now are younger, and tend to be USM students or alums who just happen to also follow sports casually.
Time was, USM had "T-shirt fans" and they were a harder bunch to please. They could switch loyalties more easily (and did). They were more immune to the "my school, right or wrong" argument. These people (and ex-fans who were alums but thought similarly) have evacuated from USM sports.
There are no "T-shirt fans" in CUSA, and few die-hards. The league exists to check a box: "we have sports." It's prison food, provided begrudgingly out of obligation, as cheaply and shoddily as possible.
Bring back Reed V. "Pie" TurkPalmer Eustachy.