(03-03-2017 12:22 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  I think we can nicely summarize the thread this way: the Atlantic Sun Conf (including West Florida, when eventually added) is the true feeder program for the Sun Belt!

LOL. While it is true that many Belt Teams are TAAC/A-Sun alumni, exactly two Sun Belt program went directly from the TAAC or the A-Sun to the Sun Belt. And those programs jumped.....12 years ago and 26 years ago, respectively.

Here's the lineup.

ULM - left 34 years ago. Joined the Belt 11 years ago
UALR - left the TAAC to join the Belt 26 years ago
Ga Southern - left the TAAC 25 years ago, joined the Belt 3 years ago.
Ga State - left the TAAC/A-Sun 11 years ago, joined the Belt 4 years ago.
Troy - left the TAAC/A-Sun 12 years ago and joined the Belt directly

CUSA has the following TAAC/A-Sun alumni

FIU, UTSA, FAU

The AAC has a TAAC alumni in UCF.


So, sure, TAAC/A-Sun teams do sometimes end up in the Belt, But none in the last decade and all joined in a time of conference chaos. Two of the schools went elsewhere after leaving it for decades.

So if past is prologue, A-Sun teams can expect to be given a Belt look after at least 10 years in the conference.

UWF isn't even D1 yet. And they can't move up for 8 years after moving to D2. So, lets discuss in 18 years....if they move up immediately. Sometime around 2035 or so.