As an observer of the Sun Belt it interested me when I saw that New Orleans was leaving the Sun Belt.


Who would you guys want to replace them? I know that as an athletic program that WANTS to make the move up to FBS football, MO State may actually consider it, should the Sun Belt offer.

(01-24-2010 02:36 PM)MSUBear42 Wrote:  As an observer of the Sun Belt it interested me when I saw that New Orleans was leaving the Sun Belt.


Who would you guys want to replace them? I know that as an athletic program that WANTS to make the move up to FBS football, MO State may actually consider it, should the Sun Belt offer.

Nobody.

Sorry to dash your hopes, but we're now down to 12 members. IF Denver can find a better fit geographically and we drop to 11 members, perhaps then we'd look for another member, but until then, I don't expect we'll be looking for a new member.

(01-24-2010 02:45 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(01-24-2010 02:36 PM)MSUBear42 Wrote:  As an observer of the Sun Belt it interested me when I saw that New Orleans was leaving the Sun Belt.


Who would you guys want to replace them? I know that as an athletic program that WANTS to make the move up to FBS football, MO State may actually consider it, should the Sun Belt offer.

Nobody.

Sorry to dash your hopes, but we're now down to 12 members. IF Denver can find a better fit geographically and we drop to 11 members, perhaps then we'd look for another member, but until then, I don't expect we'll be looking for a new member.

I agree. No driving reason to expand at this time.

(01-24-2010 02:50 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

(01-24-2010 02:45 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(01-24-2010 02:36 PM)MSUBear42 Wrote:  As an observer of the Sun Belt it interested me when I saw that New Orleans was leaving the Sun Belt.


Who would you guys want to replace them? I know that as an athletic program that WANTS to make the move up to FBS football, MO State may actually consider it, should the Sun Belt offer.

Nobody.

Sorry to dash your hopes, but we're now down to 12 members. IF Denver can find a better fit geographically and we drop to 11 members, perhaps then we'd look for another member, but until then, I don't expect we'll be looking for a new member.

I agree. No driving reason to expand at this time.

+1

If Denver were to leave, I think it would make sense to go ahead and go to twelve football members. Any replacement for Denver would likely be a football member, in which case we'd be back to twelve members, but eleven in football. Eleven is a terrible number for football, so I expect we'd add two members and either go back to the uneven thirteen in basketball or perhaps UALR would find a new home. IF this scenario were to play out and Missouri State were one of the two schools we added, perhaps UALR could just take Missouri State's place in the MVC.

Mizzou St and Appy St would be good. Missouri is a bit far for the Florida and Texas schools though.

I like it in moving up in football, but basketball would sure go downhill

It's a big stepdown in men's basketball. Missouri Valley is a top 10 conference, the Sun Belt is usually around 20.

In women's it's only a slight step down as both conferences are usually in the 10-15 range.

With Missouri State being in the top 2-3 teams in both men's and women's in the MVC, they would definitely come in and bolster our conference in both men's and women's.

If Missouri State was interested, I think that is the one school that you have to say go get them. Thier basketball program is a prize. Not really interested in too many others.

BTW, to any Missouri State fans...

I was looking over some recruiting classes for the old Gateway, I noticed that you guys picked up a few three star players the past couple of years. I wondered if you guys think your football program is on something of an upswing?

(01-24-2010 04:33 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  If Missouri State was interested, I think that is the one school that you have to say go get them.

Agreed.

(01-24-2010 04:33 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  If Missouri State was interested, I think that is the one school that you have to say go get them. Thier basketball program is a prize. Not really interested in too many others.

BTW, to any Missouri State fans...

I was looking over some recruiting classes for the old Gateway, I noticed that you guys picked up a few three star players the past couple of years. I wondered if you guys think your football program is on something of an upswing?

We have had a top notch recruiting class in the gateway/valley the last few years... That doesn't always translate to the field, but our problem lies with the big uglies up front on both sides of the ball. We are pretty decent at skill positions. Cody Kirby has hit his ceiling at QB, I think we will always be a hair over .500 unless we start recruiting bigger lineman. Losing Clay Harbor will definately challenge our passing game next season too.

FWIW I think we are a program moving up, slowly but surely.

Lets add a team from California so the Sun Belt can make even more sense geographically.... that way we have another school who is remotely close to Denver..Is Fresno or San Jose St. ready for a conference change?

(01-24-2010 04:33 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  If Missouri State was interested, I think that is the one school that you have to say go get them. Thier basketball program is a prize. Not really interested in too many others.

BTW, to any Missouri State fans...

I was looking over some recruiting classes for the old Gateway, I noticed that you guys picked up a few three star players the past couple of years. I wondered if you guys think your football program is on something of an upswing?

We've had the best class in the MVFC the last two seasons... next year could be a pretty special season. We only lost 9 players I believe this season, so this years class is small.

(01-24-2010 04:33 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  If Missouri State was interested, I think that is the one school that you have to say go get them.

Missouri State is probably the only candidate for expansion mentioned that would possibly get a 100% approval from all conference members if they made a committment to FBS football and applied for membership.

If Mo St. wants to move to the SBC, I will take them now. With that said, they don't draw in football and how to you walk away from the MVC BB money?

The money and lack of football interest in Mo. St. in Springfield just don't add up. If I am AD of any of the MVC schools I am staying put with a good (great) thing that the MVC is. That is coming from a former Saint Louis Billikens season ticket holder.

My wife is a 3 time all american cheer leader at Mo. St. and she laughed at the idea....



Funny side not: My wife is in the tunnel about to take the court in the NCCA tournament game against UNC and Dean Smith walks by and my wife turns to the cheer leader beside her and says, " that is dean smith" and the other girl goes, "who?"

(01-24-2010 10:18 PM)insideualr Wrote:  If Mo St. wants to move to the SBC, I will take them now. With that said, they don't draw in football and how to you walk away from the MVC BB money?

The Sunbelt has received more units the past two years than the MVC has. If a big fish like Mo State were to switch to the belt (and assuming that Isiah Thomas keeps recruiting like he has been), that could well continue.

BTW, I think they could draw for 1A football. They were a cellar dwellar in the gateway for many years, that reflects in thier attendance. I will be interested to see what thier attendance is if they can put a winning team on the field.

if my only options were bringing in 1-AA teams, these would be my choices...in this order: Texas State, App State, Mo State, UTSA.

(01-25-2010 05:46 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote:  

(01-24-2010 10:18 PM)insideualr Wrote:  If Mo St. wants to move to the SBC, I will take them now. With that said, they don't draw in football and how to you walk away from the MVC BB money?

The Sunbelt has received more units the past two years than the MVC has. If a big fish like Mo State were to switch to the belt (and assuming that Isiah Thomas keeps recruiting like he has been), that could well continue.

BTW, I think they could draw for 1A football. They were a cellar dwellar in the gateway for many years, that reflects in thier attendance. I will be interested to see what thier attendance is if they can put a winning team on the field.

MVC bb money is probably still more than SBC bb money due to the credits counting for something like 5 or 6 years. Over the last 10 years the MVC has made out like badits with bb units from the ncaa.

My wifes family has season tickets to bb and family that works at Mo. St. they never give the impression that football could ever be anything in Springfield. Not to say that is a big sample group or anything. It could sell out.

(01-25-2010 06:25 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  if my only options were bringing in 1-AA teams, these would be my choices...in this order: Texas State, App State, Mo State, UTSA.

I am glad to know that we rank at the top of your list given our far-western location

(01-25-2010 06:25 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  if my only options were bringing in 1-AA teams, these would be my choices...in this order: Texas State, App State, Mo State, UTSA.

Mo State, Texas State........my 2 team short list.