(02-13-2012 03:43 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 03:37 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 03:33 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Do you foresee any more Florida schools moving up to D-1 in the next decade ?

Possible I guess. FAMU was close and even announced at one point, but then decided not to move up. North Florida I belive is starting a football program.

Not sure who else would be around.

I think Stetson is starting a football program. Florida Tech, wherever that is, is starting one. I've seen some other "new" Florida schools doing pretty well in hoops-- FGCU and North Florida.

Are there any 4-year universities on the Panhandle ? A West Florida ?

West Florida does have plans to start football, but why would you bother with them when mobile is only 35 miles from the FL state line?

It won't just be the Sunbelt they are drawing teams from to get to that 24, it will be the WAC, MAC and 'belt. It will be interesting to see what is left after they finish. Be interesting to see if anyone turns them down.

This is all leading to a split from the haves and have nots. Haves being the BCS conferences and the nots being what's left. You could see a few schools now making that leap to FBS in the next couple of years so they don't get dropped to 3rd class citizens in DI.

Other then the FL schools, you got Ga ST, Jax St, App St that would all happily make that transition.

(02-13-2012 03:52 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 03:43 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 03:37 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 03:33 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Do you foresee any more Florida schools moving up to D-1 in the next decade ?

Possible I guess. FAMU was close and even announced at one point, but then decided not to move up. North Florida I belive is starting a football program.

Not sure who else would be around.

I think Stetson is starting a football program. Florida Tech, wherever that is, is starting one. I've seen some other "new" Florida schools doing pretty well in hoops-- FGCU and North Florida.

Are there any 4-year universities on the Panhandle ? A West Florida ?

West Florida does have plans to start football, but why would you bother with them when mobile is only 35 miles from the FL state line?

I wouldn't. Just wondering. Didn't even know there actually was a West Florida and where they were located.

the West Florida Argonauts.

If they go to 24...I highly doubt they pick up 6 SBC schools

We all know that they will make a few invites. Eventually the WAC will dissolve and whatever doesnt get picked up by them comes our way. What we as a conference have to decide is whether or not its time to make a stand and stick together. I mean think about this logically. Do any FIU fans want to play a regular season game at Hawaii?

With the way I understand that it will be set up, the east teams won't play the west teams during the regular season. They will basically operate as two seperate conferences during the season with a playoff format to crown a super conference champ. So FIU or Temple or UAB will not have to worry about 3 west coast trips a year. If they go to 24 teams, it ultimately will be two 12 team conferences. So it really makes no sense to combine, just become 2 seperate conferences and get more basketball auto bids and possible bowls.

(02-13-2012 03:30 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 03:27 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  I'd just soon be in the MAC than have to go out to Idaho and Utah State again, but that's just me.

I'd rather the Belt remain status quo, or just poach the Texas schools from the WAC.

If Benson is indeed the new SBC Commish, would he favor the Western schools ?

I agree, but It is what it is. The Benson angle in my mind makes me wonder is this isnt already planned.

I believe that Benson plans on merging the two leagues if he gets this job. I think he knows that the SBC is going to win out in a survival war with the WAC. Either he accepts being out of a job and is ready to admit that Idaho New Mexico State and San Jose State may get left off the boat in football, or he moves to the Sun Belt, and pushes a merger of the two leagues creating a cross country 14 team type league.

I'm intrigued to see who the CUSA-MWC Conference adds to get to that 18-24 team threshold... I'm obviously pulling for MT, but I think there's plenty of options across the country.

561, you're a traitor.

(02-13-2012 04:57 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  If they go to 24...I highly doubt they pick up 6 SBC schools

We all know that they will make a few invites. Eventually the WAC will dissolve and whatever doesnt get picked up by them comes our way. What we as a conference have to decide is whether or not its time to make a stand and stick together. I mean think about this logically. Do any FIU fans want to play a regular season game at Hawaii?

Actually I don't think anyone knows anything yet including those putting together this merger. Those close to the process have said they could add a couple of teams to the current mix but there is almost no chance they will go to 24 anyway.

The Commissioner of CUSA, when commenting about the Big East being through pilfering CUSA mentioned the need for stability at this level of FBS, and I expect the MWC & CUSA to be sensitive to this issue when they merge.

Actually I think the merger itself indicates they are sensitive to this issue, because both realize there will probably be a few more moves in the conferences above them in the pecking order.

They REALLY need to take a look at the NCAA Division I Manual
http://www.arkst.com/?p=1688

(02-13-2012 05:38 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  561, you're a traitor.

Haha. I'm all for getting SBC stronger, but realistically chances are a school or two from the SBC may get an invite. Whoever's left over will have a tough time of getting a strong league, especially if the CUSA-MWC is smart about selecting new schools. Hopefully they'll keep their hands of the conference and allow us to build up and be better than that conference, which is actually likely.

I do agree with arkstfan's assesment that if they stick to Temple and Utah State, the SBC is in really darn good shape.

(02-13-2012 04:54 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  the West Florida Argonauts.

They'll be D-II when and IF the football team is approved.

Screw the WAC, the Sunbelt ought to get with the SoCon to move that whole conference up and join to make a great Southeastern conference.

Of course I say this with a little sarcasm, but it makes about as much sense as everything that has been going on.

(02-13-2012 08:00 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Screw the WAC, the Sunbelt ought to get with the SoCon to move that whole conference up and join to make a great Southeastern conference.

Of course I say this with a little sarcasm, but it makes about as much sense as everything that has been going on.

That is easy for you to say as you are just moving up to FBS. I'm excited to have USA in the conference, but I think I can speak for the others when I say we don't need a crapload more FCS schools.

(02-13-2012 08:06 PM)MeanGreenFan123 Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 08:00 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Screw the WAC, the Sunbelt ought to get with the SoCon to move that whole conference up and join to make a great Southeastern conference.

Of course I say this with a little sarcasm, but it makes about as much sense as everything that has been going on.

That is easy for you to say as you are just moving up to FBS. I'm excited to have USA in the conference, but I think I can speak for the others when I say we don't need a crapload more FCS schools.

I agree. Though certain SoCon schools wouldn't be too terrible, I would MUCH rather stick with FBS schools.

(02-13-2012 05:57 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(02-13-2012 05:38 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  561, you're a traitor.

Haha. I'm all for getting SBC stronger, but realistically chances are a school or two from the SBC may get an invite. Whoever's left over will have a tough time of getting a strong league, especially if the CUSA-MWC is smart about selecting new schools. Hopefully they'll keep their hands of the conference and allow us to build up and be better than that conference, which is actually likely.

Still think they will try to create this league with minimum collateral damage to other conferences.

from ESPN:
This is an exciting development that will stabilize the current conferences and create the first truly national conference with members in five time zones and television viewership from coast to coast," UNLV president Neal Smatresk said in a statement. "This partnership brings together like-minded institutions to improve the integrity and stability of intercollegiate athletics.


http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story/...conference

If anything Id love for this stuff to be over with. Im getting tired of the 2 or 3 end of the world posters on our board who somehow think that are days of an FBS member are over because of this announcement

Just saw that the CUSA-MWC new conference is planning to invite Utah State as well as Florida International. See: http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=555054