I dont hold any ill will for a prospective fanbase feeling that way, but they arent the ones I want brought in to the Conference.

(02-22-2012 08:13 PM)RaiderATO Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 07:27 PM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 07:10 PM)RaiderATO Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 06:18 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  if Ga State is simply joining the Belt to move on to a league like C-USA (aka the Alliance) then I don't want them.

The SBC isn't the SEC. No school would pass up a chance at something better.

True but I want a team that would be happy and proud to be in the belt. Not a team that just joins the belt because it's their only option and are only joining it to help them gain entry to another conference.

(Just about) every team wanted to use the SBC as their only option and/or as a platform to move on to something better. That collective effort to make themselves more appealing (SBC possibly be damned) has made the SBC more appealing.

I have no issues with a program or fan-base thinking they're going to get to something better.

I don't either. My point is that the market they're in would catapult them into consideration for a richer conference after just a year or two. Long before they could bring any meaningful financial impact to the SBC.
Not that I'm advocating any FCS team be invited (unless reasonable FBS candidates are exhausted) but contrast that with a school like App St in a market like Boone. They might one day get an invitation to one of the other conferences, but if they do, they will have earned it. Instead of getting fast tracked because of where they're located, they would have had to have an extended period of sustained excellence. That would help the entire conference, not just one team.

(02-22-2012 08:47 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  contrast that with a school like App St in a market like Boone. They might one day get an invitation to one of the other conferences, but if they do, they will have earned it. Instead of getting fast tracked because of where they're located, they would have had to have an extended period of sustained excellence. That would help the entire conference, not just one team.

Absolutely. Bring on the Mountaineers!

I would much rather bring in a team with history and some swagger then a GaSt team that only claim to fame was their headcoach.

(02-22-2012 09:13 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 08:47 PM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  contrast that with a school like App St in a market like Boone. They might one day get an invitation to one of the other conferences, but if they do, they will have earned it. Instead of getting fast tracked because of where they're located, they would have had to have an extended period of sustained excellence. That would help the entire conference, not just one team.

Absolutely. Bring on the Mountaineers!

Liking App State more and more. Like I've said from the start, they're my #1 choice for expansion. Look to them and possibly LA Tech if we would want a second team.

(02-22-2012 10:08 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  Liking App State more and more. Like I've said from the start, they're my #1 choice for expansion. Look to them and possibly LA Tech if we would want a second team.

I'd be very pleased with those additions. That way we get one quality team who brings in national respect and interest, and we get to laugh at the Tech fans' meltdowns each season when they don't win the league in any sport.

(02-22-2012 10:17 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  

(02-22-2012 10:08 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  Liking App State more and more. Like I've said from the start, they're my #1 choice for expansion. Look to them and possibly LA Tech if we would want a second team.

I'd be very pleased with those additions. That way we get one quality team who brings in national respect and interest, and we get to laugh at the Tech fans' meltdowns each season when they don't win the league in any sport.

I'd really like to know how we are going to balance UALR in the east for basketball. I'd really hate to go back to the funky odd number scheduling, but I guess that's on the backburner when you look at football expansion.

Per CKB, possibly 12 for football and 14 for basketball (Charlotte?)

Well, if the league were to expand east, I'd rather have Georgia State than App. State.

First of all, I'm not just a football guy. I think the upside in the metro market of Atlanta for all sports makes GSU a more attractive candidate.

And, regardless of how the fans try to spin it, unless you're on a bus, you can't get there. I don't know too many schools that want to fly to a place then have to drive 90 minutes or more to get where they're going.

I don't believe ASU would make our mens basketball, womens basketball or baseball better. And, I don't think they have as much room for growth in that area as GSU.

GSU is competitive in the Colonial in men's hoops. It's time for us to quit ignoring that sport for the sake of football. It's what's pushed MBKB as low as it is now.

Understand, at this time I'm really not in favor of adding an FCS school that wants to move up. Id rather add existing FBS if at all possible. Moreover, if the Florida schools get invited to the alliance, I don't see the need to be in the Eastern Time Zone.

But if my choices are App. St or Ga. State, I think one of them is more peachy than the other.

(02-23-2012 12:21 PM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  Well, if the league were to expand east, I'd rather have Georgia State than App. State.

First of all, I'm not just a football guy. I think the upside in the metro market of Atlanta for all sports makes GSU a more attractive candidate.

And, regardless of how the fans try to spin it, unless you're on a bus, you can't get there. I don't know too many schools that want to fly to a place then have to drive 90 minutes or more to get where they're going.

I don't believe ASU would make our mens basketball, womens basketball or baseball better. And, I don't think they have as much room for growth in that area as GSU.

GSU is competitive in the Colonial in men's hoops. It's time for us to quit ignoring that sport for the sake of football. It's what's pushed MBKB as low as it is now.

Understand, at this time I'm really not in favor of adding an FCS school that wants to move up. Id rather add existing FBS if at all possible. Moreover, if the Florida schools get invited to the alliance, I don't see the need to be in the Eastern Time Zone.

But if my choices are App. St or Ga. State, I think one of them is more peachy than the other.

I can't disagree with anything you said regarding location and travel. Appalachian and Georgia State offer two completely different things at this point and in terms of market potential and convenience of travel, advantage goes to GA State by a landslide.

However, as an App fan who follows all of our athletics closely, here is my take on the non-football sports:

Men's Basketball: You are correct, we would not make an immediate impact in this department. We would likely be middle of the road. With the exception of our 23-win year in 2010, our quality has really gone down since around 2007. However, we have had success, are located in a very rich state for basketball talent and would certainly invest more in the program with a conference change.

Baseball: I do not know enough about the SB baseball relative to the SoCon to make a definitive statement but we are not great but solid. We have not had a losing season overall or in conference since 2006. 38-18-1 in 2010 and 33-27 in 2010.

Women's Basketball: Although it is not a revenue sport by any means, this is an area we actually offer a lot. Our women's hoops squad is currently 22-4 and in 1st place. In 2011, we were 25-7 and regular season champions and in 2010, 23-12 and a 2nd place finish. I'd expect our women's team to be an asset immediately, along with football.

Everyone wants different things from an expansion standpoint and App State is very different from GA State. It will be interesting to see what direction the conference goes.

Mike, I was unaware of how well you're women's team is doing. Thanks for the education.

Sun Belt baseball is very good. The league is usually 6th or 7th in the RPI each year. We've had multiple teams in the NCAA's every year since the mid 90s.

You'd have to be pretty doggone good to finish in the first division in that league.

(02-23-2012 03:07 PM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  Mike, I was unaware of how well you're women's team is doing. Thanks for the education.

Sun Belt baseball is very good. The league is usually 6th or 7th in the RPI each year. We've had multiple teams in the NCAA's every year since the mid 90s.

You'd have to be pretty doggone good to finish in the first division in that league.

Likewise, I appreciate the info about Sun Belt baseball. I honestly did not know y'all were so strong in that department. I checked the 2011 RPI rankings and of 32 baseball conferences, SoCon was #15 and the Sun Belt was #6. That is very encouraging news, our baseball program is getting gradually better and would likely benefit from stepping up the competition almost as much as our football team if we got an invite.

Before Coach Pollard took over, we were absolutely miserable. The 10 years before he came to Boone, we averaged 16 wins per season. Pollard is entering his 8th season and in spite of working with Huestress' scraps the first couple of years, we have averaged 30 wins a year in his tenure and have posted five consecutive winning seasons after not having a single winning campaign since '91! Our recruiting is constantly improving and after picking up some all-state players within NC this year, I really think App baseball will be on the rise in coming years.