(11-29-2012 01:32 PM)Tuscon Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 01:28 PM)Liberty22 Wrote:  That seems more like speculation than anything news worthy. Benson in audio today said he wasn't naming schools yet. Also, NMSU and Idaho are way out of their footprint and Benson claimed today that they would consider 'slightly' expanding the footprint not overhauling it

I tend to trust guys like Dodd and McMurphy over anything Benson says in a press announcement. He says political stuff. They say the news.

I was sad to read that and hear NOTHING about App State. I think they are the top of that list, followed by GS and then NMSU and Idaho. If we're ranking those four that is.

I just don't see school presidents going for that with the travel it would take to get to Idaho and NMSU, more so Idaho though really. We shall see.

Idaho is nuts. WAY off on an island.

I honestly do not see Liberty getting in on the next expansion. Chancellor Hawkins of Troy University (head of the Sunbelt presidents) stated yesterday that he would like to see expansion based on institutions that fit within our desires as a conferences as well as the geographic footprint of the Sunbelt. When I look at the map, I see App State and Georgia Southern fitting into that geographic footprint much better than Liberty. And I believe that's how many other Sunbelt members and fans see it as well.

It sounds as though that is what the conference presidents collectively together decided to do. Also, after the last presidents meeting, the presidents voted to not have immediate plans, but rather to do research as to the bets possible fits with no actual plans for expansion at this time. Therefore that is the slow process that we are seeing now. Conference USA however obviously already knows what its plan is ahead of time so that they can jump immediately when they need to. So it seems the two conferences are handling the shuffling around two different ways. CUSA is planning ahead and then jumping immediately when its time. Sunbelt is observing what happens, assessing, and being very thoughtful and methodical in its decisions before making. The difference? One plans ahead for possible scenarios. The other plans for actual scenarios once they happen.

I know many here are keen to hold Benson's feet to the fire (I am one of those) but it sounds more like its the university presidents that are slowing the process down. Why would they be voting to progress slowly? Because many of them have had one foot in and one foot out the door for quite some time now. Everyone is saying one thing publicly to each others faces at Sunbelt meetings, and then doing something different behind the scenes. That difference is negotiating and looking out for their own best interest.

The fact is, no member of the Sunbelt is loyal to the Sunbelt no matter what anyone says. It's all smoke and mirrors and every member of the conference is trying to out manuver one another. There are however some conference presidents that are perhaps a little more loyal than others.

Its going to be App State and GA Southern.....Liberty and JMU are too far North and out of our footprint.....Benson said they might expand the foot print slightly....Liberty and JMU are more than slightly. App St is slightly.

As for Jacksonville State thats not going to happen. Troy and USA would block that all day long.

Benson is an absolute moron. What kind of commissioner leaks information about expansion targets until the deals are sealed and announcements are ready. Every other conference has been able to keep things quite until they were ready to make the invite. Maryland to B10, Tulane/ECU to CUSA, Louisville to ACC. Benson must be desperate to lay his cards on the table like that.

(11-29-2012 02:18 PM)Cherryrun Wrote:  Benson is an absolute moron. What kind of commissioner leaks information about expansion targets until the deals are sealed and announcements are ready. Every other conference has been able to keep things quite until they were ready to make the invite. Maryland to B10, Tulane/ECU to CUSA, Louisville to ACC. Benson must be desperate to lay his cards on the table like that.

You dont know for sure thats whats happening. Also no one was watching or listening when the Big East and ACC made their moves. Now that everyones making moves everyone is trying to dig.

(11-29-2012 02:18 PM)Cherryrun Wrote:  Benson is an absolute moron. What kind of commissioner leaks information about expansion targets until the deals are sealed and announcements are ready. Every other conference has been able to keep things quite until they were ready to make the invite. Maryland to B10, Tulane/ECU to CUSA, Louisville to ACC. Benson must be desperate to lay his cards on the table like that.

Every other conference had a backup plan already in place, and knew exactly who they were going after.

(11-29-2012 02:22 PM)Glassonion Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 02:18 PM)Cherryrun Wrote:  Benson is an absolute moron. What kind of commissioner leaks information about expansion targets until the deals are sealed and announcements are ready. Every other conference has been able to keep things quite until they were ready to make the invite. Maryland to B10, Tulane/ECU to CUSA, Louisville to ACC. Benson must be desperate to lay his cards on the table like that.

Every other conference had a backup plan already in place, and knew exactly who they were going after.

Exactly what I said. The Sunbelt university presidents voted not to put a plan in place. My feeling is that the reason why is that many of them already had or have one foot out the door.

(11-29-2012 03:18 PM)troy4ever Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 02:22 PM)Glassonion Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 02:18 PM)Cherryrun Wrote:  Benson is an absolute moron. What kind of commissioner leaks information about expansion targets until the deals are sealed and announcements are ready. Every other conference has been able to keep things quite until they were ready to make the invite. Maryland to B10, Tulane/ECU to CUSA, Louisville to ACC. Benson must be desperate to lay his cards on the table like that.

Every other conference had a backup plan already in place, and knew exactly who they were going after.

Exactly what I said. The Sunbelt university presidents voted not to put a plan in place. My feeling is that the reason why is that many of them already had or have one foot out the door.

No, I don't believe that. The reason the Sun Belt (and I'm no defender of Mr. Benson) can't move as quickly is because they need to vet FCS schools who can not make the jump nearly as quickly as an FBS can to another FBS conference.

That being said, the smugness of trying to get a USM or UAB to move to the Sun Belt instead of working a more feasible plan is indefensable.

(11-29-2012 03:21 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  No, I don't believe that. The reason the Sun Belt (and I'm no defender of Mr. Benson) can't move as quickly is because they need to vet FCS schools who can not make the jump nearly as quickly as an FBS can to another FBS conference.

If as the Sun Belt Commish, Benson had not already had the top FCS candidates App, and GSU at the very least, already vetted, that is a failure in itself. This stuff didnt start yesterday.

(11-29-2012 01:02 PM)tyler90wm Wrote:  Will either Texas State, Georgia State, or UTA be able to vote for (or against) any potential members?

Not until July 1, 2013 as far as I can tell. They aren't members yet.

However, their Presidents will certainly be involved in the discussions. We would expect that FIU, UNT, MTSU, and FAU to abstain in any discussions.

From what i've heard, Having MTSU not vote will only help Georgia Southern.

(11-29-2012 03:23 PM)Glassonion Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 03:21 PM)FIUFan Wrote:  No, I don't believe that. The reason the Sun Belt (and I'm no defender of Mr. Benson) can't move as quickly is because they need to vet FCS schools who can not make the jump nearly as quickly as an FBS can to another FBS conference.

If as the Sun Belt Commish, Benson had not already had the top FCS candidates App, and GSU at the very least, already vetted, that is a failure in itself. This stuff didnt start yesterday.

My theory is that Benson tried to add Appy last time but was vetoed by the Presidents. That's why he's going slow...he has to get approval from people who told them "No Appy" last time.

(11-29-2012 03:29 PM)GaSouthern Wrote:  From what i've heard, Having MTSU not vote will only help Georgia Southern.

You guys can start packing your bags. Don't sweat it. You're in dude.

(11-29-2012 03:30 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 03:29 PM)GaSouthern Wrote:  From what i've heard, Having MTSU not vote will only help Georgia Southern.

You guys can start packing your bags. Don't sweat it. You're in dude.

Are you going to let us bring the GoatLovers along with us.

(11-29-2012 12:05 PM)slycat Wrote:  App St and GaSo are the only gems. The rest offer nothing.

Slycat...

You don't know what you're talking about to offer up such ignorance. To assume no other school offers anything shows that you know nothing about the other schools, including mine. You're getting your opinion from the Troy hacks who hate these schools, like JSU, and even they can't speak of these schools of they have no recent experience with. Do some homework before offering an uneducated opinion. If my son's coach didn't play football at Texas State I'd be a little less professional in my response.

(11-29-2012 04:09 PM)jsualumnus Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 12:05 PM)slycat Wrote:  App St and GaSo are the only gems. The rest offer nothing.

Slycat...

You don't know what you're talking about to offer up such ignorance. To assume no other school offers anything shows that you know nothing about the other schools, including mine. You're getting your opinion from the Troy hacks who hate these schools, like JSU, and even they can't speak of these schools of they have no recent experience with. Do some homework before offering an uneducated opinion. If my son's coach didn't play football at Texas State I'd be a little less professional in my response.

Yeah? And if I wasnt still in shock from being rick rolled on the other thread, I'd give you a piece of my mind!

(11-29-2012 04:12 PM)Glassonion Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 04:09 PM)jsualumnus Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 12:05 PM)slycat Wrote:  App St and GaSo are the only gems. The rest offer nothing.

Slycat...

You don't know what you're talking about to offer up such ignorance. To assume no other school offers anything shows that you know nothing about the other schools, including mine. You're getting your opinion from the Troy hacks who hate these schools, like JSU, and even they can't speak of these schools of they have no recent experience with. Do some homework before offering an uneducated opinion. If my son's coach didn't play football at Texas State I'd be a little less professional in my response.

Yeah? And if I wasnt still in shock from being rick rolled on the other thread, I'd give you a piece of my mind!

(11-29-2012 04:12 PM)Glassonion Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 04:09 PM)jsualumnus Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 12:05 PM)slycat Wrote:  App St and GaSo are the only gems. The rest offer nothing.

Slycat...

You don't know what you're talking about to offer up such ignorance. To assume no other school offers anything shows that you know nothing about the other schools, including mine. You're getting your opinion from the Troy hacks who hate these schools, like JSU, and even they can't speak of these schools of they have no recent experience with. Do some homework before offering an uneducated opinion. If my son's coach didn't play football at Texas State I'd be a little less professional in my response.

Yeah? And if I wasnt still in shock from being rick rolled on the other thread, I'd give you a piece of my mind!

(11-29-2012 04:18 PM)jsualumnus Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 04:12 PM)Glassonion Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 04:09 PM)jsualumnus Wrote:  

(11-29-2012 12:05 PM)slycat Wrote:  App St and GaSo are the only gems. The rest offer nothing.

Slycat...

You don't know what you're talking about to offer up such ignorance. To assume no other school offers anything shows that you know nothing about the other schools, including mine. You're getting your opinion from the Troy hacks who hate these schools, like JSU, and even they can't speak of these schools of they have no recent experience with. Do some homework before offering an uneducated opinion. If my son's coach didn't play football at Texas State I'd be a little less professional in my response.

Yeah? And if I wasnt still in shock from being rick rolled on the other thread, I'd give you a piece of my mind!

Don't hate on me too much. You took it like a man, and if truth be told, I'd offer all the beer you wanted if at my tailgate.