http://tribstar.com/sports/x1520509571/I...ball-level

Without western, that doesnt make as much sense. I think its obvious the belt has been in discussions with just about everyone

(04-21-2013 04:30 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  http://tribstar.com/sports/x1520509571/I...ball-level

"Contacted" vs "turned down" is a huge difference....probably contacted to gauge future interest. I'm sure the SBC would know that facilities and budgets aren't up to par at this time

I would guess the SBC gauging interest to partner with Missouri State if they may want to make a move...

(04-21-2013 04:46 PM)CrushMI Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:30 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  http://tribstar.com/sports/x1520509571/I...ball-level

"Contacted" vs "turned down" is a huge difference....probably contacted to gauge future interest. I'm sure the SBC would know that facilities and budgets aren't up to par at this time

I would guess the SBC gauging interest to partner with Missouri State if they may want to make a move...

You can see how Benson could be looking at 20 schools if he contacted Indiana State. They are desperately talking to anyone who might be interested.

(04-21-2013 05:12 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:46 PM)CrushMI Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 04:30 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  http://tribstar.com/sports/x1520509571/I...ball-level

"Contacted" vs "turned down" is a huge difference....probably contacted to gauge future interest. I'm sure the SBC would know that facilities and budgets aren't up to par at this time

I would guess the SBC gauging interest to partner with Missouri State if they may want to make a move...

You can see how Benson could be looking at 20 schools if he contacted Indiana State. They are desperately talking to anyone who might be interested.

The day the Sun Belt gets desperate is why JSU gets in.

But I'm sorry where do you work?

(04-21-2013 04:30 PM)msu_bears Wrote:  http://tribstar.com/sports/x1520509571/I...ball-level

well sort of. It said they were flattered but just not ready at this time to make that leap. Was mor an honset self evaluation then a "no we don't like you"

And the Sunbelt commissioner reacts:

(04-21-2013 07:09 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  And the Sunbelt commissioner reacts:

Benson probably cannot believe he could unload the F_U's and UNT, then add App State and Ga Southern ( more than breakeven for WKU and MTSU) and keep ASU, UL, Troy and get Tx State to boot.

With CUSA regulated to the bottom of the FBS food chain he can now set his sights on the MAC.

We went through this bad PR crap in 2004.

The Sun Belt trying to get into compliance with the NCAA standards for an FBS league contacted a huge pool of FCS schools asking if they were interested in FBS. If the answer was "no" conversation over. If the answer was "yes" then they would start evaluating the school to see if an offer would appropriate.

Florida A&M was one of the schools contacted back then and they were absolutely interested but once the evaluation began, the Sun Belt elected to not issue an invite despite the fact their geography was really good for the league.

Despite the fact that that being contacted was no assurance of an invite, more than one school proudly declared that they had turned down an invite despite not being invited. It was a low-rent move by them but that's the risk you place yourself in when doing your due diligence in trying to evaluate potential candidates.

(04-21-2013 08:58 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Despite the fact that that being contacted was no assurance of an invite, more than one school proudly declared that they had turned down an invite despite not being invited. It was a low-rent move by them but that's the risk you place yourself in when doing your due diligence in trying to evaluate potential candidates.

There's nothing low-rent about it, it's an obvious risk of contacting anyone and everyone rather than contacting only a few schools, and of course any school you contact might want to do what it can to make itself look good.

Karl Benson should know that better than anyone, because there were a few Sun Belt schools who did exactly the same thing to him and the WAC when he contacted them on behalf of the WAC. Apparently he didn't learn from that experience.

(04-21-2013 09:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 08:58 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Despite the fact that that being contacted was no assurance of an invite, more than one school proudly declared that they had turned down an invite despite not being invited. It was a low-rent move by them but that's the risk you place yourself in when doing your due diligence in trying to evaluate potential candidates.

There's nothing low-rent about it, it's an obvious risk of contacting anyone and everyone rather than contacting only a few schools, and of course any school you contact might want to do what it can to make itself look good.

Karl Benson should know that better than anyone, because there were a few Sun Belt schools who did exactly the same thing to him and the WAC when he contacted them on behalf of the WAC. Apparently he didn't learn from that experience.

It was an act of desperation or politeness contacting Indiana State. It doesn't take much common sense to know they don't make any sense in FBS. Now maybe they contacted all the MVC members just to be polite, but most likely they are fishing for any candidate. They've pretty much exhausted the pool of candidates who make sense who are interested. Noone else in the south makes sense except maybe Lamar. Delaware isn't interested and Missouri State apparently isn't interested now.

Indiana State has had very little success, low attendance, is in a small metro area, isn't that big a school and is in a basketball state. WIU is about the only MVC school who would be less likely to succeed in FBS.

Western Illinois is in the MVC? When did that happen?

Nothing about Northern Iowa? I'd imagine they would be a good target for FBS.

(04-21-2013 11:41 PM)jdgaucho Wrote:  Nothing about Northern Iowa? I'd imagine they would be a good target for FBS.

IIRC their athletic department has come upon lean times and examined cutting certain sports recently, including football. They decided not to and committed to being a core MVC/MVFC member.

(04-21-2013 09:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 08:58 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Despite the fact that that being contacted was no assurance of an invite, more than one school proudly declared that they had turned down an invite despite not being invited. It was a low-rent move by them but that's the risk you place yourself in when doing your due diligence in trying to evaluate potential candidates.

There's nothing low-rent about it, it's an obvious risk of contacting anyone and everyone rather than contacting only a few schools, and of course any school you contact might want to do what it can to make itself look good.

Karl Benson should know that better than anyone, because there were a few Sun Belt schools who did exactly the same thing to him and the WAC when he contacted them on behalf of the WAC. Apparently he didn't learn from that experience.

It is low rent to claim you turned down an offer you didn't have.

As for learning a lesson from the Sun Belt schools that turned the WAC, if you go back and scan newspaper articles from the time, the names of those Sun Belt schools emerged in connection with the WAC in articles where Benson was quoted or in articles citing "sources in the WAC". The schools made their declination public because the media was all over them wanting to know if they were going.

(04-21-2013 11:19 PM)Caltex2 Wrote:  Western Illinois is in the MVC? When did that happen?

They are football members, not all sports.

(04-21-2013 07:22 PM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 07:09 PM)Zombiewoof Wrote:  And the Sunbelt commissioner reacts:

Benson probably cannot believe he could unload the F_U's and UNT, then add App State and Ga Southern ( more than breakeven for WKU and MTSU) and keep ASU, UL, Troy and get Tx State to boot.

With CUSA regulated to the bottom of the FBS food chain he can now set his sights on the MAC.

The MAC is going to be a tough nut to crack. The core of the conference is tightly focused geographically, and have a lot of history with each other. They've remained largely untouched during every round of realignment, with only those schools without any real history in the MAC coming and going...

(04-22-2013 08:05 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 11:19 PM)Caltex2 Wrote:  Western Illinois is in the MVC? When did that happen?

They are football members, not all sports.

They are in the MVFC not the MVC. They are two different entities.

(04-22-2013 06:35 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 09:29 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-21-2013 08:58 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Despite the fact that that being contacted was no assurance of an invite, more than one school proudly declared that they had turned down an invite despite not being invited. It was a low-rent move by them but that's the risk you place yourself in when doing your due diligence in trying to evaluate potential candidates.

There's nothing low-rent about it, it's an obvious risk of contacting anyone and everyone rather than contacting only a few schools, and of course any school you contact might want to do what it can to make itself look good.

Karl Benson should know that better than anyone, because there were a few Sun Belt schools who did exactly the same thing to him and the WAC when he contacted them on behalf of the WAC. Apparently he didn't learn from that experience.

It is low rent to claim you turned down an offer you didn't have.

As for learning a lesson from the Sun Belt schools that turned the WAC, if you go back and scan newspaper articles from the time, the names of those Sun Belt schools emerged in connection with the WAC in articles where Benson was quoted or in articles citing "sources in the WAC". The schools made their declination public because the media was all over them wanting to know if they were going.

Indiana State's AD did not say they had an offer from the Sun Belt.

He was asked by a reporter about internet rumors, he didn't issue a statement until he was asked, and AFAIK he responded accurately, this is from the article linked by the OP:

Quote:“We were contacted by the Sun Belt. While flattering, it’s something we’re not ready for. We may be someday, but we’re not there now,” ISU Director of Athletics Ron Prettyman confirmed to the Tribune-Star.

Nothing wrong with that.