(03-11-2014 03:11 AM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-09-2014 06:35 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  NMSU will not get enough votes to get into the Belt as an all sports member. The schools in the east will block them.

Then what about just adding UMass FB-only? After all, there's no critical reason that a BBall conference has to step up from 11 to 12.

(03-10-2014 09:44 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  They don't have to go anywhere. If ULL decided to announce they were looking at forming a new league, how long do you think it would take New Mexico State, Texas State, Arkansas State, and South Alabama to sign up? The answer is not long.

The other first delay would be to get enough schools onboard to start the conference ... you need eight existing FBS schools to start with, after all. While Eight Is Enough, 5 is not enough.

And you've got a first mover problem ... you likely can't get eight without convincing the CFP to accept the conference and subdivide the Go5 (now Go6) money further, and you likely have to have the conference together before you are in a position to argue for inclusion in the CFP. Trying to juggle both at once is a lot like the old Big East trying to negotiate a new contract and put together its new alignment at the same time, when each needed the other to be settled to have a reasonable chance of success.

Quote: Back when MTSU and WKU were still in the SBC, it was pretty common for expansion meetings to end with some President talking openly about trying to start their own league.

Talk is cheap. How many of those meetings ended with a President actually starting their own league?

Not as hard forming a new league as one may think. Forming an entirely new conference is difficult...but simply pairing with an existing all sports league is not as difficult in dealing with the NCAA.

If the 5 or 6 Sun Belt schools were to call say the WAC or the Summit League...and inquire about bringing all sports in on the condition that they start football, how long would it take for the league to say yes? Both situations would allow the league to keep Idaho attached, and offer 50 times easier travel for the Vandals. Once that happens, all it takes is two other SBC Members to join in, and you take a vote to dissolve the league. Sun Belt is no more, so the G5 playoff money simply switches to the new league, and its the leftovers in the SBC stuck searching for their own league.

Is such a stunt likely to happen? No. but its certainly enough of a threat that you'll find teams willing to cave. MTSU got their way several times playing such a game. No reason that an ASU or ULL couldn't as well...given the power their administrators have league wise right now.

(03-13-2014 03:57 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 03:47 PM)LUcanesfan Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 02:24 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  I've never said let's go to 12 just to get to 12. Follow what I said above and if either JMU or Mo. St. are ready/willing, we wait. The Sun Belt isn't going to sit at 11 forever. The other conferences aren't going to remain static either.

I would prefer being proactive than reactive.

The most proactive thing to do is invite Liberty because they are the most FBS-ready (staffing, attendance requirements, facilities, Title IX compliant, ect.) and willing candidate. But I'm sure everyone knows that already.

The true question is: how ready and willing are JMU and Mo State? JMU may be ready, but they are not willing. Mo State seem to be willing to join, but are not ready (football field renovations are needed first).

If the Sun Belt goes another year without a 12th football member, it will mark the 2nd year of waiting. So I guess the ultimate question is: how long is the Sun Belt willing to wait?

Keep in mind the Sun Belt gave NMSU and Idaho life-lines. Was it necessary for them to do that? Did Benson felt obligated to do such a thing since he was the former commissioner of the WAC? No, but I believe Benson wanted the Sun Belt presidents 1) to get on board for a championship game and 2) to reap in the benefits (money in new BCS) of having 12 football schools.

If anything, its been the president's stubbornness to expand without having a 12th school already in place. I'm sure Benson wanted Liberty to replace WKU in the East, but the presidents said "we'll wait on *insert school here* to get ready. We have time..." That type of attitude is the reason why some compare the Sun Belt to the WAC.

Liberty does not and will not have the votes to get in as long as Louisiana and stAte are in the league.

The truth is...Louisiana and stAte are not the only no votes right now. I've heard that at least one of the Alabama schools is on the fence, and that doesn't count the fact that Texas State will ultimately go along with whatever ASU and UL do.

(03-13-2014 07:13 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 06:25 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 06:10 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  If UMass had more than a faint pulse I would be comfortable with the Sun Belt taking them for football only, but their transition has been more Georgia State than Boise State.

Why would UMASS leave the MAC for the SB?

So they could keep their basketball in the A-10 and stay FBS if the MAC sent the dreaded letter. We already have Idaho

Fair enough.

(03-13-2014 04:46 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 04:34 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 03:47 PM)LUcanesfan Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 02:24 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  I've never said let's go to 12 just to get to 12. Follow what I said above and if either JMU or Mo. St. are ready/willing, we wait. The Sun Belt isn't going to sit at 11 forever. The other conferences aren't going to remain static either.

I would prefer being proactive than reactive.

The most proactive thing to do is invite Liberty because they are the most FBS-ready (staffing, attendance requirements, facilities, Title IX compliant, ect.) and willing candidate. But I'm sure everyone knows that already.

The true question is: how ready and willing are JMU and Mo State? JMU may be ready, but they are not willing. Mo State seem to be willing to join, but are not ready (football field renovations are needed first).

If the Sun Belt goes another year without a 12th football member, it will mark the 2nd year of waiting. So I guess the ultimate question is: how long is the Sun Belt willing to wait?

Keep in mind the Sun Belt gave NMSU and Idaho life-lines. Was it necessary for them to do that? Did Benson felt obligated to do such a thing since he was the former commissioner of the WAC? No, but I believe Benson wanted the Sun Belt presidents 1) to get on board for a championship game and 2) to reap in the benefits (money in new BCS) of having 12 football schools.

If anything, its been the president's stubbornness to expand without having a 12th school already in place. I'm sure Benson wanted Liberty to replace WKU in the East, but the presidents said "we'll wait on *insert school here* to get ready. We have time..." That type of attitude is the reason why some compare the Sun Belt to the WAC.

Well I think JMU is as or more ready as Liberty and Jacksonville State is as ready as Liberty. Difference for Jacksonville State is that they face an even harder path to 9 votes.

The NMSU and Idaho invites need to be contemplated independently.

App and GaSo received invites to take the Sun Belt to 10 football members and 12 full.

NMSU was a contender for one of those full spots but they came up short of the eight votes required. We know with AState and Louisiana were yes votes and can reasonably presume that UALR, ULM, TXST, and UTA were yes votes though if anyone broke from that group it would be UALR or ULM. We know WKU was a no. The unknown is where USA, Troy, and GaSt fell but presumably at least two of those three voted no.

NMSU football only was a compromise and they became bundled with Idaho to reach 12.

With WKU's departure, the commissioner has remained adamant about getting to 12 but there seems little pressue especially out of the western part of the league (where 6 of the 11 votes are located) to get to 12 unless the selected school is really a great choice.

The fly in the ointment in any expansion discussion will be NMSU.

NMSU is already in for football but the western part of the Sun Belt will almost certainly compare any potential candidate to what NMSU offers in men's and women's basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

I know that AState and Louisiana voted for GaSo and App.
I know both voted for NMSU
I know that AState is opposed to Liberty but would vote for JMU, NMSU or Mo State if they were to apply.

I've thrown this out before, but I think it is worth consideration.

I believe Liberty's best path to Sun Belt membership will be for the voting to deadlock in an intractable manner and enter the league on a motion that pairs Liberty with either NMSU or Missouri State or both.

I don't support adding TWO more FCS teams. Yes Texas State and USA transitioned well, but....can you imagine us with FOUR Georgia States in the conference at one time? With Idaho and NMSU at the same level.......

Thankfully USA 1) didn't have to transition into FBS and 2) went 10-2 their first season in the SBC. *





*Neither of theses statements are true.

(03-14-2014 05:54 AM)panama Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 04:46 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 04:34 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 03:47 PM)LUcanesfan Wrote:  

(03-13-2014 02:24 PM)Saint3333 Wrote:  I've never said let's go to 12 just to get to 12. Follow what I said above and if either JMU or Mo. St. are ready/willing, we wait. The Sun Belt isn't going to sit at 11 forever. The other conferences aren't going to remain static either.

I would prefer being proactive than reactive.

The most proactive thing to do is invite Liberty because they are the most FBS-ready (staffing, attendance requirements, facilities, Title IX compliant, ect.) and willing candidate. But I'm sure everyone knows that already.

The true question is: how ready and willing are JMU and Mo State? JMU may be ready, but they are not willing. Mo State seem to be willing to join, but are not ready (football field renovations are needed first).

If the Sun Belt goes another year without a 12th football member, it will mark the 2nd year of waiting. So I guess the ultimate question is: how long is the Sun Belt willing to wait?

Keep in mind the Sun Belt gave NMSU and Idaho life-lines. Was it necessary for them to do that? Did Benson felt obligated to do such a thing since he was the former commissioner of the WAC? No, but I believe Benson wanted the Sun Belt presidents 1) to get on board for a championship game and 2) to reap in the benefits (money in new BCS) of having 12 football schools.

If anything, its been the president's stubbornness to expand without having a 12th school already in place. I'm sure Benson wanted Liberty to replace WKU in the East, but the presidents said "we'll wait on *insert school here* to get ready. We have time..." That type of attitude is the reason why some compare the Sun Belt to the WAC.

Well I think JMU is as or more ready as Liberty and Jacksonville State is as ready as Liberty. Difference for Jacksonville State is that they face an even harder path to 9 votes.

The NMSU and Idaho invites need to be contemplated independently.

App and GaSo received invites to take the Sun Belt to 10 football members and 12 full.

NMSU was a contender for one of those full spots but they came up short of the eight votes required. We know with AState and Louisiana were yes votes and can reasonably presume that UALR, ULM, TXST, and UTA were yes votes though if anyone broke from that group it would be UALR or ULM. We know WKU was a no. The unknown is where USA, Troy, and GaSt fell but presumably at least two of those three voted no.

NMSU football only was a compromise and they became bundled with Idaho to reach 12.

With WKU's departure, the commissioner has remained adamant about getting to 12 but there seems little pressue especially out of the western part of the league (where 6 of the 11 votes are located) to get to 12 unless the selected school is really a great choice.

The fly in the ointment in any expansion discussion will be NMSU.

NMSU is already in for football but the western part of the Sun Belt will almost certainly compare any potential candidate to what NMSU offers in men's and women's basketball, baseball, and volleyball.

I know that AState and Louisiana voted for GaSo and App.
I know both voted for NMSU
I know that AState is opposed to Liberty but would vote for JMU, NMSU or Mo State if they were to apply.

I've thrown this out before, but I think it is worth consideration.

I believe Liberty's best path to Sun Belt membership will be for the voting to deadlock in an intractable manner and enter the league on a motion that pairs Liberty with either NMSU or Missouri State or both.

I don't support adding TWO more FCS teams. Yes Texas State and USA transitioned well, but....can you imagine us with FOUR Georgia States in the conference at one time? With Idaho and NMSU at the same level.......

Thankfully USA 1) didn't have to transition into FBS and 2) went 10-2 their first season in the SBC. *





*Neither of theses statements are true.

We shall see how you guys do this year. You should be better. But still.