Does this game carry any significance for the Sunbelt and future conference affiliations? Has JMU burnt it bridges for an invite or will this rekindle their interest? Will the game outcome, coupled with Liberty administrative changes, change Liberty's position?

None whatsoever.

The next member of the Sun Belt is either Chattanooga or Eastern Kentucky.

I would think that one game wouldn't impact a conferences decision of who to invite

No.

(11-23-2014 02:47 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  None whatsoever.

The next member of the Sun Belt is either Chattanooga or Eastern Kentucky.

Honest question...when did this Chattanooga upgrade stuff start? The last time I read about them, they were re-committing to SoCon after possibly weighing some OVC options when SoCon was having all sorts of other defection issues.

Seems weird to be weighing SoCon vs. OVC, to now consider FBS. I'm not sure EKU's really got what it takes, either, but they have some people internally that want it to happen. If UTC is behind EKU, and EKU seems enthused but far off, how likely is UTC, then?

No, but if Liberty would make it to the FCS national championship, it would at least start the conversation for them being considered. If Liberty was a FCS power that could be enough for some to overlook the other areas of concern. JMU is just not interested in the SBC.

I read your title and wondered, the Super Bowl? Is really that hard to spell out Sunbelt? Or just use SBC to help clarify.

(11-23-2014 03:38 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 02:47 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  None whatsoever.

The next member of the Sun Belt is either Chattanooga or Eastern Kentucky.

Honest question...when did this Chattanooga upgrade stuff start? The last time I read about them, they were re-committing to SoCon after possibly weighing some OVC options when SoCon was having all sorts of other defection issues.

Seems weird to be weighing SoCon vs. OVC, to now consider FBS. I'm not sure EKU's really got what it takes, either, but they have some people internally that want it to happen. If UTC is behind EKU, and EKU seems enthused but far off, how likely is UTC, then?

I think most of the interest has been on the Sun Belt's end ever since MTSU announced it was leaving. UTC turned down the SBC in 2013. Given its proximity to Atlanta and Boone, Chattanooga is about an obvious candidate as there ever will be.

(11-23-2014 05:22 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 03:38 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 02:47 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  None whatsoever.

The next member of the Sun Belt is either Chattanooga or Eastern Kentucky.

Honest question...when did this Chattanooga upgrade stuff start? The last time I read about them, they were re-committing to SoCon after possibly weighing some OVC options when SoCon was having all sorts of other defection issues.

Seems weird to be weighing SoCon vs. OVC, to now consider FBS. I'm not sure EKU's really got what it takes, either, but they have some people internally that want it to happen. If UTC is behind EKU, and EKU seems enthused but far off, how likely is UTC, then?

I think most of the interest has been on the Sun Belt's end ever since MTSU announced it was leaving. UTC turned down the SBC in 2013. Given its proximity to Atlanta and Boone, Chattanooga is about an obvious candidate as there ever will be.

Lol. UTC was never offered and they have never expressed interest. They just don't have the fan support to make the move.

No

JMU has made reasonably clear that their aspiration is the American and they might be interested in joining CUSA or the MAC. There isn't any obvious way that playing Liberty is going to affect that.

So the question is whether it can have any impact on the Sunbelt's disinclination to make an offer to Liberty. On that front, Liberty vs JMU might have an impact on the Sunbelt if it was for the FCS championship ... otherwise not.

(11-23-2014 06:21 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 05:22 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 03:38 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 02:47 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  None whatsoever.

The next member of the Sun Belt is either Chattanooga or Eastern Kentucky.

Honest question...when did this Chattanooga upgrade stuff start? The last time I read about them, they were re-committing to SoCon after possibly weighing some OVC options when SoCon was having all sorts of other defection issues.

Seems weird to be weighing SoCon vs. OVC, to now consider FBS. I'm not sure EKU's really got what it takes, either, but they have some people internally that want it to happen. If UTC is behind EKU, and EKU seems enthused but far off, how likely is UTC, then?

I think most of the interest has been on the Sun Belt's end ever since MTSU announced it was leaving. UTC turned down the SBC in 2013. Given its proximity to Atlanta and Boone, Chattanooga is about an obvious candidate as there ever will be.

Lol. UTC was never offered and they have never expressed interest. They just don't have the fan support to make the move.

If they did, it would be a dramatic shift from when they said they wanted more games with other Tennessee schools that the OVC would have given them, and then advocating for ETSU. I don't know how one advocates for a bus league, then goes fishing for something the polar opposite.

I mean, I don't know...maybe they had some talks. It would just be...shocking.

Sun Belt: UTC are you considering going FBS?
UTC: No
SBC: Ok thanks
UTC: We turned down the Sun Belt.

Back in 2004 UTC asked to join but answered the football question incorrectly.

This sounds like a Jerry Springer Special. Person "A" (SBC) wants to take person "B" (JMU) out, person "B" tells person "A" drop dead, person "C" (LU) is screaming to person "A" I'll date you, person "A" tells person "C" not in your life time, person "A" with tears in theirs eyes begs "B" please, please please go out with us, "B" says again to "A" drop dead; who wants to go where everyone of you wants to leave?, Pearson "A" then says "well we've got plenty of others to take out like "D" (Chattanooga) & "E" (EKU). And everyone is shouting are you crazy they are not even of age!

And "A" (SBC) looks into the cameras and says "age" you nuts why does that matter we ain't got no religion (LU), and we don't want any.

You never mentioned Jax St. Which is the most likely of the group to win it all. Currently ranked third and a 3 seed in the playoff finished in the quarterfinals last year and have already beat Utc and eku this year.

(11-23-2014 10:16 PM)cleburneslim Wrote:  You never mentioned Jax St. Which is the most likely of the group to win it all. Currently ranked third and a 3 seed in the playoff finished in the quarterfinals last year and have already beat Utc and eku this year.

I just echoed this sentiment on the Sun Belt board. I dont care if its Jax St, JMU, or Liberty, we need a #12 and I think it should be with whichever school has the better fan support and a winning program. I dont care whether its the #3 Alabama school or Jerry's College, we need a Championship game asap.

(11-23-2014 06:21 PM)GSU Eagles Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 05:22 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 03:38 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-23-2014 02:47 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  None whatsoever.

The next member of the Sun Belt is either Chattanooga or Eastern Kentucky.

Honest question...when did this Chattanooga upgrade stuff start? The last time I read about them, they were re-committing to SoCon after possibly weighing some OVC options when SoCon was having all sorts of other defection issues.

Seems weird to be weighing SoCon vs. OVC, to now consider FBS. I'm not sure EKU's really got what it takes, either, but they have some people internally that want it to happen. If UTC is behind EKU, and EKU seems enthused but far off, how likely is UTC, then?

I think most of the interest has been on the Sun Belt's end ever since MTSU announced it was leaving. UTC turned down the SBC in 2013. Given its proximity to Atlanta and Boone, Chattanooga is about an obvious candidate as there ever will be.

Lol. UTC was never offered and they have never expressed interest. They just don't have the fan support to make the move.

Besides, Chattanooga now has what it has always wanted...a conference weak enough for it to compete in. Even better for them is it will get weaker in a few years when ETSU comes on board.

I thought I just read somewhere that the SB met recently, and expansion wasn't even on the agenda, and that Benson said they were going into next year with 11. (I guess that could be interpreted a couple of ways, now that I read my own typing.) But the inference I took was that they were happy at 11, for now. I get being happy at 10, because you can do a complete football round robin, but 11??

(11-24-2014 07:08 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  I thought I just read somewhere that the SB met recently, and expansion wasn't even on the agenda, and that Benson said they were going into next year with 11. (I guess that could be interpreted a couple of ways, now that I read my own typing.) But the inference I took was that they were happy at 11, for now. I get being happy at 10, because you can do a complete football round robin, but 11??

Idaho and NMSU will be evaluated at the end of next year. Hopefully NMSU will be added for all sports and Idaho will be dropped, leaving us with 10.

(11-24-2014 07:08 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  I thought I just read somewhere that the SB met recently, and expansion wasn't even on the agenda, and that Benson said they were going into next year with 11. (I guess that could be interpreted a couple of ways, now that I read my own typing.) But the inference I took was that they were happy at 11, for now. I get being happy at 10, because you can do a complete football round robin, but 11??

The Sun Belt would happily expand to 12 if the right school, with the right plan, and the right commitment, and the right fit were to call and ask to join.

James Madison has soured itself in conversations but they would likely have no trouble if they asked.

Missouri State if they take the next step in their facility upgrades would likely be accepted. Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock, and Louisiana have long coveted adding their hoops and baseball and the Arkansas schools certainly want the bus ride.

Eastern Kentucky. The school profile fits but they aren't just prepared in terms of financial stability. Their upside is their facilities are good enough to "make due" right now but long-term they need upgrades. Their biggest challenge is funding the scholies and higher salaries on a long-term basis.

Jacksonville State. Three weeks ago I would have said that there was no way short of the Sun Belt losing teams and being desperate that the league would add it's third member in Alabama taking the state to six FBS programs. Now with the rumors about UAB, I tend to believe that if UAB pulls the plug that the resistance to Jacksonville State will soften, I don't know that it softens enough to add them, but the objections won't be as forceful.

Chattanooga geographically a perfect fit. The leadership there has been wildly inconsistent on athletics since the 1980's from what I can tell. In 2004 they approached the Sun Belt wanting to join in everything except football which was a non-starter. They were once a top FCS program but for the last two years they've been mediocre to bad. Probably still some years from making the sort of financial commitment FBS would require.

Liberty. Financially and facility-wise they have everything in place. The presidents are not wildly enthusiastic about them because they are an internal problem. Faculty will be unhappy about them as will some boards of trustees. The Sun Belt currently has no private schools and Liberty has a significantly different mission from the rest of the league. MODERATORS BE PREPARED. This thread will likely spin out of control between Liberty fans and Liberty haters. Let's keep it on the facts, the facts are the league has looked at them at least twice and passed.

If the Sun Belt merely desired to be at 12, they would have added Liberty or Jax State or EKU and either over-looked their Liberty concerns or over-looked the transition issues financially that EKU and to a lesser degree Jax would face.

So, the Sun Belt will stay at 11 until the right program or the right circumstances arise.