Though I don't , if this Georgia Southern fan had a say in it NMSU would be a full member., Idaho would be gone(no offense), and we'd be adding two schools, either EKU & MoState or EKU and either LU or CCU.


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If we do decide to make a move, I hope:

1. We add NMSU as a full member.

2. We add Coastal Carolina or EKU.

3. Keep an eye on the UAB situation.

(05-20-2015 08:44 PM)MJG Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 08:34 PM)CrazyCajun Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 06:30 PM)rknj8993 Wrote:  So, here are my thoughts on everything I have read, just gathered into one long reply:

Is the travel to Idaho that bad? No. Is the success that Idaho has had recently that bad? Yes. Idaho is dragging the conference down more than even Georgia State is. The Vandals played their first season in 1893, but their record is a whopping 443-568-26. I know that records don't tell the whole story, but a school that is way out of the footprint and is not showing any progress does not deserve yet another chance to prove the conference wrong again.

In regards to EKU and CCU, I would rather take Coastal. I know that is not a popular opinion, but I think South Carolina has always been like North Carolina, in that there have been a few schools that dominated the state (Clemson, USC, UNC, Duke, NC State). Coastal would tap into a bit of a new market while providing some quality athletic teams. I know the support isn't astronomical, but when you're playing the likes of Elon, South Carolina State, and Gardner Webb, who can expect a huge spike in attendance? I just think EKU would see a short spike in attendance due to them being FBS, and then it would dwindle away, with a majority of the fair weather fans heading up the road to UK or Louisville for bigger names when the team starts to fall. Coastal could be ready, facilities wise, quickly with a few renovations, while EKU is looking to have to start over in a few places.

All in all, my top pick would still be JMU. I know that they want nothing to do with the Belt, but their chances at moving up are getting smaller and smaller by the day. I would also love to have UT-Chattanooga as a member of the conference, as they get us back into Tennessee, their facilities are already pretty solid, they're relatively successful, and they're in a market that we haven't really tapped into quite yet. My list, in this order, would be JMU, Missouri State, UTC, Coastal, Liberty, and EKU.

Also, if Idaho is given the boot, I'm okay with NMSU joining as a full member as long as they make great strides to improve their football team and attendance over the next five years. If you're lagging behind in football at this point, it's either time to nut up or shut up. To earn a better reputation for the conference, we can't afford stragglers.

Obviously you have never traveled to Moscow Idaho and to say its not hard to travel to is completely asinine. And no, Idaho is not dragging the conference down more then Georgia State in football, and I doubt seriously you were around in 1893, much less 1990. Idaho has been to a bowl game as recently as 2009 and has some history in the Div. 1AA playoffs, Georgia State has been nothing but the toilet bowl from day one in SBC football. No history, zero accomplishments to date. Let's be factual and not throw out just anything.

Fly to Spokane then ninety mile drive.
Similar to Charlotte to Boone with a longer flight.
Idaho had one losing season from 1982-1999
Played ina a conference with most of the PAC 12 schools for a long time.
Then played many years as the only BSC major college team.
Idaho doesn't have a great history ten conference tiltes .
We do have an interesting one and won our second bowl game in 2009.
We would rather be in the MWC you guys would rather have JMU.
Neither of those is happening at this time but in the future its possible.
Utah ST is similar to Idaho and ODU to JMU .

I understand the travel distance to Moscow is far, and perceived by many on this board as too much. The other thing is the last 5 years of football teams/record Idaho has put on the field (since their 2009 bowl win) has been pretty awful. Believe me, I think Vandal fans and alumni are the first to acknowledge that point.
But would people here change their minds if Idaho started winning enough games and started becoming a bowl eligible team on a regular basis? Or is the distance and travel still too much to change the opinions of the people here? (i.e. SBC fans)
The other thing I acknowledge is that Idaho would love to be in a Western Conference (since the WAC dissolved) - maybe someday the MWC will make an invite, but I think that's going to take some greater shake up - perhaps the Big 12 starting something. So, the SBC is helping Idaho out (a ton) by giving them a conference to remain FBS and the SBC was being helped (at least when they extended the invite) in order to get to 12 teams. While there are a number of teams in the footprint, SBC is still having a hard time finding "quality" teams to add.
So, I guess the main question is - IF Idaho started trending back to there winning ways and becoming bowl eligible, would/should the SBC give them the boot (if they have no other conference to go to) just to get a move-up team in the conference footprint?

(05-20-2015 09:05 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 12:30 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(05-20-2015 12:22 AM)CatMom Wrote:  

(05-19-2015 11:51 PM)RamblinRedWolf44 Wrote:  Listened to brads interview with Brady and coach mentioned during the SBC coaches meeting that among other topics expansion was discused, particularly two names: eku and coastal Carolina



http://www.953theticket.com/?p=9670

Also found it interesting that Brady said that he along with virtually every administrator at astate were in full support of NMSU being full members, but said there are certain members against it because of travel

cough, cough...App State...cough

How about this..

App, you get Coastal. But we'll take NMSU as an all sport and end the agreement with Idaho. And we'll also take EKU.

SBC East

EKU, Troy, Ga State, Ga Southern, Coastal, App

SBC West

Ark State, NMSU, Texas State, ULL, ULM, USA

Football plays 8 game schedule. 5 versus division, 1 traditional rival. 2 rotating.

Troy and USA could be traditional rivals. Everyone else can figure out their rivals.

SBC non-football members UTA, UALR - Basketball plays without divisions. 18 game schedule. 13 games versus other members, 5 teams play twice per team.

Looks pretty good to me, You got Karl on speed dial to "sell this package" to him?

The golf options alone have Karl's head spinning.

(05-22-2015 02:38 PM)ARSTATEFAN1986 Wrote:  

(05-22-2015 02:27 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(05-22-2015 01:52 PM)DawggoneEagle Wrote:  Liberty is hanging out there in a way better position if there were any interest. What are the advantages of CCU over EKU if the Sun Belt takes one. If the relationship with Idaho does not continue, I'd like to see both, and move South Alabama to the West .


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What I came up with comparing the three big sports between Liberty, Coastal, and EKU

FOOTBALL

Liberty one FCS appearance. Seven conference titles, first year in FCS 1989

Coastal five FCS appearances. Seven conference titles, first year in FCS 2003

EKU 21 FCS appearances with two FCS championships, first year in FCS 1978


BASKETBALL

Liberty three NCAA appearances most recent 2013, one CIT, one regular season conference title (2004)

Coastal four NCAA appearances (most recent 2015 and 2014), two NIT, one CIT, eight regular season conference titles (2014 most recent)

EKU eight NCAA appearances (only three since 1980: 2005, 2007, 2014), two CBI appearances, six regular season titles (none since 1979)


BASEBALL

Liberty five NCAA appearances (most recent 2013, 2014)

Coastal 12 NCAA appearances, two super regional, four times number one regional seed

EKU four NCAA appearances (most recent 1989)

Will there likely be expansion before the June deadline?

Don't think that's likely.