(01-15-2017 03:44 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  The Belt had a small, private school on the outskirts of the conference in it before....it was a very bad fit. And just like Liberty....they play hockey too.

Liberty does not sponsor DI hockey, yet. It has club teams at every level though. That like saying USA sponsors hockey.

(01-15-2017 08:20 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 03:44 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  The Belt had a small, private school on the outskirts of the conference in it before....it was a very bad fit. And just like Liberty....they play hockey too.

Liberty does not sponsor DI hockey, yet. It has club teams at every level though. That like saying USA sponsors hockey.

Either way, even if one is willing to overlook Liberty's other issues....Liberty feels a lot like Denver. A private, geographic outlier, with a marginal (at best) athletic success profile, playing sports (they have a friggin' snow ramp) that aren't a fit with our membership.

I look for LU to add Hockey and Rifle next. Just a guess.





Checkout the new indoor track. Just opened.





http://www..edu/news/index.cfm?PID=18495&MID=218088

Mobile is the perfect sized city for a successful non P5 program. Large enough to draw crowds and have great media exposure for the local team, yet far enough way from the flagship schools. Springfield is this way. Wichita is this way. Kalamazoo is this way. Toledo is this way. Plenty others across the nation that are the same. Those AAA and AA baseball markets essentially.

(01-16-2017 09:58 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 08:20 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 03:44 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  The Belt had a small, private school on the outskirts of the conference in it before....it was a very bad fit. And just like Liberty....they play hockey too.

Liberty does not sponsor DI hockey, yet. It has club teams at every level though. That like saying USA sponsors hockey.

Either way, even if one is willing to overlook Liberty's other issues....Liberty feels a lot like Denver. A private, geographic outlier, with a marginal (at best) athletic success profile, playing sports (they have a friggin' snow ramp) that aren't a fit with our membership.

Personally I'm over LU getting into the Sunbelt. It would of been nice but that ship has sailed and there is no need to dwell on it. What I want for LU is to go FBS and move up in the national rankings since it is in that category now as of 2016. And also continue to build its academic reputation up. LU is basically replacing its entire campus and eye balling future research projects. Just check out the Liberty forum on CSNBBS sometimes I post stuff about this from time to time. All the things I want will take time but we will get there. Hopefully this will all happen before I'm on my death bed but who knows.

(01-16-2017 12:33 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 09:58 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 08:20 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 03:44 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  The Belt had a small, private school on the outskirts of the conference in it before....it was a very bad fit. And just like Liberty....they play hockey too.

Liberty does not sponsor DI hockey, yet. It has club teams at every level though. That like saying USA sponsors hockey.

Either way, even if one is willing to overlook Liberty's other issues....Liberty feels a lot like Denver. A private, geographic outlier, with a marginal (at best) athletic success profile, playing sports (they have a friggin' snow ramp) that aren't a fit with our membership.

Personally I'm over LU getting into the Sunbelt. It would of been nice but that ship has sailed and there is no need to dwell on it. What I want for LU is to go FBS and move up in the national rankings since it is in that category now as of 2016. And also continue to build its academic reputation up. LU is basically replacing its entire campus and eye balling future research projects. Just check out the Liberty forum on CSNBBS sometimes I post stuff about this from time to time. All the things I want will take time but we will get there. Hopefully this will all happen before I'm on my death bed but who knows.

I'm not saying that you guys don't recognize that the Sun Belt isn't going to happen for LU...just correcting a poster who mooted LU. I really don't dwell on LU anymore, as they aren't a threat for the time being to my conference.

(01-14-2017 06:46 PM)ChooChoo Wrote:  

(01-14-2017 04:41 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  If the Sun Belt were dying to have more than 10 teams right now, it should extend its FB-only agreement with the school that just went 9-4 and earned the conference an extra 7-figure check for CFP performance revenue PLUS extra money for the bowl pool by playing in (and winning) a non-Sun Belt bowl that the conference never would have otherwise accessed, PLUS gives up its share of CFP money to pay Sun Belt schools for travel expenses to its home games.

But the conference doesn't seem inclined to do that, so why would it want to nurture a bunch more not-ready-for-primetime schools instead?

Truth be told you are absolutely right. I think we should have held things as they are until 2 more all sports teams could be decided upon. I would prefer a 12 team all sports conference based purely on personal preference but if sharing the pie 10 ways makes the schools more money and saves on travel then that wins out. Unfortunately 10 is where it is for the foreseeable future.

As for Kennesaw State...you folks who are asking for them don't even live in the state. They aren't who you think they are. Just because they have a lot of students doesn't qualify them for the Sun Belt. And why 3 schools in one state? In the same metro area no less? Expansion needs to have purpose. That's why you see the same names over and over by other posters. Wichita State. Missouri State. Chattanooga. JMU. They're the best options in new states with either good facilities, traditions, or budgets. All Kennesaw State does is further dilute from GS and GSU, has even less of a following or tradition in Div I then we have, and will help the conference in NO WAY in future contract considerations. I have no ill will towards my brothers in Cobb County. Let them be in FCS and do their thing. If there was an uprising and need to move up their fans would be stirring like ours and Southerns and Apps were. You'd see lurkers and comments like some from Liberty, MO St, JMU and like Coastal had. They aren't here. The fans aren't there yet. Just let it go. It's not gonna happen so long as there are 2 Georgia schools in the conference or so long as they show no desire or need to move up.

Its funny to see some of teh same people who love a good old GSU attendance picture putting forth Kennesaw State. They seat 8300 and spent a good portion of 2016 half empty.

(01-16-2017 10:37 AM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  I look for LU to add Hockey and Rifle next. Just a guess.

Does it seat 3000 now? If it does, I expect Liberty to get an offer from the AHA soon. Almost all of the teams in that league have upgraded rinks they rent or are building, like Bentley, Sacred Heart, American International, RIT, Canisius, etc. Other offers may go out to Navy, URI, Post, Southern New Hampshire.

The teams in western NY and PA may split off to form a new league.

(01-16-2017 09:35 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 10:37 AM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  I look for LU to add Hockey and Rifle next. Just a guess.

Does it seat 3000 now? If it does, I expect Liberty to get an offer from the AHA soon. Almost all of the teams in that league have upgraded rinks they rent or are building, like Bentley, Sacred Heart, American International, RIT, Canisius, etc. Other offers may go out to Navy, URI, Post, Southern New Hampshire.

The teams in western NY and PA may split off to form a new league.

Post is a for-profit school just like Grand Canyon. We heard all about the backlash when WAC added Grand Canyon.

(01-16-2017 09:35 PM)NoDak Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 10:37 AM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  I look for LU to add Hockey and Rifle next. Just a guess.

Does it seat 3000 now? If it does, I expect Liberty to get an offer from the AHA soon. Almost all of the teams in that league have upgraded rinks they rent or are building, like Bentley, Sacred Heart, American International, RIT, Canisius, etc. Other offers may go out to Navy, URI, Post, Southern New Hampshire.

The teams in western NY and PA may split off to form a new league.

Seats 3000, I think standing room for another 1000.

https://www.liberty.edu/lahayeicecenter/

(01-14-2017 04:22 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(01-14-2017 01:57 PM)southernwolf Wrote:  Please, no new additions to the SBC. I thought this subject was put aside once Coastal was admitted, if there is such a "Burning Desire", to add more teams, wait until stAte and UL leave, and then add all you want.

Why wait for Ark State and Lafayette? That will put you behind the eight ball. Add UTA Football and Kennesaw State now.

Youre a lovely drunk arent you?

(01-15-2017 03:44 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  First, there are significant differences between EKU and USA, beyond the obvious fact that USA has been a successful contributor to the conference for close to 40 years...

Money - EKU has 60miillion....USA ~half a billion.
Established Rivalries - EKU...0, USA - many.
Market - While the Sun Belt doesn't focus on market, its nice to actually have one.

I'm from Mobile. Alabama and Auburn have more fans, but seeing as you cannot get to either watch a game and return the same day easily, very few Mobilians ever go to either to actually attend games. The UK fans in Lexington can go to a UK game just as easily as they can go to EKU

You're correct, comparing USA and EKU is a poor choice at best, in several dimensions of factors that matter for conference expansion.

(01-15-2017 03:44 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  If UK is playing Miss State and EKU is playing App, the Lexington paper will lead with UK and EKU will be an afterthought. So will the other media in Lexington. In Louisville, it will be in the 'scores around the state' section.

And if Alabama is playing Miss, Auburn is playing Miss St, and USA is playing App, the Mobile paper and media will lead with the teams that 95% of people in the state care about while USA will be an afterthought. In B'ham, USA will be in the 'scores around the state' section.

(01-15-2017 08:13 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Mobile is actually slightly closer to Baton Rouge than Tuscaloosa or Auburn.

Most of the people within an hour drive of EKU can get to a UK more easily because they are closer to UK.

And to go a step further on the last time the Sun Belt had a private college, the conference changed the core requirements to be a member with a three year deadline to comply in order to expel them and soon as they were gone changed them back to allow UALR to remain after dropping a sport.

Look, I already agreed with the fundamental principle that you explained (and probably Tom did too): the Sun Belt does not need to expand, so it can absolutely be choosy.

I simply reject -- because it's correct -- that the Sun Belt would reject a great candidate because of one thing that doesn't matter on its own.

Doesn't necessarily have to be EKU, but I'm just talking about some hypothetical great candidate that only "violated" one of the criteria you and Tom claimed.

(01-16-2017 10:37 AM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  I look for LU to add Hockey and Rifle next. Just a guess.

Checkout the new indoor track. Just opened.

Yeah, it's amazing the facilities you can build when you have a for-profit Christian bookstore ... oh sorry, university ... that steals money from people by promising to get them into heaven if they make a donation to LU.

(01-16-2017 12:17 PM)MissouriStateBears Wrote:  Mobile is the perfect sized city for a successful non P5 program. Large enough to draw crowds and have great media exposure for the local team, yet far enough way from the flagship schools. Springfield is this way. Wichita is this way. Kalamazoo is this way. Toledo is this way. Plenty others across the nation that are the same. Those AAA and AA baseball markets essentially.

Mobile is the perfect sized city ... to be home to 95% SEC school fans.

Kennesaw State moving spring game to prime-time slot

http://www.mdjonline.com/cobb_football_f...1fac4.html

This is a great idea.

Sun Belt match ups against Kennesaw State

Volleyball

Sep 9 KSU 3 Georgia State 1

Basketball -W

Nov 22 @ Georgia State - GSU 62 KSU 59

Baseball

Tue February 21st Georgia State
Wed March 29th @ Georgia State

Tue April 11th @ Georgia Southern
Wed May 10th Gerogia Southern

Softball

Wed, Mar 22 @Georgia State

Tue, Apr 11 Georgia State

(02-15-2017 08:51 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  Sun Belt match ups against Kennesaw State

Volleyball

Sep 9 KSU 3 Georgia State 1

Basketball -W

Nov 22 @ Georgia State - GSU 62 KSU 59

Baseball

Tue February 21st Georgia State
Wed March 29th @ Georgia State

Tue April 11th @ Georgia Southern
Wed May 10th Gerogia Southern

Softball

Wed, Mar 22 @Georgia State

Tue, Apr 11 Georgia State

Missed W Soccer

3-4-2017 Georgia Southern

Does that mean Mercer should join the Sun Belt also since they play Georgia Southern in Men's & Women's basketball, Baseball 2 games, Men's Soccer, and men's Tennis.

(02-15-2017 09:12 AM)ValleyBoy Wrote:  

(02-15-2017 08:51 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  Sun Belt match ups against Kennesaw State

Volleyball

Sep 9 KSU 3 Georgia State 1

Basketball -W

Nov 22 @ Georgia State - GSU 62 KSU 59

Baseball

Tue February 21st Georgia State
Wed March 29th @ Georgia State

Tue April 11th @ Georgia Southern
Wed May 10th Gerogia Southern

Softball

Wed, Mar 22 @Georgia State

Tue, Apr 11 Georgia State

Missed W Soccer

3-4-2017 Georgia Southern

Does that mean Mercer should join the Sun Belt also since they play Georgia Southern in Men's & Women's basketball, Baseball 2 games, Men's Soccer, and men's Tennis.

I am Pimping KSU.

You can campaign for Mercer.

Men’s basketball team fails to make finals

The Owls were one win away from the championship finals and a chance at a bid to the NCAA Tournament. KSU fans must come to terms with the fact that there won’t be any more games until November, but the program is moving in the right direction. The team finished the season 7-7 in conference play and 14-18 overall.

http://ksusentinel.com/2017/03/06/mens-b...ke-finals/

3 things to watch: Georgia at Kennesaw State

"[i]Georgia is in a rough spot at the moment sitting at 8-13 and needing to play major catchup. That process begins Tuesday against host Kennesaw State at 5 p.m., a rematch of a late February game at Foley Field in which the Bulldogs lost 5-4.[/i"]

http://onlineathens.com/sports/dogbytes/...esaw-state

*snicker*

Sun Belt 2040:

West - ULM, Nicholls State, Central Arkansas, SE Missouri State, UT Rio Grande Valley, Sam Houston State
East - Jacksonville State, Chattanooga, Eastern Kentucky, Kennesaw State, North Florida, West Florida