Whipped this up to show what could be.

http://img4.imagetitan.com/img.php?image=24_sunbelt.jpg

I think every fan is on board with that lineup of programs. But the university presidents aren’t keen on a lower payout and less frequent matchups with some programs.

I couldn’t imagine going 2-3 seasons without playing App.

(10-19-2021 06:04 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  I think every fan is on board with that lineup of programs. But the university presidents aren’t keen on a lower payout and less frequent matchups with some programs.

I couldn’t imagine going 2-3 seasons without playing App.

If Southern Miss wants to join, then add them. Geographically and university profile just make too much sense.

I could think of a lot of teams I’d rather have than WKU. Liberty being chief among them, ECU being second (never happen), and then ODU. I could think of more

My ideal is a school in every southern cultured state. We need to brand on the southern lifestyle.

The people extolling the virtues of a 14-team conference have never been in a 14-team conference.

That’s all I have to say about that.

(10-19-2021 06:47 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  The people extolling the virtues of a 14-team conference have never been in a 14-team conference.

That’s all I have to say about that.

That’s true. I like 12 with a 9 game league schedule.

Here's my thing: Why are we not going after ECU? Sure, right now they get to keep their 7 Million, but we all know that's tanking next go around, and for now they'll be playing trash the ten years until their media deal is up, which will kill their fan base. Sure, having Charlotte nearby is nice, but do they really want their main rival to be the capital commuter school? Sounds like a dreary existence for them. I think we give them until they collect the exit fees from the three going to the Big XII and then hit them up about joining with another school like USF or Memphis (assuming they don't get taken by the Big XII).

(10-19-2021 07:42 PM)lelandhardy Wrote:  Here's my thing: Why are we not going after ECU? Sure, right now they get to keep their 7 Million, but we all know that's tanking next go around, and for now they'll be playing trash the ten years until their media deal is up, which will kill their fan base. Sure, having Charlotte nearby is nice, but do they really want their main rival to be the capital commuter school? Sounds like a dreary existence for them. I think we give them until they collect the exit fees from the three going to the Big XII and then hit them up about joining with another school like USF or Memphis (assuming they don't get taken by the Big XII).

Going to 12 makes a lot of sense. If two phenomenal adds opened up, there would be room.

(10-19-2021 06:58 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(10-19-2021 06:47 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  The people extolling the virtues of a 14-team conference have never been in a 14-team conference.

That’s all I have to say about that.

That’s true. I like 12 with a 9 game league schedule.

12 with 8 May be better to get 4 OOC games rather than 3

(10-19-2021 06:58 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(10-19-2021 06:47 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  The people extolling the virtues of a 14-team conference have never been in a 14-team conference.

That’s all I have to say about that.

That’s true. I like 12 with a 9 game league schedule.

I guess anything is possible, but don’t conferences pretty much always play only 8 conference games? If you give up an OOC game for an additional conference game, aren’t you costing yourself money?

(10-19-2021 07:47 PM)Huan Wrote:  

(10-19-2021 06:58 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(10-19-2021 06:47 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  The people extolling the virtues of a 14-team conference have never been in a 14-team conference.

That’s all I have to say about that.

That’s true. I like 12 with a 9 game league schedule.

12 with 8 May be better to get 4 OOC games rather than 3

Here's another thing, though. If we go to 14 and pretty much get the regional schools with football mindsets in small college towns, assuming the AAC isn't losing anyone, which it probably isn't, then I'd rather have another conference game. It means playing another like-minded school instead of playing someone in the MAC, MWC, or a P5 to crack your skull in. It'd also hopefully stop Georgia Southern making random P5 midcarders championship caliber teams every year we play them. We're seriously cursed. How do we get freaking Arkansas on the one year they're good!?

Looking at this map made me realize GaSo really would be an outlier in that division. As Marshall would also be w/out WKU.

(10-19-2021 09:47 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Looking at this map made me realize GaSo really would be an outlier in that division. As Marshall would also be w/out WKU.

Yeah, but we'd have a bunch of rivals, so we wouldn't care.

I am honored y'all still find some value in us haha. We are really down, but most of our fans would love to be in a more regional conference like the Sun Belt. Would love if Marshall and Tech would come as well. I know ULM and UL don't want them, but y'all could have another drivable team on your schedule.

As an app fan:

(10-19-2021 06:21 PM)Dirty Myrtle Wrote:  I could think of a lot of teams I’d rather have than WKU. Liberty being chief among them, ECU being second (never happen), and then ODU. I could think of more

Same with Liberty and it is kind of crazy the SUN Belt does not have a FLA team. It is literally the best state to recruit from.

(10-19-2021 06:21 PM)Dirty Myrtle Wrote:  I could think of a lot of teams I’d rather have than WKU. Liberty being chief among them, ECU being second (never happen), and then ODU. I could think of more

Not to Liberty.

I'd think if ECU were interested, which they aren't now that their payout in the AAC just jumped to $7 million, you'd take them and go to 14 I think.

Liberty is a no. Then another no. Then yet another no.

They didn't receive a single yes vote last time around which actually gave Coastal their spot here. I doubt the reality of Liberty has changed enough for even one yes vote for them.

That leaves ODU but it doesn't seem that the Sun Belt wants to go to 14. I imagine WKU would be the next call to help out Arkansas State though.