Just for the sake of argument... if the conference ends up looking like this:
Texas State
Arkansas State
ULM
Louisiana
USA
Troy
WKU
MTSU
FAU
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
(04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Just for the sake of argument... if the conference ends up looking like this:
Texas State
Arkansas State
ULM
Louisiana
USA
Troy
WKU
MTSU
FAU
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
If those are the teams we add, that's probably how it will turn out. Absolutely sucks for us. We get three of the FCS adds and FAU every year - great. That just isn't very appealing from a scheduling point of view. We'd get Troy every season I'm sure, but I really wish we could get South Alabama every year as well.
(04-29-2012 07:56 PM)MTowho Wrote: [ -> ] (04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Just for the sake of argument... if the conference ends up looking like this:
Texas State
Arkansas State
ULM
Louisiana
USA
Troy
WKU
MTSU
FAU
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
If those are the teams we add, that's probably how it will turn out. Absolutely sucks for us. We get three of the FCS adds and FAU every year - great. That just isn't very appealing from a scheduling point of view. We'd get Troy every season I'm sure, but I really wish we could get South Alabama every year as well.
Would that be b/c two of the FCS adds would bring excited fanbases that travel well and might fill some stadiums?
(04-29-2012 07:56 PM)MTowho Wrote: [ -> ]If those are the teams we add, that's probably how it will turn out. Absolutely sucks for us. We get three of the FCS adds and FAU every year - great. That just isn't very appealing from a scheduling point of view. We'd get Troy every season I'm sure, but I really wish we could get South Alabama every year as well.
Ah, I had forgotten that MTSU had a good rivalry with Troy. Didn't the SEC have two interdivisional designated rivals at one point?
(04-29-2012 07:58 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ] (04-29-2012 07:56 PM)MTowho Wrote: [ -> ]If those are the teams we add, that's probably how it will turn out. Absolutely sucks for us. We get three of the FCS adds and FAU every year - great. That just isn't very appealing from a scheduling point of view. We'd get Troy every season I'm sure, but I really wish we could get South Alabama every year as well.
Ah, I had forgotten that MTSU had a good rivalry with Troy. Didn't the SEC have two interdivisional designated rivals at one point?
You're correct, IIRC. I'd like to keep up the Troy rivalry. It'd be nice to play stAte and USA too, but I suppose you've got to compromise somehow...
Personally, I'm at the stage where I wish we would forget the state of TX just to help keep the footprint smaller. I understand the argument about wanting to be in TX for recruiting, but how many D1A school does/will TX have? How many good recruits will be left after the in-state programs pick up most of them?
IF we do need to expand into other states, I'd be fine if the SBC would give ECU and Marshall a call to see if they have any interest since it is pretty clear CUSA has no desire to expand eastward to bridge the gap from ECU/Marshall to the others. I'd be surprised if they have any interest, but can't hurt to ask.
(04-29-2012 08:01 PM)topper1296 Wrote: [ -> ]Personally, I'm at the stage where I wish we would forget the state of TX just to help keep the footprint smaller. I understand the argument about wanting to be in TX for recruiting, but how many D1A school does/will TX have? How many good recruits will be left after the in-state programs pick up most of them?
I kind of agree with this (nothing against Texas State). But nobody asked me.
(04-29-2012 07:58 PM)ManOnABuffalo Wrote: [ -> ] (04-29-2012 07:56 PM)MTowho Wrote: [ -> ] (04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Just for the sake of argument... if the conference ends up looking like this:
Texas State
Arkansas State
ULM
Louisiana
USA
Troy
WKU
MTSU
FAU
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
If those are the teams we add, that's probably how it will turn out. Absolutely sucks for us. We get three of the FCS adds and FAU every year - great. That just isn't very appealing from a scheduling point of view. We'd get Troy every season I'm sure, but I really wish we could get South Alabama every year as well.
Would that be b/c two of the FCS adds would bring excited fanbases that travel well and might fill some stadiums?
You guys would very well travel to the Boro better than half, if not more, of the teams currently in the Belt. To me, getting Arkansas State at home every year is a much better option as there is somewhat of a rivalry that has been built over the years. We'd be starting over with all of these new teams, which is frustrating given how long it has taken us to get the casual fan to recognize the names of some conference opponents. Same goes for every school. Honestly, there aren't many fanbases that travel well enough in conference to make enough of an impact to attendance. If you guys consistently brought 5k to Murfreesboro, I'd be overjoyed.
We should follow the SEC's format. You keep MTSU and WKU together in one division and Troy and USA together in the other. You might talk to the administrations at those schools and see where they would prefer playing. You might find that WKU or MTSU might choose to stick West, who knows
You then give each team one permanent cross division rival, and then you rotate with 2 teams every 2 years.
Divisions
East
Georgia State
App State
Georgia Southern
Florida Atlantic
Middle Tennessee State
Western Kentucky
West
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
Texas State
Troy
Arkansas State
South Alabama
Rivals:
MTSU/Troy
USA/Georgia State
ASU/Georgia Southern
WKU/ULL
FAU/ULM
Texas State/App State
Some are set up for rivalries like MTSU and Troy and Georgia State/USA. Others are set up because they used to be rivalries such as ASU/Georgia Southern. WKU and ULL have a strong history with each other, and could play 6 on 6 basketball. FAU and ULM are not rivals but are used to each other, and Texas State gets App State by default.
Then each team gets 2 rotational opponents every 2 years
(04-29-2012 08:16 PM)chiefsfan Wrote: [ -> ]We should follow the SEC's format. You keep MTSU and WKU together in one division and Troy and USA together in the other. You might talk to the administrations at those schools and see where they would prefer playing. You might find that WKU or MTSU might choose to stick West, who knows
You then give each team one permanent cross division rival, and then you rotate with 2 teams every 2 years.
Divisions
East
Georgia State
App State
Georgia Southern
Florida Atlantic
Middle Tennessee State
Western Kentucky
West
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
Texas State
Troy
Arkansas State
South Alabama
Rivals:
MTSU/Troy
USA/Georgia State
ASU/Georgia Southern
WKU/ULL
FAU/ULM
Texas State/App State
Some are set up for rivalries like MTSU and Troy and Georgia State/USA. Others are set up because they used to be rivalries such as ASU/Georgia Southern. WKU and ULL have a strong history with each other, and could play 6 on 6 basketball. FAU and ULM are not rivals but are used to each other, and Texas State gets App State by default.
Then each team gets 2 rotational opponents every 2 years
Your plan would have it to where USA could play its main rival Troy every year by being in the same division and having the permanent rival from the other division as Georgia State. That is fine because as you might have gathered the USA and Georgia State fanbases have sensed that series as a rivalry since the beginning. My only problem with us being in the West, however, would be that we'd lose our WKU rivalry. We are the two longest tenured Sun Belt members so we have the most Sun Belt history with each other. I'd love to have an annual football game and keep the two basketball games with WKU by being in the same division as them.
With that said, there's no telling what will happen based on any additions that we might have. And I'd support what's best for the league. But I would hate to lose any games with WKU.
If troy and Georgia Southern are separated then I would want them to play every year because we have more history against them than any other SBC school with exception to possibly App State.
As for how I would split the schools up... see my sig.
Looks fine to me. Something can be said about adding programs with tradition.
(04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
I've been a pretty staunch opponent of Benson's Folly..er..the new Sunbelt, but I could live with this.
Appy would be an instant rival with MT, we keep WKU. GaSouthern/FAU keeps our schedule fine while we wait for GaState to get up to speed (however long that takes).
I don't want to lose Troy, but I am not a fan of those "permanent" cross division rivals - it's just plain not fair - often one team will have a much tougher road to a championship than another in the same division. I think we'd get a pretty strong rivalry to replace Troy with ASU.
I'd love to figure out a way to get Troy into the east in that scenario (I think they would love to play GSU's , MT on a regular basis), but I don't see it being done as none of those east teams are a fit in the west half of the conference and you can't just swap them.
(04-30-2012 06:01 AM)GaSouthern Wrote: [ -> ]If troy and Georgia Southern are separated then I would want them to play every year because we have more history against them than any other SBC school with exception to possibly App State.
As for how I would split the schools up... see my sig.
(04-30-2012 07:56 AM)RaiderDoug Wrote: [ -> ] (04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
I've been a pretty staunch opponent of Benson's Folly..er..the new Sunbelt, but I could live with this.
Appy would be an instant rival with MT, we keep WKU. GaSouthern/FAU keeps our schedule fine while we wait for GaState to get up to speed (however long that takes).
I don't want to lose Troy, but I am not a fan of those "permanent" cross division rivals - it's just plain not fair - often one team will have a much tougher road to a championship than another in the same division. I think we'd get a pretty strong rivalry to replace Troy with ASU.
I'd love to figure out a way to get Troy into the east in that scenario (I think they would love to play GSU's , MT on a regular basis), but I don't see it being done as none of those east teams are a fit in the west half of the conference and you can't just swap them.
The MT-Troy rivalry makes too much sense not to keep every year. It's one of the only games in the Sun Belt that both fanbases recognize as a bigger game every year regardless of what the records are.
For me personally, I really enjoy stAte vs UL Cajuns football games so keep them in the same division . . these two schools have been conference mates on and off since USL joined the SLC many decades ago. I remember loving to hate the Cajuns as an undergrad . . some of you younger guys were still pooping in your diapers then . .
In all honesty I like those divisions. As far as a "permanent" cross division rival I would have to say that FAU really doesnt have one.
So in that case make it Texas State vs FAU. Texas vs Florida as the battle of the two best recuriting states taxes place.
Makes about as much sense as any of the other choices.
Although I wouldnt mind it being stAte simply because I like thier uniforms and what they are doing.
(04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Just for the sake of argument... if the conference ends up looking like this:
Texas State
Arkansas State
ULM
Louisiana
USA
Troy
WKU
MTSU
FAU
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
I actually really like those divisions and conference additions. I am with Skully on the cross division rival. It would probably be gsu, but we have a lot of history with wku. To solve this problem just for South Alabama I propose the SB hates its current western members division alignment.
East:
USA
FAU
GSU
MT
Troy
WKU
West:
ASU
ULM
ULL
TSU
NMSU
Idaho
Just joking! It is not what I want and I don't think it would work. It didn't before. However, I'll bet those schools have been in contact with the Belt.
Sent from my SHARP-ADS1 using Tapatalk 2
(04-30-2012 10:29 AM)mts305 Wrote: [ -> ] (04-29-2012 07:52 PM)Hilltopper2K Wrote: [ -> ]Just for the sake of argument... if the conference ends up looking like this:
Texas State
Arkansas State
ULM
Louisiana
USA
Troy
WKU
MTSU
FAU
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Georgia State
Then how will the divisions break out?
My guess would be:
West:
Texas State
ULM
Louisiana
Arkansas State
Troy
USA
East:
WKU
MTSU
Appalachian State
GSU
GSU
FAU
Does anybody see it differently?
I have to say, when the dust settles, that is a conference I can be pretty happy about as a long term home for WKU.
I actually really like those divisions and conference additions. I am with Skully on the cross division rival. It would probably be gsu, but we have a lot of history with wku. To solve this problem just for South Alabama I propose the SB hates its current western members division alignment.
East:
USA
FAU
GSU
MT
Troy
WKU
West:
ASU
ULM
ULL
TSU
NMSU
Idaho
Just joking! It is not what I want and I don't think it would work. It didn't before. However, I'll bet those schools have been in contact with the Belt.
Sent from my SHARP-ADS1 using Tapatalk 2
Don't put us in a Division with New Mexico and Idaho.....we'll be a very unhappy member and I'm sure Troy and ULL wouldn't be happy with it either.
No freaking way.
Troy is not going to the west division. I'm more than sure we were the main school behind adding Georgia State because it's an easy trip and good for recruiting.
West
ULL
ULM
TxSt
ASU
???
South
East
Troy
Middle
FAU
Georgia State
WKU
App State