(01-30-2015 03:10 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Increases cost for whom, the few eastern schools complaining about a trip to Las Cruses? I don't hear Bobcats complaing about their trips half way across the country to Ga St, Southern, or App . .. Or is the conference cost concern just a one way thing?

And do you seriously think that the cost to those eastern schools coming west on ocassion will break the bank? Hilarious . . . .

So fine, I'll put YOU down as a no for NMSU in ALL sports, Thanks for playing . . . .

It's an increase in cost for EVERYONE, without an increase in revenue. Do you not get that? EVERYONE will travel out there to play them if they are in conference.

It's a simple math: More costs without more money means it's a bad idea. There's simply NO benefit to inviting them at this time.

(01-30-2015 03:19 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 03:10 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Increases cost for whom, the few eastern schools complaining about a trip to Las Cruses? I don't hear Bobcats complaing about their trips half way across the country to Ga St, Southern, or App . .. Or is the conference cost concern just a one way thing?

And do you seriously think that the cost to those eastern schools coming west on ocassion will break the bank? Hilarious . . . .

So fine, I'll put YOU down as a no for NMSU in ALL sports, Thanks for playing . . . .

It's an increase in cost for EVERYONE, without an increase in revenue. Do you not get that? EVERYONE will travel out there to play them if they are in conference.

It's a simple math: More costs without more money means it's a bad idea. There's simply NO benefit to inviting them at this time.

Well Thanks, Captain Obvious . .. . News Flash: Add ANYONE and there's a TRAVEL COST involved in going there to play them . ..

Yet, conferences do it all the time . .. and sometimes with no apparant immediate financial benefit . . .

Well, if 1.) C-USA discards UAB and 2.) the Sun Belt picks up UAB and 3.) no other raids of Sun Belt schools occur,
then Sun Belt Olympics will be at 12 ( 6 East of the Mississippi, 6 West ) - a quasi stable state and the point ( of NMSU all sports ) is moot.

But, if the Sun Belt gets raided and experiences a net loss,
I'm thinking that the Sun Belt thinking may change and a ready to go school like NMSU would fill the bill.

Should that ( NMSU all sports ) occur, it would likely be part of a Western Division,
and flying from presumed partner UTA (DFW) to NMSU (ELP) is not a difficult trip
which would be made only once every other year by Eastern Division members.

I was expecting conference moves to take place this month - that hasn't happened.
But I would be very surprised if at least a coupla' moves didn't take place by July 1.
Should the SB be pro-active? IDK, because even if they're proactive,
they'll also have to be reactive to subsequent changes.

(01-30-2015 03:31 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Well Thanks, Captain Obvious . .. . News Flash: Add ANYONE and there's a TRAVEL COST involved in going there to play them . ..

Yet, conferences do it all the time . .. and sometimes with no apparant immediate financial benefit . . .

You're trolling me right?

I mean, I can't believe you are legitimately this dense.

(01-30-2015 02:43 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 01:39 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I would never base it on basketball alone . . . their baseball's pretty good too. The thing with NMSU is this, they need a home for ALL sports, it can't be the WAC since FB imploded. They've expressed a desire to be ALL IN in the Belt. They are a former Belt member. Their full membership helps the conference in at least 2 major sports. So, (just my opinion) . . . bring 'em in as full members. If schools at this level really have an issue with the travel costs to NMSU, they probably should rethink competing at this level . . . .

The problem with your stance (and to a degree I agree with it) is that it doesn't improve it ENOUGH to increase revenue.

Adding NMSU in basketball improves our conference overall. But it doesn't improve it enough to make us a two bid league. So, we'll have increased costs, without any increase in revenue.


My assumption is that it's the same with baseball.

My HOPE (and it's a hope) is that all the schools improve us to the point that adding Missouri State and NMSU all sports in 2 years (or 3, or 1 if it happens) WILL push us to the cusp of a 2 bid league. THEN, those adds are no brainers, even though technically in this scenario from a PURELY financial view, MSU would be tougher, as they would reduce the football revenue sharing. But then you get into the discussion of how adding them will give the Sun Belt a true divisional setup, which would reduce costs on travel, mitigating the cost impact of adding a school.

The SBC needs to add an all-sports school in the east and get to 12 which will give the Sun Belt a CCG and the 12 team balance that the conference needs.

The NCAA revenue due to past performance makes it difficult to improve basketball in the SBC. The SBC will get about $2.2 million in basketball revneue from the NCAA this year. This is divided among the current 11 schools. That number makes it hard to improve.

The MWC will get $7.8 million in basketball revenue this year and the AAC will get $21 million. Both of these conferences are also dividing that money among 11 schools. Those conferences have a huge financial advantage over the SBC as well as the MAC and CUSA.

Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

(01-30-2015 03:19 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 03:10 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Increases cost for whom, the few eastern schools complaining about a trip to Las Cruses? I don't hear Bobcats complaing about their trips half way across the country to Ga St, Southern, or App . .. Or is the conference cost concern just a one way thing?

And do you seriously think that the cost to those eastern schools coming west on ocassion will break the bank? Hilarious . . . .

So fine, I'll put YOU down as a no for NMSU in ALL sports, Thanks for playing . . . .

It's an increase in cost for EVERYONE, without an increase in revenue. Do you not get that? EVERYONE will travel out there to play them if they are in conference.

It's a simple math: More costs without more money means it's a bad idea. There's simply NO benefit to inviting them at this time.

Well then the Sunbelt is going to no longer a FBS conference soon due to the SB presidents stubbornness. If they are too worried about adding 1 member who would help them more than any other candidate out there, then they shouldn't be in a FBS conference....or any conference...they should just go Indy and then they can set their travel to there liking.

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

(01-30-2015 05:19 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 03:19 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 03:10 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Increases cost for whom, the few eastern schools complaining about a trip to Las Cruses? I don't hear Bobcats complaing about their trips half way across the country to Ga St, Southern, or App . .. Or is the conference cost concern just a one way thing?

And do you seriously think that the cost to those eastern schools coming west on ocassion will break the bank? Hilarious . . . .

So fine, I'll put YOU down as a no for NMSU in ALL sports, Thanks for playing . . . .

It's an increase in cost for EVERYONE, without an increase in revenue. Do you not get that? EVERYONE will travel out there to play them if they are in conference.

It's a simple math: More costs without more money means it's a bad idea. There's simply NO benefit to inviting them at this time.

Well then the Sunbelt is going to no longer a FBS conference soon due to the SB presidents stubbornness. If they are too worried about adding 1 member who would help them more than any other candidate out there, then they shouldn't be in a FBS conference....or any conference...they should just go Indy and then they can set their travel to there liking.

If NMSU is so valuable, then why are they still in the WAC? The answer to that question is location. They are a long trip to the desert for any team that goes there. They are a better fit for the MWC for olympic sports but they don't need them.

The SBC does not have the TV revenue or basketball revenue of an MWC to be able to offset the travel. Add the cost of attendance and schools are going to be looking at cutting expenses, not adding to expenses.

(01-30-2015 05:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

I think we agree.

(01-30-2015 05:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

I realize I am not an unbiased observer here, but -

One good way to improve the conference members is to improve the level of competition within the conference. Adding NMSU would certainly accomplish that.

Also - if the conference is trying to find a new member that can immediately take it from its current level as a one bid conference all the way to a two bid conference - good luck. I'm not aware of any likely candidates - other than possibly UAB - but their availability is an aberration.

(01-30-2015 06:15 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 05:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

I realize I am not an unbiased observer here, but -

One good way to improve the conference members is to improve the level of competition within the conference. Adding NMSU would certainly accomplish that.

Also - if the conference is trying to find a new member that can immediately take it from its current level as a one bid conference all the way to a two bid conference - good luck. I'm not aware of any likely candidates - other than possibly UAB - but their availability is an aberration.

I think every conference member's administration would support that. I definitely would support it. I have have heard that your administration doesn't want to bring basketball to the SBC.

(01-30-2015 06:52 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 06:15 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 05:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

I realize I am not an unbiased observer here, but -

One good way to improve the conference members is to improve the level of competition within the conference. Adding NMSU would certainly accomplish that.

Also - if the conference is trying to find a new member that can immediately take it from its current level as a one bid conference all the way to a two bid conference - good luck. I'm not aware of any likely candidates - other than possibly UAB - but their availability is an aberration.

I think every conference member's administration would support that. I definitely would support it. I have have heard that your administration doesn't want to bring basketball to the SBC.

I'm pretty certain that is not the case. NMSU has been trying for a several years now to get an all-sports invite to the Sun Belt. The WAC is a very unstable conference, plus we would much rather have all sports in one conference. And our football-only membership is pretty tenuous.

We have a new AD, but I cannot imagine he would have changed courses on conference membership priorities (something the president would have to sign off on as well). I am sure we are exploring all possible options - but I don't think there are too many right now for NMSU.

(01-31-2015 07:28 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 06:52 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 06:15 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 05:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

I realize I am not an unbiased observer here, but -

One good way to improve the conference members is to improve the level of competition within the conference. Adding NMSU would certainly accomplish that.

Also - if the conference is trying to find a new member that can immediately take it from its current level as a one bid conference all the way to a two bid conference - good luck. I'm not aware of any likely candidates - other than possibly UAB - but their availability is an aberration.

I think every conference member's administration would support that. I definitely would support it. I have have heard that your administration doesn't want to bring basketball to the SBC.

I'm pretty certain that is not the case. NMSU has been trying for a several years now to get an all-sports invite to the Sun Belt. The WAC is a very unstable conference, plus we would much rather have all sports in one conference. And our football-only membership is pretty tenuous.

We have a new AD, but I cannot imagine he would have changed courses on conference membership priorities (something the president would have to sign off on as well). I am sure we are exploring all possible options - but I don't think there are too many right now for NMSU.

I agree with your assessment (re: your new AD and his position) Not that you don't have other options, but the Belt is clearly your best option at present . . . Pullin' for you guys, hope it happens!
NMSU: Belt for ALL sports . . .

Second half, NMSU over TX Pan Am. 35-21. .. . . 16.5 to go . . . . Saw a guy drinking beer in the stands . . You guys sell beer at your BB games?

(01-31-2015 07:28 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 06:52 PM)bullitt_60 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 06:15 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 05:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 04:38 PM)SoCalBobcat78 Wrote:  Adding more schools in the hope that one of them one will bring that 2nd bid is risky. It could end up costing more money and the conference could end up looking like CUSA, a one bid 14 team conference with a lot of travel.

No, putting a single team in and changing nothing else is not the smart approach.

However, if we are on the cusp, a single team can make a difference. The key is the existing conference members improving and getting to that tipping point.

I realize I am not an unbiased observer here, but -

One good way to improve the conference members is to improve the level of competition within the conference. Adding NMSU would certainly accomplish that.

Also - if the conference is trying to find a new member that can immediately take it from its current level as a one bid conference all the way to a two bid conference - good luck. I'm not aware of any likely candidates - other than possibly UAB - but their availability is an aberration.

I think every conference member's administration would support that. I definitely would support it. I have have heard that your administration doesn't want to bring basketball to the SBC.

I'm pretty certain that is not the case. NMSU has been trying for a several years now to get an all-sports invite to the Sun Belt. The WAC is a very unstable conference, plus we would much rather have all sports in one conference. And our football-only membership is pretty tenuous.

We have a new AD, but I cannot imagine he would have changed courses on conference membership priorities (something the president would have to sign off on as well). I am sure we are exploring all possible options - but I don't think there are too many right now for NMSU.

Having NMSU all sports would instantly improve the conference. The Aggies have a good basketball program with a strong history with many of the SBC schools from their previous SBC days.

I always enjoyed the matchups with NMSU, especially in baseball and basketball. Plus they bring academics, especially engineering, that is a match with the top engineering programs in the Belt already, which does matter to the member presidents.

If this could happen, along with ditching Idaho, we would instantly upgrade the conference, in perception and in reality.

Wow! Tx Pan Am throws a scare into NMSU, but the Aggies prevail: 53-48.
Congrats NMSU . . . Hope y'all get out of the WAC.

NMSU for ALL sports, SUN BELT CONFERENCE!

(01-31-2015 11:12 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Wow! Tx Pan Am throws a scare into NMSU, but the Aggies prevail: 53-48.
Congrats NMSU . . . Hope y'all get out of the WAC.

NMSU for ALL sports, SUN BELT CONFERENCE!

NMSU let up too much in the 2nd half. Should have won by a lot against UTPA.
Thanks for the support! (do you know any SB presidents?...lol)

And yes, we sell beer at BB games - just started this year.

(02-01-2015 01:15 PM)NuMexAg Wrote:  

(01-31-2015 11:12 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  Wow! Tx Pan Am throws a scare into NMSU, but the Aggies prevail: 53-48.
Congrats NMSU . . . Hope y'all get out of the WAC.

NMSU for ALL sports, SUN BELT CONFERENCE!

NMSU let up too much in the 2nd half. Should have won by a lot against UTPA.
Thanks for the support! (do you know any SB presidents?...lol)

And yes, we sell beer at BB games - just started this year.

Beer at the Game, Now I know we've gotta get you guys in! Keep the faith. . .

(01-30-2015 11:14 AM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(01-30-2015 09:17 AM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 09:33 PM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 06:54 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 05:15 PM)StanMolsonMan Wrote:  How to fix Sun Belt Basketball

Weeeeeeeeeeell, That was cheery . . . Though not really anything we didn't already know . . . . I like the idea of 12 teams, 2 divisions, and travel partners . . . Come on Karl, make it happen . .

Yeah, Karl, and quit dragging your feet.

Well, the presidents so far have denied KB's push for NMSU as a full member. So, that can help the SB in basketball. Doesn't seem most SB presidents don't really care about the quality of the league but just that they don't have to travel just like they were a FCS school.

NMSU for ALL sports, gives immediate help to Belt Basketball .. . Other than not wanting to travel to Las Cruces, don't know why the conference won't/can't make this happen . . . . It would help the conference, and NMSU all at the same time . . .

No doubt we got golf, softball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, tennis, all money losers for most programs, all having to go to Las Cruses every other year or so. It is all on the shortsighted East presidents.

(02-01-2015 03:09 PM)CajunExpress Wrote:  No doubt we got golf, softball, baseball, volleyball, track and field, tennis, all money losers for most programs, all having to go to Las Cruses every other year or so. It is all on the shortsighted East presidents.

College golf hasn't played individual matches between two schools for decades. It is all 12-15-team tournaments. There would be no reason for a SB golf team to travel to Las Cruces unless NMSU were hosting a tournament that they wanted to play in.

To strengthen Sun Belt in Basketball...

Add UAB with UMASS in Football only (hey...there was some improvement this past season) Add NMSU as all sport member and add Missouri State in oly sports as they transition up to FBS and then non renew Idaho.

Football

West

Arkansas State
Idaho (until Missouri State completes transition)
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
New Mexico State
Texas State

East

Appalachian State
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Massachusettes
South Alabama
Troy

Oly

Alabama Birmingham
Appalachian State
Arkansas Little Rock
Arkansas State
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Monroe
Missouri State
New Mexico State
South Alabama
Texas Arlington
Texas State
Troy