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Just thinking about what I'm hearing about the sun belt. I never had any problem with it before. I know it would never happen now,but one year the sun belt had 8 teams and got 4 into March madness. I know that sounds crazy but you can look it up. I want to say it was 1985.You had ODU,VCU,CHARLOTTE,WESTERN KENTUCKY,UAB,SOUTH ALABAMA,JACKSONVILLE, and SOUTH FLORIDA in that conference. I'm jacked if we get in with either Marshall,Charlotte,Southern Miss or any combination. This is what I am constantly told, that the belt will be taking two of them in. We will see.

It was 1986 but the belt had 3 teams the year before. They regularly sent multiple teams. Just thought it was interesting how things have changed.

(01-25-2021 06:57 PM)jaybird44 Wrote:  It was 1986 but the belt had 3 teams the year before. They regularly sent multiple teams. Just thought it was interesting how things have changed.

The year was '86 and UAB, WKU, Jacksonville and our Monarchs made it. Of course during this time the SBC Commissioner was Vic Bubas who also was on the selection committee for the tournament. I'm sure there was no favoritism involved.

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 11:23 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 10:47 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  I might be wrong but one of the main reasons that the cusa/sun belt split has not happened I am being told is Louisiana tech not wanting to play with the two Louisiana schools from the belt. They won't tell you this publicly but I am sure most schools from these two conferences would love the geographic friendly switch. Yes they all want to move up to a bigger conference but this my friends helps the bottom line. ODU is not alone in this, even though them not playing ruffled a few important feathers.

Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

The Sunbelt wouldn't save a much at all on travel costs, if any. 2 Texas schools, 2 Louisiana schools, 2 Arkansas schools, and 2 southern Alabama schools.

The Sunbelt may be better for football, but it is worse for basketball. Talking about killing the basketball program to keep chasing some unrealistic football dream. Taking a very small step for football at the further expense of basketball does not seem like a good idea at all. The top 3 basketball teams in the Sunbelt at this very moment are Texas State, App State, and Coastal Carolina. That is AWFUL. No thank you!

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 11:23 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 10:47 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  I might be wrong but one of the main reasons that the cusa/sun belt split has not happened I am being told is Louisiana tech not wanting to play with the two Louisiana schools from the belt. They won't tell you this publicly but I am sure most schools from these two conferences would love the geographic friendly switch. Yes they all want to move up to a bigger conference but this my friends helps the bottom line. ODU is not alone in this, even though them not playing ruffled a few important feathers.

Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

The Sunbelt wouldn't save a much at all on travel costs, if any. 2 Texas schools, 2 Louisiana schools, 2 Arkansas schools, and 2 southern Alabama schools.

Closest SB schools are App St and Coastal. Closest CUSA schools are Charlotte and Marshall. Not much difference in travel, and Id much prefer to play Charlotte and Marshall. Now if we could trade two western schools, or the Florida schools for App and Coastal, Id be OK with that.

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 11:23 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  [quote='jaybird44' pid='17239152' dateline='1611503221']
I might be wrong but one of the main reasons that the cusa/sun belt split has not happened I am being told is Louisiana tech not wanting to play with the two Louisiana schools from the belt. They won't tell you this publicly but I am sure most schools from these two conferences would love the geographic friendly switch. Yes they all want to move up to a bigger conference but this my friends helps the bottom line. ODU is not alone in this, even though them not playing ruffled a few important feathers.

Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

What I'm being told is that the 2 non football schools are leaving possibly to Southland conference

(01-26-2021 10:13 AM)monarx Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 11:23 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 10:47 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  I might be wrong but one of the main reasons that the cusa/sun belt split has not happened I am being told is Louisiana tech not wanting to play with the two Louisiana schools from the belt. They won't tell you this publicly but I am sure most schools from these two conferences would love the geographic friendly switch. Yes they all want to move up to a bigger conference but this my friends helps the bottom line. ODU is not alone in this, even though them not playing ruffled a few important feathers.

Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

The Sunbelt wouldn't save a much at all on travel costs, if any. 2 Texas schools, 2 Louisiana schools, 2 Arkansas schools, and 2 southern Alabama schools.

Closest SB schools are App St and Coastal. Closest CUSA schools are Charlotte and Marshall. Not much difference in travel, and Id much prefer to play Charlotte and Marshall. Now if we could trade two western schools, or the Florida schools for App and Coastal, Id be OK with that.

Georgia State and Georgia Southern are slightly shorter bus trips than MTSU and UAB... but they are still long bus trips. I don't think it would result in fewer flights.

(01-26-2021 11:01 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 11:23 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  [quote='jaybird44' pid='17239152' dateline='1611503221']
I might be wrong but one of the main reasons that the cusa/sun belt split has not happened I am being told is Louisiana tech not wanting to play with the two Louisiana schools from the belt. They won't tell you this publicly but I am sure most schools from these two conferences would love the geographic friendly switch. Yes they all want to move up to a bigger conference but this my friends helps the bottom line. ODU is not alone in this, even though them not playing ruffled a few important feathers.

Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

What I'm being told is that the 2 non football schools are leaving possibly to Southland conference

I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like the Southland would be a downgrade even from the Sunbelt, and I don't know how much institutional history there is between all of them. I guess it would help travel a bit, but I would honestly be shocked if that came to pass.

(01-26-2021 11:54 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:01 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 11:23 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  [quote='jaybird44' pid='17239152' dateline='1611503221']
I might be wrong but one of the main reasons that the cusa/sun belt split has not happened I am being told is Louisiana tech not wanting to play with the two Louisiana schools from the belt. They won't tell you this publicly but I am sure most schools from these two conferences would love the geographic friendly switch. Yes they all want to move up to a bigger conference but this my friends helps the bottom line. ODU is not alone in this, even though them not playing ruffled a few important feathers.

Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

What I'm being told is that the 2 non football schools are leaving possibly to Southland conference

I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like the Southland would be a downgrade even from the Sunbelt, and I don't know how much institutional history there is between all of them. I guess it would help travel a bit, but I would honestly be shocked if that came to pass.

Southland makes a lot of sense for Little Rock and UTA. Much tighter regional league for them. Little Rock gets a good rival/partner in UCA. And UTA gets even more Texas schools it can grow rivalries with.

But it won’t drive us to the sun belt. All the issues we have in CUSA, are present in the Sun Belt. It doesn’t offer any rivalries. It doesn’t shrink our travel much. And it requires teams to play on weekdays. And the TV deal difference is nominal.

Anyone see Liberty as a Sun Belt pick up?

(01-26-2021 12:01 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:54 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:01 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  

(01-24-2021 02:05 PM)84Monarch Wrote:  Yes I am replying to my own post but I thought you would also like to know rumors are that the two non football schools in the sun belt maybe leaving soon and the sun belt is considering adding a couple of schools with Charlotte marshall southern miss and odu as possible candidates. Yes, read that again the sun belt will be poaching cusa schools. Just letting you know some of what I have heard from very reliable sources. We will see.

I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

What I'm being told is that the 2 non football schools are leaving possibly to Southland conference

I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like the Southland would be a downgrade even from the Sunbelt, and I don't know how much institutional history there is between all of them. I guess it would help travel a bit, but I would honestly be shocked if that came to pass.

Southland makes a lot of sense for Little Rock and UTA. Much tighter regional league for them. Little Rock gets a good rival/partner in UCA. And UTA gets even more Texas schools it can grow rivalries with.

But it won’t drive us to the sun belt. All the issues we have in CUSA, are present in the Sun Belt. It doesn’t offer any rivalries. It doesn’t shrink our travel much. And it requires teams to play on weekdays. And the TV deal difference is nominal.

UCA is gone to the Atlantic Sun, and the Sunbelt still has Arkansas St. And after the exodus to the WAC, there are only 2 more Texas opponents in the Southland than in the Sunbelt for UTA. Lot more Louisiana schools if they'd like to trade Ulala and ULM for Nicholls St and McNeese St

(01-26-2021 12:43 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 12:01 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:54 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:01 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 08:59 AM)EverRespect Wrote:  I think being in the Sun Belt would be a positive step for us, especially on the travel costs

What I'm being told is that the 2 non football schools are leaving possibly to Southland conference

I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like the Southland would be a downgrade even from the Sunbelt, and I don't know how much institutional history there is between all of them. I guess it would help travel a bit, but I would honestly be shocked if that came to pass.

Southland makes a lot of sense for Little Rock and UTA. Much tighter regional league for them. Little Rock gets a good rival/partner in UCA. And UTA gets even more Texas schools it can grow rivalries with.

But it won’t drive us to the sun belt. All the issues we have in CUSA, are present in the Sun Belt. It doesn’t offer any rivalries. It doesn’t shrink our travel much. And it requires teams to play on weekdays. And the TV deal difference is nominal.

UCA is gone to the Atlantic Sun, and the Sunbelt still has Arkansas St. And after the exodus to the WAC, there are only 2 more Texas opponents in the Southland than in the Sunbelt for UTA. Lot more Louisiana schools if they'd like to trade Ulala and ULM for Nicholls St and McNeese St

Well maybe it doesn’t make sense for Little Rock. Maybe they run off to the ASun. But two more Texas schools and no loss in Louisiana schools has to be intriguing for UTA.

Either way, it doesn’t really impact us. We aren’t going to leave one mess for an almost identical mess.

Would need a massive shift, like the reshuffling of the two leagues, for it to happen.

(01-26-2021 12:23 PM)VB Monarch Wrote:  Anyone see Liberty as a Sun Belt pick up?

I still think they'd be a good add to CUSA if we lost a team or two.

(01-26-2021 01:42 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 12:43 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 12:01 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:54 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:01 AM)jaybird44 Wrote:  What I'm being told is that the 2 non football schools are leaving possibly to Southland conference

I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like the Southland would be a downgrade even from the Sunbelt, and I don't know how much institutional history there is between all of them. I guess it would help travel a bit, but I would honestly be shocked if that came to pass.

Southland makes a lot of sense for Little Rock and UTA. Much tighter regional league for them. Little Rock gets a good rival/partner in UCA. And UTA gets even more Texas schools it can grow rivalries with.

But it won’t drive us to the sun belt. All the issues we have in CUSA, are present in the Sun Belt. It doesn’t offer any rivalries. It doesn’t shrink our travel much. And it requires teams to play on weekdays. And the TV deal difference is nominal.

UCA is gone to the Atlantic Sun, and the Sunbelt still has Arkansas St. And after the exodus to the WAC, there are only 2 more Texas opponents in the Southland than in the Sunbelt for UTA. Lot more Louisiana schools if they'd like to trade Ulala and ULM for Nicholls St and McNeese St

Well maybe it doesn’t make sense for Little Rock. Maybe they run off to the ASun. But two more Texas schools and no loss in Louisiana schools has to be intriguing for UTA.

Either way, it doesn’t really impact us. We aren’t going to leave one mess for an almost identical mess.

Would need a massive shift, like the reshuffling of the two leagues, for it to happen.

The SB might force them out if they have some all sport invites lined up from CUSA.

I agree it doesn't make a whole lot of sense but if two left and we're not one of them then I'd say we'd find ourselves in a bigger mess. I'm all for reshuffling the two leagues and it might happen in stages due to some resistance. Say there's enough interest to take 4 from CUSA and kick out their nonfootball schools. If the 4 are from the east then maybe CUSA turns around and invites TX St and another western school to replace. And we trade back and forth until the last SB school in the west is ULM and we just kick them out. It could force the hand of some schools that aren't interested in the idea. I doubt it happens though at least for a few more years when there may or may not be some shuffling of conferences above us or some changes to the CFP.

(01-26-2021 01:55 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 01:42 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 12:43 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 12:01 PM)ODUDrunkard13 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 11:54 AM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I'll believe it when I see it. I feel like the Southland would be a downgrade even from the Sunbelt, and I don't know how much institutional history there is between all of them. I guess it would help travel a bit, but I would honestly be shocked if that came to pass.

Southland makes a lot of sense for Little Rock and UTA. Much tighter regional league for them. Little Rock gets a good rival/partner in UCA. And UTA gets even more Texas schools it can grow rivalries with.

But it won’t drive us to the sun belt. All the issues we have in CUSA, are present in the Sun Belt. It doesn’t offer any rivalries. It doesn’t shrink our travel much. And it requires teams to play on weekdays. And the TV deal difference is nominal.

UCA is gone to the Atlantic Sun, and the Sunbelt still has Arkansas St. And after the exodus to the WAC, there are only 2 more Texas opponents in the Southland than in the Sunbelt for UTA. Lot more Louisiana schools if they'd like to trade Ulala and ULM for Nicholls St and McNeese St

Well maybe it doesn’t make sense for Little Rock. Maybe they run off to the ASun. But two more Texas schools and no loss in Louisiana schools has to be intriguing for UTA.

Either way, it doesn’t really impact us. We aren’t going to leave one mess for an almost identical mess.

Would need a massive shift, like the reshuffling of the two leagues, for it to happen.

The SB might force them out if they have some all sport invites lined up from CUSA.

I agree it doesn't make a whole lot of sense but if two left and we're not one of them then I'd say we'd find ourselves in a bigger mess. I'm all for reshuffling the two leagues and it might happen in stages due to some resistance. Say there's enough interest to take 4 from CUSA and kick out their nonfootball schools. If the 4 are from the east then maybe CUSA turns around and invites TX St and another western school to replace. And we trade back and forth until the last SB school in the west is ULM and we just kick them out. It could force the hand of some schools that aren't interested in the idea. I doubt it happens though at least for a few more years when there may or may not be some shuffling of conferences above us or some changes to the CFP.

Thank you. It is not a great solution but it could be okay. For all of you talking footprint,it would be slightly better than cusa. Look we are probably not going to be going to the american so there is no really close school options and unless we do go the american or go back to fcs, there is no real close school that we can get in a conference with. We are in kind of no mans land and even though it is not great, I think it would be better than what we have now, especially if what I was told is true and let's say marshall and Charlotte left. Wow! Louisiana tech is the reason the geographic split has not happened and I would rather have less trips to texas. Also, that conference is on the uptick.

Are you saying you've heard Marshall and Charlotte are leaving?

(01-26-2021 03:21 PM)VB Monarch Wrote:  Are you saying you've heard Marshall and Charlotte are leaving?

If Marshall and Charlotte left CUSA, ODU would have to get out too. Talk about having nobody nearby. We may as well join the MVC. Which I'd actually like in basketball.

Im starting to think the best thing might be to hope CUSA could give us "football only" affiliation. If we could have that and A10 hoops, Id be thrilled. CUSA football and CAA hoops might even be better than CUSA without Marshall and Charlotte.

(01-26-2021 03:29 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 03:21 PM)VB Monarch Wrote:  Are you saying you've heard Marshall and Charlotte are leaving?

If Marshall and Charlotte left CUSA, ODU would have to get out too. Talk about having nobody nearby. We may as well join the MVC. Which I'd actually like in basketball.

Im starting to think the best thing might be to hope CUSA could give us "football only" affiliation. If we could have that and A10 hoops, Id be thrilled. CUSA football and CAA hoops might even be better than CUSA without Marshall and Charlotte.

Marshall & Charlotte leaving would be worst case scenario for us. Doubt CUSA would let us park FB there.

(01-26-2021 04:20 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 03:29 PM)monarx Wrote:  

(01-26-2021 03:21 PM)VB Monarch Wrote:  Are you saying you've heard Marshall and Charlotte are leaving?

If Marshall and Charlotte left CUSA, ODU would have to get out too. Talk about having nobody nearby. We may as well join the MVC. Which I'd actually like in basketball.

Im starting to think the best thing might be to hope CUSA could give us "football only" affiliation. If we could have that and A10 hoops, Id be thrilled. CUSA football and CAA hoops might even be better than CUSA without Marshall and Charlotte.

Marshall & Charlotte leaving would be worst case scenario for us. Doubt CUSA would let us park FB there.

Wouldnt that be a kick in the butt? We join a conference with ECU, Marshall and Charlotte as our closest "rivals" and they all leave. I kind of figured in most scenarios we'd be tied to Marshall and Charlotte. I can see the appeal for Charlotte, but I cant see Marshall liking that set up. If we didnt go with them, our only feasible option would have to be going Indy.