MWC has functioned rather well with 9 schools. As I stated back before the mega Pac-10 plan emerged, it makes more sense to add Boise and tout improvement of the league before Utah leaves and everyone views as a desperation move to keep the league together.

MWC is going to go into the next TV deal looking much better than when they made the last one. MWC might shock me but I think they are done adding teams.

Starting next year we live in a new world. MWC remains the top non-AQ league, C-USA moves to #2, WAC, MAC, Sun Belt will bounce up down and around in spots 3-5.

If Tech joins, we move to a solid three and can push CUSA for #2.

(06-15-2010 08:06 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:01 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  Lets say Tech comes for some reason.
Who would be the 12th?
We get such a SMALL peice of the pie now Id hate to have spread it to more people. If Fresno leaves the WAC would they perhaps invite UNT? We know there was an offer there before woudl UNT take it this time?

Texas would rather play in a watered-down Big XII than go west to the PAC. I doubt UNT would want to leave an improving Sun Belt for a far-flung WAC, esp. w/o Tech.

#12 for me would be App. St. I think they're a good fit for MT and WK plus the 'bama schools aren't that far away. Mizzou St. and Texas St. are great options as well but they're both on the edge of the current Belt.

And this is why FIU and FAU usually are not mentioned when some discuss a more regional conference in the future. I'm not interested in another conference member located in the Eastern Time Zone.

(06-15-2010 08:24 AM)CajunT Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:06 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:01 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  Lets say Tech comes for some reason.
Who would be the 12th?
We get such a SMALL peice of the pie now Id hate to have spread it to more people. If Fresno leaves the WAC would they perhaps invite UNT? We know there was an offer there before woudl UNT take it this time?

Texas would rather play in a watered-down Big XII than go west to the PAC. I doubt UNT would want to leave an improving Sun Belt for a far-flung WAC, esp. w/o Tech.

#12 for me would be App. St. I think they're a good fit for MT and WK plus the 'bama schools aren't that far away. Mizzou St. and Texas St. are great options as well but they're both on the edge of the current Belt.

And this is why FIU and FAU usually are not mentioned when some discuss a more regional conference in the future. I'm not interested in another conference member located in the Eastern Time Zone.

FWIW I agrree with you.

The F_U's are so far down in South Florida its not an easy travel situation. The thing in our favor is market size and recruiting exposure, which is why I think we add value to a confrence.

(06-15-2010 07:44 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  If we add La Tech. That puts us at 11 football schools; what is the next step? You guessed it....an invite for a 12th school and a championship game.

What are the pro's and con's of adding the 12th football memeber? How would the divisions look? Where would we play the champ. game? Would we rotate? Highest bidder?

A lot of interesting questions there.

If the conference were to go to 12, we need to have a true east/west divisional split. Remember ULL, ULM and Arkansas State recruit in primarily in TEXAS not Florida.

EAST

FIU
FAU
Troy
Middle Tennessee
USA
WKU

WEST

ULL
ULM
Arkansas State
North Texas
New Mexico State **
Louisiana Tech ***or Texas State ****

** Get proactive & take NMSU from the WAC. Good basketball and they are on an island between the WAC and Sun Belt. With divisional play, east/west travel is less of an issue.

*** Hold our noses and take Tech. They have delusions of grandure, but everyone knows they would be a middle of the pack team.

****Texas State wants to move up and is making a committment with facility improvement and budget. Will have a budget of around $20,000,000 with their new student fee.

(06-15-2010 08:40 AM)MG61 Wrote:  If the conference were to go to 12, we need to have a true east/west divisional split. Remember ULL, ULM and Arkansas State recruit in primarily in TEXAS not Florida.

EAST

FIU
FAU
Troy
Middle Tennessee
USA
WKU

WEST

ULL
ULM
Arkansas State
North Texas
New Mexico State **
Louisiana Tech ***or Texas State ****

** Get proactive & take NMSU from the WAC. Good basketball and they are on an island between the WAC and Sun Belt. With divisional play, east/west travel is less of an issue.

*** Hold our noses and take Tech. They have delusions of grandure, but everyone knows they would be a middle of the pack team.

****Texas State wants to move up and is making a committment with facility improvement and budget. Will have a budget of around $20,000,000 with their new student fee.

I could live with that.

How does the scheduleing work when you have 2 divisions?

Play every team in your division plus 3 cross division games.

(06-15-2010 07:14 AM)BlueRaiderFan. Wrote:  I hope we don't end up with La Tech in this conference. I have never met a more arrogant group of fans. They are more arrogant than Vandy fans and that is saying something, especially when you consider the shellacking we put on them the last time we played them. Maybe they'll have to go the Memphis route and lose three times in a row to us before they stop running their mouths.

Not likely because Troy has beaten MT 4 years in a row and you guys still have the same superiority complex.

(06-15-2010 07:40 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  i just dont see how teams on the other side of the country could be considered your rivals. Tech is just too far out of the footprint, I never understood their role in the WAC.

Tech joined the WAC in 2001. The WAC in 2001 included SMU, Rice, Tulsa, and UTEP.

(06-15-2010 08:06 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:01 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  Lets say Tech comes for some reason.
Who would be the 12th?
We get such a SMALL peice of the pie now Id hate to have spread it to more people. If Fresno leaves the WAC would they perhaps invite UNT? We know there was an offer there before woudl UNT take it this time?

Texas would rather play in a watered-down Big XII than go west to the PAC. I doubt UNT would want to leave an improving Sun Belt for a far-flung WAC, esp. w/o Tech.

#12 for me would be App. St. I think they're a good fit for MT and WK plus the 'bama schools aren't that far away. Mizzou St. and Texas St. are great options as well but they're both on the edge of the current Belt.

This plan has merit, IMO, but what are Texas State's and Mizzou State's plans for going BCS (Div. I-A)? Also if LTU comes back to the belt, who would be the 12th member? Personally, I would love to see a 12-team conference with a SBCCG. Yeah, I know, I'll be an old codger before USA makes that game. Wait a minute, I already am.

(06-15-2010 08:47 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:40 AM)MG61 Wrote:  If the conference were to go to 12, we need to have a true east/west divisional split. Remember ULL, ULM and Arkansas State recruit in primarily in TEXAS not Florida.
EAST
FIU
FAU
Troy
Middle Tennessee
USA
WKU
WEST
ULL
ULM
Arkansas State
North Texas
New Mexico State **
Louisiana Tech ***or Texas State ****
** Get proactive & take NMSU from the WAC. Good basketball and they are on an island between the WAC and Sun Belt. With divisional play, east/west travel is less of an issue.
*** Hold our noses and take Tech. They have delusions of grandure, but everyone knows they would be a middle of the pack team.
****Texas State wants to move up and is making a committment with facility improvement and budget. Will have a budget of around $20,000,000 with their new student fee.

I could live with that.
How does the scheduleing work when you have 2 divisions?

I like App. because of their Hoops and Football and I think they play pretty good baseball. A Texas St. would be ok, but NMSU just seems to me to belong in a Mountain or Pacific conference of some sort. There's also good balance with Tx. St and La Tech in the West and I really like the way the East shapes up.

As far as money is concerned; we make so little of it now that the notoriety these two programs might bring with OOC wins far outweighs dividing the crumbs we get with two other members.

Scheduling for a 12 member conference generally means you play everyone in your division plus rotate three games with the other division. That's eight and then you play four OOC games.

(06-15-2010 09:04 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:06 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:01 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  Lets say Tech comes for some reason.
Who would be the 12th?
We get such a SMALL peice of the pie now Id hate to have spread it to more people. If Fresno leaves the WAC would they perhaps invite UNT? We know there was an offer there before woudl UNT take it this time?

Texas would rather play in a watered-down Big XII than go west to the PAC. I doubt UNT would want to leave an improving Sun Belt for a far-flung WAC, esp. w/o Tech.

#12 for me would be App. St. I think they're a good fit for MT and WK plus the 'bama schools aren't that far away. Mizzou St. and Texas St. are great options as well but they're both on the edge of the current Belt.

This plan has merit, IMO, but what are Texas State's and Mizzou State's plans for going BCS (Div. I-A)? Also if LTU comes back to the belt, who would be the 12th member? Personally, I would love to see a 12-team conference with a SBCCG. Yeah, I know, I'll be an old codger before USA makes that game. Wait a minute, I already am.

Joe, every post you make about USA football has some disclaimer of how you know it will take time before USA is successful/competitive. It's not that I disagree, but I know you only started doing that because of posters criticizing USA fans for being overly optimistic. I don't think you should have to make these sort of statements for fear of what other posters will respond.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your post without the bolded part above. Don't let these other posters get ya!

(06-15-2010 09:04 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  This plan has merit, IMO, but what are Texas State's and Mizzou State's plans for going BCS (Div. I-A)? Also if LTU comes back to the belt, who would be the 12th member? Personally, I would love to see a 12-team conference with a SBCCG. Yeah, I know, I'll be an old codger before USA makes that game. Wait a minute, I already am.

Texas State is on track. UTSA is in theory on track. Georgia State may be not watching them very closely.

I'd rather court Missouri State who to my knowledge hasn't looked seriously at the issue. They bring so much for basketball and would walk in with the best football and baseball facilities and worst or near worst for football.

I'm more interested in schools we need to sell on the Sun Belt than schools that need to sell us on them.

(06-15-2010 09:19 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 09:04 AM)JoeJag Wrote:  This plan has merit, IMO, but what are Texas State's and Mizzou State's plans for going BCS (Div. I-A)? Also if LTU comes back to the belt, who would be the 12th member? Personally, I would love to see a 12-team conference with a SBCCG. Yeah, I know, I'll be an old codger before USA makes that game. Wait a minute, I already am.

Texas State is on track. UTSA is in theory on track. Georgia State may be not watching them very closely.

I'd rather court Missouri State who to my knowledge hasn't looked seriously at the issue. They bring so much for basketball and would walk in with the best football and baseball facilities and worst or near worst for football.

I'm more interested in schools we need to sell on the Sun Belt than schools that need to sell us on them.

I'd hope the conference waits to add anybody at least until wku and south alabama FB have gotten their legs underneath them. Let everybody grow some.

(06-15-2010 09:06 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:47 AM)OwlFamily Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 08:40 AM)MG61 Wrote:  If the conference were to go to 12, we need to have a true east/west divisional split. Remember ULL, ULM and Arkansas State recruit in primarily in TEXAS not Florida.
EAST
FIU
FAU
Troy
Middle Tennessee
USA
WKU
WEST
ULL
ULM
Arkansas State
North Texas
New Mexico State **
Louisiana Tech ***or Texas State ****
** Get proactive & take NMSU from the WAC. Good basketball and they are on an island between the WAC and Sun Belt. With divisional play, east/west travel is less of an issue.
*** Hold our noses and take Tech. They have delusions of grandure, but everyone knows they would be a middle of the pack team.
****Texas State wants to move up and is making a committment with facility improvement and budget. Will have a budget of around $20,000,000 with their new student fee.

I could live with that.
How does the scheduleing work when you have 2 divisions?

I like App. because of their Hoops and Football and I think they play pretty good baseball. A Texas St. would be ok, but NMSU just seems to me to belong in a Mountain or Pacific conference of some sort. There's also good balance with Tx. St and La Tech in the West and I really like the way the East shapes up.

As far as money is concerned; we make so little of it now that the notoriety these two programs might bring with OOC wins far outweighs dividing the crumbs we get with two other members.

Scheduling for a 12 member conference generally means you play everyone in your division plus rotate three games with the other division. That's eight and then you play four OOC games.

Appy State does nothing to help western Belt schools. If the conference were to split, it makes more sense to pick up two western schools for a true east/west split.

As far a NMSU, they would be a just about as close or closer to western division schools than Miami.

Jonesboro-Miami 1116 miles
Jonesboro-Las Cruces 1152

Shreveport-Miami 1183
Shreveport-Las Cruces 865

Lafayette-Miami 977
Lafayette-Las Cruces 1007

Dallas-Miami 1362
Dallas-Las cruces 678

Should the SBC decide or have to expand they will look to add:

1. UTSA
2. GA State
3. TX State
4. La Tech

(06-15-2010 09:32 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  Should the SBC decide or have to expand they will look to add:

1. UTSA
2. GA State
3. TX State
4. La Tech

Id say youd have to put LA Tech as #1 to be honest.

The others are not FBS and Tech is.

They would be plug and play as opposed to the others who are developmental at best.

As distasteful as it is to Tech fans and SunBelt fans to be together, you have to admit it makes SO much more sense for them to be here then in the WAC. Especially now with the Boise cash cow gone.

(06-15-2010 09:27 AM)MG61 Wrote:  Appy State does nothing to help western Belt schools. If the conference were to split, it makes more sense to pick up two western schools for a true east/west split.
As far a NMSU, they would be a just about as close or closer to western division schools than Miami.

Jonesboro-Miami 1116 miles
Jonesboro-Las Cruces 1152

Shreveport-Miami 1183
Shreveport-Las Cruces 865

Lafayette-Miami 977
Lafayette-Las Cruces 1007

Dallas-Miami 1362
Dallas-Las cruces 678

Nice, but we're not talking about Miami, we're probably talking about Asheville NC. How do those numbers look when you compare the proposed west division schools to Las Cruces and the East division schools to Asheville? Or even better, the current western area schools distance to Asheville compared to the eastern area schools travel to Las Cruces. Point is, Asheville, to me seems to be a better Sun Belt fit. You may think otherwise.

(06-15-2010 09:44 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  

(06-15-2010 09:27 AM)MG61 Wrote:  Appy State does nothing to help western Belt schools. If the conference were to split, it makes more sense to pick up two western schools for a true east/west split.
As far a NMSU, they would be a just about as close or closer to western division schools than Miami.

Jonesboro-Miami 1116 miles
Jonesboro-Las Cruces 1152

Shreveport-Miami 1183
Shreveport-Las Cruces 865

Lafayette-Miami 977
Lafayette-Las Cruces 1007

Dallas-Miami 1362
Dallas-Las cruces 678

Nice, but we're not talking about Miami, we're probably talking about Asheville NC. How do those numbers look when you compare the proposed west division schools to Las Cruces and the East division schools to Asheville? Or even better, the current western area schools distance to Asheville compared to the eastern area schools travel to Las Cruces. Point is, Asheville, to me seems to be a better Sun Belt fit. You may think otherwise.

App. is actually Boone, NC which is 2 hours north/east of Asheville, up in the mountains.

(06-15-2010 09:48 AM)NCowl Wrote:  App. is actually Boone, NC which is 2 hours north/east of Asheville, up in the mountains, long windy roads.

Thanks. So App. St. is just too hard to get to.

Boone is about 5.5 hours East of Murfreesboro. A beautiful area that I have visited several times. Definite touristy area, including the town of Blowing Rock, just about 15 minutes down the road from Boone.

Not real easy to get there. Guess you'd fly into the Tri-Cities (TN) , or Winston-Salem, NC. Both are about 1.5 hour drive from Boone.