First of all before you look twice this will be a 14/16 team model with a major upgrade to basketball and emphasizes rivalries.
For Football.

East.
1. Troy
2. South Alabama
3. FIU
4. FAU
5. Middle Tenn
6. WKU
7. ULM

Everyone has their rivals in the division on this side except ULM who doesn't really have a rival. And everyone gets a guaranteed trip to Florida and Southern Alabama for recruiting exposure.

1. ULL
2. La Tech (I rolled my eyes also)
3. ASU
4. UNT
5. UTSA
6. TxSt
7. New Mexico State

This side has a lot of Texas trips so down the road will be great for market heads and recruiting. It also is a regional western division all the states touch from one to the next. New Mexico will not bring better football but adds excellent basketball which is something we need to compliment Middle Tenn. Not to mention yet another pretty big city for a potential Tv deal.

Now next is the full conference for basketball.

East
1.Troy
2. South Alabama
3. WKU
4. Middle Tenn
5. FAU
6. FIU
7. ASU
8. UALR

West
1. ULL
2. La Tech
3. ULM
4. UTSA
5. UNT
6. TxSt
7. NMSU
8. Convince Denver to stay

Basketball has NMSU, UNT, Denver, Middle Tenn, and UALR as normal contenders. And teams with great venues like Troy (next season), South, Western Kentucky, and La Tech I guess.

The Sun Belt could easily become a multi bid conference with this lineup.

Just say no to New Mexico State. They nearly double the east to west footprint of the conference. No thanks.

Also your basketball explanation is a bit strange. Middle Tennessee is hot right now and may stay that way, but Western is the best basketball program in the conference and won't stay down long, South Alabama and Louisiana deserve more credit as well.

Also if you want to put an emphasis on football recruiting territory, invite one of the schools in Georgia which turns out much more FBS talent than Alabama.

We have at least six Big markets in this proposal. Mobile, Boca, Miami, Dallas, Las Cruces, San Antonio, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos for TxSt.

This gives us some MAJOR leverage for more bowls and a better TV deal. It also keeps the Sun belt members pretty close to each other.

(02-21-2012 03:11 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  We have at least six Big markets in this proposal. Mobile, Boca, Miami, Dallas, Las Cruces, San Antonio, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos for TxSt.

This gives us some MAJOR leverage for more bowls and a better TV deal. It also keeps the Sun belt members pretty close to each other.

Las Cruces is NOT a big market. Lafayette has 30,000 more people than Las Cruces. The others are understandable, but there is really only 5 large markets. Lastly, if you consider markets, MT has some leverage in their location for the Nashville Market, and that IS a major market.

(02-21-2012 02:44 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  First of all before you look twice this will be a 14/16 team model with a major upgrade to basketball and emphasizes rivalries.
For Football.

East.
1. Troy
2. South Alabama
3. FIU
4. FAU
5. Middle Tenn
6. WKU
7. ULM

Everyone has their rivals in the division on this side except ULM who doesn't really have a rival. And everyone gets a guaranteed trip to Florida and Southern Alabama for recruiting exposure.

1. ULL
2. La Tech (I rolled my eyes also)
3. ASU
4. UNT
5. UTSA
6. TxSt
7. New Mexico State

This side has a lot of Texas trips so down the road will be great for market heads and recruiting. It also is a regional western division all the states touch from one to the next. New Mexico will not bring better football but adds excellent basketball which is something we need to compliment Middle Tenn. Not to mention yet another pretty big city for a potential Tv deal.

Now next is the full conference for basketball.

Don't be fooled by the hype or a false perception, La. Tech is ULM's rival going all the way back in history.

(02-21-2012 08:23 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  Don't be fooled by the hype or a false perception, La. Tech is ULM's rival going all the way back in history.

Exactly. It would be the biggest conference rivalry in the SBC.

My bad on some of the misinformation. About ULL and ULM I was stating I couldn't fit them into the same division so they didn't have a rival. Not that they weren't rivals.

And I just looked online and Las Cruces and it said it was the second largest city in New Mexico. Never been there

(02-21-2012 03:00 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Just say no to New Mexico State. They nearly double the east to west footprint of the conference. No thanks.

Also your basketball explanation is a bit strange. Middle Tennessee is hot right now and may stay that way, but Western is the best basketball program in the conference and won't stay down long, South Alabama and Louisiana deserve more credit as well.

Also if you want to put an emphasis on football recruiting territory, invite one of the schools in Georgia which turns out much more FBS talent than Alabama.

True but if your talking divisions then Texas to New Mexico is no farther than Middle Tenn to Florida and considering teams like ASU flying to Miami is not shorter than flying to New Mexico. You have to get on a plane to go to both of them and it could be an hour difference even then.

I thought about FCS schools but the popular demand is to not move up FCS schools. Besides the ones already considered part of the WAC like UTSA.

(02-21-2012 03:31 AM)Tuffguy21 Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:11 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  We have at least six Big markets in this proposal. Mobile, Boca, Miami, Dallas, Las Cruces, San Antonio, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos for TxSt.

This gives us some MAJOR leverage for more bowls and a better TV deal. It also keeps the Sun belt members pretty close to each other.

Las Cruces is NOT a big market. Lafayette has 30,000 more people than Las Cruces. The others are understandable, but there is really only 5 large markets. Lastly, if you consider markets, MT has some leverage in their location for the Nashville Market, and that IS a major market.

Hey guys thought I would chime in on this proposed conference. To me this would be a great conference. I understand some of you are concerned about extra travel. However I think our +'s blow away our -'s. Travel wouldn't be that bad as some have stated. In this divisional setup a team from the east would travel in football to Las Cruces every four years and in olympic sports every 2 years. You would be bringing in a very good basketball team and a football team that is improving steadily not to mention good volleyball, softball, and baseball. Your right Las Cruces isn't a huge market, however we are also part of the El Paso market. Not saying we deliver the whole thing but we do deliver a good chunk. El Paso televises alot of our games now and gives us decent news coverage. Now I'm sure some won't want us anyways and thats ok but I think we would be a good add for the Sun Belt.

(02-21-2012 10:39 AM)theultimateaggie Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:31 AM)Tuffguy21 Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:11 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  We have at least six Big markets in this proposal. Mobile, Boca, Miami, Dallas, Las Cruces, San Antonio, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos for TxSt.

This gives us some MAJOR leverage for more bowls and a better TV deal. It also keeps the Sun belt members pretty close to each other.

Las Cruces is NOT a big market. Lafayette has 30,000 more people than Las Cruces. The others are understandable, but there is really only 5 large markets. Lastly, if you consider markets, MT has some leverage in their location for the Nashville Market, and that IS a major market.

Hey guys thought I would chime in on this proposed conference. To me this would be a great conference. I understand some of you are concerned about extra travel. However I think our +'s blow away our -'s. Travel wouldn't be that bad as some have stated. In this divisional setup a team from the east would travel in football to Las Cruces every four years and in olympic sports every 2 years. You would be bringing in a very good basketball team and a football team that is improving steadily not to mention good volleyball, softball, and baseball. Your right Las Cruces isn't a huge market, however we are also part of the El Paso market. Not saying we deliver the whole thing but we do deliver a good chunk. El Paso televises alot of our games now and gives us decent news coverage. Now I'm sure some won't want us anyways and thats ok but I think we would be a good add for the Sun Belt.

But do you capture the Jaurez market?

I always felt that UNT's closest Sun Belt rival (back in the day) was NMSU. I'd be happy to have them on board.

(02-21-2012 10:56 AM)GoBigRed26 Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 10:39 AM)theultimateaggie Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:31 AM)Tuffguy21 Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:11 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  We have at least six Big markets in this proposal. Mobile, Boca, Miami, Dallas, Las Cruces, San Antonio, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos for TxSt.

This gives us some MAJOR leverage for more bowls and a better TV deal. It also keeps the Sun belt members pretty close to each other.

Las Cruces is NOT a big market. Lafayette has 30,000 more people than Las Cruces. The others are understandable, but there is really only 5 large markets. Lastly, if you consider markets, MT has some leverage in their location for the Nashville Market, and that IS a major market.

Hey guys thought I would chime in on this proposed conference. To me this would be a great conference. I understand some of you are concerned about extra travel. However I think our +'s blow away our -'s. Travel wouldn't be that bad as some have stated. In this divisional setup a team from the east would travel in football to Las Cruces every four years and in olympic sports every 2 years. You would be bringing in a very good basketball team and a football team that is improving steadily not to mention good volleyball, softball, and baseball. Your right Las Cruces isn't a huge market, however we are also part of the El Paso market. Not saying we deliver the whole thing but we do deliver a good chunk. El Paso televises alot of our games now and gives us decent news coverage. Now I'm sure some won't want us anyways and thats ok but I think we would be a good add for the Sun Belt.

But do you capture the Jaurez market?

Juarez north or juarez south?

(02-21-2012 09:27 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  My bad on some of the misinformation. About ULL and ULM I was stating I couldn't fit them into the same division so they didn't have a rival. Not that they weren't rivals.

And I just looked online and Las Cruces and it said it was the second largest city in New Mexico. Never been there

Cruces is one of New Mexico's major cities, but it is way south and shares a metro area with El Paso . . it is often referred to as more of a Texas city than a New Mexico city. So, if you are counting metro areas then El Paso/Las Cruces is a big one. I lived in Albuquerque for about 10 years and have been to Cruces many times; it is one of my favorite places to visit . . Old Mesilla is cool !!

http://www.comcastspotlight.com/markets/...arket-info

(02-21-2012 08:37 AM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 08:23 AM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  Don't be fooled by the hype or a false perception, La. Tech is ULM's rival going all the way back in history.

Exactly. It would be the biggest conference rivalry in the SBC.

Agree . . pair UL Warhawks and Loser Tech for rivalries.

A couple questions about the possible Sun Belt expansion, maybe y'all have some insight on this:

1) Has there been any particular number announced in terms of how big the conference is looking to get with a round of expansion?

2) In the earlier thread about the Dennis Dodd tweets, he mentioned LA Tech, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, App State and Liberty as "possible Sun Belt football possibilities". Could have just been that the wording was a bit odd but any offers would be for all sports and not football only, correct? I know that App for example, would not be able to keep our other sports where they are if that was the case and I'd imagine the other candidates may be in the same situation.

(02-21-2012 11:48 AM)asumike83 Wrote:  A couple questions about the possible Sun Belt expansion, maybe y'all have some insight on this:

1) Has there been any particular number announced in terms of how big the conference is looking to get with a round of expansion?

2) In the earlier thread about the Dennis Dodd tweets, he mentioned LA Tech, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, App State and Liberty as "possible Sun Belt football possibilities". Could have just been that the wording was a bit odd but any offers would be for all sports and not football only, correct? I know that App for example, would not be able to keep our other sports where they are if that was the case and I'd imagine the other candidates may be in the same situation.

My understanding is that any new adds would be 'all sports' only . . of course, things are changing quickly all around us but for now I think that is the way the conference bylaws are written.

(02-21-2012 10:39 AM)theultimateaggie Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:31 AM)Tuffguy21 Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 03:11 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  We have at least six Big markets in this proposal. Mobile, Boca, Miami, Dallas, Las Cruces, San Antonio, and Austin–Round Rock–San Marcos for TxSt.

This gives us some MAJOR leverage for more bowls and a better TV deal. It also keeps the Sun belt members pretty close to each other.

Las Cruces is NOT a big market. Lafayette has 30,000 more people than Las Cruces. The others are understandable, but there is really only 5 large markets. Lastly, if you consider markets, MT has some leverage in their location for the Nashville Market, and that IS a major market.

Hey guys thought I would chime in on this proposed conference. To me this would be a great conference. I understand some of you are concerned about extra travel. However I think our +'s blow away our -'s. Travel wouldn't be that bad as some have stated. In this divisional setup a team from the east would travel in football to Las Cruces every four years and in olympic sports every 2 years. You would be bringing in a very good basketball team and a football team that is improving steadily not to mention good volleyball, softball, and baseball. Your right Las Cruces isn't a huge market, however we are also part of the El Paso market. Not saying we deliver the whole thing but we do deliver a good chunk. El Paso televises alot of our games now and gives us decent news coverage. Now I'm sure some won't want us anyways and thats ok but I think we would be a good add for the Sun Belt.

Fly into Memphis . . bus to Jonesboro (90 minutes ??)
Fly into El Paso . . bus to Cruces (45 minutes ??)

Does not seem like such a big deal to me . . Cruces is to me more Texan than New Mexican . . as long as we have Texas schools in the SBC then why not consider the Ags ??

I much, much prefer the Ags to Loser Tech . . the Aggies were good conference mates once and they would be again . . Loser Tech was a bad conference mate once and they would be bad again . . I always enjoyed the stAte vs Aggies football games.

Go stAte . . Go SBC !!

(02-21-2012 11:05 AM)MeanGreenFan123 Wrote:  I always felt that UNT's closest Sun Belt rival (back in the day) was NMSU. I'd be happy to have them on board.

But ULM, La.Tech, Louisiana, ASU, UALR, and South Alabama are all closer. MTSU and Troy are a half hour further.

If UNT fans aren't going to those places why would they go to Las Cruces. More importantly why would ULM, Louisiana, ASU, UALR, USA, MTSU, and WKU support adding a school that is twice the distance of going to UNT the current western outlier?

(02-21-2012 12:34 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(02-21-2012 11:05 AM)MeanGreenFan123 Wrote:  I always felt that UNT's closest Sun Belt rival (back in the day) was NMSU. I'd be happy to have them on board.

But ULM, La.Tech, Louisiana, ASU, UALR, and South Alabama are all closer. MTSU and Troy are a half hour further.

If UNT fans aren't going to those places why would they go to Las Cruces. More importantly why would ULM, Louisiana, ASU, UALR, USA, MTSU, and WKU support adding a school that is twice the distance of going to UNT the current western outlier?

What I've been saying all along. And who is NMSU's travel partner?

It's nothing against the Aggies, but expanding the footprint 700 miles westward for one school makes no sense.

They wouldn't be a terrible addition, but there are plenty of other options that make much more sense. If they had much better football or were still playing basketball at an extremely high level, perhaps things would be different, but if that were the case, the Alliance would probably want them.