(04-16-2012 08:46 AM)b0ndsj0ns Wrote:  We are for whatever reason trying to copy the BE model of only markets matter, and I still foresee La Tech getting left out in all this. That would be a big benefit to you guys as they are a quality program right in the middle of your footprint.

Loser Tech's market covers much of the South....Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas.....you guys would be making a big mistake not taking them.

(04-15-2012 09:23 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  Idaho would actually benefit from going to the conference that has Idaho St and the Montana schools. No matter what the WAC does at this point as an all sports conference it would be equal or worse than the big sky and football would be on FCS level for at least ten years.

I think Utah St and San Jose go the the alliance or MWC and Denver, New Mexico St, La Tech, and the Texas twins can come to the belt.

Denver is out either way because they do not sponsor enough sports. They've had years to add sports to get to the minimum of 15 the Sun Belt requires, but they haven't even made an attempt to get to 15 sports. The moratorium is about to expire so they aren't going to make it either way.

(04-15-2012 05:38 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(04-15-2012 04:20 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Idaho may end up independent. They can create some regional rivalries with some nice money games with the big boys. It wouldn't be the end of the world for them.

I agree, they have a way of staying FBS for a short while by playing games against Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State and Wyoming. Add games against other western schools and they can survive by scheduling games against other western schools.

Idaho must make a big commitment to their football program if they decide to stay at FBS. Time is short. They have about four years to get it done.

Idaho could not survive as an independent. They struggle with attendance as it is and as an independent they'd likely struggle just to schedule five home games a season.

Boise wants nothing to do with them and probably would demand like a 3-1 to play them, no AQ school out there would agree to go play in Moscow. Without a FBS conference, Idaho is absolutely screwed.

I think the way this shakes out is that C-USA will take FIU, UNT, LA Tech and Charlotte.

When that happens, I think this will be the new Sun Belt Football:

EAST
Troy
FAU
GSU
USA
WKU
MTSU

WEST
ASU
UL-L
UL-M
UTSA
TX. St.
NM St.

I think you have a solid, 12 team league right there. I know some may be against NM State, but honestly, if Sun Belt goes all the way to Texas, going one state over is not that big of a deal.

(04-15-2012 03:49 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  

(04-15-2012 12:06 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  I will not wish dropping to FCS on anyone, but Idaho especially may end up with no other option and I'm not going to support inviting them to our conference just to prevent them from having to drop down.

Idaho? I don't know a single fan or person who knows anything about 'em. I support them dropping down to FCS, that will help the overcrowding problem we can expect with all these new FCS move-ups.

Ga State moves up, Idaho moves down. Circle of life.

What you're saying makes sense Greg, but I was more referring to Idaho's fans. I would never want my alma mater dropping to FCS, so I wouldn't wish that on anyone else.

(04-16-2012 09:44 AM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  I think the way this shakes out is that C-USA will take FIU, UNT, LA Tech and Charlotte.

When that happens, I think this will be the new Sun Belt Football:

EAST
Troy
FAU
GSU
USA
WKU
MTSU

WEST
ASU
UL-L
UL-M
UTSA
TX. St.
NM St.

I think you have a solid, 12 team league right there. I know some may be against NM State, but honestly, if Sun Belt goes all the way to Texas, going one state over is not that big of a deal.

I don't mind NMSU being in the SBC as long as they're in a different division than USA. ULL and ULM might not love it, though. Their travel would be onerous.

NM State. Wow. Lewis and Clark away games

(04-16-2012 10:00 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  I don't mind NMSU being in the SBC as long as they're in a different division than USA. ULL and ULM might not love it, though. Their travel would be onerous.

Would it really be that much worse than WKU going to FAU?

(04-16-2012 10:13 AM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  Would it really be that much worse than WKU going to FAU?

Thing is FAU is only a 2 hour flight or so across 1 time zone ( I think?)with 3 major airports available for WKU to maximize thier travel.

I dont think the same can be said about NMSU but I could be wrong.

Bowling Green, KY to Miami, FL 971 Miles
Atlanta, GA to Las Cruces, NM 1462 Miles

But get this...

San Marcos, TX to Las Cruces, NM 633 Miles

No New Mexico teams unless we get wrecked by coosa and need them to survive.

(04-16-2012 10:13 AM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(04-16-2012 10:00 AM)AtlantaJag Wrote:  I don't mind NMSU being in the SBC as long as they're in a different division than USA. ULL and ULM might not love it, though. Their travel would be onerous.

Would it really be that much worse than WKU going to FAU?

Um...yes?

By that rationale, let's expand 600-1000 miles in every possible direction. We'll add NMSU, Delaware, South Dakota State and the University of Puerto Rico.

(04-16-2012 10:20 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Um...yes?

By that rationale, let's expand 600-1000 miles in every possible direction. We'll add NMSU, Delaware, South Dakota State and the University of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico? Best. Idea. Ever.

(04-16-2012 10:21 AM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(04-16-2012 10:20 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Um...yes?

By that rationale, let's expand 600-1000 miles in every possible direction. We'll add NMSU, Delaware, South Dakota State and the University of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico? Best. Idea. Ever.

Do This Now

Picard Out

(04-16-2012 09:44 AM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  I think the way this shakes out is that C-USA will take FIU, UNT, LA Tech and Charlotte.

When that happens, I think this will be the new Sun Belt Football:

EAST
Troy
FAU
GSU
USA
WKU
MTSU

WEST
ASU
UL-L
UL-M
UTSA
TX. St.
NM St.

I think you have a solid, 12 team league right there. I know some may be against NM State, but honestly, if Sun Belt goes all the way to Texas, going one state over is not that big of a deal.

As an outsider I think that would be a good setup for you guys.
It could also open up the NM bowl as a secondary tie-in as it would make more sense for the bowl than the MAC as the current secondary tie-in.

(04-16-2012 09:43 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(04-15-2012 05:38 PM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(04-15-2012 04:20 PM)Usajags Wrote:  Idaho may end up independent. They can create some regional rivalries with some nice money games with the big boys. It wouldn't be the end of the world for them.

I agree, they have a way of staying FBS for a short while by playing games against Boise State, Colorado, Colorado State and Wyoming. Add games against other western schools and they can survive by scheduling games against other western schools.

Idaho must make a big commitment to their football program if they decide to stay at FBS. Time is short. They have about four years to get it done.

Idaho could not survive as an independent. They struggle with attendance as it is and as an independent they'd likely struggle just to schedule five home games a season.

Boise wants nothing to do with them and probably would demand like a 3-1 to play them, no AQ school out there would agree to go play in Moscow. Without a FBS conference, Idaho is absolutely screwed.

If they ever got a home and home with an AQ school, they would play the game across the border at Pullman. They've played multiple games at WSU's stadium over the years. The Kibbie Dome only holds 16k and it looks like an airplane hangar.

(04-16-2012 10:19 AM)Tiguar Wrote:  No New Mexico teams unless we get wrecked by coosa and need them to survive.

Why?

Adding NM St is worth it if they get you to 12 AND you also have 2 TX schools.

At worse in separate divisions you will have to go to one of three further schools in football and two at most in other sports.

They are your best bet to increase your footprint while still making sense, after 2014 you will likely pick up a secondary bowl tie-in for the NM bowl, you add a championship football game, you have your basketball conference tournaments in New Orleans where fans actually want to visit. Adding the football conference championship game would likely open up your TV contract for renegotiations or an outright bid for that game only. Not that you would get a ton more but it still should be more money for all and better yet more TV face time.

(04-16-2012 11:12 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(04-16-2012 10:19 AM)Tiguar Wrote:  No New Mexico teams unless we get wrecked by coosa and need them to survive.

Why?

Adding NM St is worth it if they get you to 12 AND you also have 2 TX schools.

At worse in separate divisions you will have to go to one of three further schools in football and two at most in other sports.

They are your best bet to increase your footprint while still making sense, after 2014 you will likely pick up a secondary bowl tie-in for the NM bowl, you add a championship football game, you have your basketball conference tournaments in New Orleans where fans actually want to visit. Adding the football conference championship game would likely open up your TV contract for renegotiations or an outright bid for that game only. Not that you would get a ton more but it still should be more money for all and better yet more TV face time.

Expanding the footprint 600+ miles westward is stupid.

I've seen it mentioned a few times, but for those who don't know, the Sun Belt already has two bowl tie-ins. We have the New Orleans Bowl and the GoDaddy.Com Bowl. We don't need to go to Las Cruces just to have a "secondary bowl tie-in" with the New Mexico Bowl.

(04-16-2012 11:17 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  I've seen it mentioned a few times, but for those who don't know, the Sun Belt already has two bowl tie-ins. We have the New Orleans Bowl and the GoDaddy.Com Bowl. We don't need to go to Las Cruces just to have a "secondary bowl tie-in" with the New Mexico Bowl.

You do realize that by "secondary" they mean that we'd be a backup, not that it would be our second bowl, right? Much like we had previously with Detroit.