Here's an overview of the FCS teams on our schedules:

16. McNeese St (McNeese won 27-21)
93. Lamar (UL won 40-0)
95. Wagner (FAU won 7-3)
100. Texas Southern (UNT won 34-7)
101. Austin Peay (WKU won 49-10)
105 Nicholls St (USA won 9-3)
115. Alcorn State (upcoming at Arkansas State)

Of note:

#3 Old Dominion
#4 Georgia Southern
#5 James Madison
#19 Central Arkansas
#25 Appalachian State
#29 Jacksonville State

http://www.masseyratings.com/cf/compare1aa.htm

I still wan't to add James Madison and App State.

Too far away. That's why they are looking at CUSA/MAC

App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

WVU joined the Big 12 so I see no reason why James Madison wouldn't join the SBC. West Virginia's closest away conference game is Iowa St. The whole "too far away" argument isn't relevant anymore. SDSU is another good example.

(09-19-2012 11:56 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

App State is a bear to get into. Closest airport is pretty far away and then you would have to bus to and from the school. I think their isolation is what helps breed so many die hard fans for their programs, but also what keeps them from being looked at by bigger conferences.

(09-19-2012 12:07 PM)MeanGreenEngineer Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 11:56 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

App State is a bear to get into. Closest airport is pretty far away and then you would have to bus to and from the school. I think their isolation is what helps breed so many die hard fans for their programs, but also what keeps them from being looked at by bigger conferences.

TROY is in the same boat. Montgomery has a fairly nice airport, but it's almost impossible to get a flight there. So Atlanta and Pensacola are the closest airports.

(09-19-2012 12:09 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 12:07 PM)MeanGreenEngineer Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 11:56 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

App State is a bear to get into. Closest airport is pretty far away and then you would have to bus to and from the school. I think their isolation is what helps breed so many die hard fans for their programs, but also what keeps them from being looked at by bigger conferences.

TROY is in the same boat. Montgomery has a fairly nice airport, but it's almost impossible to get a flight there. So Atlanta and Pensacola are the closest airports.

I'm just curious, but are Sun Belt teams normally flying commercial or charter? Or does this whole travel complaint revolve around the fans?

(09-19-2012 12:07 PM)MeanGreenEngineer Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 11:56 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

App State is a bear to get into. Closest airport is pretty far away and then you would have to bus to and from the school. I think their isolation is what helps breed so many die hard fans for their programs, but also what keeps them from being looked at by bigger conferences.

Their fans sure seem to find a way to get there. They pack that mother out. Very impressive for such a small town in the mountains.

It is also a vacation hotspot, so that helps.

(09-19-2012 11:59 AM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  WVU joined the Big 12 so I see no reason why James Madison wouldn't join the SBC.

$$$$$$$

The extra money they are getting from the B12 affords them the ability to fly across the country to every game.

(09-19-2012 12:09 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 12:07 PM)MeanGreenEngineer Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 11:56 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

App State is a bear to get into. Closest airport is pretty far away and then you would have to bus to and from the school. I think their isolation is what helps breed so many die hard fans for their programs, but also what keeps them from being looked at by bigger conferences.

TROY is in the same boat. Montgomery has a fairly nice airport, but it's almost impossible to get a flight there. So Atlanta and Pensacola are the closest airports.

I am told by someone who has been to both places that App State is much much worse. If I am remembering correctly its a multi-hour (3-4) trip from the nearest airport to the campus.

(09-19-2012 12:09 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 12:07 PM)MeanGreenEngineer Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 11:56 AM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  App State isn't that much of a stretch. It would be close to MT, WKU, and GSU - and if Ga So came along they wouldn't be exceptionally distant either.

App State is a bear to get into. Closest airport is pretty far away and then you would have to bus to and from the school. I think their isolation is what helps breed so many die hard fans for their programs, but also what keeps them from being looked at by bigger conferences.

TROY is in the same boat. Montgomery has a fairly nice airport, but it's almost impossible to get a flight there. So Atlanta and Pensacola are the closest airports.

Naw. Troy is at least near some sizable cities and airports.... Montgomery is only 40 mins away. And Dothan has s regional airport as well. Panama city who's got an international airport. Montgomery is a city of nearly 400,000..and is only 40 mins from Troy.... Closest city that size to app state is hours away!

Troy got into the SBC when it was under desperate times and needed a program bad. And Troy was ready for that move immediately.

(09-19-2012 12:09 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  TROY is in the same boat. Montgomery has a fairly nice airport, but it's almost impossible to get a flight there. So Atlanta and Pensacola are the closest airports.

I think AthDept look more at the team's travel ability, not necessarily fans travel abililty.

I am sure every team charters into Montgomery or Dothan, then jumps on a bus for 45min-hr.

Its not ideal, but it is not too bad.

It is about the same as flying into Dallas and busing up to Denton

I dont think we would want to go though getting our Olympic sports to either place. We have some experience in this in the CAA and its a nightmare. Just for football we have something like 3 or 4 charter flights this year...in conference. That's not even talking about the commercial flights for Olympic Sports. I can imagine that anyone west of Alabama or even west of Atlanta would have a problem with adding either school. James Madison is about the same distance from Atlanta as NMSU is from Texas State. If one makes no sense neither does the other.

(09-19-2012 12:18 PM)TrojanNation Wrote:  It is about the same as flying into Dallas and busing up to Denton

I think most teams charter into Alliance, not DFW. Alliance is about 20 minutes away from the campus.

DFW is about 35 minutes away and Love (Southwest's home field) is about 40.

Should have added App. St. and another and gone to divisions.

(09-19-2012 12:32 PM)Crump1 Wrote:  Should have added App. St. and another and gone to divisions.

Great idea on paper until you start paying to send your Olympic sports there. I never want to go through that again. Travel cost us 2 to 4 MBB games in CAA play last season. I think we are the closest SBC school to App and we're 300 miles away. Troy is 480 miles away. ULM is 770 miles away.

They're still better than Denver...

Except for the fact that one can actually get to Denver.

(09-19-2012 12:18 PM)TrojanNation Wrote:  

(09-19-2012 12:09 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  TROY is in the same boat. Montgomery has a fairly nice airport, but it's almost impossible to get a flight there. So Atlanta and Pensacola are the closest airports.

I think AthDept look more at the team's travel ability, not necessarily fans travel abililty.

I am sure every team charters into Montgomery or Dothan, then jumps on a bus for 45min-hr.

Its not ideal, but it is not too bad.

It is about the same as flying into Dallas and busing up to Denton

Perhaps for charter flights, but what about commercial flights for olympic sports? DFW is America's 2nd busiest airport, Dothan has 14 flights total today while Montgomery has 15. DFW alone offers nearly 1,750 flights per day....This means that there probably are not alot of non-stop flights and hardly any arrival time options.