This does not tell the whole story but here is a quick overview of the seven most talked about likely expansion targets for the Sun Belt. This might help give a black and white overview to cut through all of the posturing and complaining out there.

School Overall

Delaware is really the only school listed that would be out on an island

FOOTBALL

I was impressed with Jacksonville St's stadium and 3rd highest attendance. JMU is a clear front runner for Football IMO though.

Men's Basketball

I had trouble getting good info on Jax St's basketball program so I left a couple of boxes blank but Missouri State is head and shoulders better than the rest here.

Jax St - Why would the SBC want 3 schools in Alabama, none of which are named Auburn or Alabama?

GaSouthern/App/NMSU are decent adds, but when you start talking about teams like Jacksonville St and other anonymous FCSers- I don't see that helping the conference much. They certainly don't add to the conference past another mouth to feed.

Winning percentage is fairly irrelevant unless you take Conference Strength into account.

Shows JMU is still best choice.

(04-04-2013 09:27 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  
I was impressed with Jacksonville St's stadium and 3rd highest attendance.

4th highest...Liberty averaged 16,318 and Jacksonville State had 16,006.

Football
1 JMU
2 Jacksonville St
3 Delaware (Football Only)
4 Liberty
5 Lamar
6 Missouri St
7 Sam Houston St

Basketball
1 Missouri St.
2 James Madison
3 Lamar
4 Delaware
5 Liberty
6 Jax St
7 Sam Houston St

My NEW Personal list Overall...
1 JMU
2 Missouri St
3 Jax St
4 Liberty
5 Delaware
6 Lamar
7 SHSU

The only thing that has changed in my mind is that I think we should go for Jax St before we go for Liberty.

@GaSouthern I'd like to see a large table with the current SBC members and invitees on there for comparison (if you have time).

(04-04-2013 09:53 AM)mathenis89 Wrote:  Winning percentage is fairly irrelevant unless you take Conference Strength into account.

Thats why I listed the 2012 record and the conference for reference.

(04-04-2013 10:23 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  

(04-04-2013 09:53 AM)mathenis89 Wrote:  Winning percentage is fairly irrelevant unless you take Conference Strength into account.

Thats why I listed the 2012 record and the conference for reference.

Sorry, I didn't mean to seem as though I were going against you. Was simply making an observation for everyone to keep in mind.

(04-04-2013 09:47 AM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  Jax St - Why would the SBC want 3 schools in Alabama, none of which are named Auburn or Alabama?

GaSouthern/App/NMSU are decent adds, but when you start talking about teams like Jacksonville St and other anonymous FCSers- I don't see that helping the conference much. They certainly don't add to the conference past another mouth to feed.

They did manage to upset a low level SEC team a few years go and have traditionally been respectable at the FCS level of football.

I think, after doing this quick chart, that Jax St is a better pickup than Liberty overall for the SBC if Troy and USA could look the other way. JSU would still not be in my top two choices for the SBC expansion though.

(04-04-2013 09:47 AM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  Jax St - Why would the SBC want 3 schools in Alabama, none of which are named Auburn or Alabama?

GaSouthern/App/NMSU are decent adds, but when you start talking about teams like Jacksonville St and other anonymous FCSers- I don't see that helping the conference much. They certainly don't add to the conference past another mouth to feed.

I don't think the fans of South have a problem with Jax St, now for Troy it's another story. Not sure how the powers to be feel about them.

(04-04-2013 10:52 AM)Usajags Wrote:  

(04-04-2013 09:47 AM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  Jax St - Why would the SBC want 3 schools in Alabama, none of which are named Auburn or Alabama?

GaSouthern/App/NMSU are decent adds, but when you start talking about teams like Jacksonville St and other anonymous FCSers- I don't see that helping the conference much. They certainly don't add to the conference past another mouth to feed.

I don't think the fans of South have a problem with Jax St, now for Troy it's another story. Not sure how the powers to be feel about them.

I believe if it came down to it, if the choices were down to Jax State and Liberty or another FCS team lacking any kind of athletic success, The SBC would vote overwhelmingly (Troy included) for Jax State.

Not sure how you are doing your football winning percentage, but Missouri State actually has an overall losing record of 450-462-40,
but you are showing them as having a .603 percentage.

(04-04-2013 10:54 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Not sure how you are doing your football winning percentage, but Missouri State actually has an overall losing record of 450-462-40,
but you are showing them as having a .603 percentage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_St...s_football

Are you saying something on Wikipedia was wrong?!?!?!?!



I should have listed my sources for most of this info

(04-04-2013 11:07 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  

(04-04-2013 10:54 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Not sure how you are doing your football winning percentage, but Missouri State actually has an overall losing record of 450-462-40,
but you are showing them as having a .603 percentage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missouri_St...s_football

Are you saying something on Wikipedia was wrong?!?!?!?!



I should have listed my sources for most of this info

Do not know which one is correct. However most have said that Missouri State does not have a good football record overall.
Got my figures from:

http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/div_iaa.../index.php

Missouri St would also have to do stadium additions. It currently only holds 16,300. Are they ready for that type of investment???

JSU is not as close to moving up as most people think. They are trying to find a way to re structure their locker room to make room for a full FBS roster. They will then need a place for the visiting team. That will keep them at least a season away from being ready to start transition.

Anyway we can see budgets for the schools listed? As much as I don't want Liberty, putting them against the other candidates' war chests may also show who may be the better fit for the conference

(04-04-2013 12:30 PM)bamaEagle Wrote:  JSU is not as close to moving up as most people think. They are trying to find a way to re structure their locker room to make room for a full FBS roster. They will then need a place for the visiting team. That will keep them at least a season away from being ready to start transition.

Just like you guys, if they were to announce today, they wouldn't begin transition until next year. So they would have time to make improvements. That also includes Missouri St. However, it is cheaper to build a locker room then add seats to an existing stadium.

(04-04-2013 12:50 PM)Usajags Wrote:  

(04-04-2013 12:30 PM)bamaEagle Wrote:  JSU is not as close to moving up as most people think. They are trying to find a way to re structure their locker room to make room for a full FBS roster. They will then need a place for the visiting team. That will keep them at least a season away from being ready to start transition.

Just like you guys, if they were to announce today, they wouldn't begin transition until next year. So they would have time to make improvements. That also includes Missouri St. However, it is cheaper to build a locker room then add seats to an existing stadium.

Not exactly the same as our situation. We have our building designed and funded. It took us over a year to get it rolling. Our construction starts next weekend and is supposed to be done by 2014 I believe. So unless JSU has some sort of outstanding booster support that I am unaware of, it would take them at least a year (just like it did GSU) to get things in place to even start the transition.