(04-24-2013 11:49 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  We are a little different having had no in-state rival and having been in the wilderness for a while. Who we are in a conference with and who our opponents are has been less important to our fan base than what we are doing.

So I understand UL's greater desire for rivalries.

But were FIU/FAU/UNT/MTSU/WKU really big rivalries for UL? Had they really developed into that?

FIU/FAU always felt like outliers and culturally alien to us.

UNT was either beating our tails for years on end or losing badly to us for years on end. No middle ground for rivalry to really develop.

MTSU was a nemesis that bombed us even if we were good and they were bad. More of a frustration than rival until recently.

WKU wasn't FBS long enough for us to develop a rivalry yet. It was building to it but no cigar.

MT was a big loss for us, because our attendance was good for them in football and basketball. They were our biggest tailgating partners, and they were consistently good in a variety of sports.

WKU was also big. We have more basketball than football tradition and although dormant in recent years, WKU was probably the hottest ticket for hoops (although with all the scheduling quirks they came to Lafayette very seldom). They also were good in a variety of sports.

UNT was also a loss even though their football had been down for a while before McCarney, they didn't play baseball, and their basketball had been good under Johnny Jones. They have a nice new stadium. Their upside is good.

FAU and FIU, they had a few real nice football seasons and new stadiums. Baseball is good. Their fan support needs to improve.

(04-24-2013 11:12 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-24-2013 11:08 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  The more I've thought about it, Georgia State is not a bad add at all. A lot of people aren't crazy about them and most of those people think only of football, but they are a good add. They will get better in football!! And their Olympic sports are pretty good. I suspect they will come in and compete for Bubas Cups right away. That might surprise some folks, but they will be near the top. Their tennis is good. Their golf is good. Their track programs are good. Their basketball isn't as bad as they played last year and I imagine they will rebound (no pun intended). Their football will get better. Overall they are probably one of our best additions. If their football was better they'd be the "darling" of the adds. Hopefully they can improve football and help us build the conference.

They catch a lot of crap but they have a lot of potential. They at least have as much potential as Charlotte and at least have enough of a head start on them to have figured out just how tough FBS is actually going to be. If they ARE able to pull it together they'll be a real asset to the league.

I've actually been toying with writing something to do with this. I know i'm a GSU fan, but i still think sometimes some perspective is necessary; we've had three seasons so far, all by the same coach. The first was acceptable, the second went downhill (in a major way), and the third was dismal (although i believe the second season was as bad if not worse as the talent level was much lower). But with that being the case, it's not a surprise that our attendance has been poor. Do we expect to be bad for ever? Not at all, we've changed coaches and we can finally start to pick up some of that FBS tallent. At worst it can only be like we're starting over again but at the FBS level, give us a couple of years and i'm certain we'll be at the same level or higher than some of these move ups. As bad as we've been these past three seasons, the odds are with us, and as we start to actually become competitive the fans and crowds will grow.

(04-24-2013 11:08 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  The more I've thought about it, Georgia State is not a bad add at all. A lot of people aren't crazy about them and most of those people think only of football, but they are a good add. They will get better in football!! And their Olympic sports are pretty good. I suspect they will come in and compete for Bubas Cups right away. That might surprise some folks, but they will be near the top. Their tennis is good. Their golf is good. Their track programs are good. Their basketball isn't as bad as they played last year and I imagine they will rebound (no pun intended). Their football will get better. Overall they are probably one of our best additions. If their football was better they'd be the "darling" of the adds. Hopefully they can improve football and help us build the conference.

Georgia State has tremendous potential. Sitting in one of the largest markets in the nation, once they become competitive on the field, they'll be on everyone's list as possible expansion candidates.

(04-25-2013 05:49 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(04-24-2013 11:08 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  The more I've thought about it, Georgia State is not a bad add at all. A lot of people aren't crazy about them and most of those people think only of football, but they are a good add. They will get better in football!! And their Olympic sports are pretty good. I suspect they will come in and compete for Bubas Cups right away. That might surprise some folks, but they will be near the top. Their tennis is good. Their golf is good. Their track programs are good. Their basketball isn't as bad as they played last year and I imagine they will rebound (no pun intended). Their football will get better. Overall they are probably one of our best additions. If their football was better they'd be the "darling" of the adds. Hopefully they can improve football and help us build the conference.

Georgia State has tremendous potential. Sitting in one of the largest markets in the nation, once they become competitive on the field, they'll be on everyone's list as possible expansion candidates.

Do not see them having all this tremendous potential of which you speak. Believe, at best, that they have the same potential as any school. For every plus they get for being in a large city environment there is at least one minus.
Wouldn't doubt that they would be on everyone's expansion list once they have a good football team, but just about every school would be given that.

The fact that ULL and ASU will remain SBC members guarantees that the SBC will remain a viable conference in the future. It gives the Sun Belt the few years it will need for all the new members to become established as FBS programs. The SBC needed to get a break and the ACC's GOR agreement was just what the doctor ordered. Everyone can now breathe a little easier. The topic of discussions might actually shift to what kind of teams everyone will field this year.

(04-25-2013 06:02 AM)GoApps70 Wrote:  

(04-25-2013 05:49 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(04-24-2013 11:08 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  The more I've thought about it, Georgia State is not a bad add at all. A lot of people aren't crazy about them and most of those people think only of football, but they are a good add. They will get better in football!! And their Olympic sports are pretty good. I suspect they will come in and compete for Bubas Cups right away. That might surprise some folks, but they will be near the top. Their tennis is good. Their golf is good. Their track programs are good. Their basketball isn't as bad as they played last year and I imagine they will rebound (no pun intended). Their football will get better. Overall they are probably one of our best additions. If their football was better they'd be the "darling" of the adds. Hopefully they can improve football and help us build the conference.

Georgia State has tremendous potential. Sitting in one of the largest markets in the nation, once they become competitive on the field, they'll be on everyone's list as possible expansion candidates.

Do not see them having all this tremendous potential of which you speak. Believe, at best, that they have the same potential as any school. For every plus they get for being in a large city environment there is at least one minus.
Wouldn't doubt that they would be on everyone's expansion list once they have a good football team, but just about every school would be given that.

The potential is from the resources that exist. Huge enrollment, big metro area, number four recruiting area, $24m budget. The difference between potential and realization is the issue. The next 12 months and the decisions that are made will be key.

That's great news to me, looks like we shed a few crap teams and picked up some great additions to build our future.Now if we all stick together, we have a very real chance to make this conference something special. We also need to pick a good 12th team and not make a hasty decision that we are stuck with. Can't wait to watch some SBC football

I never wanted to leave. I just wish WKU would have stayed.

Now add Missouri State

(04-24-2013 11:57 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  

(04-24-2013 11:36 PM)gostAte870 Wrote:  App and Southern better step up fast and not embarrass the conference by losing to FCS schools right out the gate.

Yeah, losing to an FCS team is bad mojo.

In fact I hope y'all don't schedule them unless they really suck.

Not bashing on GaSta but they completely messed up this idea. They scheduled three mid major FCS teams in Samford, Chatty and Jax St. All three will field competitive teams at the FCS level next year.

(04-25-2013 07:55 AM)panama Wrote:  Now add Missouri State

I've been saying this for several years before realignment got really crazy!! Add Missouri State!

(04-24-2013 10:38 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(04-24-2013 10:34 PM)Walter Sobchak Wrote:  Sorry ASU and ULL. You're stuck with us in the hood.

This has always been our hood...You guys are just the new people who moved in who are desperately trying to get jumped in.

The good news is that once you guys figure out how things work, you'll be good members.

Alright!

Cant go wrong with JMU or Missouri St.

I dont think JMU is coming. So Add Missouri State and end this

Just a hunch but I think JMU is more likely to come than Missouri State, especially with C-USA taking a break on expansion. The MVC is such a good basketball league and Missouri State is a basketball school. It may be a tough sell to get them to take their hoops out of the conference.

JMU is a football school, wouldn't be leaving behind the TV/NCAA Tournament money in the CAA that MSU would in the MVC and now their hopes of leveraging a Sun Belt offer into a C-USA invite seem to have been shot down.

(04-25-2013 07:59 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(04-25-2013 07:55 AM)panama Wrote:  Now add Missouri State

I've been saying this for several years before realignment got really crazy!! Add Missouri State!

I am all for Missouri State. They would make a great addition to the SBC.

I posted something similar on our board, but I think this puts more pressure on Benson than ever. More than likely whatever team he adds is the last one for a while. It was easy to court every girl at the ball when you thought you'd have a few dances to get it right.

Now, you're making a wedding proposal, so make sure she's the one...

As long as we hold on to what we have and add a quality program I am very happy in the Sun Belt. We have as much or more potential as two or three of our rival conferences in football. Baseball will be very good. Basktball needs work but we are still going to send one team to the NCAAs like we did the majority of the years prior to the changes.

(04-25-2013 09:26 AM)JMUDukeDawg Wrote:  I posted something similar on our board, but I think this puts more pressure on Benson than ever. More than likely whatever team he adds is the last one for a while. It was easy to court every girl at the ball when you thought you'd have a few dances to get it right.

Now, you're making a wedding proposal, so make sure she's the one...

He should have an easier time now but I would be willing to wait one year for the right school as long as the announcement is made as soon as possible. With the spots in FBS possibly closing for a while, JMU and others should be eager to get in the door.

(04-25-2013 09:29 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  

(04-25-2013 09:26 AM)JMUDukeDawg Wrote:  I posted something similar on our board, but I think this puts more pressure on Benson than ever. More than likely whatever team he adds is the last one for a while. It was easy to court every girl at the ball when you thought you'd have a few dances to get it right.

Now, you're making a wedding proposal, so make sure she's the one...

He should have an easier time now but I would be willing to wait one year for the right school as long as the announcement is made as soon as possible. With the spots in FBS possibly closing for a while, JMU and others should be eager to get in the door.

We may be eager, but we may also need the $$$ from the CAA coffers to pay entrance/exit fees.

My guess is that IF JMU moves, it will be on the same schedule as ODU last year.