(11-02-2011 10:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  SBC Membership: One of the founding football members in 2001. We combined with UNT and UL to stand up to the diabolical Karl Bensen in 2005 when he attempted to kill of the Sun Belt Conference. The 3 of us refused to leave without the other, essentially saving the conference long enough for FIU FAU and Troy to make early FBS jumps.
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We didn't make an early jump. We were FBS in 2001 just not a founding member of the SBC.

South Alabama

School: http://www.usouthal.edu/
Athletics: http://usajaguars.com/

Enrollment: over 15,000 students
Location: Mobile, AL (MSA 591,599)

Pros:
*Largest endowment in the SBC - 384.1 million is over 2.5 times larger than nearest school
*Mobile-Pensacola-Ft. Walton Beach TV DMA is in the top 60. There are a good number of fans in the Biloxi, MS area as well.
*Great baseball history; many major leaguers have played at South Alabama including this year's National League Championship and World Series MVP David Freese.
*Recent basketball success. Despite a terrible past two year due to injuries and turnover, USA is typically decent in basketball, and has been the only Sun Belt team to get an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament in the past 10-15 years or so (2008).
*Great football recruiting area; one of the typical recruiting hotbeds in the country
*Have rivalry with UAB and USM in all sports, and Tulane in baseball.
*Good core fan base for football.
*Facilities are among the nicest in the Sun Belt.
*USA is making strides in many academic areas, and even announced a possible cure to pancreatic cancer from the Cancer Research Institute.
*The GoDaddy.com Bowl is played in Mobile at Ladd Stadium, and should have an interest in whatever conference USA is in.
*The Senior Bowl is played in Mobile at Ladd Stadium.

Cons:
*Football is new and will not be fully FBS next season. A lot of people don't include USA in expansion talk for this reason, but while our football is new, several in the Belt aren't that much older.
*No current on-campus stadium.
*Basketball attendance is directly related to our record. Poor record = poor attendance.

Facilities:
Football: Ladd Stadium (capacity 40,000) is a city stadium but is the largest stadium in the Sun Belt. As mentioned above it is home to the Senior Bowl and GoDaddy.com Bowl. There are plans for an on campus stadium, but no public announcement yet.





Basketball: Mitchell Center (capacity 10,041). Arguably the nicest arena in the Sun Belt. The only school who can compare is WKU. I've been to EA Diddle Arena at WKU and it's equally as nice. The Mitchell Center is larger, but in terms of being great arena they are a push.







Baseball: Stanky Field (capacity 4,500). Arguably the best stadium in the Sun Belt and is the largest stadium in the Sun Belt.

Please, please pick us................

Maybe I should go over to the Coosa board like some pUNT fans and let everyone know that MT is the bestest .

(11-02-2011 09:56 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 09:53 PM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 09:46 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  Not for the conference, but for my own personal favorite for which I'm undecided. You dont have to tell me anything. I was just asking.

I was just being a smartazz....but seriously....asking us to tell you why we're worthy to be in your conference? Really? Yeah....I just don't get it.

I guess I'm jaded due to the fact I realize we're kinda like USM, and I'm resigned to the fact we're not going anywhere.

I actually agree with you, but the guy seemed honest and well meaning, so I played along.

An ECU fan asked a question about SBC schools; I see no problem with that either. Until he acts like a dick he should not be treated like a dick. Just my opinion . . no need to attack a visitor to the SBC Board.

(11-02-2011 11:02 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 10:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  SBC Membership: One of the founding football members in 2001. We combined with UNT and UL to stand up to the diabolical Karl Bensen in 2005 when he attempted to kill of the Sun Belt Conference. The 3 of us refused to leave without the other, essentially saving the conference long enough for FIU FAU and Troy to make early FBS jumps.
[

We didn't make an early jump. We were FBS in 2001 just not a founding member of the SBC.

2002

(11-02-2011 11:52 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  2002

Our first game as a member of the FBS was in 2001 against Nebraska.

(11-03-2011 12:09 AM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 11:52 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 11:02 PM)troy4ever21 Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 10:46 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  SBC Membership: One of the founding football members in 2001. We combined with UNT and UL to stand up to the diabolical Karl Bensen in 2005 when he attempted to kill of the Sun Belt Conference. The 3 of us refused to leave without the other, essentially saving the conference long enough for FIU FAU and Troy to make early FBS jumps.
[

We didn't make an early jump. We were FBS in 2001 just not a founding member of the SBC.

2002

Our first game as a member of the FBS was in 2001 against Nebraska.

In 2001 you played four FCS teams, looks like a transitionary schedule to me.

(11-02-2011 09:23 PM)freshtop Wrote:  I'd say all of us have great respect for ECU. You guys consistently win big games on the gridiron and have a fanbase that cares. You do this in the shadow of the "big boys" who you guys would at least hold your own against if you played. ECU football reminds me of WKU bball (when we were good). I wish WKU football could get close to that level (hell, I wish WKU bball could get BACK to that level too).

WKU Facilities

Enrollment: 21,000
1 hour from Nashville - 1.5 hours from Louisville

Cajuns always have some of the best attendance numbers in the belt for Football, MBB, and Baseball. We've been topped recently in MBB by a wide margin because our last coach ran our program not only into the ground, but through it. Still last year, we went on a run in BB and had the highest attendance for SBC only games at 3919 per game. Football had similar issues, but if you want an example of what us as a decent program can be, notice our nearly 30,000 a game average right now, which is one of the tops for Non-AQ schools. Oh and our biggest named opponent on our home schedule was probably Troy. In baseball, we are the best in our conference in attendance every year, regardless if we go undefeated or winless. Last year (a year without a regional) we averaged 3,300 people per game, good enough for 18th in the nation. Baseball has been to many regionals, a few Supers, and even 1 CWS in 2000. Also, for a little lagniappe, our softball program has been to the WCWS many times, has one of the best attendances among all softball teams, and is generally considered one of the best Softball programs in the country.

For the Cajuns, our fan base is our biggest selling point.

(11-02-2011 09:53 PM)Fanof49ASU Wrote:  

(11-02-2011 09:46 PM)NBPirate Wrote:  Not for the conference, but for my own personal favorite for which I'm undecided. You dont have to tell me anything. I was just asking.

I was just being a smartazz....but seriously....asking us to tell you why we're worthy to be in your conference? Really? Yeah....I just don't get it.

I guess I'm jaded due to the fact I realize we're kinda like USM, and I'm resigned to the fact we're not going anywhere.

As far as a new Conference probably right but the football program is now trending upward, big-time. Unlike Nutt in basketball Roberts put together a solid program, his staff just could not coach their way out of a wet paper bag.

If Brady could manage to keep his players ASU would be saying the same thing about mens basketball.

Really ASU has made some great hires in athletics and is in a good position across the board.

(11-03-2011 06:19 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  As far as a new Conference probably right but the football program is now trending upward, big-time. Unlike Nutt in basketball Roberts put together a solid program, his staff just could not coach their way out of a wet paper bag.

If Brady could manage to keep his players ASU would be saying the same thing about mens basketball.

Really ASU has made some great hires in athletics and is in a good position across the board.

I totally agree. We've made good strides (finally), and we'll have more to make. So, we'll find out how lucky we were in making selections. But much like USM, we're in the shadows as far as markets go....and that's what the conferences seem to be dwelling on at the moment.

I like the SBC. I'm pleased with the progress, membership and the direction it's going. If everyone could just get past the 'perception' thing, we could continue to build a very strong football conference.

Just what I was thinking...everyone whoring out their program like this is some kind of interview for conference admission.

Please guys have a little dignity here.

(11-02-2011 11:45 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Please, please pick us................

Maybe I should go over to the Coosa board like some pUNT fans and let everyone know that MT is the bestest .

I dont really see it as whoring.

The OP obviously was'nt interested in Sun Belt programs before but now there is the possiblity that they will have to lie in bed with them. So hes looking for information. Nothing wrong with that.

FWIW, Im still not sold that any team moving to CUSA is a instant yes at this point.

I'm not terribly interested in touting to someone who isn't a decision-maker.

I understand the politics of the situation and know that Memphis is going to be opposed to ASU, MTSU, and probably WKU.
USM isn't going to support USA and probably not Troy.
UAB probably will oppose Troy, USA, and maybe MTSU.
Tulane and Rice will oppose Louisiana.
Tulane will oppose ULM and never know, USM might too.

I'm not going to tout the fact that ASU was top third of the nation hoops attendance for two decades (until Nutt finally drove the program completely into the ground) or crow about ASU drawing more for USM than La.Tech did for SEC member Miss.St. or whatever else I can think of because it doesn't matter.

UNT, FIU, FAU, are the path of least resistance for CUSA. The only question is does CUSA want to be at 9, 10, or 12? My guess is they are fine at 9 or 10 but the league is geographic mess with three outliers (UTEP, Marshall, ECU) and dealing with that might push the league to 12.

Still makes better sense to start over but unless Marshall and ECU take the lead to make it happen, it won't happen.

(11-03-2011 10:31 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  UNT, FIU, FAU, are the path of least resistance for CUSA. The only question is does CUSA want to be at 9, 10, or 12? My guess is they are fine at 9 or 10 but the league is geographic mess with three outliers (UTEP, Marshall, ECU) and dealing with that might push the league to 12.
Still makes better sense to start over but unless Marshall and ECU take the lead to make it happen, it won't happen.

Look at the stronger conferences and they are all at 12 and/or growing to more. Clearly when it comes to conferences, there is strength in numbers. No one, including the Sun Belt, should have as their strategic plan to have fewer than 12 members; need proof, look at the instability of the WAC, Big East, Big 12 and Mountain West. As soon as the MWC and C-USA complete their due diligence, the WAC will be history.

Whose to say the PAC-12 stays at 12 now that the ACC and SEC are going to 14. The Big 10 surely won't be left behind....watch out Big 12...again.

No, the sum is greater than the individual parts when it somes to BCS football...esp. for the AQ's.

we're known as the goat school.

wku.

(11-03-2011 11:04 AM)dahbeed Wrote:  we're known as the goat school.

wku.

(11-03-2011 11:04 AM)dahbeed Wrote:  we're known as the goat school.

wku.

We are also the Earth, Wind, and Fire school.

My comment on this thread.

(11-03-2011 10:53 AM)FIUFan Wrote:  Whose to say the PAC-12 stays at 12 now that the ACC and SEC are going to 14. The Big 10 surely won't be left behind....watch out Big 12...again.

No, the sum is greater than the individual parts when it somes to BCS football...esp. for the AQ's.

I think all the conferences will actually probably hold for a while, while Texas and Notre Dame are still out there.

The SEC might go to 16 because they're not in the running for Texas or Notre Dame.

The PAC probably won't expand because they really covet Texas/OU and which ever two schools they bring with them and other than those four, who else out west can really be that intriguing?

The Big Ten might go to 14, but they won't go past that as long as the chance of landing Notre Dame or Texas is out there.

A few months ago I would have considered the ACC most likely to go to 16 and thought they were about to do it with UCONN and Rutgers, but then word of the Notre Dame having a possible interest in the ACC spread and now I think they'll hold out for who knows how long, as long as Notre Dame is a possibility.