Some have suggested that GS's and Appy's national championship history makes little difference for the move up. It "may" help recruiting and provide a little confidence but relevance from a marketing standpoint is most significant. Their histories will be the focus of any media campaign to hype the games and jazz the fan base. Hopefully creating more interest keeping attendance numbers where they have been. GS may benefit more from the Erk movie scheduled to be released in 2014. Please don't take this as another blowing our own whistle post. The reality of the challenge ahead is starting to set in and we need all the help we can get. Attendance is a critical component obviously and has been mentioned as a potential negative with all the new members. Hopefully we can keep the momentum and be an asset from this regard. The benefit may be temporary but should get us off to a decent start.

(04-25-2013 09:56 AM)Oldyeller Wrote:  Some have suggested that GS's and Appy's national championship history makes little difference for the move up. It "may" help recruiting and provide a little confidence but relevance from a marketing standpoint is most significant. Their histories will be the focus of any media campaign to hype the games and jazz the fan base. Hopefully creating more interest keeping attendance numbers where they have been. GS may benefit more from the Erk movie scheduled to be released in 2014. Please don't take this as another blowing our own whistle post. The reality of the challenge ahead is starting to set in and we need all the help we can get. Attendance is a critical component obviously and has been mentioned as a potential negative with all the new members. Hopefully we can keep the momentum and be an asset from this regard. The benefit may be temporary but should get us off to a decent start.

You should leave FCS behind in marketing and recruiting. Your opponents will do that for you. In fact you will find that it is actually pretty hard to shake off.

If this really is the end of realignment for the next 5 or 6 years that #12 has to be strategic. I hate to go FloridaJag but you add #12 now and then you find out what plans UTA has. If UTA has plans to bring back football then that's your #13 in 3 to 5 years and you start asking UNO for instance, what their plans are as you look for #14.

Actually we all need to help each other. The rich got richer and the strong got stronger in this cycle. We need to make sure as a conference we put the best product on the field in all sports and do whatever we need to do to help each other's attendance.

(04-25-2013 10:38 AM)panama Wrote:  If this really is the end of realignment for the next 5 or 6 years that #12 has to be strategic. I hate to go FloridaJag but you add #12 now and then you find out what plans UTA has. If UTA has plans to bring back football then that's your #13 in 3 to 5 years and you start asking UNO for instance, what their plans are as you look for #14.

I assume you're saying that if UTA wanted to add football than the SBC would have to find another school to balance the divisions. Other than that, going larger than 12 is a bad play for any conference under the current revenue distribution models.
I wouldn't even want 12 if it weren't for the (rumored) ability it would give the SBC to renegotiate it's TV deal.

What is the long-term plan for Idaho and NMSU I don't believe either party prefers this setup for the long haul?

(04-25-2013 10:42 AM)panama Wrote:  Actually we all need to help each other. The rich got richer and the strong got stronger in this cycle. We need to make sure as a conference we put the best product on the field in all sports and do whatever we need to do to help each other's attendance.

First thing is to establish a marketing strategy for the conference. Including social media.

We had the WORST conference promo video/commercial. That needs to change. Someone needs to explain what HD is.

I suggest getting several candidates and let fans vote for the one so we are assured its not someones nephew doing it.

Great idea. Also need a Sun Belt Network. We need at minimum the big three sports televised. Hell, even internet stream broadcast is better than not at all. Most under 35 people get their content that way anyway.

(04-25-2013 10:51 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  What is the long-term plan for Idaho and NMSU I don't believe either party prefers this setup for the long haul?

I'm sure NMSU and Idaho prefer it because they don't have any other options. Idaho could easily drop down to FCS and fit right in with the Big Sky, but NMSU is outside of that footprint. I'm not sure where they'd fit in with FCS conferences as I'm not sure what FCS conferences exist out west other than the Big Sky.

(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.

Well at least one of us will lose to one this season ... I hope it is the boys in blue walking away with an L. I guess you guys mean 2015 and after though ...

(04-25-2013 10:38 AM)panama Wrote:  If this really is the end of realignment for the next 5 or 6 years that #12 has to be strategic. I hate to go FloridaJag but you add #12 now and then you find out what plans UTA has. If UTA has plans to bring back football then that's your #13 in 3 to 5 years and you start asking UNO for instance, what their plans are as you look for #14.

Stop....you had me at hell-oh!

(04-25-2013 10:54 AM)Niner National Wrote:  

(04-25-2013 10:51 AM)Saint3333 Wrote:  What is the long-term plan for Idaho and NMSU I don't believe either party prefers this setup for the long haul?

I'm sure NMSU and Idaho prefer it because they don't have any other options. Idaho could easily drop down to FCS and fit right in with the Big Sky, but NMSU is outside of that footprint. I'm not sure where they'd fit in with FCS conferences as I'm not sure what FCS conferences exist out west other than the Big Sky.

Both NMSU and Idaho were within the "footprint" in 2001, the Sun Belt's initial year of football. Actual need determines the size of the "footprint".

(04-25-2013 10:59 AM)FloridaJag Wrote:  

(04-25-2013 10:38 AM)panama Wrote:  If this really is the end of realignment for the next 5 or 6 years that #12 has to be strategic. I hate to go FloridaJag but you add #12 now and then you find out what plans UTA has. If UTA has plans to bring back football then that's your #13 in 3 to 5 years and you start asking UNO for instance, what their plans are as you look for #14.

Stop....you had me at hell-oh!

Ha!

Oh :-(

WE ARE. MO STATE

(04-25-2013 12:46 PM)MSUBear42 Wrote:  Oh :-(

WE ARE. MO STATE

Buck up MO State! Get'r Dun!

(04-24-2013 11:16 PM)CaliforniaCajun Wrote:  

(04-24-2013 10:54 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  In the end, we'll move if ULL moves.

Agree, due to our similarities in philosophy. I also think some of the new members are potentially better than some of them we lost.

All in all, I'm not sure that we have been that bad about it when you analyze the situation. Over time, schools you develop a relationship with become fan favorites. When all of a sudden 4-5 of them vanish from your schedules, practical matters like ticket sales come to mind. Makes you want to grab a life preserver and not lose what you had developed.

If you are an FCS school in transition you want new FBS rivals.

Texas State is going to travel better than UNT ever did. Watch and see how many Bobcat fans show up at your place.

I'll take JMU or MO St, though I would prefer both and drop Idaho. If I could pick just one its MO St. Of the 3rd candidates out there its definitely UTC for me.
Alabama St seems to be out of nowhere to me. If we are looking at the HBCUs why not look in different markets like Jackson St, TN St, SC St, or FAMU? All would travel well and adding more than one would boost support.
We have to take advantage of CUSAs pinch. The right 1 to 3 teams could really showcase our brand.

(04-25-2013 09:28 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  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.

Texas State is going to help in baseball and softball. Our basketball is about to go thru the roof with Danny Kaspar as our coach.
BTW, The administration is now talking of improving our basketball arena by removing a wall that will take seating capacity to 10,000.

(04-25-2013 09:44 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(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.

Did you guys sign a one million $ exit agreement with the CAA?

I take it all CAA members are now on the $1,000,000 exit agreement, but would like to hear if that is so from a JMU poster.