I thought beed was just being facetious with his first post, but according to his second, he's not. He's certainly in a position to know the school well. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other....think I'd rather see a Missouri State before EKU though.

At this point, it doesn't matter how WKU feels about OVC schools. You have no say in the matter.

As far as I am concerned, EKU is in a good position in regards to location and would make a logical travel partner with Appalachian State. From what I can see on the internet, their facilities need work. Their RPI is a little low in many sports, but presumably playing in a better conference will raise that, even if nothing else changes.

Some have suggested moving up will increase the attendance numbers, paying higher profile teams. I don't know that I believe that fully, but if Southern posters want to say that is a possibility when they move up, then certainly it applies here.

At this point, I compare the sports to WKU. As it stands, football is a little worse, basketball (at this point) is a wash, and baseball is about the same. They aren't as good in Olympic sports, but at this point, that may be irrelevant.

In the end, as a western member, I am okay if they join.

(12-06-2013 06:01 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  I thought beed was just being facetious with his first post, but according to his second, he's not. He's certainly in a position to know the school well. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other....think I'd rather see a Missouri State before EKU though.

sigue tu primero amigo!

(12-06-2013 06:09 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  At this point, it doesn't matter how WKU feels about OVC schools. You have no say in the matter.

As far as I am concerned, EKU is in a good position in regards to location and would make a logical travel partner with Appalachian State. From what I can see on the internet, their facilities need work. Their RPI is a little low in many sports, but presumably playing in a better conference will raise that, even if nothing else changes.

Some have suggested moving up will increase the attendance numbers, paying higher profile teams. I don't know that I believe that fully, but if Southern posters want to say that is a possibility when they move up, then certainly it applies here.

At this point, I compare the sports to WKU. As it stands, football is a little worse, basketball (at this point) is a wash, and baseball is about the same. They aren't as good in Olympic sports, but at this point, that may be irrelevant.

In the end, as a western member, I am okay if they join.

The same could be said for UTA voting on who plays football in the Sun Belt. I only mentioned it because some OVC schools have a history of trying to strong arm their conference mates. It would be similar to current FBS Sun Belt teams telling UTA and UALR to join FBS now in the Sun Belt or be kicked out of the conference all together. I am not saying that will happen, because the programs in the Sun Belt right now are better than that.

EKU football is not just "a little worse" that WKU's at this point. Our transition was about as bad as it gets, but we are coming off our third consecutive winning season at the FBS level, there is a pretty big gap between that and where EKU is right now. EKU could get to that level given time, but I wouldn't expect it for several years.

(12-06-2013 06:17 PM)freshtop Wrote:  

(12-06-2013 06:09 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  At this point, it doesn't matter how WKU feels about OVC schools. You have no say in the matter.

As far as I am concerned, EKU is in a good position in regards to location and would make a logical travel partner with Appalachian State. From what I can see on the internet, their facilities need work. Their RPI is a little low in many sports, but presumably playing in a better conference will raise that, even if nothing else changes.

Some have suggested moving up will increase the attendance numbers, paying higher profile teams. I don't know that I believe that fully, but if Southern posters want to say that is a possibility when they move up, then certainly it applies here.

At this point, I compare the sports to WKU. As it stands, football is a little worse, basketball (at this point) is a wash, and baseball is about the same. They aren't as good in Olympic sports, but at this point, that may be irrelevant.

In the end, as a western member, I am okay if they join.

The same could be said for UTA voting on who plays football in the Sun Belt. I only mentioned it because some OVC schools have a history of trying to strong arm their conference mates. It would be similar to current FBS Sun Belt teams telling UTA and UALR to join FBS now in the Sun Belt or be kicked out of the conference all together. I am not saying that will happen, because the programs in the Sun Belt right now are better than that.

EKU football is not just "a little worse" that WKU's at this point. Our transition was about as bad as it gets, but we are coming off our third consecutive winning season at the FBS level, there is a pretty big gap between that and where EKU is right now. EKU could get to that level given time, but I wouldn't expect it for several years.

Well yes obviously. They would have to actually transition first, like you guys did.

(12-06-2013 06:11 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(12-06-2013 06:01 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  I thought beed was just being facetious with his first post, but according to his second, he's not. He's certainly in a position to know the school well. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other....think I'd rather see a Missouri State before EKU though.

sigue tu primero amigo!

Por supuesto, eres pana beed. (Don't know if pana will translate, it's sort of a Venezuelan version of 'cool'......'first class', etc.

Basketball team looked right good against VCU last night.

And that ends my contribution to the thread.

(12-06-2013 03:47 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  i think eku would be a wonderful add for the sunbelt.

hope you get 'em.

And here I thought that you were a friend.....lol

(12-06-2013 06:30 PM)Cyniclone Wrote:  Basketball team looked right good against VCU last night.

And that ends my contribution to the thread.

eastern was picked to win their division this year. about every 5-6 years neubauer puts together a good squad for his 'belein system'.

this is one of those years.

(12-06-2013 03:54 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(12-06-2013 03:11 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  We had discussed EKU earlier. WKU posters pointed out
that EKU is only a few miles from U. of Kentucky campus. Maybe something like 20 miles.

Not knocking you, but what does their distance from Kentucky have to do with anything?

We are only 35 miles from UT.

Yes, Texas State is only about 35 miles from UT and EKU is about 20 miles from UK but Austin has a metro of about 2 million and Lexington has a metro of only less than 500,000. There's a big difference. A metro of only 5-600,000 will find it difficult to fully support two FBS programs especially since one is the so called state "flagship" school. That's just an opinion but take it for what it is.

But...regardless, like my fellow Toppers, we have no say in this but many have asked our opinion in the past, since we are in Kentucky and have a history with EKU. You'll just need to sift through the bias to recognize good information from bad.

WKU, about 20 years ago, began a systemic change from the leadership level down and invested millions upon millions on facilities and more. Upgrading nearly every athletic facility on campus. EKU, based on their fans' words, now has that kind of leadership. The problem they face is that WKU did this during good economic times when state budgets and the national economy weren't in shambles. They may have good visionary leadership now but they have much bigger challenges than WKU had in getting their university to the level SBC schools expect to compete.

Whether they make the move or not is of no concern to me and if they do, I have no ill will for them. I hope they succeed.

(12-06-2013 06:27 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(12-06-2013 06:11 PM)dahbeed Wrote:  

(12-06-2013 06:01 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  I thought beed was just being facetious with his first post, but according to his second, he's not. He's certainly in a position to know the school well. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other....think I'd rather see a Missouri State before EKU though.

sigue tu primero amigo!

Por supuesto, eres pana beed. (Don't know if pana will translate, it's sort of a Venezuelan version of 'cool'......'first class', etc.

muchas gracias fanatico. most of my (poor attempt at) spanish is catracho/nica influenced. in short i eat my esses. i.e. bueno dia.....depue instead of buenos dias and despues.

No...

I am only for EKU if they show significant improvements to facilities, and both JMU and Missouri State turn us down.

Other than baseball and football (obviously since they are in the higher division), EKU is at or above Troy's competitive level.

(12-06-2013 07:33 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  Other than baseball and football (obviously since they are in the higher division), EKU is at or above Troy's competitive level.

In what? Mens Basketball?

Basketball, the running sports, one of the tennis'...but not rodeo I suppose...

I honestly think there are only few quality programs from we can add (no particular order):

1. Missouri State
2. JMU
3. North Dakota State
4. Delaware

We have debated Missouri State & JMU over and over, it is safe to say that we would be happy with either one.

NDSU & Delaware are Flagship Universities

...that are so far out of the footprint that they aren't a good fit.

(12-06-2013 08:22 PM)FoUTASportscaster Wrote:  ...that are so far out of the footprint that they aren't a good fit.

Missouri State is actually more in the footprint than EKU. JMU is about the same. I agree the other two are too far out, but so was NMSU and Idaho.

EKU isn't that much farther than JMU. Both JMU and EKU would be good travel partners for Appalachian. That being said I still put JMU as choice #1 followed by Missouri St. as #2.

If both of JMU and Missouri St. say no then it comes down to either waiting for a better 12th team or inviting EKU. If we go by what Benson said the 12th team will be in the east and outside of those 3 then we are to Liberty, Jacksonville St. or possibly someone like Chattanooga possibly. I do not think there is support for Liberty, Jacksonville St. or Chattanooga.

So that gets back to 1 of JMU, Missouri St. or EKU.