(01-23-2023 12:55 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 12:54 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  Marshall football only has to travel to Texas for 1 game every 7 years.

Think they'll be ok with that?

Definitely. It's Florida that they really want to go to on a regular basis.

(01-23-2023 12:49 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  U.S. Census Bureau estimates note the Clarksville MSA ranks among the nation's 15 fastest-growing of small metro areas.

Clarksville is seeing robust growth due to many factors, and Austin Peay State U. is benefiting from the growth. Adding APSU seemingly would be worth consideration by C-USA. But I'm not sure how WKU and MTSU would feel about it.

I don't have any problems with their proximity. Would like to see their commitment to move up be more than just talk first though. Let's see those budgets, facilities, and on the field/court performance improve before we roll out the red carpet.

(01-23-2023 01:09 PM)inutech Wrote:  Plus one in 7 years is a lot better than 4 times every year like they used to have to do. ALL those trips west were really tough on the Thundering Herd. Big swing to just one every seven years.

Amazingly, nobody complained about Texas travel when we were playing ranked Houston teams with NFL-prospect QBs on ESPN. You can figure out the rest.

(01-23-2023 12:27 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 12:15 PM)GreenBison Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 12:00 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 11:58 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  everyone has great rivalries and good fanbase support.

Everyone?

Pretty much, yeah.

Good for y'all then.

14 schools with great fanbase support and great rivalries. And Marshall doesn't ever have to go to Texas like they did every other week in their old conference? Sounds like a dream.

Marshall misses us already. I just know they do...

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

It's not clear that CUSA would either. They needed a 10th school in order to support scheduling their October midweek games for their CBSSN/ESPN games, and under current Go5 rules, the 10th schools adds another slice of CFP money, but neither of those reasons extend beyond 10. Anything more than 10 schools starts to dilute the CFP money much faster, and the extra inventory is just going to go on ESPN+/ESPN3.

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

I think you'd understand the point better if you read your post backwards.

Quote:the Belt is fine as is.

That said,
Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

(01-23-2023 04:03 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  They needed a 10th school

Neither of these two statements is true.

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

No, they wouldn't. When I'm thinking of good mid-major basketball teams, I don't think about Chattanooga. When I think about "wonderful destinations" to travel to, I don't think about Chattanooga.

This is ridiculous. Chattanooga isn't on the Sun Belt's radar, and that isn't changing. The conference moved on from that idea, and you should too.

(01-23-2023 04:13 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

(01-23-2023 04:03 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  They needed a 10th school

Neither of these two statements is true.

I think you are not looking at the logistics of scheduling the games they need to fulfill their CBS/ESPN contract. 9 conference members means every conference week has either a bye, three byes, or a member having an OOC game. But transitioning to midweek games also often requires a bye in the preceding round. It is a scheduling headache.

I presume they have a plan for how they will handle it next season, but it will become a lot more straightforward once they have their 10th football member.

(01-23-2023 04:54 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

No, they wouldn't. When I'm thinking of good mid-major basketball teams, I don't think about Chattanooga. When I think about "wonderful destinations" to travel to, I don't think about Chattanooga.

This is ridiculous. Chattanooga isn't on the Sun Belt's radar, and that isn't changing. The conference moved on from that idea, and you should too.

I have never posted noting Chattanooga should be on the Sun Belt's radar. I have no dog in this hunt as I root for no Sun Belt team nor UTC. The Sun Belt is fine as is. No need for me to "move on from the idea," as I am not proposing the Belt should add UTC.

I simply countered a poster's notion that suggested UTC would offer nothing to the Sun Belt. I noted UTC is a solid academic university located in an underrated city that would offer both the Belt and C-USA some positives if it elevated to FBS football. That is all I posted.

As far as locations, you might prefer Sun Belt locales such as Huntington, Jonesboro, Monroe, Hattiesburg, Troy, etc. (i.e., small towns with a modest number of cultural, music/entertainment, food/beverage, etc., offerings). I, on the other hand, would prefer Sun Belt locales Norfolk, Atlanta and Mobile because I like cities and all they have to offer. Maybe you dislike cities. Nothing wrong with that if so. For me, Chattanooga is a fine small city with a nice art museum, zoo, aquarium, parks, old churches, art galleries, cafes, breweries, outdoorsy activities, etc.

(01-23-2023 04:10 PM)johnbragg Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

I think you'd understand the point better if you read your post backwards.

Quote:the Belt is fine as is.

That said,
Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

A more effective paragraph construction. Agree.

(01-23-2023 05:35 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:54 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

No, they wouldn't. When I'm thinking of good mid-major basketball teams, I don't think about Chattanooga. When I think about "wonderful destinations" to travel to, I don't think about Chattanooga.

This is ridiculous. Chattanooga isn't on the Sun Belt's radar, and that isn't changing. The conference moved on from that idea, and you should too.

I have never posted noting Chattanooga should be on the Sun Belt's radar. I have no dog in this hunt as I root for no Sun Belt team nor UTC. The Sun Belt is fine as is. No need for me to "move on from the idea," as I am not proposing the Belt should add UTC.

I simply countered a poster's notion that suggested UTC would offer nothing to the Sun Belt. I noted UTC is a solid academic university located in an underrated city that would offer both the Belt and C-USA some positives if it elevated to FBS football. That is all I posted.

As far as locations, you might prefer Sun Belt locales such as Huntington, Jonesboro, Monroe, Hattiesburg, Troy, etc. (i.e., small towns with a modest number of cultural, music/entertainment, food/beverage, etc., offerings). I, on the other hand, would prefer Sun Belt locales Norfolk, Atlanta and Mobile because I like cities and all they have to offer. Maybe you dislike cities. Nothing wrong with that if so. For me, Chattanooga is a fine small city with a nice art museum, zoo, aquarium, parks, old churches, art galleries, cafes, breweries, outdoorsy activities, etc.

Chattanooga also has the International Towing Museum. Everyone should check that out.

https://internationaltowingmuseum.org/

(01-23-2023 05:35 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:54 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 01:10 AM)JSUCleburneslim Wrote:  Id love to have them in CUSA, honestly I think the sbc would like them also.

Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

No, they wouldn't. When I'm thinking of good mid-major basketball teams, I don't think about Chattanooga. When I think about "wonderful destinations" to travel to, I don't think about Chattanooga.

This is ridiculous. Chattanooga isn't on the Sun Belt's radar, and that isn't changing. The conference moved on from that idea, and you should too.

I have never posted noting Chattanooga should be on the Sun Belt's radar. I have no dog in this hunt as I root for no Sun Belt team nor UTC. The Sun Belt is fine as is. No need for me to "move on from the idea," as I am not proposing the Belt should add UTC.

I simply countered a poster's notion that suggested UTC would offer nothing to the Sun Belt. I noted UTC is a solid academic university located in an underrated city that would offer both the Belt and C-USA some positives if it elevated to FBS football. That is all I posted.

As far as locations, you might prefer Sun Belt locales such as Huntington, Jonesboro, Monroe, Hattiesburg, Troy, etc. (i.e., small towns with a modest number of cultural, music/entertainment, food/beverage, etc., offerings). I, on the other hand, would prefer Sun Belt locales Norfolk, Atlanta and Mobile because I like cities and all they have to offer. Maybe you dislike cities. Nothing wrong with that if so. For me, Chattanooga is a fine small city with a nice art museum, zoo, aquarium, parks, old churches, art galleries, cafes, breweries, outdoorsy activities, etc.

I like Chatty as a program. I was a student when we were still playing them every year. It would've been great to see them move up alongside us.

In 2023 though, I feel making an argument for Chatty in the Sun Belt dismisses gains the conference made over the last 10 years. The thought that we would go grab Chatty right after Marshall and Southern Miss is a thought without much consideration of what the G5 landscape looks like right now.

It's like if I said the SEC should add UNC-Charlotte, because UNC-Charlotte represents a North Carolina city, and there's no North Carolina school in the SEC.

(01-23-2023 07:05 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 05:35 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:54 PM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:02 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  Why would the SBC be interested in Chattanooga or AP? The SBC seem to be working toward being the strongest G5 league, in line with the new AAC. Neither of these two schools provide any benefit to the SBC. CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

Chattanooga actually would offer some positives to the Sun Belt, including a quality men's basketball program (men's hoops is not particularly strong in the Belt) and a wonderful destination for Belt fans looking to travel for a weekend football game. UTC is a reasonably respected university with 12,000 students and an endowment of about $150 million. It offers multiple doctoral programs and is located in the heart of a vibrant city with a huge river and surrounded by mountains. The city alone is very appealing and would instantly rank highly among Sun Belt member locations.

To say Chattanooga membership would provide no benefit to the SBC ... odd — and ill informed.

Having noted this, the Belt is fine as is.

No, they wouldn't. When I'm thinking of good mid-major basketball teams, I don't think about Chattanooga. When I think about "wonderful destinations" to travel to, I don't think about Chattanooga.

This is ridiculous. Chattanooga isn't on the Sun Belt's radar, and that isn't changing. The conference moved on from that idea, and you should too.

I have never posted noting Chattanooga should be on the Sun Belt's radar. I have no dog in this hunt as I root for no Sun Belt team nor UTC. The Sun Belt is fine as is. No need for me to "move on from the idea," as I am not proposing the Belt should add UTC.

I simply countered a poster's notion that suggested UTC would offer nothing to the Sun Belt. I noted UTC is a solid academic university located in an underrated city that would offer both the Belt and C-USA some positives if it elevated to FBS football. That is all I posted.

As far as locations, you might prefer Sun Belt locales such as Huntington, Jonesboro, Monroe, Hattiesburg, Troy, etc. (i.e., small towns with a modest number of cultural, music/entertainment, food/beverage, etc., offerings). I, on the other hand, would prefer Sun Belt locales Norfolk, Atlanta and Mobile because I like cities and all they have to offer. Maybe you dislike cities. Nothing wrong with that if so. For me, Chattanooga is a fine small city with a nice art museum, zoo, aquarium, parks, old churches, art galleries, cafes, breweries, outdoorsy activities, etc.

I like Chatty as a program. I was a student when we were still playing them every year. It would've been great to see them move up alongside us.

In 2023 though, I feel making an argument for Chatty in the Sun Belt dismisses gains the conference made over the last 10 years. The thought that we would go grab Chatty right after Marshall and Southern Miss is a thought without much consideration of what the G5 landscape looks like right now.

It's like if I said the SEC should add UNC-Charlotte, because UNC-Charlotte represents a North Carolina city, and there's no North Carolina school in the SEC.

A valid and important point.

If the Sun Belt was looking to add someone Chattanooga would be a good fit. But they aren’t and the Mocs don’t seem interested in FBS.

I would personally like to thank the SBC for adding my alma mater, Old Dominion.

Now if Old Dominion could add something to the SBC, that’d be great!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(01-23-2023 05:24 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 04:13 PM)inutech Wrote:  

(01-23-2023 03:15 PM)jacksfan29! Wrote:  CUSA? Maybe, since they are just trying to survive by inviting anyone willing to move.

(01-23-2023 04:03 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  They needed a 10th school

Neither of these two statements is true.

I think you are not looking at the logistics of scheduling the games they need to fulfill their CBS/ESPN contract. 9 conference members means every conference week has either a bye, three byes, or a member having an OOC game. But transitioning to midweek games also often requires a bye in the preceding round. It is a scheduling headache.

I presume they have a plan for how they will handle it next season, but it will become a lot more straightforward once they have their 10th football member.

They've got a plan to schedule with the superior 9 for next season, but they "needed" a 10th?

Nah.

A tenth team does give half the conference a break from the 5th weeknight game they'd be stuck with otherwise. But I only care about that if my school is one of the unlucky ones with an extra mid-week game (at home). If they kept it like next year it'd have been fine.

Bye weeks are ok. Long tradition of bye weeks in college football.

It's convenient for scheduling isn't a "need." Wasn't even a "want" for everybody.

{Yosef181-- Appalachian St.} wrote:

"Once again, mid-2010s Sun Belt is not at all the same thing as 2023 Sun Belt. We went from considering Eastern Kentucky in 2015 to telling Western Kentucky "No" in 2021. A lot has changed. The Sun Belt isn't possible for Chatty. It was at one point, but not anymore."

****************************************************************************************************

Using WKU in your "comparison" was a baaad choice.

A LOT more to that "no" on WKU than you infer. The inference is "we improved SO MUCH-- we even turned down WKU." Baloney.

2022 WKU 44 S. Ala. 23 (finished 7-1, tied for best SBC record)

2021 WKU 59 App. St. 38 (SBC runner-up)

-- Doesn't look like "a lot has changed" on the FB field.

WKU was turned down--NOT because of any ATHLETIC shortcomings-- but because of vendettas.

NO Baloney from SBC fans about WKU, please -- just be honest. SBC member for 32 years.

WKU did lose by 1 TD in a close game to #19 Troy (SBC champ).