(03-12-2013 04:30 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  My expert opinion.

Arkansas State University is not going to vote to invite Liberty 775 miles away ALONG with Appalachian State 629 miles away and Georgia Southern 660 miles away.

Arkansas State is not going to support adding three FCS schools until:
1. New Mexico State has been extended a bid and rejected it or accepted and further membership losses has Sun Belt football membership below 9.
2. Such time the chancellor has had opportunity to meet face-to-face with his counter-part at Missouri State and has left the meeting(s) confident that Missouri State is not going to move to FBS.
3. His counter-part at WKU or Georgia State or Troy has met face-to-face with Chattanooga's CEO and walked away from the meeting(s) convinced Chattanooga will not go FBS.

Beyond all that, I suspect the chancellor at Arkansas State as well as the system president would have strong reservations affiliating with an institution that teaches young earth creationism. At the time of the infamous Scopes "Monkey Trial" most devout Christians rejected young earthism and it wasn't until the late 50's or early 60's that a book by a Seventh Day Adventist from the 1920's became popular among some evangelicals leading to renewed interest in young earthism.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Sun Belt only adds Ga Southern and App this round. The bad travel and nightmarish football for NMSU are too much for some to accept. If they are needed later, SB could offer them and they could immediately transition since they are FBS.