The Sun Belt always wanted Missouri State for a long time.

As it is, New Mexico State and Idaho is out, that means 2 western teams will be added to replace them. Missouri State and Lamar are the two candidates.

Lamar used to be in the Sun Belt until they dropped football, and dropped down. Readding them to the conference like C-USA did with Charlotte could be possible.
Lamar have been begging to get into the WAC, and they want to get into the Sun Belt. Missouri State could be wanted to move.

I am not sure how James Madison, Chattanooga and others in the east will go which would disrupt the east west line.

Northern Iowa to spur Missouri State to move up as well?

(09-02-2015 10:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  The Sun Belt always wanted Missouri State for a long time.

As it is, New Mexico State and Idaho is out, that means 2 western teams will be added to replace them. Missouri State and Lamar are the two candidates.

Lamar used to be in the Sun Belt until they dropped football, and dropped down. Readding them to the conference like C-USA did with Charlotte could be possible.
Lamar have been begging to get into the WAC, and they want to get into the Sun Belt. Missouri State could be wanted to move.

I am not sure how James Madison, Chattanooga and others in the east will go which would disrupt the east west line.

Northern Iowa to spur Missouri State to move up as well?

Does your rear hurt from pulling so much stuff out of it?

Lamar dropped football in 1990 they left the Sun Belt in 1998, the league didn't have the first meeting to add football as a league sport until 1999.

It is very unlikely that Lamar is a candidate for the Sun Belt. Just stop throwing out random names.

Please, Lamar is begging to join the WAC a league without football over the Southland comprised of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas schools. Fanciful at best.

(09-02-2015 10:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  As it is, New Mexico State and Idaho is out, that means 2 western teams will be added to replace them. Missouri State and Lamar are the two candidates.

Lamar used to be in the Sun Belt until they dropped football, and dropped down. Readding them to the conference like C-USA did with Charlotte could be possible.
Lamar have been begging to get into the WAC, and they want to get into the Sun Belt. Missouri State could be wanted to move.

I am not sure how James Madison, Chattanooga and others in the east will go which would disrupt the east west line.

New Mexico State and Idaho are not out of the SBC, yet.

Benson was pushing Lamar for the WAC so he is familiar with the school. Benson however has looked far and wide in search of FCS upgrade candidates for the SBC. Lamar was one of the few with potential for the WAC and that is why he zeroed in on them.

It sounds like the SBC wants to move East with additional membership since CUSA may poach its western members eventually.

Chattanooga would be a nice fit in the SBC East and has the 21,000 seat stadium already in place. North Florida has a 12,000 seat stadium and would have to start football but they get the SBC back into the Sunshine State which is important.

SBC East: App St, Chattanooga, Coastal, GaSo, Georgia St, Troy, North Florida
SBC West: Texas St, UTA, Louisiana, ULM, Arkansas St, UALR, South Alabama

(09-03-2015 01:20 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 10:16 PM)DavidSt Wrote:  As it is, New Mexico State and Idaho is out, that means 2 western teams will be added to replace them. Missouri State and Lamar are the two candidates.

Lamar used to be in the Sun Belt until they dropped football, and dropped down. Readding them to the conference like C-USA did with Charlotte could be possible.
Lamar have been begging to get into the WAC, and they want to get into the Sun Belt. Missouri State could be wanted to move.

I am not sure how James Madison, Chattanooga and others in the east will go which would disrupt the east west line.

New Mexico State and Idaho are not out of the SBC, yet.

Benson was pushing Lamar for the WAC so he is familiar with the school. Benson however has looked far and wide in search of FCS upgrade candidates for the SBC. Lamar was one of the few with potential for the WAC and that is why he zeroed in on them.

It sounds like the SBC wants to move East with additional membership since CUSA may poach its western members eventually.

Chattanooga would be a nice fit in the SBC East and has the 21,000 seat stadium already in place. North Florida has a 12,000 seat stadium and would have to start football but they get the SBC back into the Sunshine State which is important.

SBC East: App St, Chattanooga, Coastal, GaSo, Georgia St, Troy, North Florida
SBC West: Texas St, UTA, Louisiana, ULM, Arkansas St, UALR, South Alabama

Texas State is kinda of an outlier as well for football. They are more in western Texas. Adding either Lamar, Sam Houston State or SFA could add a bridge for Texas State.

The problem is some schools that wants FBS, and it is not the 2 you listed.

Lamar, Northern Iowa, Sam Houston State, SFA, Alabama State, North Alabama, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and Liberty all wants into the Sun Belt over the past few years.

(09-03-2015 02:48 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Texas State is kinda of an outlier as well for football. They are more in western Texas. Adding either Lamar, Sam Houston State or SFA could add a bridge for Texas State.

The problem is some schools that wants FBS, and it is not the 2 you listed.

Lamar, Northern Iowa, Sam Houston State, SFA, Alabama State, North Alabama, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and Liberty all wants into the Sun Belt over the past few years.

Texas State lies outside what is considered the SBC footprint. Geographically Texas State is part of western Texas. Adding Lamar, SHSU or SFA would create a geographic bridge from Texas State back to the core of SBC membership.

There are several schools interested in FBS but Chattanooga and North Florida are not known for expressing interest in moving to the FBS level.

Schools that have expressed FBS interest over the past couple of years include Lamar, UNI, SHSU, SFA, Alabama St, UNA, Jacksonville St, EKU and Liberty.

Why make a statement like that?
The contract is already known up for renewal in January.
A public statement wasn't necessary even if he wants to draw out a Missouri state.

The football only schools membership is up for renewal in January . We will discuss their future in the conference then.
That is all he had to say makes no sense.
Now he has added all this speculation and stress for ?

(09-02-2015 09:21 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 08:23 PM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 08:17 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 08:10 PM)Attackcoog Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 08:04 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  OK I'll bite? What new school has emerged?

So Im guessing a Delaware/JMU package deal? That would be a nice package for the Sun Belt---but it would also seem to throw off the east-west balance of the league. To tell the truth, I wondered for awhile if the Coastal Carolina stuff was simply a move to smoke out JMU. Obviously, the SB was serious about CC, but maybe it still will put pressure on JMU---and make the SB more attractive with Appy and CC already on board.

Not Delaware, look South...

Towson

Towson is north of JMU.

Lmao

(09-03-2015 03:49 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  

(09-03-2015 02:48 AM)DavidSt Wrote:  Texas State is kinda of an outlier as well for football. They are more in western Texas. Adding either Lamar, Sam Houston State or SFA could add a bridge for Texas State.

The problem is some schools that wants FBS, and it is not the 2 you listed.

Lamar, Northern Iowa, Sam Houston State, SFA, Alabama State, North Alabama, Jacksonville State, Eastern Kentucky and Liberty all wants into the Sun Belt over the past few years.

Texas State lies outside what is considered the SBC footprint. Geographically Texas State is part of western Texas. Adding Lamar, SHSU or SFA would create a geographic bridge from Texas State back to the core of SBC membership.

There are several schools interested in FBS but Chattanooga and North Florida are not known for expressing interest in moving to the FBS level.

Schools that have expressed FBS interest over the past couple of years include Lamar, UNI, SHSU, SFA, Alabama St, UNA, Jacksonville St, EKU and Liberty.

No. you stink at geography.

A JMU/Delaware package would be a very sweet add for the SBC, but I agree with those that think this would further imbalance the league towards the West. Personally, I favor either a 10 team, two division league or a 14 team, two division league, simply because of the symmetry in scheduling. With either, there is a balance of home and away both in division and out of division with 8 conference games (4+4 or 6 + 2). That seems far superior to a conference with 12 which creates 5 + 3 in an 8 game schedule, resulting in a h/h imbalance. Just my preference.

Having said that, I do think that Idaho is too much of an outlier. I don't feel the same about NMSU. If it were up to me and I could get JMU/Delaware as a package deal, I would give notice to Idaho, keep NMSU and add another west team, like Missouri State creating a 14 team league that looks like this:

East
Appalachian State
Coastal Carolina
Delaware
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
James Madison
Troy

West
Arkansas State
Missouri State
New Mexico State
South Alabama
Texas State
ULL
ULM

That would be a strong SBC in my opinion.

Missouri St going to leave the MVC so they can play Sun Belt football??

(09-02-2015 07:54 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Word on the street is a contract extension to NMSU & Idaho is highly unlikely. KB's statement conference needs to decide if it wants to be a 10 or 12 team conference. If the decision is 12 and the no extention part holds true, it obviously means the league has been looking in other directions. I'm hearing a new school has emerged, which might possibly spur another previously sought after school to reconsider the SB.

If you're talking about JMU, I can't think of one school south of us that would make our admin reconsider the SBC. Hubris is strong among our admin, and joining the SBC would be admitting they were previously short sighted or wrong.

(09-03-2015 08:44 AM)TheNealT Wrote:  Missouri St going to leave the MVC so they can play Sun Belt football??

No, but they might consider football only. Keep NMSU, boot Idaho, add Missouri State.

(09-03-2015 08:56 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  

(09-03-2015 08:44 AM)TheNealT Wrote:  Missouri St going to leave the MVC so they can play Sun Belt football??

No, but they might consider football only. Keep NMSU, boot Idaho, add Missouri State.

If you're going football only, there a much stronger football programs to pick from. MSU's appeal is an all-sports, not football.

This is where the Sun Belt stands today.

East
Appalachian State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Troy
South Alabama

West
Arkansas State
Texas State
ULL
ULM
UALR/NMSU football only
UTA/Idaho football only

If the conference decides after this football season to go with only 10 in football this is where the Sun Belt will stand

East
Appalachian State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Troy
South Alabama

West
Arkansas State
Texas State
ULL
ULM
UALR/non football member
UTA/non football member

Any additions to the conference has to be able to fit into this alignment. I do not believe that anyone will be added as football only. Also I do not believe UALR or UTA will be kicked out if they do not add football at this time.

(09-02-2015 08:49 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  FWIW there has been a lot of speculation around here that if Idaho doesn't have a stellar year that they will move to the Big Sky hiring a coach for FCS (with an FCS level salary) if Petrino is fired with Idaho using non-renewal as cover for the decision.

They already pay like a FCS salary anyway.

It would be nice to fill in Tennessee and Mississippi.

(09-03-2015 10:27 AM)Dman Wrote:  It would be nice to fill in Tennessee and Mississippi.

Jackson State and Chattanooga?

(09-02-2015 08:04 PM)SMUfan Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 07:54 PM)AppManDG Wrote:  Word on the street is a contract extension to NMSU & Idaho is highly unlikely. KB's statement conference needs to decide if it wants to be a 10 or 12 team conference. If the decision is 12 and the no extention part holds true, it obviously means the league has been looking in other directions. I'm hearing a new school has emerged, which might possibly spur another previously sought after school to reconsider the SB.

OK I'll bite? What new school has emerged?

I'm assuming the previously sought after school is JMU.

If JMU didn't want the Sun Belt in the past, I'm hard pressed to think of which school, that now is newly interested in the Sun Belt, would pique JMU's interest.


The only schools that were founding members of the ECAC South that currently play FCS football are JMU, W&M, Towson and Richmond.

I don't think any of the latter three are in a position to move to the Sun Belt.


Then looking at the rest of the CAAF football teams, Delaware seems too far north. As would be Villanova, but it'd never go from Big East to Sun Belt anyway. The other Yankee football teams are way too far north.

That leaves Elon. It's not exactly close to JMU, but it'd be the closest team. And their stadium is not bad and looks like it has a lot of room to expand to 15k or beyond, as needed.


But is JMU really excited about partnering with Elon? I doubt it, but maybe.


(It's obviously not Liberty)

(09-02-2015 08:49 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  FWIW there has been a lot of speculation around here that if Idaho doesn't have a stellar year that they will move to the Big Sky hiring a coach for FCS (with an FCS level salary) if Petrino is fired with Idaho using non-renewal as cover for the decision.

(09-02-2015 10:11 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  Unless BYU schedule is full within 2 years I can see NMSU going Indy and getting some scheduling help from BYU and UMass. NMSU was able to put and decent schedule when they first had to go Indy. Even had a couple of P5 schools come down to play in their stadium.
Idaho won't try again I don't think as the Big Sky is their back up.

I can't see Idaho ever retreating back to the Big Sky for football. I'm sure just the thought of Fullerton's face at the idea is enough to make Idaho boosters' skin crawl.

It'll attempt independence again, as it already did with NM St. (they played each other home/home in the same season, previously).

If that just doesn't work, it'll drop football.

(09-02-2015 09:28 PM)NittanyLion Wrote:  

(09-02-2015 06:07 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  Idaho and NM St. belong in the 3rd tier Pacific/Mountain FBS conference, which is unfortunately dormant right now. It will eventually be resurrected under the WAC or Big West banner.

Your first sentence is exactly right. Though I disagree that we EVER get to that 3rd tier western conference.

Look back at the landscape when Idaho first jumped to D-1A. The year was 1996. Idaho joined the Big West, and there were 22 schools split between the WAC (16) and Big West (6).

6 of those 22 schools were based in Texas and Oklahoma. TCU, UTEP, North Texas, Tulsa, SMU, and Rice. All six of those have made their way to a southern-or-eastern-leaning conference as opposed to a western-leaning conference. As makes sense, given their geography. (UTEP, of course, could fit geographically south/east or west)

1 of those 22 schools is BYU.

1 of those 22 schools has made the Pac-12 (Utah).

12 of those 22 schools make up the current Mountain West. New Mexico, SDSU, CSU, AFA, Fresno, SJSU, Hawaii, Wyoming and UNLV from the 1996 WAC. Nevada, Utah State and Boise State from the 1996 Big West.

2 schools out of 22 left. New Mexico State and Idaho.

Frankly, unless there are some anomalies like (a) bigger-than-normal conferences (the late 1990s version of the WAC), or (b) schools in the TX/OK/KS/AR/LA region deciding to join more western conferences (e.g., the 1993-1996 Big West, the Texas schools & Louisiana Tech in the WAC, et cetera), there simply aren't the numbers to support a 2nd- and 3rd-tier western conference.

NMSU & Idaho. Unless there is a SURGE of FCS schools wanting to move up, they are odd men out. It sucks, but it is reality.

Great post!

There are currently 28 FBS teams in the Pacific/Mountain: 12 PAC, 12 MW (including Hawaii as "Pacific"), BYU, Idaho, NM St. and UTEP.

That gives Idaho and NM St. plenty of teams to schedule as independents. Plus, they played a home/home in the same season against each other (which is perfectly legal). So they both just have to schedule nine games each. It seems like it should be doable. Home games might be limited, though.


So removing the PAC, BYU and UTEP, that leaves 14 teams.

I agree, without Central timezone teams it's pretty hard to make two viable FBS conferences out of that.


My hope is that some of the 12 Big Sky teams in the Pacific/Mountain (North Dakota excluded) would consider moving up to FBS. But that would require changes to the rules to allow FCS teams to move up as FBS independents.

With enough of them, the 3rd tier FBS conf could be resurrected.