(05-18-2012 12:57 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19084842

"Boise State, after strongly considering remaining in the Mountain West, will continue with its plans to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.

On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East."

So does this mean no more raids from the Big East on CUSA and that this mess is stable for a a year or 2?

If so and CUSA isnt losing any more, I say we put on the big boy pants and pick up APP and GS, get to 12 and hold the CCG in Atlanta.

(05-18-2012 01:03 PM)Tuscon Wrote:  Not sure if it's over any time soon.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120518/COLUMNIST0202/305180029/Climer-More-SEC-expansion-coming-where-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports

Also, all this talk of FSU to Big 12 is seeming like real smoke.

(05-18-2012 12:57 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19084842

"Boise State, after strongly considering remaining in the Mountain West, will continue with its plans to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.

On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East."

So does this mean no more raids from the Big East on CUSA and that this mess is stable for a a year or 2?

If so and CUSA isnt losing any more, I say we put on the big boy pants and pick up APP and GS, get to 12 and hold the CCG in Atlanta.

(05-18-2012 12:57 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19084842

"Boise State, after strongly considering remaining in the Mountain West, will continue with its plans to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.

On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East."

So does this mean no more raids from the Big East on CUSA and that this mess is stable for a a year or 2?

If so and CUSA isnt losing any more, I say we put on the big boy pants and pick up APP and GS, get to 12 and hold the CCG in Atlanta.

(05-18-2012 01:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  Two will leave the ACC for the Big 12, Florida St and whoever is smart enough to jump ship. (Probably Clemson). At that point, the ACC will have to choice but to go after Uconn and probably Rutgers. Louisville/UC will play into this somehow as well, not to mention at that point NC St/Va. Tech could start flirting again with the SEC and UVA/Maryland will flirt heavily again with the Big Ten plus.
Folks, here we go again. Boise can reaffirm the Big East all they want, but by the end of the summer if FSU has announced intentions to move with a few others to the Big XII, (Louisville, Clemson, whoever else) they'll rethink their position. Make no mistake about it, UCONN is DYING to get out of the Big East and go to the ACC, and would take Rutgers with them. At that point, the Big East tries to reload again or those teams have to reassess what they're doing. Take UCONN, Louisville, Cincinnati and Rutgers out of the NBE and what's left?

(05-18-2012 01:15 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  Bowl game in Atlanta, yes
CCG in Atlanta, no

(05-18-2012 01:15 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 12:57 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19084842

"Boise State, after strongly considering remaining in the Mountain West, will continue with its plans to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.

On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East."

So does this mean no more raids from the Big East on CUSA and that this mess is stable for a a year or 2?

If so and CUSA isnt losing any more, I say we put on the big boy pants and pick up APP and GS, get to 12 and hold the CCG in Atlanta.

Bowl game in Atlanta, yes
CCG in Atlanta, no

(05-18-2012 01:26 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  In the West, New Mexico State is an absolute must not invite and only someone with no brain would invite them.

(05-18-2012 01:12 PM)97App Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 12:57 PM)OwlFamily Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/19084842

"Boise State, after strongly considering remaining in the Mountain West, will continue with its plans to join the Big East as a football-only member in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com.

On Friday, Boise State reaffirmed to the Mountain West it was indeed moving to the Big East."

So does this mean no more raids from the Big East on CUSA and that this mess is stable for a a year or 2?

If so and CUSA isnt losing any more, I say we put on the big boy pants and pick up APP and GS, get to 12 and hold the CCG in Atlanta.

Sounds good to me, however, I'd hold the CCG at the team with the best record's home field.

Assuming the Sun Belt's goal is to get to 12 or more and they don't foresee any teams being added to their applicant pool - Waiting only allows makes the FCS-to-FBS transitional teams lose a year of recruiting at the FBS level.

(05-18-2012 01:44 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 01:26 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  In the West, New Mexico State is an absolute must not invite and only someone with no brain would invite them.

Agreed.

(05-18-2012 01:15 PM)chrisattsu Wrote:  Bowl game in Atlanta, yes
CCG in Atlanta, no

(05-18-2012 01:53 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 01:44 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 01:26 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  In the West, New Mexico State is an absolute must not invite and only someone with no brain would invite them.

Agreed.

You're right. Only someone with no brain would invite to Sun Belt a school that was IN Sun Belt just 8 years ago. An FBS school with a $140 million endowment, a $27 million athletic budget, a basketball program with 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, 5 Sweet 16 appearances and a Final 4 appearance. Who wants THAT?!!

(05-18-2012 01:21 PM)Panthersville Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 01:14 PM)Buccaneerlover Wrote:  Two will leave the ACC for the Big 12, Florida St and whoever is smart enough to jump ship. (Probably Clemson). At that point, the ACC will have to choice but to go after Uconn and probably Rutgers. Louisville/UC will play into this somehow as well, not to mention at that point NC St/Va. Tech could start flirting again with the SEC and UVA/Maryland will flirt heavily again with the Big Ten plus.
Folks, here we go again. Boise can reaffirm the Big East all they want, but by the end of the summer if FSU has announced intentions to move with a few others to the Big XII, (Louisville, Clemson, whoever else) they'll rethink their position. Make no mistake about it, UCONN is DYING to get out of the Big East and go to the ACC, and would take Rutgers with them. At that point, the Big East tries to reload again or those teams have to reassess what they're doing. Take UCONN, Louisville, Cincinnati and Rutgers out of the NBE and what's left?

I think Louisville may be more likely to the Big 12 than another ACC team. All speculation of course, but the ACC would obviously prefer that, as then they could add UConn only. BE could either stick and wait for Navy/Army or add two, in which case two teams from CUSA would look like obvious targets.

(05-18-2012 01:26 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  IF Sun Belt is to expand to 12 football team members, the optimal solutions would be to add one team in the East and one team in the West to balance the conference and properly align divisions from a geographic and Bowl standpoint.

The only viable candidate in the East right now is App State. They have the budget, the facilities, the support, and perhaps more importantly than anything, a clear institutional commitment to get better and succeed. Their basketball program is an eye sore right now, but I believe they are one good coaching hire and a couple of recruiting classes away from bringing that program up to par. The biggest detriment for them is their location, but with Charlotte going to C-USA, there are simply no better options at this point.

In the West, New Mexico State is an absolute must and a no-brainer. They are already an FBS program with great budget, fan support and outstanding facilities. Their basketball would immediately be at the top of the Sun Belt, and their baseball program is rock solid. And before anyone even tries to chime in about their location, don't even bother. If WKU can fly all the way down to FAU, it's no different than Arkansas State flying to NMSU.

So, in terms of football, the Sun Belt would look like this:

EAST
WKU
MTSU
GSU
App. St.
Troy
FAU

WEST
USA
ULL
ULM
ASU
TXST
NMSU

That's a well balanced conference whose additions bring at least one strong point in either football, basketball or baseball. The geographic footprint would be better than C-USA or most other conferences for that matter, and the range of states and TV markets would allow for a solid, long-term TV contract.

IF Benson & Co., decide to expand to 12, this will be the likely scenario.

(05-18-2012 01:53 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 01:44 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(05-18-2012 01:26 PM)SaintDK10 Wrote:  In the West, New Mexico State is an absolute must not invite and only someone with no brain would invite them.

Agreed.

You're right. Only someone with no brain would invite to Sun Belt a school that was IN Sun Belt just 8 years ago. An FBS school with a $140 million endowment, a $27 million athletic budget, a basketball program with 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, 5 Sweet 16 appearances and a Final 4 appearance. Who wants THAT?!!