(03-29-2014 02:59 PM)Oldyeller Wrote:  This could be the perfect storm for the Sun Belt. While the FBS landscape seems to be entering an extended period of stability the Sun Belt get's the nod as the most competitive of the G5. Achieving this with newer football members Texas State and South Alabama, while also carrying significant dead weight. Arguably the most dead weight in the league. Let's not be too short sighted here. The dead weight has an extremely nice upside as it relates to money, talent, and exposure for the conference.

Enter stage right Appy and GS. Both have walked the proverbial 20 mile hike up hill with snow shoes on through a mine field to finally get where they are but as we can see, the reality is, we may be the spoiled little brother who played in junior league a few more years while big brother got the crap beat out of him. Or we could be just right for the move. Regardless we are here and feeling grateful and hopefully well prepared with fresh legs to tote some water and yes eat some sh#* sandwiches. The future looks pretty dang good and I for one am extreeemely pumped.

Excellent way to put it regarding the spoiled little brother. I'm sure most long-timers in the Sun Belt see it that way and in many ways is true. All the same, both schools have lots of potential and will certainly only enhance this conference. If the Sun Belt can get some extended period of membership stability we can build this into one of the most admired G5 conferences. I believe this conference's most competitive football years are just ahead of it.