For once Ted Hutton actually has some info in his blog instead of an article.

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports/c...nt_as.html

I am a big World Cup fan, so there will be a lot of tube time today and tomorrow.

But in the background will be the continuing buzz over what may happen to the college conferences.


So far just three teams have moved: Colorado, Nebraska and Boise State, but those have sent tremors through all the conferences.

Had a chance to talk with Sun Belt Commish Wright Waters Friday, and he kind of talked me off the ledge.

Waters is playing offense right now, which is pretty interesting, given how the ground is shifting under everyone.

“Today we are very much in enhancement mode in our league,” Waters said. “What can we do to improve the quality of our league?”

Yep, Waters, who said their are two reasons to change conferences -- survival or enhancement -- is talking about adding members, and not just grabbing them because they are available, but picking and choosing ones that will help build the Belt brand.

How is this possible? While, as Waters pointed out, in some scenarios, Kansas will be left out in the cold.

“It if can happen to Kansas, it can happen to anyone,” Waters said. And he has a point.

Until the fiasco this year with that large coach of theirs, the Jayhawks football team had been making some noise in recent years, and all the basketball team does is keeping contending for a national title year after year.

But that may not be enough.

Waters is also talking about the NCAA maybe stepping in, rather than stand on the sidelines and watch members bolt from conference A to conference B. But the NCAA has been reluctant to interfere in such areas, preferring to let the college presidents decide who their schools will play with.

FAU AD Craig Angelos said he feels the coming shakeup is not going to be nearly as big as some predict, and that the Belt and most of the other non-BCS conferences will not be affected.

“At the end of the day, all politics are local. We will see,” Angelos said.

So, do I feel better now? Not really. But I do like the public approach Waters is taking. The Belt is not quivering in fear waiting to see what the big boys will do. They are ready to grab up former big boys who may be floating by and in need of a lifeboat.

Good to hear.

If we sit by and do nothing, some of our members will bolt at first opportunity.

(06-12-2010 12:13 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Good to hear.

If we sit by and do nothing, some of our members will bolt at first opportunity.

A rumor floating around is Baylor is on our list. This all depend on them being left behind after the Big 12 crumbles.

(06-12-2010 01:10 PM)statefanatic Wrote:  

(06-12-2010 12:13 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Good to hear.

If we sit by and do nothing, some of our members will bolt at first opportunity.

A rumor floating around is Baylor is on our list. This all depend on them being left behind after the Big 12 crumbles.

LOL!!

Baylor would rather go ind than come to the Belt... geez.. Best case , La Tech

(06-12-2010 01:39 PM)CajunT Wrote:  

(06-12-2010 01:10 PM)statefanatic Wrote:  

(06-12-2010 12:13 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Good to hear.

If we sit by and do nothing, some of our members will bolt at first opportunity.

A rumor floating around is Baylor is on our list. This all depend on them being left behind after the Big 12 crumbles.

LOL!!

You can laugh, but you would be angry if the Belt wasn't trying for schools like that. Like I said. It's a rumor not fact. I for one would be happy to find out we were trying to get schools like Baylor.

(06-12-2010 01:48 PM)NT03 Wrote:  Baylor would rather go ind than come to the Belt... geez.. Best case , La Tech

They probably would rather be indy but you can't blame the Belt for trying. Just because the girl is pretty doesn't mean you shouldn't ask her out.

Quote:...Waters is also talking about the NCAA maybe stepping in, rather than stand on the sidelines and watch members bolt from conference A to conference B...

I don't see a Baylor dropping to the Sun Belt, that's not going to happen. Perhaps if c-usa has a mass exodous, we pick up a southern miss or uab or some other programs. But that appears to be more hope than anything. Perhaps Waters placed a call to those clowns in ruston offering a life preserver, but other than that, it sound like waters is hoping that the ncaa will block some mass realignment but that is not going to happen and I haven't seen anything anywhere indicating that is likely or even feasible.

(06-12-2010 01:56 PM)statefanatic Wrote:  

(06-12-2010 01:39 PM)CajunT Wrote:  

(06-12-2010 01:10 PM)statefanatic Wrote:  

(06-12-2010 12:13 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  Good to hear.

If we sit by and do nothing, some of our members will bolt at first opportunity.

A rumor floating around is Baylor is on our list. This all depend on them being left behind after the Big 12 crumbles.

LOL!!

You can laugh, but you would be angry if the Belt wasn't trying for schools like that. Like I said. It's a rumor not fact. I for one would be happy to find out we were trying to get schools like Baylor.

I'd be willing to bet Waters doesn't even know who to speak to at Baylor. I'm afraid if we really knew who he has spoken to, you would be major disappointed.


Hello, this is Wright Waters. Yes, the one that screwed up the bowl agreements for the SBC. Hello....hello....anyone there?

(06-12-2010 02:06 PM)SpaceRaider Wrote:  

Quote:...Waters is also talking about the NCAA maybe stepping in, rather than stand on the sidelines and watch members bolt from conference A to conference B...

I don't see a Baylor dropping to the Sun Belt, that's not going to happen. Perhaps if c-usa has a mass exodous, we pick up a southern miss or uab or some other programs. But that appears to be more hope than anything. Perhaps Waters placed a call to those clowns in ruston offering a life preserver, but other than that, it sound like waters is hoping that the ncaa will block some mass realignment but that is not going to happen and I haven't seen anything anywhere indicating that is likely or even feasible.

+1

Well, that'd be just great...ULM has already contracted Baylor for a home-and-home series. Now we find out it could turn out to be CONFERENCE games!! Holy smokes!!

(06-12-2010 02:33 PM)SOT1977 Wrote:  Well, that'd be just great...ULM has already contracted Baylor for a home-and-home series. Now we find out it could turn out to be CONFERENCE games!! Holy smokes!!

Don't hold your breath.

Hey, Dan Boobe needs a job. Hire him now !

Baylor to the Sun Belt would end the Lady Raiders dominance...

(06-13-2010 09:53 AM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  Baylor to the Sun Belt would end the Lady Raiders dominance...

If it didn't, heads would roll.

everyone keeps saying "dropping to the Belt" or "sinking to the Belt." If the Belt brings in a few good programs, wouldnt the Belt improve? So, if Baylor, Kansas, K State, USM, etc joined we would instantly move up in the world, thus negating the whole "Crap Belt" image.

(06-14-2010 11:23 AM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  everyone keeps saying "dropping to the Belt" or "sinking to the Belt." If the Belt brings in a few good programs, wouldnt the Belt improve? So, if Baylor, Kansas, K State, USM, etc joined we would instantly move up in the world, thus negating the whole "Crap Belt" image.

If those 2 came in yes, instantly.

However I doubt they would unless we were the only confrence left with room. Somehow I see CUSA making room somehow to get them. Kansas basketball would be insane.

Most of the schools facing dropping are ticks in their current leagues. They don't produce for their league and are expendable.

Yet Temple to the MAC, Houston to CUSA, SMU & Rice to WAC/CUSA and TCU to WAC/CUSA/MWC has shown once you get past the initial shock to the budget, the programs win more games and draw more of their own fans even though they lose same gate receipts from visiting fans.