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Politics of the SunBelt
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Libertygrad01 Offline
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Politics of the SunBelt
I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.
10-26-2014 09:11 PM
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GaryRWReport Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
You don't think Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, USC, Oregon, Fla St, Ohio St, Mich (used to) drive the bus in their respective conferences?
10-26-2014 09:14 PM
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chiefsfan Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

Its more that you have a situation where most of us know at any point this whole thing could blow up, so we're doing our best to align ourselves with the schools we want to be aligned with just in case that happens.

Please don't act like this is some Mafia family in which everyone kisses the ring of AState and the Cajuns.
10-26-2014 09:21 PM
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TheRevSWT Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:14 PM)GaryRWReport Wrote:  You don't think Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, USC, Oregon, Fla St, Ohio St, Mich (used to) drive the bus in their respective conferences?

I was about to post the exact same thing.

Heck, even in FCS, you have power teams in the conferences.
10-26-2014 09:21 PM
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GeauxUL Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

We're the ones that have been stuck here the longest...
10-26-2014 09:22 PM
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SkullyMaroo Online
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

Neither Louisiana Lafayette nor Arkansas State dictate what South Alabama does and they don't run the league. Stop stirring up crap.
10-26-2014 09:25 PM
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chiefsfan Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:25 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

Neither Louisiana Lafayette nor Arkansas State dictate what South Alabama does and they don't run the league. Stop stirring up crap.

Good, Thank you for saying that. We appreciate your continued support of the no 12th team movement. 05-stirthepot
10-26-2014 09:28 PM
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ark30inf Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line.

Now that's funny. My view of A-State's relations with the conference office are 180 degrees off that.
10-26-2014 09:30 PM
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MTPiKapp Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

Examples?
10-26-2014 09:31 PM
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chiefsfan Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:31 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

Examples?

Remember that movement to throw MTSU out of the league? The Cajuns started it.

Revisionist History
10-26-2014 09:33 PM
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Tiguar Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line.
Do we need a good old fashioned name thread to completely blow up your theory?
10-26-2014 09:34 PM
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TStatebobcat Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
I think its due to longevity. They both have been here since the beginning (football anyway) and have been the standard bearers for the conference these past few years.

Besides look at the rest of the conference:

South Alabama- Long time Sunbelt member but football team is barely a toddler and started playing conference football only last year.

ULM - Much maligned team, with the smallest budget in FBS. Really it is admirable what they do with what they got, but it doesn't give them much influence.

Troy - their lack of success the last few years have hurt them.

TxSt - recent FBS move up that barely joined last year.

Georgia State - Same as TxSt.

New Mexico State - Barely joined this year, technically not even a permanent member.

Idaho - Same as New Mexico State.

Georgia Southern - Brand new to FBS and barely joined this year.

Appalachian State - Same as Georgia Southern

UA-Little Rock - long time member, but doesn't play football. So I doubt they are allowed to make decisions for that sport.

UTA - Barely joined last year and doesn't play football. So same thing as Little Rock.

only four out of the ten teams were playing Sunbelt football prior to 2013. It only makes sense that Louisiana and Arkansas State have a lot of influence within the conference.
10-26-2014 09:35 PM
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Tiguar Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
Quote:South Alabama- Long time Sunbelt member

Founding member, actually. Georgia State is the only other one but they bailed for awhile.
10-26-2014 09:44 PM
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Libertygrad01 Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
I really wasn't meaning to stir the pot. I follow the SEC mostly having gone to grad school at UK. Most of the time each school votes independently and what's in their best interests. So it appears the power players in the SB are there due to longevity in the conference. That makes sense.
10-26-2014 09:56 PM
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MTPiKapp Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:56 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I really wasn't meaning to stir the pot. I follow the SEC mostly having gone to grad school at UK. Most of the time each school votes independently and what's in their best interests. So it appears the power players in the SB are there due to longevity in the conference. That makes sense.

Still haven't remotely explained what you perceive to be the will of the SBC "power players".
10-26-2014 09:59 PM
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SkullyMaroo Online
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:56 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I really wasn't meaning to stir the pot. I follow the SEC mostly having gone to grad school at UK. Most of the time each school votes independently and what's in their best interests. So it appears the power players in the SB are there due to longevity in the conference. That makes sense.

USA has been in the conference the longest. Our former AD Joe Gottfried knew all the ins and outs and had a lot of pull. ADs at other schools respected him and valued his opinion. He could tip the scales here or there on some issues.

When the Sun Belt voted on NMSU as a member, then longtime member WKU didn't want them as a full member, and they got the votes needed to block NMSU entry as a full member.

Troy has been here about a decade, and their chancellor is/was President of the Sun Belt Conference Executive Committee which determined which members were being brought in.

As with anything, you align your schools with the schools that best match the ideals of your own, and you can create voting blocks. That's mainly due to geography and with self-preservation in mind.
10-26-2014 10:06 PM
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JoeJag Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:35 PM)TStatebobcat Wrote:  I think its due to longevity. They both have been here since the beginning (football anyway) and have been the standard bearers for the conference these past few years.

Besides look at the rest of the conference:

South Alabama- Long time Sunbelt member but football team is barely a toddler and started playing conference football only last year.

ULM - Much maligned team, with the smallest budget in FBS. Really it is admirable what they do with what they got, but it doesn't give them much influence.

Troy - their lack of success the last few years have hurt them.

TxSt - recent FBS move up that barely joined last year.

Georgia State - Same as TxSt.

New Mexico State - Barely joined this year, technically not even a permanent member.

Idaho - Same as New Mexico State.

Georgia Southern - Brand new to FBS and barely joined this year.

Appalachian State - Same as Georgia Southern

UA-Little Rock - long time member, but doesn't play football. So I doubt they are allowed to make decisions for that sport.

UTA - Barely joined last year and doesn't play football. So same thing as Little Rock.

only four out of the ten teams were playing Sunbelt football prior to 2013. It only makes sense that Louisiana and Arkansas State have a lot of influence within the conference.

Can you say charter member?
10-26-2014 10:44 PM
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AstroCajun Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
To the O.P. thanks for the laugh.
10-26-2014 10:55 PM
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DoubleAggie Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
"only four out of the ten teams were playing Sunbelt football prior to 2013."

Not so - NMSU was a founding member of Sun Belt football (as an all sports member )
and Idaho played Sun Belt football in the 2000s as well.
(This post was last modified: 10-26-2014 11:05 PM by DoubleAggie.)
10-26-2014 11:05 PM
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CrazyCajun Offline
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RE: Politics of the SunBelt
(10-26-2014 09:21 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  
(10-26-2014 09:11 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I've been reading this board on and off for a couple of years. It appears there's a hierarchy in the SB with the Louisiana schools and Ark St. make the calls and several other schools fall in line. Has anyone been around the SB long enough to explain how these schools gained power in the Belt? I don't know that this occurs in any other conference. The SEC doesn't have "power schools" that set the agenda or the direction of the conference. Is this unique to the SB? Thanks for the info.

Its more that you have a situation where most of us know at any point this whole thing could blow up, so we're doing our best to align ourselves with the schools we want to be aligned with just in case that happens.

Please don't act like this is some Mafia family in which everyone kisses the ring of AState and the Cajuns.

Yea, Benson kissing AState or Louisiana's ring? Haven't seen it yet!
10-26-2014 11:15 PM
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