(04-16-2014 11:24 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  ODU hired the athletic director of a Sun Belt school for the purpose of getting ODU into FBS.

While I cannot say with certainty that ODU would have rejected Sun Belt overtures had that been the only thing on the table, it would seem likely they would have accepted given that ODU pursued a man who had experience making the move and had a working relationship with the only conference that at that time seemed likely to expand and wanted him enough to give him a $75,000 raise.

He was hired while Syracuse and Pitt were securely in the Big East and C-USA was enjoying the richest non-AQ TV contract and comfortable at 12. Rumors were swirling that UMass might go FBS and become MAC #14. South Alabama was in year 2 of football heading toward eventual Sun Belt membership as football member #10 and there was speculation that the league might head to 12 when that happened.

That's not conclusive evidence but it certainly suggests that ODU had Sun Belt membership in mind until circumstances changed.

I agree. UTSA was the same (esp. with the WAC collapsing all around them). Some schools are determined to get to the highest level, come he!! or high water. JMU and MO State aren't those type of schools (unfortunately for their forward-looking supporters).