(04-28-2014 08:50 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  Serious question. HAs there been any official statement from anywhere that says the SB and UMass are in negotiations? Has Benson, an AD, or a beat writer reported it? I've not seen the first thing.

In negotiations? Not an official word, which suggests that any negotiations have not been completed. Though if the Sunbelt meeting is in May, it would be unlikely to be completed prior to May anyway.

As the UMass official spokesman said at the time that the news broke that the MAC had exercised their option and UMass declined to exercise theirs:

Quote: UMass plans to remain an FBS football member after leaving the MAC, university spokesman John Sinnett told ESPN.

"We are committed to FBS football and have been working with Carr Sports Consulting to examine future conference possibilities," Sinnett said. "We have been actively pursuing alternative options for conference alignment, but it is in the university's best interest not to speculate on those at this time."

Someone would have to be quite naive to believe that UMass has not made contacts with the Sunbelt, but how the Sunbelt has responded has been all rumors and speculation at this point.

(04-28-2014 07:15 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  And how does that differ from simply adding Liberty?

The Sunbelt gets NMSU BBall instead of Liberty BBall, and likely access to four games a year in home and home series with UMass.

And a pair of FB-only schools that it will be politically easier for the conference to walk away from than NMSU FB-only, given NMSU's history as a past member of the conference.