I was looking at some of the records going back to the 60's, and I didn't know this, but MTSU and WKU has had some good games in football. Even if WKU doesn't go I-A right now, I think it would still be a good idea for MTSU to schedule us again. Middle won in 1972 (17-21) , we won in 76 (38-7), again in 78 (54-0)...one of the last games looked like it was in 1984, and I don't really know why we stopped playing for...but like i said, i wouldn't mind seeing something with MTSU

Freaky if you do not like the SunBelt, then pony up the money and allow WKU to move to a better conference or upgrade facilities. I think a WKU/MTSU game would draw well. Now with SunBelt more regional then rivalries can develop and nobody will have to go to BFE Idaho, Utah, New Mexico to play a game.
Also I am sorry to say but WKU does not fund most of their sports well at all. Sure Basketball and Fottbal get top billing but I look at their Women's and Men's tennis program and they are jokes finishing last every year b/c the school does not want to fund them appropriately.
When WKU makes their move forward then everybody will be happy, hopefully it will be in the Belt but if they leave for "Greener" pastures so be it.

Just my 2 cents.

Last thing I will say about this....I said I didn't like the sunbelt as a conference, sure we'd love to move, but right now we're stuck here. I did not say I didn't like the schools in the belt. People laugh when they find out what conference we are in , and most people haven't heard of the sunbelt. I don't know if its just WKU fans or not, but right now, the sunbelt is getting schools based on the fact that they play I-A football. The conference is not looking at the well being of the schools that are in here now. I guess if morris brown university started I-A football then the belt would take them.

I cheer for all of the sunbelt schools in all of the sports that they play( or at least the ones I keep up with) and I'm happy when you do something good because it makes the rest of the conference look good...Look forward to coming down in the spring to Denton texas for the sunbelt tourney.
GO TOPS

The problem I have and a growing number of other BELT fans have with WKU people is that it seems you want it both ways. You want to be in a better conference. Yet, you want to wait until they call you to go 1-A . You would claim it's just smart business. We say it shows a lack of confidence in yourself and your conference brethren.

I can completely understand how Sunbelt fans would take the conference change talk from WKU fans (I include myself, I was excited about the MAC rumors). I'm going to shoot you straight, no BS here.

WKU fans want to be a national power in basketball plain and simple. I think any discontent that WKU has with the Sunbelt is due to low RPI/ low seeding in the NCAA's in basketball.

That said, the reason we are not 1A in the Sunbelt or any other conference is because even after winning the AA championship we were about 5K short of the attendance requirement. So, I gotta tell ya it is a little scary to make the jump to 1A football not knowing for sure that we would even have the fan support for it. (Like I said no BS here.)

"Also I am sorry to say but WKU does not fund most of their sports well at all. "

Does anyone else want to attack this post for it's lunacy or should I? If WKU is underfunding it's sports then what does it say about the rest of the SBC considering we are at the top of the race for the VIC BUBAS cup every year. What does it say when..

"Western had a total of 125 student-athletes honored by the Sun Belt Conference, tying New Mexico State for the high total despite the fact that NMSU had 23 football players recognized — the Toppers do not compete in the league on the gridiron. WKU led all schools with 67 individuals on the Commissioner’s List."

FWIW, here is my opinion. I would love to see WKU move there football program to 1-A. Not because it would be great to have a 9th member to even out our schedules but because I really believe (and could be wrong) that in a short time rivalries could be developed that would be to the benefit of WKU and other SBC schools, namely the Cajuns and Blue Raiders. With the heated rivalries we share in basketball, I find it hard to believe that it would not cross over on to the football field. Who is to say that some other rivalry will not develop between WKU and let's say Troy for an example. We are a young conference football wise and right now have no true rivalries (IMHO). But the seeds are there for them to happen. The UL Indians vs UL Ragin' Cajuns is one, Middle Tennessee vs North Texas is another, FAU vs FIU (you know this one is going to happen).
As far as fans wishing they could be in a better conference, who the hell would'nt want better for their school? I think this is a matter of how you said it vs. what you said. When you put the Sun Belt down it is perceived as putting it's schools down. I think most of us will agree that the Belt is the worst thought of conference in 1-A football circles. Is that perception deserved? Right now, I say yes. We have done little to prove that perception wrong. However, again, we are 3 years old. I hope that arkstfan is correct and that WKU will soon join us in SBC football, perhaps by that time the "perception" will not be the reality and we will be much improved overall in football, basketball and baseball.

In so far as whether WKU funds it's "other" sports the way they should. I am not informed enough to have an opinion, plus too me there are no other real sports besides football, basketball and baseball. :D

You hit the nail right on the head with what you said. I'm not putting down any of the other schools in the belt ( I get so fed up with you when we play a game) but its all in the heat of the moment. I cheer for everyone when I can, and well, I wished all of us could move into a better conference. I'm giving the belt a chance, seeing as it is a young football conference. Hopefully, we can jump other conferences soon enough and make a better name for ourselves

Hound, I agree that is the best arguement for WKU joining the Sunbelt. The basketball rivalries would translate into football rivalries which could be WKU's best chance at making the 15K attendance requirement.

Just a thought... two of the most attractive teams for the Sunbelt have publically rejected the Sunbelt. Hypothetically if say WKU joined in football and maybe Temple or some other football only program joined the Sunbelt might this change the attitude of La. Tech and Georgia Southern? Might they be willing to join as a "package deal"? That would bring the Sunbelt to 12 teams, giving it the championship game. That would be a very attractive football conference IMO.

Hilltopper2K Wrote:Hound, I agree that is the best arguement for WKU joining the Sunbelt. The basketball rivalries would translate into football rivalries which could be WKU's best chance at making the 15K attendance requirement.

Just a thought... two of the most attractive teams for the Sunbelt have publically rejected the Sunbelt. Hypothetically if say WKU joined in football and maybe Temple or some other football only program joined the Sunbelt might this change the attitude of La. Tech and Georgia Southern? Might they be willing to join as a "package deal"? That would bring the Sunbelt to 12 teams, giving it the championship game. That would be a very attractive football conference IMO.

I havent jumped in, but I gotta jump in here. Seriously, Im a cajun fan, and theres no one Id rather beat each year than la tech, but quite frankly, La Tech, and Ga Southern can suck each other off. I hate the name battle, but all in all, ULM fans are good people, and Id stick up for them over a La Tech or Ga Southern any day, and with that said, the sunbelt will be better off in the end with ULM than La Tech.

Tuffguy