RE: OK, it's kinda slow so ......................
SUNBELT EXPANSION & REALIGNMENT
Florida Atlantic
Sunbelt
Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted by an eastern-based CUSA if there were a Southwest conference split their.
Longshot: candidate for CUSA should they seek replacements
Arkansas St
Sunbelt
Was on the list of candidates to join the WAC as replacements for Rice, Tulsa, SMU, UTEP, but passed over. Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted by CUSA if there were a Southwest conference split their.
La. – Lafayette
Sunbelt
Was on the list of candidates to join the WAC as replacements for Rice, Tulsa, SMU, UTEP, but passed over. Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted by CUSA if there were a Southwest conference split their.
Troy
Sunbelt
Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted if there were a CUSA split.
Longshot: candidate for CUSA should they seek replacements
May 25, 2003: Officially joined the Sunbelt for all-sports
Middle Tennessee St.
Sunbelt
Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted by CUSA if there were a Southwest conference split.
Was on the list of candidates to join the WAC as replacements for Rice, Tulsa, SMU, UTEP, but passed over.
Possible: Has been mentioned as a candidate to join the MAC.
Longshot: candidate for CUSA should they seek replacements
North Texas
Sunbelt
Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted by CUSA if there were a Southwest conference split.
On the list of candidates to join the WAC as replacements for Rice, Tulsa, SMU, and UTEP. Considered highly by CUSA before they eventually chose UTEP.
Probable: Remains in Sunbelt
Longshot: candidate for CUSA should they seek replacements
La. – Monroe
Sunbelt
Little interest. Joined the Sunbelt for all sports in 2005-2006.
Florida International
Sunbelt
Comfortable in the Sunbelt, but could be targeted by CUSA if there were a Southwest conference split.
Longshot: candidate for CUSA should they seek replacements
Western Kentucky
Sunbelt
2007: Upgraded to FBS and Sunbelt for all sports.
Old News: 5/1/05: The Sunbelt school have not been mentioned as looking for other homes. As long as football is still even considering a FBS upgrade, they will remain in the Sunbelt. It would be to their best interest to consider a move to a stronger basketball conference such as the Missouri Valley. The MVC has been rising up the RPI charts of late and WKU could help that mission. Even schools in the cellar have hope: Dr. Tom Davis has taken over the Drake program, and former Hampton coach, Steve Merfeld heads the Evansville team.
5/1/04: WKU has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the MAC for the 2006 season. They would join for all sports including an upgrade to FBS football.
Possible: joins MAC
Possible: joins CUSA
Arkansas - Little Rock
Sunbelt (BB)
Comfortable in the Sunbelt but does not sponsor football.
New Orleans
Sunbelt (BB)
1/20/10: UNO announced they will leave the Sunbelt for D3
Overview:
Tough economic times. Might be forced to make atheltic department budget cuts. They already sponsor less sports than mandated by the Sunbelt and the NCAA and could be forced to downgrade to D2.
South Alabama
Sunbelt (BB)
On 12/5/07, USA announced that they have voted in favor of starting a, FBS football program to field potentially as soon as 2009.
Likely: joins Sunbelt for football
Denver
Sunbelt (BB)
The odd school. Has little fan interaction outside of hockey. Would ideally be in the WCC. Great West might seem like a geographic fit in name only is currently a home for independents throughout the country.
The WCC has spoken of expansion with Pacific, Denver and Seattle the primary targets, but hasn't made any expansion progression.
Longshot: joins the WCC
Longshot: joins the Summit
Longshot: joins the WAC
I am totally bummed that our good friends at ULM wont be joining us in the future.
(This post was last modified: 04-11-2010 12:34 PM by zeebart21.)
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OK, it's kinda slow so ......................
