I don't expect us to lose more than two. North Texas and FIU most likely. I hate that we have administrations in the league who lack vision. the Alliance will fail, probably rather quickly. Too many different agendas and too big of a footprint, not to mention the best programs are gone. The "Alliance of Leftovers" as I like to call it.

(02-19-2012 05:27 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 05:22 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 03:57 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  Joe, Jacksonville State is not getting in bud. We don't need three Belt teams in Alabama, Troy will veto that one and lobby others to do the same.

I agree, but there are no WAC teams out that way, so Benson will have to find some FCS programs somewhere. In all honesty, you could pretty much plug any random FCS team in that spot. Jacksonville State was more of a example of the caliber of program that could fill the opening.

Unless we lose more than 4 teams we will not take any FCS teams.

Benson wants at least a 12 team SunBelt. If the Belt looses 2, they will have to find four teams just to get to 12. Will Benson just look at teams in the current Sun Belt footprint? If so, how will he make that happen? The WAC only has 3 teams in the current Sun Belt footprint, and may only have two by the time Benson starts adding teams. I can't see how even 12 happens without either adding WAC teams out west, or moving up an FCS or 2.

I don't think Benson has ever said he wants 12 teams he said he wants to expand what we have. 12 is probably a just in case number and it would allow us to go divisional if we don't lose teams so it's a win win situation. As a Troy fan I really love the idea of playing in a division with South, FIU, FAU, MT, WKU and only two or three crossover games a year.

But I don't see any reason for UNT fans to be opposed to new Texas school fans. If we lose you all three will definitely be invited and if we keep you most of us would rather have two so everyone gets to play in Texas every year.

Once the Alliance falls apart, and it will, any Belt program who jumped ship will be in the same boat Tech is currently in. Yall will need a home and the Sun Belt will be hesistant to take you back, not to mention we will have filled your spot. It simply makes more sense to stay put and advance the Conference and it's agenda.

(02-19-2012 06:43 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  Once the Alliance falls apart, and it will, any Belt program who jumped ship will be in the same boat Tech is currently in. Yall will need a home and the Sun Belt will be hesistant to take you back, not to mention we will have filled your spot. It simply makes more sense to stay put and advance the Conference and it's agenda.

The is a huge difference in "jumping ship" and leaving in good standing. What makes sense for each school will guide the decision(s) of that particular school.

If one SBC team left for Alliance "football only", would the SBC allow them to stay in Belt in other sports, since supposedly we "need" another non-football school ?

(02-19-2012 07:44 PM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  If one SBC team left for Alliance "football only", would the SBC allow them to stay in Belt in other sports, since supposedly we "need" another non-football school ?

Don't beleive conference rules would allow it.

Should Benson invite school as soon as possible or wait till the Alliance make their move?

Benson should Send invite out to 3 schools La. Tech / UTSA / Texas St. that give the Sun belt 13/14 set up..

If they loose none add UTA

(02-19-2012 09:22 PM)Fear The Frog Wrote:  Should Benson invite school as soon as possible or wait till the Alliance make their move?

Benson should Send invite out to 3 schools La. Tech / UTSA / Texas St. that give the Sun belt 13/14 set up..

If they loose none add UTA

I say NO to anymore TX schools. If he feels that he HAS to go there, then I'm sure there must be some High School programs more worthy.

I believe Benson will send invites to ECU, UAB, USM and Tulsa.

(02-19-2012 10:02 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I believe Benson will send invites to ECU, UAB, USM and Tulsa.

Sure he will send them an invite, but none of those schools will accept. Benson gave a couple of important clues that he clearly made it a point to mention.

1) Reduce the footprint to save on travel costs

2) Mirror the SEC geographically to try and become the "baby SEC". The SB would serve as the SEC's first choice for out of conference games which will help with recruiting/image etc if they can begin to become somewhat competitive.

If UNT is gone, then Benson will shift the conference East to include GA and NC instead of increasing the footprint by adding more Texas teams. If the SB loses UNT and FIU, then look for Benson to add La Tech, Ga State, UNC Charlotte, App State and Ga Southern. La Tech has been solid for years, Ga State and Charlotte bring big markets, Ga Southern is the most successful Division I FCS or FBS program over the last 25 years and App State has also won multiple championships as well as the infamous Michigan win. Ga State Ga Southern would be a tremendous rivalry. App State and Ga Southern are already each others biggest rivals and the two most successful FCS programs. Charlotte and App hate each other as well. Seems like a no brainer: a good combo of large markets, championship programs, strong rivalries and good geographic footprint.

(02-19-2012 10:02 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I believe Benson will send invites to ECU, UAB, USM and Tulsa.

Most likely at least two of those. It's obvious that stealing away some CUSA teams would be one of the conference's top priorities, and it makes sense if we want to continue trying to boost up the Sun Belt's reputation and diminish opposing leagues. I don't expect them to accept the bids, but really if we play our cards right there is a slight possibility one may. If even one team leaves the CUSA merger league, then things may go downhill quickly for them and leave us at the top of the non-AQ ladder.

(02-19-2012 06:37 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  I don't think Benson has ever said he wants 12 teams he said he wants to expand what we have. 12 is probably a just in case number and it would allow us to go divisional if we don't lose teams so it's a win win situation. As a Troy fan I really love the idea of playing in a division with South, FIU, FAU, MT, WKU and only two or three crossover games a year.

But I don't see any reason for UNT fans to be opposed to new Texas school fans. If we lose you all three will definitely be invited and if we keep you most of us would rather have two so everyone gets to play in Texas every year.

If the Belt loses UNT, I won't have any right to complain about what the conference does. Until then I will continue to openly speak against Benson. As for the future of the alliance, it could fail in the long term, but if it did, I would expect the MWC and C-USA to form back into seperate conferences again. At this point anything could happen.

(02-19-2012 11:19 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 06:37 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  I don't think Benson has ever said he wants 12 teams he said he wants to expand what we have. 12 is probably a just in case number and it would allow us to go divisional if we don't lose teams so it's a win win situation. As a Troy fan I really love the idea of playing in a division with South, FIU, FAU, MT, WKU and only two or three crossover games a year.

But I don't see any reason for UNT fans to be opposed to new Texas school fans. If we lose you all three will definitely be invited and if we keep you most of us would rather have two so everyone gets to play in Texas every year.

If the Belt loses UNT, I won't have any right to complain about what the conference does. Until then I will continue to openly speak against Benson. As for the future of the alliance, it could fail in the long term, but if it did, I would expect the MWC and C-USA to form back into seperate conferences again. At this point anything could happen.

Don't know if UNT is going anywhere or not, but I just hope you're man enough to eat crow when the Sun Belt is just fine, if not better than ever, in a few years.

(02-19-2012 11:57 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 11:19 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 06:37 PM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  I don't think Benson has ever said he wants 12 teams he said he wants to expand what we have. 12 is probably a just in case number and it would allow us to go divisional if we don't lose teams so it's a win win situation. As a Troy fan I really love the idea of playing in a division with South, FIU, FAU, MT, WKU and only two or three crossover games a year.

But I don't see any reason for UNT fans to be opposed to new Texas school fans. If we lose you all three will definitely be invited and if we keep you most of us would rather have two so everyone gets to play in Texas every year.

If the Belt loses UNT, I won't have any right to complain about what the conference does. Until then I will continue to openly speak against Benson. As for the future of the alliance, it could fail in the long term, but if it did, I would expect the MWC and C-USA to form back into seperate conferences again. At this point anything could happen.

Don't know if UNT is going anywhere or not, but I just hope you're man enough to eat crow when the Sun Belt is just fine, if not better than ever, in a few years.

I want the Sun belt to be a successful conference, whether UNT is in it or not. I just believe Benson is not the guy to make it happen. I hope I am wrong.

(02-20-2012 09:27 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  I want the Sun belt to be a successful conference, whether UNT is in it or not. I just believe Benson is not the guy to make it happen. I hope I am wrong.

We all do.

(02-20-2012 09:38 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  

(02-20-2012 09:27 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  I want the Sun belt to be a successful conference, whether UNT is in it or not. I just believe Benson is not the guy to make it happen. I hope I am wrong.

We all do.

Agreed.

(02-19-2012 10:32 PM)mtsufan561 Wrote:  

(02-19-2012 10:02 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  I believe Benson will send invites to ECU, UAB, USM and Tulsa.

Most likely at least two of those. It's obvious that stealing away some CUSA teams would be one of the conference's top priorities, and it makes sense if we want to continue trying to boost up the Sun Belt's reputation and diminish opposing leagues. I don't expect them to accept the bids, but really if we play our cards right there is a slight possibility one may. If even one team leaves the CUSA merger league, then things may go downhill quickly for them and leave us at the top of the non-AQ ladder.

If Benson got any C-USA team, other than UAB, to join the sunbelt, that would indicate a crack in C-USA (UAB could be attributed to an action forced by their board which doesn't always seem to have the best interests of UAB athletics at heart).
Now that said, to do that, he's got to do one of 2 things. He's got to have something to sell that no one knows about at this time. Something big. OR, because we can assume that since C-USA's in this Alliance that at least 5 of the 8 teams voted for it, he's got to find the dissenters (if there are any) and appeal to them by showing how the sunbelt will placate what troubles them about the Alliance.
Travel costs aren't going to cut it. With minimal inter-division play, there aren't any serious travel cost issues. There are challenges with this Alliance - travel costs aren't it.
But he should try. Just like the Alliance is going after the throat of the BE, the Sunbelt should go after C-USA/Alliance. I don't think that Benson will, but if I were a sunbelt pres, I'd want him to try.