I don't want to see anyone go buy guys seriously losing a team isn't going to hurt anyone's recruiting. No one gives a crap about playing UNT every other year in Texas unless they live within 20 minutes of the campus. It's just more easy to get to other states than to go from one side of Texas to the other side.

Like saying losing FIU and FAU would inspire Florida recruits not to go to Troy like that 10 hour drive to North Florida is really a selling point. You can drive to Troy and go back to Florida probably twice in the time it would take to go to Miami one time from Panama or Pensacola.

I just hope we don't lose any teams like Middle because the smaller market teams are irreplaceable. TxSt, UTSA, will probably be on the same level of UNT within six years there's probably never going to be another good member to come out of the Southern States except in Georgia and Florida.

(04-13-2012 09:53 AM)MagNTX Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 09:13 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  Losing FIU is/will be disapointing but as long as FAU is in the SBC it not so bad.

UNT...... really no one has been upset at all that they will probably be leaving.

Losing MTSU would be very disapointing.

Getting or not getting LaTech, is not a real big deal to anyone, but they play good football sometimes.

Seems like there's at least a couple ASU fans that are quite pissed off about it.

Still, the majority of SBC fans don't seem too perturbed about losing UNT to me.

(04-13-2012 10:15 AM)TrojanCampaign Wrote:  I don't want to see anyone go buy guys seriously losing a team isn't going to hurt anyone's recruiting. No one gives a crap about playing UNT every other year in Texas unless they live within 20 minutes of the campus. It's just more easy to get to other states than to go from one side of Texas to the other side.

Like saying losing FIU and FAU would inspire Florida recruits not to go to Troy like that 10 hour drive to North Florida is really a selling point. You can drive to Troy and go back to Florida probably twice in the time it would take to go to Miami one time from Panama or Pensacola.

I just hope we don't lose any teams like Middle because the smaller market teams are irreplaceable. TxSt, UTSA, will probably be on the same level of UNT within six years there's probably never going to be another good member to come out of the Southern States except in Georgia and Florida.

It does not seem to be a problem at all finding larger market teams to replace the larger market teams the SBC may lose. Just hate it when they also lose quality, as is the case with FIU, and MTSU is normally pretty a good football team.

(04-13-2012 10:55 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 09:53 AM)MagNTX Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 09:13 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  Losing FIU is/will be disapointing but as long as FAU is in the SBC it not so bad.

UNT...... really no one has been upset at all that they will probably be leaving.

Losing MTSU would be very disapointing.

Getting or not getting LaTech, is not a real big deal to anyone, but they play good football sometimes.

Seems like there's at least a couple ASU fans that are quite pissed off about it.

Still, the majority of SBC fans don't seem too perturbed about losing UNT to me.

Losing UNT is not a big deal to anyone in the Eastern part of the SBC because to them, the Green are a geographic outlier. Folks in the West won't miss them because they don't have baseball and their other sports are middle of the road.

(04-13-2012 11:11 AM)Vobserver Wrote:  Losing UNT is not a big deal to anyone in the Eastern part of the SBC because to them, the Green are a geographic outlier. Folks in the West won't miss them because they don't have baseball and their other sports are middle of the road.

Agreed.

Even further, losing FIU won't matter to most of us much either.

In fact, after this round of realignment, CUSA and the SBC will be more alike than before, and the lines of division will only continue to blur as reality sets in year after year.


Eventually, you're going to have a Southwestern league, a Southern league, and an Eastern league comprised of schools currently in CUSA, SBC, and a few FCS schools.

(04-12-2012 07:00 PM)panama Wrote:  I think we take Texas State for sure.

Yes! Texas State is a must, IMO.

(04-13-2012 11:31 AM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  In fact, after this round of realignment, CUSA and the SBC will be more alike than before, and the lines of division will only continue to blur as reality sets in year after year.

I don't agree with that. The ACC is still considered better than the Big East. The Big East is still considered better than C-USA/the MWC. C-USA will still be considered better than the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt will still be better than any FCS conference.

Jmo.

(04-13-2012 12:58 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 11:31 AM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  In fact, after this round of realignment, CUSA and the SBC will be more alike than before, and the lines of division will only continue to blur as reality sets in year after year.

I don't agree with that. The ACC is still considered better than the Big East. The Big East is still considered better than C-USA/the MWC. C-USA will still be considered better than the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt will still be better than any FCS conference.

Jmo.

ACC IS better than the Big East now that Pitt and Cuse are joining the Canes, Tar Heels, and others. ACC is the premier east coast conference now, as the Big East is losing its influence.

(04-13-2012 12:58 PM)JustAnotherName Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 11:31 AM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  In fact, after this round of realignment, CUSA and the SBC will be more alike than before, and the lines of division will only continue to blur as reality sets in year after year.

I don't agree with that. The ACC is still considered better than the Big East. The Big East is still considered better than C-USA/the MWC. C-USA will still be considered better than the Sun Belt. The Sun Belt will still be better than any FCS conference.

Jmo.

It doesn't really matter who considers what better or worse. As long as a conference can raid another conference that conference is ahead. The BE fans want to try to claim that they have better on the field performance than the ACC, but yet every BE member would leave at the first sniff from the ACC. C-USA wanted to try to believe we were stronger than the raided BE, but we weren't because of the same principal. The pecking order is the pecking order, and it's maintained because anytime the league below starts to catch up the league above raids it and keeps the gap there. Teams don't move down the ladder they bump schools from below up. It's just the way it works.

My impression is that no one outside of Arkansas or Louisiana is terribly upset about the prospect of losing UNT and the Arkansas and Louisiana schools aren't terribly worried about losing FIU.

And people say geography doesn't matter.

(04-13-2012 02:59 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  My impression is that no one outside of Arkansas or Louisiana is terribly upset about the prospect of losing UNT and the Arkansas and Louisiana schools aren't terribly worried about losing FIU.

And people say geography doesn't matter.

So distance and "geography" is an issue for the outlier programs even in the sun belt, the same problem they would face in any conference.

(04-13-2012 03:13 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 02:59 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  My impression is that no one outside of Arkansas or Louisiana is terribly upset about the prospect of losing UNT and the Arkansas and Louisiana schools aren't terribly worried about losing FIU.

And people say geography doesn't matter.

So distance and "geography" is an issue for the outlier programs even in the sun belt, the same problem they would face in any conference.

So no one should be surprised why we have always wanted to be in a more regional conference. A Tulsa, Rice and UTEP mean a lot more to our fans than a Troy, USA or Georgia State. Other schools ie: Tulane, Southern Miss and ECU also have a much better identity in our area. Appears to be a win-win for the Belt and as well as UNT if we are selected.

(04-13-2012 08:26 AM)BamaCajun Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 08:26 PM)bluephi1914 Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 07:15 PM)BamaCajun Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 07:09 PM)laxtonto Wrote:  

(04-12-2012 06:50 PM)FIU4Ever Wrote:  FIU/FAU are outliers for almost all conferences, not really in driving distance for most other program's fanbase. The upside for us is we are easy to fly to.

If UNT leaves does the 'belt go all out on eastern program?

Hard to lose Texas and the recruiting it brings. It would really damage ULL and ULM recruiting base.

Players from last years roster from Texas
ASU 6
FAU 0
FIU 2
ULL 14
ULM 28
MTSU 0
Troy 3
WQKU 3
ASU

Are you sure you are not proving the opposite? The team with by far the most Texas recruits was one of the worst in the league and nation.

See, it's wanna be arrogant punks like you that are making me impatient for this coming season and the arse whippin' we are going to give you guys. You just barely beat us by 1 freakin' point...1 point. You guys need to come down out of your overhyped fantasy and step back into reality.

Are you really that chickensh*t that you resort to name calling? Must be awful lonely in your grandmother's basement. In case you haven't noticed, your team was actually ranked near the bottom of all respected rankings in the US for the 2011 season. That is not a swipe or personal opinion; it's a fact. So just maybe the hotbed of Tejas recruiting hasn't been that good for the Sunbelt.

It's obvious why the school to the west of you wants nothing to do with you. You guys act like the proverbial pest of a little brother that is lampooned in all the cartoons running around saying "me too! me too!"

Grow up and act civilized and maybe you will get some respect once in a while. Or better yet, actually get out of anonymity from behind your computer keyboard and build support for your pathetic athletic program. If you three posters for ULM all get out and raise a buck or two then maybe you will have something to crow about in a couple of years.

Now, I've given you all the information you need to cry to the moderators how a mean spirited alum from the University of LOUISIANA treated you.

Warmest regards,
Tommy Bourque
Former athlete and UL Alum of 1988

I don't need to go to any mods Tommy. I stand by my post, but with a little extra emphasis. It is going to be great seeing you guys crash this coming season.

I don't per say care about UNT and FIU leaving in that it will hurt us. UNT really won't be that huge of a loss because you can always plug in a Texas team heck, we may be talking about Sam Houston in 20 years looking like the next big thing in Texas. FIU now is going to hurt a little because it makes FAU on a island and will cause FAU to become more malacious to us all.

There are more potential Florida teams but they are no where near ready yet and West Florida would probably be the one to fit the bill by they help Troy and South more than they help FAU for travel.

What ever happens the alliance is a good move for UNT they have developed Texas teams. FIU it seems lateral because all sports aren't amazing and Miami fans will turn on you in a second if you lose, it's a big risk and I'm sure the administration knows all this. It also is probably why FIU administrators have not been pimping themselves like La Tech or FAU(based on president).

My only wish about this whole process is that we come out with 12 teams who we can grow with. Even if GaSt has a startup team I'm getting up to go because a win is a win and the more wins the Trojans get the more bowls we go to.

Money or not I find any non AQ conference past 12 to be stupid because a lot of those teams will start getting pretty pissed if they change bowl eligibily to 7-5 and the alliance loses some if its bowl tie in's. No matter who is in the belt as long as ULL, Troy, WKU, Middle, ASU, are here we will be okay.

the thing about the Alliance I think is dumb is the sheer number of programs involved. No non-AQ Conference is going to have an abundance of bowl tie-ins, so creating a league that has 20+ teams will only dilute the chances of your boys playing in the post season.

I cannot forsee the Alliance of Leftovers securing so many bowls that their second tier programs are making it to the post season. I think it is much more likely that the same few top tier teams will be the ones playing in their bowl games every year. It is bound to sour relationships within their little hermit kingdom when fans realize their program is good enough to go to a bowl but sitting at home AGAIN because they can't break through the new glass ceiling created by the massive number of teams they are tied to.

(04-13-2012 10:55 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 09:53 AM)MagNTX Wrote:  

(04-13-2012 09:13 AM)Seminole Indian Wrote:  Losing FIU is/will be disapointing but as long as FAU is in the SBC it not so bad.

UNT...... really no one has been upset at all that they will probably be leaving.

Losing MTSU would be very disapointing.

Getting or not getting LaTech, is not a real big deal to anyone, but they play good football sometimes.

Seems like there's at least a couple ASU fans that are quite pissed off about it.

Still, the majority of SBC fans don't seem too perturbed about losing UNT to me.

And they really shouldn't be. The SBC will carry on because they are in a good area of the country. They shouldn't be angry about anyone leaving when you can reload with GSU, UTSA, Tx St.. the list goes on...

It's not like UNT is any different from Middle, from FIU. The SBC would carry on, because that's what they do.

I'd prefer not to lose any of our programs, I think we've done great things and come a LONG way...but North Texas is the one I could let go first. They haven't had a lot of success athletically in years and they are a major outlier.

I'll miss the UNT fans who have been amazing members of this community though, you guys are like family. I think that is the really hard part about all the realignment stuff. For some of the boards on the bbs networks I know this isn't the case, but here on Belt bbs our regulars are really close. We've all become great friends, and losing a program means we lose friends. That is going to suck.

(04-13-2012 11:53 PM)Burn the Horse Wrote:  I'll miss the UNT fans who have been amazing members of this community though, you guys are like family. I think that is the really hard part about all the realignment stuff. For some of the boards on the bbs networks I know this isn't the case, but here on Belt bbs our regulars are really close. We've all become great friends, and losing a program means we lose friends. That is going to suck.

+1

A few thoughts.

1) I don't think Western is going to leave for the MAC. The MAC is more limited than the SBC as far as growth. Their schools are largely mature institutions as far as fan bases, budgets, and enrollments. WKU has been a member of the SBC for decades and I don't see them making a lateral move.

2) It would suck if CUSA and MWC took La Tech, MTSU, FIU, UTSA, and UNT. But I just don't see that happening. We will have at least one of the five in our conference, plus Texas State, which puts us at 10. I say we just stop there and let USA, Ga State, and either UTSA and/or Tex State make the transition from FBS newbies to contributing programs.

3) The Alliance better be really careful on how they set up their championship game. Because if they try to set up semi-finals, then watch the big AQ boys do the same thing. And that would cause a lot more damage to CUSA as other conferences seek to add more teams to do the same thing. It would probably be a good thing for ECU or USM, but would be potentially dangerous for Tulane, Rice, and others that are not getting called up ever.

4) The SBC will exist in some form regardless of whatever happens. There are multiple schools looking to upgrade, from Georgia Southern, App State, Jax State, JMU, ODU, Charlotte, etc. Well still be here and we'll still be FBS. And some of our schools will be competitive.