(03-21-2014 05:07 PM)Campaign4Liberty Wrote: (03-21-2014 04:14 PM)FloridaJag Wrote: (03-21-2014 04:04 PM)Campaign4Liberty Wrote: (03-20-2014 09:53 PM)FloridaJag Wrote: (03-20-2014 07:21 PM)chiefsfan Wrote: I have to give FloridaJag credit...he is rather persistent about who is in his ideal Sun Belt. No matter how unlikely such a league is.
Thanks Chief,
The problem is that Liberty folks believe they are a national brand that everybody wants. Now that is laughable.
When I look at a school as a potential candidate for expansion, I try to look at the impact on the SBC as a whole. That is why we must look at potential.
The conference has gone through considerable change and South Alabama has been here the whole time. We all have biases but I have pumped up several schools and heard the naysayers; however, look at where UTSA, ODU and UNCC are now.
The list also included:
Ga State
Ga Southern
App State
Lamar
Panama loved me when I was advocating for Ga State but turned on me when I advocated for Ga Southern and App State.
Lamar and South scheduled games on our way to getting to FBS.
I bombed on Texas State because I thought UTSA had the bigger ups. Now I have a new found respect for our Texas State brethren.
From a South Alabama perspective, I am very interested in what UWF,UNF and FGCU might do in the future. They are in the neighborhood. I do not think that schools with enrollments over 20,000 are the only ones we can consider. I really don't think distance learners are interested in attending games on campus if the only day they were on campus was graduation day. Plus follow the teams to away games.
At the moment, Missouri State is the best option for the SBC followed by restarting UTA football.
Apparently you missed the part where I said forget Liberty and then proceeded to spend the entire post talking about James Madison. But hey, just more proof that half the people on here believe what they want to believe without looking at the facts or even bothering to read the posts of others. Surely you just assumed that I was talking about Liberty when I was actually plugging quite beautifully for JMU. I hate to admit it but they are certainly "more ready" than we are from a purely FBS football perspective. I believe Liberty has more long term potential, but JMU is the best "bang for the buck" at this very moment.
Tell me, how is Missouri State a better option than James Madison?
1. Brings the state of Missouri to the Sun Belt
2. Nice rival with Ark State, Ark LR and UTA
3. Potential Mizzou vs Missouri football mathchup
4. Potential Missouri State vs. Kansas/Kanas Stae/Oklahoma/Ok State/Tulsa football matchups
5 Need More?
You talk about what is good for the SBC....then cite MSU....and the reasons you want MSU.....those reasons have nothing to do with what is good for the SBC.....at least not to the degree that Benson has been hinting publicly. The SBC needs -
1. Balanced divisions in football
2. A travel partner for ASU
3. An all sports member that will decrease OLY sports travel time
MSU satisfies none of the above three, and is "less ready" to make the jump than two eastern schools which do match up with the 3 reasons Benson has cited over and over again. Check the interview from the Ga Southern AD....posted in another thread.... "eastern member...football...travel time....divisions....OLY sports travel partner...."
I can assure you that MSU does not fit the description of the suspect at large...
So you tell me you want what is best for the SBC...then you pick a school that doesn't do a whole lot of good for the SBC...doesn't address its needs...Tell me how that is logical.
Missouri population...6 million....VA population...8.2 million....
Missouri median household income...44.3k....VA....63.6k....
JMU > MSU in every possible way that would relate to what is best for the SBC and possible expansion.
Missouri population...6 million....VA population...8.2 million....
Missouri median household income...44.3k....VA....63.6k....
Assuming all interest in the schools is equal
Divide Missouri by 2 = 6/2 3 million each
Divide Virginia by 6? = 8.2 = 1.2 each (UV,VT,VCU,ODU,JMU,Liberty)
MSU wins again!
What is a balanced division? I am not aware of a conference rule that half of the school had to be east of the Mississippi River.
And conferences can do what they want, look at the BIG Ten and Mizzou plays in the SEC East. Therefore, your argument is weak.
MSU wins again!
JMU and Liberty increase travel cost for Oly sports. JMU and Liberty do not balance the East. They extend the North Eastern boundary which makes no sense.
It is okay for App State to be outlier because it has a natural rivalry with UNCC and probably Wake Forest. Plus UT is not that far away.
App State is a very well known asset in the region/country so Liberty adds very little if anything.
Since Idaho and NMSU are way out West would not a Midwestern school be more beneficial to all?
Missouri State would be the second FBS team in Missouri. It sets up a nice instate rivalry with Mizzou.
Missouri State is the better option for the SBC future.
MSU wins again!