What do you believe is the position of your school regarding expansion/Idaho/NMSU?

I wish we knew, our administration is so quite, and keeps everything to themselves, not really sure where we stand. If I was to guess we would want NMSU in all sports, NMSU mens basketball program is traditionally a very good program, and would really help give the conference credibility, but if they aren't wiling to go all sports, drop them, they don't bring anything to the table in football. Idaho, gone, too far to travel, and they don't bring much to the table, and it doesn't look like they are going to improve anytime soon. But the big thing for App is adding another east coast team, worst kept secret in the SBC is Apps desire for a closer travel partner, not really the SBC fault, JMU should have been that team, but it appears JMU's administration doesn't know what the hell they are doing, and the next level of teams, Liberty, Coastal Carolina, Eastern Kentucky, all seem to have their own problems that makes it hard to fully endorse them. Personally, if I had to pick one it would be EKU, but they really don't move the needle much for me.

Our AD has been on the job for three months and our chancellor since last July. I do know that the chancellor doesn't meddle and lets administrators administrate, so the opinion of the AD is probably what we're going with and he's not talking publicly.

I have a hard time believeing we would favor NMSU as a full member w/o the addition of the same in the east. IMO, time is running out on Idaho. Time to head back to the Big Sky.

(06-11-2015 10:18 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  What do you believe is the position of your school regarding expansion/Idaho/NMSU?

NMSU will happen and AppState would support it if we get a full east division commitment first. I'm pretty certain on our position on this issue. I think Coastal or EKU will be announced first and before the end of the year, then next spring NMSU plus who's left of Coastal, EKU, Mo. state that is ready and motivated to join will be announced.

And the end of the day the order does not matter if we get to the same result. NMSU (if that's really what the west wants) will never be agreed to without a plan to add two more full members.... One in the east and the other in the footprint. Idaho is sent packing.

I'd say GS, GA St., and App are on the same page on this topic.

All three know they currently make up 27% of the league, which is a critical voting block.

I suspect Troy would be the 4th school that is in that voting block

hate to state the obvious, but again JMU is screwing up what could be eventually, the second strongest mid major conference in the country,(behind AAC), imagine if they joined, they bring a very good football program that would widen the gap between the SBC and CUSA, and the MAC. and NMSU would bring a basketball program that is almost year in, year out, a top 30 program, and would give us credibility as a conference, not to mention it would help close the gap between the SBC and CUSA. Now, we have this problem in the league between the West and East teams, and we probably are going to have to settle on a program ie: Coastal Carolina who has their own baggage, and in my opinion isn't ready for the move up. If we have no choice but to go with a EKU or CCU, I hope that JMU never gets another chance to move up, the CAA becomes a watered down conference, and their program basically deterates to the point where they lose support and basically becomes a division 2 program, I have absolutely no sympathy for them if they crash and burn in the CAA for the next 15 yrs.

I'll pile on. We've been promised, whatever that is worth anymore, an eastern team. But based on the names that have been tossed around, we might not like our options, but will eventually have to settle on someone for the sake of basketball travel. I doubt we can go on too long without a true travel partner and playing this ridiculous amount of conference games. We wouldn't be so uptight about the 12th team if we could schedule another guarantee game or two for basketball. We are in a big time losing scenario right now.

I think NMSU coming in and Idaho moving out makes sense, but we will not vote for it until we have an eastern school locked up.

No doubt this conference would be very impressive, adding NMSU all the way plus JMU, less Idaho.

Also, while we have your attention, you suck.

The idea of "App will allow NMSU for full membership if they allow an eastern team to join" will have the conference end up with 13 Olympic sports members, 6 in the east and 7 in the west. Makes little sense and we're back where we started, only with NMSU on the island.

(06-12-2015 12:45 PM)moehler Wrote:  hate to state the obvious, but again JMU is screwing up what could be eventually, the second strongest mid major conference in the country,(behind AAC), imagine if they joined, they bring a very good football program that would widen the gap between the SBC and CUSA, and the MAC. and NMSU would bring a basketball program that is almost year in, year out, a top 30 program, and would give us credibility as a conference, not to mention it would help close the gap between the SBC and CUSA. Now, we have this problem in the league between the West and East teams, and we probably are going to have to settle on a program ie: Coastal Carolina who has their own baggage, and in my opinion isn't ready for the move up. If we have no choice but to go with a EKU or CCU, I hope that JMU never gets another chance to move up, the CAA becomes a watered down conference, and their program basically deterates to the point where they lose support and basically becomes a division 2 program, I have absolutely no sympathy for them if they crash and burn in the CAA for the next 15 yrs.

Frankly, your wish of the "pox" on JMU is pretty dead on. They've taken a dump on the financial support that got them here, raised prices and donation levels, not made a move to FBS, and are now looking at a reduction in revenue in a year when they UPPED donor levels and ticket prices. Our premium seating and major donor lot are 20% empty this year, after being sold out in 2011.

F them, I say. All data said this would happen, and those small town/long time administrators are reaping what they sow. The SBC with ASU is fine for us....not perfect, but far better than CAA/FCS where we have quadruple the average following of our "peers".

(06-12-2015 10:57 PM)T-Dog Wrote:  The idea of "App will allow NMSU for full membership if they allow an eastern team to join" will have the conference end up with 13 Olympic sports members, 6 in the east and 7 in the west. Makes little sense and we're back where we started, only with NMSU on the island.

That's because 13 Olympic members is not the end game. It's 14.

12/14 is the endgame. There will be two full sport members invited once a decision is made on what to do with the football only members. Prevailing theory is NMSU gets full membership Idaho the boot. Thing is: that decision does not need to be made now, but a 12th all sports team does. Just by adding one member in the east gets us to 12/12. That's why I maintain We will have that member soon and the fate of NMSU/Idaho/additional full member will be tabled until next spring.