So lets jump into it! ....

BirdofParadise recently wrote up an interesting article regarding rivalries being possibly established with the new basketball format being implemented in the next few seasons and I absolutely agree with his sentiments-
one thing that has always been lacking with the league is the establishment of conference rivalries.

Now granted, a lot of that has to do with the instability the conference has dealt with since the beginning back in 2001 (over 20 former full and affiliate members have come and gone!). With all that say, for the first time in a long time the 'Belt has finally got some solid footing with its current membership and I feel like the next best thing for the conference to do is to start scheduling for a "rivalry week" last regular week of the season.

In a way 2018 is almost already set up perfectly for it...
-Georgia State vs Georgia Southern
-Louisiana vs ULM
-Appalachian State vs Troy
-Arkansas State vs Texas State (I can already SEE the disdain for this by Astate and Texas State posters but I'll elaborate in a second)

The one kind of random match up is South Al and Coastal; this could be easily remedied by flipping around and having the Battle for the Belt held last week of the season and square up App and Coastal (although admittedly the Trojans and 'Neers match up is super fun as hell to have last game of the season)

Astate and TXST fans, I know there's not a lot of history there and both universities aren't exactly close to one another but 1) it's the way the cookies crumble. 2) I'm sorry but I absolutely disagree that you can't create a modern day, traveling rivalry trophy game--you're adding stakes to the game, you're creating some buzz and if you can get a sponsor for the game that benefits both universities....all the more better for all.

Anywho thoughts? What would be your matchups for the hypothetical rivalry week? Would anyone have it at a different point during the season?

Since rivalry week in CFB as a whole is usually centered around in-state opponents, I think it would make sense for the 6 teams who have another in-state Sun Belt school to play that weekend. The other 4 are also somewhat closeby and can be paired because of geography.

It should look like this:
GS vs GAST
ULL vs ULM
Troy vs USA
App vs Coastal
Ark State vs TXST

It'll be interesting to see how GS/GAST this year will be able to compete for attention against UGA/GT. Several fans of both schools could likely be in Athens that weekend instead of Atlanta.

I just want a set day of the week for our rivalry with Troy. This will be the 5th time in as many years our game is on a different night of the week:

Troy @ USA 2018: Tuesday night
USA @ Troy 2017: Wednesday night
Troy @ USA 2016: Thursday night
USA @ Troy 2015: Saturday night
Troy @ USA 2014: Friday night

ARKST vs CAJUNS not a thing anymore??

(06-29-2018 11:28 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  ARKST vs CAJUNS not a thing anymore??

It absolutely is but I think for a rivalry week to work you’ve got to have logical matchups (which In this case would be geography) instate matchups virtually carry a sense of intrigue and buzz.

Furthermore, the warhawks are the Cajuns 3rd most played opponents (I can’t find the exact number but I’m willing to bet cajuns are ULM’s top if not second most played opponent), and while i have yet to actually find a picture of it or have confirmed it has existed, they could bring back and really perpetuate the supposed “Battle on the Bayou” trophy. Having that history helps legitimize the “rivalry week”

Lol I don't think TXST fans would mind playing yall on rivalry weekend. Some of yalls posters though would probably rather play anyone else.

(06-29-2018 11:53 AM)Bobcat2013 Wrote:  Lol I don't think TXST fans would mind playing yall on rivalry weekend. Some of yalls posters though would probably rather play anyone else.

There are the naysayers but I see a ton of potential (especially when Texas State can start getting competitive in football). In this case, never mind the “lack of history”-let’s make history, let’s establish something awesome for the future. All the great college football rivalries had to start by playing the game and some fan/marketing initiative.

(06-29-2018 11:28 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  ARKST vs CAJUNS not a thing anymore??

No because some idiots constantly try to push a rivalry that doesn’t exist. We hate losing to ULM because it shows that we have regressed as a program. In football, our real rival is stAte.

I am good with making a rivalry with stAte and UL. The year we beat stAte was a lot of fun and good banter.

(06-29-2018 01:58 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(06-29-2018 11:28 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  ARKST vs CAJUNS not a thing anymore??

No because some idiots constantly try to push a rivalry that doesn’t exist. We hate losing to ULM because it shows that we have regressed as a program. In football, our real rival is stAte.

So, you don't think of ULM as a rival because you don't think of them as your equal? Is that not most of what defines a rival?

(06-29-2018 10:54 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  Since rivalry week in CFB as a whole is usually centered around in-state opponents, I think it would make sense for the 6 teams who have another in-state Sun Belt school to play that weekend. The other 4 are also somewhat closeby and can be paired because of geography.

It should look like this:
GS vs GAST
ULL vs ULM
Troy vs USA
App vs Coastal
Ark State vs TXST

It'll be interesting to see how GS/GAST this year will be able to compete for attention against UGA/GT. Several fans of both schools could likely be in Athens that weekend instead of Atlanta.

I get the in-state part of the rivalry between us and GAST, but I see App as much more of a rival because of the longer history there. We have not held up our end of the deal lately, but there have been some EPIC games between us.

(06-29-2018 11:28 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  ARKST vs CAJUNS not a thing anymore??

No, its still a thing. Its just the idiots at the Sun Belt Office think that the fictional UL/ULM rivalry is easier to market than what AState/UL can provide.

Maybe:

StAte vs ULL
GaSo vs App
ULM vs TxSt
Troy vs South
GSU vs Coastal

3 rivalries and 2 leftover games

(06-29-2018 04:43 PM)debragga Wrote:  Maybe:

StAte vs ULL
GaSo vs App
ULM vs TxSt
Troy vs South
GSU vs Coastal

3 rivalries and 2 leftover games

If you did GS/GSU I think App/Coastal has the potential to be marketed as a "rivalry"

Even though it'll be a little one sided for a bit, so is the GS/GSU football series, and its still a lot of fun...

I never get the we hate losing to them argument. I get your argument with McNeese with them being FCS, although they seem to beat you most times you play. There is a lot of hate between the Cajuns and Warhawks. That’s what a rivalry is. Add in we are much better lately, beat you last year, and are ranked higher than you in every preseason in poll I have seen. In actuality, losing to ULL this year would mean we have regressed. You guys have won more recently, but the series is fairly close in football. In you guys don’t want a rivalry fine with me, but to pretend there is none because losing to us somehow dinegrates your program and you are above us in football is ludicrous. Just looking at “hateweek” on Twitter, etc. the week we play says it matters at least some to most students at both schools. Again, if it makes you feel better to pretend no one cares, fine with me. Tech was more both of our rivals if they would play us.

I'd rather see Troy vs APP than Troy vs USA honestly. I feel like APP in TROY are more closely aligned in our histories and what are programs look like.

(06-29-2018 03:02 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(06-29-2018 01:58 PM)geauxcajuns Wrote:  

(06-29-2018 11:28 AM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  ARKST vs CAJUNS not a thing anymore??

No because some idiots constantly try to push a rivalry that doesn’t exist. We hate losing to ULM because it shows that we have regressed as a program. In football, our real rival is stAte.

So, you don't think of ULM as a rival because you don't think of them as your equal? Is that not most of what defines a rival?

No they are not our equal. I don’t hate them either, they are just 3rd or 4th on the list of teams I feel as though the Cajuns have a rivalry with. Behind stAte, South Al and Troy. If wku were still in the Belt they would be behind them too.

I don't think some of you folks understand rivalries.

Isn't denial a sign of a rivalry?

(06-29-2018 10:54 AM)TrueBlueDrew Wrote:  Since rivalry week in CFB as a whole is usually centered around in-state opponents, I think it would make sense for the 6 teams who have another in-state Sun Belt school to play that weekend. The other 4 are also somewhat closeby and can be paired because of geography.

It should look like this:
GS vs GAST
ULL vs ULM
Troy vs USA
App vs Coastal
Ark State vs TXST

It'll be interesting to see how GS/GAST this year will be able to compete for attention against UGA/GT. Several fans of both schools could likely be in Athens that weekend instead of Atlanta.

Nothing against Coastal, but it's hard to classify this a Rivalry Week game after one conference and four total games.