(07-24-2022 07:22 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  UTSA and Memphis to the SBC west would scratch both backs of TXST and AKST for a regional set of rivals. Not saying either UTSA or Memphis will ever consider a SBC invite, just that those two schools would be the perfect rivals. The nearby San Antonio/San Marcos and Memphis/Jonesboro locations make those pairing naturals.

Adding ECU to the SBC east would be an obvious choice and add great value to the SBC, but what other program could join ECU to make the SBC east better?

The choices seem limited. MTSU, WKU and Liberty are the most mentioned, but there are drawbacks to each.

I’m not entirely sold on any of them. Perhaps WKU would be the safest choice, and Liberty would have the greatest “upside” potential.

In any case, the SBC is in a stable position right now, and shouldn’t rush to add any teams. Over the next 2-3 years the P5s will continue to wreck damage to their weaker members, and to the AAC, and then the SBC (with ESPN’s help) can pick-up new members if needed.

If we’re taking a slow measured approach to growth (like the Texas St president said) then we’re hypothetically looking at adding 2, not 4. That’d have to be one in the east and one in the west. Adding two to either division and none to the other forces Troy back east or forces a Georgia schools west. And since aaaaaaallll of this is about logical geography, you can’t put a Georgia school in the west.

(07-24-2022 09:31 AM)APPdiesel Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 07:22 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  UTSA and Memphis to the SBC west would scratch both backs of TXST and AKST for a regional set of rivals. Not saying either UTSA or Memphis will ever consider a SBC invite, just that those two schools would be the perfect rivals. The nearby San Antonio/San Marcos and Memphis/Jonesboro locations make those pairing naturals.

Adding ECU to the SBC east would be an obvious choice and add great value to the SBC, but what other program could join ECU to make the SBC east better?

The choices seem limited. MTSU, WKU and Liberty are the most mentioned, but there are drawbacks to each.

I’m not entirely sold on any of them. Perhaps WKU would be the safest choice, and Liberty would have the greatest “upside” potential.

In any case, the SBC is in a stable position right now, and shouldn’t rush to add any teams. Over the next 2-3 years the P5s will continue to wreck damage to their weaker members, and to the AAC, and then the SBC (with ESPN’s help) can pick-up new members if needed.

If we’re taking a slow measured approach to growth (like the Texas St president said) then we’re hypothetically looking at adding 2, not 4. That’d have to be one in the east and one in the west. Adding two to either division and none to the other forces Troy back east or forces a Georgia schools west. And since aaaaaaallll of this is about logical geography, you can’t put a Georgia school in the west.

Completely agree that whatever future SBC growth might occur it must be balanced by an equal number of simultaneous additions to the East and West, whether that be 2 or 4 new schools. As it stands right now, both divisions of the SBC seem to be very happy with their division mates and there’s absolutely no need to upset the apple cart.

(07-24-2022 09:06 AM)dewclaws Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:43 AM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 06:55 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(07-23-2022 11:33 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  Teach me...is UNT a non starter? Love that stadium and non urban campus

Karl Benson said on a podcast last year that UNT absolutely refuses to ever share a conference with Texas State. That's why the SBC couldn't add Texas State until they knew UNT was leaving.

Edit: https://funbeltpc.podbean.com/e/funbelt-...ot-benson/

At 25:45, he mentions Louisiana Tech refusing to be in a conference with ULM, and UNT refusing to be in a conference with Texas State. The entire episode offers some really good insight on our expansion process while he was commissioner.

I don’t understand. Why does UNT dislike Texas State so much? I guess I understand LT and ULM. It’s similar to how I’m not sure UAB would share a conference with us unless it was the only choice.

I'm not sure. We were in the Southland Conference together for about a decade. I guess when they moved up way before we did, they see being back with us in a conference again as a step back? If I could choose a school to join us it would be UTSA... Or if UTA could add football, that would be a good fit as well.

I think UTSA is the only other Texas team I have any interest in but unless the AAC collapses then I don’t see them joining as a reality. UTA adding football and rejoining would be my 2nd Texas option but guess that won’t happen either or they probably would have tried that by now.

(07-24-2022 05:05 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 09:06 AM)dewclaws Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:43 AM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 06:55 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  

(07-23-2022 11:33 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  Teach me...is UNT a non starter? Love that stadium and non urban campus

Karl Benson said on a podcast last year that UNT absolutely refuses to ever share a conference with Texas State. That's why the SBC couldn't add Texas State until they knew UNT was leaving.

Edit: https://funbeltpc.podbean.com/e/funbelt-...ot-benson/

At 25:45, he mentions Louisiana Tech refusing to be in a conference with ULM, and UNT refusing to be in a conference with Texas State. The entire episode offers some really good insight on our expansion process while he was commissioner.

I don’t understand. Why does UNT dislike Texas State so much? I guess I understand LT and ULM. It’s similar to how I’m not sure UAB would share a conference with us unless it was the only choice.

I'm not sure. We were in the Southland Conference together for about a decade. I guess when they moved up way before we did, they see being back with us in a conference again as a step back? If I could choose a school to join us it would be UTSA... Or if UTA could add football, that would be a good fit as well.

I think UTSA is the only other Texas team I have any interest in but unless the AAC collapses then I don’t see them joining as a reality. UTA adding football and rejoining would be my 2nd Texas option but guess that won’t happen either or they probably would have tried that by now.

Why does it have to be a TX school? I'd take UAB ahead of the MeepMeeps! They add to both football AND basketball and make the west more compact.

(07-24-2022 06:48 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 05:05 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 09:06 AM)dewclaws Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:43 AM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 06:55 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  Karl Benson said on a podcast last year that UNT absolutely refuses to ever share a conference with Texas State. That's why the SBC couldn't add Texas State until they knew UNT was leaving.

Edit: https://funbeltpc.podbean.com/e/funbelt-...ot-benson/

At 25:45, he mentions Louisiana Tech refusing to be in a conference with ULM, and UNT refusing to be in a conference with Texas State. The entire episode offers some really good insight on our expansion process while he was commissioner.

I don’t understand. Why does UNT dislike Texas State so much? I guess I understand LT and ULM. It’s similar to how I’m not sure UAB would share a conference with us unless it was the only choice.

I'm not sure. We were in the Southland Conference together for about a decade. I guess when they moved up way before we did, they see being back with us in a conference again as a step back? If I could choose a school to join us it would be UTSA... Or if UTA could add football, that would be a good fit as well.

I think UTSA is the only other Texas team I have any interest in but unless the AAC collapses then I don’t see them joining as a reality. UTA adding football and rejoining would be my 2nd Texas option but guess that won’t happen either or they probably would have tried that by now.

Why does it have to be a TX school? I'd take UAB ahead of the MeepMeeps! They add to both football AND basketball and make the west more compact.

Another Texas school though helps keep TXST off their island.

(07-24-2022 06:48 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 05:05 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 09:06 AM)dewclaws Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:43 AM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 06:55 AM)Yosef181 Wrote:  Karl Benson said on a podcast last year that UNT absolutely refuses to ever share a conference with Texas State. That's why the SBC couldn't add Texas State until they knew UNT was leaving.

Edit: https://funbeltpc.podbean.com/e/funbelt-...ot-benson/

At 25:45, he mentions Louisiana Tech refusing to be in a conference with ULM, and UNT refusing to be in a conference with Texas State. The entire episode offers some really good insight on our expansion process while he was commissioner.

I don’t understand. Why does UNT dislike Texas State so much? I guess I understand LT and ULM. It’s similar to how I’m not sure UAB would share a conference with us unless it was the only choice.

I'm not sure. We were in the Southland Conference together for about a decade. I guess when they moved up way before we did, they see being back with us in a conference again as a step back? If I could choose a school to join us it would be UTSA... Or if UTA could add football, that would be a good fit as well.

I think UTSA is the only other Texas team I have any interest in but unless the AAC collapses then I don’t see them joining as a reality. UTA adding football and rejoining would be my 2nd Texas option but guess that won’t happen either or they probably would have tried that by now.

Why does it have to be a TX school? I'd take UAB ahead of the MeepMeeps! They add to both football AND basketball and make the west more compact.

I think people were just imagining how to throw us a bone over here lol. I'd completely understand why the rest of yall wouldn't want UTSA they're not very good at non football sports and are probably just a flash in the pan at football too.

At least UTSA has San Antonio to themselves. The others are all in oversaturated cities with very little market share.

(07-24-2022 08:14 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  At least UTSA has San Antonio to themselves. The others are all in oversaturated cities with very little market share.

UTSA pulls diddly squat in San Antone in the grand scheme of things. Last year they averaged 24, 229 in the regular season in the 60K plus Alamodome.

(07-24-2022 08:21 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:14 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  At least UTSA has San Antonio to themselves. The others are all in oversaturated cities with very little market share.

UTSA pulls diddly squat in San Antone in the grand scheme of things. Last year they averaged 24, 229 in the regular season in the 60K plus Alamodome.

Name another G5 that averages more than 24k. To say the Roadrunners pull “diddly squat” is way over the top.

UTSA is doing just fine with attendance and building the strength of the FB program.

(07-24-2022 09:12 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:21 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:14 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  At least UTSA has San Antonio to themselves. The others are all in oversaturated cities with very little market share.

UTSA pulls diddly squat in San Antone in the grand scheme of things. Last year they averaged 24, 229 in the regular season in the 60K plus Alamodome.

Name another G5 that averages more than 24k. To say the Roadrunners pull “diddly squat” is way over the top.

UTSA is doing just fine with attendance and building the strength of the FB program.

Ever see how much ink they command in the SA paper? 24K in a HUGE city. Most are Texas fans.

And okay, I'll even grant you your point about FB. But the SBC is wanting to build basketball. They do ZIPPO for that.

Well, just in a quick search, 2019 was the latest legit stats I could find. But there are about 20 schools who are better. I realize it is ebb and flow, but they should be doing much better.

https://247sports.com/college/west-virgi...171122421/

(07-24-2022 09:43 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Well, just in a quick search, 2019 was the latest legit stats I could find. But there are about 20 schools who are better. I realize it is ebb and flow, but they should be doing much better.

https://247sports.com/college/west-virgi...171122421/

If they can keep it rolling, they’ll be a jewel in football. Whether they can or not remains to be seen, but they have a lot going for them there.

Their biggest problem is they have a long way to go in infrastructure for other sports. Their basketball arena is half the size of Angelo State’s. Their visiting baseball press box is a folding table set out on the bleachers.

(07-24-2022 10:02 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 09:43 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Well, just in a quick search, 2019 was the latest legit stats I could find. But there are about 20 schools who are better. I realize it is ebb and flow, but they should be doing much better.

https://247sports.com/college/west-virgi...171122421/

If they can keep it rolling, they’ll be a jewel in football. Whether they can or not remains to be seen, but they have a lot going for them there.

Their biggest problem is they have a long way to go in infrastructure for other sports. Their basketball arena is half the size of Angelo State’s. Their visiting baseball press box is a folding table set out on the bleachers.

That's my point, Brother. Their non FB sports are...well.. awful.. And the SBC is wanting to really boost Basketball. That being said, I say add no one now. We have probably..not probably, we DO have the best deal in all of this in the G5 IMHO. We ALL are excited. Not one SBC school is poo pooing the additions and are salivating at playing our schedules. I can't think of any other G5 that can say that. And I'd bet they'd admit that if they're being honest. We are in a great place, my friend. But I think we aren't (or ESPN isn't) finished with their clay model of football.

(07-24-2022 10:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  That being said, I say add no one now. We have probably..not probably, we DO have the best deal in all of this in the G5 IMHO. We ALL are excited. Not one SBC school is poo pooing the additions and are salivating at playing our schedules. I can't think of any other G5 that can say that. And I'd bet they'd admit that if they're being honest. We are in a great place, my friend. But I think we aren't (or ESPN isn't) finished with their clay model of football.

100%. We’ll add somebody when 2 schools capable of bettering an already good situation become interested in joining. That’s not going to happen any time in the immediate future no matter how many threads people start about it.

None of the inbound AAC 6 are going to say, “Eh, let’s just eat that entrance fee and join the SBC for 2023-24,” and the other schools there have nowhere to go if a couple bolt for greener pastures presented by the Pac 12 situation, so it’s not just going to fold. If anybody in CUSA made sense to add, they’d already be here. Don’t look for anything to affect us directly until the ACC dam breaks, and that’s going to be a while due to their Grant of Rights, the quickest potential way out of which is a court challenge that hasn’t even been filed yet.

(07-24-2022 09:43 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Well, just in a quick search, 2019 was the latest legit stats I could find. But there are about 20 schools who are better. I realize it is ebb and flow, but they should be doing much better.

https://247sports.com/college/west-virgi...171122421/

You’re arguing both sides of the issue. First you say 24k attendance in 2021 is lousy, and UTSA needs to step it up. Then you post a 2019 stat showing attendance at UTSA is 16k. Last I checked 24k is a substantially bigger number than 16k. In fact, it’s a 50% increase. Seems to me attendance at UTSA football games is improving…dramatically…and is likely to stay or improve with their move to the AAC.

Methinks as a Marshall fan perhaps you’ve got a special problem with UTSA beyond, or outside of FB. It’s ok if you think UAB, or some other school is more deserving of SBC membership. I don’t have a dog in this fight, and SBC expansion is not in the cards anytime in the near future. The fact remains UTSA FB is doing well, and proximity to TXST would be a natural rival…is a natural rival…which would only grow were the schools in the same conference.

(07-24-2022 09:12 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:21 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 08:14 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  At least UTSA has San Antonio to themselves. The others are all in oversaturated cities with very little market share.

UTSA pulls diddly squat in San Antone in the grand scheme of things. Last year they averaged 24, 229 in the regular season in the 60K plus Alamodome.

Name another G5 that averages more than 24k. To say the Roadrunners pull “diddly squat” is way over the top.

UTSA is doing just fine with attendance and building the strength of the FB program.

Man, look at what they command when they are not contending which was quite often.........more like 16k. Let's not be giving credit that is undeserving. No one cares about the dang runners if they aren't winning. And as a herd brother has said, they still have a high school gym for hoops, would do diddly for the SB in that sport.

(07-25-2022 02:50 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 09:43 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Well, just in a quick search, 2019 was the latest legit stats I could find. But there are about 20 schools who are better. I realize it is ebb and flow, but they should be doing much better.

https://247sports.com/college/west-virgi...171122421/

You’re arguing both sides of the issue. First you say 24k attendance in 2021 is lousy, and UTSA needs to step it up. Then you post a 2019 stat showing attendance at UTSA is 16k. Last I checked 24k is a substantially bigger number than 16k. In fact, it’s a 50% increase. Seems to me attendance at UTSA football games is improving…dramatically…and is likely to stay or improve with their move to the AAC.

Methinks as a Marshall fan perhaps you’ve got a special problem with UTSA beyond, or outside of FB. It’s ok if you think UAB, or some other school is more deserving of SBC membership. I don’t have a dog in this fight, and SBC expansion is not in the cards anytime in the near future. The fact remains UTSA FB is doing well, and proximity to TXST would be a natural rival…is a natural rival…which would only grow were the schools in the same conference.

No......we have just played in conference with them and know very well how things work at UTSA. They came into CUSA on fire, and fizzled very quickly, when that happened, the 16k was the norm. We have no special hard on against UTSA, we just know how things work down there from experience. There isn't a Texas school that would add much to the SB if the AAC had internal explosions.

(07-24-2022 10:02 PM)HarborPointe Wrote:  

(07-24-2022 09:43 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Well, just in a quick search, 2019 was the latest legit stats I could find. But there are about 20 schools who are better. I realize it is ebb and flow, but they should be doing much better.

https://247sports.com/college/west-virgi...171122421/

If they can keep it rolling, they’ll be a jewel in football. Whether they can or not remains to be seen, but they have a lot going for them there.

Their biggest problem is they have a long way to go in infrastructure for other sports. Their basketball arena is half the size of Angelo State’s. Their visiting baseball press box is a folding table set out on the bleachers.

I'm not arguing both sides. In a city of 1.529 Million people, and they are the ONLY university in town, they only command 24K and change IF they are winning. They are the only football in SA.

By comparison, Marshall garners 22-26K in recent years in a city of 48K. Same with USM. Look at APP...

(07-24-2022 07:22 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  UTSA and Memphis to the SBC west would scratch both backs of TXST and AKST for a regional set of rivals. Not saying either UTSA or Memphis will ever consider a SBC invite, just that those two schools would be the perfect rivals. The nearby San Antonio/San Marcos and Memphis/Jonesboro locations make those pairing naturals.

Adding ECU to the SBC east would be an obvious choice and add great value to the SBC, but what other program could join ECU to make the SBC east better?

The choices seem limited. MTSU, WKU and Liberty are the most mentioned, but there are drawbacks to each.

I’m not entirely sold on any of them. Perhaps WKU would be the safest choice, and Liberty would have the greatest “upside” potential.

In any case, the SBC is in a stable position right now, and shouldn’t rush to add any teams. Over the next 2-3 years the P5s will continue to wreck damage to their weaker members, and to the AAC, and then the SBC (with ESPN’s help) can pick-up new members if needed.

AK is Alaska. AR is for Arkansas. AZ is for Arizona.

I agree with you. Memphis would be the perfect team for Red Wolves fans. Unless they were in a bad position, their fans wouldn't allow them to be in the SBC. They think they are P5 already and they're having a hard time accepting the AAC right now. If they don't get picked by a P5 conference soon, they may implode.