(08-08-2023 12:07 PM)Vobserver Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 11:49 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 11:37 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 09:49 AM)BeatWestern! Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 09:30 AM)BirdofParadise Wrote:  This is hard to believe, but I trust my sources on this: When the league was talking about expansion (and added our new four members), WKU was never even brought up for discussion.

BP what's your take on Louisiana Tech? If Texas State should leave, is Louisiana Tech likely to replace the Bobcats in the SBC West?

Man, who knows. Louisiana Tech is and always has been a lightning rod. If you take emotion out of it......Tech had a horrible reputation when it came to playing nice with others. They thought they were above everyone else in the Sun Belt (remember, they never played football in this league.)

They almost destroyed SBC football when they pulled out at the last minute to join the WAC instead.

Their egos continued after they joined the WAC and there are folks connected with this league that wouldn't piss on them if they were on fire.

HOWEVER

They have a new administration at Tech and their new AD, Eric Wood, wants to play nice with everyone, including the Cajuns and ULM. Those who were the antagonists over the last 25 years are all gone.

There is an argument to be made over three Louisiana schools, just as there is about UAB as the third Alabama school and I get that.

I think for political reasons, UL and ULM wouldn't fight it. Personally, I wouldn't be bothered by it. Tech is a long time rival.

I'd love to have WKU back in the league, but that's personal. I still think WKU and MT are pretty much joined at the hip. I don't think MT brings a thing.

But Arkansas State, Southern Miss and South Alabama are a whole other story.

Adding LTU has always been down to whether or not AState/South/USM would approve them. For political reasons, UL and ULM can't block it, but the other Western Division teams can.

Personally, I'd prefer WKU, but there's still an element of bad blood on that end from the Toppers not scheduling any SBC teams for a long time after they left, including Olympic Sports. I will say this, I think with the new teams, its going to be easier to get WKU past them than it might be Tech.

For me, it ain't about hating Tech. It is about inviting someone into our conference who has been a poisonous snake in every conference they have ever been in. It is a virtual lock that LTU is NEVER going to be a good conference mate. Inviting them to the SBC is like inviting a fox into your henhouse

They have always wanted to latch onto the next big thing. Like the AAC schools they don't fit.

(08-08-2023 01:11 PM)beefcake0520 Wrote:  No disrespect intended here but how do you know what their TV contract will look like in the future. We already know it is devalued, incoming members getting no more or just a little more than we are. You can't bank on ECU or Memphis doing anything for the TV contract. That conference lost its money makers, future negotiations will prove my point, especially is SMU gets called somewhere and it sparks the contract change.

That's a valid point.

(08-07-2023 08:38 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  I want schools that want to be HERE! Raise the bar and win championships. The last thing I want, is a school that will pimp themselves the second an opportunity comes!

THIS!!

(08-08-2023 02:09 PM)CAJUNNATION Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 01:11 PM)beefcake0520 Wrote:  No disrespect intended here but how do you know what their TV contract will look like in the future. We already know it is devalued, incoming members getting no more or just a little more than we are. You can't bank on ECU or Memphis doing anything for the TV contract. That conference lost its money makers, future negotiations will prove my point, especially is SMU gets called somewhere and it sparks the contract change.

That's a valid point.

A LOT has been made of this supposition, but I caution everyone against printing it on a flag and waving it around...we all think it will happen - we all want it to happen - but we don't know that that will happen...and if it doesn't...or if it does but the valuation is still $4m per, we all look stupid.

The value of everything is what someone is willing to pay for it...and if the right people are in the room at ESPN they might still value the AAC more than any of us think they should.

(08-08-2023 12:57 PM)FairwayEagle Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 11:49 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  Adding LTU has always been down to whether or not AState/South/USM would approve them. For political reasons, UL and ULM can't block it, but the other Western Division teams can.

Personally, I'd prefer WKU, but there's still an element of bad blood on that end from the Toppers not scheduling any SBC teams for a long time after they left, including Olympic Sports. I will say this, I think with the new teams, its going to be easier to get WKU past them than it might be Tech.

Frankly I don't think USM would block LTU. Rumor is that we actually went to bat for them to join with us in the last round only to find out they weren't wanted. However, they did align themselves closely with the Judy-backing Texas schools in CUSA. At the same time, for the last few years we were in CUSA, we pushed for Judy's firing while LTU was firmly on her side as she drove the conference into the ground. But the LTU administration has turned over since then.

As a plus, LTU would be another close school and longtime rival.

Tech's largest donor is still in the picture and he was the one most insistent about never playing ULM again. He still has big sway.

Since we all know it’s about TV dollars, why isn’t Liberty in this discussion? 95,000 current students and almost 300,000 living alumni.

That’s a lot of eyeballs.


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(08-08-2023 06:11 PM)ODU1986 Wrote:  Since we all know it’s about TV dollars, why isn’t Liberty in this discussion? 95,000 current students and almost 300,000 living alumni.

That’s a lot of eyeballs.


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Because we are talking about college athletics and not VBS athletics

(08-08-2023 06:11 PM)ODU1986 Wrote:  Since we all know it’s about TV dollars, why isn’t Liberty in this discussion? 95,000 current students and almost 300,000 living alumni.

That’s a lot of eyeballs.


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I'd love to see Coastal's ole rival, the Flamin' Pool Boys, in the Belt! Liberty's competitive and has big pocket donors. I'm not sure how others feel about adding another Virginia school but I'd be stoked to see those arrogant religious nutjobs as a future member...

Bring in LaTech…let the hate flow through our veins.

(08-08-2023 06:17 PM)El Chanto Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 06:11 PM)ODU1986 Wrote:  Since we all know it’s about TV dollars, why isn’t Liberty in this discussion? 95,000 current students and almost 300,000 living alumni.

That’s a lot of eyeballs.


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I'd love to see Coastal's ole rival, the Flamin' Pool Boys, in the Belt! Liberty's competitive and has big pocket donors. I'm not sure how others feel about adding another Virginia school but I'd be stoked to see those arrogant religious nutjobs as a future member...

No thanks. Overrated, and SBC can do better.

That "big money" all comes from their online paper mill, not donor pockets.

(08-08-2023 06:17 PM)El Chanto Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 06:11 PM)ODU1986 Wrote:  Since we all know it’s about TV dollars, why isn’t Liberty in this discussion? 95,000 current students and almost 300,000 living alumni.

That’s a lot of eyeballs.


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I'd love to see Coastal's ole rival, the Flamin' Pool Boys, in the Belt! Liberty's competitive and has big pocket donors. I'm not sure how others feel about adding another Virginia school but I'd be stoked to see those arrogant religious nutjobs as a future member...

Liberty wouldn't get enough votes. The Big South we were in was made up of mostly private schools for one, where the SBC is all public schools.

There are an increasing number of indicators that Disney is selling ESPN either this year or next year.

Disney Taps Two Former Executives to Help Sell ESPN Stake

(08-08-2023 06:27 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  Bring in LaTech…let the hate flow through our veins.

If’n TXST leaves then as far as I’m concerned it’s a western division decision. State politics be damned, this is a conference decision. UL or ULM doesn’t want them then just give us a nod and it won’t happen.

Personally. And probably from ODU’s perspective I’d choose WKU over LT. I think they’re the better fit and perform well. No complaints on the Toppers being added. I liked sharing a conference with LT as well though, we had some spicy meetings, so that’s fine. Whether our admin thinks the same, I don’t know.

No point in speculating, I hope the league stays the same.

(08-08-2023 08:08 PM)ODU2017 Wrote:  There are an increasing number of indicators that Disney is selling ESPN either this year or next year.

Disney Taps Two Former Executives to Help Sell ESPN Stake

SEC will probably bid on it. They practically own it anyway.

(08-08-2023 08:51 PM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(08-08-2023 06:27 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  Bring in LaTech…let the hate flow through our veins.

If’n TXST leaves then as far as I’m concerned it’s a western division decision. State politics be damned, this is a conference decision. UL or ULM doesn’t want them then just give us a nod and it won’t happen.

Personally. And probably from ODU’s perspective I’d choose WKU over LT. I think they’re the better fit and perform well. No complaints on the Toppers being added. I liked sharing a conference with LT as well though, we had some spicy meetings, so that’s fine. Whether our admin thinks the same, I don’t know.

No point in speculating, I hope the league stays the same.

In no particular order these are the Western additions I’d embrace, assuming they had 100% buy in.

UTSA
LaTech
UAB
WKU

I don’t think anyone on this board would argue. These are the usual suspects. North Texas would be up here but they don’t sponsor baseball…that’s a dealbreaker.

I don't think the Sun Belt will be affected by all this, but if we are and only 1 team leaves just take Liberty and call it a day. Move Georgia Southern to the West. I'm assuming no AAC teams would join atm which I think is a pretty good assumption until both our and their tv contracts are renegotiated. Ours for the better and theirs for the worst.

Imagine this board and the rivalry hatred if La Tech/MTSU/Liberty/WKU were added for a 20 team Sun Belt. Heck just throw in Jax St and SHSU and let it rip. The smack board would be so active it would be hilarious.

Move GS to the West? As much fun as it would be to have a rivalry game with Southern Miss every year, not a chance in hell that would happen. Gag State would be moved first.

ECU is the most over rated of all. They have good football attendance but that's it. Their football program its self isn't even that great. Plus, as others have said, they would be looking to leave from day one.

I would personally like to add WKU, Liberty, and La Tech. No one from the MAC is going to join for the same reason we won't leave the SBC. So we would need to poach from CUSA and those are the only three teams I would want to consider.

(08-09-2023 12:43 AM)herdfan129 Wrote:  ECU is the most over rated of all. They have good football attendance but that's it. Their football program its self isn't even that great. Plus, as others have said, they would be looking to leave from day one.

I would personally like to add WKU, Liberty, and La Tech. No one from the MAC is going to join for the same reason we won't leave the SBC. So we would need to poach from CUSA and those are the only three teams I would want to consider.

Lets not add anyone then.