There are really three questions.
Who goes east?
Who goes West?
Are both of them worth it?

No.

The only thing they would bring to this conference is that people would stop asking if they should be invited, but then they would just start asking about some other ****** program, probably MT.

(02-28-2024 11:28 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  WKU "abandoning the SBC" was before our time. I'm pretty sure it's the least important factor in courting some of us if they're feeling out for votes. If they add media values for Disney and provide basketball strength, then some of our presidents will listen. In fact, in the grand scheme of things, they'll probably fit in just fine as another regional comprehensive university like many in the SBC.

If WKU +1 join and increase our numbers to 16 potentially (for balance,) how about a pod system? For selfish reasons, I like the idea of sticking together with schools in Alabama and Georgia for less travel and greater regional familiarity. And perhaps no more travels to the mountains past October. I'm sorry, below freezing is not football weather despite what you crazy mountain men say

*knocks the ice off him* Aww.. I keep tellin' folks I love the late Oct games, the florida families come up in their parkas and I might have my hoodie on :)

Even if we NEEDED to add anyone, I'm always gonna be a no for any W_U programs, most because of their fans or the attitudes of high and mightiness.. could just be me...

WKU only as a backup to replenish the conference if teams leave. We need teams that make a splash not just "fit".

(02-29-2024 05:38 AM)Herdfan1 Wrote:  Even if we NEEDED to add anyone, I'm always gonna be a no for any W_U programs, most because of their fans or the attitudes of high and mightiness.. could just be me...

I always thought Louisville fans were the worst I’d ever encountered, including getting whiskey showers (cups and bottles included)in the visitors section of their stadium as we beat them yet again. WKU fans are worse. Inhospitable, rude, cheering injuries- all in a game they were winning. Yeah, **** those guys.

I voted “no” primarily because the SBC is just great as it currently stands. I see no reason to jump in the middle of the continuing conference realignment mess. I can only really comment from an East Division POV, but there isn’t a single school that I would trade for WKU, and I generally respect the Hilltoppers and feel they are a solid school that adds credibility to any conference they might belong to. If they are truly unhappy with CUSA, then the MAC seems a better alternative, but unless we unexpectedly lose someone, I would not make a move on WKU.

There are schools that I would take the leap to 16 for, but neither WKU, nor MTSU, for that matter are in tha5 group. Stay the course!

I hope we do nothing until the P4 is settled. There are programs in the AAC that may be available that bring more value. As many said, this is a really fun conference as it is. Let's enjoy it while we can.

(02-28-2024 09:16 PM)JTApps1 Wrote:  We don't need to do anything until we see what happens with the ACC and associated fallout. Not to mention what this new CFP will look like. It's not like WKU going someplace else will hurt us in any way.

If the SBC waits till the ACC implodes to make any moves, the SBC will be done. The ACC will take the top programs from the AAC and SBC and then Disney will combined the remains of the AAC and SBC since that is better from a media standpoint.

(02-28-2024 09:27 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I like WKU and I liked being in a league with them. If we were ever to lose a member they are who I would want to be our first call. They have had a lot of success over multiple sports and their fans are loyal. But right now we have 14, and I personally don't see the need to go to 15 right now.

I concur. Would be a great addition but I don't think it's in our best interest to expand at the moment.

I've given it a great deal of thought. After hours of deliberation I think I've come up with a reasonable answer. Hell no.

Why not add La Tech?
(ducking!)

(02-29-2024 08:48 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 09:27 PM)Blue_Trombone Wrote:  I like WKU and I liked being in a league with them. If we were ever to lose a member they are who I would want to be our first call. They have had a lot of success over multiple sports and their fans are loyal. But right now we have 14, and I personally don't see the need to go to 15 right now.

I concur. Would be a great addition but I don't think it's in our best interest to expand at the moment.

The only schools I liked being associated with out of that whole iteration of CUSA were Southern Miss and Old Dominion. So I'm good you know.

Take your ADHD meds.

(02-28-2024 11:47 PM)Troy_Fan_15 Wrote:  Yes! Yes! Yes!

WKU is the prodigal son and it’s time for them to return home. I’ll put myself in a real minority position and say bring MTSU with them too.

WKU is the perfect cultural fit. Arkansas St., Louisiana, Troy, ULM or anyone else would have taken a CUSA invite back around 2012 because it was seen as a clear step up. Can’t *really* blame them.

We'll take their pay out of your share because no one is gonna pay us more to take them.

(02-29-2024 12:31 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 11:33 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:35 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  I know its going to be a no vote, but I'm curious to see the difference in opinions between the long time SBC programs who were in the conference with WKU for many years and the newer fans who either have never been with them, or had them for a few years in CUSA.

That "few years" is 8 years. And not just had them a few years but were the closest geographic school to Marshall and in same division with both Marshall and ODU. They also shared a conference championship with USM. Seems like your dismissing a lot to say the old guard knows more about them. I would say you don't know them anymore and your opinions are less relevant. Either way, whatever people like about them is not enough to improve our payouts.

I didn’t take his post as being dismissive, but you do realize Louisiana and Arkansas State shared a league with WKU for three times as long (23 years) and South Alabama shared a league with them for four times as long (32 years) right?

And you realize the last decade is more relevant than the previous 3 before that one? I explained why they aren't the same as they were. And yes turning 8 years, the better part of a decade, into a "few years" is being dismissive of our history with them.

(02-28-2024 11:33 PM)MUther Wrote:  

(02-28-2024 10:35 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  I know its going to be a no vote, but I'm curious to see the difference in opinions between the long time SBC programs who were in the conference with WKU for many years and the newer fans who either have never been with them, or had them for a few years in CUSA.

That "few years" is 8 years. And not just had them a few years but were the closest geographic school to Marshall and in same division with both Marshall and ODU. They also shared a conference championship with USM. Seems like your dismissing a lot to say the old guard knows more about them. I would say you don't know them anymore and your opinions are less relevant. Either way, whatever people like about them is not enough to improve our payouts.

Anybody we add right now costs this conference money rather than adding to it, except maybe 3-4 schools of which WKU isn't one. And even then there's no guarantee of increased revenue. Disney/ESPN is going broke. They are putting all their money into this new playoff mega-conference basket. If we weren't under contract with them, I'm not sure we would even get the deal we have now. People need to stop trying to add mouths to feed. Has nothing to do with who knows or does not know WKU. It's common sense.

Even when CUSA added them, last, I might add, they were not a popular choice with the other SBC additions nor the CUSA remainders. They were a last resort to replace the second Big East wave of Tulsa, Tulane, and ECU leaving. If we didn't want them when we were desperate, why would we want them when we are not? They've had some good football teams but they always choke OOC so they never built a brand. Their basketball prospered in the SBC due to it's weak overall teams and they went to the dance, a lot. They haven't been back since they left the Belt. Middle dominated CUSA a lot more than WKU did. At best they were a tough out on someone else's way to the top. Again no brand. No brand equals no more money. No more money equals SBC teams giving up something to get them. For what?

Not being dismissive, but parts of the West shared a league with WKU for multiple decades, and there remains a lot of bad blood from the way the original SBC to CUSA defections happened in 2011. My curiosity is whther their exit still plays a role now with those teams

(02-28-2024 08:35 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  Just wanted to see what the general consensus is.

WKU quite obviously wants out of CUSA from everything that's been put out there. The MAC isn't the best option from a cultural standpoint, since WKU fits in more naturally with southern schools.

WKU would be very centralized to everyone in the SBC geographically, and would give Arkansas State a closer regional rival.

Their football is consistently good, their basketball would be a good addition. Their baseball is good enough to be middle of the pack in the SBC and win a fair amount of OOC games. WKU's other sports are always contending for titles... their women's volleyball is elite.

So... should the SBC be proactive and go after a good addition in WKU? Does the SBC bring WKU into the fold before the SBC loses them as a future option?

And bring the incessant whining and complaining about how they hate the SBC and want out now. They walked away from the SBC . . good riddance to their whining, complaining fans.

I actually like WKU and think they are a perfect fit. That said, why are we adding? Just because?

I won't lie but it seems that Marshall fans have a real sour attitude towards WKU. Did something happen between the fanbases or schools during their tenure in CUSA together?

Regardless I'd be a fan if they rejoined the Belt.