[LUaddict]

This is the from the Las Cruces Sun News about New Mexico State Expansion to Sun Belt

At the moment, Sun Belt doesn't look like a sure thing for Aggies
By Teddy Feinberg/tfeinberg@lcsun-news.com
Posted: 05/02/2012 05:49:26 PM MDT

Click photo to enlarge
Karl Benson (Courtesy photo)
LAS CRUCES - At this point, it would seem that New Mexico State University needs the Sun Belt Conference more than the Sun Belt Conference needs the Aggies.

That, at least, could be interpreted during a conference call Wednesday involving Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson and the media, announcing that Texas State University would be leaving the Western Athletic Conference for the Sun Belt following the 2013 academic year.

Texas State is the latest WAC casualty. San Jose State and Utah State are expected to go to the Mountain West, and Louisiana Tech and Texas-San Antonio to Conference USA, announcements likely to come later this week.

Such movement will mean the end of the WAC as a football-playing league after the upcoming season, and could leave Aggie athletics - particularly its football program - high and dry.

Benson left the WAC for the Sun Belt over two months ago, and perhaps NMSU could find a home with their former commissioner.

But, while Benson said he was aware of what the Aggies and fellow WAC football member Idaho are facing in the light of conference realignment, he also said no plan was currently in place to bring them into the fold.

"Right now it's premature to talk about either Idaho or New Mexico State in terms of where they might fit," Benson said. "Until we know for sure what the end result is for the Sun Belt and what our membership will be comprised of .... (we) probably have not given a lot of attention or time looking west right now. I
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certainly understand the issues that are in front of New Mexico State and Idaho. At some point in time, we'll have conversations with them about what their futures may be, but at this point of time it's too early to speculate."

Benson was vague during the press conference, although he reiterated that the Sun Belt was happy with its current geographic footprint - stretching from Florida to east Texas - and that the league "does have options" within that immediate region.

The Sun Belt would like to get to 12 members for the 2013-14 academic year and - the way it looks to be situated going forward - could have that number.

Speculation is that Benson will replace North Texas - expected to be heading to Conference USA - with Texas-Arlington, which will play the 2012-13 season in the WAC as a non-football member - Arkansas-Little Rock would be the Sun Belt's other non-football playing school.

Benson didn't confirm that Texas-Arlington would, in fact, join the Sun Belt in the immediate future, only stating that, "At some point in time ... we will address our next member."

Perhaps a door could open for the Aggies if the Sun Belt desired 12 football-playing members, although as of Wednesday's press conference, Benson said, "I don't think it's necessary."

"The decision has to be made ... what the value is and if the membership thinks 12 members and a football championship has value," he said. "If the answer is yes, you go out and put together a 12-member football league. There's certainly a number of football programs that have indicated their interest and availability to choose from. My personal feeling is that I need to do what my membership feels is in their best interest. If we wanted to get to 12 football-playing schools, we could."

One benefit Wednesday's announcement could bring to the Aggies is the addition of a Texas school - Texas State is located in San Marcos which, geographically, is relatively close to Las Cruces.

Also, NMSU, a former Sun Belt member before joining the WAC, does brings a solid basketball program to the table - the team has been to two NCAA Tournament's in the past three years and has some history behind it - which is an area Benson specifically said he wants to enhance in his new league.

"Short-terms goals is to make men's basketball better," Benson said.

Benson also didn't rule out the option of adding a football affiliate - a school that would participate in the Sun Belt in football only, while finding another league for its olympic sports - which could suit the Aggies down the road.

"Depending on whether the Sun Belt is comprised of 10 football-playing schools, or 12, or eight ... is what we're waiting for," Benson said. "Once we know what our football-playing membership will be, then we will evaluate."

Teddy Feinberg can be reached at (575) 541-5455. Follow him on Twitter @TeddyFeinberg

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sp ... -like-sure

[logic]

The Sun Belt forum was going crazy at the thought of letting us in. Sly did his best to hold down the fort. I wonder what they will think now?

Anyone have the link for that audio?

[LUaddict]

SBC commish Benson mentioned today in a radio interview that they are considering 4-6 FCS teams. He mentioned Liberty by name. He also said the schools need to make their intentions known if they wish to pursue FBS. The timing of our feasibility study is in line with their timeframe. We will make our intentions known, we are ready and will make the commitment. Will we get the invite?

The interview was broadcast on espn1420.com at 5pm central.

I heard this too, I hope that this wasn't just a name drop to cover his tracks from just putting Georgia Southern, App State, and ODU's names from being singled out. Here is hoping to receiving an invite from the Sun Belt and that the presidents and chancellors would be able to see that we have a lot to offer as a fellow conference mate. This might be an announcement at the meet and greet with coach gill in Atlanta.

Here is an article from ESPN1420.com from the interview that Sumitup mentioned and it shows that SBC commish mentions Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Liberty and Jacksonville State to the east and Lamar and Sam Houston State to the west.


Benson “Tempering” Talk of 12 Football Schools in Sun Belt – From the Bird’s Nest
jay walker By: Jay Walker | 1 minute ago

courtesy sunbeltsports.org

Early Wednesday afternoon in a conference call with the media, Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson was, naturally, asked about further expansion.

And, because of the way the questions were asked, there were many who came away with the opinion more expansion was on the way.

Benson didn’t seem to rule out any possibilities.

But, in an exclusive interview later in the day on Bird’s Eye View, Benson gave me the impression the Sun Belt might be just about finished adding teams.

Today, Texas State was announced as the newest member of the Sun Belt Conference, joining Georgia State as the latest to become part of the league, effective July 1, 2013.

Benson, in the early presser, sidestepped questions about Texas-Arlington, a school widely speculated to be ready to join the Sun Belt in olympic sports. UTA does not play football.

In the later interview, Benson made it pretty obvious UTA would be a great addition to the league. The addition of UTA would bring the Sun Belt to twelve schools, ten of which play football. And, Benson spoke of how much better it is to schedule when you have twelve schools. He specifically spoke of a compact Western Division including Texas State, UTA, Arkansas State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Louisiana and Louisiana-Monroe.

He did NOT sound like a Commissioner who couldn’t wait to add more schools.

Benson, when reminded of his original presser when he said he’d like to see the league with twelve football schools and a conference championship game, today said he’s “tempering” those remarks, given the landscape of college athletics and where schools are being slotted.

I took that to mean there’s no one else Benson really feels adds anything to the league, at least for right now.

Benson mentioned other schools that would like to make the move to the FBS. He specifically mentioned Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Liberty and Jacksonville State to the east and Lamar and Sam Houston State to the west.

He also said, if the CEO’s want to get to twelve football schools, New Mexico State and Idaho, both about to be FBS orphans, could be considered as “football-only” members, even though they are outside of the Sun Belt geographical footprint, which runs from Texas to the east coast, and as far north as Kentucky.

But, we all need to remember Benson is the commissioner of the league. He works at the behest of the CEO’s, who have the flnal call when it comes to membership.

So, while just about anything is possible, the reality is, unless the CEO’s decide to expand further, the Sun Belt is probably one announcement away from getting out of the expansion business, at least for the time being.

I would expect Texas-Arlington to be announced within the next two weeks. As part of the University of Texas system, they have a board to deal with, just as the University of Louisiana system schools do.

And then I expect the “no vacancy” sign to be put out.

And, personally, I think it’s a good move.

Right now the Sun Belt Conference really doesn’t need to have four, count ‘em, four FBS startups all coming into the league at the same time. Benson admitted he has never visited Statesboro, GA or Boone, NC. Nor did he really want to talk about them, choosing to concentrate on the known membership.

And, unless presidents are hell bent on a championship game, there’s no need to extend the geographical footprint.

There’s also no reason to go to fourteen members, the non-football schools included.

Karl Benson is a veteran commissioner of three different FBS leagues. He knows how this stuff works.

And, my guess is, his recommendation will be to add UTA and be done with it.

Then Benson can get to work on a new television contract…..and hopefully, some extra bowl bids.

http://espn1420.com/benson-tempering-ta ... irds-nest/

[LUaddict]

The Sun Belt forum was going crazy at the thought of letting us in. Sly did his best to hold down the fort. I wonder what they will think now?

Anyone have the link for that audio?

You should listen to the audio clip from the SBC commish on the sun belt conference site that I posted above and it basically touches on the espn1420.com interview points and then some from media members asking specific questions on FCS schools wanting to move up to the FBS.

[LUGrad2000]

Show them (Sun Belt) the money!

Hobby Lobby or something. Al Williams?

[LUGrad2000]

I'm down for ANYTHING besides:

Big South
Charleston Southern
VMI
Presby
Liberty
Gardner Webb

My wife cannot understand my distress about this.

[Hold My Own]

Hobby Lobby wanted to buy us an entire campus...how about we talk them into buying us an entire conference?

[jimflamesfan]

Would there be any rules against a "buy in"? Even if LU offered each school currently in the conference $100,000 or something like that, wouldn't it be money well spent?..this expansion is going to make or break teams.

[Kricket]

What's the link to the SBC message board?

[flamesfan30]

seriously, if this is a matter of money, i imagine us being willing to put up 1M+ for an "entrance fee".

[NotAJerry]

I really hope we land in the Sun Belt and not the MAC. I want the advantage of playing in the top HS football states like Florida, Georgia, Texas and Louisiana. The midwest talent does nothing for me and at least the southern schools have potential to improve.

[LUaddict]

What's the link to the SBC message board?

This is the link to the Sun Belt Conference talk. I'm a lurker and I don't post on that board. I get some info there about SBCC realignment.

http://csnbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=296

[drumnColby757]

Should we start losing hope that we are going to move to the FBS within 2 years?

[Blessed1]

Should we start losing hope that we are going to move to the FBS within 2 years?

No, we shouldn't start losing hope. It's just a matter of time and season. Our season will come. The most important things for us (as a football school) are to: 1) keep winning, 2) make some noise in the FCS playoffs, and 3) continue to build our 'football pedigree'. If we do those things, our religious and political views and lack of a big t.v. market wouldn't matter to most people... At least from a football standpoint, it shouldn't.

[jcmanson]

SBC commish Benson mentioned today in a radio interview that they are considering 4-6 FCS teams.

For how many spots?

[Blessed1]

SBC commish Benson mentioned today in a radio interview that they are considering 4-6 FCS teams.

For how many spots?

Most likely 2 spots. Most people feel that App St. and Georgia Southern are leading the way with Liberty, Jacksonville St., Lamar, and Sam Houston St. next in line.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Here is the link from ESPN1420 I don't think I saw it posted:

http://espn1420.com/benson-tempering-ta ... irds-nest/

Benson mentioned other schools that would like to make the move to the FBS. He specifically mentioned Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Liberty and Jacksonville State to the east and Lamar and Sam Houston State to the west.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Wasn't there talk at some point that LU and ASU were working as a package deal. I was never sure I believed it, but thought I heard that.

[Liberty22]

Those of us that have registered for the Sun Belt message board (sly, etc) need to get on there and defend Liberty, a couple guys have been talking trash about how Liberty should never be invited, lets do it respectfully though of course!

[jcmanson]

Georgia Southern? They bring nothing to the table but their history. Our potential is SOOO much greater than theirs.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Those of us that have registered for the Sun Belt message board (sly, etc) need to get on there and defend Liberty, a couple guys have been talking trash about how Liberty should never be invited, lets do it respectfully though of course!

What thread. Can't find it?

[SumItUp]

SBC commish Benson mentioned today in a radio interview that they are considering 4-6 FCS teams.

For how many spots?

Between 0 and 3 It depends on:
-which teams leave the Sun Belt (North Texas and Florida International are likely gone which would take it to 9 after Texas State was added)
-how many football schools they decide to add. 12 gives them an opportunity to play a conference championship.
-which direction they decide to go in expanding their footprint. App State, Georgia Southern and Jacksonville State are within the existing footprint, but may not be ready to commit to FBS this month.
-whether they decide to expand westward and add the WAC leftovers (NMSU and Idaho). Idaho is likely out of options and will go independent or return to FCS. NMSU was in the SBC previously and will bolt at the first opportunity at a regional conference.

This year will not be the end of conference realignment. The Big 12 will not stay at 10 and the SEC will not stay at 14. The dominoes will continue to fall and conferences will shuffle Our time will come. It may happen this month.

[jcmanson]

Those of us that have registered for the Sun Belt message board (sly, etc) need to get on there and defend Liberty, a couple guys have been talking trash about how Liberty should never be invited, lets do it respectfully though of course!

link please

[Rooster Cogburn]

Those of us that have registered for the Sun Belt message board (sly, etc) need to get on there and defend Liberty, a couple guys have been talking trash about how Liberty should never be invited, lets do it respectfully though of course!

link please

Here's the board. I registered, but can not find the thread.
http://csnbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=296

[Liberty22]

Those of us that have registered for the Sun Belt message board (sly, etc) need to get on there and defend Liberty, a couple guys have been talking trash about how Liberty should never be invited, lets do it respectfully though of course!

link please

Here you are

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=568141