[R i]

1.) CUSA merger- National Exposure could be HUGE for LU. We have a base all over the country.

2.) MAC - Established, we know what we are getting into. We know the kind of money we can get. Espn contracts already. Weeknight games in Lynchburg would ROCK!

3.) Sunbelt-I will say the future of the Sun Belt seems bright. No pun . The New Commish seems to have a very strong vision for the conference. Its geographical pros are obvious.

[NotAJerry]

I would rather stay in the Big South than go to the MAC. Temple just got out, the realignment rumors have included Ohio trying to bail, and for the most part you've got tiny, decrepit stadiums in dying areas for schools that had a nice run of QBs that seems to have come to an end.

1) CMACUSA merger hoard
2) Sun Belt
3) New conference after successfully challenging the rule
4) CAA/SoCon (I know we won't do an FCS switch, but it's better than the MAC)
5) Big South
6) Herpes
7) MAC

[jcmanson]

1) SEC
2) ACC
3) Big East
4) Big XII

[From the class of 09]

1) SEC
2) ACC
3) Big East
4) Big XII

Big East

[NotAJerry]

1) SEC
2) ACC
3) Big East
4) Big XII

Big East

Sure, it will be like changing conferences every year.

[Sly Fox]

Here are the thoughts of somebody that has done a decent job the past year or so covering realignment from a UTSA (& sometimes Texas State) perspective. As a result, I am inclined to believe his sources are fairly legitimate.

Your daily realignment speculation
Posted on 03/15/2012 by Dan McCarney

Had a few more interesting conversations with People Who Know over the past couple of days that brings UTSA’s future affiliation into a little bit more focus. Or muddies things even further, depending on how you look at it.

The Sun Belt Conference, under new commissioner Karl Benson, continues to be a much stronger possibility than the so-called Mountain West/Conference USA alliance. I was told yesterday that the notion of an unofficial invitation, as referenced in a recent report by CBS Sports, is grossly premature. But as was the case with the Western Athletic Conference, it doesn’t take a genius to review the landscape and whittle down the possibilities to a pretty short list, specifically UTSA, Georgia State, Charlotte, Louisiana Tech and Texas State.

And here is the meaty portion as far as we are concerned ...

A source told me yesterday that the Alliance has ruled out expanding to 24 teams, and will focus on either 18, 20 or 22. It’s widely assumed that UTEP will be switched from C-USA to the Mountain West group, which makes sense as there are far more viable candidates on the eastern side of the country. With one football-only member in Hawaii, the Alliance will very likely add another in the C-USA division to balance out the league.

Say the Alliance decides to go big at 22. UTEP slides over from C-USA, Utah State and San Jose State are plucked from the WAC, and there’s your Mountain West division comprising 10 full members, plus Hawaii in football only.

That would require four additions on the C-USA side, including one in football only. This is strictly educated guesswork, but I continue to believe that North Texas (based in a key Texas market), Louisiana Tech (strong competitive success) and Florida International (good market, based in the Eastern time zone) will be the top three choices.

Click Here for Full Story

If his sources and postulations are correct, that would leave us on the outside looking in for the impending Spring or Summer Sun Belt & Alliance movements. But it would also force the WAC to either move forward with Eastern arrangement or fold. That could be our opportunity to move up with nearby allies.

Than again, I have heard from a number of folks who supposedly have good info that La Tech is not attractive to the Alliance unless absolutely necessary. So that could have some wrinkles.

There appears to be too much smoke right now coming from a smaller Alliance expansion to not believe there is some fire to the story. We really could have used a quick expansion to 24 to help our cause.

[TDDance234]

I probably bought in to the hype way too early but I just don't see how we come out of this with a FBS invite. We're not on the radar of any conference and it seems like most are bypassing us to beg others to move up or create a football program (see Charlotte and the Sun Belt).

Talk me off a ledge here. Are we stuck in the Big South?

[Sly Fox]

The San Jose State beat writer seems to be confidently dropping a ton of info the past 24 hours. Whether or not he is info is solid is yet to be determined. But if it is, then the NCAA is going to have to seriously consider allowing a new Eastern FBS league to form.

FBS realignment: M-Day approaches for Mountain West, CUSA (and what that means for the WAC, Sun Belt and others)

POSTED BY JON WILNER ON MARCH 20TH, 2012 AT 3:11 PM |

The potential alliance/consortium/merger between the Mountain West and Conference USA hardly grabs headlines the way realignment at the BCS level has over the past 20 months or so.

But in terms of impacting the greatest number of student athletes — and they’re what college athletics is all about, right … right? — the future of the MWC/CUSA is far more important than whether the ACC expands again or the Big 12 stays at 10.

The situation directly involves the 16 planned future members of the MWC/CUSA super-conference and another 16-18 in the reconfigured WAC and Sun Belt, plus FCS schools considering moves to FBS.

A couple of nuggets to note is that in order for the alliance to maintain their auto bids it will technically have to be a merger. That should happen in the next month or so as the TV contract concerns get hammered out. Here's where it gets interesting even though he is wrong about Charlotte ...

If ESPN says that more teams equates to more dollars, then the MWC/CUSA will almost certainly raid the WAC for Utah State and/or San Jose State and/or LaTech … and it will almost certainly raid the Sun Belt for the Florida schools (FIU/FAU) and/or North Texas and/or Middle Tennessee State.

And if that happens, then the WAC and Sun Belt are in big trouble — they won’t have enough football-playing schools to exist in the current landscape.

Yes, UTSA and Texas State and Charlotte are becoming FBS members.

But there’s a scenario … an entirely plausible scenario … in which more teams leave the Sun Belt and WAC for the MWC/CUSA superconference than can adequately be replaced in a reasonable amount of time.

Where he gets off track is when he starts suggesting a WAC-Sun Belt scheduling alliance. While that would be great for the WAC schools, the Sun Belt has indicated no such interest. The WAC has no one to grab in expansion while the Sun Belt has a bunch of options.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

I probably bought in to the hype way too early but I just don't see how we come out of this with a FBS invite. We're not on the radar of any conference and it seems like most are bypassing us to beg others to move up or create a football program (see Charlotte and the Sun Belt).

Talk me off a ledge here. Are we stuck in the Big South?

In a word, no. There is no certainty that we will be announcing a move into an FBS league in this calendar year. But I am here to tell you that it is inevitable. In fact, I believe today we are better positioned for a favorable regional FBS league than ever before. The MWCUSA Alliance/Merger is looking less likely unless they here from ESPN that they will pony up bigger bucks for more teams. I'm not convinced that is going to happen right now. But the Sun Belt, WAC & new league options are stronger than ever before.

The challenging part of this situation is that we are playing the waiting game while the CUSA & MWC folks try to sift through the legal ramifications of breaking contracts to form their new league. Until that is settled, everything remains completely up in the air. Once they become one and announce their expansion choices then it gets fun once again.

[steve hoffman]

Wasn't our feasibility study supposed to be released March 20?

[LUGrad2000]

+1

[Schfourteenteen]

It's a construction project. Best case scenario it'll be done by the beginnning of May

[Sly Fox]

I have no inside information but I have been under the assumption that the announcement would be made following the spring game.

[LUconn]

“At this point, it’s just us doing our study and (the move) is not something we’ve announced for sure,” Barber said. “That’s why you do this study — to see where you are and then you present all that to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees and that’s when you decide whether it’s doable, feasible, and at that point, that’s when things will start happening.”

A meeting with Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. is scheduled for March 20.

So a meeting was scheduled for the 20th. Probably because it was scheduled to be completed by then. Who knows when any kind of announcement would be made. Probably not till we are invited and accept.

[jcmanson]

Not that it will affect us, but the A10 is reportedly going after VCU and Mason

[bigsmooth]

wondering why everyone thinks its the Sunbelt? I personally would rather see us in the MAC. football has a nice football deal with ESPN. those tuesday and wednesday games would be played in front of a full house at LU and even the fringe fan would watch at least a little bit of one of those games. Plus we are way closer to MAC schools than the Sunbelt. Just my opinion.

We think it's the Sun Belt because that's who we are talking too at the moment.

Nothing worse than a smart a.. We have talked to the MAC as well. Bottom line is that anything is better than where we are now. If its the sunbelt great!

[LUGrad2000]

Any FBS. I wish the alliance would hurry up.

[ATrain]

wondering why everyone thinks its the Sunbelt? I personally would rather see us in the MAC. football has a nice football deal with ESPN. those tuesday and wednesday games would be played in front of a full house at LU and even the fringe fan would watch at least a little bit of one of those games. Plus we are way closer to MAC schools than the Sunbelt. Just my opinion.

We think it's the Sun Belt because that's who we are talking too at the moment.

Nothing worse than a smart a.. We have talked to the MAC as well. Bottom line is that anything is better than where we are now. If its the sunbelt great!

I disagree, a dumb a.. is definitely worse.

I do agree with anything is better than where are now.

[01LUGrad]

Nothing worse than a smart a.. We have talked to the MAC as well. Bottom line is that anything is better than where we are now. If its the sunbelt great!

I disagree, a dumb a.. is definitely worse.

I do agree with anything is better than where are now.

I teach middle school and this is the correct answer.

[ATrain]

*Where WE are now

[Sly Fox]

Here's an update on the view from San Antonio ...

No shortage of realignment options for UTSA

USTA Insider by Dan McCarney
Updated 12:17 a.m., Friday, March 23, 2012

The process of merging two existing college athletic conferences involves enough complexity that starting a government from scratch might be easier.

Yet the Mountain West and Conference USA trudge forward, making enough progress with plans to unite and expand to as many as 24 members that reports are circling the entire endeavor could be finished in less than a month.

And UTSA is right in the thick of it.

“I don't think there's any question they're on the list (of candidates),” said Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson, who is waiting for the merger to be completed so his league can begin a makeover of its own.

Exactly where the Roadrunners stand, however, depends on whom you talk to, and what day the conversation takes place.

Click Here for Full Story

[LUGrad2000]

Staying in the Sun Belt

Florida Atlantic President Mary Jane Saunders said FAU will remain in the Sun Belt Conference after not receiving an invitation from the new conference made up of members of Conference USA and the Mountain West.

Originally published on 3/23/2012
by Marcus Nelson

BOCA RATON – After failing to receive an invitation to join another conference Florida Atlantic will remain in the Sun Belt Conference, President Mary Jane Saunders told Owl Access on Friday.

“I can tell you we have not been invited to another conference,” Saunders said. “I think those decisions have already been made. I think it's finished now. ...We're staying in the Sun Belt.”

There had been speculation that FAU would attempt to secure an invitation from the new conference that will be formed from members of Conference USA and the Mountain West. That conference announced it would explore expansion.

Apparently those plans will not include FAU.

FAU AD Craig Angelos, who was fired on Tuesday, told Owl Access last week that there had not been an recent discussions between Conference USA and Mountain West officials since the merger was announced in February.

FAU had said all along it possibly would have chosen to remain in the Sun Belt Conference even if did receive an invitation to the new league.

The Sun Belt Conference also could be in expansion mode after new commissioner Karl Benson said he would explore adding teams to the conference.

FAU coach Carl Pelini said the football program still has a chance at success even if it remains in the Sun Belt Conference.

“I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think they could flourish at the Sun Belt level,” Pelini said. “The conference alignments landscape is changing day-to-day. All I can do is win football games, fill that stadium and the whole horizon opens up for us.”

Click Here for Source

[Sly Fox]

This is good news for us. With FAU still in the Sun Belt, it means the league won't have to desperately secure another team in the Sunshine State once FIU likely gets invited to the Alliance. It also means an attractive road trip should we gain entrance to that league. I know I would have a much easier time convincing Mrs. Sly to go to Boca Raton instead of Clinton, SC.

[TH Spangler]

NCAA Hockey realignment

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stori ... -football/

[logic]

Questions


When will the feasibility study be released?
What is the latest on our future?
When can we expect an invite to an FBS conference?

Certainly someone must have some inside information they would be willing to share.

Sly? What have your sources told you?