[LU-Hoo]

I think FBS football is going to get more condensed than anything. I know that rumors are rumors, but it is disheartening when NO ONE that is talking Sun Belt football anywhere I've read has even mentioned us recently, App St/Georgia Southern are the two I keep reading about.. cross fingers and pray at this point!

If these two go to SBC, it could open up a spot in the Southern for LU... But would the Southern be a much better option without those two?

[Sly Fox]

The SoCon without Appy & GSU is pathetic. We have no interest in that mess. The CAA is the only FCS league that it could be argued is worth momentarily distracting us from our FBS possibilities.

Over on the Lamar board, the guys who typically have had decent inside info the past year or so over there are getting the string feeling that they are not in the running for one of the Sun Belt. No one in Huntsville believes Sam Houston State is anywhere close to having the finances needed to make the jump. And even coming off a run to the national championship game last year and another playoff run this year, they draw roughly half what we do.

Idaho is not happening under circumstances. It is a pipe dream and none of the Sun Belt presidents want to go down that route once again.

NM State is a legitimate possibility. But they are even further out of the Sun Belt footprint than we are. They are over 650 miles away from UT-Arlington & 635 miles from the closest potential rival at Texas State. After the Bobcats, the next closes football schools are Louisiana-Monroe & Louisiana-Lafayette around a thousand miles away from Las Cruces. In comparison, we are around 450 miles away from Georgia State and if Appy comes with us, we're less than 250 miles from Boone. Now none of these distances are chicken feed, but we fit nicer in an area with considerably more growth potential for the Sun belt moving forward.

If Georgia Southern is picked, I get the impression that they might be looking to add them in 2015 at the earliest to allow them to get their infrastructure in place. If Benson & Co. are looking for a quick fix, their options are limited.

[LU-Hoo]

NM State is a legitimate possibility. But they are even further out of the Sun Belt footprint than we are.

I don't think footprints matter as much as markets... But if you are looking at expanding your market share without significantly expanding your footprint, then I can see App (NC) and LU (VA) being in a good position.

[Steffattack]

The SoCon without Appy & GSU is pathetic. We have no interest in that mess. The CAA is the only FCS league that it could be argued is worth momentarily distracting us from our FBS possibilities.

I have been told repeatedly from my sources that LU will NOT make any lateral move. Regardless of the CAA being much better than the Big South, LU is only interested in jumping to the D-1A ranks. Thus, unless we can make the jump to even a weak Sun Belt conference there will be no realignment for us.

EDIT - Not that you are suggesting that is something we will or want to pursue. Just for the sake of clarification.

[Purple Haize]

I'm not sure, if teams stay, a jump to the CAA wouldn't be a better move then the SunBelt

[LUconn]

Benson keeps talking about the footprint but I think it would be foolish to cram 12 teams into such a small area. Teams would be killing each other for local recruits and any team gaining local popularity is probably seriously harming a fellow close by team in the conference. Open up a new state or 2.

[LU-Hoo]

The SoCon without Appy & GSU is pathetic. We have no interest in that mess. The CAA is the only FCS league that it could be argued is worth momentarily distracting us from our FBS possibilities.

I have been told repeatedly from my sources that LU will NOT make any lateral move.

Would this change if the BSC loses it's automatic bid? Becomes somewhat less of a "lateral" move...

[Blessed1]

The SoCon without Appy & GSU is pathetic. We have no interest in that mess. The CAA is the only FCS league that it could be argued is worth momentarily distracting us from our FBS possibilities.

I have been told repeatedly from my sources that LU will NOT make any lateral move.

Would this change if the BSC loses it's automatic bid? Becomes somewhat less of a "lateral" move...

Of course it would. However, the big South would need to lose one more school in order to lose its AQ status... I would think the Big South already has Liberty's and Coastal's replacements lined up and ready to go. That's just my opinion though.

[flamesfan30]

if thats the case why not add them now? the big south is stupid small in football and makes scheduling for its members much more difficult than just about any other fcs confrence.

[phoenix]

if thats the case why not add them now? the big south commish is stupid.

FTFY

[Blessed1]

Benson keeps talking about the footprint but I think it would be foolish to cram 12 teams into such a small area. Teams would be killing each other for local recruits and any team gaining local popularity is probably seriously harming a fellow close by team in the conference. Open up a new state or 2.

The Sun Belt prides itself on keeping a tight geographical football. Since they do not make B1G or SEC money, its important to them to keep it that way. I can understand their logic... To me, their style is " 2 is company, 3 is a crowd". They do not mind travel buddies. Which explains UT-Arlington's addition for Texas St. However, a school like Jacksonville St. will have a hard getting in because Troy and South Alabama. If one of those two should leave, then they may change their stance on JSU.

I believe this is why Georgia Southern may be the "preferred" choice over Liberty (among other reasons). However, if the 'App St., JMU, and Delaware to the MAC for football-only' rumors are true. Liberty's chances increase tremendously.

[LU-Hoo]

Of course it would. However, the big South would need to lose one more school in order to lose its AQ status... I would think the Big South already has Liberty's and Coastal's replacements lined up and ready to go. That's just my opinion though.

I would think Benson would already have replacements lined up when CUSA came poaching... These recent events should not have come as a surprise. If nothing is announced this coming week, then I would be very disappointed in his leadership if I were a member of the SBC...

[Steffattack]

Would this change if the BSC loses it's automatic bid? Becomes somewhat less of a "lateral" move...

No - Any move within D-1AA is a lateral move by definition. Therefore LU will only have interest in D-1A conferences.

[Sly Fox]

We are far from the only fanbase on pins & needles right now waiting to see what happens in realignment. Here are the message boards for some of the other schools also watching intensely:

• Appalachian State - Yosef's Cabin
  
  Georgia Southern - GSUfans.com
  
  Idaho - Scout's GoVandals.net - Idaho
  
  Jacksonville State - GoJaxState.com
  
  JMU - CAA Zone
  
  Lamar - Big Red Insider
  
  New Mexico State - Scout's Aggie Nation
  
  Sam Houston State - KatFans.com

And if you are a glutton for punishment, you can drop by a couple of the NCAA BBS sites ...

• CSN Conference Realignment Forum
  
  CSN Sun Belt Forum

[jinxy]

Man sly posts a pic of the baseball stadium and gets attacked haha. There are 2 to 3 guys over there that are just clueless. Sly, i liked your comment back to the guy about our own message board. I havent spent much time there but it seems our board has as much activity as the whole sunbelt board does

[Sly Fox]

Some of the boards for schools in the Sun Belt are very active. But it seems there are a few characters who like to act like schoolyard bullies on the CSN Sun Belt & Conference Realignment boards. It is what it is.

[Purple Haize]

Some of the boards for schools in the Sun Belt are very active. But it seems there are a few characters who like to act like schoolyard bullies on the CSN Sun Belt & Conference Realignment boards. It is what it is.

Really? That sounds like a challenge.

[Sly Fox]

There are some challenges worth engaging. Others simply are counterproductive and not worth the time and effort involved. This leans heavily toward the latter. And for the record, I have been involved in the former plenty.

[Liberty22]

This is hilarious

[lynchburgwildcats]

This is hilarious

+1. ]

[LUalumfromnc]

Would this change if the BSC loses it's automatic bid? Becomes somewhat less of a "lateral" move...

No - Any move within D-1AA is a lateral move by definition. Therefore LU will only have interest in D-1A conferences.

Agreed!!!! Any real news and not speculation anyone?

[thepostman]

of course there isn't any real news.

[Sly Fox]

It is possible we could have some legitimate news later today. I am tied up in meetings all day so I am relying on you guys to bring the scoop here.

[Purple Haize]

It is possible we could have some legitimate news later today. I am tied up in THOSE meetings all day so I am relying on you guys to bring the scoop here.

FIFY

[logic]

It is possible we could have some legitimate news later today. I am tied up in meetings all day so I am relying on you guys to bring the scoop here.

Bah, you should know better than to leave the news scooping to us. You are our eyes and ears Sly!