[LUconn]

I was pretty upset at this when I first saw that map, but this is a FOIA request from Georgia State. They didn't have to sink millions into adding a dot and some text to a map. It would have taken Benson's secretary 2 seconds to whip this up. It's a pretty good possibility that you may see similar maps with different schools depending on which school you solicit the info from. People need to follow suit with requests to the other public schools on that list.

Sorry to pee on the parade but I'm just tired of it. It's obvious that we aren't drawing interest from anyone.

Sorry for the wind blowing your pee back at you but what about our name on a list of candidates created by the commissioner himself is not "drawing interest"?

[jbock13]

We're one of 15 on a list. That means absolutely nothing for our chances.

[phoenix]

OK, if you clicked on the links you have to wonder if perhaps the Jeff referenced in the second could be a certain AD whose budget numbers would be of specific interest for comps by both the league & the two primary candidates.

I thought it sounded more like an email to someone on his staff asking them to do some research for him.

[logic]

Sun Belt needs to man up and ask themselves "Are we serious about improving our conference from top to bottom?" I've exposed Georgia Southern's lack of commitment to budgets in other posts...the proof is in these numbers. 10 million total budget? Ha! If the Sun Belt is serious about improving their lot they'll surely invite the school that spends more on athletics than any current school in their conference.

[VAGolf]

Unless I'm seeing something different, we're absolutely ahead of these schools in terms of chances:

Richmond
Towson
Deleware
Illinois State
UT-Chattnooga
Jacksonville St.
Missouri State
JMU (they aren't going anywhere for at least a few years)


I don't really see Idaho as an attractive member if Benson is concerned with the footprint. Sam Houston State is interesting.

In an ever-so unfortunate world, we don't get a FBS invite but we get an invite from the So-Con or Colonial, I think we absolutely accept it. The last thing I want is for Stony Brook and Coastal to be playing better teams than we are. JMU has built a huge following in the Colonial and App St. has done the same in the SoCon. It isn't ideal but it's better than the Big South.

[LUaddict]

Another look at email exchanges between NMSU and Georgia Southern collotboarting together. Makes think they collaborating together as a package deal for Sum Belt Membership.

EXCLUSIVE: E-Mails Between GSU & NMSU Raise Conference Realignment


http://www.appstatenation.com/2013/02/0 ... questions/

[Sly Fox]

My first reaction is that NMSU is working every potential angle. The only way they are getting into the Sun Belt is if the league adds 3 or more schools in expansion or they get in as the second choice along with GSU instead of Appalachian State because of their existing FBS membership. Either way these discussions make sense from the Las Cruces perspective. But I am having a hard time discerning what value GSU gains from this type of alignment UNLESS the NMSU folks already have a few vote sin their back-pocket and they are building an alliance to pitch in concert to assure entry.

Appy & Liberty are NMSU's worst nightmares. They do not want to league to start pushing further east.

[jlread]

The GSU and NMSU is one of two things. I believe its #2

1. They are a legitimate combo grab and Benson introduced the two groups to have gameful discussion on being added.

2. Smoke and mirrors. They All are in contact with every possible program that would be let into the SBC. They sent this Blog guy the least significant paper work that met the minimum freedom act requirements. (That's what I would've done if they had 2 brain cells they'd do the same)

[LUaddict]

Here are some quotes from Karl Benson and Georgia Southern's AD on what the criteria the Sun Belt has for conference membership. This was published today 2/3/13.

Sun Belt Conference could be in Georgia Southern’s future

Published: February 3, 2013
By MIKE BROWN — sports@macon.com

STATESBORO -- A formal invitation for Georgia Southern to become a member of the Sun Belt Conference is yet to come, but it appears to be only a matter of time.

The Sun Belt is looking to add two or more football playing schools, and that need became more urgent recently when Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic announced they would be leaving the conference June 30, a year earlier than planned.

Click Here for Full Story

Here's the interesting stuff ...

“We’re looking for schools with similar characteristics,” Benson said. “We’re looking for a geographic fit, a similar academic profile, a school with football.

“We’re looking for football programs that are mature, well-grounded, great tradition and history, national name and dedicated fan base.”

One of the main things an expansion committee would want to look at, Kleinlein said, is the school’s athletics facilities. “They would want to see if you could host a conference championship football game, for example,” Kleinlein said. “Or, if you could host a baseball tournament or other conference championships."

[Purple Haize]

Dude. The Super Bowl is on.

[LUaddict]

Dude. The Super Bowl is on.

I am watching the Superbowl, studying for my MBA capstone course, and following college football realignment, and helping my fiance plan our wedding. I am biting my fingernails waiting for Liberty to get an FBS conference invite.

[bluedevilflame]

Well now I just feel lazy

[jbock13]

All those things are much more important than waiting for us to get an invite. But what else can I say? People get so excited over the slightest rumor.

[LUconn]

I think that article is Benson trying to put as much pressure on the presidents as possible. He's not stupid enough to speak in "hypotheticals" while specifically mentioning teams. He knows what needs to be done and that it needs to be done ASAP, but it's not his decision to make. I guess ASU and GSU are his picks. Which is unfortunate because I thought he would be our main ally vs the presidents.

[Sly Fox]

I think he believes those are the two schools that he can convince the presidents to accept. It also helps his cause of transitioning the league further east where there is the greatest potential for future expansion. But that's just my uninformed observations.

[Sly Fox]

The realignment boards are all buzzing this afternoon with word that it looks like UMKC is bolting the summit to the join the WAC. That's right, the Kangaroos will be hopping out of what has been presumed to be the stable Summit for the anything but stable WAC. Most are postulating that this means the Summit is on the verge of getting picked apart by the C-7 & others.

This could signal that there is about to be a major shift in the lineups of the Summit, Missouri Valley & Horizon leagues. It could also mean that Denver doesn't ever move to the Summit after all and stays in the WAC. Keep in mind that none of the WAC schools except for Idaho & NMSU have football. So I don't see this impacting anything in regard to us.

The more I have thought about the NMSU-Georgia Southern leaked emails, the more it occurs to me that the discussions in Atlanta were more about keeping WAC football alive than them teaming up to get into the Sun Belt. That meshes with the comments from our Chancellor back before Christmas that there was still some unlikely efforts being made outside of our region. The WAC still holds the golden FBS ticket. With enough western non-football schools, perhaps they were devising scheme to revive the WAC-East concept.

[badger74]

What about going FBS as an independent and building the program/stadium while shopping for a conference? Most FBS schools need OOC games and the demand is going up as is the price for the game that the non-conf team can get.

http://espn.go.com/colleges/florida/foo ... rence-wins

[adam42381]

Not. An. Option.

[jbock13]

What about going FBS as an independent and building the program/stadium while shopping for a conference? Most FBS schools need OOC games and the demand is going up as is the price for the game that the non-conf team can get.

http://espn.go.com/colleges/florida/foo ... rence-wins

We can't.

[adam42381]

Great minds?

[Sly Fox]

badger74 - The NCAA changed their by-laws years ago to stop the flow of I-AA schools stepping up to I-A stating that an FCS school must be invited by an existing FBS conference in order to step up. Otherwise we would have made the move years ago. It also explains why we have seriously entertained the idea of the WAC despite the obvious drawbacks. Basically, we are ready to go anywhere in FBS that will take us so we can get in the club. Right now, it appears the Sun belt is our most likely opportunity although we'd gladly slide into the MAC or C-USA.

[4everfsu]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... -everybody

[badger74]

OK, guess that makes sense although not sure why.

[LUGrad2000]

It is interesting and puzzling that NMSU and Southern would meet in Atlanta, especially with Southern on the supposed inside track to the Sun Belt.

Long term, I like the WAC better than the Sun Belt because it would include regional rivals JMU and Appy.

[jlread]

I've always Loved the WAC Idea. Jerry's vision was from Sea to Shining Sea....Let's Go national!!! Not to mention the WAC is like an Ugly girl that's easy to Pickup for the Prom...(unchristian like analogy,,,,Apologies )