[ballah09]

it would have to be all sports too.

the next 3.

SHSU, Lamar, Liberty.


one rumor floating around is that KSU, ETSU to SOCON with possibility of VMI. the SoCar schools want Presby . guess for more academic purpose. and that CAA is going to pursue Davidson and Elon again along with Liberty at least LU is wanted somewhere

[bluedevilflame]

it would have to be all sports too.

the next 3.

SHSU, Lamar, Liberty.


one rumor floating around is that KSU, ETSU to SOCON with possibility of VMI. the SoCar schools want Presby . guess for more academic purpose. and that CAA is going to pursue Davidson and Elon again along with Liberty at least LU is wanted somewhere

I'd be happy with CAA at this point, at least they have a NBCSports Net TV deal

[rmiller1959]

Looks like Idaho is asking permission to accept an invite:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... -sun-belt/

[Liberty22]

Idaho and NMEu are football only now, announced we are next even sunbelt posters hinting to

[VAGolf]

Idaho and NMEu are football only now, announced we are next even sunbelt posters hinting to

That's awesome! Can you provide a link?

[bluedevilflame]

Idaho and NM State are pity invites, NM State belongs in Mountain West and Idaho back to the Big Sky. Bad decisions in the long run, I'm sure all the southern college fan bases will flock to Moscow for a game

[LUGrad2000]

Tulsa needs to hurry up and make the move to the conference formally known as the nBE!

[Liberty22]

Idaho and NMEu are football only now, announced we are next even sunbelt posters hinting to

That's awesome! Can you provide a link?

Sorry I didn't mean for that to sound like it was announced we are next. I meant Idaho and NMSU are annouced as next. But Sunbelters are now hinting Liberty is probably next when WKU leaves! Here is the Link: http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=626485

[rmiller1959]

They seem pretty certain about Idaho and New Mexico State. If that happens, they are up to twelve, and that would leave us out of the equation unless and until Western Kentucky makes a move:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... r-in-2014-

The Western Kentucky domino should fall if The Conference Formerly Known As The Big East invites Tulsa, and that may happen soon:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... a-new-name

[PatrickKelly]

This may be the best case scenario for Liberty. Going to 12 was the real key here. WKY is all but gone. Most posters from the old Southland conference say they'll never invite a Lamar or SHSU. That all but leaves Liberty the remaining school ready to step up. A poster stated JMU doesn't want to be in a conference with schools that offer partial qual. because they may not be able to compete. This is probably the best I've felt about out chances. With Idaho added it shows they don't mind going outside the footprint.

[jimflamesfan]

I check on this page about every day...it always seems like we're the next one on the list...but it never happens. I'm beginning to doubt. I'm hoping that WKU moves up and the Sunbelt calls us...if the Sunbelt calls someone else then I hope we can at least make it to the CAA.

[Sly Fox]

Under the circumstances, today's news was actually a blessing. There is no way that NM State & Idaho would both get affiliate membership for football unless the league was committed to a 12-team league with two divisions. Here's where it stands now with Western Kentucky technically still a Sun Belt member.



As noted above, if WKU does finally get to move up to either C-USA or even the MAC then it becomes a two-horse race for the final Sun Belt spot between us and Jacksonville State. And frankly I like our odds. Should we get picked for that 12th spot, here's likely what we would have as the divisional make-up of the league for football:

Western Division
Arkansas State
Idaho*
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Monroe (Duck Dynasty Country)
NM State*
Texas State

Eastern Division
App State
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Liberty
South Alabama
Troy

Guys, I could live with that for a few years. Granted, Georgia State & South Alabama aren't going to pack them into Williams Stadium. But it wouldn't hurt us either. Then take a look at divisional alignment for the rest of the sports:

Western Division
Arkansas-Little Rock
Arkansas State
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Monroe
Texas State
UT-Arlington

Eastern Division
App State
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
Liberty
South Alabama
Troy

[rmiller1959]

Thanks for the map. It puts the realignment discussion into perspective. The University of Idaho is way out there - hard to believe it used to be part of the Sun Belt Conference at one time.

The Wikipedia entry for the Sun Belt Conference already has Georgia Southern and Appalachian State listed as future members:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Belt_Conference

I remember the WAC used to be a bigger deal than the Sun Belt, but I also remember when my alma mater, Texas Tech, was in the Southwest Conference, which was a really big deal for a long time. I guess if the SWC can die, any conference is vulnerable.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, it was Big South commission Kyle who was steering the SWC ship as it crashed into oblivion.

Idaho & NM State as well as Denver were always marriages of convenience similar to Stony Brook or Monmouth in the Big South.

[jlread]

I think Idaho invite from sunbelt is a bogus rumor.

[jlread]

But if Idaho happens to be a real possibility I hope the state doesn't grant permission to join!!! Ha " then were in" and we use 2013 to schedule an FBS transition season with all the holes in our schedule!!

[ballah09]

it's not a rumor.

take FWIW. couple of insiders on scout. obv. can't post it here as it's premium are saying Liberty is next in line for a invite once WKU leaves. Even a couple of people over at CAAzone are saying it as well.

[Purple Haize]

For the record, it was Big South commission Kyle who was steering the SWC ship as it crashed into oblivion.

Idaho & NM State as well as Denver were always marriages of convenience similar to Stony Brook or Monmouth in the Big South.

So he has experience then.....

[Purple Haize]

I check on this page about every day...it always seems like we're the next one on the list...but it never happens. I'm beginning to doubt. I'm hoping that WKU moves up and the Sunbelt calls us...if the Sunbelt calls someone else then I hope we can at least make it to the CAA.

Sort of like Middle School roller skating parties where the guys were on one side and the girls skated around and around picking one for the 'Couples Skate'

[rmiller1959]

I think Idaho invite from sunbelt is a bogus rumor.

Would a statement from the Idaho athletic director be satisfactory?

"Idaho, which will play the 2013 season as an independent, plans to join the Sun Belt as a football-only member in 2014, Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear told the Idaho Statesman on Monday.

"'There's a sense of relief, but we have a lot of work to do to get this program where it needs to be facility-wise. This is a positive step for sure,' Spear said."

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/03/2 ... rylink=cpy

[flamesfilmguy]

it would have to be all sports too.

the next 3.

SHSU, Lamar, Liberty.


one rumor floating around is that KSU, ETSU to SOCON with possibility of VMI. the SoCar schools want Presby . guess for more academic purpose. and that CAA is going to pursue Davidson and Elon again along with Liberty at least LU is wanted somewhere

Socon is rumored to be interested in VMI and Mercer. KSU and ETSU could also be added, I can tell you with almost 100 percent certainty that Mercer will be first in that line. presby won't sniff the socon. not that they aren't academically there, its $.

[Purple Haize]

I think Idaho invite from sunbelt is a bogus rumor.

Would a statement from the Idaho athletic director be satisfactory?

"Idaho, which will play the 2013 season as an independent, plans to join the Sun Belt as a football-only member in 2014, Idaho Athletic Director Rob Spear told the Idaho Statesman on Monday.

"'There's a sense of relief, but we have a lot of work to do to get this program where it needs to be facility-wise. This is a positive step for sure,' Spear said."

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/03/2 ... rylink=cpy

By 'bogus' he meant good. He was using 80's Valley Girl language in much the same way 'sick' is now a good thing. Or so the kids tell me.

[Kolzilla41]

Guys, it's not looking good. I am not sure it'll happen.

[rmiller1959]

By 'bogus' he meant good. He was using 80's Valley Girl language in much the same way 'sick' is now a good thing. Or so the kids tell me.

[flamesfilmguy]

Guys, it's not looking good. I am not sure it'll happen.

This.