[Liberty22]

Just because there is an open spot, doesn't mean we fit. Go back to my post about Idaho. Look at their resume. They chose Idaho over Liberty. If you can't see the light go off, I can't help that.

Let's see if we can get your light to come on. The reason Idaho and nmsu were chosen was because NCAA rules, with so many startups they have to have a certain number of already established fbs teams to play, with wku leaving and the sunbelt knows they are leaving, that would have put them in violation of the rules for the conference to be fbs, now with those two they will still be in compliance, hence the move up schools can schedule per rules, then we are added once wku leaves. If you cant see the light well then I can't help that.

[rmiller1959]

I didn't say it will never happen. I do not see us getting in anytime soon. To those of you calling reasonable minds "Chicken Little", play the lottery. I'm sure you're bound to hit the jackpot eventually, right?

The lottery is chance. Tulsa and WKU moving are leaked by the folks who have been right on more things than not in recent conference moves and we're the only truly viable option left to replace WKU. That's not chance.

Just because there is an open spot, doesn't mean we fit. Go back to my post about Idaho. Look at their resume. They chose Idaho over Liberty. If you can't see the light go off, I can't help that.

I don't think the choice of Idaho over Liberty is a surprise, or a rejection of Liberty. The decision to bring Idaho and New Mexico State back to the Sun Belt Conference was a topic of discussion several posts ago. Both were already FBS schools, had a prior history with the Sun Belt Conference (Idaho from 2001-05 & New Mexico State from 2000-05), were members of the WAC when current Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson headed that conference, and when the WAC died, they were orphaned and hoping for a landing place.

It is Western Kentucky's expected departure which creates one more slot to be filled, and we're not competing with Idaho at that point, since they will already be in. We need to measure our chances against the schools still left standing, and I think Liberty is as competitive, if not more so, than any of them.

[SumItUp]

Brett McMurphy ‏@McMurphyESPN 8m
Tulsa will join old Big East & East Carolina will be added as full member in 2014, sources told @ESPN

[TallyW]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ng-sources

[Liberty22]

Love it!

[rmiller1959]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ng-sources

No sooner do we predict it that it actually happens. That was fast!

[BJWilliams]

#powerofflamefans

[flamesfilmguy]

Hearing WKU not a lock but still likely. also hearing if they do leave, sunbelt takes a western team. not trying to be debbie downer. just hearing things from insiders at a current SBC school.

[flamesfilmguy]

Those of you who know me and knew me when I was a student know I've been known to drink the Rooster juice(love you cogs you homer you) but today I just can't with good conscience get my hopes up about this. not with all that is being said. not with all that ISNT being said. I think LU will get there eventually. but I think it will be years. not days or weeks. Sorry guys. maybe i've just become a pessimist in my old age.

[Liberty22]

Hearing WKU not a lock but still likely. also hearing if they do leave, sunbelt takes a western team. not trying to be debbie downer. just hearing things from insiders at a current SBC school.

Ironic, my "insider" said we next...

[flamesfilmguy]

i will gladly eat crow if yours are right. I've been wrong before. but this time it looks bleak.

[flamesfan30]

honestly though, whose left on the west coast that is a viable candidate?

[rmiller1959]

I don't see why they would add another "western" team. Just a glance at Sly Fox's map suggests that an eastern team would make more sense, since there are already six teams west of the Mississippi in the conference. Arkansas State and the two Louisiana schools already have natural rivalries, so it wouldn't make sense to split them up. Just thinking out loud here..

[PatrickKelly]

I wad thinking the same thing. Who is a viable west coast option?

[LUaddict]

Statement From President Alger and Director of Athletics Bourne On GMU Departure
Courtesy:JMUSports.com Release:03/26/2013


JMU President Jonathan Alger and Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne comment on the departure of George Mason University to the Atlantic 10 Conference beginning July 1, 2013
In speaking for the institution and many of our fans, we are extremely disappointed in this decision, as GMU, a founding member of the CAA, represents the key characteristics by which we judge our own conference affiliation.

This news comes at a time when instability and movement within conference membership continues across the country. The immediate strategy by the conference involves the CAA continuing to look at potential new members, a process that began earlier this year with the addition of the College of Charleston.

From our internal athletics perspective, we are actively engaged in a strategic planning process as a component of the University’s Madison Future Commission. In pursuing this plan, we are working with Carr Sports Consulting to assist us in establishing a comprehensive strategic plan that addresses all of our programs and long-term actions. While this process is set to conclude this summer, our planning is fluid and will help position and prepare us for important long-term decisions that are in the best interest of our student-athletes, coaches and the institution.

We look forward to working with our many constituents, both on campus, and around the country, in developing and sharing a strategic plan which positions our institution for long-term success.



Jonathan Alger Jeff Bourne
President Director of Athletics

http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.db ... =206935161


Meaning JMU may be considering going FBS, I'm just reading in between the lines. JMU may take the last SBC spot

[GillsHill2013]

Biola?

[flamesfilmguy]

I don't see why they would add another "western" team. Just a glance at Sly Fox's map suggests that an eastern team would make more sense, since there are already six teams west of the Mississippi in the conference. Arkansas State and the two Louisiana schools already have natural rivalries, so it wouldn't make sense to split them up. Just thinking out loud here..

you are looking at it the wrong way. with football you are right it would make sense to add an eastern team. but for all sports With the anticipation of the idaho NMSU experiment being a (hopefully) temporary you need to add another full time western team. the name i have heard is Mizzou state. just slide that WKU flag over a state and you'll kinda get a glimpse. 5 full time west 5 full time east. at least thats how its been explained to me.

[rmiller1959]

Just to back up the existing rivalry claim:

Arkansas State vs. UL-Monroe

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

UL-Monroe and UL-Lafayette:

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

[rmiller1959]

I don't see why they would add another "western" team. Just a glance at Sly Fox's map suggests that an eastern team would make more sense, since there are already six teams west of the Mississippi in the conference. Arkansas State and the two Louisiana schools already have natural rivalries, so it wouldn't make sense to split them up. Just thinking out loud here..

you are looking at it the wrong way. with football you are right it would make sense to add an eastern team. but for all sports With the anticipation of the idaho NMSU experiment being a (hopefully) temporary you need to add another full time western team. the name i have heard is Mizzou state. just slide that WKU flag over a state and you'll kinda get a glimpse. 5 full time west 5 full time east. at least thats how its been explained to me.

That could be true. Given that the 12-team format seems to be the target for everyone, however, I don't know that I'd let Idaho or NMSU go too soon. With the Tulsa news, Western Kentucky's announcement can't be too far behind, so I guess we'll know for sure before too long.

[SumItUp]

you are looking at it the wrong way. with football you are right it would make sense to add an eastern team. but for all sports With the anticipation of the idaho NMSU experiment being a (hopefully) temporary you need to add another full time western team. the name i have heard is Mizzou state. just slide that WKU flag over a state and you'll kinda get a glimpse. 5 full time west 5 full time east. at least thats how its been explained to me.

Don't forget the Sun Belt already has 2 non-football schools in the west. Texas-Arlington & Arkansas-Little Rock balance the football only additions. I do not think the New Mexico State & Idaho additions are temporary.

Missouri State is preparing to improve their football facilities, but they do not have immediate plans for FBS. If they were absolutely committed to moving to FBS and they thought this was their only chance to make the move, they might go to the Sun Belt. Unless something drastically changed within their administration in the last 30 days, they are not committed to making the jump. Realignment continues to be fluid and the door from FCS to FBS is not closing (yet).

[GillsHill2013]

Remember the guy that tried to predict when the world was going to end a couple summers ago. I feel as though that is what were trying to do.

[jmmiii]

This thread in particular could really benefit from an accountability based reputation bar. I am so tired of reading about what, after 95+ pages, can only reasonably explained as deus ex machina "insiders" validating someone's ego, optimism, or negativity. Obviously the situation is fluid but if your insiders are contradicting everyone else's insider in different ways and the information we know to be true, that's not an insider; it's a distraction.

[Purple Haize]

This thread in particular could really benefit from an accountability based reputation bar. I am so tired of reading about what, after 95+ pages, can only reasonably explained as deus ex machina "insiders" validating someone's ego, optimism, or negativity. Obviously the situation is fluid but if your insiders are contradicting everyone else's insider in different ways and the information we know to be true, that's not an insider; it's a distraction.

Kick butt video game

[flamesfilmguy]

This thread in particular could really benefit from an accountability based reputation bar. I am so tired of reading about what, after 95+ pages, can only reasonably explained as deus ex machina "insiders" validating someone's ego, optimism, or negativity. Obviously the situation is fluid but if your insiders are contradicting everyone else's insider in different ways and the information we know to be true, that's not an insider; it's a distraction.

Whoa, slow down. If you know anything about me I dont give the insider* crap very often. I work withing a college athletic department and have at 3 different schools. one being an SBC member. while my guy isn't perfect he's right a lot of the time. I'm not here to stroke my own ego or anyone elses. I'm just simply putting out what I have heard. I would absolutely love for my negativity to be invalidated with positive facts(I.E getting an invite). but forgive me. I guess the message board isn't used for what I thought it was used for.

[NotAJerry]

I didn't say it will never happen. I do not see us getting in anytime soon. To those of you calling reasonable minds "Chicken Little", play the lottery. I'm sure you're bound to hit the jackpot eventually, right?

The lottery is chance. Tulsa and WKU moving are leaked by the folks who have been right on more things than not in recent conference moves and we're the only truly viable option left to replace WKU. That's not chance.

Just because there is an open spot, doesn't mean we fit. Go back to my post about Idaho. Look at their resume. They chose Idaho over Liberty. If you can't see the light go off, I can't help that.

They chose Idaho because they already have a relationship with them and Idaho is already at the FBS level. They did so knowing another spot is going to open up.

There's zero correlation between picking numbers with a 1 in a billion chance and preparing yourselves by upgrading facilities, academics, assets, etc. and doing a feasibility study that can be presented to potential new conference partners.