SunBelt expansion chatter

Apparently, Benson is feeling some pressure to add a football member and implement a Belt championship game.

My sources in this part of the world say that Mr. Peanut tried his best to persuade UALR to consider adding football. Even going to far as to PROMISE a future bowl game at War Memorial. Nothing much came of those conversations.

But now there's some smoke coming from Eastern Kentucky as well as Coastal Carolina about moving up to FBS and joining the Belt.

Anyone think there's substance to any of this? Could any of these proposed moves potentially impact Tech?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

Apparently, Benson is feeling some pressure to add a football member and implement a Belt championship game.

My sources in this part of the world say that Mr. Peanut tried his best to persuade UALR to consider adding football. Even going to far as to PROMISE a future bowl game at War Memorial. Nothing much came of those conversations.

But now there's some smoke coming from Eastern Kentucky as well as Coastal Carolina about moving up to FBS and joining the Belt.

Anyone think there's substance to any of this? Could any of these proposed moves potentially impact Tech?

---

Good ole Mr. Peanut;

"Hmm we have the smallest slice of the revenue pie in FBS, how can we fix this..."
http://sportsnola.com/wp-content/upl...enson_desk.png

"I GOT IT! Let's divide that small slice between more teams! I'm so smart!"
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...4/STkp-K6z.jpg

He will need to add 2 teams once his flag ship university moves to the BIG 12.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MiloBumP

He will need to add 2 teams once his cash cow university moves to the BIG 12.

---

Mr. Peanut has brought the WAC post season split the pot to the SBC. In the WAC it wasn't so bad with 4-5 bowls, plus the odd AQ bowl thrown in; SBC doesn't have near the post-season revenue, ULL gets paid back for bowl expenses and the extra get split amongst the entire conference. To make it better ULL had a bunch of creative bowl expenses (coaches bonuses) they tried to pass off last year in a bid to keep more of their bowl payout, but SBC denied and ULL had to scramble and make up the gap for the promised bowl bonuses. Notice the immense amount of turnover this year at ULL, if you were promised a bonus then told well maybe not would you want to stick around?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GermDawg

Good ole Mr. Peanut;

"Hmm we have the smallest slice of the revenue pie in FBS, how can we fix this..."
http://sportsnola.com/wp-content/upl...enson_desk.png

"I GOT IT! Let's divide that small slice between more teams! I'm so smart!"
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images...4/STkp-K6z.jpg

---

"Bright" was the word you were looking for. Mr. Peanut is so Bright!

I think Mr. Peanut went public naming Eastern Kentucky and Coastal Carolina as candidates to send a message to James Madison letting them know this is their last chance at FBS.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LATechBanjo

"Bright" was the word you were looking for. Mr. Peanut is so Bright!

---

Talkin' bout his shirt, ... right? So bright he has to wear those shades.:laugh:

I once took part in a public heckling of Karl Benson while he sat next to our HOF President. No, I'm not ashamed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LATechBanjo

"Bright" was the word you were looking for. Mr. Peanut is so Bright!

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OLDBLUE

Talkin' bout his shirt, ... right? So bright he has to wear those shades.:laugh:

---

Has to be his shirt. Damn sure can't be his future! :toilet:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

I once took part in a public heckling of Karl Benson while he sat next to our HOF President. No, I'm not ashamed.

---

Who pointed him out so this heckling could commence?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Who pointed him out so this heckling could commence?

---

I don't remember, but he was not difficult to ID. Ugly with no hair and not Cartek.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Who pointed him out so this heckling could commence?

---

As I recall that would have been you... and I joined in the heckling. Maybe not my finest moment as a fan, but ...:)

BSU grads aren't very bright.

Isn't the obvious solution to this UMass FBO?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parialex

Isn't the obvious solution to this UMass FBO?

---

Would UMass take it if offered?

Coastal Carolina said they'd accept if offered.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Would UMass take it if offered?

---

If I recall, they inquired when booted from the MAC. It's tough being an independent.

It'll be interesting to see how eastern Kentucky solve their attendance problems

Why would any FCS desire to move to FBS?

Huh?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Why would any FCS desire to move to FBS?

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Huh?

---

I see no benefit to them moving to FBS and certainly not to increase attendance (assuming that is a problem).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

I see no benefit to them moving to FBS and certainly not to increase attendance (assuming that is a problem).

---

Okay so why wouldn't there be the same benefits for them as it was for Tech? Excluding their attendance problems.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Okay so why wouldn't there be the same benefits for them as it was for Tech? Excluding their attendance problems.

---

Tech was one of the first to make the move when they realized there was no money to be made in 1AA even after doing very well in the playoff setup. Although we may not be rolling in cash, we are doing well among our G5 peers and have experienced some success with bowl appearances, wins, and top25 rankings. We have been successful at both levels.

Contrast ulm who after experiencing a 1AA championship followed LaTech (as they always do) in attempting the move they had called ludicrous only a few years earlier. They have one year in 15 with a record above .500, 1 bowl game (loss), and the lowest budget in the FBS.

Unless Eastern Kentucky already has a $20M plus budget, they have very little chance at being successful (earning more from Sunbelt revenue), but have an automatic increase in expenses. I'd say they are much closer to ulm than to LaTech.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Tech was one of the first to make the move when they realized there was no money to be made in 1AA even after doing very well in the playoff setup. Although we may not be rolling in cash, we are doing well among our G5 peers and have experienced some success with bowl appearances, wins, and top25 rankings. We have been successful at both levels.

Contrast ulm who after experiencing a 1AA championship followed LaTech (as they always do) in attempting the move they had called ludicrous only a few years earlier. They have one year in 15 with a record above .500, 1 bowl game (loss), and the lowest budget in the FBS.

Unless Eastern Kentucky already has a $20M plus budget, they have very little chance at being successful (earning more from Sunbelt revenue), but have an automatic increase in expenses. I'd say they are much closer to ulm than to LaTech.

---

Okay so bascially you're assuming they aren't prepared because they don't have the budget. That I get, but that wasn't your statement (which is what I question ).

You said you didn't see why any fcs team would want to move up. Clearly excluding those negatives, there are obvious reason an FCS team would want to move up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parialex

Isn't the obvious solution to this UMass FBO?

---

No because Benson wants a full member to be App State's travel partner to help reduce travel costs and to fix their non-football scheduling problems.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Okay so bascially you're assuming they aren't prepared because they don't have the budget. That I get, but that wasn't your statement (which is what I question ).

You said you didn't see why any fcs team would want to move up. Clearly excluding those negatives, there are obvious reason an FCS team would want to move up.

---

Which ones? The last ones with even a decent budget have made the move. The most successful team(s) in FCS have no desire to move to FBS.

Are you aware of the automatic expenses that are added to an FBS budget? No way the Sunbelt can be a viable option unless the budget is strong enough to take that kind of hit.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Which ones? The last ones with even a decent budget have made the move. The most successful team in FCS has no desire to move to FBS.

Are you aware of the automatic expenses that are added to an FBS budget? No way the Sunbelt can be a viable option unless the budget is strong enough to take that kind of hit.

---

Ga. Southern and App.State just did. North Dakota wanted to but the market they're in didn't help. As for the Sunbelt Conference you may be correct about them but the Sunbelt isn't the only fbs conference that's available

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Ga. Southern and App.State just did. North Dakota wanted to but the market they're in didn't help. As for the Sunbelt Conference you may be correct about them but the Sunbelt isn't the only fbs conference that's available

---

I SAID that the last ones with a decent budget had already done it. As I SAID the numbers didn't work for North Dakota (one of the most successful FCS teams) so they have no desire to move.

What other FBS conferences are available? The only one might be the MAC. They aren't looking for new members.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

I SAID that the last ones with a decent budget had already done it. As I SAID the numbers didn't work for North Dakota (one of the most successful FCS teams) so they have no desire to move.

What other FBS conferences are available? The only one might be the MAC. They aren't looking for new members.

---

Actually you just give a broad statement on successful (by your standards) fcs programs without naming any one particular.

To answer your question on what other conferences that are available, I would say the American conference and CUSA are two.

They both have odd number of membership and no conference championship game, that a lot of conferences are finding out can be another source of revenue for them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Actually you just give a broad statement on successful (by your standards) fcs programs without naming any one particular.

To answer your question on what other conferences that are available, I would say the American conference and CUSA are two.

They both have odd number of membership and no conference championship game, that a lot of conferences are finding out can be another source of revenue for them.

---

You continue to show your ignorance

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

You continue to show your ignorance

---

Actually its you who seem to have an overwhelming abundance of ignorance, as shown by your name calling any time someone disagrees with you or doesn't acknowledge you as the resident authority of everything NCAA.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Actually its you who seem to have an overwhelming abundance of ignorance, as shown by your name calling any time someone disagrees with you or doesn't acknowledge you as the resident authority of everything NCAA.

---

More ignorance...ignorance is not a derogatory term. It simply points our your lack of knowledge on a subject. There is a difference between lack of knowledge and disagreement.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

Actually you just give a broad statement on successful (by your standards) fcs programs without naming any one particular.

To answer your question on what other conferences that are available, I would say the American conference and CUSA are two.

They both have odd number of membership and no conference championship game, that a lot of conferences are finding out can be another source of revenue for them.

---

CUSA has a championship game. TECH played in it last year.

AAC has 12 members so I assume they have one as well.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skilldawg

AAC has 12 members so I assume they have one as well.

---

They will.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americ...mpionship_Game

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by skilldawg

CUSA has a championship game. TECH played in it last year.

AAC has 12 members so I assume they have one as well.

---

I stand corrected and appreciate the civil answer. Nonetheless the conference has an odd number of membership and adding one would improve its standing.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

I stand corrected and appreciate the civil answer. Nonetheless the conference has an odd number of membership and adding one would improve its standing.

---

Which conference has an odd number? C-USA for a short while, but UAB is coming back. We aren't looking for new members.

If we were picking a 14th member it would likely be one from another FBS conference, not an FCS team.

http://hugelolcdn.com/i/52834.gif

I didn't count UAB because even though they have been reinstated, it is far from done. Considering the politics involved, I wouldn't count the chickens before they hack.
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-foo...down-ray-watts

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

I didn't count UAB because even though they have been reinstated, it is far from done. Considering the politics involved, I wouldn't count the chickens before they hack.
http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-foo...down-ray-watts

---

Before they hack? Dude!

It really isn't that funny, but if that's your way of apologizing for being rude, I accept.

I was warn about the editing skills by some on this board. :rolleyes:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Statboy

I was warn about the editing skills by some on this board. :rolleyes:

---

I don't need to edit your post to make you look ignorant.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

I don't need to edit your post to make you look ignorant.

---

Obviously to don't have to edit yours ( which I was referring too) either to make yourself look ignorant.

If a person goes to that extent over something so simple, it speaks volumes about character.

Dangit maddawg! You and Mr. Grumpypants ruined my thread!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

Dangit maddawg! You and Mr. Grumpypants ruined my thread!

---

You posted a thread about Sunbelt on a Tech board, what outcome did you expect? Anything other than eventually going to The Pit is high expectations.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GermDawg

You posted a thread about Sunbelt on a Tech board, what outcome did you expect? Anything other than eventually going to The Pit is high expectations.

---

Oh c'mon! I put it in the conference talk forum and even framed in terms of its impact on Tech.

Cut me a break!

Let's play the juco!

I'm all for it

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Let's play the juco!

I'm all for it

---

That ought to change the subject.

In this heat, i would love my own Icee machine.

I prefer the white T.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I prefer the white T.

---

That's racist.

Okay, black tea, green tea, and the red T all have their good points as well. Is that PC enough? ;)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

That's racist.

---

#RedTsMatter

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Let's play the juco!

I'm all for it

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rabiddawg

In this heat, i would love my own Icee machine.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by techman05

I prefer the white T.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

That's racist.

---

And the band needs blue polos.
And boobs.

Done. Next?

Getting back to the thread, I heard that Simsboro High School was thinking of starting a football team. When they learned the Sunbelt was looking to expand, they changed their minds and are waiting for another conference to have an opening. The principal determined it was not fair to be the odds on favorite to win the conference before you even have a roster filled in.

I'm serious, if we are playing usl, might as well give the juco a shot...

Better attendance in Ruston than usl

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Better attendance in Ruston than usl

---

Yep, from our own fans.

And if the price of the barrel of oil continues to plummet into the $30s better make as much money in all sports anyway we can...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

I'm serious, if we are playing usl, might as well give the juco a shot...

Better attendance in Ruston than usl

---

I guess 250 is better than 150.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

I guess 250 is better than 150.

---

:laugh:

Attachment 12964

Seriously, I think more, like 300. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OLDBLUE

:laugh:

Attachment 12964

Seriously, I think more, like 300. :D

---

Increase in attendance but decrease in cumulative IQ. Bad trade.

Nobody is pushing UALR to add football and it isn't happening. The bowl game in LR discussions have moved along with very little assistance from Benson.

Coastal will most likely come on board and upgrade their football facilities in time to move football to FBS in 2018 or so. NMSU possibly moving all sports to the SBC. That makes Idaho expendable, especially if one more FB program is added in addition to CC. CC has outstanding baseball, decent basketball and competitive FCS football. That would be a good addition.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crump

Nobody is pushing UALR to add football and it isn't happening. The bowl game in LR discussions have moved along with very little assistance from Benson.

Coastal will most likely come on board and upgrade their football facilities in time to move football to FBS in 2018 or so. NMSU possibly moving all sports to the SBC. That makes Idaho expendable, especially if one more FB program is added in addition to CC. CC has outstanding baseball, decent basketball and competitive FCS football. That would be a good addition.

---

Nobody cares about the Belch.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

Nobody cares about the Belch.

---

Says the guy who clicked on a Sun Belt thread, read it, and then posted to it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crump

Nobody is pushing UALR to add football and it isn't happening. The bowl game in LR discussions have moved along with very little assistance from Benson.

Coastal will most likely come on board and upgrade their football facilities in time to move football to FBS in 2018 or so. NMSU possibly moving all sports to the SBC. That makes Idaho expendable, especially if one more FB program is added in addition to CC. CC has outstanding baseball, decent basketball and competitive FCS football. That would be a good addition.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

Nobody cares about the Belch.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

Says the guy who clicked on a Sun Belt thread, read it, and then posted to it.

---

Nobody cares about Champ967
http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/image...ser-online.png. :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

Nobody cares about Champ967
http://www.latechbbb.com/forum/image...ser-online.png. :D

---

Aint that the damn truth ...

I just can't get over how uninspiring and dull these options are. Even accounting for the fact that it's the Sun Belt.

I still think the best option is NMSU for all sports and UMass for football. If that's just not workable due to geography, then Liberty University has more oomph than either of the suggested schools. I understand the hesitation regarding Liberty, but they potentially have a tremendous upside.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parialex

I just can't get over how uninspiring and dull these options are. Even accounting for the fact that it's the Sun Belt.

I still think the best option is NMSU for all sports and UMass for football. If that's just not workable due to geography, then Liberty University has more oomph than either of the suggested schools. I understand the hesitation regarding Liberty, but they potentially have a tremendous upside.

---

And the hesitation would be?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

And the hesitation would be?

---

Not PC. Too conservative, too Christian,...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Not PC. Too conservative, too Christian,...

---

And too many online students giving them too many resources...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dawg06

And too many online students giving them too many resources...

---

Yes, but that doesn't speak to the whole persecuted Christians narrative, well-loved by BB&B.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parialex

I just can't get over how uninspiring and dull these options are. Even accounting for the fact that it's the Sun Belt.

I still think the best option is NMSU for all sports and UMass for football. If that's just not workable due to geography, then Liberty University has more oomph than either of the suggested schools. I understand the hesitation regarding Liberty, but they potentially have a tremendous upside.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

And the hesitation would be?

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Not PC. Too conservative, too Christian,...

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dawg06

And too many online students giving them too many resources...

---

I know. I just wanted to see him type it. And yes Champ967 it is a form of persecution.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Champ967

Yes, but that doesn't speak to the whole persecuted Christians narrative, well-loved by BB&B.

---

Yeah, Liberty has over 100,000 online students paying $$$$$$$$$...

I think the main issue those in power have with Liberty is that they are more similar to the for-profit Grand Canyon U (which the Pac-12 protested their admission to DI and the WAC) than the prominent religious schools.

Another big reason is that Liberty is an upstart. Had Liberty been founded 100 years earlier like Notre Dame, BYU, Baylor, Wake, BC, Duke, TCU, SMU, Tulsa, etc., very few would have a problem with them.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by parialex

I just can't get over how uninspiring and dull these options are. Even accounting for the fact that it's the Sun Belt.

I still think the best option is NMSU for all sports and UMass for football. If that's just not workable due to geography, then Liberty University has more oomph than either of the suggested schools. I understand the hesitation regarding Liberty, but they potentially have a tremendous upside.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by TYLERTECHSAS

And the hesitation would be?

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by maddawg

Not PC. Too conservative, too Christian,...

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dawg06

Yeah, Liberty has over 100,000 online students paying $$$$$$$$$...

I think the main issue those in power have with Liberty is that they are more similar to the for-profit Grand Canyon U (which the Pac-12 protested their admission to DI and the WAC) than the prominent religious schools.

Another big reason is that Liberty is an upstart. Had Liberty been founded 100 years earlier like Notre Dame, BYU, Baylor, Wake, BC, Duke, TCU, SMU, Tulsa, etc., very few would have a problem with them.

---

From their website.

Liberty University is the largest private, nonprofit university in the nation, the largest university in Virginia, and the largest Christian university in the world.
Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on more than 7,000 beautiful acres in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty offers over 500 programs from the certificate to the doctoral level.Since 1971,
the mission of Liberty University has been to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential for impacting tomorrow’s world.
With a unique heritage and an ever-expanding influence, Liberty remains steadfast in its commitment of Training Champions for Christ.


This is interesting.

School of Aeronautics drone program ranked sixth in U.S.


http://www.liberty.edu/wwwadmin/imag...DDthmb_mid.jpg
SuccessfulStudent.org, an online resource geared toward prospective college students, ranked Liberty University's School of Aeronautics sixth on a list of the "15 Best Drone Training Colleges" in the United States. ...
Liberty University News Service

Lots of smoke coming from Myrtle Beach.

Looks like Benson may be about to pull the trigger on Coastal.

https://twitter.com/sunbeltblogger/s...22099801190400

Quote:

---

BREAKING News: A source within the Sun Belt has confirmed to me this morning that the Sun Belt will vote to add Coastal Carolina............

---

http://superradchristianwriterchick....-gallagher.jpg

That breaking news was 2 days ago. Any official word?

Brett McMurphy via Twitter: Coastal Carolina will join Sun Belt in football in 2017-18, all other sports in 2016-17 sources told @ESPN

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tenacious_dog

Brett McMurphy via Twitter: Coastal Carolina will join Sun Belt in football in 2017-18, all other sports in 2016-17 sources told @ESPN

---

Brilliant

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tenacious_dog

Brett McMurphy via Twitter: Coastal Carolina will join Sun Belt in football in 2017-18, all other sports in 2016-17 sources told @ESPN

---

O

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden

Brilliant

---

And next will be Delgado of New Orleans or East Texas Baptist. :laugh:

The Belch brings in a school with a football stadium with a capacity of 9,214 and basketball gym with a capacity of 3,212! :laugh:

Benson got what he wanted: a travel partner for App State.

Apparently ULL was lobbying for New Mexico State, which is still stuck in what's left of the WAC.

This has to be a tough pill to swallow for Liberty. They were a much better candidate.

JMU's admin took a gamble by rejecting the Belch to hold out for C-USA or the MAC. Maybe 10 years from now we'll know whether or not the gamble paid off for JMU.

UMass still has no future football home.

Great baseball program

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Clyde

Great baseball program

---

Watch out UL-L. Might have trouble making the tourney with one other good team in the conference.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Cool Hand Clyde

Great baseball program

---

Watch out UL-L. Might have trouble making the tourney with one other good team in the conference.