This Is Just Great.....

[AppSt94]

appst89

Thanks for the update. I do agree that the exit fee ruling could be an interesting barometer for change. However, I am not convinced that 4 super conferences will work. There are more than 64 teams already in the mix, so who gets cut out? ( more lawsuits to ensue)

[Gonzo]

As depressing and unfortunate this may turn out to be, we must remember that no matter who leaves the Sun Belt, the conference is light years ahead of the SoCon.

[AppSt94]

As depressing and unfortunate this may turn out to be, we must remember that no matter who leaves the Sun Belt, the conference is light years ahead of the SoCon.

I would even go as far to say it would still be on par with CUSA. Even if the defections are Ark St and UL, they do not counter balance the perception of ODU, Charlotte and two crappy teams in south Florida.

[Gonzo]

As depressing and unfortunate this may turn out to be, we must remember that no matter who leaves the Sun Belt, the conference is light years ahead of the SoCon.

I would even go as far to say it would still be on par with CUSA. Even if the defections are Ark St and UL, they do not counter balance the perception of ODU, Charlotte and two crappy teams in south Florida.

Hey, I agree. With or without ULL and stAte the SBC is playing better football than CUSA.

Perception wise and money wise though, CUSA has the edge.

[Saint3333]

This only works in our favor if the Belt adds quality members, other than JMU there really isn't another option. Missouri St would be nice but their football isn't ready. NMSU all sports would be good but bad on travel.

I bet they take Ark St and Texas St.

If this happens JMU will be less likely to join, which is disappointing.

[AppSt94]

I like the idea of adding New Mexico in all sports. Adding the in their weakest sport makes no sense to me.

[appst89]

This only works in our favor if the Belt adds quality members, other than JMU there really isn't another option. Missouri St would be nice but their football isn't ready. NMSU all sports would be good but bad on travel.

I bet they take Ark St and Texas St.

If this happens JMU will be less likely to join, which is disappointing.

There aren't any quality members out there. This really seems like an effort by CUSA to kill off the Belt. I guess they figure they can get a bigger cut of the BC$ pie if there is Go4 instead of Go5.

I think losing stAte and ULL would be a mortal injury for the Belt.

[firemoose]

This only works in our favor if the Belt adds quality members, other than JMU there really isn't another option. Missouri St would be nice but their football isn't ready. NMSU all sports would be good but bad on travel.

I bet they take Ark St and Texas St.

If this happens JMU will be less likely to join, which is disappointing.

There aren't any quality members out there. This really seems like an effort by CUSA to kill off the Belt. I guess they figure they can get a bigger cut of the BC$ pie if there is Go4 instead of Go5.

I think losing stAte and ULL would be a mortal injury for the Belt.

Not over with yet. Even if CUSA tries to kill the Belt it just might bite them in the butt. This is going to get interesting.

[moehler]

Conference USA is going after the SBC and are taking a proactive approach to destroy it. I also think the timing of this press release is to keep James Madison and others from joining the SBC , and to wait becouse there might be a positon for them in the near future.

[Kgfish]

Good friend who has close ties to JMU's Athletic Department tells me something, he doesn't exactly know what, is going on in Harrisonburg. We know ODU is pushing JMU hard, but I'm inclined to agree the additions need to be out west. Might we wind up with...

Sun Belt Football
East: App State, Ga So, Ga St, JMU, Liberty, Troy
West: Idaho, Missouri State, NMSU, , S Al, ULM, Tex St

Sun Belt Basketball & All Other Sports
App State, Ga So, Ga St, JMU, Liberty, Troy, Missouri State, Troy, S Al, ULM, ULAR, UTA, Tex St

CUSA East
FAU, FIU, Marshall, MTSU, ODU, UAB, UNCC, WKU
CUSA West
Ark St, La Tech, Rice, Southern Miss, ULL, UNT, UTSA, UTEP

[moehler]

I dont understand why OD would want JM to move up anytime soon. They already have enough competion with Virginia, Virginia Tech, Marshall, ECU, NC, NC State, etc all trying to land the best players in Virginia. They are already many years behind all these programs, why would you want to add another competitor?

[GoApps70]

To heck with CUSA.
There is more advantage to staying in the Sun Belt.
We are recruiting against half of CUSA now and the
Sun Belt is the thing that makes up different in this area.
No point in paying three million to change conferences,
we have to do it or not. The conference isn't going
to do it for us.

[bcoach]

I don't think this is going to last as long as some people think. I think that where we are at the end of the 2014 season is going to be where we are at for a very long time. I think these conferences are going to get locked in and stop the upheaval. That is what TV wants and that is what I think they will get. They have no major interest in regional conferences like we hope for. TV wants a broader audience. Regional is good for our travel but bad for their advertising sales. Local advertising dollars are nothing when compared to what national are. JMU is doing the smart thing so far. Time will tell how it works out in the long run. If they get a CUSA they will be the winner.

[ASUMountaineer]

We cannot catch a break in this cluster****. Just amazing.

UL and Arkansas State are probably the two best programs in the SB, not that that's saying a whole lot. Would be a serious blow to the conference, and one has to wonder if this ordeal has Cobb and Peacock shaking their heads. If JMU was somehow able to get an invite that would be a real punch in the gut. I know we're supposed to be telling ourselves the SB is better, but I'd much rather be playing the teams in C-USA than what we're going to be facing....

I would think that they add in the west, but that's just a guess? Any thought that Missouri State could be on the CUSA short list? I know the SB board is obsessed with Missouri State, but they're not moving their bball to the SBC. They might be willing to listen to CUSA, and CUSA has shown that they'll take schools with bad/no football.

If CUSA was looking to add a school in the east, wouldn't Georgia State fit their billing better than JMU? Think about it, major market, new state, provides a link to Florida, additional recruiting area (already have the VA tidewater with ODU). I don't see the benefit for CUSA to add JMU.

I'm still holding out hope that CUSA takes NMSU off the SBC's hands, rather than losing stAte or ULL.

[vegattk]

Welcome to the Sun Belt

[ASUMountaineer]

Welcome to the Sun Belt

That looks like it could be true. I know we will disagree on this, but I still take it over the SoCon.

[vegattk]

Welcome to the Sun Belt

That looks like it could be true. I know we will disagree on this, but I still take it over the SoCon.

Give me some regional rivalries and I'd be much happier about the move...

[appst89]

Welcome to the Sun Belt

I don't disagree with that assessment, but if you look just to the right or to the left of the revolving door, you'll see the SoCon.

[TheMoody1]

Welcome to the Sun Belt

Welcome to the Sun Belt, and CUSA, AAC, etc....

[ASUMountaineer]

Welcome to the Sun Belt

That looks like it could be true. I know we will disagree on this, but I still take it over the SoCon.

Give me some regional rivalries and I'd be much happier about the move...

Well, adding either JMU (preferable) or Liberty, and the eastern division will be pretty regional: JMU/Liberty, App State, GSU, GSU, Troy, USA. It will be similar to the old SoCon with VMI (though there was no Alabama team). That only expands the SoCon footprint by one state, and it's a state close to App State.

If both were added (which seems unlikely as it would create unbalanced divisions), it would be an even tighter footprint. If JMU joined the league, we'd have regional rivalries with JMU, Southern, and Troy right off the bat...with the potential of Georgia State possibly becoming one. It would be hard to get much better than that with a move such as ours.

Now Veg, I know that it's not perfect or ideal, but it's not the worst situation. And, I'm not sure that CUSA would be better at this point. We would trade JMU, GSU, and Troy for UNCC, ODU, and Marshall. Personally, I care nothing about being in a division with the F_U's. I tend to be a glass half-full kind of guy, so I could be way off here overall, but I'm looking at it with optimism. Of course, I have been accused of being a "Rah Rah" fan, so ya know...take it for what it's worth.