Sun Belt ... Where to visit first?

[asumike83]

Here is my $.02 on the potential rivalries in the SBC and the "I don't care about any of the teams we'll be playing" sentiment:

Playing a school regularly will develop a rivalry and it can happen quickly. Did anyone really care about playing Wofford when they joined the SoCon in 1997? They were a DII/NAIA program until 1995. How about Elon when they joined in 2003? Samford? It had been 20-30 years since we'd played any of those schools in football when they came into the conference.

I didn't care one bit about any of those schools before they were in the SoCon but it didn't take long to build some animosity. I see Troy and Louisiana-Lafayette as the two schools with the best potential to become new rivalries. Their fans are gonna talk smack to us, their teams will probably 'Welcome' us the first few years and it will not take long to gain familiarity.

The way I see it, there are two SoCon schools I get fired up to face every year: Georgia Southern and Furman. One of them is coming with us and the other rivalry has lost a bit of luster with App winning 10 of the last 12. If JMU were to join as well, that would give us two pre-existing rivals while we build even more of them.

As for the others, I'd be very surprised if we didn't play Western and Furman in baseball/basketball nearly every season, along with a mix of Elon, Wofford and other SoCon rivals. If Western can swallow their pride and come to Boone for a money game instead of a conference game, I'm sure we'd host them at The Rock from time to time as well.

Sorry for the novel, just a thought. We aren't leaving all the SoCon programs never to be seen again and with several other schools who can put 20K+ in a stadium every Saturday in our conference, we will probably build new ones quicker than we expect.

[Yosef84]

Oh how wrong you are Gonzo..

Higher Transportation Costs
Worse Post-Season
Lesser Known Opponents
Laughing Stock of an FBS Conference (you do realize that the Sun Belch is basically the Big South of the FBS?)
Games spread throughout the continental US
Less Ability to go to Away Games
Less Home Games per Season

Seems to me the move was made to stroke the egos of those in charge AND placate wealthy donors.

Sorry Veg. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but your "facts" are just not "factual." At best, they contain elements of truth influenced heavily by personal opinion.

Higher Transportation Costs - Yes, the SBC is more dispersed and travel will increase.Worse Post-Season - No playoffs, but there is a championship game and chance for a bowl. That is potentially two post season games, which matches our all time average for post season performance. There is also an extra regular season game each year.Lesser Known Opponents - OK...this one is ridiculous. Lesser known to who? Ask people to tell you a few facts about our SoCon brothers and find out how well known they are.
Laughing Stock of an FBS Conference (you do realize that the Sun Belch is basically the Big South of the FBS?) Again...not true. Four bowl games last year. Troy pounded ECU by the way. Winning percentage over the past three years against CUSA. Hardly a doormat among the non-qualifying conferences.Games spread throughout the continental US - This is the same point as the first...just presented differently.Less Ability to go to Away Games
Less Home Games per Season - We will have 6 home games...same as we've been having. There will only be FEWER home games if you include possible playoff games from FCS.

How bout these observations:
1) Higher level of competition
2) More scholarships to student athletes.
3) Significantly higher payouts from BCS programs and an opportunity to play with even scholarships
4) A conference made up of peer institutions instead of small private schools. How long can you continue feeling smug about beating up on schools with enrollments of 3K and stadiums that look like high school fields?
5) FCS is a declining division and has been marginalized by the NCAA. It has NEVER lived up to the its original intent to provide greater visibility to the smaller programs. The trend among BCS conferences appears to be to prohibit even playing FCS opponents (See Big 10).
6) SoCon has lost all television exposure and the commissioner seems to think that it might be a good idea to CUT scholarships / funding in response to #5 above.

I get it. You don't like the move. You have some legit concerns, but the decision is made and future could be brighter than we even know.

[vegattk]

I get it. You don't like the move. You have some legit concerns, but the decision is made and future could be brighter than we even know.

Which is why I'm letting go of my concerns... At least on this thread. I'll more than likely rehash them again and again... but that's for later squabbles.

[fjblair]

Wofford was not a rival in my opinion but I do agree with the point about creating rivalries.

[appsfan]

Getting back on track, the first visit for me will most likely be GaSt due to its proximity. The top on my wish list is Louisiana- it looks like they do some serious tailgating there. Troy and GaSo would be in the mix as well depending where (home or away) we play in 2014..

[JCline0429]

Where have you seen that the track will be removed?

Its in the "strategic plan" the athletic dept released a couple weeks ago. It calls for an expansion, and dedicated track facility.

Where?

[GlassOnion]

Where have you seen that the track will be removed?

Its in the "strategic plan" the athletic dept released a couple weeks ago. It calls for an expansion, and dedicated track facility.

Where?

Under the 'facilities enhancement" section on page 19.