What will the Sun Belt Conference do?

FBS Conference Realignment is all speculation at this point!

Conference realignment is certainly changing the landscape across the country. Why? Because many conferences are hunting the dollars that comes with college football and other sports such as basketball, if you don’t believe me check out the latest with other conferences especially the Big East that’s about to fill the real pain.

The seven founding basketball schools in the Big East announced on Saturday they would ultimately leave to form a new league. Putting this conference in a situation to think what’s next for our remaining and future members.

The big exit will leave four current Big East football members, and nine new schools are scheduled to join the league over the next three years, and all of those are not schedule to join in all sports. So will this force the new conference to add members and if so from where do they add these new members. Many are speculating as usual that they will raid Conference USA again or maybe other conferences such as Mountain West and the MAC to create a new national conference with two divisions in all sports.

With all the college conference shuffling happening, many are wondering inside and outside of the Sun Belt Conference what is going to happen next?

On last week or so I wrote here on my blog that the Sun Belt Conference may add additional programs to replace Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic after the FCS playoffs, I didn’t say what day or how many weeks it would be after the playoffs. I was relying on information that was provided. But I am here to keep my readers and followers well informed on the situation as information develops as we know nothing as developed on a announcement as of yet.

There is a big question that is blowing over many desks as we speak, what will happen next? And to be honest nobody knows, why because all of the realignment shuffling has not settled. Everyone wants to know who will the SBC add as new members, will it be FCS programs or will it be other FBS programs? Even me I am asking the same question to many and would like to know and when it will happen? But what concerns me the most is will it be FCS programs and will the SBC make the right choice?

I had some interesting conversations this weekend with a couple of individuals inside of the Sun Belt Conference and outside of the Sun Belt Conference, and each of them seems to be on the same page now but with a little bit of a different twist.

The answers comes down to this, the Sun Belt Conference will add two programs at minimum to get back to 10 programs in football and 12 in all sports.  I ask who might they add, or who is the SBC considering? The answers were Appalachian State and Georgia Southern which tops the list in FCS programs along with Lamar University in Texas. There was no mention of any other programs from the FCS in those conversations.

Then I asked a follow up question of when will the SBC possible announced their additions? Simple don’t know yet, due to the changes in conference realignment. I asked what you mean. Simple with the Big East losing programs, changes are coming soon, they may invite programs from other conferences, preferably C-USA and more SBC programs may be added to C-USA who knows, so the Sun Belt is waiting to see what happens.

I don’t know how long the Sun Belt will wait through all this conference shuffling, but with me the question still remain the same, will they wait until it too late?  

Two FCS programs have expressed interest and have made a few necessary moves to make the jump to the FBS. Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are those two programs, and each of their AD’s have also made it known that they are having discussion with several conferences. There is no doubt that both of these programs want to be in the FBS, but where will their first home be? I spoke to an inside sure and not long ago, and was informed that the talks with Georgia Southern and the SBC were serious and the business side of the deal needed to be worked out. Um, Really? Well these are all rumors, because no one officially has come forward.

With the Big East losing programs now, and may be force into deeper changes. Many options are on the table now. If the Big East goes after more C-USA programs, then C-USA will go after more SBC programs or possibly Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Appalachian State would rather be in C-USA any way and wouldn’t deny an invite to the Big East or whatever their conference maybe called in the future along with Georgia Southern.

We all know that Memphis, Tulane, East Carolina, SMU, Central Florida, and Houston have all left for the Big East in 2013 and 2014, what if the Big East dissolves and there is no conference left for those programs to call home, what will they be forced to do? These six programs will be forced to seek a spot back in their old conference or seek to form a new one.

If such of a move is to happen, and Conference USA takes back some of those programs and not all, who will it be and where will the others go? Many are speculating that Memphis, Tulane and SMU may be left out. So where will they go? The Sun Belt would be glad to welcome them in. So is this why the Sun Belt Conference may be delaying its announcement and move to add additional programs. Could it be something much better than FCS programs? SMU would make a great fit in Texas with Texas State, Memphis could very well replace Middle Tennessee in the State of Tennessee and Tulane could be a great additional for as TV market and rest of SBC eastern schools such as South Alabama, Troy and Georgia State. All that of these programs has a great TV market that would be a benefit to the Sun Belt Conference.

We can’t forget about New Mexico State either, this is a program that can get pick up three different ways now, C-USA could pick them up to form a mega conference, the Big East can pick them up to form their new national conference, and the Sun Belt can welcome them back in as well.

I’m pretty sure that the Sun Belt Conference wouldn’t want to dissolve as the WAC did and be forced away. I also believe that the SBC would like better TV revenue contracts and college bowl tie ins. SBC do want better, but how soon due they want it?

However I do believe that the Sun Belt Conference should be more open to its fans and supporters on all the conference realignment and what the SBC plans are in the near future. Many would like to know and should know, but when it happens it happens. On the honest side to all of this nobody knows when, but those at the board room table of the Sun Belt Conference.

WKU Hires Petrino as Football Coach

According to AP, Western Kentucky has made a hire for their new head football coach.

The former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino was introduced at a Monday afternoon news conference. And so it is done!

Coach Bobby Petrino

The 51-year-old Petrino replaces Willie Taggart, who left WKU Saturday to become South Florida's coach. Petrino had a 34-17 record at Arkansas and 75-26 overall in eight seasons as a college head coach.

Petrino has been looking to get back into coaching since his dismissal. His name was mentioned recently in connection with several openings, including Kentucky and Auburn.

He takes over a 7-5 Western Kentucky team that's headed to its first bowl appearance as an FBS school. The Hilltoppers will play in the Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl on Dec. 26 against Central Michigan. WKU defensive coordinator Lance Guidry was named interim coach on Saturday will coach the team in the bowl game.

Some rumors had Petrino going to Arkansas State, but I have to call this a great hire for WKU. Now could they be a top 25 team? It is very likely under this man.

Petrino was on a number of talk shows on this morning, and stated that he is not ready to go out a recruit players and build a winning WKU team.

Could Georgia Southern be on their way to the Sun Belt Conference?

Sources tell me that they are working it out.

College football’s realignment conversation for the Sun Belt is centered on Georgia Southern and will they be a part of the Sun Belt and the FBS. If not the Sun Belt Conference then who?

In recent weeks many moves within college football have taken place and many more are expected or speculated to happen, but where who knows. It could all be a surprise to everyone, because we really don’t know what college Presidents and AD’s are thinking or talking let alone conference commissioners.

The Sun Belt Conference lost two programs over the last couple of weeks in Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic to Conference USA. The Sun Belt has been raided by CUSA twice now, first taking North Texas and FIU in the spring of this year and now MTSU and FAU.

Sun Belt Conference Commissioner has gone on the radio and other media outlets to say that he and the conference will address or discuss new additions to the conference early as last week.  Well until this day nothing has come from the Commissioner or the conference in reference to replacements.

Currently the conference sits at 10 members with MTSU, FAU, UNT and FIU. Once those programs leave the conference early as 2013, SBC will sit a 8 members with newly added Texas State and Georgia State.

Media reports and bloggers and many rumors continue to put Georgia Southern as the number one pick for an addition to the Sun Belt Conference, but there is nothing as of today to confirm that Georgia Southern will be added. Media reports and rumors also surface around Appalachian State of North Carolina as well; they to want to be in a FBS conference badly.

As always there is much rumors as speculations around every potential program, when there no known facts or confirmation on who is doing what and what is going to happen.

As a blogger for the Sun Belt Conference, I try and bring you my dedicated readers much informed information as possible whenever I can or get the news. I also have reached out to GA Southern AD and Commissioner Benson with the SBC, and have not gotten any answers from either one.  Except that AD Kleinlein is in a meeting whenever I call.

In April, GSU expressed a desire to move its football program from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. The school student body voted in favor of the move and to increase their student fees in support of such move.

Now that there are a couple of openings in the Sun Belt Conference, and it’s possible the SBC may be looking to get enough teams for a conference football championship game, Georgia Southern has reached out. Tom Kleinlein, the Eagles’ new athletics director, acknowledged placing calls to the Sun Belt Conference almost a couple of weeks ago “to open up the lines of communication.” Oh yes to open lines of communication. Umm?  “I’ve had conversations with (GSU president Brooks) Keel and some people involved with Sun Belt,” Kleinlein said. “Right now, my conversations have been minimal, more informational to Dr. Keel, what I see going on — nothing is solidified or solid yet. Tom Kleinlein also mentioned that he has talked with other conferences as well.

Well a source of mine inside of the Sun Belt Conference has informed me that Georgia Southern will be added. On this morning I finally got a word from someone inside of Georgia Southern saying there are serious talks and business aspects are being worked out, and told me to give it a week or so.  Well my source inside the SBC, informed me that they are waiting till the FCS playoff were over.

Remember when Kleinlein said this last week, “Obviously, with the movement in the Sun Belt the last couple of days, I imagine commissioner (Karl) Benson has been doing some things to get his conference in order and figure out what they’re going to do next,” Kleinlein said.

And not only that AD Kleinlein also said, “Obviously, there’s some leg work, some investigative work, some behind-the-scenes work that’s been done and I’m sure (GSU’s former AD) Sam (Baker) did a lot of it and he probably paved the way for a lot of the conversations that may come down the line in the next few weeks with conference realignment,” Kleinlein said.

We’ll be waiting to see if this really happens and when it happens. Will the SBC move to get back to 10 league members or will they stay at eight? Some gestures are they will expand to (12) to get to that conference football championship in FBS. Who will the SBC add with Georgia Southern if it’s true that they are coming to the SBC? Speculations have Appalachian State, Lamar and Liberty joining, but there are also rumors that the SBC may bring back New Mexico State and Idaho since they are established FBS programs and former members of the Sun Belt Conference. And then you have Sam Houston State out there in Texas as well, that is also in FCS playoff as we speak that may be a potential candidate for the SBC.  I have not received any word on App State joining the SBC, but they and their fans do want in a FBS conference badly.  

There is UT-Chattanooga out there that would be a great replacement for MTSU, and more of a geographic fit for the SBC with Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky if they stay around. The Sun Belt Conference also have to look out for Texas State on the west end of the conference, adding Sam Houston State or Lamar would be great.

On all these speculations, I will have to say that we all will have to wait and see what happens. But let me throw this in. I would like to see the SBC get more aggressive like other conferences. In my opinion I would like the SBC to go after UAB, Southern Miss and UTEP, would they want to be in the Sun Belt Conference? I am thinking they would not, but if they SBC would be more attractive and make more bowl deals and generate more revenue for its member’s schools then that would be an attractive reason to lure those programs to the SBC, then the answer would be yes, because what I am hearing is they do want out of CUSA.

CUSA is not all that of a good conference and why SBC schools are leaving for that conference is really unknown besides a better conference name and more bowl tie-ins. As I mentioned, CUSA is not a stable conference and the grass is not greener over there.

There is growth that can be made within the SBC and for its member institutions. The SBC can also make it more attractive for current and future members to stay in the Sun Belt Conference.

Before I leave here is what Commissioner Karl Benson had to say over the past week or so on all of this.

“While I am disappointed that Middle Tennessee State University and Florida Atlantic University have elected to depart the Sun Belt Conference, the SBC is still very well positioned for the future and I remain very optimistic that the momentum that has been created in the past six months will continue to grow. The continuing 10 members of the SBC are committed to excellence and I am confident that the SBC will take advantage of these latest changes in the landscape. As I have stated many times in the past six months, the SBC will be a major player in the future, especially within its geographic footprint.”

“As for future members, there are several outstanding universities that have indicated interest in joining the SBC. While we have conducted research on these universities in the past six months, we will now focus on identifying the ones that will be the best “fit” for the conference and the ones that will contribute immediately in achieving our goal of being the best of the FBS conferences that currently do not receive automatic qualification into the BCS.”

AD Kleinlein and Commissioner Benson statements sound somewhat the same.

QB C.J. Bennett transfers from South Alabama

South Alabama Quarterback C.J. Bennett, who started the first three games this season and 26 of the 25 games he played in three seasons at South Alabama, has decided to transfer to Murray State.

Bennett who stands 6’0, and weighs 205lb, who will have two seasons of eligibility remaining with the Racers thanks to being able to play during his "redshirt'' year at USA because the program was unclassified by the NCAA.

Bennett, who is leaving South Alabama football program after losing the starting position this season, said “he felt it was time for a change”.

Murray State recruited Bennett out of Alonso High School in Tampa, Fla., but he chose South Alabama for the chance to play right away, it was moving toward being a Football Bowl Subdivision program and he could play for five seasons.

 

We wish Bennett great sucess in his new endeavors.

 

Arkansas State Conference Champs Again in 2012

Arkansas State claims the title for the second time in a row

Arkansas State Red Wolves claimed victory once again, this time under their new head coach Gus Malzhan .

2012 SBC Champs - Arkansas State 

Playing a game against a defecting SBC member for the conference title, Arkansas State did indeed prove to Middle Tennessee who rules. The Red Wolves denied Middle Tennessee a chance to even try. Instead the Red Wolves sent them on their way to their new conference.

Ryan Aplin was a big star in Saturday conference title game in Jonesboro, he broke his own Arkansas State record for passing touchdowns in a season and the Red Wolves captured their second straight Sun Belt Conference championship with a 45-0 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday.

Aplin completed 19 of 21 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns -- giving him 22 TDs to break the mark of 21 he set last season. Arkansas State (9-3, 7-1) and Middle Tennessee (8-4, 6-2) came into the game tied for first place in the conference.

David Oku rushed for 102 yards and a TD for the Red Wolves, giving him 1,024 yards for the season. Arkansas State, which won its seventh straight, had 512 yards of offense to just 203 for the Blue Raiders.

Maybe Middle Tennessee was still on their conference switch high, or maybe Arkansas State said just leave….lol. Go Red Wolves!

UL-Lafayette defeats FAU in final game of the 2012 season, South Alabama lost to Hawaii

ULL vs. FAU

The Ragin Cajuns denied FAU a chance to win their last game of the season and possible last Conference  game as a member of the Sun Belt.

Terrance Broadway posted 291 all-purpose yards and Alonzo Harris ran for three touchdowns to help Louisiana-Lafayette hold off Florida Atlantic 35-21 Saturday in the season finale for both clubs.

Broadway threw for 168 yards and ran for 123 of Louisiana-Lafayette's 284 rushing yards as the Ragin' Cajuns (8-4, 6-2 Sun Belt Conference) won their third-straight game.

Hawaii defeats South aLABAMA 23-7

Both Hawaii and South Alabama wanted a win to end their season and go into the off season with some momentum. But in this game there was only one winner with that carries that momentum into the offseason and that is Hawaii. 

South Alabama vs. Hawaii

It was the first time the Warriors (3-9) won back-to-back games since October of last year, when it beat New Mexico State at home and won at Idaho, and did the same this year won back to back games. And their last game of the season comes with a victory over South Alabama.

The Warriors (3-9) compiled a season-high 410 yards of offense. Sterling Jackson ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and Sean Schroeder connected with Chris Gant on a 26-yard scoring strike in the third quarter.

South Alabama's 166 yards of total offense were the fewest allowed by Hawaii since it gave up 127 against Lamar on Sept. 15. The Jaguars had just 18 rushing yards, averaged just 2.6 yards per play and allowed six sacks by Hawaii.

"For where we are with our program, we can't make mistakes like that and beat a team like Hawaii," South Alabama coach Joey Jones said. "That's the bottom line."

B.J. Scott recorded a game-high 12 tackles and intercepted a pass, and Maleki Harris recovered a pair of fumbles for the Jaguars.

South Alabama has some much needed work to do and prepare for a FBS full membership beginning in 2013. 

Sun Belt Conference To Address Expansion Early as Monday

C-USA Commissioner Banowsky wants to do away with smaller conferences!

College football re-alignment have triggered to the Sun Belt Conference once again. On this past week Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic have accepted invitation to join Conference USA.

                                                                                                                                                                               

Conference USA lost two more teams to the Big East in Tulane and East Carolina.  And this is no joke but reality. My question in all this is, what is the Sun Belt Conference doing to do to survive and fight back, or will they doing anything?

Times are telling that Conference USA is not so green and bright itself with all the deflections within the past year, when nearly six of its schools have deflected to the Big East and more may follow. I would like to know what is it that the Sun Belt schools see in C-USA that’s so bright besides a better name with problems of its own and maybe $1 million dollars more in TV revenue.  Now C-USA commissioner says that more expansion is not out of the question, we all know that they want to reach that 16 team member conference. However Commissioner Banowsky keeps robbing smaller conferences for a reason just like he did the WAC, and why is that? Because Banowshy doesn’t want the WAC and Sun Belt Conference to exist, it’s just that simple. He wants the TV markets and the teams for a super conference and a better non-AQ status. He knows that he don’t have what it takes at this moment with the current team, and the teams he added just not of that caliber either to help boost C-USA. Banowshy is just a “wimp” to keep robbing other conferences for their teams because their own teams don’t desire to be with them any longer.

Word is also that Western Kentucky may follow suit, but their TV market may hold them back.

Commissioner Karl Benson said that he desire for the Sun Belt Conference to be bright and a step above C-USA. I would like to know how we are going to get there and when a blue print to get there will be released.  Will Commissioner Karl Benson address this matter this week beginning tomorrow as mention to a local radio show and newspaper? SBC Commissioner said on this past Thursday that he and the conference will begin addressing conference re-alignment and expansion beginning early as Monday.

In order for the Sun Belt Conference to survive all this shuffling and deflections of members, the SBC will need to do the following whether they like it or not, and if not they will see the SBC headed down the same old road as the Western Atlantic Conference. It’s real and we got to accept it as it is.

1.       SBC needs to added at least (4) new programs at a minimum, to create a conference championship and also to prevent falling below 10 programs. With MTSU and FAU out we are down to four. The fans of the SBC want a Championship game and will also help boos this conference and the fan base.

2.       SBC needs to address and negotiate better TV contracts and expand the TV contracts to more networks, such as DirectTV, Comcast, Media Com and FX networks. Our programs want more exposure and more revenue as well.  Our members would like more national televise games.

3.       SBC has to be willing to give back a little more to our members, and to help boost our conference.

4.       SBC needs to impose a exit fee beside just exit penalties. I can’t believe we don’t have an exit fee. Just come and leave as you please. May the SBC conference your play ground. SHAME!

5.       Negotiate more Bowl tie-ins to guarantee our teams to reach a post season bowl game.  

There are some potential candidates to bring into the Sun Belt Conference immediately and the Sun Belt Conference and its board should hold a special conference meeting to discuss extending a conference invitation to the following schools. These schools may be waiting for an invitation and be willing to join the conference as soon as possible, Georgia Southern, New Mexico State, Lamar, UT-Chattanooga, and Liberty. However Appalachian State made it known they are ready, but the question is will they now get invited to Conference USA or will the Sun Belt Conference beat C-USA and invite the Mountaineers.

Lamar will give Texas State a new in-state rival and partner in football well as basketball along with UTA. Don’t forget about Western Kentucky if they stick around a bit longer that they will be losing their rival in Middle Tennessee, so UT-Chattanooga will be a great replacement in Tennessee. Adding UT-Chattanooga will not only be a great add for Western Kentucky but to balance a possible eastern division in the Sun Belt Conference. Georgia State is coming in to the Conference next year and Georgia Southern will be a great addition for Georgia State in the State of Georgia. Appalachian State will also be a great addition and also will create rivalries with Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky.  Would the Sun Belt Conference desire to keep a presence in Florida, if so Florida A&M is there and have the facilities to move up, but money may be a program for them.

Why wouldn’t the Sun Belt Conference seek to add Southern Miss and UTEP? When all dominoes have fallen and there is nothing but a few left below the margin, what would happen?

When all is said and done, it is better that the Sun Belt Conference act now than later. Sitting back and watching it unfold is not the brightest idea. If the Sun Belt Conference would like to stay a step ahead of Conference USA they will need to go out and recruit and extend that hand that they continue to hold together and show love to those who wants to be loved. So all programs can begin to build and continue the great work the Sun Belt has started. 

Trent Miles headed to Georgia State as their new head coach

New Head Coach Trent Miles

Georgia State has hired Trent Miles the current head coach of Indiana State to be the next head coach of their growing football program as they prepare to enter into the Sun Belt Conference next year.

Coach Bill Curry announced his retirement this past summer. Curry is the first head coach of the Georgia State Panthers; he has also coached at Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia Tech.

Miles, a former assistant at Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington, led Indiana State to a 7-4 record this year, his third consecutive winning season at the school.

Georgia State athletic director Cheryl Levick says Miles is a "program builder." The announcement is suppose to come on Monday with a press conference. The pay and contract has not been released, but is expected to be around $400-$500,000. 

A blow to the Sun Belt Conference: Middle Tennessee headed to C-USA

College football re-alignment may have found its way to Sun Belt Avenue once again. There is possible word that the Sun Belt Conference may be taking some more big hits, as they sit still and watch it all unfold in this business of college conference re-alignment.

                                                                                                                                                                               

On yesterday C-USA took another blow when Tulane and East Carolina decided to leave together for the changing Big East Conference.  So that caused another wave of conference shuffling. And this is no joke but reality. My question in all this is what is the Sun Belt Conference doing to do to survive and fight back. Or are they doing anything? We have not heard anything from the Sun Belt on any front, but in this regards the same old news headliner comments over and over again. It’s time for some action and details.

Rumors are out today that Middle Tennessee State is possibly headed to Conference USA. We will wait to see if this unfolds exactly how it sounds. There is no doubt that C-USA will be looking to replace their two lost members.

Conference USA is doing it to the Sun Belt Conference once again, just like they did it to the WAC. And now the Sun Belt has to go out and scramble to find schools that are willing to come in now and that are capable of being in the FBS.

Word is also that Western Kentucky may follow suit, but their TV market may hold them back. It is word out today that their soccer program is moving to the Pac-12, Oh REALLY? What is going on with the Sun Belt?

There are some potential candidates to bring into the Sun Belt Conference immediately, and the Sun Belt Conference and its board should hold a special called tele-conference meeting to discuss extending a conference invitation to the following schools. These schools may be waiting for an invitation, Georgia Southern, New Mexico State, Lamar, Jacksonville State, and Liberty. However Appalachian State made it known they are ready, but the question is will they now get invited to Conference USA as they have lost East Carolina in that region.

When all is said and done, it is better that the Sun Belt Conference act now than later. Sitting back and watching it unfold is not the brightest idea. If the Sun Belt Conference would like to stay a step ahead of Confernce USA they will need to go out and recruit and extend that hand that they continue to hold together and show love to those who wants to be loved. So all programs can begin to build and continue the great work the Sun Belt has started.

Middle Tennessee is another program that can leave without an exit fee to the conference. The Sun Belt Conference just lets other conference have their way with our conference.  SHAME!

Good Bye MIDDLE TENNESSEE! 

Sun Belt Conference Needs To Act Sooner Rather Than Later on Conference Expansion

Sun Belt Conference should add two-four more programs in 2013

College football re-alignment is hitting the non-AQ conferences again, more conference shake ups is happening and will happen in the near future.

On this week sever schools have re-aligned with new conferences from the Big East to the ACC and now two more schools have left the Conference USA for the Big East. With all this shuffling in the conference arena, the question that is on my mind is “What is the Sun Belt Conference going to do?”

Conference USA just raided the WAC and took two programs from the Sun Belt Conference this season for 2013. And the Sun Belt replaced them with two programs Texas State and Georgia State. However it is a known fact that C-USA wants to be a super conference with at least 14 teams and high as 16 teams or more.  And now that they have lost Tulane and East Carolina to the Big East beginning in 2014, their commissioner have made it known they have more options to choose from. Sorry to say those options may be the Sun Belt Conference.

Conference USA may be headed back to the Sun Belt to get two more programs or they may go out and get two more great FCS programs that the Sun Belt has failed to add sooner rather than later in Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.  C-USA also has Western Kentucky, Middle Tennessee and UL-Lafayette on their radar. And don’t forget New Mexico State is sitting out there still an established FBS program.

So why would the Sun Belt Conference sit back and enjoy the shuffling and snatching of Sun Belt Conference teams to C-USA?  No doubt they will be looking to rob the Sun Belt Conference once again.  Commissioner Karl Benson the new conference commissioner stated several times that he want the SBC to stay a step ahead of C-USA. So does he really mean that or is it just talk?

The Sun Belt Conference has a chance to be that great powerful non-AQ conference out of the new group of five. Adding two great programs to get to the solid 12 for a conference championship game would be great for the Sun Belt Conference moving forward, especially with the new playoff system coming into effect in 2014. This would help the conference in its chances at that big bowl game and playoff and also generate more revenue for the conference and its teams.  What are the SBC offering its members to stay or come aboard?

Will the Commissioner continue to talk the talk and those that sit on the board continue to sit at the board table along with Commissioner Karl Benson and watch or will they act and get the job done before it’s too late?

Why wouldn’t the Sun Belt Conference aggressively seek to add Southern Miss and UAB, and why would they not add Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, or Lamar in Texas?

In all of this conference re-alignment talk, there is one more big eye catcher that continues to bother me, and that is the Sun Belt Conference has no exit fee in place for those programs that desire to leave. It makes it so easy for other conferences like C-USA to come in and offer so many sweet deals and greener paths to our members because it cost them anything to leave the Sun Belt, so we just get robbed. That should be changed immediately.

But this is decision making season in the offseason of college football, now that we all know what is going on and what can happen in the near future. Our commissioner and board presidents need to make a decision quickly on our next step for the Sun Belt Conference. Are we going to really stay a step ahead of the C-USA or we going to continue to get robbed and lose programs to C-USA and make them better, and watch other conferences grow? I rather see our leaders act now and preserve our conference and make it the top of the non-AQ conferences as they have been doing. Adding two more programs or four would not hurt, but I believe would help the conference in all aspects.

If the best of the FCS get added by other conferences and the SBC lose two more programs to C-USA, then who will be left to lift us back up and help us get to where we want to be. Last minute deals are not always the best deals. We don't need a repeat of the WAC in the Sun Belt Conference. 

What would you like to see happen and who would you like the conference to add as members? 

The best of the best brought home wins on Saturday as Sun Belt Conference Football comes to an end for 2012

What a season for the Sun Belt Conference? 

With the 2012 College Football Season coming to an end for the Sun Belt Conference and only one week left to go, many of the Sun Belt teams did what they needed to do to capture bowls invitations this post season.  For two teams they will be departing the SBC for C-USA, they played their last SBC games on Saturday.

There is one more week left for SBC football, with the biggest SBC game being in Jonesboro, Arkansas at Arkansas State against Middle Tennessee for the conference title. Arkansas State switch coaches after capturing the conference title last season, and brought in former Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn as their head coach, and certainly he has proven that he can be a head coach. Arkansas State is in the running for the SBC Championship once again for the second time in a row. WOW!  Middle Tennessee made a surprise turn around to rise to the top of the conference and they are also in the hunt for the SBC title.  The title game will be held at 2:00pm in Jonesboro, AR this will be a game worth watching and attending. Both teams are sitting at 8-3 for the season and both have a well qualified bowl berth.

When I look back over this season I look at it as the best season ever for the Sun Belt Conference. I also believe that the Sun Belt has proven to be a very competitive non-AQ conference. Several teams have defeated BCS conference teams and two of them in the number one conference in college football.

I give that credit to UL-Monroe, Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee.

I want to especially congratulate UL-Monroe Warhawks and Head Coach Todd Berry for what they have done with the program in Monroe, LA. WOW, the staff and players have really come together to turn this program around and turn it into a winning program. The Warhawks are at their best record since being in the FBS.  They should also get a bowl invitation in this post season. They defeated then No.6 Arkansas in their first game of the season, and the second week they nearly defeated their second SEC team at Auburn in overtime. Not only did they give the SEC teams a run for their money but they gave Baylor of the Big 12 a run for their money as well in Monroe, LA.  ULM is my most improved team in the Sun Belt Conference in 2012.

Western Kentucky has maintain a second straight season of a winning program. They ended their 2012 season on Saturday with a 1-point victory over North Texas defeating the Mean Green 25-24 to improve their record to 7-5 for the 2012 season. I have to give it to coach Willie Taggert for keeping a positive team that he improved since arriving in Bowling Green, KY. For the second straight season they have reach a bowl berth. However, last season they was not invited to a bowl, which they should have. This season may be different as I hope and think they will be in a bowl game this post season.  

South Alabama is the newest team to the SBC conference in 2012. And they have proven that they are ready for the big boy game, having played 12 games thus far and winning (2) of those games. They didn’t produce the record they desired, but they put forth the efforts in every angle. They played a great game at Mississippi State and stayed within the spread. They also traveled to NC State for the second time in a row. Now that they have gotten their feet super wet, the real ball begins in this offseason in recruiting and practicing for what is to come in 2013. Before they go into the offseason, they will travel to Hawaii for their 13^th game, which they say they are treating as their bowl game. With the performance of Hawaii this season, South Alabama Jaguars may be able to produce a win in Hawaii over a Mountain West Conference team before it’s all over. I want to give credit to QB Ross Metheny the Virginia transfer that came in and took over the starting QB job for the JAGS, he really did a great job this season. Also I give credit to C.J. Bennett for bringing the team to this level of play. I also want to credit to Jake Johnson a NFL prospect and B.J. Scott for a great job they have done for the Jaguars.

Florida Atlantic has done a great job under their new head coach Carl Pelini. The Owls have produced three wins this season. They captured 2 conference wins this season, it shows improvement. The OWLS also took Sun Belt Conference new member South Alabama into overtime, before losing that close game. Next season I think they will be more competitive under Carl Pelini and his staff.

Troy improved their season, but not enough to get back to the top of the Sun Belt and reach that bowl berth.  The Trojans lost a close game to Middle Tennessee on Saturday to get that bowl berth. The Trojans are sitting at 5-7 for the 2012 season.  Troy also played great games against Mississippi State and Tennessee, nearly defeating both. When Navy came to town, the Trojans showed no mercy has they defeated Navy 41-31 to inch closer to a bowl berth.

Let us not forget that the Blue Raiders went to Atlanta and defeated ACC - Georgia Tech with a commanding turndown. WOW!

UL-Lafayette also did it once again. They got that bowl berth and continuing to produce and maintain a winning program. I do expect this team that head coach Mark Hudspeth and staff has put together to rise to the top of the Sun Belt Conference. They turn away South Alabama to get that bowl invitation on last night from R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl scheduled for Dec. 22, 2012. WOW! 

North Texas & Florida International is off to the C-USA now that their era in the Sun Belt Conference is over as of Saturday. Both teams were defeated and were sent away with losing seasons. Florida International was the team to beat in the pre-season with projections nationwide to win the conference title before they depart. Other teams in the Sun Belt Conference showed them otherwise. North Texas also was looking to improve and get to a bowl berth this season before exiting the Sun Belt Conference but those hopes faded quickly.

Here is a quick look at the scores on Saturday:

South Alabama   - 30

@ UL-Lafayette    - 52

North Texas  - 24

@ Western Kentucky - 25

Troy  - 21

@ Middle Tennessee - 24

UL-Monroe – 23

@ FIU – 17 (FINAL OT)

Next Saturday will be the final week of SBC football and the conference title game in Jonesboro, AR. Here is a look at this week schedule as the season comes to a close.

South Alabama

@ Hawaii

UL-Lafayette

@ Florida Atlantic

Middle Tennessee

@ Arkansas State (Conference Title GAME)  2:00pm

UL-Lafayette invited to the R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl again

The Ragin Cajuns is on their way once again to the 

R&L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

UL-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns 

With Saturday’s win over South Alabama at Cajun Field, the Ragin’ Cajuns football team locked up a winning mark for the second straight season.

During the postgame celebration, the team picked up its second straight trip to New Orleans for a postseason bowl game.
The Ragin’ Cajuns (7-4, 5-2 Sun Belt) were extended an invitation for a repeat trip to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, held at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, by Jay Cicero, the president and CEO of the Greater New Orleans Sports Commission moments after the final horn sounded in the 52-30 win over South Alabama on Senior Day.

“Coach Hudspeth, Dr. Savoie and members of the Ragin’ Cajuns football team, on behalf of the Greater New Orleans Sports Commission and the New Orleans Bowl committee, I would like to formally invite you to participate in the 2012 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl,” Cicero said.

Louisiana president Dr. Joseph Savoie, Director of Athletics Scott Farmer and head coach Mark Hudspeth accepted the New Orleans Bowl’s invitation, signaling the first ever back-to-back bowl bids in school history.

Louisiana is now officially set to return to the site of the program’s first bowl appearance in the modern era where the Ragin’ Cajuns upended San Diego State 32-30 on a Brett Baer 50-yard field goal as time expired on Dec. 17, 2011 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“I couldn’t be happier going back to New Orleans,” Hudspeth said. “It is a testament to the young men on this team that they fought through the adversity and injuries this season and put ourselves in a position to get invited back to New Orleans. We’ve fought hard all season, and it’s nice to see all of that work pay off. Our players and fans couldn’t be happier to be going back to the Big Easy - let’s paint the town red, again.”

Louisiana will face an opponent to be named – at the latest by Sunday, Dec. 2 – on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the 12th annual R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Fans are reminded to purchase R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl tickets only through the Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics Department because these purchases help the department continue to establish a history of selling tickets for bowl games. In addition, the athletics department will be allotted the best seats available for the game.

ABOUT THE R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL

The New Orleans Bowl is an NCAA-sanctioned post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. The game was sponsored by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl. R+L Carriers replaced Wyndham as the sponsor in 2006, and thus it became officially known as the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
The game pits a team from Conference USA versus a team from the Sun Belt Conference. From the beginning of the New Orleans Bowl until recently that automatically went to the Sun Belt champion, but since the conference earned a second bid, to the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala., in 2010, the bowl is required to take the SBC champion only twice every four years. If Conference USA does not have enough bowl eligible teams the bowl will choose an at-large team, which they did in 2011 when Mountain West Conference member San Diego State was picked to play.

Congratulations to UL-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns for another great season and bowl bid. 

Week 12 Football in the Sun Belt Conference

South Alabama & ULM looking to be spoilers today! 

With football in the Sun Belt Conference winning down, all games count today several teams are already bowl eligible and some are trying to see their bowl changes increase.

Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee the two teams that was left out of the pre-season favorite to win the conference, is battling it out for first place next week.

Who would have expected Arkansas State to be in the running again so soon for the conference title and Middle Tennessee? But it’s real and the two teams along with ULM have proved that they are serious.

Western Kentucky have again improved their team after several senior players left for the pro’s after last season, again looking to reach a 7 win mark for their program and secure a  bowl this time around on today.

South Alabama will be playing its last conference game of the season on today against UL-Lafayette on the road. They have one conference win thus far for the season, which I believe is still great for a new program on the FBS level and in the SBC. South Alabama will travel to Hawaii next weekend for its final 2012 football game of the season.

Florida International and North Texas is about to close their chapters in the Sun Belt Conference. FIU was picked to carry the conference crown with them, but the picture took a turn for the worst for the Miami, FL team. The will leave the conference with a losing record instead. North Texas had hoped they could get a bowl bid this season as well, and as it looks they will fall short as well.

Troy made some comebacks this season to improved their record from last season, however now enough to get them to a bowl game in 2012 either. If they get a win this weekend over Middle Tennessee it would help them in their chances with six wins.  Troy has played well this season, just have not been able to finish the game. This is a rival game as well on this weekend after Thanksgiving.

ULM is my most improved team of the Sun Belt Conference and they too are bowl eligible, today they will be looking to get 8 wins and get back in the race for the conference title if Middle Tennessee lose to Troy. Coach Berry has did a wonderful job in Monroe, LA.

UL-Lafayette is also looking to improve their season record to 7 wins today over South Alabama. They would like to be invited to another bowl game again this season for the second time in a row.

Today’s Games Nov 24^th…….

South Alabama

@ UL-Lafayette

North Texas

@ West Kentucky

Troy

@ Middle Tenessee

UL-Monroe

@ FIU

I hope you all enjoy these games on today and may the best team win. 

Could Conference Expansion Be In The Plans For The Sun Belt Conference? It would help!

With the 2012 college football season almost over, the Sun Belt Conference will be preparing for a new slate of members in 2013. After 2013 will the SBC remain at 10 football members or will it improve its conference to 12 football members and improve it conference for the new playoff system.

North Texas and Florida International will be departing for the C-USA and the Sun Belt Conference will be welcoming in its two newest members Texas State and Georgia State.  Both programs are moving up from the FCS, along with new member South Alabama that made the jump this season in 2012. 

Texas State will keep the Sun Belt Conference in the long star state territory and the conference will expand into the Peach State of Georgia with Georgia State.  However Texas State will not be along in Texas, they will have a new rivalry with UT-Arlington in basketball and all other sports except football. UT-Arlington will be joining the Sun Belt as a non-football member in 2013.

But is expansion still on the table for the Sun Belt to reach that 12 team football conference for a conference championship game.  Maybe so, we will see what’s ahead come the spring of 2013.

If the Sun Belt Conference does decide to expand to 12 teams in football who would it be to join the   new Sun Belt Conference? Let me share my take on possible candidates for membership in the SBC.

It’s no known secret that Georgia Southern wants to move up to FBS. This would be a great addition for the east division in the Sun Belt and a great mileage game for many schools in the Sun Belt Conference that would fall in the new east division, especially for lonely Florida Atlantic and also in-state member Georgia State, it also help the travel of Troy, South Alabama and Middle Tennessee.

Adding Lamar of Texas or McNeese State of Louisiana would be great for a west division, to help the travel of several possible western division members of Texas State, Arkansas State, ULM, ULL, Arkansas-Little Rock and Western Kentucky. But I would think they would have brought back New Mexico State as a established FBS program and can jump in immediately to help set up a western division.

The Sun Belt Conference needs to act quickly on conference expansion, with Florida Atlantic sitting in the Sun Shine state all along now. Commissioner Benson made it known to the WKU Herald, which it is possible that a school with the state of Florida maybe sought.  Just who would that may be? Nobody really knows yet but those on the inside of the conference administrations.

I do believe they should extend conference invitations to several FCS schools at the end of this season, and prepare for 2014. It’s time for us to look at the brighter days now in a big way. Hosting at Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game in 2014 season would be awesome and it would help the conference in so many ways moving forward.  I believe that’s what the player’s want, a division to play in and win and face off in a championship and move on to bowl games. I believe many coaches would desire the same as well as AD’s and Presidents.  A Football Championship Game will also bring in more generated revenue to support teams and the conference overall and more quality players.

Commissioner had this to say to WKU Herald back in May, “The additions of Georgia State and Texas State is part of a plan and a strategy the Sun Belt has in place to bring in quality universities to not only allow the Sun Belt to get bigger, but to get better,” Benson said. “We believe strongly that the additions of Georgia State and now Texas State have made the Sun Belt a better conference for the future.”

The Commissioner did not stop there with his comments and ideas about conference expansion. “If we were to lose two current members replaced by Georgia State and Texas State, that gets us back to 10 football universities,” he said. “Our goal would be to get to 12 members to be able to divide into divisions and to create some geographic efficiency with the membership in the west versus the membership in the east.”

Appalachian State is a known FCS school waiting on an invitation to move up, along with Jacksonville State. It will be surprising to see any action come this may during the spring meeting of the conference on expansion. Will they get it done in 2013 for 2014? We will be watching and waiting to see what comes next for the Sun Belt Conference.

Middle Tennessee head coach Rick Stockstill gets $100,000 bonus for performance

As the 2012 college football season comes to an end with just two weeks left for the regular season and then all the bowl games. Middle Tennessee head football coach Rick Stockstill earned a $100,000 raise and contract extension through June of 2019.

The Blue Raiders win over South Alabama help him secure that raise and extension.

MTSU Head Coach Rick Stockstill

If the Blue Raiders receive a bowl bid to earn another bonus, Stockstill’s projected income for the 2012-13 fiscal year will be about $725,000.

Stockstill receives a $100,000 raise to his base salary and an additional year extension to his contract each season his team meets three academic and athletic benchmarks, including:

(1) An overall winning record or at least five Sun Belt Conference wins, which was secured with Saturday’s victory,

(2) Team Academic Progress Rate (APR) score of 940 or better,

and (3) no major NCAA infractions or acts of gross negligence in the current year.

MTSU has a 7-3 overall record and 5-1 Sun Belt mark heading into Saturday’s home finale against Troy. The Blue Raiders are in a virtual tie with Arkansas State (8-3, 6-1) for first place in the Sun Belt standings.

“I consider myself a very very  competitor. I love to win. I hate to lose,” Stockstill said. “I’m proud of our team and our coaches. I never look at my contract to see how many bonuses or years are in there. All I want to do is do everything I can to give these players and this university my best effort every day and try to help them reach their goals, both on and off the field.”

“Nobody thought we could do what we’ve done this year,” Stockstill said. “I think everybody picked us seventh or eighth (in the Sun Belt). With two weeks to go, we are still in first. I’m very proud of this team. I love this team.”

Sun Belt Conference has just two weeks remaining, who will it be?

Sun Belt Conference football season is coming to an end with just two weeks left, who will carry the crown of conference champs back home with them?

New comer South Alabama came in with a bang, surprising many that they too can hang on to the big boys and their conference members.  The Jaguars also have given their conference foes a tough time on the field with no easy wins. They had to earn it.

North Texas and FIU didn't do any better than the last season, in fact FIU panthers did worse to be the pre-season favorite to win the conference after they are schedule to depart the conference along with North Texas to C-USA.  It wasn’t what the Golden Panthers was looking for this season, and the Mean Green of North Texas was looking for a bowl season this year.

Western Kentucky started the season on a positive note and a scared one for other conference foes as if they were the team to beat early on. Now that the Hilltoppers have lost their last two games, their  title hopes have faded and now they have to try and get a bowl bid, something they was overlooked for last season. With another winning season Coach Willie Taggert and his team have nothing to hold their heads down for?  The Hilltoppers defeated (SEC) Kentucky and gave No. 1 (SEC) Alabama some problems on the field.

UL-Monroe falls on my #1 Most Improved Sun Belt Conference team, coming from seasons of losing records to a season of top ten defeats and conference title run. Coach Berry and his staff have really turned some heads with the work in his program. This team is a team to be proud of.  They knocked off No. 6 (SEC) Arkansas in their first game of the season, and then turn around and nearly defeated (SEC) Auburn in overtime. When they came back home to face (BIG 12) Baylor, they nearly defeated them as well in a close game. QB Browning really has showed his ability and talent with the help of his team mates to turn that program around.

FAU has gotten them two conference wins so far this season to put them at (3) wins thus far, and with a new staff and head coach Carl Pelini, the OWLS are making some noise. They may not be bowl eligible or have a winning season, but the OWL S have fought hard this season, and I expect them to improve in the near future and come back to the top and be bowl eligible in the future.

UL-Lafayette is another great program and has come off to a great start in hopes of doing better or repeating the season of last year. They have fallen short of couple games but still have some favor of making it to bowl eligibility. The Ragin Cajuns nearly defeated (SEC) No. 6 Florida a couple weeks ago.

Troy improved their second from last year, they showed their conference new comer South Alabama, which will be their new in-state conference rival that they are strong and some to be deal with. The Trojans went to (SEC) Tennessee and almost upset them, and defeated soon to be (BIG EAST) member Navy.  They too still have a chance to get to six wins to make it to bowl eligibility.

Arkansas State and their new head coach Gus Malzahn have really held on to what they have and be to in the running for the conference title once again for the second straight year. Many thought it would have been tough for Coach Malzahn in his first year as head coach, but he has proven many to be wrong.

Middle Tennessee has stepped back into the title hunt; they have been running the table on their conference foes.  It is my projection that Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders and Arkansas State Red Wolves contend for the conference title, if these two teams don’t lose in the two final games. Middle Tennessee also defeated a BCS member Georgia Tech.

This has been an impressive season for the Sun Belt Conference and their members.  Many teams have improved and it has translated on the field with big wins and being tough players.  This is the conference that I envision for the South, a conference that is second to the SEC with tough games and tough players. This season the Sun Belt Conference has really shown that they are moving on up and if you are on their schedule in the near future, then you need to be ready for a tough battle.

Texas State is preparing to enter the Sun Belt Conference they too are a solid program with a great coach. This team with three wins for the season so far has defeated in-state foe Houston, and there goes Georgia Sate in Atlanta. This team has built a great program under the legendary Coach Bill Curry who has retired from the Panthers. Now that the Panthers is searching for a new coach, we all hope that it will be someone to carry on the momentum of this new football program as we welcome them into the Sun Belt Conference.  

Week 11 Scores:

On Friday FIU travel up to FAU and defeated the OWLS to get their second conference win of the season, and stack up on their already poor season that so many had hoped to be a positive one.  Now that the season is over, Florida International have no chance of winning the conference crown before they depart for C-USA.  FIU 34 FAU 24

Middle Tennessee one of the conference crown contenders traveled to Mobile, Alabama to take on the Sun Belt Conference new comer in football South Alabama. The Blue Raiders held off the Jaguars in a close game to remain in the crown hunt.  

Middle Tennessee 20- South Ala 12

Arkansas State is that team that keeps on running. The Red Wolves defeated the Troy Trojans in Troy. Arkansas State is also in the hunt for the conference title for the second time in a row. 

Arkansas State 41 – Troy 34

North Texas just can’t get to games to reach it to a bowl. UL-Monroe improved their record for the season to get to a bowl for the first time. They held on the Mean Green of North Texas. 

North Texas 16 – ULM 42

Western Kentucky let another game go on the road this time to UL-Lafayette. The Ragin Cajuns held here grown at home to defeat the Hilltoppers. West Kentucky 27 – ULL 31