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.