The Sun Belt
Conference is convening their annual spring meeting in Destin, FL full of
participation and excitement by current and future members.
As the
meetings convene all members are present along with newly added members in
South Alabama, UL-Monroe, UL-Lafayette, Arkansas State, Troy, UALR, UT-Arlington,
Georgia State, Texas State and recently added members New Mexico State, Idaho, Georgia
Southern and Appalachian State. All members are expected to discuss a wide
range of items during this annual meeting in Destin. Here are some of the important items up for discussion by our league Presidents, Athletic Directors and Coaches. Many items may not get settle during this meeting, but it will put the members in a lead on where they would like to go.
At the top of the list of items will be conference membership and discussions on whether to add another school to the conference after Western Kentucky decided to leave for CUSA so the league can get to 12 football-playing teams and create two divisions and a football championship game beginning in 2014 or 2015.
Conference
Commissioner Karl Benson has made it known to the media that ideally we'd like
to get back to the 12 but it's not critical that we do so. We want to make sure
that if we add a school that it is the right school and has the right
characteristics and is the right match for the Sun Belt. Who could that possibly
be? There are rumors that several schools could be considered in James Madison,
Liberty, MO State, Youngstown State, Lamar, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston
State. Many have placed JMU and Liberty
at the top of the list, but I am not so sure about that, because the league has
sent out several requests for possible membership into the league to several
schools and has since been rejected. This is an interesting discussion among
league members and the Commissioner, we should just continue to wait and see
what happens over the next couple of days.
Other items
up for discussion are the number of conference games to be played in football
and basketball, Revenue opportunities and TV contracts will also be discussed,
as will a variety of other items. With
all of these items up for discussion during this meeting, there is no doubt
that the Sun Belt is looking to move forward and become a better competitive conference.
In football the
conference will discuss and determine whether they will play eight or nine conference
games beginning in 2014 and in basketball they will discuss whether they will
play 16, 18 or 20 games.
The conference
has important items on their agenda, items that needs to be addressed and acted
upon. Two of the most important are the conference adding another member, revenue
and TV contracts. Surely the conference and its member needs more revenue and deserve
more revenue to competitive.
The
conference will hold its media day on Wednesday at the conclusion of its Annual
Spring Meeting in Destin, FL. I will continue to bring you update information
as it becomes available. STAY TUNED!
