SBC New Logo – Together We Wise

The spring meetings are in full swing for the Sun Belt Conference in Destin, FL, and they began the meetings in the Sun Shine State with bright colors. The Sun Belt Conference unveiled their new logo that will represent a new Sun Belt.

Sun Belt Conference New Logo 

Beginning June 1, 2013 the SBC will have a new logo as they welcome several new teams to the conference and will be made up of nearly a new look of members after the 2013 season. Georgia State, Texas State, Texas-Arlington will join in all sports on July 1^st, and South Alabama football program will add their new fledging football program to the Sun Belt Conference as a full member. Sun Belt Conference will welcome New Mexico State, Georgia Southern, Idaho and Appalachian State in 2014. 

"The unveiling of our new logo comes after months of review of how we wanted to express the 'new' Sun Belt Conference," Commissioner Karl Benson said in a press release. "It is a very exciting chance for us to display the opportunity and optimism that exists in the Sun Belt Conference as we move forward."

The Sun Belt Conference is now empowered by a new brand identity that capitalizes on 4 key principles (AMBITIOUS, AUTHENTIC, LOYAL, and ADVENTUROUS). In addition, a new identity will represent the reinvigoration of the Sun Belt Conference brand through several points of uniqueness:

1. The chosen identity highlights the sun as a powerful and iconic expression for the conference that suggests unity, strength, promise and ambition. 

2. The individual parts of the icon combine to create a unified whole and represent strength in togetherness; a foundational value at the core of the Sun Belt Conference brand. 

3. The band of blue across the diameter of the icon symbolizes the Sun “Belt” region, while dually creating the feeling of a sun breaking the horizon at the dawn of a new day.

The Sun Belt Conference as unveil their new motto: "Together We Rise" 

We all are hoping for a brighter future in the Sun Belt Conference as we move forward. As the spring meetings continue through media day Wednesday, I will continue to keep you informed and bring you all the updates. 

Sun Belt Conference added Georgia Southern & Appalachian State today; expected to add two more in NMSU and IDAHO

 The football rivalry continues on the FBS level!

On today the Sun Belt Conference expanded by adding two FCS powerhouses in Georgia Southern and Appalachian State.

Georgia Southern and Appalachian State announced Wednesday it is leaving the Southern Conference to join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014. Both Georgia Southern and Appalachian State football teams will begin playing Sun Belt games and will be a revenue sharing member of the conference in 2014 and eligible for the Sun Belt title, but will not be eligible to play in a bowl game. In 2015, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State will become a full member of the conference and be bowl eligible.

Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson was on hand at Georgia Southern on Wednesday to help welcome the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference.   

Now that Georgia Southern and Appalachian State is in, Idaho State Board approved their move to the Sun Belt Conference today; which they are expected to announce by tomorrow or end of this week along with New Mexico State.

Appalachian State Football 

Now that the Sun Belt Conference has added four new members, the conference can now stage a conference championship game. Commissioner Benson made it known today that the conference is looking to begin that championship in 2014 season, but no more details was given. We do know that the team with the best record will host the conference championship in 2014 and beyond.

Also a few details were given that the Sun Belt will retire its current logo and introduce a new one during the re-branding process in a few months. Commissioner Benson made mention of it during the press conference at Georgia Southern.  Today was a great day for the Sun Belt and I am happy for this conference I really believe they made a wise decision.

Rumors have Western Kentucky receiving an invite from C-USA after Tulsa announces their intentions to join the new Big East conference.  The Sun Belt Conference will move to replace WKU with another program possibly from the FCS ranks. Liberty, James Madison and Sam Houston State tops the lists now among others. 

Four is headed to the Sun Belt Conference in 2014; Projected divisions in football for championship

Georgia Southern Football

Well the Sun Belt Conference has finally made it happen and looks as if they will be extending four invitations to (2) FCS powerhouses and (2) former WAC football members that will be independents in 2013.

On Monday the Sun Belt has made it known that they are inviting long expected Georgia Southern, and Appalachian State two FCS Southern Conference members and New Mexico State and Idaho of the WAC, soon to be independent FBS members in 2013. The Sun Belt stuck with their plans to add additional members within thirty days.

Georgia Southern and Appalachian State was expected, but New Mexico State and Idaho was a guess. Sun Belt Conference expanded their geographic footprint in football only and stayed within their footprint for all other sports. New Mexico State and Idaho will join in football only in 2014, while Georgia Southern and Appalachian State will join in all sports in 2014. They will be FBS independent transitional members in 2014 and could compete for all Sun Belt Championships and post seasons bowl games in 2015.

NMSU and Idaho will both join on July 1, 2014 and be eligible to compete for the conference title and post season bowl games in 2014.

The Sun Belt Conference is adding four members after they lost four members in Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State and North Texas to C-USA. When the Sun Belt Conference meet to expand they thought big and expanded enough to create a new conference football championship game beginning in 2015, when the new FBS playoff system kick in.  The Sun Belt Conference wants to be competitive in the new process and don’t want to be over looked.

I really commend the SBC board and AD’s for this move, this is what our conference should look like and it brings more excitement to the conference. It is believe that the conference will be made up of two divisions a (East) and a (West) division that will look like the following; (West) UL-Lafayette, UL-Monroe, Arkansas State, Texas State,  New Mexico State and Idaho and the (East) will consists of Western Kentucky, South Alabama, Troy, Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State all in football.

Rumors are that each division will play eight conference games, all six members plus two cross over members. Each member will have the opportunity to play four non-conference games beginning in 2015.

It is expected that C-USA will call Western Kentucky that will cause the Sun Belt Conference to be without one and back down to 11 members in football. If this so happens the SBC will be extending an invitation once again, but the question is to whom? Many believe that that invitation will go to Sam Houston State in Texas among others.

Georgia Southern and Appalachian State brings a big rivalry to the Sun Belt Conference, and Georgia State and Southern will not create their long projected rivalry. That looks nice to see that the SBC has two members in Georgia. App State and GSU also brings in large attendances, which will also help the conference. I wonder who will get the first home game between the two schools. This will be an exciting first FBS conference game between the two can’t wait.

Sun Belt Conference to discuss Expansion on March 9th

"Who will it be, or will they act?"

During a time when schools are divorcing a conference to be married to a new conference, the Sun Belt Conference finds itself searching for new additions to it’s family.  

The Insider has received word that the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner, school presidents and athletics directors will all meet to discuss conference expansion on March 9^th during the Conference Basketball tournament in Hot Springs, AR. No official word from the Sun Belt Conference or the commissioner himself, but a source has informed me that they will meet to discuss this ever changing situation.

There have been many rumors in the past and lately about expansion possibilities with the Sun Belt Conference. I’ve posted several reports here on my blog when I received information as well, not to say my sources was incorrect. I believe they were correct, just the conference didn’t move during that time. Now we are back at it again, and we all are waiting to see what happens next in the Sun Belt Conference.

In these expansion talks, it is expected to center around adding two to four new teams to the conference.  We all know that Commissioner Karl Benson and others within the Sun Belt wants to keep that geography footprint close. But there is a question that is yet to be answered, and that is how many other Sun Belt AD’s and presidents agree to that or want to branch out for success?  We already know where Troy stands with all this; Troy is rooting for Georgia Southern and Appalachian State as new members.

However I have learned that the Sun Belt Conference presidents and AD’s will be presented with several plans on March 9^th to consider for expansion or they will also have the option to remain as is and not expand in 2013-2014. The plans are as follows;

1.       Add Appalachian State & Georgia Southern

2.       Add Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, New Mexico State and Idaho

3.       Add Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, James Madison and Delaware

4.       No Expansion for Sun Belt Conference

5.       A plan that will add two members for all others sports beside football.

All five of these plans sounds interesting and a positive sign for growth. But will it be any plans that all could agree upon.  We will break it down in a few.  First let me say that I love plan #2 and I will explain why I love that that plan in a few as well. But first let’s look who has left the Sun Belt Conference to cause these talks.

First North Texas and Florida International was the first two teams to exit the Sun Belt for C-USA.  Then came another raid by the Big East to C-USA, and there go Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic. So there you have it, four teams have left the Sun Belt Conference for C-USA. That leaves the SBC with only 10 all sports members and 8 football playing members.

Let’s say this, we know that the Sun Belt would love to get back to 12 all sports playing members, and would like to be back at 10 football playing members. But there are some in the Sun Belt Conference thinks 12 playing members in all sports would be even better. That would also give the SBC a football championship game if they decided to go with 12 football members. That would be exciting and generate additional revenue for the conference.  There is no doubt that the league and it’s member schools are looking for additional revenue. Who’s not?

The Sun Belt Conference has a chance to act on plan #1 by adding Appalachian State and Georgia Southern to the league. Those two teams bring what the league may be looking for in rivalries, and geographic footprint. Both teams has been successful in the SonCon and FCS, having been to several national FCS championships and leaving with crowns. These two schools also have a great following and their home football game attendance is better than some current league members.  A TV contract would love to include those two teams.

Well if the Sun Belt is looking to add 12 members in all sports, then App. State and Georgia Southern fits the eastern division and now I would throw in plan #2. Why plan #2 Insider? Well I have to say that New Mexico and Idaho is two well established FBS programs, many would think that New Mexico State would not bring much in football, but in basketball they will. Well that may be true for a moment.  Who knows how the program will turn around now that they have a new coach in place and if they would join the SBC. Adding New Mexico State and Idaho two former members of the Sun Belt Conference would be a great addition to the western division. 

If two divisions are created in all sports, then all schools would play other division members not the same every year may every other year. That would help eliminate much travel every year back and forth. It’s a plan that could be worked out in many facets.  But will the league members be willing to do so. Idaho and New Mexico State brings a rivalry to the conference as well if added and that could be an additional rivalry game in the conference, which could go along with many others like Louisiana-Lafayette and La-Monroe, South Alabama and Troy, and then let us not forget Arkansas State & Western Kentucky that exists already. With Georgia State, Texas State and Texas – Arlington coming in on July 1; more rivalries will be created and expected to be great.  Imagine Georgia Southern and Georgia State matchup every year, Appalachian State and Georgia State, Appalachian State and Western Kentucky, New Mexico State and Texas State.  

I really would like to see plan #2 become a reality. We have learned through www.appstatenation.com, through the revealing of several email communications between several of these schools that Georgia Southern and New Mexico State have some interest in joining the Sun Belt Conference together, not to say they will. There was a meeting in Atlanta between the two schools. AppStateNation also reveal a possible map of the new Sun Belt Conference that will include App State and Georgia Southern and no others. So we see here there are many options on the table, but no one really knows which one will be taken and full filled.

Don’t forget conference realignment is not over just yet. The Big East just finished securing a new TV contract for it’s league and members and they may be looking for one more member to get to 12. We already know that Tulsa of C-USA is at the top of the list with UMass. Let’s say the Big East add Tulsa who wants to leave C-USA badly. Well there goes another Sun Belt Conference team, because C-USA will look to the Sun Belt Conference for one more member, and it well may be Western Kentucky, Arkansas State or Georgia State the largest TV market the Sun Belt Conference has right now.

If that happens that would probably delay SBC expansion once again, or change the whole dynamistic of this situation.  We all hope the Sun Belt Conference act next month or before June 1, 2013 to give each of the potential schools time to declare their intentions. I love the Sun Belt Conference and it’s members, I don’t want to see this league fall and disband like the WAC did. If anything I would have rather seen the two conferences merge together. We will be watching and waiting for the big news on the next step this conference will take in the near future, I invite you all to stay tune. 

So goes the Sun Belt Conference

College football realignment is real and it can have a big impact on college football conferences. In this ever changing business of college football, nothing seems to be so sure and steady. However it is guaranteed to be about the dollars and cents.

I have been covering and following the most recent realignment in college football, and I have watched C-USA peck the hell out of the WAC and the Sun Belt Conference. I have watch the Big East nearly dissolve and lose all of it Catholic 7 basketball teams, and Boise and San Diego State return to the Mountain West after committing to the Big East. Don't forget Big Ten added two programs in Rutgers and Maryland, and the ACC added Louisville from the Big East. The SEC took from the Big 12 and the Big 12 took in as well.

In all of this conference shuffling, the Big East and Sun Belt Conference remains in it all. The Big East is grabbing C-USA teams and the C-USA is grabbing Sun Belt teams. We all know that the Big East wants to remain at the top of the group of five and we also know that Conference USA wants to be a mega conference of 14-16 teams. The Big East also wants to remain alive, as well as the Sun Belt.

There is a big change that is about to take place soon and if it does, I don't see the to much of a brighter future for the Sun Belt Conference, if they continue not to be proactive.

There are serious reports out there that the Big East is targeting Tulsa and Southern Miss to be apart of their conference, which many are calling the new C-USA. Tulsa and Southern Miss have both hinted that they are ready to leave C-USA, which they are calling the new Sun Belt Conference. Tulsa don't want to be with those SBC teams that’s now in C-USA.

The Mountain West still has it's eyes open along with the Big East, and if both or either decides to grab a couple from C-USA, then C-USA will nearly kill the Sun Belt Conference. Rice and Texas-El Paso have been targets for the Mountain West while New Mexico State and three Sun Belt schools in Western Kentucky, Arkansas State and Georgia State all have been mentioned as potential C-USA expansion candidates.

The Sun Belt Conference could possibly be left with five FBS schools and be looking to add more FCS programs to continue to a FBS conference and a competitive conference. Or C-USA could just kill the Sun Belt Conference all together and leave them scrambling just like the WAC.

What disappoints me in all this conference realignment is that I see many of the other conference on the forefront of this matter and being very proactive. Over in the Sun Belt Conference all I see is quite leaders that is still searching for a solution. My question is why is Commissioner Karl Benson and those eight AD's that are left not being proactive as the other conference, instead of letting other conferences continue to recruit schools from the Sun Belt Conference. Do they have any intentions on saving the Sun Belt Conference and do they really care. If they do, when?

Don't forget that Commissioner Karl Benson is on his third commissioner job in college football, and all I can say is look at what's happening to the Sun Belt Conference, just as what happened in the WAC. Commissioner Benson knew what was about to take place in the WAC so he got out of there quick, so it would not seem as if it was his fault or leadership. But less than a year in the Sun Belt that has already followed Commissioner Benson to the Sun Belt Conference.

Every news report that comes about the Sun Belt Conference and it's expansion plans, all you continue to hear is we are exploring our options and nothing will be done before 2014. Well if I was an AD or college president, I wouldn't wait either on a conference that is not proactive to save a dying conference or have a solution.

Many reports and rumors are out there that Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Liberty, Lamar, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, UT-Chattanooga and Sam Houston State are all on the Sun Belt Conference radar. There is no doubt that these schools could be competitive in the Sun Belt immediately. So why not add them now? Oh I forgot, it's all about the markets and dollars.

The Sun Belt Conference had one option already open and should have been put on the table and agenda in adding already an FBS member New Mexico State to get back to nine members in 2013-2014 season, to keep the eight SBC members from having to scramble for a additional non-conference game. The SBC conference could have either added Appalachian State or Georgia Southern now, so they could declare their independence status with the FCS and become a member of the SBC in 2014 as a transitional member.

Why is all of this overlooked? Some believe that the SBC is waiting until all the dominoes fall, and then begin the work of adding programs. Well I don't think many of the remaining AD's and Presidents are happy with the situation and not knowing the future of the conference they are in. What if Georgia Southern and other FCS programs get invited to other conferences or back out of becoming an FBS program.

The answer to all of that is, if the MTW Conference expands to 14 and the Big East grabs Tulsa and Southern Miss, the Sun Belt Conference maybe dead just like the WAC.

Don't get me wrong I love the Sun Belt Conference and hate to see so many programs leave the conference, and I hate to see our leadership sit still and not be proactive just as the other conferences are being proactive.

Seven games for the Sun Belt Conference eight

With the many changes surrounding smaller college football conferences, the Sun Belt Conference learned on Tuesday that all eight teams will need to add another non-conference game to their schedules. Middle Tennessee and FAU is now out and headed to the C-USA on July 1, 2013, leaving eight teams in the Sun Belt and all eight will only play seven conference games.

Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic will not be leaving without paying a fee to the Sun Belt Conference, each team must pay as agreed $700,000 to exit early and be apart of C-USA, according to the commissioner Karl Benson.

“Our desire to aid our athletic directors in finalizing the 2013 football schedule was the reason for allowing a reduced exit fee,” Benson said in a statement released by the conference. “While the seven-game conference schedule is not perfect, the understanding is that this would only be for one season.”

One season says Benson, so this is a early indication by Benson that the Sun Belt will expand in the near future, just not for the 2013 season.

Well good bye Middle Tennessee and FAU, hope the grass is greener on the other side as promised; to make you jump ship so quickly. Tulsa made it known that they are ready to exit C-USA for either the MTW or Big East, whomever invites them first. Tulsa AD also made it known that two many Sun Belt teams are coming into C-USA, so is Middle Tennessee, FAU, FIU and North Texas really welcomed into C-USA...lol. Tulsa don't want to be associated with them.

Maybe soon we will see how all this works out. Georgia Southern AD said he already has drafted an acceptance letter if an invite from the Sun Belt comes, wow! I really wish the Sun Belt Conference will go ahead and do what's right and act and get our conference stable and on a more progressive platform. By adding four more teams would really help this conference and our chances in the new NCAA playoff system come 2014.

Sun Belt Conference should not continue to let C-USA continue to peck our members as they did the WAC. If the AD's and the Commissioner is really serious about saving the Sun Belt, then they would reach out and add members that are dedicated and add them sooner. If not more members are going to look for new homes and if they are called they will answer.

Last but not least, the Sun Belt Conference needs to re-negotiate their TV contracts for a better payout to their members, and secure additional bowl tie ins. Why not reach out and get those bowl tie in the WAC had Commissioner Benson?

Time is running out, and sitting back waiting and watching the dominoes fall and not be progressive will result in no conference or left overs.

Teams that would really help the Sun Belt Conference and create an huge impact in college football is the following; Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Lamar, New Mexico State, UT-Chattanooga and I will not count out Idaho with their new head coach and staff. So what are you going to do Sun Belt and Commissioner Karl Benson, we are all waiting.

Sun Belt Conference waiting to decide on expansion

Happy New Years Everyone!

With Conference realignment heating up and possibly could hit the Sun Belt Conference once again before it’s all over, SBC officials and AD’s is quite on the matter and no decisions is expected to be made anytime soon.

Athletic directors from throughout the conference gathered in South Florida on Tuesday, holding their annual January winter meetings of the Sun Belt Conference. But there was no action on realignment.

Associate Commissioner John McElwain stated that SBC Commissioner Karl Benson did an update on where the national landscape is right now, and said it was very productive. How productive for the SBC is the question?

But it seemed to be a little talk on the subject of conference expansion, but AD’s and conference officials are undecided on which way they would like to go, whether it’s 10 teams or 12 teams. If the conference decides to go to 12 teams then that would set the Sun Belt Conference up for a conference football championship game.

With all the talk of expansion and deciding on which way to go, another question remains on many minds on whom will the SBC add as new members.

There is much happening right now in college football realignment that has the SBC sitting still, watching and waiting to see what happens next. There is a big domino effect that is happening in the Big East Conference that may trigger down to the Sun Belt Conference again. Boise State who committed to the Big East last fall, has now decided to back out and stay with the Mountain West Conference. With Boise State backing out, their partner whom joins with them is considering the same in San Diego State. If San Diego State decides to remain in the Mountain West Conference, then the Mountain West may consider adding one of the following, UTEP, Houston or Tulsa. If that happens then C-USA may come back to the Sun Belt Conference once again.

If everything remains the same in the Sun Belt Conference they will seek to add two or four more teams to get back to a 10 team league or move to a 12 team league to stage a conference title game.

In considering additions to the Sun Belt Conference, there are several teams out there in the FCS that would be considered and there are two that on the high radar or invites in Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Idaho and New Mexico State is now out of the conversations either, if the conference decides to move to a 12 team league. Sam Houston State, Liberty, Lamar and Jacksonville State are all being mention as possible additions.

Conferene expansion is on hold but its coming, it’s just a matter of time. WHEN? 

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.

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.

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. 

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?