Spring Meeting Ends: Sun Belt to remain at 11 and future bowl tie-ins possible

Sun Belt get's a little tough on school departures and looking to move forward!

Sun Belt Conference held its Annual Spring Meeting this week in Destin, Florida, Commissioner Karl Benson and company went through a normal meeting with very little getting accomplish in my view. Conference Athletic Directors, Coaches and Presidents all participated in the annual meeting including new conference members Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, New Mexico State, Idaho, Texas State, Georgia State and UT-Arlington. Here are some of the items that were on the agenda, discussed and came with a decision.

In basketball the conference will play 20 games and the basketball tournament will feature the standard No. 1 vs. No. 8, No. 2 vs. No. 7 and so on format for women, but a double-bye format for men.

The conference tournaments will move from Hot Springs, Ark., to New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, LA, and the tournament formats will remain the same with the top eight teams in the league advancing to the tournament. There is no divisional play - and the tournament beginning with a No. 1 seed vs. No. 8 seed, No. 2 vs. No. 7, No. 3 vs. No. 6 and No. 4 vs. No. 5 first round. It will remain that way on the women's side for 2014.

In football the Sun Belt Conference has decided to play a eight conference game schedule beginning in 2014, with 11 playing members on the rooster if the conference decides against adding a 12^th program for now.

The Sun Belt Conference also has released it new official logo and branding on Sunday for the conference beginning July 1^st. The new logo will be represented by each of the 11 programs of the Sun Belt Conference, which I think is a great logo. It could have been better but it certainly will work. The new logo is located at the left of this post.

We also have learned that the Sun Belt Conference has extended its TV contract with Cox Sports and Comcast Sports Southeast for one year. Sun Belt Network will air seven high-definition football broadcasts as part of a minimum of 39 broadcasts that the network will air. We should expect to see more programming on ESPN 3 as usual and where I live we will be excluded from watching because we don’t have these networks and we are in the South Alabama media market. UMM!

We all want to know about who the Sun Belt Conference will add as a 12^th team and if so when. According to today’s press conference with Commissioner Karl Benson and Conference President Jack Hawkins, the league will remain at 11 members for now. “There is no urgency to add another program, per Benson.” So we will not see a 12^th team for now, maybe and again maybe in the future but no guarantee.  “There was and will continue to be ongoing discussion about national realignment and the membership options for the Sun Belt,” said Benson. “However, for the time being we are moving the conference forward with our membership as is. The most important thing to come out of the meeting regarding membership was that our institutions are committed to taking the Sun Belt to the next level. With our recent additions and the strength of our current members, the pieces are already in place for us to take the next step as a stronger conference.”

The Sun Belt Conference also updated its by-laws in regards to program departures. Sun Belt teams no longer allowed early departures a program must give at least 12 months’ notice of departure. According to Benson the Commissioner, the league also changed it exit fee but did not release any info on how much that would be. The 12 month early departure notice is non-negotiable.

Commissioner Benson also stated at the press conference that the $12 million dollars coming from the new College Playoff System will offset the loss of not having a conference title game.

In case you may already have heard the rumors, the Sun Belt Conference may add an additional bowl game in 2014 is still possible. The new bowl game is possible and could be played in Little Rock, AR. This would give the SBC three bowls –tie ins, at least the Commissioner is confident in this matter.

Now, that all of this is over for now at least this season, we move on and wait to see what the conference do to be proactive and not reactive. Commissioner Benson is the leader of the Sun Belt Conference along with the Conference President and neither has seemed to be in a proactive mode, except looking to remain a FBS but not a proactive conference that is looking to go to another level. In many ways some may argue they have and is, and I might agree to some. But there is a debate on how and when.

In my opinion, I would have never passed up the opportunity of adding a 12^th team to the league and I’m pretty sure many of you are agreeing with me right now. A 12^th team would add so much value to the league in creating a conference championship game in football. Also would have helped the league continue a two divisional play in all other sports such as basketball and football. It would have added additional revenue to the league in a championship standpoint for football. As we all know football is where the money is.

The fans was looking and hoping for this creation with the Sun Belt Conference. Oh, but no one in the conference leadership is telling us the fans or media on why they decided against adding a program such as Liberty. Thought I forgot-NO! They rejected Liberty saying they don’t fit the Sun Belt Conference. We as fans still want answers on that…and on why? I have a few but I would rather wait and let them tell you since they lead and I follow if they ever decide to do so.

Other news and decision from the Sun Belt Conference Meeting:

There was some changes and new appointments made in the conference leadership panel. You would be surprised at this – LOL.

According to the SBC website, The Sun Belt Conference also made appointments to significant leadership positions at the meeting. There were several key positions that had terms expire or were vacated, filling these positions are:

• Bowl Championship Series (BCS) Board of Managers - Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., Troy Chancellor
• Bowl Championship Series (BCS) AD Advisory Group – Terry Mohajir, Arkansas State Athletic Director
• Sun Belt Conference President – Dr. Nick J. Bruno, Louisiana-Monroe President
• Sun Belt Conference Vice President – Dr. Denise M. Trauth, Texas State President
• Sun Belt Conference Treasurer – Dr. Joel E. Anderson, UALR Chancellor
• Sun Belt Conference Chair of Athletic Directors – Scott Farmer, Louisiana-Lafayette Athletic Director
• Sun Belt Conference Chair of Faculty Representatives – Fred Green, Troy Faculty Representative

Did you see who is appointed to the Chair of Athletic Directors? – LOL Louisiana Lafayette AD Scott Farmer. Scott Farmer is an AD in the Sun Belt that has acknowledged on several occasions that he would like to take his programs to another conference if possible. Basically he wants out of the Sun Belt Conference. And then you have Dr. Nick J. Bruno appointed as the new Conference President – LOL I dare comment on that one, only if you knew. What a joke SBC?

The Sun Belt Conference developed a formula to distribute $600,000 in net revenue that was produced from the Sun Belt Conference’s four bowl games in 2012. The revenue will be distributed to the six football playing members eligible for end of year revenue distribution – Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, South Alabama, Troy and Western Kentucky. Basically each program will receive an estimated $100,000 in revenue from the bowl revenue.

BRANDING & NEW LOGO: The Sun Belt Conference having unveiled a new logo and branding campaign, the league has committed $50,000 to each institution to help implement the new logo for the upcoming academic year.

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS: The following sites were selected to host Sun Belt Conference Championships for 2013-14:

Women’s Golf – Steelwood Country Club, Loxley, Ala.

Men’s Golf – Grand Bear Golf Course, Saucier, Miss.

Men’s and Women’s Tennis – City Park Tennis Center, New Orleans, La.

The following sites were selected to host Sun Belt Conference Championships for 2014-15:

Cross Country – South Alabama, Mobile, Ala.

Soccer – South Alabama, Mobile, Ala.

Volleyball – Texas State, San Marcos, Texas

Outdoor Track and Field – Louisiana-Lafayette, Lafayette, La.

Softball – Texas State, San Marcos, Texas

Baseball – Troy, Troy, Ala.

Don’t anyone ever get wrong on this, I love the Sun Belt Conference and I am a big fan of the conference. I just want the conference to be a better conference for its fan and become the best conference in the new group of five. I would love to see this conference offer its members more in revenue and its fans a football championship game. It would help recruiting and add additional revenue to the league.

That is it for now on Spring Meetings for the Sun Belt Conference, if anything else develops I will be sure to inform you. Moving on now I will be releasing my Pre-Season Insider – All Sun Belt Team next month, along with my player watch list plus much more stay tuned.

Sun Belt Conference Spring Meeting Convenes

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!

Sun Belt Conference meetings to begin Sunday; Conference Realignment may be the focus

James Madison, Liberty, Missouri State, Jacksonville St, Lamar and Sam Houston State are still possible candidates for Sun Belt expansion! 

The conference that lost 4 members and will be losing one more next summer, will be meeting during the Annual spring meeting beginning Sunday in Destin, Florida. The meeting will last thru Wednesday and is expected be centered on conference expansion.

We all know that Florida International, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Middle Tennessee have all left the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA for the upcoming season. Not only the four have exited the Sun Belt, but Western Kentucky joins them in a brand new home in CUSA as well. They said they were looking for a better conference with more exposure and revenue. Maybe CUSA offers that to them and others.

Well I want to give my input on all of this conference realignment and the positions that the Sun Belt Conference has already taken and should consider on this issue. After the departure of the Sun Belt four, they went out and search and added four additional members. Two of those four additions are FCS powerhouses (Appalachian State & Georgia Southern) that will certainly add to the Sun Belt profile and membership, and two of the programs are former members of the conference (New Mexico State & Idaho) that will be independents this season only after being without a conference when the WAC decided to abandon football. The same conference that commissioner Karl Benson formerly headed before coming to the Sun Belt Conference.

Now that Western Kentucky is leaving and joining the other Sun Belt teams in CUSA, the Sun Belt Conference is looking to find a replacement to get back to their ultimate and dream goal of 12 all sports teams. The SBC has a big task in finding that right fit to fill that open spot to get to 12 football members to stage a conference football championship game as they head into the new Football Championship Playoffs as a FBS member. The question is who will that 12^th team be and how soon will they be added?

Let’s forget geographic footprint now that the Sun Belt Conference has went outside of that to add new programs early this year in New Mexico State and Idaho way out west, and you have Appalachian State up in North Carolina. But there are several other programs that could be considered for expansion to get to that magic number of 12 that is not in the footprint that the Sun Belt Conference wishes to remain in.  Missouri State, Liberty and James Madison are all outside of the geographic footprint and remain possible candidates.

Over the past couple of days and weeks all I been hearing is programs rejecting the Sun Belt Conference offers and conversations on becoming a member of the Sun Belt Conference. And then I learn that there are programs inside the conference that are rejecting programs that can possibly be a benefit for the Sun Belt Conference and help improve the conference profile.

Rejecting a program over resources, finances and religion shouldn’t be the answer to growth and expansion consideration. Why would you do that when you are about to bottom out as the WAC did and you have the same commissioner that lead the WAC now leading the Sun Belt? When will the bold leadership come forth and put politics aside for name sake? Don’t start to assume so early and accuse me of saying that our Commissioner has poor leadership skills and abilities. I believe he can get the job done, if he get the conference AD’s and presidents on board of this changing idea of conference realignment. All this conference shuffling is real and programs are looking for what’s best for them and if you don’t provide that, they will leave you.

James Madison (JMU) has been long rumor to be a possible replacement for Western Kentucky, but JMU has decided to go with a consultant to see whether a move to the FBS is reasonable and if so what conference is the best possible fit for their programs. But we all know that Old Dominion, who has just been added to CUSA, is lobbying for JMU to be a part of CUSA, Old Dominion and JMU are long time rivals and want that to continue. So if JMU are waiting on CUSA move to get to 16 teams that possible would be added, why would the Sun Belt Conference wait on JMU? 

There are other programs out there that could be seriously considered and added to the Sun Belt Conference so that the conference can move forward and continue to work to become the best of the group of five. Prolonging the matter of adding another program is prolonging progress. Several years ago many doubted that many of the current Sun Belt Conference members would be where they are today winning games, participating in bowl games and defeating BCS teams but they did it and now they are received by other conferences. The same will happen when you add other programs. Just have to prove the nay sayers wrong.

Liberty has made it known over the last couple of years that they are FBS ready and they are ready to make the move up. Liberty has been in talks with the Sun Belt Conference lately but no one really knows the outcome, besides we find out that several programs in the Sun Belt Conference is possibly rejecting Liberty. Why, your guess is better than mind right now? Some indications are that SBC members are rejecting Liberty because of resources and finances. How silly could that be, when you have a conference that rank last in conference revenue? Liberty is a program that has what the SBC needs, and should be glad to consider them as a new member. Liberty does bring finances, a renovated football stadium and a TV network. Something Sun Belt programs barely offer.

The Sun Belt Conference only pays out roughly $40,000 in revenue to its current members. Really! And you wonder why programs are leaving to go get approx $1 million or more in another conference. What can $40,000 do for a FBS program in this day? LOL! Then you only have two bowl tie-ins, and have three or four teams being bowl eligible for the post season, where do you send them when you don’t have any contractual bowls? Commissioner Benson says they are working to add at least one more bowl possibly two in 2014. It’s going to take more than that; the Sun Belt Conference is going to have to increase their conference profile, revenue and TV contract. Members are looking for more exposure and more money as a FBS member, that’s the benefit of being a FBS member right? How can you attract new members and star athletes if your conference is not attractive? Teams are looking for better than ESPN3 and CSS, LOL.  Why not go out a get more television contracts with other networks such as the new FOX Sports Network, CBS Network and or NBC Sports Networks. Those networks are carried over several distributors, where I live in the North Mobile area, we can’t even see CSS programming but we have a Sun Belt Conference team. - LOL.  ESPN and Comcast is not the only sports network around anymore. The revenue is out there, just have to go and get it.

Missouri State is another program that could be consider and believed to wanting in a FBS conference, even Jacksonville State, Lamar and Sam Houston State.

The wise move that the Sun Belt Conference could make at this time is to add two more programs it want hurt much more than help. It would put the conference in a position to overcome all this conference realignment and settle the dust among the group of five just in case the dust come dusting up again in the near future. What I mean is, if CUSA decides to go to 16 teams and add one from the SBC and add JMU, the Sun Belt Conference will be in a position to still have 12 members. Why? Because they has one extra member that will help balance the conference if the dust come dusting up again.  Liberty and Missouri State would be the two that I would go after or even Lamar or Sam Houston State to get a stronger presence in Texas.

Waiting on the chickens will cause you to starve; you have to go get them so you can eat. We will wait to possibly Tuesday to see if anything happens with his issue as the Sun Belt Conference meet in Destin, FL. 

Liberty University talks with Sun Belt are heating up; an announcement could come soon

The plans were laid out and there were options if the Sun Belt needed them; could those options answer for the Sun Belt Conference soon?

After Western Kentucky made it official that they will be leaving the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA in 2014 that left an open spot in the Sun Belt Conference. Commissioner Carl Benson said on Monday that Western Kentucky news was no surprise to him or the Sun Belt Conference, and that they have been preparing for the moment. Now that WKU is gone, Commissioner Benson has been in active talks with several programs and most notably James Madison and Liberty.

On last evening I confirmed that Liberty AD Jeff Barber and Liberty has been in active discussions with the Sun Belt Conference and Commissioner Karl Benson. Today I have learned here at the Insider that Commissioner Benson has acknowledged that there are talks between himself and Liberty at this time. Could Liberty be preparing to accept that invitation if offered- certainly! Liberty has made it known in 2012 through the announcement of their school president that they desire to be at the highest level of competition in college sports.

What makes this possible is that the long rumored James Madison University also located in Virginia was a front runner for the #12 spot as well, may have rejected the invitation to move up to FBS and join the Sun Belt Conference. Many reports and sources have stated that JMU is not interested at this time and not looking to move up to FBS. However, I still say there is still a chance that the Sun Belt Conference may be still lobbying JMU for that number 12 spot while they talk with their back up Liberty.

With all the talk about Liberty, you have many that believe Liberty religious views may not work in the Sun Belt Conference and more so – not welcomed by many.

Well I think we will all find out the answer to these discussions very soon. I don’t think the wait will be pushed back to long, because the schools need to announce before June 1^st that they intend to move up to FBS from FCS. If Liberty or James Madison accepts they will play as FCS independents in 2013 and will not be able to compete for any FCS post season games or conference championships. Either school will join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014 as transitional members in football and members in all other sports; they will be able to compete for Sun Belt Conference championships. Football program will not be able to participate in any FBS Bowl games until 2015.

Liberty or James Madison will be a member of the Sun Belt Conference projected eastern division.

Over the past week we have seen the Sun Belt Conference add two FCS powerhouses in Appalachian State and Georgia Southern; the SBC also added two former disbanded WAC football members New Mexico State and Idaho that are now independents and formers members of the Sun Belt Conference as well. All four of these teams will be added on July 1, 2014.

Liberty University is a Christian program that would make an outstanding addition to the Sun Belt Conference in all sports. Liberty is located in Lynchburg, VA (Do the SBC want to expand to Virginia? I’m pretty sure they do for a quality program.) Liberty is located in the 65^th media market if that makes any difference, sounds ok to me; Liberty has over 12,000 residential students and over 75,000 online students, 220 Programs of Study with an 968 average APR. Liberty is expected to add a law school and medical school by 2014. There are 26 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans at Liberty.

Is Liberty ready for TV production-YES with a 20,000 seat stadium and is expected to expand to over 25,000 seats; their basketball arena holds 8,000 with a 3-court practice facility. Liberty has 6 NCAA D1 National Champions teams with 35 NCAA Championship appearances and 20 full funded scholarships teams. Not only that, Liberty has that cash to go with it.  Who wouldn’t be looking for a program like that?

Liberty University a possible addition for the Sun Belt Conference in 2014

The flames have what it takes and needs to be on the FBS level, and that could happen with the Sun Belt Conference

We all know that college football is the driving force behind all the conference re-alignment, and it has not slow down yet. Several changes have taken place over the past week in the Sun Belt Conference and others that will make you say – what’s next?

Over the past week we have seen the Sun Belt Conference add two FCS powerhouses in Appalachian State and Georgia Southern; the SBC also added two former disbanded WAC football members New Mexico State and Idaho that are now independents and formers members of the Sun Belt Conference as well. All four of these teams will be added on July 1, 2014.

On today conference re-alignment took another twist with Western Kentucky announcing they are leaving the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA beginning in 2014. WOW, big surprise Western Kentucky, lol! According to SBC Commissioner Karl Benson, the SBC was prepared and waiting for the moment to happen with Western Kentucky and there is no surprise on April fool day.

With Western Kentucky leaving, that creates an open spot in the Sun Belt Conference and a newly anticipated eastern division that will stage a conference championship game beginning in 2014. The Board of Directors and AD’s have work hard to create a 12 member conference in all sports and create a conference football championship game.  This is a move that I applaud the SBC for making over the past week. Now that WKU is leaving, that 12^th member will receive an invitation soon from the Sun Belt Conference, but the question still remains –who?

There are many speculations and rumors on who is next or at the top of the Sun Belt list to become the 12^th member. There are many reports that JMU (James Madison University) is the top favorite to become that 12^th. Then you have others that say LU (Liberty University) is the top favorite for the #12 spot. Your guess is better than mind.

Liberty University is a Christian program that would make an outstanding addition to the Sun Belt Conference in all sports. Liberty is located in Lynchburg, VA (Do the SBC want to expand to Virginia? I’m pretty sure they do for a quality program.) Liberty is located in the 65^th media market if that makes any difference, sounds ok to me; Liberty has over 12,000 residential students and over 75,000 online students, 220 Programs of Study with an 968 average APR. Liberty is expected to add a law school and medical school by 2014. There are 26 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans at Liberty.

Is Liberty ready for TV production-YES with a 20,000 seat stadium and is expected to expand to over 25,000 seats; their basketball arena holds 8,000 with a 3-court practice facility. Liberty has 6 NCAA D1 National Champions teams with 35 NCAA Championship appearances and 20 full funded scholarships teams. Not only that, Liberty has that cash to go with it.  Who wouldn’t be looking for a program like that?

Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson released a statement today saying he is confident in the Sun Belt future, and is prepared to add another program to the conference. In order to stage that conference football championship game in 2014 and have six eastern division members a new member must be added before June 1^st in order for them to declare they are moving up from FCS to FBS. Sun Belt will not have 12 all sports members in 2014 if they don’t add a program by June 1^st, unless they are willing to add another already FBS program; which I don’t know who that will be.

Liberty, James Madison, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State, Lamar, Missouri State, and maybe a couple of Louisiana FCS programs are all possibilities at this point. So when will we know, that remain to be answered; but do expect an answer by the end of April or the beginning of May. 

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 releases their 2013 Football Schedule

With spring practices under the way or beginning soon for many Sun Belt schools, they have now learned their complete 2013 Sun Belt Football schedule.

For the first time the Sun Belt Schedule will include two new members in Georgia State and Texas State. All Sun Belt schools will play seven games in the conference and five non conference games. Florida International, Florida Atlantic, North Texas and Middle Tennessee have all left for Conference USA. With those departures the Sun Belt Conference schedule still looks appealing.  

Here is a look at some of the notable non-conference games and conference games for the Sun Belt Conference in 2013.

Notable Non- Conference Games:

South Alabama at Tennessee
Texas State at Texas State

Arkansas State at Auburn

UL-Monroe at Oklahoma

Troy at Ole Miss

UL-Lafayette at Arkansas

Western Kentucky at Kentucky

Georgia State at Alabama

Notable Conference Games:

Arkansas State at Western Kentucky

South Alabama at Troy

Troy at Arkansas State

UL-Monroe at Louisiana – Lafayette

South Alabama at Georgia State

Troy at Western Kentucky

Texas State at UL-Lafayette

I will bring you more coverage during spring practices and later in the year. 

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?