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. 

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.

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? 

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.