Sun Belt presidents to vote Monday on Louisiana Tech

[311neers]

For what its worth I see a decent number to LaTech decals on cars here in the DFW area...Not quite as many as TxSt but they are a notiable fan base if you pay attention.

Ruston is a 3.5 hour drive from the DFW metroplex and as engineering schools go its not great so if you can't get into any schools in Texas or OK then you go there.

San Marcos > Ruston.

At least we don't have to play away in Ruston that often.

[311neers]

A missed opportunity.

What was the opportunity?

[kornegaylw]

For what its worth I see a decent number to LaTech decals on cars here in the DFW area...Not quite as many as TxSt but they are a notiable fan base if you pay attention.

Ruston is a 3.5 hour drive from the DFW metroplex and as engineering schools go its not great so if you can't get into any schools in Texas or OK then you go there.

San Marcos > Ruston.

At least we don't have to play away in Ruston that often.

No in arguing that Ruston is better than San Marcos LOL!!

...Shreveport does have casinos though...

[Bootsy]

Ruston isn’t the best. But truthfully, is it worse than Monroe?

[AppSt94]

Ruston isn’t the best. But truthfully, is it worse than Monroe?

Well, I’ve had one of the best Po’ Boys in my life in Ruston so there’s that.

[Bigdaddyg1]

At the end of the day does it really matter who is in the Sunbelt short of adding P4 type schools? As fans I think we now have to decide what we want in terms of entertainment value. Is it enough to simply accept our place in the new world of “college football”? Just hope for some fun game day experiences, hope for a good home slate with schools close to us, hope for coaches who can make recycled rosters competitive? I really hate that so much energy is wasted on the playoff scenarios that more than likely won’t materialize. Ultimately the playoffs will probably increase to 16 teams with maybe a token slot given to the best of probably a 60 team pool. I’m always excited about a season but honestly it’s really tempered by the new world. I recall those really good teams we had years ago who won big with lots of sophomore players. We pretty much knew a solid 3 year run was very possible because we could speculate on returning players. Now…not so much.

[Saint3333]

If it’s about the fan experience we should add teams that are destinations not Ruston.

[311neers]

If it’s about the fan experience we should add teams that are destinations not Ruston.

I mostly wanted UAB so the SBC baseball tourney could relocate to B'ham Barons stadium. That's an away destination I would visit.

[kornegaylw]

If it’s about the fan experience we should add teams that are destinations not Ruston.

What is it about the SB that is unappealing to the likes of Memphis, UAB, Tulane, etc?....Obviously the $$ is better with P4 conferences but the likelihood they get an offer to join is slim...Why stay with CUSA/American and play dumpy football when you can be part of the priemer G5 football conference?

[Saint3333]

They get a full share of the AAC TV revenue, $7M vs. our $2M (never confirmed our amount).

[APPdiesel]

If it’s about the fan experience we should add teams that are destinations not Ruston.

What is it about the SB that is unappealing to the likes of Memphis, UAB, Tulane, etc?....Obviously the $$ is better with P4 conferences but the likelihood they get an offer to join is slim...Why stay with CUSA/American and play dumpy football when you can be part of the priemer G5 football conference?

It’s 100% the money. Would UAB, Tulane or ECU be excited about playing some of the Sun Belt schedule, yeah. ECU probably knows App, JMU, and Marshall would sell out their allotment of tickets in Greenville.

They’ve also spent the last 40 years trying to reach for the next rung on the ladder. To their fans the Sun Belt is a step down. If the SB suddenly started stacking playoff and/or NY6 appearances that perception might change but truthfully, to this point, this conference has accomplished very little on the national stage.

[Stonewall]

[appvette]

I don't agree with the guy in the video for two reasons:

1. He acts like the east doesn't care about regional rivalries which isn't true. You can value teams that bring in more money / notariety AND still focus on regional rivalries (Marshall and JMU). It's not wrong to want both.

2. He thinks the success of this move hinges on it elevating ULM and says them dropping to FCS would be a significant hit. I think ULM dropping down would significantly help the SBC.

[AppWyo]

I do not agree with the guy either.

I do not think anyone in the SBC understood the rivalry we have with Georgia Southern when we joined. We did not have much of a history with any of the schools that were currently in the Sun Belt. However, the two of us showed the conference just how important rivalries are. As a result, we were able to bring in CCU, who we have developed a fierce rivalry, and the existing rivalry we once had with Marshall and JMU. ODU has been a plus as well as USM to balance out the conference and put Troy in the West to enjoy more Central Time Zone games.

As a result, You Tube videos are made to get people to watch them. I just feel that the person is saying things that are controversial to get views. Also, I feel that if you look at some of the comments on this message board and others you might get the impression that is how the East Division of the SBC feels. I believe that this move will help out the West and maybe it will make the conference better as a whole. If you look at Western Kentucky and MTSU they are both in the Central Time Zone and both belong in the Western Division of the Sun Belt Conference. I think some people just want WKU in because App wants to beat them because of what happened in the WKU and App's bowl game.

I do not think many really understand how polarizing Liberty is. I am glad that they are not in the SBC.

On another note, I think it would be fine if the SBC went to 18 teams and kept the East West Divisions along the lines of the Central and Eastern Time Zones.

Rivalries are what people care about. Just think how easy it was for App to start it up again with JMU and Marshall.

[InFor6More]

If it’s about the fan experience we should add teams that are destinations not Ruston.

What is it about the SB that is unappealing to the likes of Memphis, UAB, Tulane, etc?....Obviously the $$ is better with P4 conferences but the likelihood they get an offer to join is slim...Why stay with CUSA/American and play dumpy football when you can be part of the priemer G5 football conference?

It’s 100% the money. Would UAB, Tulane or ECU be excited about playing some of the Sun Belt schedule, yeah. ECU probably knows App, JMU, and Marshall would sell out their allotment of tickets in Greenville.

They’ve also spent the last 40 years trying to reach for the next rung on the ladder. To their fans the Sun Belt is a step down. If the SB suddenly started stacking playoff and/or NY6 appearances that perception might change but truthfully, to this point, this conference has accomplished very little on the national stage.

This is the honest truth right here. The Fun Belt is still a doormat conference regardless of what a lot of us on here are telling ourselves.

[AppSt94]

If it’s about the fan experience we should add teams that are destinations not Ruston.

What is it about the SB that is unappealing to the likes of Memphis, UAB, Tulane, etc?....Obviously the $$ is better with P4 conferences but the likelihood they get an offer to join is slim...Why stay with CUSA/American and play dumpy football when you can be part of the priemer G5 football conference?

It’s 100% the money. Would UAB, Tulane or ECU be excited about playing some of the Sun Belt schedule, yeah. ECU probably knows App, JMU, and Marshall would sell out their allotment of tickets in Greenville.

They’ve also spent the last 40 years trying to reach for the next rung on the ladder. To their fans the Sun Belt is a step down. If the SB suddenly started stacking playoff and/or NY6 appearances that perception might change but truthfully, to this point, this conference has accomplished very little on the national stage.

This is the honest truth right here. The Fun Belt is still a doormat conference regardless of what a lot of us on here are telling ourselves.

All G5 conferences are considered doormats to a degree.

[AppWyo]

If you really are honest about ECU, they have spent the last 50 years trying to climb that next rung on the ladder.

I imagine that when the Sun Belt brought in App and GS many thought that would be the end of the Sun Belt, bringing in two FCS schools or in their minds two Division II schools. Manyu thought that C-USA got the best teams. The only difference is C-USA brought in the wrong teams.

Videos that I agree with more and in My opinion better quality videos.

[Saint3333]

CUSA is the doormat conference, you know the place the SBC had until we joined and improved the place with other adds we endorsed.