Karl Benson Q&A

[Gonzo]

Is Greensboro really in the discussion? This is the first time I've seen Spartans-to-Belt speculation.

[NewApp]

I have a feeling UNCG might be a dark horse if UAB doesn't work out.

For them they are the odd duck now in the SoCon as the last team without football. A few years ago there were rumors about them trying to get into the CAA. The Sun belt has comparable basketball to the CAA. having a home game every season against us and against Georgia State will do a better job filling up the Greensboro Coliseum than Samford does.

For the conference, they would be a good travel partner for us. Their profile is similar to the other non-football schools in the conference. We could have ESPN3 games at the Greensboro Coliseum and the potential for having a championship tournament at the ACC headquarters would spark Carl Benson's interests (he's seems very ambitious when it comes to the tournament). They also have men's soccer to help the conference's young soccer league.

Which schools in the SunBelt do not field football programs?

[Gonzo]

I have a feeling UNCG might be a dark horse if UAB doesn't work out.

For them they are the odd duck now in the SoCon as the last team without football. A few years ago there were rumors about them trying to get into the CAA. The Sun belt has comparable basketball to the CAA. having a home game every season against us and against Georgia State will do a better job filling up the Greensboro Coliseum than Samford does.

For the conference, they would be a good travel partner for us. Their profile is similar to the other non-football schools in the conference. We could have ESPN3 games at the Greensboro Coliseum and the potential for having a championship tournament at the ACC headquarters would spark Carl Benson's interests (he's seems very ambitious when it comes to the tournament). They also have men's soccer to help the conference's young soccer league.

Which schools in the SunBelt do not field football programs?

http://bit.ly/19ai9n4

[McLeansvilleAppFan]

I have a feeling UNCG might be a dark horse if UAB doesn't work out.

For them they are the odd duck now in the SoCon as the last team without football. A few years ago there were rumors about them trying to get into the CAA. The Sun belt has comparable basketball to the CAA. having a home game every season against us and against Georgia State will do a better job filling up the Greensboro Coliseum than Samford does.

For the conference, they would be a good travel partner for us. Their profile is similar to the other non-football schools in the conference. We could have ESPN3 games at the Greensboro Coliseum and the potential for having a championship tournament at the ACC headquarters would spark Carl Benson's interests (he's seems very ambitious when it comes to the tournament). They also have men's soccer to help the conference's young soccer league.

Which schools in the SunBelt do not field football programs?

UALR and UT-Arlington non football.

NMSU and Idaho in for football only.

Howard, NJIT, Hartwick in for men's soccer only.

My Bubas Cup spreadsheet has the breakdown of every sport played by every school. Blacked out boxes are sports not sponsored.

[asutrnr81]

According to a person who has a vote in the every matter related to the Sun Belt, here's what is likely to happen:

As you already know, James Madison has no interest in playing in the Sun Belt.

Liberty is a non-starter, too. Liberty not only would be the only private school in the conference but also it would put all other Sun Belt schools at a significant financial disadvantage.

The school that currently has the most support is Alabama-Birmingham. Sun Belt officials are less concerned about getting to 12 football schools because the NCAA is more likely to move the mountain to the Big 12 (and Sun Belt) rather than move the Big 12 to the mountain. What is more important to Sun Belt officials (and spelled out well by Benson) is getting the conference to 12 basketball schools. Once that is done, the league can adopt an east-west format and move from 20 conference games to a more preferable 16. Sixteen, the theory goes, gives schools like App State more flexibility in bringing better non-conferences teams to Boone. It also reduces travel, which, as we all know, is a huge issue with a conference as wide spread as the Sun Belt. And, although Birmingham is a coveted market, Conference USA is eager to drop to 12 schools (fewer mouths to feed).

Back in February I listened as Beasley stated that the actual travel cost had not been that much different than previous years. I do not have actual $ numbers just a conversation. That being said.....I really like the idea of 12 basketball teams and an out of conference schedule that means better teams in the HCC.

[TheMackAttack]

Until they waive the 12 team minimum, I'll settle for UMass as football only. If we made it to 12 football and 16 basketball I wouldn't be against that in the long term.

[NewApp]

According to a person who has a vote in the every matter related to the Sun Belt, here's what is likely to happen:

As you already know, James Madison has no interest in playing in the Sun Belt.

Liberty is a non-starter, too. Liberty not only would be the only private school in the conference but also it would put all other Sun Belt schools at a significant financial disadvantage.

The school that currently has the most support is Alabama-Birmingham. Sun Belt officials are less concerned about getting to 12 football schools because the NCAA is more likely to move the mountain to the Big 12 (and Sun Belt) rather than move the Big 12 to the mountain. What is more important to Sun Belt officials (and spelled out well by Benson) is getting the conference to 12 basketball schools. Once that is done, the league can adopt an east-west format and move from 20 conference games to a more preferable 16. Sixteen, the theory goes, gives schools like App State more flexibility in bringing better non-conferences teams to Boone. It also reduces travel, which, as we all know, is a huge issue with a conference as wide spread as the Sun Belt. And, although Birmingham is a coveted market, Conference USA is eager to drop to 12 schools (fewer mouths to feed).

Back in February I listened as Beasley stated that the actual travel cost had not been that much different than previous years. I do not have actual $ numbers just a conversation. That being said.....I really like the idea of 12 basketball teams and an out of conference schedule that means better teams in the HCC.

What does "not that much different mean?"

[happyappy84]

Seems simple to me. Add either UAB or as a back up UNCG. Either way, the Sunbelt is strengtened by adding an attractive basketball school and market in the footprint. Boot Idaho and NMSU, they simply don't fit, and go to a 9 team football conference with a round robin format, true football conference champion crowned, 4 home, 4 away gives more OOC options for various schools. What's not to like? Do we really want to sell out to have a football conference championship game that will probably end up being televised on a Thursday night on ESPNU with 15-20K people there? I don't think so.

In a perfect world, where we knew that the remaining 9 members would stay together, this is a great idea. I would definitely prefer this to adding a weak 12th member. I just think it's too risky for us to be down to 9 teams.

The last couple of years have been quiet and peaceful on the realignment front, but I think of these conferences as a big row of dominos waiting to fall down (and we are at the end of the row).

What if the P5 presidents, in their infinite wisdom, wake up one day and decide 14 or even 16 per conference is the way to go? What if WVU keeps making noise about being alone on an island, and the Big 12 adds 2 of UConn, Cincy, Memphis? What if some team from CUSA or Sun Belt goes on some crazy run and wins 48 games over 4 years, to the point where the conference above them decides to add just based on (gasp) actual on the field results?

Anything like that is going to effect us. Going back to the domino analogy, we might be at the end of the line, but atleast with 11 or 12 teams, we are not at the edge of the table. We can lose some teams and not be in full on panic, WAC survival mode. We have options. If we are at 9 and lose a couple of teams, it becomes mayhem. Every team is burning up the phones to CUSA and MAC begging for a lifeline. Benson is calling up Liberty and Jacksonville State and EKU begging then to come on board.

So as much as I like the idea of 9, I don't know that it can be done.

[JTApps1]

I'd be fine with dropping NMSU and Idaho then adding UAB (assuming they become available). That would give us 9 football, 12 basketball, and reduce travel a great deal for everyone.

[MAD Doctor]

Didn't know this was even a possibility. Goes against the "footprint" and doesn't help with travel costs, but I have to admit....It's darn sure interesting.

http://conferenceexpansion.com/

[Yosef]

Didn't know this was even a possibility. Goes against the "footprint" and doesn't help with travel costs, but I have to admit....It's darn sure interesting.

http://conferenceexpansion.com/

I don't see this happening. Increase in travel costs is one thing but another FCS school that whips pre-2014 Sun Belt conference football teams on an annual basis isn't going to be something many schools are interested in voting for. They are having enough trouble with the two they just added. Why add a loss and more travel expense to your annual cycle?