Sun Belt to Discuss Our Membership March 9th

[GlassOnion]

SB board now has a guy with "a source," saying App will be joining.

It could be continued BS. Or, it could be that we're close to an announcement so there are leaks starting to spring.

I just hope the wait finally ends.

[ASU-FTW]

I just hope the wait finally ends.

Yep. We're getting yanked around like a man receiving a massage from an Asian masseuse, only without the happy ending.

[GoAppsGo92]

WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

I generally agree with everything you posted except this above. I would like to think we will replace WCU with ECU or even Wake. I understand that unc-c has caught the rocket-ship to FBS, but that to me doesn't constitute a "rivalry." A rivalry is born from tradition and history. It cannot be force-placed. Sure, certain things have happened that indicate the foundation is currently being laid for unc-c to be perhaps a "rival" but much like when Coastal Carolina came up to Boone thumping their chests back in 2005, all will quickly realize unc-c has a long way to go and App/Unc-c is far from a rivalry on the football field.

I just think the "rivalry" term is too loosely thrown around these days.

You are right, about the overuse of the word, but check my quote, I did not use it. UNCC replaces WCU as the "whipping boy who thinks they are a rival" school... It will be even better when it will be another notch for the SBC against CUSA.

A good rival is usually in the same conference.

Yeah, like Clemson and South Carolina, and Florida/Florida State and Georgia/Georgia Tech...

[GoAppsGo92]

Don't expect anything next week guys.

The Tulsa to the nBE and WKU to CUSA will likely happen before we hear anything.

Not what I am hearing, but we will find out soon enough.

[GoAppsGo92]

Don't expect anything next week guys.

The Tulsa to the nBE and WKU to CUSA will likely happen before we hear anything.

I agree. I think we'll probably see more concrete rumors (i.e. anonymous Sunbelt sources vs the current friend of a friend sources). But the Sunbelt won't make an official announcement until the American 12 (what a crappy name) and CUSA make their selections public. However, I do think they'll announce quickly after those two announce.

No reason to wait. SBC needs two no matter what happens. They will announce at least one, and likely two as soon as they they are able to. The third is only needed if A12 and CUSA finally make the moves everyone anticipates.

[Yosef]

WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

I generally agree with everything you posted except this above. I would like to think we will replace WCU with ECU or even Wake. I understand that unc-c has caught the rocket-ship to FBS, but that to me doesn't constitute a "rivalry." A rivalry is born from tradition and history. It cannot be force-placed. Sure, certain things have happened that indicate the foundation is currently being laid for unc-c to be perhaps a "rival" but much like when Coastal Carolina came up to Boone thumping their chests back in 2005, all will quickly realize unc-c has a long way to go and App/Unc-c is far from a rivalry on the football field.

I just think the "rivalry" term is too loosely thrown around these days.

You are right, about the overuse of the word, but check my quote, I did not use it. UNCC replaces WCU as the "whipping boy who thinks they are a rival" school... It will be even better when it will be another notch for the SBC against CUSA.

A good rival is usually in the same conference.

Yeah, like Clemson and South Carolina, and Florida/Florida State and Georgia/Georgia Tech...

To be fair - he said usually. You named 3 rivalries (really - how big is Georgia/Georgia Tech?). A fair amount of the good rivalries are in the same conference:

Alabama vs Auburn/Georgia/LSU
Michigan/Ohio State
Duke/UNC
Oklahoma/Texas
Indiana/Purdue
Oregon/Oregon State
Stanford/California
Ole Miss/Mississippi State
and so on.

[firemoose]

I know this isn't exactly relevant to this discussion except that we have heard from the conferences about how App is small, hard to get to, no name recognition, etc, etc, when they are trying to justify taking teams with new programs or no programs at all just because of market. I come across tweets like the one below almost every day with people all over the country trying to explain something about North Carolina and using App as a reference and I just laugh them off but this one was just too funny. They can't even spell Charlotte and no nothing about NC but they know Appalachain is here. Even spelled it right.

shelby lipschuetz‏@shailbe

@ItsAaronMan4L I think it's charolette-something. Where ever Appalachian State is.

[GoApps70]

Sounds like the Georgia Southern people are going nuts about App State being voted in, supposedly, and the Sun Belt members going to discuss them and NMSU today at their meeting.

Would think if that is the case that we are in, and either GaSo, probably, or NMSU will also be taken in, and the other of GaSo/NMSU will be added if and when WKU or whoever leaves for CUSA.

[GoApps70]

Of course most of us have been waiting for today, Saturday, to hopefully hear for sure for weeks. I am like a lot of people and will wait for the 5PM News Conference that Karl Benson, Sun Belt Commissioner has scheduled today from the meeting at the Bowling Green SB Basketball Tournament.

If someone has a link, let us know what it is. Guess the Sun Belt main board would have one.

They said 5PM, would Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the basketball tournament is at WKU
be on Central Time though.

[AtlantaMountaineer]

The Sunbelt Tournament is in Hot Spings, Arkansas 70.

[hapapp]

If, as many are now anticipating, a SBC invite comes, can we please accept it with humility. I realize the great desire some have to let the AGS world have an earful. However, let's restrain ourselves from lording over others especially those in our fan base who may be less enthused about the potential news. And by all means let's avoid venturing to the SBC board and spreading braggodocio about how they better be ready for us. We should be grateful for the invite. I was there when we transitioned from NAIA to NCAA. We didn't exactly dominate the competition upon moving up. Granted we are better prepared for this move. However, we would be wise to temper our expectations.

[BeauFoster]

If, as many are now anticipating, a SBC invite comes, can we please accept it with humility. I realize the great desire some have to let the AGS world have an earful. However, let's restrain ourselves from lording over others especially those in our fan base who may be less enthused about the potential news. And by all means let's avoid venturing to the SBC board and spreading braggodocio about how they better be ready for us. We should be grateful for the invite. I was there when we transitioned from NAIA to NCAA. We didn't exactly dominate the competition upon moving up. Granted we are better prepared for this move. However, we would be wise to temper our expectations.

Certainly agree, Hap. I think that's probably why Saint proposed a moratorium of sorts on posting after the announcement is made. I don't expect some in our fan base to act with dignity or humility, however, just as I don't expect many fans on the other side of the fence (App fans or otherwise) to do so, either. Lets face it, men get charged up about sports, and many times let emotion overtake rational thought (myself included).

[Rekdiver]

Here is my acceptance speech.

Thank you and we are looking forward to establishing new rivalries! It tough to move out of the house you grew up in but sometimes you out grow it and this was one of those times.

[YesAppCan]

GoApps70 said: "Would think if that is the case that we are in, and either GaSo, probably, or NMSU will also be taken in, and the other of GaSo/NMSU will be added if and when WKU or whoever leaves for CUSA."

I don't think App State steps into the Sun Belt without assurance from the league that Georgia Southern will be in.

[GoApps70]

Yeah, Hot Springs, Arkansas, shouldn't be posting when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Agree we should be good, but you are going to see a lot of posts that you would not want to see.
ULL and ULM and Troy fans are livid about being left behind. WKU fans are over anxious about hearing something. Getting a ton of App fans to lay off after waiting for years will not happen I am afraid.

Reference: "I don't think App State steps into the Sun Belt without assurance from the league that Georgia Southern will be in."

Agree, but could be a delayed in.

[YesAppCan]

A planned delay I'd agree but App would certainly have to know Ga Sou is on the way.

[AppinVA]

A planned delay I'd agree but App would certainly have to know Ga Sou is on the way.

It would be nice to welcome them to the league.

[AppinVA]

If, as many are now anticipating, a SBC invite comes, can we please accept it with humility. I realize the great desire some have to let the AGS world have an earful. However, let's restrain ourselves from lording over others especially those in our fan base who may be less enthused about the potential news. And by all means let's avoid venturing to the SBC board and spreading braggodocio about how they better be ready for us. We should be grateful for the invite. I was there when we transitioned from NAIA to NCAA. We didn't exactly dominate the competition upon moving up. Granted we are better prepared for this move. However, we would be wise to temper our expectations.

Killjoy.

[GoAppsGo92]

If, as many are now anticipating, a SBC invite comes, can we please accept it with humility. I realize the great desire some have to let the AGS world have an earful. However, let's restrain ourselves from lording over others especially those in our fan base who may be less enthused about the potential news. And by all means let's avoid venturing to the SBC board and spreading braggodocio about how they better be ready for us. We should be grateful for the invite. I was there when we transitioned from NAIA to NCAA. We didn't exactly dominate the competition upon moving up. Granted we are better prepared for this move. However, we would be wise to temper our expectations.

Certainly agree, Hap. I think that's probably why Saint proposed a moratorium of sorts on posting after the announcement is made. I don't expect some in our fan base to act with dignity or humility, however, just as I don't expect many fans on the other side of the fence (App fans or otherwise) to do so, either. Lets face it, men get charged up about sports, and many times let emotion overtake rational thought (myself included).

I am excited that a personal quest of mine... going back to my days on student council while a student at Appalachian State is finally coming to a victorious close. From AD search committees, to NCAA Rules committees, presentations to student council and faculty senate... hosting open forums and passing resolutions to the Alumni Corporate Committee and message board moderating... I have been fighting the good fight to advance this cause when so many in our own family said "we can't" and "we will never". A nearly 25 year battle is over and victory is in sight. I for one will be very proud indeed.

[YesAppCan]

92, I might get darn right teary eyed kind of like I did when we won that first national championship.