App State to the Sun Belt

[Maddog1956]

I don't know the guy, but I have a gut feeling he knows more than the average fan. I think there was a deal in place and then somebody threw a turd in the punchbowl and everything unraveled. But that's just my message board opinion. I could be wrong too.

I don't know what he knows, but every article, I've ever read from any source, seems to point at APP and GSU. I don't hear anything out of our Admin's, so either we are the logical choice or the SBC or it's presidents are talking.

I don't know if it was a turd, and if there was a turd, that it was an anti-APP turd. It could be about some of the other issues (number of teams, playoff, other members, etc) that blew up. Benson acted like there were lots of issues and lots of teams to be considered. What I picked up good however was that he didn't want a 7-10 type vote so I think there was a lot of agreement but not a full consensus.

In the end I think it's put us no closer but not any further away. I still think there are many others not connected with either school or even the SB that think APP would be the logical choice.

And I could be all wrong too.

[ASUPATCH]

No matter how we try to slice it a GSUless Socon is peanuts next to the sunbelt. Personally I was always pro sunbelt due to FIU and FAU and the fact I have a lot a family in south FL. Since they have now left I am pro sunbelt due to the fact the football in the SunBelt is superior at this point in time. With no ECU conference USA has no real bell cow.

[ASUMountaineer]

That's the funny thing, App has a better academic profile than any of the SB schools, and I'd wager our athletics are on par as well. And we still can't get that clusterf*ck of a conference to figure things out. Yet every few days we have peeps salivating like Pavlov's dog at every mention of a possible invite.

It is embarrasing.

I'm so disappointed that BooneTown wasn't correct. I thought for sure that a CCU fan with 3 posts had the skinny. I mean, it makes total sense for the SBC and App State to announce on the day of both conference's basketball championship games.

I don't know the guy, but I have a gut feeling he knows more than the average fan. I think there was a deal in place and then somebody threw a turd in the punchbowl and everything unraveled. But that's just my message board opinion. I could be wrong too.

Maybe, but adding a simple caveat would have prevented an onslaught of criticism.

I'm just sick of reading the "done deal" posts because none of them have been accurate. Besides, a Monday announcement never made any sense. There was a real possibility that both our men's and women's basketball teams would be playing on Monday. Why steal their thunder?

If what you say is true, then he should be able to verify your suspicion and explain to us what happened with his guarantee. As it were, he's been MIA since his proclamation.

Here is my opinion. The deal was not "in place". It may have been proposed, and it may have been verbaly agreed to but if it was in place it would still be in place. Ask any guy on here who is in sales. Nothing is in place without a signature on the line.

Agreed.

[asumike83]

Article is a couple days old, sorry if it's already been posted but I didn't see it here in this thread. Some of these quotes from Benson have already been posted but there are others that I hadn't seen.

http://www.dnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... 3303100051

I found this one interesting:

Our meeting today focused on our goals and re-established what we have called the ‘10-12 Model’ where we have 10 football schools and 12 overall. We also want to make sure that the schools in our league make sense geographically and are regionally aligned. Within the next 30 days I expect us to be able to be in a position to announce what the new structure is going to be. If we wanted to add teams right now, we could do that this afternoon.

[GlassOnion]

Its not included in that article, but I thought I also heard Benson say that some of the FCS schools they were looking at were much, much further along than Marshall or Boise St. back when they made the move.

It sounds like he's done his homework on App and GSU, (possibly even reading the blogs. ) That cant possibly refer to any other current FCS team in the SB's region. Its a positive. I imagine the hang up will be trying to convince some of the original SB teams to add another FCS team like JMU, Liberty, or Missouri St, located more in the footprint rather than appease them with NMSU and Idaho. And we know how some of those schools dont want to be associated with more FCS schools than they can help.

To me, It sounds like most presidents want 3 FCS teams, with potential, rather than expand the SB's footprint with a huge outlier, and a few presidents are digging their heels in and threatening to leave if that happens.

[newtoasu]

To me, It sounds like most presidents want 3 FCS teams, with potential, rather than expand the SB's footprint with a huge outlier, and a few presidents are digging their heels in and threatening to leave if that happens.

I can understand the threat, but threaten to leave implies you have somewhere to go. From what I have seen there is nowhere for these schools to go unless CUSA comes calling, and if that happens they will go anyway.

So what good is the threat?

[asumike83]

To me, It sounds like most presidents want 3 FCS teams, with potential, rather than expand the SB's footprint with a huge outlier, and a few presidents are digging their heels in and threatening to leave if that happens.

I can understand the threat, but threaten to leave implies you have somewhere to go. From what I have seen there is nowhere for these schools to go unless CUSA comes calling, and if that happens they will go anyway.

So what good is the threat?

Seriously. Talk about an idle threat.

They cannot go anywhere unless they're invited and there is not a school in the Sun Belt that wouldn't leave for C-USA regardless of who is added to the SBC. Hopefully, Benson is not gullible enough to believe that by bending to their wishes, he will be able to retain these members if they are invited elsewhere.

[Yosef84]

To me, It sounds like most presidents want 3 FCS teams, with potential, rather than expand the SB's footprint with a huge outlier, and a few presidents are digging their heels in and threatening to leave if that happens.

I can understand the threat, but threaten to leave implies you have somewhere to go. From what I have seen there is nowhere for these schools to go unless CUSA comes calling, and if that happens they will go anyway.

So what good is the threat?

Seriously. Talk about an idle threat.

They cannot go anywhere unless they're invited and there is not a school in the Sun Belt that wouldn't leave for C-USA regardless of who is added to the SBC. Hopefully, Benson is not gullible enough to believe that by bending to their wishes, he will be able to retain these members if they are invited elsewhere.

I seriously doubt that there were threats issued in the discussion. This whole thing about tempers flaring and threats issued is all unsubstantiated message board drama. Bottom line is that Benson wants to build consensus and he has time to do it, so that's what he's doing. Why would he try to force anything through? Just to make App fans happy? He has to work with these universities for some time, so he will keep working toward an arrangement where consensus can be achieved if possible. I'm as frustrated as the next fan, but the spin being put on things is downright amusing.

[GlassOnion]

Idle threats, maybe. But there is something to be said for consensus. Forcing something through could create bad blood and complicate matters further down the road. If it takes another month and some minor concessions to make everyone happy, It will be well worth the effort.

The problem with the Socon is that its fractured with different factions having far different objectives. If Benson can prevent that and herd his cats in 1 general direction, the guy deserves a medal.

[asumike83]

I seriously doubt that there were threats issued in the discussion. This whole thing about tempers flaring and threats issued is all unsubstantiated message board drama. Bottom line is that Benson wants to build consensus and he has time to do it, so that's what he's doing. Why would he try to force anything through? Just to make App fans happy? He has to work with these universities for some time, so he will keep working toward an arrangement where consensus can be achieved if possible. I'm as frustrated as the next fan, but the spin being put on things is downright amusing.

Their presidents may not have actually threatened to leave but I'd imagine one of the schools in question is ULL. Their head football coach has very openly said he doesn't want to play in a "glorified FCS league", how adding FCS programs will hurt their recruiting and would be bad for the program. The article is a few months old but he made those comments on the record in an interview.

I'm sure the higher-ups are much more diplomatic in what they say but they likely feel the same. I can't imagine the coach would be so vocal about an opinion not shared by his superiors. They seem to want NMSU if they have to add. It may have been dramatized through the message board chatter but I think their opposition to FCS move-ups is accurate.

I completely agree about Benson's part. He has to maintain good relationships with these schools and considering how much time is left before the deadline, there is no need to rush into anything that could alienate some of the existing members. When it's all said and done, my guess is that App/GSU get full invites and NMSU for football only.

[TheMoody1]

Their presidents may not have actually threatened to leave but I'd imagine one of the schools in question is ULL. Their head football coach has very openly said he doesn't want to play in a "glorified FCS league", how adding FCS programs will hurt their recruiting and would be bad for the program.

So, I guess this coach would want to add New Mexico and Idaho and then stop. It is a pretty stupid statement considering their lack of options. He should be talking up adding top FCS teams instead of bad mouthing.

[Goapps15]

Here is an article from the Atlanta paper about the Sun Belt. I thought it was a pretty interesting read.

http://sns.mx/pNt3y4

[GlassOnion]

So, I guess this coach would want to add New Mexico and Idaho and then stop. It is a pretty stupid statement considering their lack of options. He should be talking up adding top FCS teams instead of bad mouthing.

I think ULL was expecting a Big East or CUSA invite at the time. I think it was Tulane that got the invite instead, and they then thought they'd replace Tulane in CUSA.

[Yosef84]

Here is an article from the Atlanta paper about the Sun Belt. I thought it was a pretty interesting read.

http://sns.mx/pNt3y4

Interesting. I think it's especially interesting that he says JMU has a football stadium that seats 30K. According to their website, they are in the second phase of an expansion that will increase seating to 25K. Maybe the expert should check his facts a bit.

[GlassOnion]

Here is an article from the Atlanta paper about the Sun Belt. I thought it was a pretty interesting read.

http://sns.mx/pNt3y4

Interesting. I think it's especially interesting that he says JMU has a football stadium that seats 30K. According to their website, they are in the second phase of an expansion that will increase seating to 25K. Maybe the expert should check his facts a bit.

Is that really a big deal? Perhaps their standing room capacity is 30,000, similar to App. They already seat 25,000 which is more than KBS, and they have a yet to be unveiled expansion project similar to ours that would take them to "FBS capacity" somewhere near 40,000. And unlike ours, their stadium was build with expansion in mind, ours is hodge podge.

His company has worked and researched for over 300 collegiate institutions, I think he knows a little bit of what he is talking about. I dont think its fair to expect a guy to memorize the ever changing capacities of several hundred college stadiums.

[ASU-FTW]

Here is an article from the Atlanta paper about the Sun Belt. I thought it was a pretty interesting read.

http://sns.mx/pNt3y4

Interesting. I think it's especially interesting that he says JMU has a football stadium that seats 30K. According to their website, they are in the second phase of an expansion that will increase seating to 25K. Maybe the expert should check his facts a bit.

They already seat 25,000 which is more than KBS, and they have a yet to be unveiled expansion project similar to ours that would take them to "FBS capacity" somewhere near 40,000. And unlike ours, their stadium was build with expansion in mind, ours is hodge podge.

And yet they couldn't even sell it out once last year.

[GlassOnion]

Here is an article from the Atlanta paper about the Sun Belt. I thought it was a pretty interesting read.

http://sns.mx/pNt3y4

Interesting. I think it's especially interesting that he says JMU has a football stadium that seats 30K. According to their website, they are in the second phase of an expansion that will increase seating to 25K. Maybe the expert should check his facts a bit.

They already seat 25,000 which is more than KBS, and they have a yet to be unveiled expansion project similar to ours that would take them to "FBS capacity" somewhere near 40,000. And unlike ours, their stadium was build with expansion in mind, ours is hodge podge.

And yet they couldn't even sell it out once last year.

So what? They would sell out KBS's permanent seating easily. Are you going to hold it against them if their admin actually believes everyone who pays to attend is entitled to an actual seat?

And youre wrong, they sold it out against Towson last year.

[ASU-FTW]

Here is an article from the Atlanta paper about the Sun Belt. I thought it was a pretty interesting read.

http://sns.mx/pNt3y4

Interesting. I think it's especially interesting that he says JMU has a football stadium that seats 30K. According to their website, they are in the second phase of an expansion that will increase seating to 25K. Maybe the expert should check his facts a bit.

They already seat 25,000 which is more than KBS, and they have a yet to be unveiled expansion project similar to ours that would take them to "FBS capacity" somewhere near 40,000. And unlike ours, their stadium was build with expansion in mind, ours is hodge podge.

And yet they couldn't even sell it out once last year.

So what? They would sell out KBS's permanent seating easily. Are you going to hold it against them if their admin actually believes everyone who pays to attend is entitled to an actual seat?

And youre wrong, they sold it out against Towson last year.

I actually admire and am impressed with their stadium and its future plans, but I think they are biting off more than they can chew. As it stands right now they have a lopsided stadium that they can't even sell out (1 sellout, big deal). If they go full boar with the stadium expansion, it will be laughable.

[fjblair]

Its not included in that article, but I thought I also heard Benson say that some of the FCS schools they were looking at were much, much further along than Marshall or Boise St. back when they made the move.

It sounds like he's done his homework on App and GSU, (possibly even reading the blogs. ) That cant possibly refer to any other current FCS team in the SB's region. Its a positive. I imagine the hang up will be trying to convince some of the original SB teams to add another FCS team like JMU, Liberty, or Missouri St, located more in the footprint rather than appease them with NMSU and Idaho. And we know how some of those schools dont want to be associated with more FCS schools than they can help.

To me, It sounds like most presidents want 3 FCS teams, with potential, rather than expand the SB's footprint with a huge outlier, and a few presidents are digging their heels in and threatening to leave if that happens.

I don't understand the reluctance to add FCS schools. What's the big deal? If you are adding a member that has better academics and a football program that is at least equal(with better attendance) to most all of the existing members, then what is not to like?

[appsfan]

In a word: perception.