A surprisingly under the radar news story here:

Missouri State has hired Bobby Petrino to be their next football coach.

This is the kind of move you make if you are serous about trying about moving up to the FBS (go out and get a big name coach surrounded by controversy for the purpose getting to the next level, Liberty basically just did this).

They have a stadium that is Sun Belt ready. They fit the Sun Belt geographically. Most of all, their name came up along with Liberty and Coastal when Coastal was welcomed into the conference.

Any school that would hire scumbag Petrino wouldn't be on my list.

This is the kinda move you make if you want NCAA sanctions and a completely ruined football program.

I think it's under the radar because you're the first person to link it with a potential Sun Belt move, and there's no obvious reason why the Sun Belt would want to add them.

ASUchipman wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2020 10:20 am

This is the kinda move you make if you want NCAA sanctions and a completely ruined football program.

Has Pertrino ever brought NCAA sanctions on a program he was in charge of? He was fired at Arkansas for lying to his bosses.

Petrino is using Missouri State to get back to a Power 5 job. The sad thing is, I can see a lower tier P5 taking a chance on him if he does well enough. Petrino is a scumbag that shouldn't be coaching.

As for Missouri State, they weren't even a finalist when the decision to call up CCU was made. They were even behind Eastern Kentucky. I doubt they will be called up for a while.

They've had 5 winning seasons since 1994. Their best season is 7-4 in 1996. The other four are 6-5 seasons. They're hiring Petrino in hopes of notching a winning season for the first time since 2009, not to move up to FBS.

Why? No benefit to the SB whatsoever.

AppKing21 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 16, 2020 10:43 am

Petrino is using Missouri State to get back to a Power 5 job. The sad thing is, I can see a lower tier P5 taking a chance on him if he does well enough. Petrino is a scumbag that shouldn't be coaching.

As for Missouri State, they weren't even a finalist when the decision to call up CCU was made. They were even behind Eastern Kentucky. I doubt they will be called up for a while.

I think his P5 days are done. They'll overlook him being a scumbag, but he committed the cardinal sin (no pun intended) in his last stint at Louisville: His team sucked.

He might get another G5 to take a chance on him if he wins there. Or maybe an OC job somewhere.

Apps-olutely! After we leave the Sun Belt...

My recollection is that basketball was the reason Missouri State was being discussed. There has never been a football reason to talk about them. I would be surprised if the Belt were actually considering them.

I agree! From our standpoint MSU has very little appeal however I suspect the folks at Texas State and perhaps A State would sing a different tune!

Having the branding of four big "state" schools does help the Belt in some regard. Having Texas State, Arkansas State, and Georgia State along with Louisiana definitely is beneficial to separate branding from something like you see in the FCS level conference make-ups. Adding Missouri State's basketball and baseball along with their state level branding would be okay in my book IF they could make an investment in Football.

If the Sun Belt did lose a team, Missouri State would be a natural fit for the West division. They have solid facilities, and they're in a town of over 160,000, with only 1 in-state FBS to worry about.

They've been a total doormat in the Missouri Valley Conference for years. But if Petrino can take them on a few FCS title runs, that could change things.

I'm happy with the Sun Belt at 10 teams currently.

I have no idea why the Sunbelt would want to add another FCS school. You add enough water to the lemonade and it is no longer lemonade.

SayYesToTheRock wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2020 8:42 am

They've been a total doormat in the Missouri Valley Conference for years. But if Petrino can take them on a few FCS title runs, that could change things.

I'm happy with the Sun Belt at 10 teams currently.

That a big if. Actually, I would say enormous.

bcoach wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:58 am

I have no idea why the Sunbelt would want to add another FCS school. You add enough water to the lemonade and it is no longer lemonade.

Yep, right now there are only 2 FCS schools worth considering. One is too far away (NDSU) the other has already burned that bridge with the Sun Belt (JMU).

Here's another idea - take them both - put JMU in the East and NDS in the West (couldn't be much farther than going to TX) - I know, I know - it isn't going to happen.

Plus they have both been on Saturday Game Day - thanks to APP

I'd think EKU would be in line first. I know they wanted to come to the Sun Belt, and then the Sun Belt passed on them in favor of Coastal, but I think as a response the Colonels have been busy working on their infrastructure to make another go at it.


Just as long as we don't bring in Liberty...

hotrod2001 wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 17, 2020 12:21 pm

I'd think EKU would be in line first. I know they wanted to come to the Sun Belt, and then the Sun Belt passed on them in favor of Coastal, but I think as a response the Colonels have been busy working on their infrastructure to make another go at it.


Just as long as we don't bring in Liberty...

I seriously doubt Liberty wants to join the Sun Belt, or any G5 conference (sans AAC) at this point. Once they got the waiver to go FBS Independent, Liberty started firmly on the BYU path, which is where they belong. They have plenty of Liberty Online Dollars flowing in to finance the expense of an independent schedule.

Maybe it's nostalgia, but I would have Chattanooga first in line. They add a new state to the Sun Belt, have had solid football, and have a great hoops tradition. Plus, Nooga is a great town we all know and love to visit. For me, they would move the needle more than EKU.