I personally like JMU although they are hot/cold, mainly cold, on the Belt. Secondly I like Mizzou St as it is a large state school that could be another Ark St. which seems to be an annual front runner in the Belt. Not worried about travel distance as I can't make most away game as it is and even if I could they pale in comparison to trips to Michigan LSU and ECU.

If you vote another team please feel free to let us know who.

I hat the expense of long travel, but I would like to see U Mass or even U Delaware because they are flagship universities in name at least.

JCline0429 wrote:I hat the expense of long travel, but I would like to see U Mass or even U Delaware because they are flagship universities in name at least.

Delaware would be a nice one. Out of the footprint but would be a good grab.

1st Choice: Delaware 0% chance of occurrence
2nd Choice: JMU 50% chance of occurrence
3rd Choice: Missouri St. 60% chance of occurrence
4th Choice: EKU 40% chance of occurrence

So far out of 18....all 18 have at least JMU in there. Someone tell the Dukes to get on it.

I voted for JMU but can the terms of admittance ban their streamers (douche rockets)?

I Assume EKU Is Getting A Bunch Of Love Due To Drivability?

JMU is clearly the best choice for App.

Mo. st. Would be next for the conference, but they are one if not two years away from being ready.

UTC would be my third choice, but need to add baseball.

EKU is less ready than Mo. st.

Jack St. could do it but Troy and USA aren't on board.

Liberty just doesn't have the votes, 9 of 11 must vote yes.

I predict nothing happens before June 1st. Then either JMU wakes up and accepts for next year or we add Mo. st. next year.

ASUPATCH wrote:So far out of 18....all 18 have at least JMU in there. Someone tell the Dukes to get on it.

I actually didn't vote for JMU; they'd be fine, but it seems evident they aren't interested. Also, their football has dropped off and their basketball has always been nondescript.

I did vote for EKU, with proximity being a big factor. Also, it sounds like they have a decent sized football stadium, and their football has been decent (really not far behind JMU in recent years) while their basketball is pretty good.

I have always supported JMU as the 12th Sun Belt member, but their posters remarks have really turned me off. They seem to think their academics will suffer from associating with the Gulf Coast schools. Most of their students evidently are from the NE and have a very smug attitude that only the MAC or CUSA would be a fit for them. Seems mainly the MAC more recently.

EKU has really been good in football years ago, and would provide a fairly easy drive to their campus. About the same as JMU. Their football attendance has been down the last few years, so that would concern me as much as anything about them. Over the years they have the second amount of FCS post season games as we do, which is tied for second place to Montana.

Missouri State also does not have enough attendance for FBS, but like EKU could play one game against a BCS team at an off campus stadium and call it a home game to meet the FBS requirement of at least 15,000 every other year.

Would not want to hurt our football recruiting more than anything. Not sure that EKU would, but concerns me a little. Doubt JMU would much but would possibly a little. No problem with that as far as Missouri State is concerned. Would be interesting to know what our coaching staff things about which of these would help or hurt us most.

1st choice: JMU
2nd choice: Coastal
3rd choice: Chattanooga

No way am I interested in EKU, Mizzou St, UMass, Delaware, Jacksonville St, Liberty, etc. If JMU isn't interested, then wait it out until the likes of Coastal and/or Chattanooga are also ready to make the move. Clearly the new addition will be in the east and look to be a travel partner with App. I don't see why they need to rush a decision just to get to 12 at this time. Sun Belt is in a stronger position to wait for the "best fit" than at the time when App, GaSouth, NMST, and Idaho were added due to defections.

ASUGoose wrote:1st choice: JMU
2nd choice: Coastal
3rd choice: Chattanooga

No way am I interested in EKU, Mizzou St, UMass, Delaware, Jacksonville St, Liberty, etc. If JMU isn't interested, then wait it out until the likes of Coastal and/or Chattanooga are also ready to make the move. Clearly the new addition will be in the east and look to be a travel partner with App. I don't see why they need to rush a decision just to get to 12 at this time. Sun Belt is in a stronger position to wait for the "best fit" than at the time when App, GaSouth, NMST, and Idaho were added due to defections.

Going to be a long wait until coastal and utc are ready.

Sent Benson a pretty lengthy email on this issue yesterday and just got a personalized email back from him. Didn't expect that on a Saturday afternoon. Not too much to report but he did pass along to me how exited he was to have Appalachian as a member.

UTC has not expressed any interest in moving up. Also, as bad as the state budget situation is for state schools in NC - Tennessee is worse. I don't see UTC showing any interest in the near future. I would support the Mocs if they eventually become interested.

JMU would be the ideal addition but they are simply not interested in the SunBelt. It will not happen.

Missouri St would be a good addition for the conference but less so for ASU due to geography. I do see MSU joining the SunBelt in a later year.

Jax St and EKU have shown interest in moving up. JSU will get blocked by the current Alabama SunBelt members. EKU though will be a promising candidate. EKU is a very good fit for ASU for geography reasons. They also have a respectable football program and strong basketball teams. I like EKU for the SunBelt and they seem interested but they are not ready yet.

Liberty is the best eastern fit for ASU right now for the reasons of geography and facilities. I would support an invitation to the Flames for the Belt but have no problem if other solutions are found.

Coastal is not ready and has not shown an interest.

I do feel its important to get to 12 football teams and stage a championship game. If the conference wants to stay away from Liberty, then I'm fine with a short-term invitation to UMass for football only. Other options are not too far away (EKU, Missouri St) but Liberty and UMass seem like the only 2 immediate football options given that JMU has no plans to come.

ASUGoose wrote:1st choice: JMU
2nd choice: Coastal
3rd choice: Chattanooga

No way am I interested in EKU, Mizzou St, UMass, Delaware, Jacksonville St, Liberty, etc. If JMU isn't interested, then wait it out until the likes of Coastal and/or Chattanooga are also ready to make the move. Clearly the new addition will be in the east and look to be a travel partner with App. I don't see why they need to rush a decision just to get to 12 at this time. Sun Belt is in a stronger position to wait for the "best fit" than at the time when App, GaSouth, NMST, and Idaho were added due to defections.

Benson has already said that Coastal Carolina is definitely not in consideration.
Doubtful Liberty could ever produce a tremendous football program with their
religious requirements being what they are. Not just getting the right recruits
but if you have to spend all that time at football practice and go to chapel 3 times
per week , and then all your normal classes and study would make it awfully difficult on them.