http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... r/8420925/

Would it be better for the conference to add a successful FCS team or the worst FBS team? Looks like Benson is leaning toward the latter.

What successful FCS program is available and ready. JMU and Mo St. have said no, Coastal has shown no interest. EKU has bad attendance and facilities and Liberty has never even made the FCS playoffs. So out of what is left we have UMASS.

The most simple solution is sometimes the best.

Add no one, wait for the CCG ruling later this year.

Saint3333 wrote:The most simple solution is sometimes the best.

Add no one, wait for the CCG ruling later this year.

Exactly. I still don't see why Benson has such a hard-on for a 12th member when we still don't even know whether a championship game is permitted with less than 12 teams.

Gonzo wrote:Exactly. I still don't see why Benson has such a hard-on for a 12th member when we still don't even know whether a championship game is permitted with less than 12 teams.

I don't see the rush either. Benson can't do anything without enough votes, so we will see if he can get this pushed through.

UMass only gets the votes if Benson appeases the western members by adding NMSU all sports and UMass agrees to 4-6 OOC basketball games vs. members is my guess.

Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

Will they still be the worst FBS team after they move to the Sunbelt?

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

I think NMSU and Ga St were decent adds. Strengthens basketball with both schools. Georgia State has a strong athletic department outside of football and they add the Atlanta Market.

Idaho was a political gesture his an old WAC crony, which I resent him for, but I feel like they're getting the boot as soon as another opportunity presents itself.

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

It's not like people are standing in line for the SBC. Hell we took it out of desperation. It is a transition conference. Prove yourself and move on. The options for adds are getting slimmer.

Banowski better than Benson? He has made the ultimate gamble with the future of USA. When he chose ODU,UNCC,FAU, and FIU, the only criteria he cared about is they are in TV markets, In 2 years their tv contract is up for renewal, if those schools don't produce in a major way, he is not going to get a good tv deal, he is basically betting the near future on 4 schools, 2 which haven't even played on down in the FBS, and 2 that are considered some of the worst programs in the FBS. The SBC might be at a huge disadvantage in terms of TV markets, but our league as a whole seems to be more established and able to put a better product on the field.

Niner National wrote:Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

I guess you forgot to tell this to Memphis, Tulane, Houston, ECU, Central Florida, SMU, and Tulsa.

TheMoody1 wrote:

Niner National wrote:Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

I guess you forgot to tell this to Memphis, Tulane, Houston, ECU, Central Florida, SMU, and Tulsa.

I get the sense from reading the AAC board that they hate their new commissioner even more.

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

Not taking sides here, but Benson can only do what the Presidents/Chancellors allow him to do. He can only advise and recommend. It's the Presidents that have the real votes.

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

ASU and GSU fans have dealt with Iamarino for the past several years. Benson is terrific in comparison.

We were bad and the worst team is debatable. The important thing is we hired a proven winner at the FCS, NFL, and at Miami. The article does not even have a photo of Mark Whipple, its some other Brown assistant. We'll be adding a true FBS quarterback with Blake Frohnapfel and a speedy WR from Penn State.

Kenney joined the Nittany Lion's track team for his final semester before transferring to UMass, putting his impressive speed to good use. Kenney's athleticism was on full display over the weekend as he ran a 200-meter leg to help lead the Penn State men's sprint medley team to a second-place Championship of American finish at the 2014 Penn Relays.

http://www.masslive.com/umassfootball/i ... cart_river

Alex Kenny will be gone for 2015 but Blake will still be there. Our offensive line is a concern, but feel by 2015 we should have turned the corner. We should have Western Kentucky type season records, terrible the first 2-3 years and then nice in year 4.

kiddbrewer wrote:

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

Not taking sides here, but Benson can only do what the Presidents/Chancellors allow him to do. He can only advise and recommend. It's the Presidents that have the real votes.

Don't bring facts into this discussion, it may hurt NN's narrative. Be respectful!

kiddbrewer wrote:

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

Not taking sides here, but Benson can only do what the Presidents/Chancellors allow him to do. He can only advise and recommend. It's the Presidents that have the real votes.

Totally agree, KB.

ASUMountaineer wrote:

kiddbrewer wrote:

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

Not taking sides here, but Benson can only do what the Presidents/Chancellors allow him to do. He can only advise and recommend. It's the Presidents that have the real votes.

Don't bring facts into this discussion, it may hurt NN's narrative. Be respectful!

Sorry, I don't know what I was thinking.

kiddbrewer wrote:

Niner National wrote:Benson is a terrible commissioner.

Some CUSA fans like to complain about Britton Banowsky, but he's 10x the commissioner that Benson is.

The best thing the SBC could do is boot Benson before he makes more terrible additions. Just as the SBC was improving its image, he adds Idaho, NMSU, Ga State, and now potentially UMass.

Not taking sides here, but Benson can only do what the Presidents/Chancellors allow him to do. He can only advise and recommend. It's the Presidents that have the real votes.

Seems like the Presidents and the Chancellors decided to stay at 11.

Sun Belt Conference Membership Discussion
The Sun Belt Conference has suspended any further discussion or consideration to add any additional members to the league for the immediate future.

"While we may explore adding a 12th all-sports member join the Sun Belt Conference, at this time we are moving the conference forward with our membership as is," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. "Come July 1 the membership will be stable for the first time in over two years with no incoming or departing members. The makeup of that 11 all-sports conference will give us more than just stability - it will give us strength and opportunity."

http://www.sunbeltsports.org/news/2014/ ... 45658.aspx