http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/sports ... 66269.html

“I will tell you what I said to them: I will accept an offer from the Sun Belt if an offer is made,” DeCenzo told The Sun News in an exclusive interview Friday.

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DeCenzo said Benson and his Sun Belt team had already visited Eastern Kentucky before they spent Tuesday and Wednesday at Coastal Carolina, and it was his understanding the conference plans to visit one more unidentified school next week. From there, he is hopeful the Sun Belt will let the university know soon if it will indeed be making an offer.

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But if given the opportunity to jump to the Sun Belt, DeCenzo told the conference the university is prepared to immediately begin the process of expanding the stadium to approximately 21,000-22,000 seats.

Sun Belt could be ready to make a move soon. And it might be more than one school.

These sound like done-deals to me. It's not the sexiest but does make geo sense for us, as well as conference balance.

I pray it doesn't happen.....

I know it's unlikely but if James Madison was the third candidate I'd be really happy with that. We all know they've turned us down down before but perhaps perhaps the idea of a true regional division might be enough to put them over the top.

Otherwise my money is on Liberty because I don't know who else it could be. Maybe it's 'Bama.

APPdiesel wrote:I know it's unlikely but if James Madison was the third candidate I'd be really happy with that. We all know they've turned us down down before but perhaps perhaps the idea of a true regional division might be enough to put them over the top.

Otherwise my money is on Liberty because I don't know who else it could be. Maybe it's 'Bama.

I'd bet the farm that it's New Mexico St. They have made no secret that they want an all-sports invite. The SBC bylaws require a site visit by the expansion committee before an offer can be made. It looks to me as if there will be three invites with CCU and EKU in the East and NMSU in the West. Then Idaho will be shown the door. That will yield the 12 football 14 basketball setup that seems to be favored. Both non-football schools would be in the West, so I see no divisions for basketball.

I'm not completely sold on EKU, although I do believe their administration has a vision. They have shown the willingness to spend the money. Just not sure if they have the support. It may be a case of, "if you build it they will come." Thier basketball will be a solid add.

CCU will be a home run. With only two other FBS schools in SC, they will grow quickly. They are in a great location for fans and recruiting and they are willing to spend the money. The SBC will immediately be better in Olympic sports with the addition of a top 10 baseball and soccer program.

NMSU will be a good add and will be necessary to to get the western votes to add CCU and EKU.

While I would have preferred JMU; they slammed that door shut last year and are going to have to live with their decision; I am okay with these additions.

I completely agree with Glenn. Man its nice to be able to make a decision. They certainly put their best foot forward.

I guess my question would be why didn't they mention the 3rd is NMS, they are already a football member and I can't imagine why a visit there would be confidential. My money's on Liberty but my heart's hoping JMU has changed their position. I hope it's not Liberty but the fact the third doesn't seem to be public knowledge makes me think it is.

I can't see three eastern schools getting invites. If three invites go out, then the third is likely NMSU.

Maybe it's just my presumption, but I would think that NMSU has already been visited before, seeing as they were invited as football-only members, so maybe that requirement for being invited as a full-member has already been met.

My guess is that the Belt will add three members, with one being from the west and two from the east. The west will get NMSU and the east will get a combination of CCU, EKU, Liberty or (long shot) JMU. I'm just assuming here, but this last *secret* campus visit may be at either Liberty or JMU, but I'm not holding my breath for JMU.

Karl has long wanted Liberty in the Belt, and with some new athletic directors and Presidents at member universities, he may be attempting to sway them towards Liberty once more. If he succeeds in doing that, my money would go on Liberty, CCU and NMSU being invited in the near-future with EKU being told "If something happens, you'll get the call from us."

To me, Missouri State would be a better long-term "western" institution than NMSU. Mo St has academics, great facilities, baseball, basketball and potential in football. NMSU has a land-grant/national research/semi-flagship state university "name" and borderline (at best) athletics. And Las Cruces is at the very end of the earth.

My "western" vote goes to Mo St. And in the lesser of two evils race, CCU over Liberty simply 'cause of the "location, location, location rule." Neither can make a case for bringing any academics upgrade to the Sun Belt.

For all their promise and potential, looks as if we can stick a fork in JMU (unless they hold an Ace up the 'ol sleeve). Looks as if they gambled and lost--big time.

Has anyone considered sam houston state? Great football program, stadium is at 14,000 as it sits, so minimal facilities upgrades.

APPdiesel wrote:Has anyone considered sam houston state? Great football program, stadium is at 14,000 as it sits, so minimal facilities upgrades.

Long history of animosity between the former Southland members now in the Belt and the current Southland members. My impression is that no Southland school can ever get the necessary votes.

Post deleted.

Sun Belt bylaws require a campus visit before full membership can be extended.

Also, Troy's chancellor, part of the visit committee, said the third is New Mexico State

Now that we know it's NMSU, I think Idaho is getting dropped and NMSU non-football, Coastal and EKU are being added to have 12 football members and 14 full members. Someone would have to go west in football (South Alabama?), but otherwise things would be balanced.

That's 24 h (1,679.1 mi) via I-40 W and I-20 W. Ouch!

App to NMSU...the 2nd Trail of Tears

But now that I think about it ...it's better than A Stairway to Heaven in Lynchburg.

Possible new map.

I'd love to add JMU, but adding CCU Olympic sports and football in 2018 when Idaho is likely dropped is an end to a means. They help with travel for all and add a basketball, baseball, and other sports that would clearly be in the top half of the conference.