Karl Benson has now directly mentioned Eastern Kentucky and Coastal Carolina as possibly future members of the Sun Belt Conference. Who are you picking from the two? This add is to help balance the east-west divisions and to allow App a proper travel partner.

http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/spor ... /30543863/

Could be both and drop Idaho. CCU is new but seems to have a lot of momentum, maybe more similar to some of the FIU, FAU type schools so 10 yrs from now who knows, maybe they can be a quality add when considering future "upside".

ya, I guess its pretty much official, If I had to choose, I would take EKU over CC, but neither one really moves the needle for me. I guess there is a good chance we drop Idaho and take both. I wonder what the time table is for adding a new member?

Between the two (and both have lots to do), I'd prefer CCU:
-Good location (beach, area is growing and a state App recruits)
-Would only be the 3rd FBS program in the state
-Good baseball
-Good soccer (SBC needs another team)
-Decent football

I'm still a proponent of JMU if their administration would pull the trigger!

yep, JMU really screwed this up. I was on their message board recently, according to JMU fans, they have turned down the A10, CUSA, and now the SBC, all to stay in a conference that is quickly becoming irrelevant. Hard to blame their fans for being so upset with this administration.

JMU is like the pretty girl (in your mind) that you keep asking for a date and she keeps turning you down always waiting for the perfect man to come along. At some point you have to realize even if she does eventually say yes she will always be looking over your shoulder looking for something better to come along. It's time to mark them off the list and move on because we(SBC) will be better off in the long run.

They will never be happy in the SBC.

"...according to JMU fans, they have turned down the A10, CUSA, and now the SBC..."

Sure they did! And they'll turn down the ACC and SEC next month. Still awaiting that call from Roger Goodell to make them the first FCS collegiate program to gain admission to the NFL's Eastern Div. Look how close they are to East Rutherford, NJ, D.C. and Philly.

They're suffering from chronic delusional disorder. Paranoia comes next.

Tell me you would rather travel to Richmond, KY over Myrtle Beach for a late October game...so if I had to choose, I'd say Coastal.

But as someone said above...neither revs my engine To be honest there isn't a strong interested candidate within in a geographical proximity to App. I'd be more excited about a UT-Chattanooga IF their entire sports portfolio was in better shape right now but it's not. They finished at or near the top in most of the major sports - but sort of by default with App and GSU gone.

I know, we'll trade New Mexico State, Idaho, Troy, and Georgia State for Chattanooga, Coastal, Eastern Kentucky, and Liberty. Instant improvement in football and conference footprint.

Troy is a good SBC program. They just had a down year. They'll be back.

Basketball (program and facilities) - EKU
Baseball - CCU

Neither is ready for FBS football, program or facilities, but this move can give them time to adjust and join by 2018.

Location - CCU, for fans but also flexibility in travel partners, they can be travel partners for App or GS.

Academics - I'd guess EKU, but haven't looked it up.

CCU does have soccer which the SBC needs to keep its autobid.

I think the SBC add CCU Olympic sports in 2016, and then EKU all sports along with NMSU for the 2017, while dropping Idaho.

JMU - such a shame.

AtlAppMan wrote:JMU is like the pretty girl (in your mind) that you keep asking for a date and she keeps turning you down always waiting for the perfect man to come along. At some point you have to realize even if she does eventually say yes she will always be looking over your shoulder looking for something better to come along. It's time to mark them off the list and move on because we(SBC) will be better off in the long run.

They will never be happy in the SBC.

Most everyone in the SBC is looking for a better opportunity and even if JMU were to accept and then defect, it would give the other potential candidates (EKU & CCU) time to get up to speed. I just really want another purple team in App's conference to hate!

I'd be fine with either. Never have quite understood the preoccupation with JMU. They'd be fine, but in terms of actual recent on-field strength, both EKU and CCU offer comparable football programs and better basketball.

We also have a 'Buck Fuzz' connection with CCU

He's Tweeting about it right now.

https://twitter.com/kbcommish

I've been of the thought that there will be a great compromise between the East and West. Coastal and EKU are added in the east, NMSU is added as a full member in the west and Idaho is gone as a football-only. That makes 14 Olympic and 12 football schools. Yes there would be an Olympic sports imbalance with 8 west and 6 east, but everyone would have a travel partner and divisions are stupid anyway.

Per MapQuest:

Boone to EKU (Richmond Ky) 264 miles
Boone to CCU (Conway, SC) 265 miles

May be worth the extra 5280 feet.

MAD Doctor wrote:Per MapQuest:

Boone to EKU (Richmond Ky) 264 miles
Boone to CCU (Conway, SC) 265 miles

May be worth the extra 5280 feet.

I bet the drive time is a little bit less even with the extra 1600 meters just due to what I imagine is a better route to the coast than through the mountain area on the way to Richmond, KY.

Personally, neither of these get me excited. If the focus has shifted to Olympic sports, I say KB and the conference should focus on College of Charleston. Thier basketball and Baseball are the best "available" within the radius (refuse to say footprint as it reminds me of 'ol dannyboy). I have read several articles over the last couple years where the CofC baseball coach is not happy in the traditionless and travel extensive CAA. Further, the main reasons CofC moved to the CAA was basketball. However, after CofC committed to join the successful schools jumped ship.

CofC would be travel partners with Ga Southern and Ga State would be pur travel partner. Atlanta is 300 miles exactly from Boone. With all interstate and increased speed limits on 85 - Not much further than the two openly announced today as being in the conversation.

I hope the "others" KB mentioned as contacting in his last tweet this afternoon includes CofC. Count my vote for the Cougs.

How about Winthrop if we're looking at a non-football? They have had more NCAA success than either of these schools, and their facilities are equal to or better than both schools across the board. Most importantly they're only 2 hours from Boone amd teams would fly into CLT for both schools.

JTApps1 wrote:How about Winthrop if we're looking at a non-football? They have had more NCAA success than either of these schools, and their facilities are equal to or better than both schools across the board. Most importantly they're only 2 hours from Boone amd teams would fly into CLT for both schools.

It is public.