Sunbelt Expansion... additions?

[Captain Morgan]

those who say the Chants got hot at the perfect time are right...remember the pandemic situation last year, the country was starved for entertainment and sports and Coastal was the perfect Cinderella story. Plenty of airtime for them to soak up, and I give them credit.

They had one good team, we'll see about this year, while App has had one losing season since 1993. Our list of accomplishments compared to CCU is laughable, so yeah, I'm a bit miffed about the attention they got which is still floating them.

It'll be ok when they come to the Rock. We earned our reputation. They have a LOT of work to be compared to App St...decades worth. We'll see.

[Howard Street Hooligan]

I heard he was in line for Mack Brown's job.

That’s not happening ever.

[NavyApp]

I heard he was in line for Mack Brown's job.

That’s not happening ever.

Pretty sure it's a joke. UNCheat going after a coach with a track record of dirtybaggery seems logical though.

[BeauFoster]

I heard he was in line for Mack Brown's job.

That’s not happening ever.

Pretty sure it's a joke. UNCheat going after a coach with a track record of dirtybaggery seems logical though.

They want cheats who don’t get caught. It’s happened a couple times now to Chadwell, so he will probably end up at South Carolina.

[Captain Morgan]

Neers’ of Howard Knob
@AppStateNeers
·
7m
I’m seeing and hearing from multiple places a lot of smoke that the Sunbelt will announce USM as a new member sometime in the near future. Golden Eagles are a good football brand, and will hurt C-USA. Will be interesting to see who else is added.

[BeauFoster]

Two Rocks in one conference. We know where the best one is.

[Stonewall]

Nope.

[MtnMan09]

Neers’ of Howard Knob
@AppStateNeers
·
7m
I’m seeing and hearing from multiple places a lot of smoke that the Sunbelt will announce USM as a new member sometime in the near future. Golden Eagles are a good football brand, and will hurt C-USA. Will be interesting to see who else is added.

What? When was the last time they were good? When Fedora was there? I keep seeing this take and don’t get it.

[BeauFoster]

At least this way they can’t duck us.

[CornCobPipes]

Instead of starting a new thread....thought I would post this new info from today about the AAC taking two more potentially from MWC.

Air Force & Colorado State

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/colle ... nsion/amp/

[bigdaddyg]

Neers’ of Howard Knob
@AppStateNeers
·
7m
I’m seeing and hearing from multiple places a lot of smoke that the Sunbelt will announce USM as a new member sometime in the near future. Golden Eagles are a good football brand, and will hurt C-USA. Will be interesting to see who else is added.

What? When was the last time they were good? When Fedora was there? I keep seeing this take and don’t get it.

Agree since 2000 they had an 11-2 season and twice lost 4 games. Every other year at minimum 5 losses. Yep we must have another middling team from Mississippi.

[Rekdiver]

USM…yuck

[CheckYosef94]

…or their purpleness.

Which is worse, purple or green? Personally that shade of blue they use on cheater's hill is my least favorite, always has been. But purple and green make me want to puke as well.

[Ramblinredwolf]

Neers’ of Howard Knob
@AppStateNeers
·
7m
I’m seeing and hearing from multiple places a lot of smoke that the Sunbelt will announce USM as a new member sometime in the near future. Golden Eagles are a good football brand, and will hurt C-USA. Will be interesting to see who else is added.

What? When was the last time they were good? When Fedora was there? I keep seeing this take and don’t get it.

Golden Eagles have hit hard times in recent years but they still would bring a competitive program into the league:
-over 20 bowl appearances
-8 conference titles
-3 divisional titles
-they have been ranked in the AP and Coaches poll multiple times
-marquee victories over Alabama (who was #15 at the time), #16 TCU, UCf and Houston when both were ranked as well.
-Prior to COVID last couple of years of average attendance: 2019) 24,765 2018) 21,615 2017) 22,744

So my humble opinion I think they’d be fantastic additions to the league. That said, they’re not coming in by themselves and I fully believe an eastern based team will come in with USM (I’m hoping for Marshall; another program with awesome history, great brand and solid fan base).

[biggie]

…or their purpleness.

Which is worse, purple or green? Personally that shade of blue they use on cheater's hill is my least favorite, always has been. But purple and green make me want to puke as well.

Purple is the worst to me. From Furman, ECU, WCU, and JMU.

[BambooRdApp]

Not sure I see value for either conference with the moves...what does Air Force and Colorado St. really add to AAC.
USM adds nothing to Sunbelt other than just another team...oh yeah, we are trying to capture the coveted Hattiesburg TV market. If this is the SB's response to realignment, this conference is not moving anywhere in terms of getting more money from TV networks...

[NavyApp]

Neers’ of Howard Knob
@AppStateNeers
·
7m
I’m seeing and hearing from multiple places a lot of smoke that the Sunbelt will announce USM as a new member sometime in the near future. Golden Eagles are a good football brand, and will hurt C-USA. Will be interesting to see who else is added.

What? When was the last time they were good? When Fedora was there? I keep seeing this take and don’t get it.

Golden Eagles have hit hard times in recent years but they still would bring a competitive program into the league:
-over 20 bowl appearances
-8 conference titles
-3 divisional titles
-they have been ranked in the AP and Coaches poll multiple times
-marquee victories over Alabama (who was #15 at the time), #16 TCU, UCf and Houston when both were ranked as well.
-Prior to COVID last couple of years of average attendance: 2019) 24,765 2018) 21,615 2017) 22,744

So my humble opinion I think they’d be fantastic additions to the league. That said, they’re not coming in by themselves and I fully believe an eastern based team will come in with USM (I’m hoping for Marshall; another program with awesome history, great brand and solid fan base).

Ok most of those facts are correct they don't actually tell the story of SoMiss as a program.

Yes they have been to 22 bowls(in 59 years as a FBS program) and they are 11-11 in those games.

I'm only seeing 5 conference titles in roughly 27 years of CUSA membership.

They have been ranked multiple times but only twice in the past 20 years.

They are a .500 program that doesn't move the needle, that's just the reality of it.

[Appstate88]

I'm not a fan of USM being considered for the Sun Belt.

1. Their colors are black and gold
2. They call their stadium the rock.
3. Pretty Long drive to see an away game.

[Ramblinredwolf]

Neers’ of Howard Knob
@AppStateNeers
·
7m
I’m seeing and hearing from multiple places a lot of smoke that the Sunbelt will announce USM as a new member sometime in the near future. Golden Eagles are a good football brand, and will hurt C-USA. Will be interesting to see who else is added.

What? When was the last time they were good? When Fedora was there? I keep seeing this take and don’t get it.

Golden Eagles have hit hard times in recent years but they still would bring a competitive program into the league:
-over 20 bowl appearances
-8 conference titles
-3 divisional titles
-they have been ranked in the AP and Coaches poll multiple times
-marquee victories over Alabama (who was #15 at the time), #16 TCU, UCf and Houston when both were ranked as well.
-Prior to COVID last couple of years of average attendance: 2019) 24,765 2018) 21,615 2017) 22,744

So my humble opinion I think they’d be fantastic additions to the league. That said, they’re not coming in by themselves and I fully believe an eastern based team will come in with USM (I’m hoping for Marshall; another program with awesome history, great brand and solid fan base).

Ok most of those facts are correct they don't actually tell the story of SoMiss as a program.

Yes they have been to 22 bowls(in 59 years as a FBS program) and they are 11-11 in those games.

I'm only seeing 5 conference titles in roughly 27 years of CUSA membership.

They have been ranked multiple times but only twice in the past 20 years.

They are a .500 program that doesn't move the needle, that's just the reality of it.

I mean we can nit pick all day about the pros and the cons of anyone's successes and failures. To me though, if you're going to expand and you have the opportunity to raid from a rival conference, I would take the established FBS program that wants to come rather than invite additional FCS start ups (and I certainly would rather have Marshall than ODU or Charlotte).

[The Rock]

Will it enhance the conference? Will it Enhance TV deals? Is it good for App?
Those are the main question when I consider re-alignment.

To me, the answer to all of these is NO for So. Miss.

Not a rich football tradition, not a good recent record, we dont need to add another weak opponent to the SB West, don't see there being any hype that would help us negotiate TV deals, and its another longer trip when App plays them.

Remember, any teams we add will cost App $$ from league payouts unless we get a new TV deal. What is in it for the SB???