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[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Over/Under 5 years until we leave the Sun Belt?

Sun Belt finished ranked 3rd last season above both the MAC and Conference USA. Which conference are we leaving for?

http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/tvc/sunbelt/index.shtml

Look at the bigger picture. Not just one season. Historically Sun Belt has not done well against other G5 conferences. App State having helped in recent bowl eligible years (6-0). I just think there would be a better opportunity in another conference. Bigger bowls with high payouts, a realistic talk about a NY6 bid should we do well. Cobb as well as others decided we should move up (No regrets from me) but the Sun Belt was the only option at the time. None of us expected this success early in the FBS life cycle. I just feel more exposure out there for us in another conference.

[/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09]

Over/Under 5 years until we leave the Sun Belt?

There is no place to go. We will wait for realignment.

As the P5 schools seek to separate from everyone else I can see a realignment happening sooner than later.

[EastHallApp]

Over/Under 5 years until we leave the Sun Belt?

I actually doubt we straight-up leave for a new conference any time soon. I do hope the Sun Belt/CUSA realignment happens in that time.

If we're going to be in a bad conference why not start over with a bad conference with nearby opponents. The east stands to gain a LOT more than we lose. Gain: rivalries, Marshall/WKU/MTSU. Lose: crazy travel and the Texas Schools. An OOC agreement can be reached with Ark State if we wanted to keep playing them.

I don't think that would be a bad conference at all. And I don't care about playing Arkansas State.

[EastHallApp]

Over/Under 5 years until we leave the Sun Belt?

Sun Belt finished ranked 3rd last season above both the MAC and Conference USA. Which conference are we leaving for?

http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/tvc/sunbelt/index.shtml

Look at the bigger picture. Not just one season. Historically Sun Belt has not done well against other G5 conferences. App State having helped in recent bowl eligible years (6-0). I just think there would be a better opportunity in another conference. Bigger bowls with high payouts, a realistic talk about a NY6 bid should we do well. Cobb as well as others decided we should move up (No regrets from me) but the Sun Belt was the only option at the time. None of us expected this success early in the FBS life cycle. I just feel more exposure out there for us in another conference.

Historical comparison to CUSA is irrelevant though because that CUSA doesn't exist anymore. The current version is basically on par with the Sun Belt - a few good teams and a bunch of bad ones.

If we got an invite from the AAC I expect we'd be gone tomorrow, but even if they suddenly had an opening I doubt we'd be at the top of their list. And anywhere else is a lateral move.

[SayYesToTheRock]

A regional realignment of the two conferences could look like this.

http://imgur.com/a/EzhX2

[Saint3333]

For all sports I prefer an eastern based conference, but I don't see any difference in football between the two. The current setup allows for close H&H vs CUSA teams.

[appstate77]

[quote="SayYesToTheRock"]A regional realignment of the two conferences could look like this.

http://imgur.com/a/EzhX2[/quote

Makes too much sense.

[EastHallApp]

For all sports I prefer an eastern based conference, but I don't see any difference in football between the two. The current setup allows for close H&H vs CUSA teams.

Well you couldn't make it too lopsided or one side wouldn't agree to it. That estimate evens it out a bit by putting UAB in the east rather than Troy.

Personally I think App/Marshall/GS/WKU/MTSU/ODU looks like a much more solid top half than what the Sun Belt has now. Of course the big advantages come in when you add in off-field things like travel costs, driveable road games, appealing road trips, better recruiting areas, etc.

[hapapp]

A bit off topic, but yesterday the hosts were talking about moving the G5 to the Spring. The argument was that it would provide better exposure and perhaps a TV deal. Also, they talked of a G5 playoff separate from the current system. The rationale was that no G5 would ever have a chance of winning a national championship. Well, you then also have to eliminate three-fourths of the P5 as well. Let's face it, at best 20 schools have a legitimate at a national title and, that may be a stretch.

I don't buy folks wanting to watch football in the Spring to the point it would be lucrative enough to even consider that.

[ukappfan]

A bit off topic, but yesterday the hosts were talking about moving the G5 to the Spring. The argument was that it would provide better exposure and perhaps a TV deal. Also, they talked of a G5 playoff separate from the current system. The rationale was that no G5 would ever have a chance of winning a national championship. Well, you then also have to eliminate three-fourths of the P5 as well. Let's face it, at best 20 schools have a legitimate at a national title and, that may be a stretch.

I don't buy folks wanting to watch football in the Spring to the point it would be lucrative enough to even consider that.

The main reason football in the spring would not work is college basketball.

[EastHallApp]

Not sure what hosts you're referring to, but it sounds like they've run out of things to talk about.

[appst89]

Not sure what hosts you're referring to, but it sounds like they've run out of things to talk about.

It's been a topic of discussion for well over a year Sirius/XM channel 84. There are a couple of the hosts (I think Rick Neuheisel is one) who advocate for it, but most dismiss it as not feasible.

[Yosef84]

Spring football for the G5 is the worst idea I've heard in a very long time. I can't see that idea ever getting traction.

[hapapp]

Not sure what hosts you're referring to, but it sounds like they've run out of things to talk about.

It's been a topic of discussion for well over a year Sirius/XM channel 84. There are a couple of the hosts (I think Rick Neuheisel is one) who advocate for it, but most dismiss it as not feasible.

Neuheisel and Childers to be exact on Sirius 84 as you noted. Neuheisel suggested the G5 would never go for it. Another suggestion he made was to expand the CFP to eight teams with a guaranteed spot to the best G5 team. He, of course, has also suggested a G5 playoff. His concern is the G5 being able to stay afloat because of increasing costs. He's not dissing G5 programs but seems concerned about where things are headed in the future. Childers was the one really pushing the Spring idea.

[bcoach]

Not sure what hosts you're referring to, but it sounds like they've run out of things to talk about.

It's been a topic of discussion for well over a year Sirius/XM channel 84. There are a couple of the hosts (I think Rick Neuheisel is one) who advocate for it, but most dismiss it as not feasible.

Neuheisel and Childers to be exact on Sirius 84 as you noted. Neuheisel suggested the G5 would never go for it. Another suggestion he made was to expand the CFP to eight teams with a guaranteed spot to the best G5 team. He, of course, has also suggested a G5 playoff. His concern is the G5 being able to stay afloat because of increasing costs. He's not dissing G5 programs but seems concerned about where things are headed in the future. Childers was the one really pushing the Spring idea.

There should be a concern for cost and also the very real possibility of a drop in income.

[EastHallApp]

Costs are absolutely a concern. I don't see how moving to spring would have any positive effect on that. Terrible idea.

G5 playoff is not an idea I support either, but at least it's a reasonable thing to debate.

[moonshine]

There should be a concern for cost and also the very real possibility of a drop in income.

I agree that costs should be a concern but where's the drop in income for the Sun Belt?

I don't see any kind of significant loss of income happening within the next 7-8 years. The CFP money is locked in until 2025 when the current CFP contract ends. The Sun Belt "TV deal" is a drop in the bucket at $100k per team which is less than 1% of App's budget.

[ericsaid]

Over/Under 5 years until we leave the Sun Belt?

Sun Belt finished ranked 3rd last season above both the MAC and Conference USA. Which conference are we leaving for?

http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/tvc/sunbelt/index.shtml

Look at the bigger picture. Not just one season. Historically Sun Belt has not done well against other G5 conferences. App State having helped in recent bowl eligible years (6-0). I just think there would be a better opportunity in another conference. Bigger bowls with high payouts, a realistic talk about a NY6 bid should we do well. Cobb as well as others decided we should move up (No regrets from me) but the Sun Belt was the only option at the time. None of us expected this success early in the FBS life cycle. I just feel more exposure out there for us in another conference.

My question is what other conference? C-USA is trending down and has been sense taking in Charlotte, and the F_U schools. The Sun Belt will have less teams, a higher payout, and the same or similar TV deal to the C-USA. Georgia State just got Elliot and a new stadium, Texas State has Withers and facilities that are the class of the conference, Coastal is going to come in and compete right away, and South Alabama is rather good, they just need their own facility to really begin building a brand.

With the booting of NMSU and Idaho, the Sun Belt will be ahead of the C-USA again. The only draw to C-USA really is playing Marshall and USM. Otherwise, in 5 years the Sun Belt will likely be firmly entrenched as the Number 3 conference. If the top schools can start snagging some P5 wins, the Sun Belt may begin to rival the MWC, as I believe the Sun Belt had a winning record versus the MWC last season.

Week 1 starts off big with Troy playing at Boise State. This game will be a measuring stick for the top of the two conferences.

[APPdiesel]

A regional realignment of the two conferences could look like this.

http://imgur.com/a/EzhX2

That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out conference alignment.......overruled.

[APPdiesel]

Costs are absolutely a concern. I don't see how moving to spring would have any positive effect on that. Terrible idea.

G5 playoff is not an idea I support either, but at least it's a reasonable thing to debate.

100% "just a talking point". I work in sports talk radio...you argue the merits of things you don't necessarily believe in all the time because a) it fills time b) it creates debate. Best way to get people talking is say something sort of ridiculous, pretend like you believe in it, and wait for the pedantic know-it-alls to tell you how wrong you are.