Sun Belt to Discuss Our Membership March 9th

[WataugaMan]

Judas Priest

[Goapps15]

Very nice, well worth posting twice IMO.

Info should start leaking soon from the Socon itself or member schools.

Deleted the double post.

Sorry for the double post I was trying to post the link from my iPhone. Anyways glad it was helpful and hopefully this is just the beginning of what's to come.

[hapapp]

Someone on the SBC board seems pretty certain that the SBC will add three members. App State, GaSou, and NMSU will be invited. Sounds like the NMSU invite is a bone to the western members.

I think most of us hope that not to be the case and would love to see JMU in the mix. Though, I do find that to be less likely than the NMSU invite.

[Saint3333]

To me this is just an opportunity to get our foot in the door. Realignment is coming within 5-6 years time to move up the food chain to ensure our place above the current level.

[bcoach]

I just keep looking at the map and saying "wow no more away games". JMU sure would make a difference in getting me just a little more positive about this.

[GoAppsGo92]

Everyone needs to relax. Want to play Marshall, ECU, ODU and UNCC in the future? We have to make this move. JMU may not make this round, so be prepared for that. Should the league to to 12 football playing schools, they would probably make the cut along with another western school. The Sunbelt is trying to balance the league, and NMST gives the conference basketball credibility. I forsee a stable conference with access to several bowl games, and eventually, a conference championship game. This league will be as good as, if not better than, CUSA once all new members are playing. There will be plenty of ACC, SEC, "Big East" and home and homes with CUSA schools in our future. Local games will be featured... Clemson and USC are not in the same conference and they play a high-stakes game every year. WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

[AppDawg]

WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

I generally agree with everything you posted except this above. I would like to think we will replace WCU with ECU or even Wake. I understand that unc-c has caught the rocket-ship to FBS, but that to me doesn't constitute a "rivalry." A rivalry is born from tradition and history. It cannot be force-placed. Sure, certain things have happened that indicate the foundation is currently being laid for unc-c to be perhaps a "rival" but much like when Coastal Carolina came up to Boone thumping their chests back in 2005, all will quickly realize unc-c has a long way to go and App/Unc-c is far from a rivalry on the football field.

I just think the "rivalry" term is too loosely thrown around these days.

[TheMoody1]

WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

I generally agree with everything you posted except this above. I would like to think we will replace WCU with ECU or even Wake. I understand that unc-c has caught the rocket-ship to FBS, but that to me doesn't constitute a "rivalry." A rivalry is born from tradition and history. It cannot be force-placed. Sure, certain things have happened that indicate the foundation is currently being laid for unc-c to be perhaps a "rival" but much like when Coastal Carolina came up to Boone thumping their chests back in 2005, all will quickly realize unc-c has a long way to go and App/Unc-c is far from a rivalry on the football field.

I just think the "rivalry" term is too loosely thrown around these days.

Agreed. If we are going to play a yearly "rivalry game" it needs to be with ECU. East vs WEST.

[Goapps15]

Agreed that ECU should be our rival if we make the move. However Western has only beaten us 2 or 3 times the past 20 years, that is hardly a rivalry. Georgia Southern is more of a rivalry to our current players

[mtnjax]

Agreed that ECU should be our rival if we make the move. However Western has only beaten us 2 or 3 times the past 20 years, that is hardly a rivalry. Georgia Southern is more of a rivalry to our current players

Georgia Southern is our rival to me now. Western is just a spot on the schedule

[GoAppsGo92]

Agreed that ECU should be our rival if we make the move. However Western has only beaten us 2 or 3 times the past 20 years, that is hardly a rivalry. Georgia Southern is more of a rivalry to our current players

And we have that rivalry locked with the move to SBC. Will ECU play us every year? I see that as less likely than UNCC. ECU might step up to the plate, UNCC might be afraid to. Wake could be rekindled, but with ECU and Wake in "Big East" and ACC... I see them recluctant to do home and homes at least initally... could be wrong though.

As for history, it has to start somewhere... usually a rivalry has peers (CUSA/SBC), geography (Boone/Charlotte) and interest... thousands of ASU alums in Charlotte would create a lot of interest. And something to prove is nice too... I think UNCC fits the bill nicely on that score. That's whats great about where we are headed... rivals with ECU, UNCC, ODU, Marshall, Wake are all possibilities now!

[AppAttack]

Yes! Here's my "rivalry" wish list: Wake, ECU, Marshall, GaSo

[AtlAppMan]

Can we get UNCC to become App's new whipping boy? (would've used a more elicit term but since we are on a board had to clean it up)

[appsfan]

I just keep looking at the map and saying "wow no more away games". JMU sure would make a difference in getting me just a little more positive about this.

Well, over the past week to ten days, I have seen an increase in JMU being linked to SBC expansion rumors on various boards. It would make a lot of sense for them if George Mason leaves the CAA for the A-10. My best guess is NMSU, GaSo, and us now. I would hope that JMU might be in the mix to follow a year or two later...

[CornCobPipes]

Agreed that ECU should be our rival if we make the move. However Western has only beaten us 2 or 3 times the past 20 years, that is hardly a rivalry. Georgia Southern is more of a rivalry to our current players

And we have that rivalry locked with the move to SBC. Will ECU play us every year? I see that as less likely than UNCC. ECU might step up to the plate, UNCC might be afraid to. Wake could be rekindled, but with ECU and Wake in "Big East" and ACC... I see them recluctant to do home and homes at least initally... could be wrong though.

As for history, it has to start somewhere... usually a rivalry has peers (CUSA/SBC), geography (Boone/Charlotte) and interest... thousands of ASU alums in Charlotte would create a lot of interest. And something to prove is nice too... I think UNCC fits the bill nicely on that score. That's whats great about where we are headed... rivals with ECU, UNCC, ODU, Marshall, Wake are all possibilities now!

Who knows maybe we could get a game with Tennessee or Vandy if we get the nod.

[CornCobPipes]

Agreed that ECU should be our rival if we make the move. However Western has only beaten us 2 or 3 times the past 20 years, that is hardly a rivalry. Georgia Southern is more of a rivalry to our current players

And we have that rivalry locked with the move to SBC. Will ECU play us every year? I see that as less likely than UNCC. ECU might step up to the plate, UNCC might be afraid to. Wake could be rekindled, but with ECU and Wake in "Big East" and ACC... I see them recluctant to do home and homes at least initally... could be wrong though.

As for history, it has to start somewhere... usually a rivalry has peers (CUSA/SBC), geography (Boone/Charlotte) and interest... thousands of ASU alums in Charlotte would create a lot of interest. And something to prove is nice too... I think UNCC fits the bill nicely on that score. That's whats great about where we are headed... rivals with ECU, UNCC, ODU, Marshall, Wake are all possibilities now!

Who knows maybe we could get a game with Tennessee or Vandy if we get the nod.

And MOST OF ALL nothing could be finer than to stick a long rifle in the ol tarhole, but for some reason I think they would try to evade us from now to kingdom come.

[CornCobPipes]

Just wondering if you win the SunBelt Conference football championship do they give Sun Belts out to the players like a rodeo or the WWF...lol.

[GoAppsGo92]

WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

I generally agree with everything you posted except this above. I would like to think we will replace WCU with ECU or even Wake. I understand that unc-c has caught the rocket-ship to FBS, but that to me doesn't constitute a "rivalry." A rivalry is born from tradition and history. It cannot be force-placed. Sure, certain things have happened that indicate the foundation is currently being laid for unc-c to be perhaps a "rival" but much like when Coastal Carolina came up to Boone thumping their chests back in 2005, all will quickly realize unc-c has a long way to go and App/Unc-c is far from a rivalry on the football field.

I just think the "rivalry" term is too loosely thrown around these days.

You are right, about the overuse of the word, but check my quote, I did not use it. UNCC replaces WCU as the "whipping boy who thinks they are a rival" school... It will be even better when it will be another notch for the SBC against CUSA.

[ImfromClayton]

WCU will be replaced by UNCC... no doubt about it. This will be a good home for us, and who knows what the next 5 years will hold... all I know is: Its a GREAT time to be a Mountaineer!

I generally agree with everything you posted except this above. I would like to think we will replace WCU with ECU or even Wake. I understand that unc-c has caught the rocket-ship to FBS, but that to me doesn't constitute a "rivalry." A rivalry is born from tradition and history. It cannot be force-placed. Sure, certain things have happened that indicate the foundation is currently being laid for unc-c to be perhaps a "rival" but much like when Coastal Carolina came up to Boone thumping their chests back in 2005, all will quickly realize unc-c has a long way to go and App/Unc-c is far from a rivalry on the football field.

I just think the "rivalry" term is too loosely thrown around these days.

You are right, about the overuse of the word, but check my quote, I did not use it. UNCC replaces WCU as the "whipping boy who thinks they are a rival" school... It will be even better when it will be another notch for the SBC against CUSA.

We don't consider you a rival. You don't consider us a rival.

[GoApps70]

Cannot be a rival if you have never played a football game.
Believe things will change in the next few years. None of the Gof5 are getting fantastic media packages so they will look toward regional rivalries more and more in order to pump up their home attendances and ease the away game problem for their fans.
Would expect East Carolina to eventually get to the point that they would just as soon play regional teams as some they will be playing in the football BE. When that happens more and more ECU, JMU, and other local schools will want to make a sensible conference. After all, does not matter what conference you are in if your main goal is to win the BCS bowl bid as best in the Gof5.

Just move to FBS and work hard to have the best football program that we can have.