Texas State "heavy favorite" to join Pac-12, LaTech favored to join Sun Belt

[AppStFan1]

More than any property in the Sunbelt.

But how much are we being devalued by our conference mates? I get that we are at the high end of the curve, but how far are we from the median?

That is a good question to ask Doug Gillin where we stand. The goal should be to get in a league with schools that have similar value to us so we aren't carrying 90% of the league and simply carrying our own weight.

That’s an ideal situation but not necessarily realistic. These conferences are set up for academic relationships just as much, if not more than for athletics. Athletics needs the school, the school doesn’t need athletics.

These current moves like in the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC, etc seem to me are being made for money reasons and not academics. I think both athletics and academics need each other equally. Peacock often said that athletics is the window into your university. These professors might think athletics needs them more but athletics is advertisement for the school and can improve the applicant pool greatly. Ask anyone about the increase in applications to App after the Michigan win and how the average GPA and test scores of incoming freshmen went up after that game. If athletics did not provide a great benefit and just lost the schools money then the schools should just drop athletics all together and see how that effects their incoming classes.

[AppSt94]

There has not been any indication that ULM was going to be dropped. Sure their interim President explored it but he is no longer there.

[AppSt94]

More than any property in the Sunbelt.

But how much are we being devalued by our conference mates? I get that we are at the high end of the curve, but how far are we from the median?

That is a good question to ask Doug Gillin where we stand. The goal should be to get in a league with schools that have similar value to us so we aren't carrying 90% of the league and simply carrying our own weight.

That’s an ideal situation but not necessarily realistic. These conferences are set up for academic relationships just as much, if not more than for athletics. Athletics needs the school, the school doesn’t need athletics.

These current moves like in the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC, etc seem to me are being made for money reasons and not academics. I think both athletics and academics need each other equally. Peacock often said that athletics is the window into your university. These professors might think athletics needs them more but athletics is advertisement for the school and can improve the applicant pool greatly. Ask anyone about the increase in applications to App after the Michigan win and how the average GPA and test scores of incoming freshmen went up after that game. If athletics did not provide a great benefit and just lost the schools money then the schools should just drop athletics all together and see how that effects their incoming classes.

I get your point but you don’t understand what I’m saying. How many college athletic programs exist without a university? I’ll wait.

[AppStFan1]

But how much are we being devalued by our conference mates? I get that we are at the high end of the curve, but how far are we from the median?

That is a good question to ask Doug Gillin where we stand. The goal should be to get in a league with schools that have similar value to us so we aren't carrying 90% of the league and simply carrying our own weight.

That’s an ideal situation but not necessarily realistic. These conferences are set up for academic relationships just as much, if not more than for athletics. Athletics needs the school, the school doesn’t need athletics.

These current moves like in the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC, etc seem to me are being made for money reasons and not academics. I think both athletics and academics need each other equally. Peacock often said that athletics is the window into your university. These professors might think athletics needs them more but athletics is advertisement for the school and can improve the applicant pool greatly. Ask anyone about the increase in applications to App after the Michigan win and how the average GPA and test scores of incoming freshmen went up after that game. If athletics did not provide a great benefit and just lost the schools money then the schools should just drop athletics all together and see how that effects their incoming classes.

I get your point but you don’t understand what I’m saying. How many college athletic programs exist without a university? I’ll wait.

Maybe initially a long time ago but that is due to the infrastructure already being there. There is no reason to go round and round here to hammer a point that really does not matter on the semantics. They need each other equally at this point. Schools added athletics because they need it as the window into their school and to help bring in money. It is a great way to get alumni to show more interest. You will never get 30,000 fans of the school to buy tickets to watch an academic lecture or see kids take a test or invent something. You get that economic and academic growth through athletics. I don't see you, me, or anyone else coming on this board to talk about how good or bad our math program or business school performs. We come back to campus as often as we do because of athletics.

[311neers]

Who were the actual options to join the SBC?

La Tech
Ohio?
WKU?
UAB?
MTSU?
Bowling Green?
Jax State?
UNCC/ECU- probably not legit options.

Georgraphically, those seem like the only G5 options.

[AppWyo]

Even though LaTech may be voted in, did/will App still be a NO vote? I hope so. And who else is with us?

No, sounds like App and CCU were votes 9 and 10 last week. All 13 will vote yes on Monday I’d assume.

We were not. Neither were they.

Interesting Ark St fan seemed to indicate JMU, ODU, and Marshall were the last three nos.

Good for CCU, surprising they would take that position given their leadership.

I can see why ODU, and Marshall were or are hold outs because of past history in C-USA, but I wonder why JMU has a problem with La Tech.

[AppSt94]

Who were the actual options to join the SBC?

La Tech
Ohio?
WKU?
UAB?
MTSU?
Bowling Green?
Jax State?
UNCC/ECU- probably not legit options.

Georgraphically, those seem like the only G5 options.

Hard to say with any certainty. UAB would be a stretch along with EZU and Concord simply because of the AAC exit fees and the money they would give up. My understanding is the Ohio reached out to both gauge interest and kick the tires for future considerations. As for the rest, it would depend on mutual interest at this time.

[AppSt94]

Even though LaTech may be voted in, did/will App still be a NO vote? I hope so. And who else is with us?

No, sounds like App and CCU were votes 9 and 10 last week. All 13 will vote yes on Monday I’d assume.

We were not. Neither were they.

Interesting Ark St fan seemed to indicate JMU, ODU, and Marshall were the last three nos.

Good for CCU, surprising they would take that position given their leadership.

I can see why ODU, and Marshall were or are hold outs because of past history in C-USA, but I wonder why JMU has a problem with La Tech.

It wouldn’t surprise me if JMU has a problem with JMU.

[Saint3333]

LA Tech and WKU were the two with the most consideration.

Ohio and then Toledo reached out but never serious considerations from existing members.

No AAC member was on the table, especially full TV revenue members.


The western members were putting two options of the table LA Tech or wait and didn’t want to bring in WKU due to the LA Tech option. They ultimately got their way.

[AppStFan1]

Who were the actual options to join the SBC?

La Tech
Ohio?
WKU?
UAB?
MTSU?
Bowling Green?
Jax State?
UNCC/ECU- probably not legit options.

Georgraphically, those seem like the only G5 options.

Hard to say with any certainty. UAB would be a stretch along with EZU and Concord simply because of the AAC exit fees and the money they would give up. My understanding is the Ohio reached out to both gauge interest and kick the tires for future considerations. As for the rest, it would depend on mutual interest at this time.

I was thinking WKU and La Tech were the two most serious. I think any team from CUSA would join the SBC right now but no real interest from our league members. I think Ohio and Toledo would have been great adds and I am sure our leadership would be happy to one day be in a league with them. I don't think any AAC team was an option at this point for sure due to TV deal so I think we could eliminate those schools.

[ASUFan4863]

The only legit option was La Tech. The rest were networking opportunities essentially.

[AppStFan1]

The only legit option was La Tech. The rest were networking opportunities essentially.

I can see that being the case but WKU or Ohio were better for the league overall and should have been on table, in my opinion. I'm not advocating for Chattanooga or Tarleton State but I think Chattanooga is similar to La Tech and I do think Tarleton State has a bright future. They are on the rise. I think all that matters is App plan their strategy for next move here in a few years. It will be entertaining to see the reaction from La Tech and some other schools if the top brands in the league all leave here in a few years.

[Stonewall]

There was another legitimate option. Fact. A better option. My opinion.