CBS Sports is reporting that NMSU and Idaho will join in 2014 as football only members.

Terrible, just terrible. Idaho has no business in this conference or FBS football. I could be talked into New Mexico State for all sports because of the basketball boost, they are a 50 year joke in football though.

Still psyched to join the Sun Belt but this puts a very small damper in my mood.

Is it too soon to post:

*turns up nose* Yuck.

?

Wikipedia already has us and GSU listed as future members.

So with NMSU and Idaho how many football teams does that give the SB in '15? Will there be enough for 2 divisions so we only have to make one trip out west every 2 years?

Conference games in Las Cruces and Moscow certainly do not add any appeal for the Sun Belt. However, we are in a position where we don't control our own destiny. We have this offer and I don't think we have any choice but to take it, be happy, and make the best of it until the next shakeup comes.

Whats the big deal. With two division we might have play those guys once every four years out there.

If I'm not mistaken. you need to have at least 12 football teams to have a conference championship. This is something that Karl Benson stated was a priority. I certainly would have preferred JMU. It will be interesting to hear the details. And for all the naysayers, I for one will look forward to seeing our home schedule for 2014 and beyond. Can't wait!!!!!!!

I hope they don't assign permanent partner between divisions, I'd hate to be paired with either.

Saint3333 wrote:I hope they don't assign permanent partner between divisions, I'd hate to be paired with either.

Doubt it. Think that was done in SEC and ACC (and should have been done in the Big 12) to protect rivalries. With many of the schools being fairly new to each other, that won't be a worry.

I could probably do a trip to rural Idaho every 4 years...I'm sure it's beautiful. As long as it's not in late November!

If this stays a football only decision, we should be relieved. The big issue with these schools was travel for all sports. We won't have to worry about that now.

With most conferences going to 14+ I'm hoping JMU and another Eastern school Will be added at a later date. Still this move is a huge step forward for our school.

With WKU rumored to be leaving, they're going to have to add at least one more anyway.

appstategrad2008 wrote:With WKU rumored to be leaving, they're going to have to add at least one more anyway.

I would hope that school would be JMU...

I don't see this as a negative at all. Granted, their football track record is less than impressive, but they ARE existing FBS programs, and perhaps the western presence of Idaho, along with the addition of such FCS powers as us, Ga. So., and hopefully JMU, Montana might become interested in joining.
The bottom line is that adding teams now is critical for the SBC. With the current landscape, having 12 today may mean 9 tomorrow, or 14 today may mean 12 next week.
The distance doesn't bother me a great deal, as they are football only, and our trips there will be very limited.

True and by the time we are full FBS - the SBC will have solidified a 12 football team conference with full east/west divisions.

We would only have to travel to either of those places on a rare occasion. I would have a major issue if OLY sports had to go there.

appgrad wrote:

Saint3333 wrote:I hope they don't assign permanent partner between divisions, I'd hate to be paired with either.

Doubt it. Think that was done in SEC and ACC (and should have been done in the Big 12) to protect rivalries. With many of the schools being fairly new to each other, that won't be a worry.

I could probably do a trip to rural Idaho every 4 years...I'm sure it's beautiful. As long as it's not in late November!

If this stays a football only decision, we should be relieved. The big issue with these schools was travel for all sports. We won't have to worry about that now.

Maybe we'll have a game out there during Elk Season. What a great weekend that would. Watch ASU football & go Elk hunting!

The chatter on sbmb is we would be in the west division with both teams in nms and Idaho, along with wku if they stay this was not part of the deal I was on board till this.

From the SBC board:

The SBC with App and Southern. Nice little geographically concise conference.



Now here's with the next two additions.



This is the dumbest move ever. How does this appease anyone but Idaho? The western SBC schools have to travel just as far north as they would east to play JMU.

NMSU isn't as bad for Texas State. Honestly - the people I know in Texas treat that kind of distance like it's nothing. Idaho, of course, is a different story.

I'm sure people are freaking out about this - but again, for football only, it's not a big deal. If we were in FCS, and scheduled a home and home with Montana, Northern AZ or NDSU to be played once every 4 years, the FCSers would be thrilled. This is about the same.