Sun Belt to Discuss Our Membership March 9th

[appthunder90]

Delaware has zero interest in the Sun Belt.

is that verifiable?

[GoAppsGo92]

Delaware has zero interest in the Sun Belt.

Source?

[GlassOnion]

The new BE deal is about $1.8 million per school, which is, I think, very close to what the current CUSA's deal has been. Go figure, the new BE, is the old CUSA, with the same deal. Looks like ECU went around their A$$ to get to their elbow.

The Sun Belt shouldnt be losing anymore schools now. $1.8 million, with a huge chunk taken out for travel? I think the SB may actually come out smelling like a rose in comparison, especially with the regionalization.

[GoAppsGo92]

Delaware has zero interest in the Sun Belt.

If that's true, then source information posted on this board that puts us in SB scenarios should also be called into question.

[Kgfish]

You mean not left behind again. We were left behind years ago when East Carolina was begging us to go with them.

We were not ready to make a move at that time. Our fanbase has matured quite a bit since then, financially we had minimal to no support coming in from donors.

College football was a totally different world in the late 70's. It was an era before NCAA mandated 30,000 seat stadiums and minimum attendance requirements. There was no Title IX to fund and no minimum number of sports to play 1-A football. ASU could have easily made the move and many think it would have triggered a boom in support. John Thomas and his side kick Bob Snead purposely held the program back. They did not want ASU athletics to become too large (in their opinion) to manage. That mindset was finally defeated with the installation of Ken Peacock as Chancellor. He was given a mandate by some powerful people in Raleigh and has done a good job of reversing 30 years of neglect.

[appstategrad2008]

You mean not left behind again. We were left behind years ago when East Carolina was begging us to go with them.

We were not ready to make a move at that time. Our fanbase has matured quite a bit since then, financially we had minimal to no support coming in from donors.

College football was a totally different world in the late 70's. It was an era before NCAA mandated 30,000 seat stadiums and minimum attendance requirements. There was no Title IX to fund and no minimum number of sports to play 1-A football. ASU could have easily made the move and many think it would have triggered a boom in support. John Thomas and his side kick Bob Snead purposely held the program back. They did not want ASU athletics to become too large (in their opinion) to manage. That mindset was finally defeated with the installation of Ken Peacock as Chancellor. He was given a mandate by some powerful people in Raleigh and has done a good job of reversing 30 years of neglect.

Who knows what would've/could've happened had we moved up in the 70's... maybe we would be more established now, but there's a chance we wouldn't be. I do believe we are much more prepared now, as a fan base, than we were at that time. I am for the move and would rather have a shot at bowl games than national championships in FCS, but those FCS national championships is one thing I will never forget in my life. I was a student at that time and personally attended 2 of the 3 championship games ('05 and '07), helped carry the goal post to duck pond, Peacock's house, etc., and was in attendance for the all time upset. I'm 100% pro-FBS, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. They wouldn't have happened had we moved up in the 70's.

Now, some might say that is good logic for staying put in FCS... but I say that it would be nearly impossible for us to maintain at even our current competitive level for more than another 10 years should we not move up now. Nobody is on top forever.

[Kgfish]

You mean not left behind again. We were left behind years ago when East Carolina was begging us to go with them.

We were not ready to make a move at that time. Our fanbase has matured quite a bit since then, financially we had minimal to no support coming in from donors.

College football was a totally different world in the late 70's. It was an era before NCAA mandated 30,000 seat stadiums and minimum attendance requirements. There was no Title IX to fund and no minimum number of sports to play 1-A football. ASU could have easily made the move and many think it would have triggered a boom in support. John Thomas and his side kick Bob Snead purposely held the program back. They did not want ASU athletics to become too large (in their opinion) to manage. That mindset was finally defeated with the installation of Ken Peacock as Chancellor. He was given a mandate by some powerful people in Raleigh and has done a good job of reversing 30 years of neglect.

Who knows what would've/could've happened had we moved up in the 70's... maybe we would be more established now, but there's a chance we wouldn't be. I do believe we are much more prepared now, as a fan base, than we were at that time. I am for the move and would rather have a shot at bowl games than national championships in FCS, but those FCS national championships is one thing I will never forget in my life. I was a student at that time and personally attended 2 of the 3 championship games ('05 and '07), helped carry the goal post to duck pond, Peacock's house, etc., and was in attendance for the all time upset. I'm 100% pro-FBS, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. They wouldn't have happened had we moved up in the 70's.

Now, some might say that is good logic for staying put in FCS... but I say that it would be nearly impossible for us to maintain at even our current competitive level for more than another 10 years should we not move up now. Nobody is on top forever.

All that is true but who knows the accomplishments we may have enjoyed over those 30 years.

[Saint3333]

Delaware has zero interest in the Sun Belt.

Source?

Go talk to anyone associated with Delaware. They have NO desire to be in a gulf coast league. They view themselves as the flagship school of their state and well above the Sun Belt.

[GoAppsGo92]

Delaware has zero interest in the Sun Belt.

Source?

Go talk to anyone associated with Delaware. They have NO desire to be in a gulf coast league. They view themselves as the flagship school of their state and well above the Sun Belt.

So no public statements or verifiable information.

A lot of folks thought we too were above the SunBelt until reality hit us over the head with a 2"x6". As Kgfish has said: this is a mulit-year process. Perhaps schools capable of moving realize thier ultimate goal is more attainable from an FBS vantage point than FCS. Again, assuming the options to be discussed March 9th are in fact correct, it is HIGHLY doubful that a room full of college presidents are going to discuss moot points. IF UD and JMU are discussed, they would have to have shown interest.

[97APP]

Delaware has zero interest in the Sun Belt.

Source?

Go talk to anyone associated with Delaware. They have NO desire to be in a gulf coast league. They view themselves as the flagship school of their state and well above the Sun Belt.

I agree with your thoughts on how Delaware fans and probably some admins feel about the Sunbelt.

However, if the MAC and CUSA have closed their doors to any more FCS move-ups and Delaware wishes to go FBS, there's only one option available whether they like it or not. Their choice could come down to FCS CAA or FBS Sunbelt, and which one provides the path to a better future for Delaware.

[GoAppsGo92]

UD is faced with the same challenges we have... but perhaps even more acute. They have lost UMASS and ODU to FBS with JMU gearing up to leave... the conference they once knew is gone... to be replaced by Stony Brook and... Charleston.

Building a block of "like minded schools" has been the goal since we went public with our desires to go FBS. I have heard that term used by our chancellor, athletic director, and ASN staff. I would not be surprised if there is an effort to bring in JMU and UD that it was encouraged by our guys.

[Maddog1956]

I'm 100% pro-FBS, but I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. They wouldn't have happened had we moved up in the 70's.

Now, some might say that is good logic for staying put in FCS... but I say that it would be nearly impossible for us to maintain at even our current competitive level for more than another 10 years should we not move up now. Nobody is on top forever.

I think that it's great you had the opportunity to be there and it was even great for the fans that weren't there and the national attention. They still call ASU a "football powerhouse"!

However you are right it's hard to stay national champs year after year (ask GS), plus the FCS is getting less and less important. Also it's not just about the championships, it's about the games on Saturdays. They will always be fun, but beating teams with 2000 students, doesn't do much for the fans and if we start losing to them (even more) will anyone even come. Plus having games on TV a little more is just a plus. Also maybe at the FBS level we'll get to play some more competitive games with UNCC, ECU, UNC, etc.

[GlassOnion]

Ive got to agree with Saint here. Taking a SB offer would be a very thin branch for the UD administration to shimmy out on to. When faced with taking a risk where the benefit may not even come in their tenure or even lifetime, or sticking with the status quo, able to make the argument that the fans were against it anyway, the administration will pick status quo 99 times out of 100.

The fans dont want it, the administration wont want to put their stamp on the move, its not very likely. Theyve got far fewer concerns to worry about than being associated with Stoney Brook, who I imagine will be a monster sooner than a school like Ga St.

[ASUMountaineer]

Ive got to agree with Saint here. Taking a SB offer would be a very thin branch for the UD administration to shimmy out on to. When faced with taking a risk where the benefit may not even come in their tenure or even lifetime, or sticking with the status quo, able to make the argument that the fans were against it anyway, the administration will pick status quo 99 times out of 100.

The fans dont want it, the administration wont want to put their stamp on the move, its not very likely. Theyve got far fewer concerns to worry about than being associated with Stoney Brook, who I imagine will be a monster sooner than a school like Ga St.

I don't think anyone said that they thought UD moving to the SB was likely, but that if the information posted here is true it seems that UD is at least somewhat interested in the SB. The thought being that the SB presidents wouldn't waste time considering UD as an option if UD was solidly against and uninterested in moving to the SB.

I would be shocked if the #4 option were to happen. However, assuming that the information is accurate, there must have been some sort of contact with and interest shown from UD.

[GlassOnion]

I don't think anyone said that they thought UD moving to the SB was likely, but that if the information posted here is true it seems that UD is at least somewhat interested in the SB. The thought being that the SB presidents wouldn't waste time considering UD as an option if UD was solidly against and uninterested in moving to the SB.

I would be shocked if the #4 option were to happen. However, assuming that the information is accurate, there must have been some sort of contact with and interest shown from UD.

The SB may consider trying to entice UD, probably why JMU is getting alot more mention than they were. And I have no doubt that if Benson asked UD if they minded him mentioning them in expansion talks, they'd say yes. Even Furman would, even though they would never go. Being offered an FBS invite alone is a feather in the cap of an FCS school.

[ASUMountaineer]

I don't think anyone said that they thought UD moving to the SB was likely, but that if the information posted here is true it seems that UD is at least somewhat interested in the SB. The thought being that the SB presidents wouldn't waste time considering UD as an option if UD was solidly against and uninterested in moving to the SB.

I would be shocked if the #4 option were to happen. However, assuming that the information is accurate, there must have been some sort of contact with and interest shown from UD.

The SB may consider trying to entice UD, probably why JMU is getting alot more mention than they were. And I have no doubt that if Benson asked UD if they minded him mentioning them in expansion talks, they'd say yes. Even Furman would, even though they would never go. Being offered an FBS invite alone is a feather in the cap of an FCS school.

Agreed. I'm just not sure words like "never" are appropriate for realignment talks.

[Saint3333]

Delaware does not view a move to FBS as a "must".

GSU is on one side of the spectrum from that standpoint and UD is on the other.

[ASUMountaineer]

Delaware does not view a move to FBS as a "must".

GSU is on one side of the spectrum from that standpoint and UD is on the other.

Doubt you'll find anyone to disagree with that statement.

[Yosef84]

That said, I don't see the possibility of playing for one more championship as a reason to delay submitting the paperwork.

I agree. With our luck, we'll try to delay to play for one more championship and then all hell will break loose and the Sunbelt will rescind their invitation to us and we'll get stuck in the FCS again. I say file the day after the invite comes.

I don't know what our chances of a FCS NC are this year. Could be good, but odds are we have work to do. It's not like we have made it to the Semis the last couple years and fell just short. We have been "one and done".

I tend to agree: let's focus on getting a head start on the future.

I agree that playing for another FCS championship (although I would like it) should not be a major factor. We need to focus on the move if given the opportunity. That being said, in 2004 we failed to even make the playoffs. I would say we are MUCH closer to a championship level team going into 2014 than we were going into 2005 (based on previous season). We definitely have a bunch of variables though (coaching changes), so who knows how it would actually shake out.

Life just keeps on getting interesting.

[AppAttack]

Is it me or does it seem like GSU's interest in FBS came rocketing out of nowhere? It seems like just the last year or so they wanted to remain FCS. Now they're dying at all costs for a move-up.