Sun Belt to Discuss Our Membership March 9th

[GlassOnion]

Maybe you guys are right... just trying to seek out information. I wish this whole thing were resolved sooner rather than later, but I guess we'll see. When/If the move actually happens, I'm wondering if we'll have anything left to talk about!

You arent the only one!

[AtlAppMan]

Are we going to get a Semi for our equipment truck when we go FBS?

[ASUMountaineer]

Just saw this on the Twitters... more fuel to the fire. It has already been said what we're telling recruits, but this is just another example.

While our administration has and remains very quiet on the subject matter, the only information we can gather is from what recruits/propspective players say through their twitter accounts. SMH

Don't forget freedom of information act requests fulfilled by schools other than ours...

IIRC, someone said that the requester lives in Georgia and because of that GSU had to respond, but App State did not.

[Yosef]

Just saw this on the Twitters... more fuel to the fire. It has already been said what we're telling recruits, but this is just another example.

While our administration has and remains very quiet on the subject matter, the only information we can gather is from what recruits/propspective players say through their twitter accounts. SMH

Don't forget freedom of information act requests fulfilled by schools other than ours...

IIRC, someone said that the requester lives in Georgia and because of that GSU had to respond, but App State did not.

I think John (appstatenation) is based out of Warner Robbins in Georgia so that would make sense. I didn't know that you had to live in the state for the FOIA to be fulfilled though. News to me.

[GlassOnion]

Are we going to get a Semi for our equipment truck when we go FBS?

Extra scholarsips means extra equipment!

[ASUMountaineer]

Just saw this on the Twitters... more fuel to the fire. It has already been said what we're telling recruits, but this is just another example.

While our administration has and remains very quiet on the subject matter, the only information we can gather is from what recruits/propspective players say through their twitter accounts. SMH

Don't forget freedom of information act requests fulfilled by schools other than ours...

IIRC, someone said that the requester lives in Georgia and because of that GSU had to respond, but App State did not.

I think John (appstatenation) is based out of Warner Robbins in Georgia so that would make sense. I didn't know that you had to live in the state for the FOIA to be fulfilled though. News to me.

To be honest, it was news to me too. I'm still not sure, but it seemed like a plausible explanation.

[AppinVA]

To be honest, it was news to me too. I'm still not sure, but it seemed like a plausible explanation.

There's a Richmond area court case being heard by the SCOTUS involving this very thing.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local ... cd0cf.html

[appstfan]

from Atlanta paper--

Sun Belt may control future of several state teams

Georgia State, Georgia Southern and Kennesaw State's fates may be intertwined
by Doug Roberson


The futures of Georgia State’s, Georgia Southern's and Kennesaw State’s football teams may become slightly intertwined in the next few weeks.

Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson, along with his school’s presidents and athletic directors, may help untangle and clarify things directly for the Panthers, the Eagles and indirectly the Owls when they meet on March 9 during the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments in Hot Springs, Ark.

Georgia State joined the Sun Belt, effective July 1, because it wanted more regional rivals. That wish, and the need for the Sun Belt to expand, may set up an opportunity for the conference to add Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, currently members of the Southern Conference. If they were to leave, that might open the door for Kennesaw State, which just announced it is adding football but has no conference home, to move to the Southern Conference.

Benson’s conference has eight football playing members. It can remain at eight, but by doing so it remains exposed if it were to lose a school to another conference. The Sun Belt could use at least 10 to ease scheduling and at least 12 to stage a championship game. Benson hasn’t said which schools his conference is considering, but it has been speculatively tied to four: Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, along with Idaho and New Mexico State, who are both independents. The earliest any team could join would be 2014.

Georgia Southern athletic director Tom Kleinlein said he has spoken to Benson. Kleinlein said that “the Sun Belt is the best fit for Georgia Southern” because of regional rivalries, academic similarities, a strong brand and other desirables. He noted the success of Sun Belt football this year sending four teams to bowl games.

The Eagles, winners of six FCS national championships, have been gearing up for a move to the FBS. The Board of Regents approved two fee increases in November: one for $25 per student per semester that will go toward expanding Paulson Stadium from 18,000 to slightly more than 20,000 seats. The second is for $75 per student per semester and will be only instituted if the Eagles play football on the FBS level.

Kleinlein called a rivalry with Georgia State in the Sun Belt “very appealing.” He noted the possibility of incorporating corporate sponsorship of an all-sports trophy that the universities could compete for annually.

Southern Conference commissioner John IaMarino said he’s aware of the Sun Belt’s alleged interest in Georgia Southern and Appalachian State. Because conference realignment has been going on for several years, his conference has put together a list of attributes they would look for in a school should they need to add members.

Though they haven’t spoken to Kennesaw State, he said the university would seem to fit what his conference is looking for from a mix of academics, the competitiveness of all of the teams, its location and the fact that is adding football. He stressed that his conference hasn’t done a lot of research on any particular school.

He did say that Kennesaw State’s lack of football history shouldn’t be considered a negative.

“You always want to do the best you can looking at potential members,” he said. “I don’t think being a start-up program is going to be viewed as a deal breaker.”

Kennesaw State athletic director Vaughn Williams described the Southern Conference as a “great conference with great tradition” but declined to talk say anything else about a future home. If the Eagles were to leave and the Owls were to join, it would give the Southern Conference a footprint in the state.

The dominoes could start to fall soon if the Sun Belt agrees on who it wants to add. Conference bylaws require a super-majority vote of the 10 school presidents to approve an invitation. Invitations could be extended as early as mid-April (which was when Georgia State agreed to join last year). But they must be extended and accepted by June 1, which is the NCAA’s deadline for accepting applications on moves from FCS to FBS.

The possible addition of Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, which has won three FCS national championships and plays in a stadium that seats 24,000, would restore geographic balance to the Sun Belt after the losses of Middle Tennessee State and Florida Atlantic to Conference USA. The East division could be composed Georgia State, Georgia Southern, Appalachian State, Troy and South Alabama. Most would be mostly easy drives for Georgia State fans and fans of those schools coming to the Georgia Dome and would create the needed regional rivalries.

The West division would be composed of Western Kentucky, Texas State, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana-Lafayette. If Idaho and New Mexico State are invited, one of the teams could shift to the East.

Though he’s not sure what will happen, Kleinlein can’t seem to wait.

“As quickly as possible,” he said when asked his timeline. “Right now it’s hard waiting. We appreciate the relationship we have with the Southern Conference. It’s a great conference to be a part of. But it’s our desire to grow a little bit.”

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- See more at: http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/ ... V0jsx.dpuf

[ASUMountaineer]

To be honest, it was news to me too. I'm still not sure, but it seemed like a plausible explanation.

There's a Richmond area court case being heard by the SCOTUS involving this very thing.

http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/local ... cd0cf.html

Nice! Thanks for the link...very interesting.

[mtnjax]

Just saw on the Twitters that the Catholic 7 will start their new league next season and are taking the Big East name with them.

First the Big East loses some of their programs and now they lose their name

[AppinVA]

Maybe they can get Conference USA.

[AppAttack]

Just saw it on espn. Adding Butler & Xavier to get 12. Thought the name had to change though.

[mtnjax]

Just saw it on espn. Adding Butler & Xavier to get 12. Thought the name had to change though.

I think the Catholic 7 started the Big East, so maybe they have some kind of rights to it

[GlassOnion]

Just saw on the Twitters that the Catholic 7 will start their new league next season and are taking the Big East name with them.

First the Big East loses some of their programs and now they lose their name

Thats hilarious. Poor ECU. The only thing the BE still had going for it was its name.

[TheMoody1]

The remaining football schools will adopt the new conference name of "The Big Least".

[bcoach]

I don't think they can just take the name. That does not sound right.

[Goapps15]

Interesting tweet I was able to dig up last night from the Citadels beat writer. Ill copy the link into the article. Take it for what it is worth!

[GlassOnion]

Very nice, well worth posting twice IMO.

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

[appst89]

Very nice, well worth posting twice IMO.

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

Deleted the double post.

[ASUMountaineer]

The remaining football schools will adopt the new conference name of "The Big Least".

The Catholic 7 really should go with the Big Priest.