lets make a comprehensive list of questions for Karl Benson

[ComebackShack]

If you didn't know, Karl Benson is doing an "ask me anything" today on reddit. I think we should make a list of 5 or so questions that we can post as soon as his AMA is up for maximum visibility. We can say "Hey Karl. Thank you so much for doing this AMA. These 5 questions were chosen on the Appalachian State message board known as Yosef's Cabin. We really appreciate you answering our questions."

And then list the questions.

I'll post the 5 questions at 4pm as soon as the post goes live. Please comment your questions and like the ones you think we should ask!

I'll post a link to the AMA as soon as it's up so you can see his reply.

Please note he probably cannot answer anything specific related to expansion. Think more broad when it comes to that topic.

[elevate3333]

What is the current status on Sun Belt expansion?

[moehler]

what new plans, if any, does the SBC have to increase our national exposure.

[bh2oson]

What is the future of the SunBelt TV contracts? Any new opportunities?

What is the possibility of another bowl tie in for the SunBelt?

[APPdiesel]

What are you doing to elevate the perception of the Sunbelt's quality past other G5's?

During a Sirius CFB interview you spoke about limiting G5s playing the big money P5 blow-out games, holding in more esteem the winninable G5 matchup. If that plan were to go into effect, how would you justify ignoring the economic necessity of playing P5s, and where would those critical lost dollars come from for those programs?

[EastHallApp]

Right now the Sun Belt bowl selection order does not reflect the respective bowl payouts, nor does it guarantee either a set destination for the league champion or that the selections will make the most sense for each team. Do you have any plans to tweak that bowl selection order to account for any of those issues?

[boonetown1]

Is the sun belt looking to restrict schools on a COA to prevent bidding wars in recruiting?

[boonegoons89]

These are the questions he has answered so far:

Q:Hello, Karl!
Are you as excited for kickoff as the rest of us?
A: Very excited for the fall season

Q: Is #FunBelt part of your official advertising campaign? Because I like it.
A: FunBelt is our official hashtag - glad you like it

Q: What is the future for Sunbelt TV contracts and how will we recover from the collapse of CSS? What are your strategies for getting more Sunbelt football/basketball games televised?
A: The TV future is bright for the Sun Belt Conference. ESPN3 is in 99 million homes and has become a standard for how college sports fans watch college sports. All 63 home games played by Sun Belt Conference member institutions will be on an ESPN platform.

Q: What happened with the Austin Bowl? Is it still in the works as a 5th bowl tie-in?
A: We're continuing to work on a 5th bowl tie-in for the Sun Belt Conference. We hope to have a 5th game in place for the 2016 season.

Q: When (if ever) do you expect we'll see a Sun Belt conference championship game? Do you agree one is needed, especially in light of Georgia Southern's easier road this year and last?
A: I'm a big proponent of a football championship game. I would like to see one as early as the 2016 season.

Q: What OOC games are you looking forward to the most this year and why?
A: Right off the bat, Arkansas State at USC, and I will be there and wearing my Red Wolves hat while my daughter (a 2014 USC graduate) will be wearing her USC Trojans hat. As for the rest of the season, obviously the Missouri at Arkansas State game and NC State at South Alabama are Sun Belt home games. But at the end of the day it's the 16 games against our peer conferences that will determine the overall non-conference season success for the Sun Belt.

[AppinATL]

He's basically saying NOTHING.

[AppStateNews]

The only thing I got from reading it was it's not likely two invites will be sent out to new members and he is wanting a conference championship game by 2016 -- meaning Coastal is not likely to get the invite.

[AppDawg]

The only thing I got from reading it was it's not likely two invites will be sent out to new members and he is wanting a conference championship game by 2016 -- meaning Coastal is not likely to get the invite.

OR it is voted a conference championship can be held by conferences with less than 12 members. I have read articles where he has talked favorably about this possibility. It helps our caiuse that the Big XII is pushing for this.

[moehler]

serious question, why wouldn't they invite CC? Why wouldn't they just drop Idaho, make NMST full time member and add CC?

[Boone Goon]

Idaho is a joke! I heard Obama is planning on removing their state status.

[AppDawg]

serious question, why wouldn't they invite CC? Why wouldn't they just drop Idaho, make NMST full time member and add CC?

Becuase we only need one full member to reach 12 and have a balanced schedule. If we do as you sugggest, we would need to add a 3rd team to the mix.

Due to the anticipation a "waiver" for a football championship game will be passed in advance for the 2016 season, the need to add for football is diminished.

For these reasons, I would like to see College of Charleston get serious consideration over coastal... but that doesn't appear to be in the cards.