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Date Posted:21:29:12 04/11/12 Wed Author: charles arey Author Host/IP: 74.60.209.109 Subject: Re: Georgia State to Sun Belt in 2013, Need To Add 2 More Teams In reply to:
David S.
's message, "Re: Georgia State to Sun Belt in 2013, Need To Add 2 More Teams" on 12:55:14 04/11/12 Wed
So there's like 25 candidates, more than I would have thought! It is of course likely that there will be more conference upheaval and that the Sun Belt will look different by the time GSU arrives.
>>I believe that will put the Sun Belt up to eleven
>>teams. I wonder if they would split into two divisions
>>and stage a championship game if a twelfth team was
>>added? Are there any likely candidates?
>
>
>UALR does not have football.
>
>A couple of teams are on the radar to be picked off by
>C-USA, so more teams need to be added. Both Florida
>schools, troy, North Texas, la. Tech, Arkansas state
>and Middle Tennessee State could be picked off by
>C-USA. You do have UTSA, UTA, Texas State, Sam Houston
>State, Lamar and Stephan F. Austin looking to upgrade
>to FBS. UTSA and Texas State this year. You also have
>New Mexico State that needs a home and so does Idaho
>unless that the Big Sky as a whole upgrade to FBS and
>merge with the rest of the WAC if the Texas teams are
>not involved.
>Appalachian State said they are upgrading to FBS, but
>do not have a home yet in the FBS. They are said to be
>rumored to go to either CUSA or Sun Belt because of
>their powerhouse football program.
>Georgia Southern is looking at FBS as well. They could
>make a perfect pair of Georgia Schools along with the
>two Florida schools.
>Florida A&M upgraded their sports facilities to join
>the Sun Belt, but changed their minds. But, if a
>Florida school leaves, they could be brought in to
>replace one of the other schools.
>UNC-Charlotte have good basketball team, and have eyes
>of going to FBS. Sun Belt would welcome them, or CUSA
>will take them back.
>Old Dominion have a very good football and a very good
>basketball team which could fit in as will.
>Missouri State have been asked to join a few times.
>Central Arkansas would be something to look into as
>well. They have very good football that they gave
>Tulsa a hard time a few years ago where Tulsa barely
>beat them. They even played Hawaii, and Hawaii could
>not blow them away on Hawaii's home turf.
>VCU is one that I am seeing being interested in at the
>FBS level if they add football.
>Jacksonville State would fit in the Sun Belt
>conference.
>North Alabama also in the area could bridge the gap
>between the southern Alabama schools to Middle
>Tennessee State and Western Kentucky.
>Delaware is another school, but they would be better
>in the MAC. So with James Madison, Stony Brook,
>Fordham and Delaware State which all of them thinking
>about FBS or rumored. Fordham's only vaule? The New
>York City's TV market.
>Delta State would help because there is a big gap
>between Alabama and Louisiana.
>Furman have played SEC teams strongly. They would fit
>in as well.
>Tennessee-Chattanooga would also fit as well.
>So, one of these schools could be fitting in, but some
>of the northeast schools could help the MAC out. The
>MAC commish was talking about an 18 team conference.
>So, it would also see what the C-USA schools want that
>are on the east end. I know they complained about the
>Texas schools because of the travel. If the merger
>between C-USA and MWC takes place? The eastern schools
>will complain, and could break away. So, I do not
>think raiding among conferences are not over yet.
Kennesaw State, Mercer, and Stetson have all added football programs as well.
