UNLV

[Hidden Content] They would rather have SFA or SHSU. I agree. Put SHSU into that low academic dukes of hazard conference. Did Lamar destroy ULL in MBB last season?

Many LU fans has the can't be done attitude. Sadly LU administration leans the same way.

I was there for Lamar in the 80's. When Lamar stop playing the Baylor's and the La Tech's and start playing Mississippi College, fans left Lamar. The same thing will happen in the next 10 years playing Langston.

[Hidden Content] Lamar easily fits in the SBC. page 7 shows SBC and CUSA budgets.

[quote name="coachacola" post="1226925" timestamp="1338317742"] Titletown2 does have a point that Lamar needs to win in football, but not entirely for the reasons he gave.  LAMAR needs to win because they are not in a big media market and don't have a large enrollment.  And even then they may not get invited to a FBS conference, that's what App. State and Georgia Southern just found out. Even if LAMAR stays in the SLC for a while, they can still expand the stadium to 25K+ and fill it, like App State, Montana, and other FCS schools do.  Butler, Gonzaga, and others have shown that you don't have to be in one of the big conferences to compete nationally in basketball. I think FBS is inevitable for LAMAR, it just won't happen overnight. [/quote] Assertion Size of the Lafayette media market is not exactly impressive, and that's never going to change. Farmer's response Farmer doesn't buy the notion that schools in or near major metropolitan media markets necessarily bring substantive media value to a conference. "I think you have to dig a little bit deeper," he said.  I don't think it's realistic to say, 'So and so brings the Dallas media market to the table,' just because they're located (near) Dallas. And I don't want to pick on anyone." Like, say, North Texas, which is bringing its claim to a Dallas media market that largely ignores it to Conference USA — much like FIU and a Miami media market in which FIU is a relative blip on the college and pro sports-scene radar. "I can say the same for San Antonio, Miami, Atlanta," Farmer said, referencing one metro market — Atlanta — which is home to incoming Sun Belt member Georgia State. "I don't think they bring (those media markets) to the table. [Hidden Content]

[quote name="Titletown2" post="1226830" timestamp="1338306058"] I'm still tryin' to figure out why you all are so fired up about Lamar going FBS when the can't compete in the division they're in now? They may win 1 or 2 conference games in football. They did win the basketball tournament. However, they didn't make the baseball tournament and have been declining in baseball over the last 3 seasons. If the football team doesn't make some signifigant progress this year, you can flat out forget about FBS. Football will determine if and when Lamar goes to FBS. [/quote]Going FBS does not mean Lamar is joining the SEC. CUSA and SBC are currently a small step above the SLC. SHSU could rule the SBC with last years team. Lamar is building a program. I would rather Lamar build it at the FBS level. After January, Lamar will have 10 years to build a FCS. 10 years of playing Langston and MCmury.

Maybe 5-6.....

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Which is why it is so incomprehensible to why the SBC didn't invite App st and GSU. These 2 powerhouses would have improved the SBC imagine.

Don't get smug on CUSA. The SBC is a better conference than CUSA and will be for a few years. CUSA will get raided before SBC by the higher conferences. Those conferences will take CUSA best which will push CUSA further down. Think about it, if the SBC and CUSA  play a play in game for the BCS playoffs, does it make a different which conference Lamar should join?  I will advocate for Lamar in the CUSA because 5 schools, Tulane-UNT-Tech-UTSA-Rce, is a bus trip away. That is extra money spent on athletics and not travel. You and UNT should be thinking the same way because CUSA is no longer a step above the SBC. Especially if the SBC undumb itself by adding App st and NMSU with its MBB. BTW, If the BIG 12 takes FSU, Clemson, G-tech, and ND in 2014, ECU and maybe Southern miss is gone from CUSA. Also, there are no more big markets CUSA can go after so that play is off the table. CUSA needs more swim teams. I think Lamar might still add swimming.

As a Lamar fan, this is very disappointing. In January the 10 year moritorum will most likely pass. Lamar can be stuck in the SLC for a very long time. How long will 16k be able to  stomach sub D1 teams and the SLC. From a conference realignment point of view, this was a stupid dumb stupid move on the Sunbelt. It is the same dumb move that killed the WAC. The Sunbelt should have grabbed App st and GSU before CUSA take them or moritorum get them. Morons. Do they not know CUSA could get raided. CUSA would then take the best and leave the rest for the Sunbelt. Here is the opportunity for the Sunbelt to take the best. Without 12 there will be no CCG. A game on ESPN. Stupid. The current team fear having an extra 2 mouths to feed from crumbs. A group of schools are now looking to join the WAC to beat the Moratorium. The Sunbelt might add a few schools to stop it. What a web. I think Lamar should be talking to CUSA. La Tech, UNT, and Rice would make better rivals than anyone in the Sunbelt or SLC.

SANDESTIN, Fla. – As its annual league meetings concluded Wednesday, the Sun Belt Conference embraces the future and the guarantees of continued success for the conference. Additionally, the University of Texas-Arlington accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt, and pending the approval of the UT Board of Regents, the Mavericks will become the 12th member institution in the Sun Belt. In conclusion of the meetings, it is the opinion of Sun Belt leadership that: 1. The Sun Belt Conference has been proactive throughout the realignment process and the changes that have taken place to the league’s membership have not weakened the conference. In fact, the league’s membership and strength have been bolstered while several other conferences have taken steps backwards during the realignment process. 2. The previously announced additions of Georgia State and Texas State and the additional announcement that UT Arlington will also join the league on July 1, 2013, provides a logical geographical footprint for the Sun Belt Conference. The league can easily be divided in two divisions for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball with Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Troy and Western Kentucky University comprising the East Division. The West Division will include UALR, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas-Arlington and Texas State. 3. As for the possibility of conducting a football championship game, in the near future the Sun Belt will conduct a very deliberate and thorough evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of a football championship game. At this time, the Sun Belt is committed to strengthening its current membership and taking advantage of the new members that have been added. 4. An important step taken this week was the approval of a five year strategic plan that will develop the measures for success that will set the conference’s path through 2017. The plan set forward is part of the league’s Strategic Planning Committee, headed by Western Kentucky University President Dr. Gary Ransdell. The goals for the strategic plan include improving the conference’s revenue profile, continuing television negotiations, strengthening championship competition, improving RPI rankings for all sports - but with an emphasis on men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, improving conference’s BCS rankings, improving the conference Academic Progress Ratings (APR) rankings and strengthening the Sun Belt brand. 5. The Sun Belt Conference must expand its national brand recognition and undergo a complete brand enhancement study. If the league’s goal is to complete at the highest level of collegiate athletics, the conference and its member institutions must be prepared to do so from a marketing and brand identity standpoint. The Sun Belt Conference’s annual meetings include the senior staff of the conference office along with each member school’s Chief Executive Officer, Faculty Athletic Representative, Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator, Head Football Coach, Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Representatives from future members Texas State, Georgia State and UT Arlington were present at the meetings. Additional topics of discussion included conference expansion, Sun Belt Conference leadership positions and Sun Belt Conference championships. Addition of UT Arlington During the four day meeting the Sun Belt Conference officially extended an invitation to UT Arlington to join the league on July 1, 2013. UTA officials have accepted the invitation, and pending the approval of the UT Board of Regents, the Mavericks will become the 12th member institution in the Sun Belt. UTA joins UALR as non-football playing members, while the other 10 intuitions participate in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). “On behalf of the presidents and chancellors of the member institutions of the Sun Belt Conference, I am pleased to welcome the UT Arlington to our league,” said Sun Belt Conference President and Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “The Sun Belt Conference has never been stronger athletically, academically or financially, and today's action makes us even stronger. Our goal is to add value to our conference by inviting universities with strong academic and athletic programs that fit our profile and our geographic footprint. UT Arlington meets these criteria.” UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, is the sixth-largest institution in the state of Texas and is the 33rd largest institution in the United States. “We are honored to join the Sun Belt Conference,” said UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo. “This move will help us continue to advance the interests of our university. Along with the opening of the College Park Center just a few short months ago, this move to the Sun Belt is another clear sign of the growth of not only our athletic department but of our entire university.” UTA athletics currently competes in 14 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I level and impressively has invested over $80 million in athletic facility improvements. Additionally, UTA has planned another $17 million in athletic facility improvements and renovations for the next several years. The crown jewel of UTA’s athletic facility enhancements is the brand new $78 million, 218,000-square-foot College Park Center. “This is another milestone for UT Arlington athletics,” said UT Arlington Director of Athletics Jim Baker. I want to thank Commissioner Karl Benson for the invitation to compete in the Sun Belt Conference. This move to the Sun Belt will allow us to continue to showcase our athletics program on a national level and create further awareness for our university.” UTA currently meets all standards with the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR). The Dallas/Fort Worth metro area is the fifth largest designated market area (DMA) in the United States. “The addition of UT Arlington is tremendous for the Sun Belt Conference as the league will now move forward with 12 member institutions with two six team divisions,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. UTA will help continue the rise of the Sun Belt Conference as a national contender in intercollegiate athletics.” Post: #1 SBC Meetings release... SANDESTIN, Fla. – As its annual league meetings concluded Wednesday, the Sun Belt Conference embraces the future and the guarantees of continued success for the conference. Additionally, the University of Texas-Arlington accepted an invitation to join the Sun Belt, and pending the approval of the UT Board of Regents, the Mavericks will become the 12th member institution in the Sun Belt. In conclusion of the meetings, it is the opinion of Sun Belt leadership that: 1. The Sun Belt Conference has been proactive throughout the realignment process and the changes that have taken place to the league’s membership have not weakened the conference. In fact, the league’s membership and strength have been bolstered while several other conferences have taken steps backwards during the realignment process. 2. The previously announced additions of Georgia State and Texas State and the additional announcement that UT Arlington will also join the league on July 1, 2013, provides a logical geographical footprint for the Sun Belt Conference. The league can easily be divided in two divisions for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball with Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Troy and Western Kentucky University comprising the East Division. The West Division will include UALR, Arkansas State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Texas-Arlington and Texas State. 3. As for the possibility of conducting a football championship game, in the near future the Sun Belt will conduct a very deliberate and thorough evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of a football championship game. At this time, the Sun Belt is committed to strengthening its current membership and taking advantage of the new members that have been added. 4. An important step taken this week was the approval of a five year strategic plan that will develop the measures for success that will set the conference’s path through 2017. The plan set forward is part of the league’s Strategic Planning Committee, headed by Western Kentucky University President Dr. Gary Ransdell. The goals for the strategic plan include improving the conference’s revenue profile, continuing television negotiations, strengthening championship competition, improving RPI rankings for all sports - but with an emphasis on men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, improving conference’s BCS rankings, improving the conference Academic Progress Ratings (APR) rankings and strengthening the Sun Belt brand. 5. The Sun Belt Conference must expand its national brand recognition and undergo a complete brand enhancement study. If the league’s goal is to complete at the highest level of collegiate athletics, the conference and its member institutions must be prepared to do so from a marketing and brand identity standpoint. The Sun Belt Conference’s annual meetings include the senior staff of the conference office along with each member school’s Chief Executive Officer, Faculty Athletic Representative, Director of Athletics, Senior Woman Administrator, Head Football Coach, Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Head Women’s Basketball Coach. Representatives from future members Texas State, Georgia State and UT Arlington were present at the meetings. Additional topics of discussion included conference expansion, Sun Belt Conference leadership positions and Sun Belt Conference championships. Addition of UT Arlington During the four day meeting the Sun Belt Conference officially extended an invitation to UT Arlington to join the league on July 1, 2013. UTA officials have accepted the invitation, and pending the approval of the UT Board of Regents, the Mavericks will become the 12th member institution in the Sun Belt. UTA joins UALR as non-football playing members, while the other 10 intuitions participate in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). “On behalf of the presidents and chancellors of the member institutions of the Sun Belt Conference, I am pleased to welcome the UT Arlington to our league,” said Sun Belt Conference President and Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr. “The Sun Belt Conference has never been stronger athletically, academically or financially, and today's action makes us even stronger. Our goal is to add value to our conference by inviting universities with strong academic and athletic programs that fit our profile and our geographic footprint. UT Arlington meets these criteria.” UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, is the sixth-largest institution in the state of Texas and is the 33rd largest institution in the United States. “We are honored to join the Sun Belt Conference,” said UT Arlington President James D. Spaniolo. “This move will help us continue to advance the interests of our university. Along with the opening of the College Park Center just a few short months ago, this move to the Sun Belt is another clear sign of the growth of not only our athletic department but of our entire university.” UTA athletics currently competes in 14 varsity sports at the NCAA Division I level and impressively has invested over $80 million in athletic facility improvements. Additionally, UTA has planned another $17 million in athletic facility improvements and renovations for the next several years. The crown jewel of UTA’s athletic facility enhancements is the brand new $78 million, 218,000-square-foot College Park Center. “This is another milestone for UT Arlington athletics,” said UT Arlington Director of Athletics Jim Baker. I want to thank Commissioner Karl Benson for the invitation to compete in the Sun Belt Conference. This move to the Sun Belt will allow us to continue to showcase our athletics program on a national level and create further awareness for our university.” UTA currently meets all standards with the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate (APR). The Dallas/Fort Worth metro area is the fifth largest designated market area (DMA) in the United States. “The addition of UT Arlington is tremendous for the Sun Belt Conference as the league will now move forward with 12 member institutions with two six team divisions,” said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. UTA will help continue the rise of the Sun Belt Conference as a national contender in intercollegiate athletics.” Sun Belt Conference Leadership Dr. Jack Hawkins, chancellor of Troy University, will continue to serve as the Sun Belt Conference Executive Committee President. His term was set to expire this year, however, the Sun Belt Conference’s presidents and chancellors voted to extend his term for an additional year. “Over the past year – and specifically the past two months, Chancellor Hawkins has provided the Sun Belt with strong and effective leadership during this time of conference realignment,” said Benson. “I am very pleased that he is willing to serve in this capacity for the coming year and the Sun Belt is very fortunate to have him in this leadership role.” “With a new commissioner coming on board this spring, the CEOs of our member institutions decided it would be beneficial to the conference to extend my term as President of the Sun Belt Conference for one year to maintain continuity of leadership during this time of transition,” said Dr. Hawkins. “I am honored to continue to serve the conference in this capacity.” The slate of officers for 2012-13, in addition to Hawkins, is: Vice President – Gordon Moulton, President, South Alabama; Past President - Dr. Sidney McPhee, President, Middle Tennessee; Treasurer – Joel Anderson, Chancellor, UALR.

Tomorrow the SBC will announce they go 12 in football for 2013. So the 2 schools have to be announced by next Wednesday. Then the SBC will start looking for schools for 2014. 1. Will Lamar torture most fans with another 2 years in the sinking SLC. Pat Knight might leave. 2. Will the SBC save Idaho and NMSU with football invites. 3. Will it be App st and Georgia Southern 4. 1 eastern 1 western....Lamar or Sam and App or GSU

I hope no one thought I implied Lamar to the BIG 12.

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="1225024" timestamp="1337704286"] I think the 4 major conferences Big 12, PAC12, Big Ten and SEC will all have 16 teams and you wind up with 64 NC eligible schools.  Who the final players will be is being worked out right now.  This could accelerate pretty quickly.  Outside chance you wind up with 16 team conferences and 80 NC eligible schools, the last made up of ACC, Big East and some CUSA teams. [/quote]There was a suggestion to have a play in games for CUSA, Sunbelt, MWC, and ACC. BE football might die with football members going to ACC.  BTW, Lamar is mentioned [Hidden Content]

[quote name="navydawg31" post="1224978" timestamp="1337700978"] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1224967#msg1224967 date=1337699933] Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12.  [Hidden Content] Some rumors has ND joining too. BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson. [/quote] .Still think BYU would be the better choice.$$$ new comers- FSU, Clem, ND,  BYU 14 team Big 12? [/quote]I'm thinking FSU, Clemson, ND, Miami, Georgia Tech...I'm still thinking on number 16. Remember PAC 12 will need new members. Maryland 9 million MSA and Rutgers 19 million to the BIG 10. SEC?  Rumor UNC and Virginia Tech for 16.

Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12.  [Hidden Content] Some rumors has ND joining too. BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson.

You're right, but I'm not sure if chopping up the ACC will trickle down. CUSA and Sunbelt most likely will go 16. That would be 8 slots to fill. The PAC 12 needs 4 to go 16.

Cola, it looks to me like the SEC, Big 12, and Big 10 will chop up the ACC.

[quote name="coachacola" post="1224858" timestamp="1337654445"] I think this article by Tony Barnhart sums up Lamar's situation. [quote]UNC Charlotte is building a football program but won't play its first game until 2013. Georgia State has been playing football for only two years. Old Dominion has been playing football for only three years. Texas-San Antonio has been playing football for one year. What do these fledgling programs have in common? [/quote] Answer: [quote]These schools haven't done a lot on the field, but they all have what the conferences are looking for in expansion: Student bodies of 20,000 or more, with top-50 TV markets that are in strong recruiting territories. [/quote] Link: [Hidden Content] [/quote]True, but their logic is flawed and there is a limit on top 50 markets. Those schools, except ODU, will never carry there market. Also, there are no more huge markets for CUSA and Sunbelt to raid. The Sunbelt still needs a least 2 more football schools or lose an ESPN Championship game. The Sunbelt needs a western school in/near Houston. Houston Baptist?

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1224872" timestamp="1337658979"] [quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1224850#msg1224850 date=1337652470] I hope Tubbs didn't retire out of frustration. I know I am as a fan. [/quote] I'm not so sure you a fan...maybe just a complainer....... we missed out on football for 20 some odd years..its back, year three and you do nothing but b%tch and complain [/quote]I want to see Lamar grow and one day knock off a Baylor again. You want a Lamar vs McMurry so you can laugh at how pathetic Lamar looks. I was there before Lamar insanely dropped football. I was there when Lamar insanely dropped back down to the SLC. Now Lamar is in a position to possibly make another insane move by not jumping to FBS.

I hope Tubbs didn't retire out of frustration. I know I am as a fan.

Lamar is not competing head to head with an App st. or GSU. Lamar is selling itself as to what it bring/will bring to the table. The Sunbelt and CUSA both lack public schools presents in/near Houston. The question is can Lamar help, not if Lamar is better than App. st. If either conference decide they need that public school in/near Houston, then Lamar should sell itself.     Lamar is doing a piss-poor effort to sell itself publicly. Maybe in private Lamar is doing a great job, I dunno. I do know if Lamar stays FCS, the public will continue to see Lamar as jv compared to a La Tech and UL-Monroe. I don't understand this fear of FBS. A smart AD and coach at Lamar could put big bucks in Lamar hands and get some national attention to Lamar. If I was Lamar AD, I would go FBS and use Houston to my advantage. For Example, a home and home with Texas with Lamar home game being at Reliant. Home games in Beaumont with Oklahoma st and Baylor instead of Langston and Mcmurry.

By the end of this week we will know if Lamar decides to reach for greatness by going FBS, or settling for being a senior on the jv team.

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