I think....

[Guest tigersvoice]

[quote name="UNLV" post="1224967" timestamp="1337699933"]
Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

Some rumors has ND joining too.

BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson.
[/quote]
Is that for real?  Do you mean just the Beaumont campus or all of the locations that have Lamar in their name?

[navydawg31]

[quote name="UNLV" post="1224967" timestamp="1337699933"]
Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

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?

[UNLV]

[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. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

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.

[NorthoftheBorder]

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 5 16 team conferences and 80 NC eligible schools, the last made up of ACC, Big East and some CUSA teams.

[UNLV]

[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 http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20120522/SPORTS/205220325

[NorthoftheBorder]

[quote name="Tigersvoice" post="1224971" timestamp="1337700443"]
[quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1224967#msg1224967 date=1337699933]
Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

Some rumors has ND joining too.

BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson.
[/quote]
Is that for real?  Do you mean just the Beaumont campus or all of the locations that have Lamar in their name?
[/quote]

Clemson has a total student population of about 19,500 and sits in a town of about 14,000.  However they are about 30 minutes from Greenville which has a population of about 650,000 and the metro area for Greenville is about 1,200,000.  LU is 90 miles from a 6.3mil metro area.  That 60 miles may make a big difference.

[UNLV]

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

[puddin tane]

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="1225033" timestamp="1337705306"]
[quote author=Tigersvoice link=topic=99866.msg1224971#msg1224971 date=1337700443]
[quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1224967#msg1224967 date=1337699933]
Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

Some rumors has ND joining too.

BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson.
[/quote]
Is that for real?  Do you mean just the Beaumont campus or all of the locations that have Lamar in their name?
[/quote]

Clemson has a total student population of about 19,500 and sits in a town of about 14,000.  However they are about 30 minutes from Greenville which has a population of about 650,000 and the metro area for Greenville is about 1,200,000.  LU is 90 miles from a 6.3mil metro area.  That 60 miles may make a big difference.
[/quote]

problem with all this about Houston and tv.....Houston is one sorry college town...they dont support rice,cougar high...its a pro town

[WOSgrad]

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1225077" timestamp="1337710443"]
[quote author=NorthoftheBorder link=topic=99866.msg1225033#msg1225033 date=1337705306]
[quote author=Tigersvoice link=topic=99866.msg1224971#msg1224971 date=1337700443]
[quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1224967#msg1224967 date=1337699933]
Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

Some rumors has ND joining too.

BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson.
[/quote]
Is that for real?  Do you mean just the Beaumont campus or all of the locations that have Lamar in their name?
[/quote]

Clemson has a total student population of about 19,500 and sits in a town of about 14,000.  However they are about 30 minutes from Greenville which has a population of about 650,000 and the metro area for Greenville is about 1,200,000.  LU is 90 miles from a 6.3mil metro area.  That 60 miles may make a big difference.
[/quote]

problem with all this about Houston and tv.....Houston is one sorry college town...they dont support rice,cougar high...its a pro town
[/quote]

Bingo

[Green Menace]

[quote name="puddin tane" post="1225077" timestamp="1337710443"]
[quote author=NorthoftheBorder link=topic=99866.msg1225033#msg1225033 date=1337705306]
[quote author=Tigersvoice link=topic=99866.msg1224971#msg1224971 date=1337700443]
[quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1224967#msg1224967 date=1337699933]
Florida st and Clemson to the BIG 12. 
http://jugofsnyder.com/2012/05/21/florida-state-and-clemson-will-inform-acc-of-intent-to-leave/

Some rumors has ND joining too.

BTW, Lamar is bigger than Clemson.
[/quote]
Is that for real?  Do you mean just the Beaumont campus or all of the locations that have Lamar in their name?
[/quote]

Clemson has a total student population of about 19,500 and sits in a town of about 14,000.  However they are about 30 minutes from Greenville which has a population of about 650,000 and the metro area for Greenville is about 1,200,000.  LU is 90 miles from a 6.3mil metro area.  That 60 miles may make a big difference.
[/quote]

[color=green][b]problem with all this about Houston and tv.....Houston is one sorry college town...they dont support rice,cougar high...its a pro town[/b][/color]
[/quote]

That has been North Texas' problem forever.  Pro sports town- Cowboys, Mavs, Rangers, etc. and whatever pro soccer or pro hockey my still be up there.  Not to mention being in the shadows of the Big 12.  Only team to overcome most of this would be TCU.  Of course, they have more money that some countries and it's really easy to throw money at something the really want.

[AshlyHasBeen]

The big problem with BYU in the BCS conferences is scheduling. Their team will not play on Sunday's no matter what. This has kept the big boys from reaching out to them in the past.

[UNLV]

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

[UNLV]

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.

[coachacola]

I figured the Sun Belt wouldn't invite anymore schools this year, now this gives Lamar another year to prepare and impress before the Sun Belt invites more schools.  When Lamar plays the Cajuns this fall in football we'll see if they can give them a good game or just get blown out.  We'll see if Pat Knight and the basketball team can continue winning or if they sink back down to mediocrity like teams in the past.  Like I've said in the past, another year or two in the SLC will help the football program if they dream of going FBS in the near future.

[UNLV]

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.

[Green Menace]

I don't think Lamar will smell CUSA.  Most of the current round of realignment is based on markets and/or brand.  UNT was able to get due to being in the Dallas market.  That doesn't mean we bring the whole market, just that we are considered in the Dallas market.  I can only assume Louisiana Tech got in because of their brand recognition.  The WAC did LT a world of good, not to mention their ability to having competitive teams and occasionally knocking off a name program.  Hell, in five years CUSA could be on gone.

It's a shame that college football has gotten down to this.  Decade old rivalries simply flushed down the toilet.  The Texas vs A & M rivalry will never be quite the same.

If I were Lamar, I would push for the Sun Belt.  Regardless of what the Sun Belt says, there will always be an opportunity for Lamar to move into that conference.  Considering how young the Sun Belt is, it's a good, competitive.  If Lamar gets a chance to line up with ULL(this fall?), Arkansas State, Troy, or MTSU, be prepared for some heavy hitting football.

[UNLV]

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.

[Green Menace]

[quote name="UNLV" post="1225627" timestamp="1337875447"]
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? [b] I will advocate for Lamar in the CUSA because 5 schools, Tulane-UNT-Tech-UTSA-Rce[/b], 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.
[/quote]
Exactly why I'm glad UNT is out of the SBC.  Traveling is much better for our fans with Tulane, Tech, UTSA, Rice, and Tulsa.  As it stands now, with the teams that will make up CUSA in 2013, the conference is still better perceived than the SBC.  And it will definitely be better for UNT financially because of the TV money and bowl games that will be available.

But, really, in the grand scheme of the college football landscape, with the four, 16 team conferences being formulated with 64 teams, will the Sun Belt, CUSA, MWC, and Big East conferences really matter?  Everyone knows where this is headed and not all of the "name" programs will be invited.  The Big East will be a shell of its former self after the final raids take place.  Houston, Boise St, Memphis, UCF, Louisville, UConn, etc., won't smell the "elite 64".  The networks control the money stream, and they'll decide who will make up the elite 64.

Say hello to the new Div. 1A and Div. 1AA.

[NorthoftheBorder]

[quote name="Green Menace" post="1225662" timestamp="1337883032"]
[quote author=UNLV link=topic=99866.msg1225627#msg1225627 date=1337875447]
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? [b] I will advocate for Lamar in the CUSA because 5 schools, Tulane-UNT-Tech-UTSA-Rce[/b], 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.
[/quote]
Exactly why I'm glad UNT is out of the SBC.  Traveling is much better for our fans with Tulane, Tech, UTSA, Rice, and Tulsa.  As it stands now, with the teams that will make up CUSA in 2013, the conference is still better perceived than the SBC.  And it will definitely be better for UNT financially because of the TV money and bowl games that will be available.

But, really, in the grand scheme of the college football landscape, with the four, 16 team conferences being formulated with 64 teams, will the Sun Belt, CUSA, MWC, and Big East conferences really matter?  Everyone knows where this is headed and not all of the "name" programs will be invited.  The Big East will be a shell of its former self after the final raids take place.  Houston, Boise St, Memphis, UCF, Louisville, UConn, etc., won't smell the "elite 64".  The networks control the money stream, and they'll decide who will make up the elite 64.

Say hello to the new Div. 1A and Div. 1AA.
[/quote]

Your right on target Green Menace.  It is just a matter of whether LU can make it to the second tier or stay in the third tier.  I prefer the 2nd myself.

[NorthoftheBorder]

Lamar in this conference re-alignment issue is acting like the person that  lives on the beach and knows a hurricane is coming and watches the news  trying to make a decision on when and if they should evacuate. They procastinate on making a decision and then all of sudden the water has risen and they are trapped and can't get out and just have to ride out the storm and see where the surge takes them.  They have no control over where they will land on high ground.  They are at the mercy of the storm. If LU really does want to move up, they need to be proactive.  I don't see that happening. I think at this point football will always be FCS/3rd tier.  What scares me is that the big schools at some point will try to shrink the pool of teams who can play in the NCAA basketball and baseball tournaments, and that could be whittled down to the top 2 conference tiers (the current FBS schools) and LU could find the basketball/baseball teams playing in a FCS  type tournament which will further shrink revenues and fan support.  This would be for all sports by the way.  JMHO!!

[puddin tane]

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="1225692" timestamp="1337887896"]
Lamar in this conference re-alignment issue is acting like the person that  lives on the beach and knows a hurricane is coming and watches the news  trying to make a decision on when and if they should evacuate. They procastinate on making a decision and then all of sudden the water has risen and they are trapped and can't get out and just have to ride out the storm and see where the surge takes them.  They have no control over where they will land on high ground.  They are at the mercy of the storm. If LU really does want to move up, they need to be proactive.  I don't see that happening. I think at this point football will always be FCS/3rd tier.  What scares me is that the big schools at some point will try to shrink the pool of teams who can play in the NCAA basketball and baseball tournaments, and that could be whittled down to the top 2 conference tiers (the current FBS schools) and LU could find the basketball/baseball teams playing in a FCS  type tournament which will further shrink revenues and fan support.  This would be for all sports by the way.  JMHO!!
[/quote]

its a disaster!  lets just drop football!!! ::)

[UNLV]

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.

[Titletown2]

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.

[LUFAN]

Title... You need to do a bit of research.... We are in our second year of football we made some big strides this offseason getting upgraded coaches....but the rest of our sports have been getting better every year. We were 3rd in the commisioners cup this year in the SLC and the WE WON the mens side of the commisioners cup.. We can compete in the SBC, WAC or CUSA. We had down years in volleyball, womens basketball, and baseball but we are just 1 yr past an NIT visist and 2 yrs from the NCAA's for the wbb team and 2 yrs out from a regional tournament in baseball. Our golf team is 1 of only 4 fcs schools in the national championship tournament this year and we were #3 in the country in golf just 3-4 yrs ago.... We are getting better all the time.... Get your facts right before coming on this board and spouting your Lamar hating nonsense!

[LUFAN]

OH and by the way we also have the best overall facilities in the SLC from top to bottom.