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**WKU Topper Jeff** · 10-26-2003, 05:48 PM

If any of you have been following conference realignment half as much as I have (every waking moment) then some of you have to be as worried as me.

Right now, the Sun Belt is not sitting pretty AT ALL. What happens to the Sun Belt. Right now, the Sun Belt is sitting one 1A school short of the needed eight, to continue as a 1A football conference. Rumors are that UNT and/or ULL could be next to defect to the WAC. That would about kill the football end of the conference.

The basketball schools hold the key to the conference. To retain the automatic bid to the NCAA tournament, you have to have six schools that have been together for five years. UNO, Denver, WKU, USA, UALR, FIU, and ASU all have been together the longest. Basketball wise, the conference could remain. But if all the football schools leave, it does leave the conference depleted.

So, what do you guys think will happen with the Sun Belt? I'd like to hear what each schools options are right, as you hear about them.

As for Western Kentucky, right now we are in a wait and see. 1-A Football will not be coming in time to help the Sun Belt. Yes, WKU is considering it, but will wait till this mess is over to see what our options are. Smart thinking by WKU. Jumping into 1A, just to have the Sun Belt crumble, would have been unwise. The MVC and A10 are viable options for WKU right now.

**HKF** · 10-26-2003, 06:27 PM

I think the Sun Belt really needs to think Basketball here.

UL Lafayette and Troy State would be better served becoming independents than going to the WAC.

They should let North Texas and Idaho leave and join Utah State. Then send Denver to the Big Sky and focus on keeping a strong basketball league.

1. Western Kentucky
2. Florida International
3. Arkansas State
4. Arkansas-Little Rock
5. New Orleans
6. Middle Tennessee State
7. Troy State
8. South Alabama
9. Louisiana-Lafayette

That isn't a bad basketball league and quite frankly in ULL, Troy, WKU and USA, you have 4 really good programs there, with the others not being slouches either.

**WKU Topper Jeff** · 10-26-2003, 08:46 PM

Not sure if I would say Troy St. is a strong program, not yet. They went to the NCAA Tournament for the FIRST time last year. They have consistantly gotten better the last three years or so, but we'll see with time.

Basketball is what made the Sun Belt, Football is what has destroyed it. The last three years, I feel the Sun Belt has neglected Basketball; it has definitely NOT been its primary focus. I can't see Troy St, ULL, ASU, and MTSU being independents. That is suicide for a 1A team. I think ULL might end up in WAC. Troy State, MTSU, and ASU's best hope is the MAC. I would drop 1A before going independent though. The revenue and fan support comes with the hopes of a Bowl game, and that would be out for them.

MICHAELSPAPPY · 10-27-2003, 11:04 AM

I suspect it is inevitable that the football schools would be better off to go to a conference a little further up the food chain, even if they are in the lower tier of that conference. It appears that football is so completely dominating college sports that non-football schools simply don't matter in the greater scheme of things.

PrimeRate4WKU · 10-27-2003, 09:19 PM

Funny thing is, I don't think we can afford to oust Denver now. Assuming all the FB schools leave, then we'll need Denver because they will have five years in the conference...you need six teams with five years or more membership to retain your automatic bid to the NCAA.

**HKF** · 10-27-2003, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by <b>PrimeRate4WKU</b>!
Funny thing is, I don't think we can afford to oust Denver now. Assuming all the FB schools leave, then we'll need Denver because they will have five years in the conference...you need six teams with five years or more membership to retain your automatic bid to the NCAA.

Darn it. I forgot about that. You are correct.

MICHAELSPAPPY · 10-28-2003, 06:18 AM

I think we keep all hands right now, and wait for things to settle out.

**HKF** · 11-02-2003, 10:22 AM

It looks like Central Florida will get a Football-only invite from the Big East. If that happens expect Louisiana Tech to go to the C-USA.

I also anticipate Boise State going to the MWC, which would leave UTEP, NMSU, USU in no man's land. Fresno, Nevada and Hawaii, may come back and steal Idaho and North Texas, but regardless I think it's the WAC that is on it's last legs.

**WKU Topper Jeff** · 11-02-2003, 10:59 PM

I hope NMSU and USU have some contingencies in their agreement to go to the WAC. It would be too funny for them to leave the conference just to have their new conference never make it. I think I'd like that.

MICHAELSPAPPY · 11-03-2003, 06:31 AM

That would be a "last laugh" that would be sweet. I hope we don't let them back into the SBC.

**WKU Topper Jeff** · 11-03-2003, 03:45 PM

I hope we don't either, unless we REALLY need them. They deserve whatever they get. I think it was silly of them to make any agreements until after tomorrow and see if the dominos fall exactly the way people think. I suspect their could be a wrench or two in the mix.

MICHAELSPAPPY · 11-05-2003, 08:43 AM

I wish we had a master program to keep up with all this shuffling going on.

wku_hilltopper · 11-14-2003, 12:37 AM

This might sound selfish but I hope SBC 1A football is dead. The way this conference lets any team join, just because they play 1A football will end up killing the conference. If the teams talked about end up joining the SBC, the SBC will end up ranked lower than the OVC....in basketball.

krimzin · 12-02-2003, 11:04 AM

this is for michaelspappy....yeah, we (NMSU) DON'T want to end up back in the SBC. that's why we decided to move on. C'mon it's the SBC. Who'd really want to be in this conference?

go aggies!

MICHAELSPAPPY · 12-02-2003, 11:38 AM

Quote:

C'mon it's the SBC. Who'd really want to be in this conference?

go aggies!

Well, I do, for one. I like the SBC. I like the combination of schools and have enjoyed the competition. SBC schools have picked up enough wins against the big conferences to show we are competitive. Actually right in the middle of the Sagarin. Not great, not bad.

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