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Post by brandon on Sept 11, 2017 18:04:19 GMT -6
I was talking to a friend of mine today about some football stuff and he informed me about something brewing. To my surprise and quite frankly unsure feeling, he said that within the next 10 years both UNA and JSU with be in the Sun Belt. UNA as an affiliate member for football only and JSU as a full member. UNA will likely stay in the A-Sun for all other sports. My friend is an affiliate of a Sun Belt school and he said that the Sun Belt have been talking about this for about 2 years now. He said they want JSU and UNA at the same time. He said the model that is working at the moment is a East-West model.
East JSU Troy App St Georgia St Georgia Southern Coastal Carolina
West UNA USA Louisiana ULM Ark St. Tex. St.
I was kinda shocked, but he said that the Sun Belt has been waiting for UNA to get an invite first and they could not invite UNA for various reasons. But they can invite them for football only in the future. He is a trustworthy source. He said he would pay me a substantial amount of money if it don't happen. What do yall think?
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Sun Belt
Sept 11, 2017 22:32:21 GMT -6
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Post by northalaspectator on Sept 11, 2017 22:32:21 GMT -6
I have read the comments from the posters on that other FCS board that you posted the question and agree with most of them it sounds great, but at this time I don't believe it. It think it is wishful thinking from your friend. One or two schools might be pushing it, but I'm sure that if North Alabama was already FCS, both them and Jacksonville State wouldn't have the votes to get into the Sun Belt at this time. Why wouldn't North Alabama be offer full membership? Has Arkansas Little Rock decided against adding football. Also if the Sun Belt is planning on being in Texas they probably should look at adding another Texas school.
At this time I haven't heard any major push on going on up. I'm for it because it makes sense financially. Until the transition to FCS is complete and the sports teams are having success I just don't see any support from the area even going that route. Maybe ten years things will be different.
I do see before North Alabama completes the Transition to FCS, that the ASUN will add football and go FBS. They will start off with Massachusetts, Liberty, James Madison, Albany. Delaware, Stony Brooke, Eastern Kentucky. UT - Chattanooga, Kennesaw State. and Jacksonville State.
The ASUN will add West Florida and North Alabama will continue to play FCS in the Big South and also West Florida. Then within the allotted time both North Alabama and West Florida will go FBS and play FBS in the ASUN. In non football the ASUN will have a North and South Division.
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Sun Belt
Sept 12, 2017 13:26:15 GMT -6
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Post by brandon on Sept 12, 2017 13:26:15 GMT -6
I have read the comments from the posters on that other FCS board that you posted the question and agree with most of them it sounds great, but at this time I don't believe it. It think it is wishful thinking from your friend. One or two schools might be pushing it, but I'm sure that if North Alabama was already FCS, both them and Jacksonville State wouldn't have the votes to get into the Sun Belt at this time. Why wouldn't North Alabama be offer full membership? Has Arkansas Little Rock decided against adding football. Also if the Sun Belt is planning on being in Texas they probably should look at adding another Texas school. At this time I haven't heard any major push on going on up. I'm for it because it makes sense financially. Until the transition to FCS is complete and the sports teams are having success I just don't see any support from the area even going that route. Maybe ten years things will be different. I do see before North Alabama completes the Transition to FCS, that the ASUN will add football and go FBS. They will start off with Massachusetts, Liberty, James Madison, Albany. Delaware, Stony Brooke, Eastern Kentucky. UT - Chattanooga, Kennesaw State. and Jacksonville State. The ASUN will add West Florida and North Alabama will continue to play FCS in the Big South and also West Florida. Then within the allotted time both North Alabama and West Florida will go FBS and play FBS in the ASUN. In non football the ASUN will have a North and South Division. The A-Sun will add football and go FBS?
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Sun Belt
Sept 12, 2017 13:29:24 GMT -6
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Post by brandon on Sept 12, 2017 13:29:24 GMT -6
I don't think it will happen, nor do I think non P5 FBS is worth the time or money. But I will say that he told me exactly how UNA would move to FCS and to the time almost exactly. So I can't say it will not happen.
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Post by unafied on Sept 12, 2017 15:29:21 GMT -6
I probably have an unpopular opinion, but... I honestly hope we stay FCS for a while. I just don't see the allure of FBS. The whole point of playing sports is to compete for a championship. In FBS our ceiling would be some crappy bowl named after a brand of lawn mowers played on December 27th, somewhere like Detroit. That doesn't excite me one bit. On the other hand I am very optimistic about us eventually being an FCS power. We should concentrate on building a tradition at this level for, IMO, at least a 20 year period. Increase enrollment, build a new stadium, grow our fanbase a little more. Then maybe see what the landscape looks like and go from there.
Honestly, all of this is likely to be a moot point in another decade or so. Either the Power 5 conferences will split from the NCAA and form their own organization, or Division 1 will split into three classes. That's when things will likely get interesting.
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Sun Belt
Sept 12, 2017 16:38:27 GMT -6
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Post by brandon on Sept 12, 2017 16:38:27 GMT -6
I think if schools like JSU, Chattanooga and so on would quit looking at in my opinion "fools gold" of FBS, the FCS will be a much better product and will eventually be worth more than non P5 FBS. If you look at the top of FCS you have
NDSU Montana James Madison Villinova JSU Sam Houston State Eventually UNA
If some schools would have "held their horses" like App St, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, and a few others, FCS could and will be very powerful in football.
I know there is a ton more interest in watching NDSU and Montana than Ohio and Ball State. Just examples.
ESPN have been paying more attention to FCS lately, and I see that growing. Like myself, more and more people want somthinf other than (in our case) Alabama and Auburn. Not saying it will ever be the same level because it can't, but it can be better than the Sun Belt.
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