Yeah, it would be nice if the author did a bit of research and clarified things a bit, although the last few years, La-Monroe and SE La were NOT FB members of the Southland.

La-Monroe is taking all their sports to the Sun-belt. They were previously FB only members of the Sun-belt, so they did not play FB in the Southland. However, going forward, La-Monroe's move out reduces the count of schools to 10.

One of the 10 is SE Louisiana, who played 1-AA FB as (I bleive) an independent, and they are joining the Southland for FB soon, so they will be the 7th FB member.

So before any upcoming expansion, the Southland will have 10 schools, 7 of which play FB in the Southland (all but Lamar, UT-Arlington, and UT-San Antonio, all of which are reportedly toying with the idea of starting a FB program).

Though it could be argued some of La-Monroe's opponents questioned whether or not La-Monroe had a football team.





:D




Sorry. That was weak. Shutting up, now. :)

Although it looks like if UTSA gets a team, they want to be with UTEP in DIa.

;D

Sorry,
Ok, here's how I see this NEW Southwest Conference:
WEST
New Mexico State
Texas-El Paso
Southern Methodist
Texas Christian
North Texas
Tulsa
EAST
Texas State
Texas-San Antonio
Houston
Rice
Arkansas State
Louisiana (nix Lafayette and claim THE title)

4 Texas schools in the East + 2 states (LA, AR)
4 Texas schools in the West + 2 states (OK, NM)
----------------------------------------------------------------

You lose 5 schools from C-USA, so bring in:
Louisiana Tech
Troy
Middle Tennessee State
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
and let's say Marshall goes Big East ...so....
Louisiana-Monroe or Georgia State (whose team doesn't exist but would fit in oh-so nicely if and when it does).

WEST
Louisiana Tech
Tulane
Southern Miss
Memphis
Alabama-Birmingham
Troy
EAST
Middle Tennessee St.
East Carolina
Georgia State
Central Florida
Florida Atlantic
Florida International

Sun-Belt folds.
UL-Monore drops to 1-AA
or
Joins if East Carolina or Memphis goes Big East.
Obviously the scenerios are endless, yet possible.

I'm almost certain they would rather have it as an all texas league.

Plus therei's no way Monroe would let Lafayette say that they're The U of LA.

ChooChoo, try Georgia Southern rather than Georgia State. That would at least be on dream level.

Monroe may not be able to tell Lafayette much about dropping the city designation to Louisiana, but LSU sure does and had stopped them from doing so via legislature, higher education governing bodies, etc.