That article includes a small line on that, "While UT Arlington does not play football, officials haven’t ruled out adding the sport in the future." It doesn't appear that the Sun Belt is making them start football, but if they decided to restart it they could be given the South Alabama treatment and allowed to basically go directly into the Sun Belt.

Brett McMurphy also reporting Texas State and UT Arlington to the SBC for 2013-2014 at http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... lt-in-2013

They've mentioned in the past that they were thinking of adding football. It's one of the reasons the WAC grabbed them trying to get more football playing members. However, Benson has mentioned the need for a non football member to offset UALR so for now there is no rush on adding football. However, 10 years or so down the line they could be a full member of the Sun Belt with football.

Just used this on the CUSA forum but think it could be useful for Sun Belt expansion


In case anyone is interested, 2011 home attendance figures.

1. Appalachian St. 183,479 (26,211)
2. James Madison 125,010 (25,002)
3. Montana 199,023 (24,878)
4. Yale 118,648 (23,730)
5. Jackson St. 138,996 (23,166)
6. Old Dominion 138,726 (19,818)
7. Delaware 114,111 (19,019)
8. Florida A&M 74,985 (18,746)
9. South Alabama 110,654 (18,442)
10. North Dakota St. 163,284 (18,143)
11. Ga. Southern 141,605 (17,701)
12. Jacksonville St. 86,128 (17,226)
13. Montana St. 119,499 (17,071)
14. South Carolina St. 82,302 (16,460)
15. Liberty 98,515 (16,419)

Sun Belt attendance (per game)

UL Lafayette 29,171
Arkansas State 21,257
*South Alabama 18,442
Middle Tenn 18,402
Troy 17,898
FAU 17,565
WKU 16,637
UL-Monroe 15,512
*Texas State 15,106
*Georgia State 14,286

I think if I'm Karl Benson, I'd add Appalachian State and James Madison right now. Both in states where CUSA are adding. I'd also consider WAC favorite Lamar (14,483) and former member New Mexico State (15,138) if the Aggies are not considered to far away. You probably have to fight the MAC for JMU (who should also consider Delaware).

Then if I'm Karl Benson, I would encourage my schools to schedule as many games against lower ranked CUSA/MWC teams as possible. Have Appalachian State and Middle Tennessee play Charlotte and ODU not ECU. Get Arkansas State,and Louisiana to play UTSA and Tulane not so much Southern Miss and Tulsa. Let Troy take on UAB. If you add NMSU have them play UTSA (along with your rival the Lobos). They should seek out any weak team in a higher profile conference. I know you can't protect all your schools but Arkansas State and Troy have been the Sun Belt's better programs and should be competitive against schools like Memphis, Duke, Ole Miss and possibly Temple. Any win against a higher recognized league will raise the Sun Belt's profile.

I think this would make the strongest Sun Belt.

Sun Belt East
FAU, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Troy, APPALACHIAN STATE, JAMES MADISON
Sun Belt West
Arkansas State, Louisiana, UL-Monroe, Texas State, Western Kentucky, LAMAR, NEW MEXICO STATE

NMSU maybe to far away but would be very competitive in the Sun Belt. Could possibly be travel partner for Texas State.

Texas State to SBC announcement expected at 10 am CT today.Link to live presser at http://www.txstatebobcats.com/splash.aspx?id=splash_95

Blog article out of San Antonio reporting that as expected,Texas State announced accepting a SBC invite this morning.Link at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/the-local- ... invitation

Jon Wilner reporting that SBC "may" be interested in inviting NMSU.Link at http://twitter.com/#!/wilnerhotline/sta ... 0688747520

Imagine that perhaps, all the moves involign CUSA, MWC AND THE SUNBELT are co-ordinated.

Benson would appear to be taking care of his former WAC schools.

CUSA appears to be going to 14.
MWC at 10/9 after adding USU / SJSU.

If Sun-Belt took NMSU (along with TSU announced today), and UTA (speculated),
MWC could go to 14/12 with UTEP, Idaho, Boise, and SDSU (other sports in BW).
CUSA is adding UNT, UTSA, LTU, FIU, UNCC, ODU (14 if they do take ODU, 13 if they then lost UTEP).

All these actions "clean out" the WAC, except for non-FB schools Seattle and Denver.

We seem to be heading in that direction.

Mr.Peanut backing off adding 2 more schools for fb

http://espn1420.com/benson-tempering-ta ... irds-nest/

_________________

WRANGLERS 153-55-1 CVFL CHAMPS '04 '05 '09 '12

NFL CHAMPS '29 '30 '31 '36 '39 '44 '61 '62 '65 '66 '67 '96 '10

BW/WAC/MWC CHAMPS '77 '82 '85 '88 '89 '91 '92 '93 '99 '12
['08 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPS]

Article out of Las Cruces with comments from SBC Commish regarding "possibility" of SBC adding NMSU and Idaho" in the future".Link at http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-sp ... -like-sure

WKU paper article with comments from SBC Commish who says his league "will look" to add more schools,especially an instate opponent for FAU.Link at http://wkuherald.com/sports/article_3bc ... 0f31a.html

There are no FBS schools left for them to get in Fla. plus there are only 2 scholly fcs schools in Fla. Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman. Neither are going to join the SBC.

Georgia Southern are as close as they can get to Fla fbs football ready school.

_________________

WRANGLERS 153-55-1 CVFL CHAMPS '04 '05 '09 '12

NFL CHAMPS '29 '30 '31 '36 '39 '44 '61 '62 '65 '66 '67 '96 '10

BW/WAC/MWC CHAMPS '77 '82 '85 '88 '89 '91 '92 '93 '99 '12
['08 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPS]

For kicks and grins, I figured up what the conference vs. conference records would have been based on last years results if current expansion teams were in their new conference.

I added South Alabama, Georgia State and Texas State to the Sun Belt and subtracted North Texas and FIU.

In the Big East, I added Boise, SDSU, SMU, Houston, Memphis and Navy while subtracting WVU, Pitt and Syracuse.

To CUSA, I added Old Dominion, FIU, UTSA, North Texas and Louisiana Tech but subtracted Houston, SMU and Memphis.

EXAMPLES- FIU's wins agaianst Louisville and UCF would not count as wins for the Sun Belt or a Big East lose because FIU is now in CUSA but Arkansas State's win over Memphis would count as a Big East lose because Memphis is now in the Big East. Also, Arkansas State's wins over FIU and North Texas counts as Sun Belt wins and CUSA loses. Old Dominion's win over Georgia State counts as a CUSA win over the Sun Belt.

THE RESULTS

The NEW Sun Belt vs. The NEW Big East ( 3 wins and 3 loses )
The NEW Sun Belt vs The NEW CUSA ( 9 wins and 10 loses )

UTA not a lock for SBC. The plan is 10/12 or 11/12. Not 14. So they either add UTA for 10/12 or NMSU for 11/12.

http://www.theshorthorn.com/index.php/s ... h-sun-belt

_________________

WRANGLERS 153-55-1 CVFL CHAMPS '04 '05 '09 '12

NFL CHAMPS '29 '30 '31 '36 '39 '44 '61 '62 '65 '66 '67 '96 '10

BW/WAC/MWC CHAMPS '77 '82 '85 '88 '89 '91 '92 '93 '99 '12
['08 NCAA BASEBALL CHAMPS]

Article out of Lafayette with comments from SBC Commish regarding future league expansion process.Looks like SBC could take short pause for "dust to settle" and wait for league meetings on May 22 before making any more moves.Link at http://theadvertiser.com/article/201205 ... ettled-yet