Post by Trojan Warrior on May 14, 2014 7:44:06 GMT -6
A great article by Matt Murschel | College Gridiron 365
Orlando Sentinel (Full Article Here)
More new faces in the Sun Belt
The Buzz: Few conferences have suffered the wrath of conference realignment like the Sun Belt. The league went from 10 teams in 2012 to eight in 2013. In an effort to bolster its numbers, league officials have been actively hosting an ongoing membership drive with some success. Wayward programs like Idaho and New Mexico State will join the league in June as will Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Both will make the jump from the FCS to FBS. Despite Western Kentucky’s defection to Conference USA, the Sun Belt will open the season with 11 teams.
League looking to expand postseason presence
The Buzz: The Sun Belt finished with seven bowl-eligible teams, but with limited bowl tie-ins only Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State wound up playing in the postseason. In an effort to create more postseason opportunities for its members, conference officials worked with several bowl to create additional tie-ins. Along with the GoDaddy and New Orleans bowls, the Sun Belt also will send a team to the newly-minted Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. And starting in 2015, there will be an additional opportunity with the Cure Bowl in Orlando.
More changes on the way
The Buzz: Make no bones about it, Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson isn’t standing pat when it comes to his league. It’s no secret that the conference is looking to add a 12th member soon. Adding another school would allow the league to create divisions and begin hosting a conference football championship game. That means an opportunity for more revenue for the league and its membership. Several candidates have been rumored with Liberty as a possible front-runner. James Madison was on the list, but school officials squashed any talk by stating the Dukes were content remaining in the FCS at this time.
Orlando Sentinel (Full Article Here)
More new faces in the Sun Belt
The Buzz: Few conferences have suffered the wrath of conference realignment like the Sun Belt. The league went from 10 teams in 2012 to eight in 2013. In an effort to bolster its numbers, league officials have been actively hosting an ongoing membership drive with some success. Wayward programs like Idaho and New Mexico State will join the league in June as will Appalachian State and Georgia Southern. Both will make the jump from the FCS to FBS. Despite Western Kentucky’s defection to Conference USA, the Sun Belt will open the season with 11 teams.
League looking to expand postseason presence
The Buzz: The Sun Belt finished with seven bowl-eligible teams, but with limited bowl tie-ins only Louisiana-Lafayette and Arkansas State wound up playing in the postseason. In an effort to create more postseason opportunities for its members, conference officials worked with several bowl to create additional tie-ins. Along with the GoDaddy and New Orleans bowls, the Sun Belt also will send a team to the newly-minted Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. And starting in 2015, there will be an additional opportunity with the Cure Bowl in Orlando.
More changes on the way
The Buzz: Make no bones about it, Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson isn’t standing pat when it comes to his league. It’s no secret that the conference is looking to add a 12th member soon. Adding another school would allow the league to create divisions and begin hosting a conference football championship game. That means an opportunity for more revenue for the league and its membership. Several candidates have been rumored with Liberty as a possible front-runner. James Madison was on the list, but school officials squashed any talk by stating the Dukes were content remaining in the FCS at this time.