Sun Belt East

[hens96]

Does anyone else get excited about the Sun Belt East football teams? I think that conference would be a dream come true at this stage if they would have us.

[bluehenbillk]

Does anyone else get excited about the Sun Belt East football teams? I think that conference would be a dream come true at this stage if they would have us.

You’d need three teams to leave the SunBelt for them to be interested in taking newcomers. They’re set and happy. UD could’ve had that opportunity years ago but our AD at the time said that “wasn’t really moving up”…..

[Steve1981]

Does anyone else get excited about the Sun Belt East football teams? I think that conference would be a dream come true at this stage if they would have us.

You’d need three teams to leave the SunBelt for them to be interested in taking newcomers. They’re set and happy. UD could’ve had that opportunity years ago but our AD at the time said that “wasn’t really moving up”…..

Not sure when that was, but the College Football Playoffs changed things in a big way. The big event with the G5 was CUSA refusal to listen to Marshall for a nice east wing. But they are Texas base and WKU is pretty far east for them. So, Marshall talked to the Sunbelt and did build a nice east wing. It's the media contract help make this work as the CFP pays 10M per conference with 10 or more teams, performance pool and bowl money. The APR is 300k per team.

We were and kind of in the same boat, but our Athletic Director likes the A10 to a fault. He is about mid way through his contract. So will see what happens. So far men's basketball has struggled during his watch and the same for football.

[Baltimore Hen]

Not sure when that was, but the College Football Playoffs changed things in a big way. The big event with the G5 was CUSA refusal to listen to Marshall for a nice east wing. But they are Texas base and WKU is pretty far east for them. So, Marshall talked to the Sunbelt and did build a nice east wing. It's the media contract help make this work as the CFP pays 10M per conference with 10 or more teams, performance pool and bowl money. The APR is 300k per team.

We were and kind of in the same boat, but our Athletic Director likes the A10 to a fault. He is about mid way through his contract. So will see what happens. So far men's basketball has struggled during his watch and the same for football.

It was Eric Ziady. Maybe 10 years ago...

[HenZoneNation]

I would love to go to Myrtle Beach every other year to watch football. It would make total sense and I would hope that they would see that UD is the sort of school they'd want. Aside from football, we are the sort of university you find in the A10 and ACC. The only difference is those schools didn't have a BOT who not only couldn't see the big picture, but dug their heels in even after it proven a mistake.

My conspiracy theory take on what is happening is that we are moving and the media components of the program, Kevin T. and Scott K. are basically telling the fans who aren't on board yet to do so coz it's happening. UD is usually very buttoned up, very conscious of what is being said within their orbit, and to have articles and multiple public comments and to that degree about the level of competition joining the conference is their style unless they've been given a green light to do so. They are correct I might add and should keep hammering. Between that and some of the recruits we've signed things seem to be trending upward both literally and figuratively.

[tenn hen]

nice post HZN- notice I didn't put the above quote in- wish many would limit their adding the quotes since they simply take up many extra unnecessary pages=JMHO

[Bluewyn Gold]

My conspiracy theory take on what is happening is that we are moving and the media components of the program, Kevin T. and Scott K. are basically telling the fans who aren't on board yet to do so coz it's happening. UD is usually very buttoned up, very conscious of what is being said within their orbit, and to have articles and multiple public comments and to that degree about the level of competition joining the conference is their style unless they've been given a green light to do so.

This isn't a conspiracy theory idea at all; it's simply an intuitive and, IMO, completely accurate take. UD appears to have leaked just enough to the media to grease the wheels of public sentiment, while, at the same time, not showing their hand to the CAA.

That said, you'd better believe every CAA school knows UD is gone there as soon as possible, which is likely why the conference expanded in the manner and to the extent it did. IMO, it wasn't expansion that drove UD away as much as it was the assurance via JMU that they could pull off a similarly successful move without sacrificing its academic and athletic integrity.

Tresolini continues to push the idea in an article titled "Delaware's lopsided win at Hampton in front of tiny crowd makes FBS move more appealing":
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sp ... 989938007/

[Gannonfan]

My conspiracy theory take on what is happening is that we are moving and the media components of the program, Kevin T. and Scott K. are basically telling the fans who aren't on board yet to do so coz it's happening. UD is usually very buttoned up, very conscious of what is being said within their orbit, and to have articles and multiple public comments and to that degree about the level of competition joining the conference is their style unless they've been given a green light to do so.

This isn't a conspiracy theory idea at all; it's simply an intuitive and, IMO, completely accurate take. UD appears to have leaked just enough to the media to grease the wheels of public sentiment, while, at the same time, not showing their hand to the CAA.

That said, you'd better believe every CAA school knows UD is gone there as soon as possible, which is likely why the conference expanded in the manner and to the extent it did. IMO, it wasn't expansion that drove UD away as much as it was the assurance via JMU that they could pull off a similarly successful move without sacrificing its academic and athletic integrity.

Tresolini continues to push the idea in an article titled "Delaware's lopsided win at Hampton in front of tiny crowd makes FBS move more appealing":
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/sp ... 989938007/

The Hampton game was a perfect demonstration of why we need to move up. The stadium was tiny, the crowd was non-existent, the opponent was awful, the broadcast was amateur at best, and it just screamed lack of interest. Heck, back when my kid played travel soccer it felt like one of the places I'd go to watch him play - and he wasn't playing at some crazy elite level either. That's not what you want for your most visible and most expensive athletic offering for a major-ish university.

[Bluewyn Gold]

That's not what you want for your most visible and most expensive athletic offering for a major-ish university.

Those are excellent points, especially considering UD's expenses already match or exceed several current G5 programs. You'd have to think any reasonable cost-benefit analysis couldn't possibly favor continuing in the current CAA. It's just not fiscally sane, unless Delaware is prepared to stop spending like it has on football.

[Housthen18]

The Sun Belt is by far the best option of the three conferences we could realistically join. Better travel than CUSA, better institutional profiles than CUSA (for those that really care about this), and offers a genuine shot at football relevance. JMU is ranked #25 and two NCAA selector polls (Colley Matrix and Wolfe) have them ranked in the top 6, meaning that JMU could actually be awarded a football national championship by the NCAA this year if the season shakes out the right way.

[tenn hen]

GF- you hit it right on the nail with the phrase-"major-ish" university. we can make the jump( like JMU ) to FBS for all the reasons I and many others have posted. It can be done, and we can shed the image of almost major. Maybe it will take a combination of improved sports competition and possibly adding a Law School and/or Med school over the next few years. We thought sports would turn out to be the Front Porch to this transition. Now it is right before our eager eyes and it could open THAT DOOR! grab it and run for the house

[bluehenbillk]

You guys can wake me for the press conference…but there’s a big reason UD hasn’t moved up and may not be anytime soon. Where? Most doors are closed. The AAC isn’t and option, per this thread to title the Sun Belt isn’t an option. CUSA is the island of misfit toys or the MAC - if they’re even interested.

It’s not like UD never played at a place like Hampton before. Parsons Field at Northeastern ring any bells?

[Hens79]

You guys can wake me for the press conference…but there’s a big reason UD hasn’t moved up and may not be anytime soon. Where? Most doors are closed. The AAC isn’t and option, per this thread to title the Sun Belt isn’t an option. CUSA is the island of misfit toys or the MAC - if they’re even interested.

It’s not like UD never played at a place like Hampton before. Parsons Field at Northeastern ring any bells?

Making yet another case for last man standing, or really last man sleeping The “most doors are closed” is approaching one of the most ridiculous statements I have seen here in years. This environment is so dynamic, nobody knows what is going to happen and surely nothing is static. No need to give a review of the massive changes, including this year in CFB. No one could have anticipated them even a year ago. So it is absolute nonsense to say “doors are closed”. But the first thing that needs to happen is for UD to make a commitment and express a desire to move to FBS. ALL signs point to that. It is undeniable.

[Bluewyn Gold]

You guys can wake me for the press conference…but there’s a big reason UD hasn’t moved up and may not be anytime soon. Where? Most doors are closed.

William, you're evidently in a slumber so deep that there's no waking to the bells ringing very loudly around you. Might want to get that checked by a sleep specialist.

Most not riddled with cognitive narcolepsy realize that UD's hasn't reclassified because they haven't had the institutional desire to do so, not for lack of opportunities. A dozen or more of our former conference partners and football opponents - many with far fewer resources than UD - bare witness to the opportunities that were available had UD wanted to pursue them. The circumstances have changed dramatically and PDQ. There's little choice but to move now.

Just because the eventual landing spot doesn't appear evident or desirable to you as a spectator, William, doesn't mean that UD isn't actively working on making it a reality. The signs and signals aren't that hard to read. "Delaware athletic officials have been given approval by the UD Board of Trustees to more closely examine a move up to FBS and entertain possible conference destinations." That information wouldn't have leaked to Mr. Tresolini unless the higher-ups were deadly serious about moving up.

[Housthen18]

You guys can wake me for the press conference…but there’s a big reason UD hasn’t moved up and may not be anytime soon. Where? Most doors are closed. The AAC isn’t and option, per this thread to title the Sun Belt isn’t an option. CUSA is the island of misfit toys or the MAC - if they’re even interested.

It’s not like UD never played at a place like Hampton before. Parsons Field at Northeastern ring any bells?

The thing is, UD received and declined at least one CUSA invite (actually two, according to a UD employee I've spoken to - tomdawg if you see this feel free to confirm) back when CUSA was a much stronger conference made up of teams who are now in the American, ACC, and Big 12. If UD would have accepted at that time it'd probably be in the American by now.

The doors are more closed now but there has been prior interest in our school, and the conference situation is shuffling so rapidly there will be another opening.