Multiple sources have confirmed to the BobcatReport staff that Texas
State will join the Sun Belt Conference for the 2013 season from their
soon-to-be future league, the Western Athletic Conference.
The
Bobcats, one of seven universities competing in the WAC for the 2012
season, will defect from the Denver-based league along with UT San
Antonio (CUSA), Utah State (MWC), and San Jose State (MWC).
Texas
State is expected to replace North Texas in the Sun Belt, also reported
to be joining Conference USA with UTSA. Georgia State was recently
added to the Sun Belt for the 2013 season from the Football Championship
Subdivision. The Sun Belt also expects to lose Florida International to
CUSA.
The 2013 Sun Belt, led by longtime WAC commissioner Karl
Benson, will consist of 2011 champion Arkansas State,
Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Troy, South Alabama, Middle
Tennessee State, Western Kentucky, Florida International, Georgia State,
and Texas State. Longtime member Arkansas-Little Rock does not compete
in football.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Realignment News?
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Well, since I can't predict the future, I get to pick.
There's a posted meeting for the UT System Board of Regents for the 12th. I have been trying to figure out what it is since the middle of last month. UT has steadfastly refused to release what the subject matter is until Monday the 9th.
Well, UTSA has very publicly started lobbying for Alliance membership, specifically the CUSA side. That's thrown a wrench into the plans of Karl Benson and the Sun Belt, whom I believe was ready to offer them membership next week at the same time he was formally going to offer Georgia State.
What does this mean for Texas State? Well, one school's loss is another one's gain. I am working my rear off here but I believe Texas State is next up for the Belt. I don't have a timeframe on when we should expect this but it's in the works.
There's a ton of details to be worked out, like exit fees and other nonsense. You're not going to hear a peep out of the administration or the Sun Belt. This has been very hard to track down.
Texas State and Georgia State would join the Sun Belt for 2013.
Now, the bad news. Texas State is a potential candidate for the Mountain West Conference if they go to 12 teams. They might do it now, they might wait a year. Either way, they are going to expand to more than 8 or 9 with the addition of UTEP. If Texas State joins the Sun Belt, they will probably be saddled with a huge buyout if they want to leave. I'm talking BCS conference size, if not greater. They'll already have to pay exit fees to the WAC on top of everything else. Benson is acutely aware of the financial aspect involved.
The longer the wait until an announcement, the better Texas State looks in the eyes of the Mountain West. Members like Wyoming and New Mexico covet the location between Austin and San Antonio for recruiting purposes. The problem here is that they still might lose another member and not want anyone at State's level to join until 2015. CUSA's television contract dictates that they are to have a championship game, so they're a little more hard pressed for members before the '13 season. The two conferences are working together to ensure stability so I believe CUSA's roster will be filled first. There's schools ahead of Texas State in line for the MWC, such as San Jose State and Utah State.
How patient is Texas State going to be? I have no idea.
There's a posted meeting for the UT System Board of Regents for the 12th. I have been trying to figure out what it is since the middle of last month. UT has steadfastly refused to release what the subject matter is until Monday the 9th.
Well, UTSA has very publicly started lobbying for Alliance membership, specifically the CUSA side. That's thrown a wrench into the plans of Karl Benson and the Sun Belt, whom I believe was ready to offer them membership next week at the same time he was formally going to offer Georgia State.
What does this mean for Texas State? Well, one school's loss is another one's gain. I am working my rear off here but I believe Texas State is next up for the Belt. I don't have a timeframe on when we should expect this but it's in the works.
There's a ton of details to be worked out, like exit fees and other nonsense. You're not going to hear a peep out of the administration or the Sun Belt. This has been very hard to track down.
Texas State and Georgia State would join the Sun Belt for 2013.
Now, the bad news. Texas State is a potential candidate for the Mountain West Conference if they go to 12 teams. They might do it now, they might wait a year. Either way, they are going to expand to more than 8 or 9 with the addition of UTEP. If Texas State joins the Sun Belt, they will probably be saddled with a huge buyout if they want to leave. I'm talking BCS conference size, if not greater. They'll already have to pay exit fees to the WAC on top of everything else. Benson is acutely aware of the financial aspect involved.
The longer the wait until an announcement, the better Texas State looks in the eyes of the Mountain West. Members like Wyoming and New Mexico covet the location between Austin and San Antonio for recruiting purposes. The problem here is that they still might lose another member and not want anyone at State's level to join until 2015. CUSA's television contract dictates that they are to have a championship game, so they're a little more hard pressed for members before the '13 season. The two conferences are working together to ensure stability so I believe CUSA's roster will be filled first. There's schools ahead of Texas State in line for the MWC, such as San Jose State and Utah State.
How patient is Texas State going to be? I have no idea.
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