LAS CRUCES - New Mexico State University had recent
communication with Georgia Southern about possible joint membership into the
Sun Belt Conference, according to NMSU Athletics Director McKinley Boston.
But recent conference realignment activity now has Georgia
Southern and NMSU working as independent entities in future conference
explorations.
"It was part of a strategy we were exploring,"
Boston said on NMSU's behalf.
During the recent years of conference realignment, Sun Belt
school presidents have strived to remain within their geographic boundaries -
essentially spanning from Florida to east Texas - so adding Georgia Southern
could make sense in building the conference's southeastern base.
Speculation also has the Sun Belt interested in Appalachian
State, a school located in Boone, N.C.
If Georgia Southern and Appalachian State - two schools that
currently play in the Football Championship Subdivision - were added as
members, the Sun Belt would be back to 10 football-playing schools: Appalachian
State, Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Louisiana Lafayette,
Louisiana Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy and Western Kentucky.
If the Sun Belt decides to seek a 12-team football-playing
membership - and thus a two-division alignment with a championship game on the
line - perhaps NMSU and the University of Idaho could be further considered to
fill such a void.
According to a public records request from the Appalachian
State sports blog AppStateNation.com, in late December Sun Belt Commissioner
Karl Benson sent an email with a list of the following schools as possible
additions to its membership: Appalachian
State, Delaware, Georgia Southern, Idaho, Illinois State, Jacksonville State,
James Madison, Lamar, Liberty, Missouri State, New Mexico State, Richmond, Sam
Houston State, Towson and Tennessee-Chattanooga. Of that list, only Idaho
and NMSU currently play FBS football (with the others currently FCS members).
When asked about possible future conference membership
opportunities as it pertained to the Sun Belt, Boston said "we're
exploring all options."
Well I think this conference is more exciting now. Surely the teams will be more competitive and will strive more to be the champion of this conference.
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