For the same reason Denver is leaving. The Sun Belt said that all schools have to participate in all of their core sports, football being one of the core sports. So if you don't have football, they will kick you out. I am sure that UALR has options, but I believe the Summit League is one possibility.
They would help with the travel partner pairings. Rather than have UMKC paired with USD like this year, the Yotes could pair-up with UNO and UMKC would be with UALR.
Little Rock would definitely give SF a run for it's Summit League Tournament bid. They seem to do very well hosting the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. I would definitley go down there for a little SL BB and some early season golf!!
Honestly, the more I think about the situation that the Summit League maybe in the next few years, if I'm Douple I would get the current presidents together and I would guarantee the tournament in Little Rock for 2 years after SF's next stint, just to let them know how serious the SL is about getting them.
The SF Sports Authority should look at it as a "necessary evil" of keeping the SL solvent. They won't, but IMO they should.
Little Rock has a VERY NICE arena at the Arkansas River. Watched the SEC WBB championships there in 09. No where near filled. Altho the TN crowd was good. Like Sioux Falls, Little Rock would focus on having the tourney there. However, still overshadowed by the HOGS (Razorback) coverage. UCA, AR St, UALR, UA-PB all get back page coverage relative to U of ARK coverage.
Denver is joining the WCC with Gonzaga, BYU, St. Mary....
Denver is joining the WAC not the WCC. They will be in the conference with Utah State, New Mexico State, Idaho, three former southland conference teams from texas and a few others. The WAC may be in trouble if the Conference USA/Mountain West alliance raids them.
Nobody left in the WAC worth raiding on the football front. They'll also be down in MBB with all the incoming Southland schools and Denver. Isn't Seattle also joining the WAC?
Nobody left in the WAC worth raiding on the football front. They'll also be down in MBB with all the incoming Southland schools and Denver. Isn't Seattle also joining the WAC?
So whose is panicking? I feel good this morning. I don't think any one on this board has the answers, but its fun to discuss. Carry on! Maybe I dont have the rank to give that order.
So whose is panicking? I feel good this morning. I don't think any one on this board has the answers, but its fun to discuss. Carry on! Maybe I dont have the rank to give that order.
So whose is panicking? I feel good this morning. I don't think any one on this board has the answers, but its fun to discuss. Carry on! Maybe I dont have the rank to give that order.
For the same reason Denver is leaving. The Sun Belt said that all schools have to participate in all of their core sports, football being one of the core sports. So if you don't have football, they will kick you out. I am sure that UALR has options, but I believe the Summit League is one possibility.
Was told about this thread, so must correct some misinformation.The Sunbelt is absolutely not kicking out UALR. Several years ago, the Sunbelt implemented rules where members had to sponsor at least 12 Sunbelt sports. The Sunbelt does not require football. The only school this impacted was Denver, which refused to comply by adding sports like baseball, softball, and track. Denver could have stayed if they had added the minimum number of sports. The Sunbelt also gave Denver four years to become compliant. But for Denver, the Sunbelt really was not a good fit anyway. For UALR, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that UALR would add football either. War Memorial Stadium is available and the Razorbacks only play one game there a year. Right now, the Sunbelt is even talking about adding schools like Charlotte and UT Arlington that like UALR could add football and eventually go FBS.The idea that UALR would move to the Summit as presently configured is absolutely ludicrous. UALR administrators would be run out of town if that were to happen. When there was talk that the Sunbelt might require football, UALR put out feelers to other leagues. The Summit Commissioner went to the press with that information and UALR slammed the door on him for using UALR for his own self interest. If Summit had had a southern wing with Oral Roberts, Centenary, and a school like UT-Arlington, three years ago, UALR maybe, maybe, would have considered a move. But by the Summit League running to the press slammed the door on that happening. Now, without at least three other teams in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, the idea is preposterous. Sorry, but if you guys think that any school more than 100 miles from Sioux Falls would honestly be excited by playing a tournament there in March, that is just down right delusional.
A league UALR would consider is the MVC. With ORU, UALR could really add to the baseball strength of that conference plus our basketball arena already meeets MVC standards. Schools like Wichita State and Missouri State , which together have a lot of pull in that league, would like the MVC to move south if schools get added.
Was told about this thread, so must correct some misinformation.The Sunbelt is absolutely not kicking out UALR. Several years ago, the Sunbelt implemented rules where members had to sponsor at least 12 Sunbelt sports. The Sunbelt does not require football. The only school this impacted was Denver, which refused to comply by adding sports like baseball, softball, and track. Denver could have stayed if they had added the minimum number of sports. The Sunbelt also gave Denver four years to become compliant. But for Denver, the Sunbelt really was not a good fit anyway. For UALR, it is not out of the realm of possibilities that UALR would add football either. War Memorial Stadium is available and the Razorbacks only play one game there a year. Right now, the Sunbelt is even talking about adding schools like Charlotte and UT Arlington that like UALR could add football and eventually go FBS.The idea that UALR would move to the Summit as presently configured is absolutely ludicrous. UALR administrators would be run out of town if that were to happen. When there was talk that the Sunbelt might require football, UALR put out feelers to other leagues. The Summit Commissioner went to the press with that information and UALR slammed the door on him for using UALR for his own self interest. If Summit had had a southern wing with Oral Roberts, Centenary, and a school like UT-Arlington, three years ago, UALR maybe, maybe, would have considered a move. But by the Summit League running to the press slammed the door on that happening. Now, without at least three other teams in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, the idea is preposterous. Sorry, but if you guys think that any school more than 100 miles from Sioux Falls would honestly be excited by playing a tournament there in March, that is just down right delusional.
Honestly, does any one ever travel to Sioux Falls for pleasure? Maybe small town folks around there, but that is it.Places rumored to be bidding on future Sunbelt tournaments: Biloxi, N Orleans, Hot Springs, S Haven Mississippi (casinos),Nashville,Pensacola
Comment