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One almost needs a scorecard to keep up with all the official changes taking place in terms of conference realignment today, and observers warn even more changes are likely ahead. "We have been anticipating this day for quite some time," Sun Belt Conference commissioner Karl Benson said in a statement released by the league today. "A lot of hard work has been put in by the administrators around the Sun Belt and at these three institutions. It is very rewarding to see that hard work pay off. "And while we take a moment to reflect on the process that has gotten us here, we also take focus on what this day means for us moving forward. There is no longer any time to look in the rearview mirror. With the membership that is joining us today, and the membership that will join us on July 1, 2014, we know that this conference will continue to rise in all aspects and our future is unquestionably bright." With the changes, the Sun Belt becomes a 10-team league this year with eight of the schools -- South Alabama, Troy, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Arkansas State, Western Kentucky, Georgia State and Texas State -- competing for the football crown. Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas-Arlington are members but do not field teams in football. Recently, the league unveiled its new logo and brand which was a year in development. The slogan adopted by the league is "Together We Rise.'' Read more: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/07/sun_belt_conference_welcomes_n.html#incart_river

The Sun Belt Conference has fixed up its logo to go along with its involvement of the college football realignment phase. Commissioner Karl Benson released a statement that included the new direction of the conference, which says goodbye to Florida Atlantic, FIU, Middle Tennessee, and North Texas, and welcomes Georgia State and Texas State as full-time members. “The unveiling of our new logo comes after months of review of how we wanted to express the ‘new’ Sun Belt Conference,” said Benson. “It is a very exciting chance for us to display the opportunity and optimism that exists in the Sun Belt Conference as we move forward.” The conference has also added the motto “Together We Rise.” Idaho and New Mexico State will join in 2014, with Appalachian State and Georgia Southern moving up in 2015. read more: http://www.faniq.com/blog/College-Football-2013-Sun-Belt-releases-new-logo-Blog-66574

This is directly from the UT System Board agenda: 1. U. T. Arlington: Authorization to accept invitation from the Sun Belt Conference and to negotiate and finalize terms for athletic conference membership Also noticed this for UTSA: U. T. San Antonio: Request for approval for athletic fee increases effective for Fiscal Years 2013 and 2014 Will be interesting to see what the new athletic fee for UTSA is and how it compares to ours. Im sure UTEP will be interested to know too! http://www.utsystem.edu/sites/utsfiles/offices/board-of-regents/board-meetings/agenda-book-full/5-24-2012AB.pdf