Can We Stop It Now?

emmitt01 · September 7, 2007

I know that it's the fashionable thing to do (or is it still, it's Fall now and not Summer...have the fashions changed?) and that we all love it but bashing the Belt just might not be as en vogue as it once was. Sure, I know, the number one problem facing our football program is the lowly Sun Belt and how nobody will ever love us or give us hugs until we are out of it. Nevermind that the Belt had a winning record against our dream home, that mansion known as CUSA, last season. Forget that the Belt's champion drubbed a team from CUSA on national TV in our bowl game. Arkansas State (out)plays UT to within 8 points? SBC sucks. Troy hangs with Arkansas? SBC sucks. Middle Tennessee comes a few big plays from shocking Louisville and the football world? SBC sucks...right? I mean I must've heard the announcer last night say 50 times "Louisville is being played neck and neck by Middle Tennessee from the Sun Belt conference. Surely he said this to remind the rest of the world, and us, that the impossible was occuring.

But Emmitt, you're missing our point. CUSA has more bowl invites. CUSA has more national prestige. Yeah, yeah, I know and football fortunes and perceptions are set in stone. Because it's the Sun Belt name and not the relative quality of football that has been the problem, right? If we started, as a conference, to beat the hell out of the WAC, CUSA, and MAC we would remain on the bottom of the heap...wouldn't we?

Hell, what do I know. Beating down our current home and complaining about what we don't yet have is surely the way to take us to new heights. In fact, I'm gonna call my beautiful wife at work right now and tell her if she'd just get a boob job and lose about 5 pounds my self-esteem would go through the roof.

Disclaimer: Lera, if you are reading this board I would NEVER suggest such things. I love you.

Censored by Laurie · September 7, 2007

:clapping:

Eagle1855 · September 7, 2007

"Louisville is being played neck and neck by Middle Tennessee from the Sun Belt conference. Surely he said this to remind the rest of the world, and us, that the impossible was occuring.

Completely agree. My dad and I were watching the game and were commenting on what an asshat that guy was, and how frustrating it is that the jerkwads cant give any credit where it's due. (of course that's my language, not his). Guy kept saying how Louisville was "letting" them hang around. REALLY?

I almost called into the radio station here in Houston to go off on that this morning, decided against it because I had done it yesterday (dont want to be THAT guy). They were talking about how UT and Louisville had no business keeping the game that close, and I'm thinking, MAYBE THE SUNBELT ISNT AS BAD AS YOU ALL THINK? I mean, a somewhat logical person would have to arrive at that conclusion at some point, right?

It annoyed me even more that the conversation was going on on a houston station because both of the hometown teams lost to SunBelt teams last year. In fact, 3 out of the 4 sunbelt victories over C-USA were Texas schools. Oops.

It will be interesting to see how we do in the rest of our OOC games this weekend. FAU/Ok-Lite and us at SMU... both big opportunities to accidentally hang with teams we arent supposed to hang with.

Shof · September 7, 2007

In fact, I'm gonna call my beautiful wife at work right now and tell her if she'd just get a boob job and lose about 5 pounds my self-esteem would go through the roof.
Disclaimer: Lera, if you are reading this board I would NEVER suggest such things. I love you.

Just do it for giggles then tell us about it. Disclaimer: if you are still alive! :rolleyes:

Smitty · September 7, 2007

Completely agree. The Sun Belt is growing up nicely.

Green Lantern · September 7, 2007

The last paragraph there made me lol (yea I know it's gay to lol...but I did it anyway).

To your point...I think the Sunbelt's programs are starting to grow up a little bit. If we get that second gauranteed bowl game (I'm sure Ark St. Fan probably has info regarding this) for the conference, I really think that would make a positive statement about Sunbelt football.

Has anyone noticed how many more Sunbelt games are being broadcast on National TV in the past couple of years? I think we need to give the conference and WW some credit for doing small things each year that raise the credibility of the conference. Now we just need some teams to take that next step and cash in on opportunities to win games against the big boys.

pollock · September 7, 2007

We have a golden opportunity tomorrow to argue the point.

NT80 · September 7, 2007

The only thing that will stop the beat down is a change in perception with wins and close games with those other conferences. While keeping it close will be seen by many as a fluke and blip against the opponent, scores like our 79-10 loss or FIU's 59-0 loss to Penn St. are keeping the image of the SBC low. Even Boise's success has only elevated them, not the WAC as a whole. The SMUt game is an excellent opportunity for us to take a small step away from the OU debacle.

gangrene · September 7, 2007

I don't know about the rest of you, but I think the Belt looks great this year. I'm actually really concerned about SB conference play for the first time ever. ASU and MTSU both played teams on the same level as OU and both teams had excellent showings. MTSU got hammered by FAU the week before and La-La had a good showing against a strong (IMO) South Carolina team. In fact, only FIU and us had really embarrassing losses.

I'm thinking we'll see some SBC victories this weekend:

FAU over Okie State (I imagine former OU coach Schnelly is looking forward to having a big game at OSU)

ASU over Memphis

La-La over Ohio

UNT over SMU!!!!

I'm also interested in watching La-Monroe play Clemson and Troy @ Florida, although this one could get ugly.

NCMeanGreen · September 7, 2007

I'm thinking we'll see some SBC victories this weekend:
FAU over Okie State (I imagine former OU coach Schnelly is looking forward to having a big game at OSU)
ASU over Memphis
La-La over Ohio
UNT over SMU!!!!
I'm also interested in watching La-Monroe play Clemson and Troy @ Florida, although this one could get ugly.

I predict 3 out of 4 above. Until we prove otherwise, we couldn't even beat ourselves in an arm-wrestling tournament!

gangrene · September 7, 2007

I predict 3 out of 4 above. Until we prove otherwise, we couldn't even beat ourselves in an arm-wrestling tournament!

Well, I might agree with you on that one...but I wouldn't be a very good Mean Green fan if I didn't predict a UNT victory this weekend. Both teams looked horrific last weekend, getting outscored by a combined total of 138 - 19...so anything is possible tomorrow night.

GoMeanGreen1999 · September 7, 2007

The only thing that will stop the beat down is a change in perception with wins and close games with those other conferences. While keeping it close will be seen by many as a fluke and blip against the opponent, scores like our 79-10 loss or FIU's 59-0 loss to Penn St. are keeping the image of the SBC low. Even Boise's success has only elevated them, not the WAC as a whole. The SMUt game is an excellent opportunity for us to take a small step away from the OU debacle.

Great point.

Troy @ Florida, although this one could get ugly.

This game won't help our image. Florida may be the next USC. They were loaded with talent from the Ron Zook era, and now with Meyer and his top recruiting classes, they are going to be good for a while. That Tebow kid has an incredible arm.