Should Sun Belt change name?

[Harry]

CUSA’s membership — or its half of the upcoming merger with the Mountain West — is better than that of the Sun Belt, but not by a wide margin. Keep in mind, that Cincinnati, Louisville and South Florida left CUSA seven years ago. Central Florida, Memphis, Houston and SMU will be gone next year.

In 2013, CUSA’s eight schools will include Southern Miss, UAB, Tulane, East Carolina, Marshall, Rice, UTEP and Tulsa. Not bad (for a mid-major conference), but not great.

So what keeps CUSA — in the present, not the past — seemingly settled above the Sun Belt? In a word, brand.

CUSA was founded in 1995 and gained some momentum with those aforementioned former members. The Sun Belt, though a very reputable basketball conference 20 years ago, was reborn with FBS football and mostly new members about a decade ago.

Those within the Sun Belt know about the strides made over the last few years, particularly in football. But take a poll around college athletics, and Joe Fan is rarely aware of such progress. It’s perhaps a testament to the Sun Belt that its success has accelerated at a higher rate than its brand, although some would say the two are always linked.

Read more: http://www.dnj.com/article/20120228/BLUERAIDERS01/302280017

[UNT90]

If UTSA and Tx St are included in new membership, I vote for the Sunland Conference.

[GrayEagle]

Probably wouldn't hurt; it depends on the public perception of the Sun Belt Conference. Still basketball? Entry-level football?

Since it may take in several of the old WAC members, how about the Southern Athletic Conference, or SAC? Each member is a SAC base. Just think...we would lead the FBS in SAC(ks) every year. Epitome of defense. The press would have a field day.

Edited February 28, 2012 by GrayEagle

[DeepGreen]

Or, sadSAC. The press could have a field day with that name.

[Harry]

If UTSA and Tx St are included in new membership, I vote for the Sunland Conference.

I don't think it should have "Sun" in it at all... no point in that to me.

[gksmith]

I don't think changing the name will change the "brand" on the Sunbelt. The name is pretty important to branding and it is hard to make a brand if you change the name.

"What conference is that?"

SBC has made great strides in Basketball and Football. Since UNT does not have a baseball program (yet) I don't know about that part of it. Other sports like track, softball, gymnastics are part of the growth too.

One change I would like to see is a larger set of schools in the major sports. UALR (if they have a football program), USA, Denver (if they have a football program) need to be in the conference for Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Track at least. Look at the Big 12, SEC, Big 10, Pac 12 - all of the member schools in football also compete in basketball, baseball, softball, swiming and diving, soccer. Once UNT gets a baseball team, we are pretty much in the SBC in all sports.

[UNT90]

I don't think it should have "Sun" in it at all... no point in that to me.

Southbelt?

[Green P1]

Moon Band?

[VideoEagle]

It could become the American South Conference. (Again) That conference had ULL, stAte and La Tech in it along with UCF, Lamar and New Orleans.

[meangreen]

The WAC.

Calm down everyone.

[UNTFan23]

UALR (if they have a football program), USA, Denver (if they have a football program) need to be in the conference for Football, Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Soccer and Track at least.

Denver will be leaving the Sun Belt for the WAC at the end of the year (May or June time frame).

[greenminer]

The Moontower Conference (MTC)! Who wouldn't want to go to the Moontower?!?

[UNTexas]

Party at the Moontower.