rivalry between Sun Belt, C-USA teams will intensify

[Harry]

MOBILE, Alabama - There has always been a sort of mid-major, schoolyard fight existence between the Sun Belt Conference and Conference USA. A my-dad-can-beat-up-your-dad relationship, with every scrap between the leagues celebrated with winks and hallway backslaps by the victor, if not indeed blatant cheering.

Now, those schoolyard scraps are only going to intensify. And that might be a good thing for both conferences, both of which could use a rivalry or two to keep things interesting.

As of Monday, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Florida International are no longer members of the Sun Belt, leaving the league to join C-USA. The Sun Belt added Texas State, Georgia State and Texas-Arlington to its roster that day. A year from now, Western Kentucky will leave to join the four departing Sun Belt members in C-USA to add another element to the feud.

Western Kentucky's year should be interesting, with the school having already announced its intentions to leave. The Hilltoppers, a long-time member of the Sun Belt, won't be the most welcomed opponent at opposing stadiums and arenas during its farewell tour. Some in the league, especially conference leaders, feel Western

Kentucky did the league a disservice by announcing its plans only days after it appeared the Sun Belt had set its future roster allowing for divisional play and a football championship game. Now it must go out and find yet another member to make that formula work.

So each time the Hilltoppers take it on the chin this season, there will be smiles - probably hidden, but employed nonetheless - around the league to mark the occasion. That will only intensify the rivalry.

Read more: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/07/with_changing_membership_roste.html