Last summer, I wrote an insanely extensive and huge article detailing what (at the time) seemed like the inevitable conclusion: the 'Belt was going to add a new member to the conference. The only question was who?
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) seemed like the strong candidate as they had made several public comments about their desire to move to the FBS. Recently, Sunbelt Commissioner Karl Benson finally admitted publicly for the first time that the conference and EKU have had formal and informal discussions with regard to membership. However, Benson also mentioned an additional name to the mix: Coastal Carolina University.
The Chanticleers, while certainly a name that has been thrown around and rumored before, never appeared to have any real (or at least public) desires to move up; after all they've only been sponsoring football for a little over 12 years now. But now not only have they been thrown into the mix, they certainly appear to be the front runners for the offer to become the long discussed "12th member"...and eventually bring their football.
The fact is the Chants, facilities wise, are not ready for FBS (particularly the football stadium, which we'll discuss later). Though EKU isn't quite up to par either, they've recently announced massive campus renovations and construction, including a completely new visitors grandstand which will have new locker rooms, coaches offices and other amenities.
On top of all the chaos was a report from the Dothan Eagle stating there will be a third campus visit by the SBC expansion committee-New Mexico State University-who will be hosting the group "mid week".
For this addition of the RamblinArkansan, we'll take a look at the three universities, their basic campus make up, facilities and I'll give my two cents on the situation.
Coastal Carolina: The University
- Established: 1954
- Endowment: $25.5 Million
- Enrollment: 8,867 (2014 Numbers)
- Campus Size: 630 Acres
- Location: Conway,SC (Pop. 16,317)
- Primary Academic Focus: Liberal Arts as well as one of 33 National Sea-Grant Universities
- Notable Alumni: Mike Tolbert, NFL Player (Carolina Panthers), Diamond Dallas Page (Professional Wrestler) Michael Kelly (Actor) Dustin Johnson (7 Time PGA Tour Champion) and Edwin McCain (vocal Artist).
Eastern Kentucky University:
- Established: 1906
- Endowment: $54.1 Million
- Enrollment: 13, 891 (2014 numbers)
- Campus Size: 892 acres
- Location: Richmond, Ky (Pop. 32,550)
- Primary Academic Focus: Teaching and Research Institution
- Notable Alumni: Roy Kidd (CFB Hall of Fame inductee and 8th winningest coach in NCAA history), Rex Ryan (Buffalo Bills Heach Coach) Sam Champion (Weather Anchor for "Good Morning America" and ABC News) Lee Majors (Actor).
New Mexico State University:
- Established: 1888
- Endowment: $222 Million
- Enrollment: 15,829 (2014 numbers)
- Campus Size: 6,000 acres
- Location: Las Cruces, NM (Pop. 97,618)
- Primary Academic Focus: Land and Space Grant Research Insitution
- Notable Alumni: Alvy Ray Smith (Co founder of Pixar), Pervis Atkins (NFL Hall of Fame Inductee), Scott Bailey (Actor), Alan Hale (Astronomer who discovered Hale-Bopp Comet), Reggie Jordan (Retired NBA player).
The Athletics: CCU
CCU Athletic Budget: $23, 374, 712
Notable accomplishments and accolades: Six Big South Football conference championships (2 outright, 4 shared) 5 FCS Playoff appearances (4-5 record).
Football Stadium: Brooks Stadium
Opened: 2003 (Renovated 2010)
Capacity: 9,214
Largest Crowd: 2014-Charleston Southern (10,194)
The basketball program has won five Big South Conference tournament titles, with an additional seven regular season titles as well as one divisional title in 2014. They've made Four NCAA tournament appearances (1991, 1993, 2014 and 2015), with two trips to the NIT (2010 & 2011) and one showing in the CIT (2012).
Basketball Arena: HTC Arena
Opened: 2012
Capacity: 3,212
Without a doubt, CCU's most accomplished athletic squad has been there men's baseball team. They have made the NCAA tournament 13 times, The program has received #1 regional seeds on four occasions (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010) and won 50+ games in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2010. In addition, the Chanticleers have hosted NCAA Regionals in 2007, 2008, and 2010 and a Super Regional in 2010. Their current head coach, Gary Gilmore, boasts an astonishing 67% winning average since he took over as coach in 1996 and has lead the Chanticleers to 10 Big South titles in his tenure.
Eastern Kentucky Athletics:
Football accolades: Two National Championships in football (1979 and 1982), with two additional National Runner Up Titles (1980 and 1981), 21 conference titles (all in the Ohio Valley Conference; 1954, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2007, 2008, and 2011), and 21 appearances in the FCS playoffs, posting a 16-19 record in the post season, with the last appearance coming in 2014 against Indiana State.
Opened: 1969
Capacity: 20,000
Record Attendance: 1979-Western Kentucky (25,300)
The Colonels Basketball squad has been a pretty successful team, making eight trips to the big dance (last one coming in 2014),winning six conference tournament titles as well six additional regular season titles. In addition they've earned one bid to the CBI tournament in 2010 and two trips to the CIT in 2013 and 2015.
Opened: 1963
Capacity: 6,500
Baseball hasn't been quite as prolific as CCU's, but the Colonels still have achieved quite a bit on the diamond; they've made four NCAA regional appearances, have won 16 OVC regular season conference championships (and four tournament championships) and boast 40 MLB draft picks. They recently hired Edwin Thompson (formerly the pitching and defensive coach as well as recruiting coordinator from fellow SBC member Georgia State) this past July.
New Mexico State Aggies Athletics:
2014 Athletic Budget: $29, 287, 917
Football Accolades: Four conference titles (two from the defunct Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, and the additional two from the Missouri Valley Conference). Three all time bowl appearances, all in the Sun Bowl (1936, 1959 and 1960).
Opened: 1978
Capacity: 30,343
Largest Crowd: 1998-UTEP (32,993)
Basketball on the other hand has been the Aggies strongest and most consistent program in their athletic department. On top of boasting over 20 appearances in the NCAA tournament, NMSU has also made five sweet sixteen appearances. They've won six WAC Conference tournament titles and three additional Big West Conference tournament titles; in addition the Aggies have made four trips to the NIT.
Opened: 1968
Capacity: 12,482
Aggies baseball has made three NCAA tournament appearances (2002, 2003 and 2012) with one conference tournament title (SBC) 2002, and one regular season title during their WAC days (2012).
Their stadium, Presley Askew Field, received a major improvement starting in May, 2014 was made with the addition of chairback seating and an expansion of the south stands. Additional 2014 improvements included dugout renovation and expansion, upgrades to clubhouse lighting, sprinkler system repair, fencing upgrades, pressbox upgrades, and upgrades to the scoreboard.
...WHEW! Let's take a deep breath and try to soak in all the information we've just reviewed. When it comes down to it, all three universities certainly have their pros that make them ideal candidates; Coastal Carolina, the youngest program of the three, certainly has achieved a vast amount of accolades, championships and accomplishments; located near a popular tourist destination of Myrtle Beach certainly boasts their appeal. Eastern Kentucky meanwhile has a strong pedigree of winning, particularly on the gridiron; Karl Benson has stated numerous of times finding a close travel partner for Appalachian State was and is going to be a huge factor in deciding a new member, which in that case geography plays a positive factor for the Colonels as they are located closer to Appalachian State (270 miles) than the Chanticleers (281 miles). However the wildcard here is undoubtedly the Aggies; Arkansas State athletic director Terry Mohajir as well as head basketball coach for the Red Wolves John Brady have both gone on the record stating their full support for New Mexico State as full members; I think it's a safe bet to assume they're not the only SBC program to have New Mexico State's back in the expansion talks.
Other than finding the Mountaineers a travel partner, we really have no idea what else the conference is wanting in terms of new membership (or if their is anything else). As an outsider looking in, I can't help but feel this could be a potentially huge moment in the history of the Sunbelt Conference; I certainly get the reasoning for adding only one additional member and also the justification of adding all three and having a 12 team football and 14 all sports members alignment. However all of it is moot if the individual universities can't come to an agreement or at least a compromise; only time will tell as to what the expansion committee will recommend to the University Presidents.
