Sun Belt adds Ga. Southern, 3 others as GSU foes

Idaho, New Mexico State, Georgia Southern and Appalachian State were announced as members of the Sun Belt Conference on Wednesday, giving Georgia State four new opponents in its new conference. The Aggies and Vandals are coming on as football-only members. All four schools, which will bring the Sun Belt’s total to 12 for football, are joining in 2014.

“It’s been a very productive day, a very historic day for the Sun Belt,” said conference commissioner Karl Benson, who spent the first part of the day in Statesboro before traveling to Boone for an afternoon news conference.

Georgia Southern and Appalachian State are long-time football powers on the FCS level, with nine national championships between them. Benson said their success is one of the reasons the two schools were so attractive.

“The only difference between (them) and what we have now is FCS in front of their names,” he said. He noted the student support, the attendance and the traditions are FBS-like.

Georgia Southern president Brooks A. Keel said it’s time to see if the Eagles can replicate their success on the next level.

“Some folks are just afraid of change, just afraid of moving forward, and I understand that and respect that,” he said. “But we’re all about trying to make this university the greatest we possibly can, and this an opportunity to take us to another level and do just that.”

The university is paying for the increased costs of the additional scholarships and other expenses with a $75 increase in student fees that was approved by the Board of Regents last year.

Benson offered other details on the new conference:

• The league is still deciding if there will be eight or nine conference games in 2014. In an eight-game schedule, the league is considering five divisional games and three non-divisional games. Over a two-year cycle, a team would play all six non-division opponents, but never have to play at both New Mexico State and Idaho in the same year. A portion of the travel expenses for those trips would be paid for out of a stipend set aside by the conference.

Benson said the number of conference games may be decided at league meetings in May. He said nine games would create an imbalance that hasn’t been solved.

• Benson said he hopes to secure at least one more and possibly two more bowl tie-ins by 2014 to go with the two automatic bids the league currently receives. However, the Mountaineers and Eagles won't be bowl-eligible until 2015.

• It is the Sun Belt's intention to host a championship game in football. Benson said the site of such a game is under consideration, whether hosted on campus or at a neutral site.