In case you’re new to the site, two weeks ago I filed a FOIA request with both Appalachian State and Georgia Southern for any documents pertaining to conference realignment. On Fri, I received Georgia Southern’s documents, which were essentially 50+ pages of e-mails. First, I posted an e-mail from Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson which showed a map of a potential expansion plan for the Sun Belt. Next, I posted a document from Karl Benson which listed all of the potential candidates for Sun Belt expansion.
Today’s papers raise more questions than answers, unfortunately. Below are five pages of e-mails between top administration officials of Georgia Southern and New Mexico State (NMSU). Initially, they are between GSU’s President, Dr. Keel, and NMSU’s Athletic Director, Dr. Boston. They schedule to meet in Atlanta at a steak restaurant on Nov 4 @ 6PM, to discuss “confidential” conference realignment info. Dr. Boston also schedules to bring one of his staff.
The third page is perhaps the most interesting, since Dr. Boston gives a vague description of what they will be discussing at this meeting:
Brooks, Look forward to a productive working dinner..We will forward you materials for your info and review highlighting our thoughts and those shared with us confidentially from the Commissioner..PS..President Manuel Pachceco of NMSU will call you in the future to discuss our strategy and share you my role and empowerment in the process..I felt that was important for you to hear..Mckinley
Here are the actual scanned e-mails:
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
You’ll notice page #5 is a completely separate e-mail, sent after the meeting, that was planned in the first 4 pages. It says “1 of 2″ but the 2nd page was just a signature block so I didn’t include it. It is dated Nov 14 and begins from NMSU’s Dr. Boston to GSU’s Dr. Keel, essentially congratulating him on the hire of a new Athletic Director. But then they reflect on their “confidential” meeting in Atlanta a little bit and plan a new one in New Mexico.
As I mentioned during our visit in Atlanta, we looked forward to you all visiting with us here in the South West and doing some planning our joint efforts to secure membership in the Sun Belt. We will suggest some options for you and Tom [GSU's AD] to consider. Look forward to seeing you again. McKinley”
Then GSU’s President responds with:
I have briefed Tom [GSU's AD] on our recent conversation and the developing collaborations between Georgia Southern and New Mexico State. I have asked Tom to reach to you, and he should be getting in touch with you shortly. Please know that Tom speaks for me and Georgia Southern, so please feel free to share freely with him. I am copying Tom on this email. We look forward to having the opportunity to meet with you again in person soon. Until then, best regards. Brooks
So once again, very few details. Some of you may be asking “who cares?” Well it establishes the fact that Georgia Southern and NMSU are working together, and for me it raises some interesting questions.
Question 1: What was so important and confidential that NMSU’s Athletic Director felt the need to fly from New Mexico to Atlanta to discuss? It couldn’t be done via e-mail or phone? It wasn’t to see GSU’s facilities because apparently they never left Atlanta.
Question 2: Why does GSU care whether or not NMSU gets in the Sun Belt? They aren’t geographically close to one another, nor are they some sort of package deal. Are they just coordinating because it couldn’t hurt? Or do they have some sort of real plan to work together?
Question 3: Why are there e-mails between GSU and NMSU, but not a single e-mail between GSU and Appalachian State? Is it because App/GSU coordinate via phone & in person? Is it because GSU didn’t release those e-mails to me, for whatever reason? Or is it because Appalachian State isn’t being as proactive as GSU or NMSU? Who knows? But one thing is for sure, App State wasn’t invited to any of these confidential meetings. (Not cool GSU, we like steak too ya know.)
If anything these e-mails are interesting to read. They will be even more interesting if somehow NMSU and GSU are the one’s added and not Appalachian State. But in the meantime, I hope you enjoyed a small inside look at the conference realignment process. Stay tuned because I still have 1 or 2 articles worth of documents that are worth mentioning. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think in the comments.
Don’t forget, for the latest conference realignment news make sure to follow me on Twitter: @AppStateNation
Well this was initially a horrifying read, because it would seem to indicate that Georgia Southern and NMSU COULD be working together without App.
The good news is the timeline. This was before the new GSU AD was involved, and before that beautiful map was sent from Benson. Also, it was NMSU flying to Georgia and not the other way around. That could seem to indicate that NMSU was trying to convince Georgia Southern to align with them.
Here is my best guess on what has gone on with all this, based on the info we have:
1. Over the early and middle parts of 2012, Benson has kept in contact with all of the schools that could be invited (that long list that was released in the earlier post).
2. The NMSU people, doing everything they can to get a seat, are looking for alies. That is why they fly to Atlanta to pitch to GSU. Maybe it’s a good sign App was not involved. We all know how Cobb and Peacock feel about a tight geographic conference, and they could have told NMSU to take a hike. Maybe NMSU tried to join up with App State first, and was rejected.
3. This new GSU AD seems to really be on top of his game. He seems to have the same kind of vision for GSU as our people have for App, and I could easily see him putting an end to this NMSU nonsense. New Mexico State is not geting the GSU faithful fired up about a move to the Sun Belt: App State is.
4. Recently, Benson has been talking more and more about geographic fit. He sit the map with App and Georgia Southern, no NMSU. The Troy AD has flat out said he prefers App and Southern.
Long story short, NMSU just doesn’t make sense. They have had decades as an FBS program and have done nothing. They have no fan support, they are on a geographic island, they have no upside. They bring basketball and that is it. I think they tried to make a pitch to Southern, Southern listened, and once the Sun Belt talks started heating up in late November/December, they moved on.
There are things going on behind the scene that no one here is aware of.. It is more than just a bit involved and hopefully will not play out negative to our chances of getting an invitation to the Sun Belt. I tend to think it will not in the long run hurt our chances especially if the Big East takes Tulsa or Southern Miss from C-USA and in turn C-USA raids the Sun Belt for a replacement member.. A number of factors are in play that normally are not found in realignment situations.
This is pure speculation on my part, but what if App is aligning with another team other than Ga Southern? Perhaps with James Madison and talking to CUSA or the MAC?
Maybe Ga Southern realizes this and is looking for another ally? NMSU is fairly desperate.
This is the kind of information I read these sites for. You’ve moved to the top of my list. Great job: real information. The rest of these sites are nothing but a bunch of opinions, and you know what opinions are like…everybody’s got one. AGAIN, great job!