Five things about the Sun Belt

Harry · July 17, 2012

NEW ORLEANS -- The Sun Belt begins its 12^th season as the No. 11 conference (out of 11) in FBS.

The doesn't mean there aren't intriguing storylines. Gus Malzahn decided to begin his head coaching career at Arkansas State. Florida International is trying to hold onto Mario Cristobal. The same goes for Mark Hudspeth at Louisiana-Lafayette which played (and won) its first bowl game in 41 years.

It is a league that owes part of its existence to the innovative Karl Benson, who took over as commissioner for Wright Waters in April. The constituted league is going to get bigger, hopefully better.

Here are five high-minded issues for the nation's lowest-ranked conference heading into its media day on Monday.

Just what the heck is Gus Malzahn doing Arkansas State? Officially, it was an opportunity the offensive couldn't pass up. He's tight with the governor of the state. The Red Wolves are coming off a 10-win season.

Unofficially, this move is odder than Pat Boone rapping. Malzahn's career had been on upswing until this move – Arkansas, head coach at Tulsa, offensive coordinator for national champion Auburn. This puts Malzahn's career track at risk. Sure, he could stick around Jonesboro a couple of years trying to duplicate Hugh Freeze's 2011 success before jumping to a sexier job. He could also find his coaching reputation damaged playing the typically brutal non-conference schedule. (There are trips to Oregon and Nebraska this season).

Read more: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/dennis-dodd/19594615/five-things-about-the-sun-belt

Mean Green 93-98 · July 17, 2012

Alpin is the best Sun Belt player since Lamar Dunbar, no doubt.

glick1980 · July 17, 2012

Is the author of this going to rank the WAC higher than the Sun Belt this year? If he is, he should be shot.

foutsrouts · July 17, 2012

"Benson quickly shored up the Sun Belt adding South Alabama this season as well as Georgia State and Texas State beginning in '13."

Somehow I think that the entrance of S. Alabama was already planned, so I really don't think that the genius of Karl Benson should be given all the credit.