Rebranding talks have begun. Other than that just a lot of positive talk.

From Sun Belt Conference

NEW ORLEANS – As the Sun Belt Conference 2012 Fall Meetings concluded on Wednesday, the attitude amongst the league members is that the conference is in the strongest position that it has ever been and that it is growing even stronger.

The most primary topic of conversation at the meetings was the rebranding effort that the Sun Belt Conference is embarking on with the help of SME Branding.  Previously the conference announced that a partnership with SME and this meeting marked the beginning of the process that will identify the value of the Sun Belt brand.

“There is more excitement today about the Sun Belt Conference than there has ever been,” said Sun Belt Conference President and Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr.  “Our teams are winning and becoming household names.  As we continue to win and identify our value as a brand we will show the world who we are and the strength that we have.”

Hawkins’ comments come amidst the best season the Sun Belt Conference has had in football.  The conference has already broken its all-time win total against non-conference opponents with six games remaining.  Additionally, three teams from the Sun Belt are currently receiving votes in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll and the league holds a 6-2 record over Conference USA.

“We are striving to become the best of the non-automatic qualifying BCS conferences,” continued Hawkins.  “New leadership present throughout the league, along with our new member institutions and the attitude that every dimension of the Sun Belt Conference is open to examination is going to make us stronger.”

Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson added, “As the conference moves forward we are using a progressive attitude and are taking the philosophy that all of the conference’s strengths and weaknesses must be analyzed.  As we continue to examine our brand and who were are, it will also open the door to examine how we are handling significant Sun Belt events and partnerships.  This means that we will take a hard look at issues like the site for our Basketball Championships and our current and future bowl partnerships.  We must make sure that our teams are playing in the right place, at the right time and against the right opponent.”

The Sun Belt Conference’s annual Fall Meeting includes the senior staff of the conference office along with each member school’s Chief Executive Officer, Faculty Athletic Representative, Director of Athletics and Senior Woman Administrator.  Representatives from future members Texas State, Georgia State and UT Arlington were present at the meetings.