The odds of Coastal helping us into the Sun Belt are about as close to non-existent as they come. The league will be appeasing the western schools with further expansion. Barring programs dropping down to FCS or closing up shop, this Sun Belt door closing will mean we are stuck in the Big South for years to come. There are no other options without major shifting.

As much as I'd love to say something to Sly about raining on the parade......he's spot on I'm afraid. So, is there a point where the admin has to come out and call it like it is? I still don't see us looking to move laterally. Question is, will the NCAA change anything with the D1 alignment soon?

Honestly right now I think FBS football independent is the right solution. I also think we could make it work.

Is the NCAA long term plan to movie FBS football to being all publics, certainly feels that way? Same thing is playing out in high school league's within states, over publics and privates playing one another.

Luckily Liberty is in a solid area for FBS success. Virginia has a decent quality of recruits, and Liberty isn't far from Roanoke, Washington, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, and Richmond. There are a lot of people who would be interested if a big time program came to Liberty for a game and that would help Liberty fill it's schedule with home games. Plus if Liberty can some national recognition it would go a long way towards being helpful. At least Liberty is east-coast rather than out west where LU has more options for local competitors and has better TV scheduling options to be flexible.

(07-26-2015 04:56 PM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  Honestly right now I think FBS football independent is the right solution. I also think we could make it work.

I love your optimism and would like to hear your ideas on how LU could make it as an independent. I am not sure we could realistically find enough home games every season.

If Coastal gets the FBS invite and LU doesn't, the frustration we feel should be directed to those who invited Coastal and not the school itself. Coastal like LU has an upside greater than most SBC schools. It's hard for those SBC posters, who bash LU at every opportunity, to look beyond their preconceived notions about the benefit of having LU as a member. So, who would want to be a member of a club if one is not wanted.

If the temperament on the SBC board is any indication of those who are in the decision making position and their feelings towards LU, then LU will only receive an invite as a last resort, not as a quality pick, but as a last action that would help the conference survive or maintain if LU did not join.

My gut feeling, on pure speculation, is that LU stands a better change in the C-USA than ever getting an SBC invite. So what will LU do when and if Coastal gets an invite. One can bet LU will not sit idly by.

Without starting another indy discussion that will take us to a conversation that's been discussed many, many times, it's safe to that LU will take action. Will LU be timid, neutral or aggressive in their disapproval and hint at, or imply that, or stronger, make innuendos stating the indy path must change or it will be challenged?

LU will not stand by perpetually, or join a stronger FCS conference as a second choice. The decision has been made publicly. Good luck to Coastal. You may be our ticket, indirectly into FBS.

The only thing is...let's say JMU gets a CUSA invite and Coastal a future Sunbelt invite. Would LU not want to try and replace JMU in the CAA?

It would help hoops and give two pretty well attended conference football games in Richmond and William and Mary each year.

(07-26-2015 11:27 PM)justjim Wrote:  The only thing is...let's say JMU gets a CUSA invite and Coastal a future Sunbelt invite. Would LU not want to try and replace JMU in the CAA?

It would help hoops and give two pretty well attended conference football games in Richmond and William and Mary each year.

That could be considered a move up in FCS competition but would likely be perceived as an acceptance that LU is agreeable to remain FCS. Overtly stating LU wants to be FBS may assist in recruiting. Playing two FBS teams this year is a testament to that and the LU coaches could use that as an example.

It seems anything less than an FBS invite, or the indy route, would take the focus away from that goal.

I like the indy route, but you have to remember Liberty would have nothing to play at the end of the season. No bowl game, no conference championship game, no playoffs.

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And that brings up the question, would LU rather be FCS in a conference, or struggle as an FBS indy until a conference opening happens? My vote would be take the indy route. It will be harder but LU will be FBS and it hopefully would be easier to be invited to the MAC or C-USA, and even the SBC (which I think is a last resort) rather than the move-up hesitation so often stated with FCS teams.

I would easily prefer FBS Independence over FCS. However, I wouldn't mind moving to the CAA either (in the meantime, until FBS comes to fruition).

I still don't know that LU could make it as an independent at the FBS level. Maybe some of the low hanging fruit will schedule home/home with us... SBC, C-USA, MAC, UMass.

Let's assume Coastal gets the call up to the sun belt. What other FCS schools have made it known they want to go FBS?
Liberty
JMU
Jacksonville State
EKU
Partitioning to be able to go indy may not be the best thinking. Petitioning to allow a new FBS conference may be the better way to go.

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If LU gets bypassed for FBS and Coastal, JMU, EKU and others get the invite, then what action will LU take. Move to the CAA as an upgrade FCS conference? Seek indy status? Begin discussions for a new conference? There are many moving parts to this. Toss in any shifts in the P5 and it will effect the G5 and likely LU. There are so many possibilities it seems some action has to happen first to stimulate a reaction. But something must happen if LU does not get an invite and is passed over.

I think if JMU and Coastal move...then Liberty should pursue the CAA to take JMU's place. If we can't get into the CAA, then pursue independence in football providing the Big South would keep the rest of our sports.

Years ago, when LU was a fledgling FB program, to expand and develop the program, LU seeked membership in the Southern Conference. At that time, the Southern had strong programs and LU was shown the exit door.

The Big South Conference did, and has helped LU develop the program. It meet LU's need at the time and provided a format to develop the programs. As a newer FB conference, the BCS has developed recently to where Coastal and LU dominate. Stony Brook, while a member, had their run. The others teams have played competitively among themselves but not against LU or Coastal.

Indy in FBS football and BSC membership in all other sports seems the best for LU. With the BSC being a hybrid conference without FB members, it would seem a possibility LU could remain in the BSC.

Is a football only, indy status, or FB only new conference, a new module for the NCAA to consider? It would reduce costs significantly if only the FB team was traveling out of the BSC footprint. The current invite only membership, is indefensible when teams meet and exceed the current requirements and are required to receive an invite. With LU surpassing several FBS teams in attendance, COA and facilities, an invite only serves a similar principle as the "separates but equal" stance in the past for education. It allows for indiscriminate discrimination.

If the NCAA allowed the FB indy conference, it's likely present underachieving (financially) programs would welcome a relocation of their olympic sports to a more regional footprint. It would strengthen current FCS conferences that have had major loses with FBS move-ups.

Unfortunately, money has always been Liberty's biggest issue. Arguments can be made about our mission, online education, and our politics. But IMO, it's always been our finances.

Back in the 90's, when I was a student, we had little money, our facilities were decent but not great, and there was talk as to whether we'd survive- heck, we almost moved to Atlanta. The CAA and Southern wouldn't admit us because of the potential financial embarrassment if we folded, that would've been huge due to our outspoken Chancellor. This on top of the fact that we put the visiting team in an oversized garden shed without heat or a/c.

Now, we are mainly being excluded because we're a private school with alot of money with a huge potential to dominate, especially in the Sun Belt. The SBC know-it-alls can claim our religion, politics, and our "fit" all they want. But the reality is that most of their constituents, fans, and governments share most of our values. It's our money, being private, and our huge potential.

IMO, the Sun Belt is only that much better than the Big South because they're 1-A. They're not much better in the Olympic sports. I like the idea of being 1-A Independent football and remaining in the Big South for the rest, I think we can make it work until we can convince the G-5's that we belong. That's why we shouldn't bget in Coastal's way if the Sun Belt does in fact invite them. Just my 2 cents.

LUO, you are right on with your assessment. I attended a LU-Appalachian State game at Williams Stadium, I believe it was in the late 1990's. The App players had to dress in what appeared as an old metal building as LU was using the current visitors locker. It was a poor arrangement at best. It was a much different time then than now.

LUorange, I think you're right on. What I don't get it why the Sunbelt would want to continue with schools that have limited potential. EKU?? Really? A school that's 20 minutes from an SEC school that can't get fans to the game. Small minded presidents. That's like the ACC saying we're only going to take teams with limited potential. The Sunbelt posters scoff when LU fans make these types of statements, but I don't think they realize the sleeping giant Liberty is. I'll give you a perfect example. My brother lives in Knoxville TN. He got a masters degree from Liberty through the online program. He's never stepped foot on Liberty's campus but he's now a die hard Flames fan. We're graduating 100,000 of them a year. Not all will care about sports, but a large percentage will. Another brother lives in NC, never went to college, but because Liberty is a Christian school he's a huge supporter. All Liberty needs is a platform to go FBS.

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Kudos to LUO for nailing it!!!

I find it very unlikely for Liberty to get an invite to any FCS conference. They will know Liberty will jump to FBS at the first invitation and I don't think Liberty will want to pay an entrance and exit fee or want to burn bridges with Big South schools over a miniscule improvement at best. Is the CAA without JMU that attractive? Not to me. JMU isn't attractive to me anyways but that's besides the point.