[ballcoach15]

If it wasn't for the Florida schools. that lineup was make ASUN look better. I wish Marshall was in our division.

[Sly Fox]

The problem with all of these re-stack G5 ideas is that they don't factor in many variables. The MAC loves its regional setup. The MWC loves theirs as well. The Belt has really embraced their current setup. The AAC & CUSA are different stories. Both feel like leftover parts right now.

As a result, there really is no primary catalyst to drive this type of realignment forward. There isn't enough TV money to make a difference. The P6 marketing just looks silly right now.

I could see the Belt snagging a CUSA school or two. Southern Miss comes to mind. But generally speaking I don't see much movement unless some eastern CUDSA schools can convince App State, ECU and Coastal that there is value in a regional league. And the odds of that are less than 50-50 at this stage. If you think USF being lumped in with FIU & FAU then you wouldn't believe the reaction from folks at LaTech getting lumped in with the other Louisiana schools. Same with SMU and the commuter school we play up in Denton.

Everyone wants lower travel costs and more regionally based leagues for fans to be able to travel. The reality is those goals have too many impediments to reality right now.

[cruzan_flame13]

The problem with all of these re-stack G5 ideas is that they don't factor in many variables. The MAC loves its regional setup. The MWC loves theirs as well. The Belt has really embraced their current setup. The AAC & CUSA are different stories. Both feel like leftover parts right now.

As a result, there really is no primary catalyst to drive this type of realignment forward. There isn't enough TV money to make a difference. The P6 marketing just looks silly right now.

I could see the Belt snagging a CUSA school or two. Southern Miss comes to mind. But generally speaking I don't see much movement unless some eastern CUDSA schools can convince App State, ECU and Coastal that there is value in a regional league. And the odds of that are less than 50-50 at this stage. If you think USF being lumped in with FIU & FAU then you wouldn't believe the reaction from folks at LaTech getting lumped in with the other Louisiana schools. Same with SMU and the commuter school we play up in Denton.

Everyone wants lower travel costs and more regionally based leagues for fans to be able to travel. The reality is those goals have too many impediments to reality right now.

Good thing we have alumni/students everywhere right?

[Sly Fox]

We are uniquely positioned alongside BYU in that regard. Just wish we didn't carry so much baggage from the past few years,

[rmiller1959]

The University of Cincinnati is up next:

https://theathletic.com/news/cincinnati ... Y2Cc503MNn

[ballcoach15]

Cincinnati should not be admitted to B12 without a softball team. Liberty has a better athletic program than Bearcats.

[cruzan_flame13]

[Ill flame]

I think since the AACs hope of being a power conference is dead they will/should expand to 12 teams. That allows them to go back to divisions and reduce travel and it will keep them as the clear top G5 conference.

[rmiller1959]

The AAC plans to expand in the wake of the Big 12's expansion plans:

https://www.si.com/.amp/college/2021/09 ... ssion=true

[rmiller1959]

The vote is Friday.

[Ill flame]

The AAC plans to expand in the wake of the Big 12's expansion plans:

https://www.si.com/.amp/college/2021/09 ... ssion=true

The AAC will still be a good conference but they have no right to be considered a power conference after this.

USF and Memphis are still P5 caliber schools imo with temple and SMU being close but it thins out dramatically after that.

[cruzan_flame13]

The AAC plans to expand in the wake of the Big 12's expansion plans:

https://www.si.com/.amp/college/2021/09 ... ssion=true

The AAC will still be a good conference but they have no right to be considered a power conference after this.

USF and Memphis are still P5 caliber schools imo with temple and SMU being close but it thins out dramatically after that.

Then you look at the ACC and they're hanging on with Clemson while UNC and Miami are only up there based on paper. In action though? Ehhh. Just saying .

[tyndal23]

The AAC plans to expand in the wake of the Big 12's expansion plans:

https://www.si.com/.amp/college/2021/09 ... ssion=true

The AAC will still be a good conference but they have no right to be considered a power conference after this.

USF and Memphis are still P5 caliber schools imo with temple and SMU being close but it thins out dramatically after that.

They never were considered a Power Conference by anyone outside their commissioner. Bottom line is they will have a seat to the 12 team playoff - will it a better seat than Sunbelt or MWC ? Time will tell.

[Kricket]

https://bustingbrackets.com/2021/09/07/ ... ion/amp/5/

[ballcoach15]

Football will drive the train, not basketball.

[olldflame]

Football will drive the train, not basketball.

It's a given that football is the top priority, but it is certainly not the only one. Safe to say, men's basketball is next in importance, and sits considerably higher on the totem pole than let's say, softball (among others).

[LUalum12]

Agree 100%. While reading a few articles it is clear the AAC cares more about Football and Basketball when it comes to expansion, not any other sport.

https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/ ... 778621001/

Quote from Aresco in the artice:

“We would want institutions that would enhance our brand and had the resources to be as competitive at the top level,” Aresco said. “That’s where we want it to be. That’s been the DNA of this league. You have to have schools that are willing to do that. …

“We’re going to be fine. I want the fans to be patient. We will continue to have top-quality football and basketball.”

[Liberty22]

Interesting the end of that article states multiple reports saying the Big 12 may expand beyond those 4. Not saying we deserve to go there, but we’ve got the resources to make it work just like UCF or WVU do.

[stokesjokes]

Any further expansion by the Big 12 at least helps us by opening spots in other conferences. We’re not going directly to a P5, best to disabuse that notion now.

[ballcoach15]

Any further expansion by the Big 12 at least helps us by opening spots in other conferences. We’re not going directly to a P5, best to disabuse that notion now.

Strange things have been known to happen, when it comes to conference expansion.

I like the fact that the AAC Commissioner will fight for his conference, unlike some other commissioners.

[Ill flame]

Any further expansion by the Big 12 at least helps us by opening spots in other conferences. We’re not going directly to a P5, best to disabuse that notion now.

For Liberty's sake I hope the AAC adds us, UAB and another solid team and then doesn't lose anyone else for a little while and weaken the conference further. If we can consistently finish towards the top of this new AAC in football and basketball it could set us up nicely to eventually get added to a P5 league down the road. We really need to get our attendance above 15,000 in the meantime though.

[rmiller1959]

We are on a lot of lists for expansion. We're not particularly high on this one (pun fully intended):

[stokesjokes]

Any further expansion by the Big 12 at least helps us by opening spots in other conferences. We’re not going directly to a P5, best to disabuse that notion now.

For Liberty's sake I hope the AAC adds us, UAB and another solid team and then doesn't lose anyone else for a little while and weaken the conference further. If we can consistently finish towards the top of this new AAC in football and basketball it could set us up nicely to eventually get added to a P5 league down the road. We really need to get our attendance above 15,000 in the meantime though.

I don’t think we need to focus on attendance itself. We need consistent high level success. With both football and basketball we’ve had a couple great consecutive years, but it hasn’t been sustained long enough to be taken seriously as a high-level program. Keep winning and attendance takes care of itself. “Just win, baby.”

[ballcoach15]

Attendance will be driven by opponents coming into Williams Stadium. The "bigger" the opponent, the higher the attendance will be.

(Side-bar) I've missed only 4 home games in the past 15 seasons. One thing I have noticed is our opponents bring very few fans to Lynchburg. The teams we play, do not travel very well.

[cruzan_flame13]

We would definitely get a good visitors crowd playing amongst ECU, Marshall or Apple States [of they were added to the AAC along with us]. The local support is only improving because alumni are staying around the area. Hopefully more will continue to do so in the next 3-5 years.