[Cider Jim]

Conference ENVY.

According to that link, Georgia State had been I-AA last year (like LU), so hopefully this will be good for us in the near future.

[bradyfan]

After reading the post on the SBC forum...all I have to say is, thank God discussion board posters mean nothing to decision makers. Those people obviously know nothing about our school or our beliefs.

[Sly Fox]

They are leagues behind us in every aspect but one ... location, location, location. This move made a great deal of sense to both Georgia State & Sun Belt. It does lighten the load for the CAA.

Both of the FCS start-ups under consideration at UTSA & Charlotte are likely waiting to see what the Alliance does before they do anything with the Sun Belt. While UTSA had their first ever season of football this past fall, Charlotte is still a couple of years away.

Frankly the more investigating that both the Sun Belt & Alliance do the better for us. They will like what they see from us in comparison to most of these schools outside of the two well placed start-ups I mentioned earlier.

[flamesfilmguy]

Now that that is over with... geez some of our(GSU) fans make me angry. I graduate in may an discontinue working for athletics. I'll set them straight then

[Sly Fox]

Apparently the CAA has postponed the much discussed vote today on raising their exit fee to a cool million. here's a tweet this Am from the UNCW beat writer ...

The CAA 10 a.m. conference call has been canceled, per a source - due to lack of presidents quorum. Vote to raise exit fee postponed.

[TDDance234]

Apparently the CAA has postponed the much discussed vote today on raising their exit fee to a cool million. here's a tweet this Am from the UNCW beat writer ...

The CAA 10 a.m. conference call has been canceled, per a source - due to lack of presidents quorum. Vote to raise exit fee postponed.

Is a $1m exit fee a big deal in the CAA? After seeing what it is for some of the big boys, that seems like an awful low number; even for the CAA.

[jcmanson]

It's currently 250k, I believe. So, that's a significant jump.

[ballah09]

my thoughts on the people over ncaab...

They are so misinformed, like most people are about Liberty. Anyone with a brain would know Liberty wouldn't be accredited if they completely disregard evolution. If they actually did research they would know LU had a lot of diverse speakers in faith and politics. They would also find they are one of the few christian schools that don't require students to sign Statement of faith.

Liberty politics sucks just like the Ivies, and UofCHicago politics (which could hurt LU) but the double standard is ridiculous . They would be saying YES! to Baylor and BYU . When Baylor has a Center for Intelligent design studies and BYU leaders were huge influences in the ban of same sex marriage in Cali. Both excuses they use for saying No to Liberty.

[ALUmnus]

Liberty wouldn't be accredited if they completely disregard evolution.

Could be wrong, but I don't think that statement is true.

[LUconn]

I guess it depends on what kind of evolution you're talking about. But it doesn't really get any plainer than the doctrinal statement
http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=6907

Human beings were directly created, not evolved, in the very image of God.

[ballah09]

Liberty wouldn't be accredited if they completely disregard evolution.

Could be wrong, but I don't think that statement is true.

maybe i'm wrong but i got the impression because schools like Bob Jones, PCC, and other bible christian colleges avoid accreditation because of it along with other secular stuff.

i know where Liberty stands i was talking about teaching it. they act like liberty doesn't teach it.

[From the class of 09]

They teach the theory of evolution in the science classes.

[LUconn]

ahhh ok, I see where you're going with that

[Sly Fox]

And things are beginning to get more interesting with the Alliance by the minute. The bigger they go obviously the better our chances of moving up either directly or indirectly. News in that direction has leaked out confirmed by a guy in Nevada has proven fairly reliable in recent months:

Confirmed: ECU Chancellor says #mwc #cusa merger will have a 4 pod system.

We have speculated that a 4-pod system is likely the direction that would be taken in order to accommodate the travel concerns of schools. Now we know that is the path they are heading. They wouldn't need a pod system if they were staying around 16 teams. That would imply a 3-game schedule in pod and then bouncing amongst the others. The more likely scenario is either a 24-team arrangement or the 32-team mega-conference that we have heard whispered in hushed tones for months now.

[logic]

Sly - it would seem that time is running out before June 1. Why haven't things happened quicker? Are they waiting for a last second flurry of activity in May?

[Sly Fox]

I wouldn't sweat the June 1st deadline. We're likely looking at 2014 regardless of scenario barring an unforeseen turn of events. But the way events have been turning the past few weeks ...

And I guess it should be mentioned that there supposedly was a meeting of schools considering forming a new league a few weeks ago facilitated in part by Carr & Associates that included us. But this was looking at the possibility of starting up a new FBS league from scratch. That's a nearly impossible task to pull off with no auto bids for at least 5 years across all sports. Apparently all parties agreed that there needs to be a different path to make this work. This of course is all hearsay and I haven't even tried to verify it since there is nothing coming from it at this stage.

[bradyfan]

And I guess it should be mentioned that there supposedly was a meeting of schools considering forming a new league a few weeks ago facilitated in part by Carr & Associates that included us. But this was looking at the possibility of starting up a new FBS league from scratch. That's a nearly impossible task to pull off with no auto bids for at least 5 years across all sports. Apparently all parties agreed that there needs to be a different path to make this work. This of course is all hearsay and I haven't even tried to verify it since there is nothing coming from it at this stage.

Although creating a new conference from scratch seems impossible, consider this solution. Since the WAC is practically falling apart, what if Carr&A partnered with the WAC to change the name and structure of the conference? From here, you could practically create a conference from scratch without technically doing so. This could be a really really stupid idea and since I have little knowledge as to the implications behind the idea, I have no idea if it could work. Sly?

[Sly Fox]

That is a distinct possibility. But you bring with any WAC deal the baggage that includes Idaho, NM State & potentially San Jose State.

[LUGrad2000]

That is a distinct possibility. But you bring with any WAC deal the baggage that includes Idaho, NM State & potentially San Jose State.

Is that because they would not have anyone out west to create a western division with them?

[Sly Fox]

In a nutshell, that is correct. Idaho is seriously considering dropping back to Big Sky Conference.

[bradyfan]

I actually wouldn't mind San Jose St. and New Mexico St. One brings in a really good television market and New Mexico St. beat a B1G team last year. Additionally, we could be pretty competitive right out of the gate. Here is how the conference could look:

West -

Idaho (pending decision on FCS move)
New Mexico St.
San Jose St.
UTSA (pending move to SunBelt/C-USA)
Texas St. (pending move to SunBelt)
Sam. Houston St.
Montana

East -

Liberty
JMU
ODU
Appalachian St.
Georgia Southern
Charlotte

I get that these aren't the most realistic teams but it gives you a sense of traveling. Honestly, 3 games in the western portion of the country is not a bad trade to move to FBS. Ideally, we get an invite to the C-USA/MWC or SunBelt and this nonsense won't matter. However, this keeps the newly named WAC alive and gives us an invite into an FBS conference. I would think that the NCAA wants the WAC alive at all cost, to prevent another reason for a new conference. Also, facility wise, this conference would own the SunBelt. I'd much rather go to Appalachian St. than to UL Lafayette. This probably never happens unless JB or Carr&A get a hold of this idea.

[JK37]

And I guess it should be mentioned that there supposedly was a meeting of schools considering forming a new league a few weeks ago facilitated in part by Carr & Associates that included us. But this was looking at the possibility of starting up a new FBS league from scratch. That's a nearly impossible task to pull off with no auto bids for at least 5 years across all sports. Apparently all parties agreed that there needs to be a different path to make this work. This of course is all hearsay and I haven't even tried to verify it since there is nothing coming from it at this stage.

Although creating a new conference from scratch seems impossible, consider this solution. Since the WAC is practically falling apart, what if Carr&A partnered with the WAC to change the name and structure of the conference? From here, you could practically create a conference from scratch without technically doing so. This could be a really really stupid idea and since I have little knowledge as to the implications behind the idea, I have no idea if it could work. Sly?

Finally, someone is barking the right way, just up the wrong tree. I just can't believe it was CJ! I guess when an idea is hiding in plain site, it takes a relatively novice pair of eyes to see it.

[bradyfan]

And I guess it should be mentioned that there supposedly was a meeting of schools considering forming a new league a few weeks ago facilitated in part by Carr & Associates that included us. But this was looking at the possibility of starting up a new FBS league from scratch. That's a nearly impossible task to pull off with no auto bids for at least 5 years across all sports. Apparently all parties agreed that there needs to be a different path to make this work. This of course is all hearsay and I haven't even tried to verify it since there is nothing coming from it at this stage.

Although creating a new conference from scratch seems impossible, consider this solution. Since the WAC is practically falling apart, what if Carr&A partnered with the WAC to change the name and structure of the conference? From here, you could practically create a conference from scratch without technically doing so. This could be a really really stupid idea and since I have little knowledge as to the implications behind the idea, I have no idea if it could work. Sly?

Finally, someone is barking the right way, just up the wrong tree. I just can't believe it was CJ! I guess when an idea is hiding in plain site, it takes a relatively novice pair of eyes to see it.

Mind elaborating on your backhanded compliments?

[logic]

So it's mid April, Sly do we know when the feasibility study will be released?

[LUGrad2000]

And things are beginning to get more interesting with the Alliance by the minute. The bigger they go obviously the better our chances of moving up either directly or indirectly. News in that direction has leaked out confirmed by a guy in Nevada has proven fairly reliable in recent months:

Confirmed: ECU Chancellor says #mwc #cusa merger will have a 4 pod system.

We have speculated that a 4-pod system is likely the direction that would be taken in order to accommodate the travel concerns of schools. Now we know that is the path they are heading. They wouldn't need a pod system if they were staying around 16 teams. That would imply a 3-game schedule in pod and then bouncing amongst the others. The more likely scenario is either a 24-team arrangement or the 32-team mega-conference that we have heard whispered in hushed tones for months now.

If they go to a 24 team league:
Far East:
Marshall
East Carolina
Appy St. This should be a good conference game every year.
UNC Charlotte Their stadium they are building looks nice.
FIU
JMU/ODU
Liberty (We would fit this geographic profile perfectly) Our facilities are on par as well. I do not know how our athletic budget matches. With that many teams, ssems like the T.V. money would be split pretty thin. How would they have a conference championship?

If they go to a 32 team league:
?
I do believe we would certainly be a part of this league.