[Purple Haize]

First of all, I didn't say WE were new. I was referring to other schools.
Yes, being competitive would make a difference. I didn't say the sole reason. Benson would be pushing harder for us if we had more success.
You are right, these are academic types so the LUO would be a strike against us.

[Humble_Opinion]

Okay - besides JMU, what other program out there has had the sort of success you're speaking of? It seems that JMU is not itching to pull the trigger on an invite from the SBC. Whether that is because they have Title IX issues, or because they feel they are above the SBC remains to be seen. What matters here is that our name is being mentioned a lot more these days, likely because the SBC is running out of viable candidates to undertake the massive investment required for a jump to the FBS. They know who we are, and they have probably been shown the data, which proves our financial stability and commitment to Athletics.

You speak as if you know Benson isn't pushing for us. What reason can you cite for this? If you don't have one then I guess we are back to square one: the Dark Side vs. the Bright Side.

[jimflamesfan]

Did Buffalo have a proven track record when invited to the MAC?
No.

Did Boston College move from the Big East to the ACC based on their performance?
I don't think so.

Pitt was invited to the ACC...they lost to Youngstown state this year.

What kind of track record did ODU and Charlotte have in football?

It's not all about performance.

If LU would have beaten Wake Forest and made the FCS playoffs, do you think any of the Sunbelt presidents would have been willing to give an invite? I'd say "No."

I'd say conference affiliation is about 20 percent on field succsss, and 80 politics, location, facilities, TV ratings, and intangibles.

[Purple Haize]

Did Buffalo have a proven track record when invited to the MAC?
No.

Did Boston College move from the Big East to the ACC based on their performance?
I don't think so.

Pitt was invited to the ACC...they lost to Youngstown state this year.

What kind of track record did ODU and Charlotte have in football?

It's not all about performance.

If LU would have beaten Wake Forest and made the FCS playoffs, do you think any of the Sunbelt presidents would have been willing to give an invite? I'd say "No."

I'd say conference affiliation is about 20 percent on field succsss, and 80 politics, location, facilities, TV ratings, and intangibles.

ODU and Charlotte were who I was referencing about 'New'
The other schools you mentioned are already FBS. Pitt and BC have had more on field success then we have had in FCS. Heck BC is still getting traction from Flutie! Let alone players like Matty Ice.
Even Buffalo has put up a winning season and fits the MAC footprint.
Again, I'm not saying its the only reason. Never have, but don't underestimate it's importance.
Even by your standard we have the 80% already, so yes big wins and FCS Playoff appearances would put us over the top.

[Purple Haize]

Okay - besides JMU, what other program out there has had the sort of success you're speaking of? It seems that JMU is not itching to pull the trigger on an invite from the SBC. Whether that is because they have Title IX issues, or because they feel they are above the SBC remains to be seen. What matters here is that our name is being mentioned a lot more these days, likely because the SBC is running out of viable candidates to undertake the massive investment required for a jump to the FBS. They know who we are, and they have probably been shown the data, which proves our financial stability and commitment to Athletics.

You speak as if you know Benson isn't pushing for us. What reason can you cite for this? If you don't have one then I guess we are back to square one: the Dark Side vs. the Bright Side.

Go take a look at the success of the schools I listed. Then adjust your comment accordingly. I'm not logic, I don't need 48 paragraphs to get my point across.

[PatrickKelly]

The Sunbelt took GA State as a brand new start up program so winning has little to do with it. It comes down to this, which I find ironic. Sunbelt wants "like-minded schools", but they don't want Liberty because we aren't open minded enough. you can't make that stuff up.

[Purple Haize]

The Sunbelt took GA State as a brand new start up program so winning has little to do with it. It comes down to this, which I find ironic. Sunbelt wants "like-minded schools", but they don't want Liberty because we aren't open minded enough. you can't make that stuff up.

Yes, but with 'New' you can get some mileage. You can always be hopeful. With us , there is a track record, so you don't get the benefit of the doubt.

[bluedevilflame]

The Sunbelt took GA State as a brand new start up program so winning has little to do with it. It comes down to this, which I find ironic. Sunbelt wants "like-minded schools", but they don't want Liberty because we aren't open minded enough. you can't make that stuff up.

Yes, but with 'New' you can get some mileage. You can always be hopeful. With us , there is a track record, so you don't get the benefit of the doubt.

Plus the small factor that we aren't in or around an Atlanta type area

[Purple Haize]

There is that. But with 'New' they hope to get up to speed quickly and will have a longer grace period then an FCS school would

[alabama24]

I wonder if losing the air traffic control tower at the airport in town will hurt our chances...

[jimflamesfan]

Buffalo was NOT good before the MAC..LU actually beat them about two years before they went 1a.

ODU lobbies CUSA to take JMU.
Appy Stae lobbies Sunbelt to take JMU.
UVA lobbied tha ACC to take VA Tech way back in the day.

What institution's president would lobby for LU?

[LUaddict]

Buffalo was NOT good before the MAC..LU actually beat them about two years before they went 1a.

ODU lobbies CUSA to take JMU.
Appy Stae lobbies Sunbelt to take JMU.
UVA lobbied tha ACC to take VA Tech way back in the day.

What institution's president would lobby for LU?

No one would lobby for us!

[ATrain]

Buffalo was NOT good before the MAC..LU actually beat them about two years before they went 1a.

ODU lobbies CUSA to take JMU.
Appy Stae lobbies Sunbelt to take JMU.
UVA lobbied tha ACC to take VA Tech way back in the day.

What institution's president would lobby for LU?

No one would lobby for us!

This.

ODU, JMU, Appy State, UVA and VT are all public. Plus UVA didn't lobby for VT until then-Gov. Mark Warner pulled some strings with UVA's board.

[LUconn]

So here's what the last 10 pages have taught me: Any bad news is gospel and should be taken as truth and any good news is for show and we're being used to attract JMU.

[Purple Haize]

So here's what the last 10 pages have taught me: Any bad news is gospel and should be taken as truth and any good news is for show and we're being used to attract JMU.

Where is the good news? The N and A article? It was discussed and vague. There is no disputing the fact that the SBC is doing everything they can to accommodate and lure JMU. There is no disputing the fact that the SBC Commish sad the LU being next in line, whether ahead or behind JMU, is far far far from the truth. We are having to hope that JMU does not change it's made or no new accommodation is made for them, and probably having to hope that 1 or 2 other schools don't have an interest.
We have done what we can do short of turning FSN over to become SBTV.we are not the most attractive out there, but lets hope we aren't the ugliest either (maybe we should ban PAMedic so we will be more attractive....hmm)

[LUconn]

How do you know any of that? You're getting the majority of your information through that message board or articles written that are getting info from that message board. Not terribly reliable. And that info has both pointed to and away from LU. You're choosing to filter it under the premise I just mentioned.

[jlread]

I wonder if losing the air traffic control tower at the airport in town will hurt our chances...

I keep hearing that same concern so it must be true!! No conference wants a school in a town where planes are smashing into each other. Harrisonburg has a major metropolitan airport in Weyers Cave called Blue ridge airport 10 or 20 flights a day etc. Will most certainly be overlooked for that classy facility. Hahahahahahahahah

[jbock13]

Let's also remember another thing. It snows too much here. I think the SBC Presidents would be concerned about this.

*SBC Presidents, use this excuse at your next meeting

[jbock13]

I wonder if losing the air traffic control tower at the airport in town will hurt our chances...

I keep hearing that same concern so it must be true!! No conference wants a school in a town where planes are smashing into each other. Harrisonburg has a major metropolitan airport in Weyers Cave called Blue ridge airport 10 or 20 flights a day etc. Will most certainly be overlooked for that classy facility. Hahahahahahahahah

SHD has always ran on advisory, there's never been a control tower official there.

But, all commercial flights to the airport, from Beckley to Washington D.C, are subsidized by the Federal Government. Thanks you for flying Bob Goodlatte Regional Airport.

[Blessed1]

Athletic success does matter. It is because of this that both App St and GSU were added and is the only reason why JMU is preferred. Conference championships from the CAA and Southern conference (the same conference that was home to most of the current SEC) holds more weight and recognition than the Big South.

You must realize that selling 3 FCS call-ups at one time is difficult, but if people (school presidents, ESPN execs, etc.) are lead (by Benson) to believe that you're getting some of the most successful programs that have won national championships that the FCS level, it definitely helps in gaining approval.

What is holding Liberty back is not its religious beliefs, but the comments made from Liberty concerning sensitive world-issues. In other words, when most folks were quiet about certain issues, Liberty gave its opinions and was severely criticized for making them. Most companies (organizations, ministries, etc.) would have hired a public relations firm to issue statements on behalf of that organization. The PR firm would say that the company is trying to clean things up doing A, B, and C and by doing this and that, etc. In most cases, leaders would have been asked to resign or be fired and a new leader would take over. That's usually the norm in the world. The action is see by many as a company/organization trying to do better...

In Liberty's case, Doc Falwell was not going to apologize and resign after the comments he made. Why would he? 1) Liberty is a school he started through God's grace and 2) in most cases he felt that God lead him to give comments concerning issues. If he had to apologize for something that was seen as too insensitive, even from a Christian's perspective, he usually did.

With all this being said, I feel more confident in Liberty gaining an invitation under JFJR's leadership. If all else fails, and if schools like JMU, Missouri St, Lamar, SHSU, and Jax St move up first. I would highly recommend and support Liberty to not sue the NCAA, but petition them to gain FBS access as a football-only independent. (This means that Liberty's other sports would be allowed to stay in the Big South.)

Personally speaking, in the petition, I would put the following...
Liberty should gain access to FBS because Liberty is:
1) a different university (Liberty is a private university unlike most of the FCS invitees which are public universities)
2) is religiously-based (this factor may not support most conference's current mission statements and agendas)
3) well-funded enough to support a FBS football-only move

I would also state in the petition that this move would last until Liberty is eventually invited as a full-member of an FBS conference. A petition like this may or may not work, but at least it would be worth a try. You cannot tell me that Liberty not being invited is not some form of discrimination and some sort of "payback" (if you will) for Liberty's past comments.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Look, I know I'm already unpopular around here, and I'm OK with that. When I do come over here and read this nonsense, I just shake my head. You guys sound like a bunch of old gossip hens. The reality is that most of what you are reacting is simply rumor and innuendo. There are few things we know from the horses mouth, and those from Benson don't hold much weight to me. The items reported on Blogs, on Twitter by Beat Reporters or Bloggers, and the board posts from "this guy I know" are about as significant as FoamHenge. We have no transcript or audio from the phantom radio interview so without actual sources or context, I call that worthless too. I hate the new twitter level news cycle.

Stop trying to rush the process. Embrace it. It will take time, and likely some smokescreens. There are still important parts of the process to be completed before any offers are made. I totally Trust JB and JJR to guide LU through the process and do right by us. I don't know that LU will get an SBC offer, but I am very sure we are in the mix. No, "my pal in the sbc know says they brought up LU and noone would bring up an motion" bulljunk should phase your outlook.

Anyway, if not SBC now, maybe SBC later or somewhere else. You'll live, I assure you. NINNIES!

OH Yea, and when I find out who Campaign4Liberty is, I'm sending PM to take you out at the kneecaps.

That is all....

[PatrickKelly]

I agree Blessed1. With Benson saying GA Southern was the most ready school to move up shows some bias without a doubt. They are not compliant in all sports yet and had to recently raise a student fee to help offset some of the cost. That comments shows Benson has his head buried in the sand. Liberty is ready is everyway to move to the next level. Anyone who thinks this is not political doesn't understand how Liberty is viewed from the outside world. Since graduating from Liberty I've attended two state schools for grad programs and I can promise you Liberty is not thought of very well in the academic world. I would bet $1,000 that teaching creation along would be the reason some pres. would give us a no vote.

I still think winning is a small part of the overall picture. It's been noted previously that UNC-C was invited to the Conf USA without even having a program. Same for Ga. St. Are those markets are better than Lynchburg, but they had never won or lost a game and was invited.

I also would at least petition the NCAA about going independent. It may not be as hard to scheduled as some would think. Being FBS gets lots of school interested in you because. You see some of the mid tier programs going into places you would have never seen 5 years ago.

[LUconn]

Jr came on here and posted that those political things were not holding us back and that the presidents were not immature kids making arbitrary decisions like posters on the SBC forum would (my paraphrase). As the chancellor of a large University, I think you have to take his word that he knows a fair share of university presidents. I guess you could choose to not believe him, but if we're being victimized by political prejudices and being kept out, that would have made a really easy scapegoat to use.

[LUconn]

I just don't see why you would choose to believe anonymous message board guy who is posting things in the time he has when he knows his boss won't be walking by his cubicle, vs someone who is literally in the room and talking in meetings as well as having run the school for 6 or 7 years dealing with other secular entities. He's not some stooge we pull out of the Mansion basement every so often to make a speech that has never come in contact with anybody beyond University Blvd.

[Liberty22]

The only thing JLFJR said was we will be FBS sometime in the future, could be 10 days could be 10 years. It's not like he said we will join the SBC this year and no one here is taking him serious. The fact of the matter is, when there has been smoke on the message boards in the past then it generally happens in due time so you have to take MB posts with a grain of salt but at the same time there is some truth to them.