[Liberty22]

I'd treat the Sun Belt boards like I treated girls in college...don't ever look like you are interested in them. Works every time... :I chortle audibly.:

Well that is what JMU is doing... hmm

[Purple Haize]

I'd treat the Sun Belt boards like I treated girls in college...don't ever look like you are interested in them. Works every time... :I chortle audibly.:

Is that an ATrain quote

[rogers3]

SIGMO- great post. We all know you've got skin in the game; those who don't should take a lesson from you.

[roadkingjim]

For anyone interested the JMU Board of Visitors had their meeting today and from what I read there wasn't one mention of the Sun Belt conference; unless it was discussed via a private member session.

http://www.jmu.edu/news/2013/04/05-bov-summary.shtml

[bluedevilflame]

For anyone interested the JMU Board of Visitors had their meeting today and from what I read there wasn't one mention of the Sun Belt conference; unless it was discussed via a private member session.

http://www.jmu.edu/news/2013/04/05-bov-summary.shtml

I wonder if they've gotten a formal invite yet?

[Purple Haize]

Approved committee reports from the Athletics, Audit, Development, Education and Student Life, and Finance and Physical Development committees;

Boilerplate but......

[jimflamesfan]

Here's a pretty fair article.

http://fboutpost.blogspot.com/2013/04/c ... d.html?m=1

[VAGolf]

How is JMU in the Richmond T.V. market? Both Liberty and JMU are a good two hour drive to Richmond. If they can claim Richmond, then so can we. Or am I missing something?

[Liberty22]

I thought the same thing golf. He claims at the bottom of the article that he used the closest tv markets, however harrisonburg is closer to roanoke than richmond. He did that to make JMU look better. I also believe some of his numbers about us were off..

[forbidden]

I just did a searh to each school from my parents house in richmond to each respective school, to come up with a difference of 5 min and and about 4 miles. Definitely woukd say slightex towards

[rmiller1959]

Here's a pretty fair article.

http://fboutpost.blogspot.com/2013/04/c ... d.html?m=1

One of the better articles I've seen on the topic. Very balanced and unemotional. One of his comments made me wonder. His reference to Liberty having a moral code similar to BYU made me wonder if that is why they have been a football independent for so long. I also wonder if Notre Dame, at least early in their existence, went independent for the same reason. Both universities and their football programs are now "grown up" enough to warrant national attention and courting from a number of conferences, but their history could be instructive as to where we are now.

By the way, I enjoy reading the boards and getting to know Flames fans as a result. I've only been affiliated with LU for a little more than a year and a half, but I'm just as excited about the prospects of a move to the FBS level. Discussion boards are supposed to be a virtual "water cooler," so I don't mind the speculation and other conversation. I hope we'll all be a little patient with each other as this thing plays out. We're on the same team, in more ways than one!

[Blessed1]

@rmiller1959, the reason why Notre Dame is independent is because they enjoy the tradition of being independent and they want to be seen as a national university, therefore they do not want to be pegged into a "regional" conference.

As for BYU, I agree that their moral codes are similar to Liberty's. The reasons why they were able to join conferences such as the WAC and the MWC was because they were already in the FBS, they were successful in football, and had the opportunity to develop both rivalries and friendships with other universities. Because of the things I mentioned earlier, they were able to be accepted into those two conferences without no hesitation. From a TV standpoint, they're valuable. This is why they have their own TV deal for their home games with ESPN.

Notre Dame, BYU, and Liberty are all universities that have some sort of religious background. ND is not too strict with their Catholic beliefs. I'm not sure about BYU being strict with their Mormon beliefs, but for the sake of my post I am going to assume they are anywhere from moderate to firm in their faith. There's no doubt in my mind that BYU's belief system is blackballing them from being invited to the PAC 12. Liberty might be experiencing this now. I have no facts, but its quite obvious if more non-FBS-ready schools keep leapfrogging LU.

The main differences with all 3 universities, is the fact that ND and BYU has had great success at the FBS level by winning a championship and now both can choose to be independent in football. The biggest concerns with independence at the FBS level are: 1) TV revenue and 2) having a stable home for your Olympic sports. ND and BYU have both areas covered. ND have the TV deal NBC sports and have the ACC to sponge off of. BYU have the deal with ESPN and they have the WCC for their other sports.

In regards to Liberty, I think Liberty could have FBS success as an independent if they can: 1) get to FBS (major hurdle in itself), 2) find a TV deal for football with NBC/Comcast, FOX, or someone else (another major hurdle), and 3) find a stable home for its Olympic sports with either like-minded universities or a conference that is willing to accept what Liberty is all about (possible to do, but still can be an other major hurdle). The Big South accepts Liberty for what we are. To be quite honest, LU and the BSC have been together for such a long time, we sort of tolerate each other.

[thepostman]

BYU has not been independent for "so long". The became independent in 2011

[Purple Haize]

BYU is as ardent in their Mormon beliefs as we are in our Baptist ones. Remember, the suspended a star player for having sex with his girlfriend. The other problem BYU has is a double edge sword. The 2 year Mission makes it more difficult to recruit but you also have older more physically developed players on the back end.
ND is Independent in football because A) People still want to play them and B) they make more money.
LU would crash and burn as in Independent even if we were allowed to be one

[rmiller1959]

Blessed1, thank you for the enlightening reply -- well presented!

thepostman, my apologies. It just seems like they've stood apart for some time. Thank you for the correction!

Purple Haize, what do you think LU's options are if they do not get an FBS invite from a conference? It seems like they are preparing for every eventuality. This blurb from an article about BYU struck me as interesting:

"BYU, because of its Mormon church affiliation, has a worldwide fan base and its own network..."

Is this LU's contingency plan? The BYU coach offered this reason for going independent:

"Says Mendenhall: 'If you were to ask me the main reason to go independent … it would be exposure for the church.'"

As I read this article, I felt like I could substitute Liberty University for BYU in many of the comments. I welcome your thoughts!

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/c ... dent_n.htm

[rmiller1959]

At the Spring 2013 faculty meeting, they announced that the Liberty Flames Sports Network already has syndication agreements to reach up to 46 million households on Saturdays this upcoming academic year with their programming, and the syndication firm they work with has agreements in place to reach up to an additional 90 million households.

I don't know how that compares with other university athletic networks, but it sounds like they intend to establish a national profile with this network, whatever the outcome of the FBS deliberations.

[Blessed1]

@rmiller1959, thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it, bro.

@thepostman, Yes, BYU has only been independent since 2011, but the fact that they are will make it difficult for them to join another football conference in the near future.

If BYU want a bigger slice in the FBS bowl-payout pie, they must join a football conference. However, the fact that they are funded by ESPN for their home games and the fact that they can share their faith under the "independence umbrella", if you will, they are completely satisfied where they are.

[Purple Haize]

Blessed1, thank you for the enlightening reply -- well presented!

thepostman, my apologies. It just seems like they've stood apart for some time. Thank you for the correction!

Purple Haize, what do you think LU's options are if they do not get an FBS invite from a conference? It seems like they are preparing for every eventuality. This blurb from an article about BYU struck me as interesting:

"BYU, because of its Mormon church affiliation, has a worldwide fan base and its own network..."

Is this LU's contingency plan? The BYU coach offered this reason for going independent:

"Says Mendenhall: 'If you were to ask me the main reason to go independent … it would be exposure for the church.'"

As I read this article, I felt like I could substitute Liberty University for BYU in many of the comments. I welcome your thoughts!

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/c ... dent_n.htm

We don't bring in the revenue dollars to support being Independent. We offer any Conference we join the opportunity to be in front of a whole lot of eyeballs, though.
Plus, there is that pesky ban on going FBS Independent. And then who would schedule us?

[rmiller1959]

Purple Haize, I didn't realize there is a ban on schools going FBS independent. Thanks for the clarification.

It seems like the best option for LU is to continue to build its brand while it waits for conference realignment to shake out to where it's too attractive an option to ignore. The Flames Sports Network will be a great help; it will reach a lot of homes nationwide, and it will reinforce LU's position as a national vice a regional university.

They also announced at the faculty meeting that they're creating a for-profit subsidiary that will share distance learning methodologies, best practices and technology architectures with other universities looking to start online programs.

The costs of college, the difficulty of leaving work and family to go back to school, the number of people looking to make themselves more competitive in a shrinking workforce by getting a degree or adding to their education, and the availability of and comfort with technology, are combining to make online education a growth industry, and if LU has something to offer other schools, it could be a way to build networks, establish relationships and earn some goodwill.

[jbock13]

Plus, there is that pesky ban on going FBS Independent. And then who would schedule us?

You mean we can't we just schedule Kentucky Wesleyian, Brevard, and Concord and play them four times in one season

[Purple Haize]

Purple Haize, I didn't realize there is a ban on schools going FBS independent. Thanks for the clarification.

It seems like the best option for LU is to continue to build its brand while it waits for conference realignment to shake out to where it's too attractive an option to ignore. The Flames Sports Network will be a great help; it will reach a lot of homes nationwide, and it will reinforce LU's position as a national vice a regional university.

They also announced at the faculty meeting that they're creating a for-profit subsidiary that will share distance learning methodologies, best practices and technology architectures with other universities looking to start online programs.

The costs of college, the difficulty of leaving work and family to go back to school, the number of people looking to make themselves more competitive in a shrinking workforce by getting a degree or adding to their education, and the availability of and comfort with technology, are combining to make online education a growth industry, and if LU has something to offer other schools, it could be a way to build networks, establish relationships and earn some goodwill.

You have to realize that FSN will not bring the sort of revenue ESPN or any Regional Fox network will. While we may reach oodles of households the ad revenue isn't there

[TH Spangler]

Personally if given a choice for football between a conf and indy I would take indy. You could play Army, Navy, Air Force, BYU, ND, Baylor, a couple of ACC teams Wake, Duke or NC State, an in-state team like ODU or JMU and a FCS team. Televise them all to 130 million homes. Forget the bowls. Stick the b-ball in with the Catholic school.

I know I'm dreaming ....

[adam42381]

While you're busy dreaming, why not just jump straight to the NFL and schedule the NFC East each fall?

[JK37]

You have to realize that FSN will not bring the sort of revenue ESPN or any Regional Fox network will. While we may reach oodles of households the ad revenue isn't there

This is a key point, but the rebranding of FSN to LFSN also came with some restructuring to help with this. Furthermore, viewership does give evidence to the potential for Liberty Athletics as a national brand.

[4everfsu]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... conference

AAC vs ACC. If you can't beat them, brand as close to them as possible.

There is already an AAC conference

http://www.aacsports.com/index.php