[rmiller1959]

Regarding the conference realignment big picture, the big schools are talking about breaking away from the small schools.

http://www.macon.com/2013/05/07/2469867 ... etics.html

[Blessed1]

NMSU and Idaho both should be in the Big Sky, I can't for the life of me understand why schools that are blocking us in Louisiana would rather travel to Idaho than Virginia

IMHO at the moment. Idaho and NMSU >LU on the football field.
But I think it would be a smart move for NMSU to move down. Idaho football would be tough because they have a much stronger football tradition than does NMSU

I agree both should be in FCS. Idaho was very competitive at the FCS level, but not so much in the FBS. They saw Boise State win at the FBS level and fantasized about doing it as well. Worst. Nightmare. Ever... NMSU never had much success at this level. Their problem outside of location is that no one from New Mexico cares about football, thus basketball has been a main love for the state... I would say that Liberty would beat them (while we're in the FCS) only because they are really that bad.

[TH Spangler]

IMHO at the moment. Idaho and NMSU > LU on the football field.

At the moment they get 85 scholarship players to our 63? What are we comparing?

[TRIguyRVA]

Does anyone know if there will be any special announcement today? Or is that just wishful thinking?

[Purple Haize]

Does anyone know if there will be any special announcement today? Or is that just wishful thinking?

I think you could be surprised.

[carolinaflames]

Hoping for the best, preparing for... well more Big South.

[forbidden]

Surprise,

The new practice field was complted ahead of schedule, and were soon to break ground on the new indoor bubble.

[rmiller1959]

Does anyone know if there will be any special announcement today? Or is that just wishful thinking?

Sorry to disappoint - I was at the baccalaureate and the commencement, and there was no announcement related to the FBS or football in general. I honestly didn't expect one, but there was 1% of me hoping there would be. So now we wait to see if they (the Sun Belt) do anything in late May, or if they decide to wait until next year. It's pretty cut and dried.

[TH Spangler]

Good read on timing ... http://jmusportsblog.com/?p=5400

June 1 – This seems to be the date that if you’re still in FCS on this date, you are eligible for the FCS Football playoffs the following fall even if you announce a move to FBS so long as any additional scholarship players you may add beyond the FCS limit do not play.

July 1 – This seems to be the date that if you haven’t announced a move and transition, you are frozen out from making any move till the following year. In other words, June 30 is the end of the NCAA year so if no decision comes by then, no moves till the 2015-16 year.

If anyone were going to move it would be in June and not before.

[LUaddict]

Conference USA would consider 16 teams, commissioner Britton Banowsky says on a visit to Louisiana Tech.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/2013 ... arantee-it

“People that know me know that I am comfortable with large models of conferences,” Banowsky said. “There are efficiencies that grow from a two-division model of eight in each division that’s beneficial.

I’m not sure yet whether we will move to a platform of 16 members, but I know I’ve been asked to model 16, so that’s what I plan on doing.”

[TH Spangler]

Conference USA would consider 16 teams, commissioner Britton Banowsky says on a visit to Louisiana Tech.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/article/2013 ... arantee-it

“People that know me know that I am comfortable with large models of conferences,” Banowsky said. “There are efficiencies that grow from a two-division model of eight in each division that’s beneficial.

I’m not sure yet whether we will move to a platform of 16 members, but I know I’ve been asked to model 16, so that’s what I plan on doing.”

“I think we changed the direction,” Banowsky said. “We’ve assembled some really wonderful assets in the form of universities with tremendous upside growth. They have 40,000-45,000 students and are putting out 10,000 alum a year.

I know there is resistance from traditional Universities with LU's online numbers. But with 15,000 new alum a year and "now" over 100,000 enrolled, Banowsky has to be seeing some dollar signs?

[SuperJon]

Watch out. I got completely ripped when I said the same thing a few months ago.

[TH Spangler]

dupe

[TH Spangler]

Not really. They correctly believe that the vast majority of our online student base has almost no connection to the actual university. LU online is a paradox. It is what provides us with the ability to move up, but it is also one of the primary things that holds us back.

We are in uncharted territory. Time will tell. But I believe Liberty is on the cutting edge of the new norm, a mix of campus and distance learning. I believe if we put a good FBS football program on the field, the connection will be there .... then add in all the fans like I that support the school strictly for it's effort to "Train Champions for Christ".

I think Benson gets it .... and Banowsky is probably thinking about it.

[ATrain]

Most interesting thing in that article was that CUSA would take Arkansas State and ULL - which would remove two of our obstacles into the SunBelt.

[Purple Haize]

Most interesting thing in that article was that CUSA would take Arkansas State and ULL - which would remove two of our obstacles into the SunBelt.

Arkansas State hasn't been relevant in basketball since Hoop Dreams!

[PatrickKelly]

Again, if the SB were smart they would take up to 3 teams. It's just a matter of time before other SB schools leave.

[TH Spangler]

If something happens this year it will be between June 1st & 31th. And I agree, they should take three.

[Sly Fox]

Keep in mind you just have to file paperwork about an intention to move up by June 1st. You can do that even if you don't have an invitation based on what has occurred the past two summers.

[TH Spangler]

JMU needs to be in the CAA on July 1st to receive their portion of the conf payout right? So if they file "an intention" before June 31st do they lose the money? Can they file an intent, and stay officially in the CAA until after July 1 and play FBS 2014? NCAA deadline ends on June 31, 2013 for 2014, right? So if they did that they would not play FBS until 2015, right?

[Blessed1]

So the Sun Belt crowd wants Eastern Kentucky now, huh? ...

[JK37]

Again, if the SB were smart they would take up to 3 teams. It's just a matter of time before other SB schools leave.

Why split the pie into more pieces tha necessary at any single moment?

This is the lone question that trips the logic of premptive poaching.

[PatrickKelly]

In terms of the SB you're talking a very small amount of money that is being divided. If regional teams are selected that could be traveling partners that"pie money" would be made up quickly. Liberty would be a great traveling partner with Appy..

[TH Spangler]

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... /305150001

The Sun Belt earlier had expressed plans to identify a potential replacement for outgoing Western Kentucky, in part so it could have 12 members for the 2014 football season, the minimum required by the NCAA to stage a conference football championship game.

But now it appears possible the SBC will consider opting against issuing a membership invitation in the immediate future, even if it means having only 11 football members in 2014 and being the only one of its peer conferences to not have a football title game.

James Madison previously had been considered a strong candidate by the Sun Belt, but for multiple reasons – supposed conflicting feelings regarding readiness to jump from FCS to the higher-level FBS, potential pursuit of preferred Conference USA membership instead – it did not reciprocate interest.

Liberty University continues to aggressively pursue SBC membership, but its bid may not have majority support from member schools.

[Blessed1]

I think everyone in now waiting to see what the Big 12 and C-USA does. The Big 12 is content with 10 only because Texas is driving the bus. If the TV execs want a championship game, then it probably will happen.

C-USA does not need to expand, but their current commish seems very open about going to 16 schools. Out of the 2 conferences, C-USA seems more likely to expand sooner than later. Until then, we will be....