[SumItUp]

And in the 'petition for FBS Independent' plan, is that for all sports? If not, where would the other non-football sports play?

It would be football only. Everything other sport would remain in the current conference at that time.

I don't see this happening or being explored unless the NCAA decides that it is going to close the door to FBS. At that time, it should be explored, but there would have to be a purpose for making the move. As part of the petition process, the move would need to include access to the bowl and playoff system. The bowls negotiate directly with conferences, but if Liberty fans traveled in large numbers and the team was competitive, there would be bowl options. Difficult, maybe, but doable. Access to the playoff system is a different animal. In the future, it is likely to grow to include more teams, but the Big 5 conferences really don't want to include anyone outside their group. They reluctantly threw a bone to the Small 5 conferences with an outside shot of gaining entry to the playoff.

Football independence is a remote possibility in the future, but at this point, it is probably at the bottom of the list of options.

[rmiller1959]

http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/2013 ... teams.html

Now that the outcome is as we expected, it's time to focus our attention on being the undisputed Big South champion this year and making some noise in the FCS playoffs. In my humble opinion, won't be hearing any more about realignment unless C-USA or the Big 12 decide to shake things up again.

[jbock13]

Big 12 won't be shaking up anything anytime soon. They're happy.

[rmiller1959]

Big 12 won't be shaking up anything anytime soon. They're happy.

As a Big 12 alumnus (Texas Tech), I wish they weren't so happy. A Big 12 with 10 teams is silly. Between the Big 12 and the B1G, the rest of the world thinks the Midwest is mathematically challenged!

[Purple Haize]

Big 12 won't be shaking up anything anytime soon. They're happy.

Don't be so sure. WVU is having some buyers remorse

[Purple Haize]

And in the 'petition for FBS Independent' plan, is that for all sports? If not, where would the other non-football sports play?

A. They stay in the Big South
B. We go Indy in everything
C. H-e-double hockey sticks freezes over and we get an invite to the A-10 or the fooballless Big East.

Tho of course, its silly to even consider any of that. Per our great and fearless leader Haize, The Dark Side is channeling the Force to get us into the SunBelt.

when you spell it out like that it seems even sillier!
The BSC may just give a big shove off if we bolted for FB Indy and causing them to most likely lose their auto bid!

[TH Spangler]

Benson said the Sun Belt has been in talks the past 60 days with Virginia-based Liberty University regarding possible membership, but no invite was extended.

“Several” applications for membership have recently been received by the conference, according to the commissioner.

But the Sun Belt wanted to make sure it found the proper fit, and it didn’t want to reach for a new member that doesn’t fit geographically and in general terms with current and incoming members.

The decision means the conference will not be able to hold a conference football championship in 2014, something it has been considering but that requires 12-program football membership.

“We believe we have choices and … we can be selective,” Benson said.

“Yes, it does mean we will delay getting to 12 (for football) and we will delay creating the creating the Eastern-half … division,” he added, “but we believe that even though we may have to wait an extra year that we need to get it right and we need to make sure that the total pool of prospective members is given an opportunity to develop.”

Benson suggested the eventual 12th football-playing member could be an FCS jump-up program, but not all prospective candidates in which the Sun Belt might have interest are ready yet to make the leap to FBS play.

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

In other words no private Christian schools will be allow to enter the NCAA FBS level any time soon?

[WinthropEagleFan]

And in the 'petition for FBS Independent' plan, is that for all sports? If not, where would the other non-football sports play?

A. They stay in the Big South
B. We go Indy in everything
C. H-e-double hockey sticks freezes over and we get an invite to the A-10 or the fooballless Big East.

Tho of course, its silly to even consider any of that. Per our great and fearless leader Haize, The Dark Side is channeling the Force to get us into the SunBelt.

when you spell it out like that it seems even sillier!
The BSC may just give a big shove off if we bolted for FB Indy and causing them to most likely lose their auto bid!

That's kind of what I was getting at. Why would the Big South allow Liberty to have its football program leave, but still keep the other sports arounds?

[jbock13]

Big 12 won't be shaking up anything anytime soon. They're happy.

Don't be so sure. WVU is having some buyers remorse

True, but you and I both know they had nowhere else to go.

To everyone: As for the Sun Belt, Benson probably wants us, but our politics are hated, and the Louisiana schools don't have enough money to fly out here. It's really that simple folks. Get over it.

[bluedevilflame]

Benson is absolutely delusional if he thinks they have all these options, he will end up running the Sun Belt into the ground just like the WAC.

[WinthropEagleFan]

So I guess Elon just hates the idea of being in the same league as VMI. Back in late 2001, VMI announces they are joining the Big South...a few months later, Elon announces they are leaving the Big South to join the SoCon. Fast forward to today...Word gets out that VMI will be joining the SoCon, so then Elon announces they are leaving the SoCon to join the CAA (Official announcement expected tomorrow).

[bluedevilflame]

That's kind of what I was getting at. Why would the Big South allow Liberty to have its football program leave, but still keep the other sports arounds?

Why does the Big Sky take Idaho minus football? Or the ACC take ND minus football? It's all about getting what $ you can out of a program for most conferences.

[VAGolf]

I don't think VMI has anything to do with it. CAA>Socon>BigSouth

With Elon joining the CAA, that conference becomes very attractive as a Liberty fan. If we can't go FBS now, CAA sounds like a nice option.

[SumItUp]

That's kind of what I was getting at. Why would the Big South allow Liberty to have its football program leave, but still keep the other sports arounds?

Why does the Big South allow Campbell to play all sports except football in the Big South?

[bluedevilflame]

I don't think VMI has anything to do with it. CAA>Socon>BigSouth

With Elon joining the CAA, that conference becomes very attractive as a Liberty fan. If we can't go FBS now, CAA sounds like a nice option.

Very nice, and they have the NBCSN deal to boot.

[Purple Haize]

That's kind of what I was getting at. Why would the Big South allow Liberty to have its football program leave, but still keep the other sports arounds?

Why does the Big South allow Campbell to play all sports except football in the Big South?

The difference is that LU would cause them to add a new FB school or jeopardize their auto bid.
Campbell brings a whole lot to the table but I believe their FB is non scholarship so it might be mutual.

[TH Spangler]

Benson is absolutely delusional if he thinks they have all these options, he will end up running the Sun Belt into the ground just like the WAC.

Benson's eyes were wide open, he wanted Liberty ..... I think it's the Sun Belt University presidents saying no to any private Christian School. His statement was stunning. I find their actions chilling. I hope a lot of eyes have been opened. I believe their bias extends beyond Liberty. I doubt the NCAA is thrilled about it.

[flamesfilmguy]

Benson is absolutely delusional if he thinks they have all these options, he will end up running the Sun Belt into the ground just like the WAC.

Benson's eyes were wide open, he wanted Liberty ..... I think it's the Sun Belt University presidents saying no to any private Christian School. His statement was stunning. I find their actions chilling. I hope a lot of eyes have been opened. I believe their bias extends beyond Liberty. I doubt the NCAA is thrilled about it.

I tend to agree with you about the benson part. he wanted us.
I disagree that the NCAA or anyone else outside of the sunbelt and liberty gives a rats hind parts. Thats the change culture has taken. sad. but I think its true.

[jbock13]

Benson is absolutely delusional if he thinks they have all these options, he will end up running the Sun Belt into the ground just like the WAC.

Correct.

[Purple Haize]

Next year they will find they must say Liberty or Death! Which will they chose?

[RVAparks]

That's kind of what I was getting at. Why would the Big South allow Liberty to have its football program leave, but still keep the other sports arounds?

Why does the Big South allow Campbell to play all sports except football in the Big South?

You're talking about the different evolution of things. Its different when school spurns a particular conference in an effort to move up (using a stepping stone method) versus a preexisting/different program being consumed. Notre Dame was already Independent. Campbell was already non-scholarship, Idaho was already FBS, etc., etc.

If you're model held up then Monmouth would still be playing in the NEC. They left the NEC for the MAAC and in the process needed to find some makeshift football home. If the NEC was cool with the move then they'd still be playing there.

You're dealing with large egos from university presidents/admins and conference commissioners.

[TH Spangler]

A few eyes have been opened .... Not all Sun Belt fans are happy. You can tell he was mad when he updated his blog ...

The fans were looking and hoping for this creation with the Sun Belt Conference. Oh, but no one in the conference leadership is telling us the fans or media on why they decided against adding a program such as Liberty. Thought I forgot-NO! They rejected Liberty saying they don’t fit the Sun Belt Conference. We as fans still want answers on that…and on why? I have a few but I would rather wait and let them tell you since they lead and I follow if they ever decide to do so.

http://sunbeltinsider.blogspot.com/

[flamehunter]

Benson said the Sun Belt has been in talks the past 60 days with Virginia-based Liberty University regarding possible membership, but no invite was extended.

“Several” applications for membership have recently been received by the conference, according to the commissioner.

But the Sun Belt wanted to make sure it found the proper fit, and it didn’t want to reach for a new member that doesn’t fit geographically and in general terms with current and incoming members.

The decision means the conference will not be able to hold a conference football championship in 2014, something it has been considering but that requires 12-program football membership.

“We believe we have choices and … we can be selective,” Benson said.

“Yes, it does mean we will delay getting to 12 (for football) and we will delay creating the creating the Eastern-half … division,” he added, “but we believe that even though we may have to wait an extra year that we need to get it right and we need to make sure that the total pool of prospective members is given an opportunity to develop.”

Benson suggested the eventual 12th football-playing member could be an FCS jump-up program, but not all prospective candidates in which the Sun Belt might have interest are ready yet to make the leap to FBS play.

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

In other words no private Christian schools will be allow to enter the NCAA FBS level any time soon?

So you're saying we are getting the "IRS" treatment.

[Purple Haize]

We've been Lois Lernered!

[TH Spangler]

Yepper, they'll probably claim the 5th ..... if and when they talk about why only 11 teams and no championship game, the footprint excuse is dead in the water. JMU is north of Lynchburg last time I checked.