[Geraldos Mustache]

Option A - remain Independent with increasingly equivalent P5 schedule.

Option B - pursue P5 conference affiliation. This will never happen. All the P5 conferences have circled the wagons.

Option C - pursue the best G5 conference (AAC) and hope they become the newest addition to the P6.

Option D - pursue any G5 conference. Not a good idea. Liberty has larger aspirations.

To me, "Option A" is the most logical and most within our control. This also gives us the most options when the seismic shift happens in FBS. It was God's providence that Liberty was iced out of a G5 conference. Most pundits laughed and warned against Liberty going Independent FBS. Hindsight is 20/20 and shows to be the right decision. Stay the course. The right move will present itself in God's timing.

I like Option C.

Why do you like Option C over Option A?

[Class of 20Something]

Option A - remain Independent with increasingly equivalent P5 schedule.

Option B - pursue P5 conference affiliation. This will never happen. All the P5 conferences have circled the wagons.

Option C - pursue the best G5 conference (AAC) and hope they become the newest addition to the P6.

Option D - pursue any G5 conference. Not a good idea. Liberty has larger aspirations.

To me, "Option A" is the most logical and most within our control. This also gives us the most options when the seismic shift happens in FBS. It was God's providence that Liberty was iced out of a G5 conference. Most pundits laughed and warned against Liberty going Independent FBS. Hindsight is 20/20 and shows to be the right decision. Stay the course. The right move will present itself in God's timing.

I like Option C.

Why do you like Option C over Option A?

Option C puts us in the strongest position in 2023 when realignment 2.0 happens.

[PAmedic]

My opinion: option A only works until we become consistently competitive.
If/when we start winning, P5s have no reason to take the risk. Then watch those 2 for 1s dry Up
And the house of cards collapses

[Geraldos Mustache]

I like Option C.

Why do you like Option C over Option A?

Option C puts us in the strongest position in 2023 when realignment 2.0 happens.

Please educate me on the 2023 realignment 2.0. I am not familiar with this.

[Class of 20Something]

Why do you like Option C over Option A?

Option C puts us in the strongest position in 2023 when realignment 2.0 happens.

Please educate me on the 2023 realignment 2.0. I am not familiar with this.

Three power 5 conferences TV deals expire in 2023. Adding or removing members to make a conference more appealing is expected when the contracts are being negotiated.

[Purple Haize]

@Geraldos Mustache
I like option C because I like playing for something every year. Conference Championships mean something. Scheduling becomes easier. Recruiting becomes easier. You can still try to schedule your upper level P5’s but now the pitch becomes “Come to LU. Win a championship and have the opportunity to knock off Unnamed P5”. Staying Independent means. “Come to LU and play a bunch of teams that will get you into the Cure Bowl and hopefully another. “.
It also puts you on more solid and consistent footing. I was never a fan of moving to the Sun Belt and think being Independent at this point is better than being there. But setting sights on the AAC seems like a great fit. There are some really good teams there. And in a couple of years LU can bring something to the table. And when the seismic shake up happens LU will have a nice foundation to take the next step hopefully

[ballcoach15]

@purplehaize: Excellent post, probably your best post in history.

[BlueBlood]

My opinion: option A only works until we become consistently competitive.
If/when we start winning, P5s have no reason to take the risk. Then watch those 2 for 1s dry Up
And the house of cards collapses

I think this is a legitimate concern. Right now, all of the NC/VA ACC schools seem to be embracing the 2 for 1s. If LU becomes more dangerous, will they still sign up for that? There might even be some concerns with G5 scheduling. G5s probably want to schedule one or two P5 games and then one or two winnable G5 or FCS games. Scheduling is probably easier when LU is viewed as a winnable game.

[Liberty22]

I think it’s best to market and shoot for P5. You do that and you have the AAC to “Fall back on”. You market and shoot for being a power player and when the AAC asks you to join then you make that decision and I’d be ok if we chose to join it though I’d be more into a Big 12 invite. I may be different than most on this board but I was thinking about basketball season and the non conference schedule was more exciting to me than what were going into with a conference schedule. There’s something about choosing your opponents and being crowned a bowl champ even if it’s the same 8 bowls every year than being forced to play the same G5 schools with a spattering of excitement when a P5 appears in the schedule 1-2 times a year. What’s the difference if it’s the same bowl champ vs the same conf champ? Obviously dominating a conference would make you appealing in the next round of changes but what happens if you are able to dominate a P5 schedule in 5 years and start looking like a Boise or TCU after a couple seasons. I see both sides it’s just me wanting to expedite the process and I think we’re in a unique position no other school has been in before to attempt it.

[ballcoach15]

I realize football drives the train, but we have an advantage over most other schools, in that we can play more than 1 sport.

[Purple Haize]

LU can’t exactly “choose” who they want to play. And as time goes on they are going to find more and more they have to take what they can get. Notice how once a team pulls off a big upset, that team never gets invited back? If LU goes to Norman and beatOU do you think OU will schedule them again? Do you think other schools will think twice? Trying to fill out a season schedule like that will become more and more difficult. Being able to find 2 or 3 to compliment your Conference schedule will be easier

[thepostman]

I realize football drives the train, but we have an advantage over most other schools, in that we can play more than 1 sport.

Other schools only play one sport?

[cruzan_flame13]

LU can’t exactly “choose” who they want to play. And as time goes on they are going to find more and more they have to take what they can get. Notice how once a team pulls off a big upset, that team never gets invited back? If LU goes to Norman and beatOU do you think OU will schedule them again? Do you think other schools will think twice? Trying to fill out a season schedule like that will become more and more difficult. Being able to find 2 or 3 to compliment your Conference schedule will be easier

You have a point and that should be a top plan. We can also established more games for the future 2024+ seasons and locked those games. It would be nice to fill as much seasons as possible, start winning alot of games before the conference realignment and possibly continue as an independent if our trajectory is exceeding more than expected. Now some of those P5's can cancel plus pay off not playing us in those future seasons, but that would look quite bad on their part. We can hope their egos proceed them to not take such actions when that time comes .

[ballcoach15]

"play only 1 sport" is just a figure of speech that is used to describe a school that is only good in one sport. Schools like Appy State (football), VCU (basketball), Longwood (softball). It's like when someone talks about a team who plays a cupcake schedule, and the term "hasn't played anyone" is used. Sure they played their schedule, but it was loaded with cupcakes.

To be more specific, LU is good in football, basketball, baseball and softball.

[Purple Haize]

LU can’t exactly “choose” who they want to play. And as time goes on they are going to find more and more they have to take what they can get. Notice how once a team pulls off a big upset, that team never gets invited back? If LU goes to Norman and beatOU do you think OU will schedule them again? Do you think other schools will think twice? Trying to fill out a season schedule like that will become more and more difficult. Being able to find 2 or 3 to compliment your Conference schedule will be easier

You have a point and that should be a top plan. We can also established more games for the future 2024+ seasons and locked those games. It would be nice to fill as much seasons as possible, start winning alot of games before the conference realignment and possibly continue as an independent if our trajectory is exceeding more than expected. Now some of those P5's can cancel plus pay off not playing us in those future seasons, but that would look quite bad on their part. We can hope their egos proceed them to not take such actions when that time comes .

How would it look bad? It happens all the time?

[thepostman]

"play only 1 sport" is just a figure of speech that is used to describe a school that is only good in one sport. Schools like Appy State (football), VCU (basketball), Longwood (softball). It's like when someone talks about a team who plays a cupcake schedule, and the term "hasn't played anyone" is used. Sure they played their schedule, but it was loaded with cupcakes.

To be more specific, LU is good in football, basketball, baseball and softball.

I knew what you meant but you literally gave zero explanation or examples.

You force people to come to their own conclusions with what you mean and that is dangerous.

[cruzan_flame13]

"play only 1 sport" is just a figure of speech that is used to describe a school that is only good in one sport. Schools like Appy State (football), VCU (basketball), Longwood (softball). It's like when someone talks about a team who plays a cupcake schedule, and the term "hasn't played anyone" is used. Sure they played their schedule, but it was loaded with cupcakes.

To be more specific, LU is good in football, basketball, baseball and softball.

And field hockey, lacrosse (women), golf, track (indoor/outdoor), and somewhat tennis. In reality, we need to grow more in football and basketball(mostly men but women would be nice as well) to even get a looked at.

[cruzan_flame13]

LU can’t exactly “choose” who they want to play. And as time goes on they are going to find more and more they have to take what they can get. Notice how once a team pulls off a big upset, that team never gets invited back? If LU goes to Norman and beatOU do you think OU will schedule them again? Do you think other schools will think twice? Trying to fill out a season schedule like that will become more and more difficult. Being able to find 2 or 3 to compliment your Conference schedule will be easier

You have a point and that should be a top plan. We can also established more games for the future 2024+ seasons and locked those games. It would be nice to fill as much seasons as possible, start winning alot of games before the conference realignment and possibly continue as an independent if our trajectory is exceeding more than expected. Now some of those P5's can cancel plus pay off not playing us in those future seasons, but that would look quite bad on their part. We can hope their egos proceed them to not take such actions when that time comes .

How would it look bad? It happens all the time?

Maybe not the right choice of words. It would look more silly for a P5 to cancel someone like Liberty for fear of losing. They have a right to do so but it's funny that they do it.

[Liberty22]

LU can’t exactly “choose” who they want to play. And as time goes on they are going to find more and more they have to take what they can get. Notice how once a team pulls off a big upset, that team never gets invited back? If LU goes to Norman and beatOU do you think OU will schedule them again? Do you think other schools will think twice? Trying to fill out a season schedule like that will become more and more difficult. Being able to find 2 or 3 to compliment your Conference schedule will be easier

Schedules are made several years in advance and in most cases for more than 1 game. So we’d have plenty of P5s on the docket. In addition most P5 programs want to play a good school as it helps come playoff selection time so I don’t see it scaring people away as much as an advantage to get a quality opponent that looks good if you beat them and only mildly bad if you lose.

[JK37]

I think first you determine what size ladder you need then put it on the tree you want to climb then start climbing one step at a time. A 5 foot step ladder doesn’t work on a 30 foot tree.

Love the analogy. Just think the order is off. First decision is what tree to climb. That informs every other decision.

Which is why we debate: who/what are we trying to be?

Let me ask this: can G5 goals be a rung on the ladder to climb a P5 tree?

If it could, I would be all for it - but there are 6-8 G5 programs way ahead of us that are stuck in G5 desperate to get out - they froze us out - so rather than trying to join their misery - bypass them and use all the unique assets we have. I have looked at every angle specific to LU and see no other way to somewhat control our own destiny than going P5 Equivalent in 5 years or less. Purple might be right about seismic shift happening prior to that time frame but that should not make us passive with planning. If I didn’t believe LU could recruit nationally at a P5 level I wouldn’t be pushing this. I am 100 percent convinced we will with the right coach - HF would kill it if LU could say P5 Equivalent.

I respect what you’re saying. But Injst don’t seem ya as in total control of all the elements necessary for us to be P5 equivalent. Simply saying it loud isn’t enough. We have to have P5 conferences and the CFP committee recognize us as such. We can’t force it. And it takes time.

[JK37]

You have a point and that should be a top plan. We can also established more games for the future 2024+ seasons and locked those games. It would be nice to fill as much seasons as possible, start winning alot of games before the conference realignment and possibly continue as an independent if our trajectory is exceeding more than expected. Now some of those P5's can cancel plus pay off not playing us in those future seasons, but that would look quite bad on their part. We can hope their egos proceed them to not take such actions when that time comes .

How would it look bad? It happens all the time?

Maybe not the right choice of words. It would look more silly for a P5 to cancel someone like Liberty for fear of losing. They have a right to do so but it's funny that they do it.

Not only do they have the right to do so ... if LU starts knocking off P5’s before their turn to play comes up, and there’s a buyout clause in the schedule contract, buying out LU is the SMART thing for them to do.

[JK37]

LU can’t exactly “choose” who they want to play. And as time goes on they are going to find more and more they have to take what they can get. Notice how once a team pulls off a big upset, that team never gets invited back? If LU goes to Norman and beatOU do you think OU will schedule them again? Do you think other schools will think twice? Trying to fill out a season schedule like that will become more and more difficult. Being able to find 2 or 3 to compliment your Conference schedule will be easier

Schedules are made several years in advance and in most cases for more than 1 game. So we’d have plenty of P5s on the docket. In addition most P5 programs want to play a good school as it helps come playoff selection time so I don’t see it scaring people away as much as an advantage to get a quality opponent that looks good if you beat them and only mildly bad if you lose.

Knock off 1 or 2 of those P5’s, and watch the others fall off future schedules quickly. We would have to work through that next phase for awhile and scratch out games a few are willing to risk before getting to the point of consideration as a “quality opponent”. Hate to say it again, but look at App State’s trajectory since the infamous Michigan upset.

[tyndal23]

@purplehaize: Excellent post, probably your best post in history.

Purple found the paragraph button on his keyboard, really impressed ( but I will politely make a counter argument on another post ). But nice to see some well stated thoughts vs one line zingers.

[tyndal23]

Love the analogy. Just think the order is off. First decision is what tree to climb. That informs every other decision.

Which is why we debate: who/what are we trying to be?

Let me ask this: can G5 goals be a rung on the ladder to climb a P5 tree?

If it could, I would be all for it - but there are 6-8 G5 programs way ahead of us that are stuck in G5 desperate to get out - they froze us out - so rather than trying to join their misery - bypass them and use all the unique assets we have. I have looked at every angle specific to LU and see no other way to somewhat control our own destiny than going P5 Equivalent in 5 years or less. Purple might be right about seismic shift happening prior to that time frame but that should not make us passive with planning. If I didn’t believe LU could recruit nationally at a P5 level I wouldn’t be pushing this. I am 100 percent convinced we will with the right coach - HF would kill it if LU could say P5 Equivalent.

I respect what you’re saying. But Injst don’t seem ya as in total control of all the elements necessary for us to be P5 equivalent. Simply saying it loud isn’t enough. We have to have P5 conferences and the CFP committee recognize us as such. We can’t force it. And it takes time.

Committee has nothing to do with it - only individual conferences - BYU isn’t recognized as a P5 by every conference - Army is by the Big 12 ( waiver for when they played OU ) not every conference requires x amount of P5 games by member. If ACC has 4 teams playing LU annually it is easy and in best interest of conference for commissioner to approve LU for SOS and it is up to commissioner not league vote in most cases.

[Purple Haize]

@purplehaize: Excellent post, probably your best post in history.

Purple found the paragraph button on his keyboard, really impressed ( but I will politely make a counter argument on another post ). But nice to see some well stated thoughts vs one line zingers.

Golly teach glad I could pass your class. Next time I’ll bring you an apple