A Sea Of Red

Watched #1 Coastal squeak past Presbyterian last week. And then this week Kennesaw State barely nips Gardner-Webb, and Charleston Southern beats Presbyterian by a FG. Big South fans are seeing some great contest.

Our remaining home games will mean a lot for our FBS hopes. Not our record ... but whether we can put fans in the stands in a somewhat down season? That's important if we move up because there will be some down season at the next level.

I'm seeing a crappy league with Coastal sleepwalking so far. CSU is an above average team, but they are too inconsistent. If they beat Coastal, it's a different story.

Maybe they'll finish above .500. Hey, that's better than losing more than you win.

bluejacket wrote:I'm seeing a crappy league with Coastal sleepwalking so far.

Ding ding ding.

Coastal leaves just in time for Kennesaw State to be the top team in the league. Reminiscent of Stony Brook a few years ago.

Kennesaw is going to be good quick. Playing the Paul Johnson offense helps them speed that process up too.

I wouldn't be surprised if Kennesaw only stays in the Big South for a couple of years.

I would agree with that. They're a good sized public school with a pretty good athletics program. They're destined for SoCon or CAA if not bigger.

jack_sparrow81 wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if Kennesaw only stays in the Big South for a couple of years.

#SBCREADY

Purple Haize wrote:

jack_sparrow81 wrote:I wouldn't be surprised if Kennesaw only stays in the Big South for a couple of years.

#SBCREADY

LOL, that will be the swift kick in the gut. Maybe Birmingham Southern can resurrect their program and rejoin the conference to fill in.

?

For the record... KSU has a decent sized online program for a public university. They are using that to grow, similar to how we have done, just not on the same scale. If they see ANY measure of success in the next 2 - 3 years they will quickly become a favorite of the SBC.

I wouldn't say all that, but I think on behalf of LU that as other teams get up to speed LU has stayed passive. From the first time they walloped Monmouth we must remember there was scholarship difference, so there was a gap in talent and over the next two years that gap has closed substantially. LU has not shown a propensity to really want to put there foot on the throat of anyone and hence stay stagnant as other teams rapidly close the gap. I feel the same thing happened with GW where they took them for granted, IDC what they say and got punched in the face and couldn't respond. Again, while we stayed stagnant and talked about how we shut them out the last two years they were getting better.

My point is, it seems like when LU plays teams usually for the first time they will come out and jump all over them, but then the second and third times around, they employ no real changes to what they saw worked for them that first time they played, while the other program makes improvement. That would be the only thing I place some blame on the staff with.

New trend? Hope not? Win big games and play down to lesser opponents.

The LU effect on JMU, APP STATE and Coastal.
Since losing to us.

APP STATE IS 12-1, respectable loss to Clemson
Coastal is 7-1, loss to eventual national champions
JMU is 7-0

That's an incredible stat.

TH Spangler wrote:New trend? Hope not? Win big games and play down to lesser opponents.

The LU effect on JMU, APP STATE and Coastal.
Since losing to us.

APP STATE IS 12-1, respectable loss to Clemson
Coastal is 7-1, loss to eventual national champions
JMU is 7-0

Good stats. But there is no "LU effect."

SuperJon wrote:I would agree with that. They're a good sized public school with a pretty good athletics program. They're destined for SoCon or CAA if not bigger.

I wouldn't doubt the SOCON go after them in the next couple of years. They have lost several members over the last couple of years but I don't doubt they will look for more memberships. When Coastal leaves, I just wonder what the Big South can do to maintain memberships. Maybe if Liberty doesn't get that chance to move up to the FBS level, it might be a good idea to seek another conference like the SOCON or CAA.

There are threads upon threads on here about that. But If LU wants to look attractive and because they have made such a big stick about moving up our only hope and really our best hope is to seek the best for the Big South now. Help recruit new schools, push for conference wide agreements and what not, just generally be a team player.
It's a matter of love the one your with.

D-ZasterLU wrote:There are threads upon threads on here about that. But If LU wants to look attractive and because they have made such a big stick about moving up our only hope and really our best hope is to seek the best for the Big South now. Help recruit new schools, push for conference wide agreements and what not, just generally be a team player.
It's a matter of love the one your with.

I just don't know what new schools that the Big South can recruit. Could possibly go out and try to get someone like Campbell and Davidson out of the Pioneer Conference but I doubt that will happen. I would almost say that the Big South and SOCON could merge into one conference. SOCON will have nine members once ETSU switches over and the Big South will be down to 6 members once Coastal leaves. Thats 15 schools but the Big Sky has 13 members and the CAA has 12. I think it would work if schools like Monmouth and another school switch to another conference. It would make sense as far as a location standpoint.

Also do not forget that there are no doubt a few very unhappy MEAC schools after the move to give up their automatic bid and play in the "classic" with the champion of the SWAC

We have a Mega Thread for this

Purple Haize wrote:We have a Mega Thread for this

What thread are you referring to? I don't think anyone on this board has ever discussed conference realignment....especially when it pertains to Liberty or the Big South.

PalmettoFlame wrote:

D-ZasterLU wrote:There are threads upon threads on here about that. But If LU wants to look attractive and because they have made such a big stick about moving up our only hope and really our best hope is to seek the best for the Big South now. Help recruit new schools, push for conference wide agreements and what not, just generally be a team player.
It's a matter of love the one your with.

I just don't know what new schools that the Big South can recruit. Could possibly go out and try to get someone like Campbell and Davidson out of the Pioneer Conference but I doubt that will happen. I would almost say that the Big South and SOCON could merge into one conference. SOCON will have nine members once ETSU switches over and the Big South will be down to 6 members once Coastal leaves. Thats 15 schools but the Big Sky has 13 members and the CAA has 12. I think it would work if schools like Monmouth and another school switch to another conference. It would make sense as far as a location standpoint.

Wow. This post got out of hand fast. I'm acrtually inpressed

I guess the real question is. . . Is there actually parity in the Big South like that of other conferences? We do have 4 teams receiving votes in the STATS poll for FCS with Coastal being #1 and Chucky So. being #19 and then us and KSU receiving votes too. I think it is safe to say that Monmouth is better than what we have given them credit. However, it still doesn't excuse a loss to them. Presbyterian and G-Webb are cellar dwellers but have played respectable games this season. Should we even be in the same conversation as that of CAA, Big Sky or Missouri Valley teams? In my opinion I do think we are in a better position this season when it comes to strength of conference in comparison to other seasons. Yet, with coastal chickening out and leaving for the Sun Barf Conference the future is yet to be determined. But i do like the addition of KSU. Maybe ole Mike Minter and the mighty humpers from Campbell will join us soon enough in the Big South