The idea that it wasn't planned to release the schedule is ludicrous. We all knew it was coming, even before the <wink, wink> posts leading up to Saturday. The weird thing was Trump making the announcement... I <think> the idea was to have the "Commander-In-Chief" be the one to announce the game vs. Army, which makes sense. It didn't fully come off that way to me, however... at least not with a screaming two year old in the car, listening on the radio.
I think "desperation" isn't quite accurate, considering the circumstances. In one sense, of course "we were desperate!" due to the need to make a schedule in short notice. In that sense, anything we have done was "desperate." To make "desperate" really fit, would have meant that we could not have made a schedule without this move, but I don't think that is true. Instead, we have a GREAT schedule, which appears to have been masterfully and strategically planned... Along with "laying awake at 2 AM, staring at the ceiling, wondering how this will work". Lol
Did ODU need to pay anyone for a buyout to play Liberty? If so, that certainly played into the total cost. From everything I have read, the AD seems to like and respect Liberty, and wanted to play us. That doesn't reek of "desperation."