[Kricket]

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2010/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

If the 15,000 attendance is required for the two years to make the move to FBS (which I’m not sure if it is), Liberty would be one of about 10 schools that are decent fits geographically in Conference USA that qualify. I know it’d be a long shot, but if Conference USA did pull up one or two FCS schools, I’d say Liberty would be somewhere in the middle of that pack of schools in consideration. Like I said, it’s a long shot and we’d need a lot of dominoes to fall just right. On the plus side, we have expressed interest in a move so our name is out there.

Here’s my list of schools that have the attendance (not sure if any of these schools even want to make the move, I used just attendance and location as my filter):

App State
Jackson State
Old Dominion
Ga. Southern
Liberty
Jacksonville State
Florida A&M
James Madison
South Carolina State
NC A&T

Something I noticed is that Villanova is nowhere near the attendance they’d need under the 15,000 requirement; does anyone know if that requirement still exists?

[LUconn]

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2010/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

If the 15,000 attendance is required for the two years to make the move to FBS (which I’m not sure if it is), Liberty would be one of about 10 schools that are decent fits geographically in Conference USA that qualify. I know it’d be a long shot, but if Conference USA did pull up one or two FCS schools, I’d say Liberty would be somewhere in the middle of that pack of schools in consideration. Like I said, it’s a long shot and we’d need a lot of dominoes to fall just right. On the plus side, we have expressed interest in a move so our name is out there.

Here’s my list of schools that have the attendance (not sure if any of these schools even want to make the move, I used just attendance and location as my filter):

App State
Jackson State
Old Dominion
Ga. Southern
Liberty
Jacksonville State
Florida A&M
James Madison
South Carolina State
NC A&T

Something I noticed is that Villanova is nowhere near the attendance they’d need under the 15,000 requirement; does anyone know if that requirement still exists?

While the 15k rule is old andout the window (it could be more or less or nonexistant when the movement begins) this is an interesting list to have compiled. It basically shows what programs would immediately be viable.

[Sly Fox]

The HBCUs aren't likely going anywhere. The mess FAMU found themselves in after jumping a few years ago still reverberates in the SWAC & MEAC circles.

[Kricket]

The HBCUs aren't likely going anywhere. The mess FAMU found themselves in after jumping a few years ago still reverberates in the SWAC & MEAC circles.

Yeah, I figured you could cross a few off the list just from a lack of interest in making the move, but I'm in no place to have any idea of which ones really would like to move to the FBS.

And like LUconn said, I have no idea what rules still apply, but I think it shows that Liberty can't be that far out of consideration. The bad thing is, if you look at who the WAC is talking about adding, Montana, Texas State, UTSA, Seattle, and Denver, it seems that what the football team does or attendance hardly matters, as UTSA is just starting an FCS squad I believe, Seattle is going to make the move to D1 from D2, and Denver, I don't know if they even have a team. Outside of Montana, the others are simply big football markets, so I guess it's just about money for conferences.

I guess we just have to hope that conferences see dollar signs when they look at Liberty. I just worry that the dollar signs aren't as obvious for Liberty as some of the other schools that might have a better location.

[Sly Fox]

Honestly, your list outside of the HBCUs is pretty much the primary candidates to step up from FCS to FBS.

UTSA & Texas State both will draw decent numbers in the WAC and have shown a commitment to investing in their programs. I wouldn't bag on either one.

[4everfsu]

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2009/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2010/Internet/ ... NDANCE.pdf

If the 15,000 attendance is required for the two years to make the move to FBS (which I’m not sure if it is), Liberty would be one of about 10 schools that are decent fits geographically in Conference USA that qualify. I know it’d be a long shot, but if Conference USA did pull up one or two FCS schools, I’d say Liberty would be somewhere in the middle of that pack of schools in consideration. Like I said, it’s a long shot and we’d need a lot of dominoes to fall just right. On the plus side, we have expressed interest in a move so our name is out there.

Here’s my list of schools that have the attendance (not sure if any of these schools even want to make the move, I used just attendance and location as my filter):

App State
Jackson State
Old Dominion
Ga. Southern
Liberty
Jacksonville State
Florida A&M
James Madison
South Carolina State
NC A&T

Something I noticed is that Villanova is nowhere near the attendance they’d need under the 15,000 requirement; does anyone know if that requirement still exists?

App State will not be moving up, beside it would be a bad fit for any FBS conference, location is back for teams traveling. I believe teams have to fly into Charlotte and take a bus about 90 miles to Boone.

[Sly Fox]

Actually it is a near certainty that Appy will be stepping up when the right opportunity arises. They have done several feasibility studies that have all state have stated over the past few years that the timing wasn't quite right. But all it would take would be a decent conference opportunity and they will be among the first to jump.

[Kricket]

I figured I'd let everyone speculate as to who would like to make the jump to the FBS, because I really have no idea what schools are interested. Honestly though, I can't wait to see how this conference realignment shakes down.

[Kricket]

Honestly, the more and more I read about the Big East, the more I think TCU would have to be nuts to join it. After all these conference changes happen, the Big East could be completely crippled.

[ATrain]

TCU is apparently joining the Big East for all sports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/ne ... id=5862368

Honestly I can't think of a more complicated league than the Big East right now.

[From the class of 09]

TCU is apparently joining the Big East for all sports:

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/ncf/ne ... id=5862368

Honestly I can't think of a more complicated league than the Big East right now.

From New England to Dallas is their a current Big East school within 1000 miles of TCU?

[ALUmnus]

It's just geography. While it's nice and tidy and the way I prefer it, geographic location is no longer a deciding factor. The Big East proved that with the Florida schools, and the ACC continued it with BC.

I do imagine, though, that this will be tough on TCU athletes, having to consistantly travel so much. Seems like that would be a big disadvantage.

[LUconn]

And the Big East collectively sighs as they will get to keep their BCS bid. I don't really know if it was in jeopardy or not but I do know that they are terrible this year. Don't you have to have a program with some kind of top 15 ranking over a certain amount of years?

[From the class of 09]

It's just geography. While it's nice and tidy and the way I prefer it, geographic location is no longer a deciding factor. The Big East proved that with the Florida schools, and the ACC continued it with BC.

I do imagine, though, that this will be tough on TCU athletes, having to consistantly travel so much. Seems like that would be a big disadvantage.

While geography in and of itself doesn't play a part, cost does. They will have to fly for everything. I'm just surprised partly because of the distance and partly because TCU wants to go through all that work to just join the Big East although it will be an easy BCS bid for TCU right?

[jcmanson]

Boise St must be kicking themselves

[ATrain]

Boise St must be kicking themselves

Other than losing to Nevada on Friday night, why?

Mountain West was still a great move for them from a competition/cost perspective.

[Sly Fox]

Boise St must be kicking themselves

They'd probably miss themselves wide right. Sorry.

And for the record, TCU has been flying everywhere practically since Kyle drove the Southwest Conference into the ground. They just would be flying east instead of west. Fort Worth is not exactly a Pacific Coast location.

And if Villanova isn't ready to solve their stadium issues or step up financially to FBS football, then you have to think Houston would get the invitation to become TCU's travel partner in the Big East.

[jcmanson]

When Boise made their decision, it looked like the MWC would take the Big East's spot at the BCS table. Now, the MWC looks eerily similar to the WAC.

[4everfsu]

Too bad TCU joined the Big Least, still a crappy football conference.

[ALUmnus]

Too bad TCU joined the Big Least, still a crappy football conference.

...says the fsu fan...

[LUconn]

I see what he did. He slipped an "L" in front of the East!

[ATrain]

I see what he did. He slipped an "L" in front of the East!

It's more accurate than the conference's actual name.

[LUconn]

Yeah, I guess the addition of TCU would make them less "Eastern" but at that point, what poll exactly would the be the "least" in?

Football?

1 Oregon (36) 11-0 1475
2 Auburn (23) 12-0 1456
3 TCU (1) 12-0 1383
4 Wisconsin 11-1 1289
5 Stanford 11-1 1283
6 Ohio State 11-1 1184
7 Michigan State 11-1 1098
8 Arkansas 10-2 1094
9 Boise State 10-1 908
10 Oklahoma 10-2 886
11 LSU 10-2 856
12 Virginia Tech 10-2 761
13 Nebraska 10-2 740
14 Nevada 11-1 736
15 Missouri 10-2 691
16 Oklahoma State 10-2 599
17 Alabama 9-3 597
18 South Carolina 9-3 591
19 Texas A&M 9-3 582
20 Florida State 9-3 356
21 Utah 10-2 249
22 Mississippi State 8-4 224
23 West Virginia 8-3 147
24 Northern Illinois 10-2 130
25 Hawaii 9-3 43

Basketball maybe?

1 Duke (65) 6-0 1,625
2 Ohio State 5-0 1,530
3 Pittsburgh 7-0 1,488
4 Kansas 6-0 1,402
5 Kansas State 5-1 1,263
6 Michigan State 5-1 1,250
7 Connecticut 5-0 1,188
8 Syracuse 6-0 1,085
9 Missouri 5-0 984
10 Kentucky 4-1 890
11 Baylor 4-0 844
12 Villanova 5-1 807
13 Tennessee 5-0 779
14 Memphis 5-0 758
15 Minnesota 6-0 754
16 Georgetown 6-0 701
17 San Diego State 6-0 594
18 Florida 5-1 553
19 Texas 5-1 484
20 Illinois 6-1 435
21 Brigham Young 6-0 369
22 Purdue 5-1 318
23 Washington 3-2 270
24 UNLV 6-0 255
25 Notre Dame 7-0 126

I think that red conference might meet the qualifications for "least" in both major sports. Unless "least" has another definition. Where's Cider at?

[Cider Jim]

Where's Cider at?

"Big Least"--I like it, esp. if that's the conference WVU is in.

[jcmanson]

You can't include TCU's ranking this year to argue that the Big East is better than the ACC in 2010.

ACC vs Big East 2010:
West Virginia 31 Maryland 17
NC State 30 Cincinnati 19
Boston College 16 Syracuse 7
Miami 31 Pitt 3
USF 23 Miami 20
North Carolina 17 Rutgers 13

ACC 4 Big East 2