[LUconn]

one national prime time ESPN game alone is worth a thousand mission trips with regards to spreading the light referred to in that passage.

Somebody brought that quote to my attention. I think it went unmentioned because it was in one of those long posts that nobody reads. It's a fairly absurd statement though.

[Sly Fox]

Anything outside of a BCS league is just about the same. A new East Coast league would be considered on par with Sunbelt, MAC & WAC (and C-USA if UH & ECU were snatched away). It is not reasonable for us to expect anything higher during a transition. But such a move would position us nicely for any further moves or in the event a playoff system is installed.

It is all about progressing forward.

[ToTheLeft]

I agree that it would still be progress. I'm just not sure that a league full of fcs schools would be regarded on the same level as conference USA and the mac. My initial vibe is that we would be viewed as a fake conference that shouldnt be there. I hope you are right, and you very well could be because none of us know. As long as we succeed in a league like that all will be well.

We're currently FCS, which is regarded as DII by the same people who you're worried about regarding us as a lesser conference in FBS.

Not sure what you want out of this, but you need to consider WHO we are trying to impress. ESPN is not high on our list. We're looking to move up to fulfill a goal that Doc had, and to increase our exposure. Even in a conference that gets no run on ESPN, we can do both of those things.

And just about the only conference that doesn't get it's time on ESPN is the Sun Belt, and frankly, I don't think they even try.

And who cares what other fans think (if that's who you're concerned about)? If we can get good players to come play at LU when we're Big South FCS, then we can do the same or better in whatever FBS we wind up in.

[jbock13]

App state is a no brainer for most conferences, and has been for a while. Outside of them, I don't know of any schools with a significant advantage over LU in the things that matter to the business of football. We have a commitment to facilities, and recruiting. A national footprint that includes more television time than almost anyone in fcs. We aren't stagnant. When the study results come out they are going to paint a picture of a growing athletic program with the intentions, competence, and resources to be a player on the next level. While most every school is facing cut backs we are profiting and growing. You ask what we bring to Fbs, I ask what we don't?

I'll say this much about Appy St. (my girlfriend lives near there so I spend a lot of time around a lot of App. St. fans). The thing is the school is located in a very small town, very isolated from the entire state of North Carolina. The roads to get up there are rather difficult, and I doubt if they went FBS that the traffic (as bad as it is now already) can be handled for such a small community. That's just my opinion though.

[jbock13]

I agree that it would still be progress. I'm just not sure that a league full of fcs schools would be regarded on the same level as conference USA and the mac. My initial vibe is that we would be viewed as a fake conference that shouldnt be there. I hope you are right, and you very well could be because none of us know. As long as we succeed in a league like that all will be well.

Considering all the FCS schools that have beaten FBS schools in the MAC in the past few years, I'd say the MAC is already a bunch of FCS schools by comparison. This is excluding a few descent teams, such as N. Illinois, C. Michigan, W. Michigan.

[olldflame]

App state is a no brainer for most conferences, and has been for a while. Outside of them, I don't know of any schools with a significant advantage over LU in the things that matter to the business of football. We have a commitment to facilities, and recruiting. A national footprint that includes more television time than almost anyone in fcs. We aren't stagnant. When the study results come out they are going to paint a picture of a growing athletic program with the intentions, competence, and resources to be a player on the next level. While most every school is facing cut backs we are profiting and growing. You ask what we bring to Fbs, I ask what we don't?

I'll say this much about Appy St. (my girlfriend lives near there so I spend a lot of time around a lot of App. St. fans). The thing is the school is located in a very small town, very isolated from the entire state of North Carolina. The roads to get up there are rather difficult, and I doubt if they went FBS that the traffic (as bad as it is now already) can be handled for such a small community. That's just my opinion though.

This is a big reason why App. State has not made the move yet and may never do it. They have a GREAT situation for where they are now. A dominant FCS program with a rabid fan base and infrastructure perfectly suited for just that. I've been to one game there, and that was quite a while back, but from my recollections, it's a beautiful setting with a fantastic atmosphere, but hard to imagine expanding that stadium to 30,000 plus and then getting people to and from it.

[SumItUp]

While App St is a solid program athletically, does the administration and the alumni base want to make the jump? I'm not so sure that it is clearcut.

[Sly Fox]

The official capacity at Kidd Brewer is 21,650 but they have stuffed over 30k in there for games.



Keep in mind that lower level FBS doesn't draw any better than upper tier FCS. Schools like Liberty, Appy, JMu & Delaware already operate in this realm.

[olldflame]

Wow. I don't actually recall what year it was I traveled to Boone to see us play, but they have definatelly expanded a lot. I don't think the second decks were there on either side.

Clearly, they are the one program with the most options to move up if they choose to do so. It is not at all clear that those who will make that call want to. They are enjoying the run they are on in FCS, and who can blame them?

[LUconn]

Wow, those seats in the endzone must have a terrible view.

[LUnpretty11]

Wow, those seats 50 yards behind the endzone must have a terrible view.

FIFY

[olldflame]

I wonder if the huge crowds they draw for track meets make them feel it was worth it to have all of their football seating about 30 feet further away than it would be otherwise.

I can only speculate that because of the topography there in Boone they had limited options as to places to lay out a track and decided they needed to combine it with football.

[jbock13]

My only concern would be that every time we're on ESPN for anything we get killed.

[jcmanson]

If we're concerned about ESPN time, ANY FBS conference would be hands down better than FCS. ESPN doesn't even mention FCS, but even the lowly MAC gets plenty of ESPN love.

[From the class of 09]

My only concern would be that every time we're on ESPN for anything we get killed.

Or you could go for the idea that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

[olldflame]

Devon is now in the game for the first time this year.

[Sly Fox]

Whoops, wrong thread. I do that all the time.

[jbock13]

My only concern would be that every time we're on ESPN for anything we get killed.

Or you could go for the idea that there is no such thing as bad publicity.

I never said there was such a thing as bad publicity. But if we have a bad team, we get none.

[LUGrad2000]

App state is a no brainer for most conferences, and has been for a while. Outside of them, I don't know of any schools with a significant advantage over LU in the things that matter to the business of football. We have a commitment to facilities, and recruiting. A national footprint that includes more television time than almost anyone in fcs. We aren't stagnant. When the study results come out they are going to paint a picture of a growing athletic program with the intentions, competence, and resources to be a player on the next level. While most every school is facing cut backs we are profiting and growing. You ask what we bring to Fbs, I ask what we don't?

What study results?

[LUGrad2000]

Are we willing to commit the money to making the move to FBS?

[aredd33]

Are we willing to commit the money to making the move to FBS?

ummmmmm YES. Money is problly the last thing on the minds of the people that will make the decision.

[SuperJon]

Liberty could commit the money to go FBS and not even feel it. LU Online brings in revenues that are bigger than any of us, especially those of you who lived through LU in the 90's, can imagine.

[Sly Fox]

The only "study" being conducted is a paid consultant helping guide us through unchartered waters in the crazy hurricane that has been realignment the past 18 months.

And we are not saying that LU has anything close to a BCS budget, but finances are not the primary hindrance to us making the step up.

[jbock13]

money, money, money, money.... money.

[Cider Jim]

Whoops, wrong thread.

But there is hope for Olldflame, because a good friend told me:

There have been some really promising developments recently in Alzheimer's research!