[army56mike]

Since UMass will be leaving the CAA to move up to FBS and the MAC, will the Liberty Administration and Athletic Office be putting together a pitch to move Flames football into the CAA? If so, where would all other sports land?

[LUconn]

your avatar is hypnotizing. It looks like it's getting faster and faster;.

[jbock13]

here we go again...

[bigsmooth]

give the new people a break! armymike is a new poster and may not have seen the other threads. BYD, thanks for giving a good explanation.

[BigAl57]

Anyway if you go out the the CAA boards the majority don't want "that religious school" in their league.

[Purple Haize]

Actually, we have had more resistance from the SoCon than the CAA. This is one case where money does talk. I like our odds of getting into the CAA in all sports sooner rather than later. It makes sense on all levels for both the conference and LU. (With notable exception for LOGIC who feels this would be a step down! )

[Schfourteenteen]

Kyle Kallander has a job opening for him.

[jcmanson]

I would do freakin all day long if we got in the CAA

[army56mike]

There is not room for an all sports invite though is there? UMass was only a football member (same for Nova for that matter). I could see them taking a football only but not an all sports member.

Why do you say that Maine and UNH are leaving the CAA? Is this fact or speculation? I have not seen that before. Granted I am not plugged into the FCS world as much as I could be, but I have never heard of them going anywhere. I did think I heard that Rhode Island was moving to a smaller conference, but I could be wrong.

I know that Liberty does not need to be in the CAA in order to make the move to FBS. But until that timeframe is finally determined, it would be nice to compete in the strongest FCS conference. If we can play competitively within the CAA it is good for Liberty athletics.

I am thinking the concensus opinion here is that the CAA does't want Liberty and we would not receive an invite. Hypothetically if we did, where would the other sports land? LU could not keep its other sports in the Big South (you can't play football in a different conference and have all your other sports in another conference that also sponsors football).

Finally, it would be great to see some of the FCS schools move to make their own FBS conference. However, on the Big East board I frequent a poster was arguing that the NCAA prohibits the creation of new FCS conferences and that teams moving up must either be independent or have and invite from an already established conference. I thought that made no sense and could not be true.

[jcmanson]

2 years ago the CAA north consisted of:
UMass
Rhode Island
Hofstra
Maine
New Hampshire
Northeastern

The CAA also had Delaware and Villanova from north of the Mason Dixon line.
Northeastern and Hofstra has dropped their programs.
Rhode Island is moving to the NEC.
UMass is likely to be moving to FBS.
Villanova is likely to be moving to FBS.
That leaves Maine and New Hampshire as the only teams left in the CAA North. This would not make it feasible for them to stay in the CAA with all the increased travel.

The CAA would have 2 options:
1 – add 2+ northern teams to appease Maine and UNH to keep them in the CAA
2 – add a few southern teams and let Maine and UNH bolt

If the CAA opts for #2 we are sitting pretty. In that case the CAA Football conference would consist of:
Delaware
Towson
JMU
W&M
Richmond
ODU
GA State

No telling how many teams the CAA would want to add, but we’d be on the short list that would include such teams as App State (why would they want to leave the Socon), Charlotte, and Liberty.

Some of the CAA presidents may not want us, but they could be in a predicament where they need us.

[jcmanson]

Thanks for the clarification Captain.

I didn't see your post when I made mine, and I figured I'd leave it there since I spent all that time to post it!

[BigAl57]

Thanks for the clarification Captain.

I didn't see your post when I made mine, and I figured I'd leave it there since I spent all that time to post it!

And a fine post it was

[Sly Fox]

There is no denying that the CAA is a big step in the right direction. But the question remains that if the CAA chooses to remain a FCS league, is it really where we need to go next? The CAA is having to ask some hard questions of itself. With the FCS playoff system losing money and prestige, is that a future path that the league wants to continue?

Answer me this ... is a CAA without UMass, Villanova, JMU, ODU, Georgia State & possibly Delaware attractive to you? Because we run the risk of gambling on the CAA only to be left holding the bag with Towson, William & Mary along with the affiliates in Richmond & New England in football. The latter possibility is what is forcing the hard choices by the CAA leadership and presidents of the smaller schools. It is not presumptuous at this point to state that JMU, ODU & Georgia State are likely headed up to FBS at the first decent opportunity. UMass & Villanova could both announce they are stepping up as early as tomorrow.

In summary, if the CAA were to remain generally intact with the exception of the northern affiliates it would be an extremely desirable next step for us. If the CAA were to lose the primary schools with whom we are trying to build allegiances then it MIGHT prove to be a misstep. That's why the concept of the league choosing to step up collectively to the FBS level is best case scenario for us. But I agree that it remains a relative long shot.

[army56mike]

I don't believe Nova will be moving to FBS, for what its worth.

[Sly Fox]

All indications are that the odds are somewhere around 50/50 that the Villanova folks accept the Big East invitation. It would require significant increases in expenses and major logistical hurdles in regard to a stadium. Then again, BCS invitations aren't handed out like candy at Halloween. If you get the opportunity, you MUST give it strong consideration.

[Sly Fox]

I wouldn't argue that it is a big step up ... frankly it is tough to come up with a Division I league that isn't a giant leap forward. But a watered down CAA doesn't help us achieve our more grandiose goals. It is just something to consider as we look ahead.

[Purple Haize]

So SLY are you suggesting we stay where we are because of what MIGHT happen with JMU and ODU? They have the same logistical problems that we would in making the jump from FCS. It would make the case stronger for a conference jump if we were in the CAA.

[Sly Fox]

All I am suggesting is that the situation has more considerations that you might see at face value. This is not simply a matter of us trying to get to a fixed location as far as a conference. There is no denying that a watered down CAA would be a great improvement. But is it the BEST option for us? That is yet to be determined.

And as for Villanova, here is the latest straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak:

Letter from Fr. Peter on the Upgrade of Villanova Football
Posted on December 15, 2010

Dear Alumni and Friends:

I hope this note finds you well and enjoying a wonderful Christmas season.

I am committed to keeping you apprised of our decision-making process as we consider the Big East choice we now face. To recap, we currently compete in the Big East Conference in all varsity sports with the exception of football where we are a member of the Colonial Athletic Conference in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS, formerly “I-AA”). If we were to decide to join the Big East as a football member, it would require our transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS, formerly “I-A”). Since this is such a complex decision, we began a formal evaluation process in September 2010. In this correspondence–the third to-date of my alumni messages on the Big East decision–I want to update you on our progress. At the end of this message, I will also answer a number of questions I have received in recent weeks.

Here are the key facts:

Timeframe

January 2011: Continued community meetings, stakeholder dialogue, and research and analyses
February 2011: Board of Trustees meeting; discussion of research findings to-date
March 2011: Assessment of remaining research findings
April 2011: Board of Trustees meeting; discussion of outstanding items; Board decision

Click Here for Full Story

[LUGrad2000]

I am confident that when our best opportunity comes, Barber and Jerry, Jr will make the right decision.

I pray that we will be patient yet ready to seize the day! Easier said than done.

[jbock13]

My first comment was directed at Jbock, just so there is no confusion.

yeahhhhh...

[jbock13]

If we would have beat George Mason in basketball it would make the CAA more realistic because most conferences wouldn't just want one team for one sport.

[thepostman]

yes that one game against George Mason has completely determined our possible future in the CAA...you are 2 for 2 so far tonight with terrible posts...congrats

[jbock13]

I'm quickly learning that logical conversation is quite foreign to this website... apparently you saw something I never said, that one game determines where we end up. Debate what my post specifically said, that beating gmu COULD have helped IF[youtube][/youtube] the CAA wanted us.

Apparently, everyone takes everything you say out of context?

The other post "bad" being???

[thepostman]

That isn't logical at all. One game against George Mason isn't gong to have any kind of baring on if the CAA invites us or not. I am not sure what about that though is logical...but sure I am the illogical one

[olldflame]

I think what the guys are saying jbock is that the powers that be in the CAA have a very good idea of where we stand in terms of our ability to compete there in all sports. That is based on a long track record of competetion against them and against other common opponents. We have 3 wins and an overtime loss against CAA opponents in the last 3 seasons. Were it not for a lucky banked-in 3 that sent the UNC-W game into overtime, we go 2-1 against them this year. GMU is one of their top teams this year, and have blown out at least one CAA team already, with a few more to come no doubt.