[RVAparks]

The Big South will not allow Liberty to stick around as a full-time member while bolting and essentially destroying its football league. It's not good business. This is an all-or-nothing proposition.

I assume that we're the most attractive school in the Big South (suck it, Radford). I also assume that when the Big South inevitably loses us, it would be very bad for the league (see RVASparks post from earlier).

That being said, is the Big South trying to offer us ANY sort of incentive to stick around? Having tournaments at our sites, more games on their crappy TV network? A bigger slice of the "Advanced Auto Parts" revenue pie? Are the Big South suits just going to let their league fall apart?*

*Oh wait, wasn't Big South commissioner Kyle Kallander the same person who presided over the SWAC's mass exodus and ran that conference into the ground?

I'd be surprised if they are making any concessions to LU at this point. It's pretty much water over the dam. Kallender would be more wise to spend his time looking for replacements rather than trying to keep Liberty.

[jcmanson]

Western Kentucky finished 7-1 in the SunBelt this year, 2nd in the league. They lost to FCS Indiana State 44-16. Indiana State finished 6-5 and did not make the FCS playoffs.

How am I "getting carried away?"

[Jkill617]

Western Kentucky finished 7-1 in the SunBelt this year, 2nd in the league. They lost to FCS Indiana State 44-16. Indiana State finished 6-5 and did not make the FCS playoffs.

How am I "getting carried away?"

I agree with Manson on this one. We will put more money and resources into football than any sunbelt team. I believe after a 4 year recruiting cycle of getting only FBS players that we would win the Sunbelt or at least get second. He is defiantly not "getting carried away?"

[jcmanson]

I sincerely believe, as Jr stated yesterday, the sky is the limit for us once we get to the FBS level. Every major D1 Christian football player should at least step foot on our campus at that point. It won't be long before we begin closing on most of those kids. I mean, we're already doing that to a certain extent at the FCS Big South level (see: Grant Jones, Josh Woodrum).

[TH Spangler]

Finally, the subcommittee recognized the creation of a new FBS league is certainly possible, but current NCAA restrictions, unless modified or challenged, pose financial and timing challenges.

From the ASU report.

R i add this quote from Lang under Topic: Flames Club email,

Lang wrote .... "Will rule out a few:
Not a conference move. Not yet.
Not the announcement of a game with VT.
Think App State. Not a game with App State, but ..."

And the fact that Barber as been making trips to Boone Lately?

[Libertyflames10]

Western Kentucky finished 7-1 in the SunBelt this year, 2nd in the league. They lost to FCS Indiana State 44-16. Indiana State finished 6-5 and did not make the FCS playoffs.

How am I "getting carried away?"

Yes Indiana State finished 6-5 but those 5 losses are to Penn State, Northern Iowa (#5 was #2 when they played them), Illinois State (#18), North Dakota State (#2 was #1 when they played them), and a bad Southern Illinois team.

I'm not saying we can't compete in the SunBelt. I just think 3 years is a bit too optimistic.

[TallyW]

It's amusing how varied this board is. Some have rose colored glasses while others are blind.

Personally I don't see how we couldn't/wouldn't do this with enough resources to go get the best possible talent. We're not taking our FCS talent up... I'm not even sure we're going to be going after FCS level talent. I think we'll be getting some guys who don't want to be backups at big schools but have the big school aspirations.

I can see the recruiting pitch from Coach Gill...
"Ohh, it's between us and (insert CAA member school here)?" "That's nice." "Have you factored in the fact that we're making the jump up so that by the time you graduate you'll be playing in an FBS conference? Ask (CAA member) when they'll be doing that."

Close with: "I'll look forward to seeing you on campus."

[Liberty4Life]

Think App State. Not a game with App State, but ..."

And the fact that Barber as been making trips to Boone Lately?

YES!!!!! Open the floodgates for unfounded speculation and conjecture!

Question: Are there enough FCS schools willing to make the jump to make a new FBS league? I know that Jax State, Youngstown State, and probably a two or three other SoCon / CAA schools are going to jump... any other takers?

[RVAparks]

Think App State. Not a game with App State, but ..."

And the fact that Barber as been making trips to Boone Lately?

YES!!!!! Open the floodgates for unfounded speculation and conjecture!

Question: Are there enough FCS schools willing to make the jump to make a new FBS league? I know that Jax State, Youngstown State, and probably a two or three other SoCon / CAA schools are going to jump... any other takers?

There was a rumor recently that JMU, ODU, Marshall, Ohio U., and some others were looking at the feasibility of beginning a new FBS conference.

[logic]

Western Kentucky finished 7-1 in the SunBelt this year, 2nd in the league. They lost to FCS Indiana State 44-16. Indiana State finished 6-5 and did not make the FCS playoffs.

How am I "getting carried away?"

Yes Indiana State finished 6-5 but those 5 losses are to Penn State, Northern Iowa (#5 was #2 when they played them), Illinois State (#18), North Dakota State (#2 was #1 when they played them), and a bad Southern Illinois team.

I'm not saying we can't compete in the SunBelt. I just think 3 years is a bit too optimistic.

Check out the ASU feasibility report. Our athletics budget is already bigger than most Sun Belt schools. You are delusional if you do not think we'll compete right away. We average more fans than a lot of the schools as well playing a Big South schedule. Laughable.

[From the class of 09]

It's amusing how varied this board is. Some have rose colored glasses while others are blind.

Personally I don't see how we couldn't/wouldn't do this with enough resources to go get the best possible talent. We're not taking our FCS talent up... I'm not even sure we're going to be going after FCS level talent. I think we'll be getting some guys who don't want to be backups at big schools but have the big school aspirations.

I can see the recruiting pitch from Coach Gill...
"Ohh, it's between us and (insert CAA member school here)?" "That's nice." "Have you factored in the fact that we're making the jump up so that by the time you graduate you'll be playing in an FBS conference? Ask (CAA member) when they'll be doing that."

Close with: "I'll look forward to seeing you on campus."

that's not Gill at all but I like the enthusiasm

[Libertyflames10]

Check out the ASU feasibility report. Our athletics budget is already bigger than most Sun Belt schools. You are delusional if you do not think we'll compete right away. We average more fans than a lot of the schools as well playing a Big South schedule. Laughable.

I never said we couldn't compete. I said that it is a bit optimistic to say we will win the conference within 3 years. I would love nothing more than be proven wrong about this. I just think there will be some growing pains that will take place.

[Chris Lang]

Finally, the subcommittee recognized the creation of a new FBS league is certainly possible, but current NCAA restrictions, unless modified or challenged, pose financial and timing challenges.

From the ASU report.

R i add this quote from Lang under Topic: Flames Club email,

Lang wrote .... "Will rule out a few:
Not a conference move. Not yet.
Not the announcement of a game with VT.
Think App State. Not a game with App State, but ..."

And the fact that Barber as been making trips to Boone Lately?

No. I was hinting at the announcement of the feasibility study. App State just completed theirs. No need to read anything else into that.

[RVAparks]

It's amusing how varied this board is. Some have rose colored glasses while others are blind.

Personally I don't see how we couldn't/wouldn't do this with enough resources to go get the best possible talent. We're not taking our FCS talent up... I'm not even sure we're going to be going after FCS level talent. I think we'll be getting some guys who don't want to be backups at big schools but have the big school aspirations.

I can see the recruiting pitch from Coach Gill...
"Ohh, it's between us and (insert CAA member school here)?" "That's nice." "Have you factored in the fact that we're making the jump up so that by the time you graduate you'll be playing in an FBS conference? Ask (CAA member) when they'll be doing that."

Close with: "I'll look forward to seeing you on campus."

I'm sure against most CAA schools at this point the pitch would be 1) more resources, 2) nicer facilities, 3) higher profile coach than any CAA schools, 4) television exposure, and there is plenty more you could wave in the face of CAA schools.

[TH Spangler]

No. I was hinting at the announcement of the feasibility study. App State just completed theirs. No need to read anything else into that.

I knew you were close by .....

[TH Spangler]

If you want to know what a Feasibility report looks like, here's ours. The first paragraph on page 6 is interesting.

http://www.goasu.com/pdf8/805466.pdf?SP ... M_ID=21500

Hey T-Dog I was at this game .... http://www.theapp.appstate.edu/archives ... remiah.htm
It was awsome! If Daniel Jeremiah was just coming out of HS today ..... Barber would be all over him!

The Californian is the son of Dr. David Jeremiah of the national radio ministry Turning Point.

[jbock13]

I thought it was interesting how Chancellor pretty much said (eh, we like the Big South, but we're out of here as quick as we can). Pretty awesome stuff.

For the record, if you're not ready for us moving to FBS, it's probably a good idea not to post it here. I think we should wait a few years at least, that's just my personal feelings and that's all I'll say about it. I know I've argued it before and if you're not for it, people won't be too nice on here about it. Just some friendly advice to those of you who are new here.

Having said that, when we decide to go, I'm excited to see this opportunity finally come to pass.

[Purple Haize]

Think App State. Not a game with App State, but ..."

And the fact that Barber as been making trips to Boone Lately?

YES!!!!! Open the floodgates for unfounded speculation and conjecture!

Question: Are there enough FCS schools willing to make the jump to make a new FBS league? I know that Jax State, Youngstown State, and probably a two or three other SoCon / CAA schools are going to jump... any other takers?

There was a rumor recently that JMU, ODU, Marshall, Ohio U., and some others were looking at the feasibility of beginning a new FBS conference.

If this is the way we went FBS get out of my way because I'll run all your butts down to get to the kool aid!

[jcmanson]

We're ready. We just are awaiting a conference invite. And when we get one, we won't pass it up. Will that be in 2012? 2013? 2017? Who knows?

[RVAparks]

If this is the way we went FBS get out of my way because I'll run all your butts down to get to the kool aid!

It's certainly a far fetched idea, but its one I've heard brought up by some credible people I know. Delaware would likely be in on it also. These are certainly interesting times, ripe with opportunity around the college landscape.

[NotAJerry]

As far as winning the Sun Belt in 3 years, I don't think we would, but we could be pretty close. There are three schools that I think really have solid setups right now in that conference.

Louisiana-Lafayette puts 30k in the seats on average. Louisiana is a great recruiting state. The item they've been missing over the years is the coach, and they got one this year that pushed them to more wins than they've had in more than a decade. If they can keep the coach, Mark Hudspeth (he has SEC roots), they may develop into something pretty consistently good.

Troy is nothing to be sneezed at. This is the school that has produced talent like DeMarcus Ware and they are consistently good. This year was a hiccup after 5 consecutive 8+ win seasons that included at 2-3 record in bowl games with 2 of the bowl losses being by a FG in OT. Larry Blakeney has spent 21 years developing that program and I don't see them dropping off until he's gone.

Florida International is quickly getting its act together. After starting the program in 2002, they made what is looking like a good hire for their 2nd coach in 2007. Mario Cristobal has now been there 5 years, basically a full recruiting cycle with redshirts, and they've put together back to back bowl seasons. Being in Miami doesn't hurt, and if The U gets in enough trouble, they may be able to siphon off some talent and really establish themselves.

Those three could really be difficult to catch in 3 years. I didn't include Arkansas St as things must be in a bit of limbo there with Freeze having the great first year and immediately moving on. Malzahn is enough of an unknown quantity as a head coach that they may not keep up the momentum of having such a good year.

And, yes, there's a lot of crap at the bottom of that conference.

[NotAJerry]

If this is the way we went FBS get out of my way because I'll run all your butts down to get to the kool aid!

It's certainly a far fetched idea, but its one I've heard brought up by some credible people I know. Delaware would likely be in on it also. These are certainly interesting times, ripe with opportunity around the college landscape.

JMU
ODU
Marshall
Ohio
Youngstown St.
Jacksonville St.
Delaware
Liberty
App. St.
Georgia Southern

Looks like that would be the start of a pretty solid FBS conference. Obviously not an AQ conference, but something that would be pretty fun and has some solid regional build and established rivalry. Throw in 2 more good enough teams and you've got a conference championship.

[Purple Haize]

If this is the way we went FBS get out of my way because I'll run all your butts down to get to the kool aid!

It's certainly a far fetched idea, but its one I've heard brought up by some credible people I know. Delaware would likely be in on it also. These are certainly interesting times, ripe with opportunity around the college landscape.

JMU
ODU
Marshall
Ohio
Youngstown St.
Jacksonville St.
Delaware
Liberty
App. St.
Georgia Southern

Looks like that would be the start of a pretty solid FBS conference. Obviously not an AQ conference, but something that would be pretty fun and has some solid regional build and established rivalry. Throw in 2 more good enough teams and you've got a conference championship.

Agree 100%. JMU ODU and App St would be must see games at home. We would be adding onto the stadium rather quickly. Youngstown St and GaSouth are well known names. Would never pay to see a Marshall game!

[Cider Jim]

Would never pay to see a Marshall game!

[Purple Haize]

Would never pay to see a Marshall game!

But hey. Every conference needs its bottom feeders!