[Sly Fox]

This is hardly a new concept in regard to starting up a new FBS league. We've waxed on it about dating back to the Firehouse. Obviously there are problems with the concept with it being barred by current NCAA by-laws. The other problem for an new all sports league is that it will mean at least 3 years without access to automatic bids in ALL sports. Football doesn't need auto bids but they would probably be restricted to bowl access initially. The other option is to take a struggling league ... add a bunch of schools for awhile until you have a core group of 6 together for 3 years and then break it off into its own league. That's why we were whispering about a WAC possibility a few months back (and perhaps again if that league is raided by MWC & C-USA).

Here are the regional FCS schools that have at least publicly entertained FBS aspirations:

• Delaware
  JMU
  Liberty
  ODU
  Appalachian State
  Charlotte
  Georgia State
  Georgia Southern
  Jacksonville State
  Youngstown State

The last two frankly push the footprint a bit but are possibilities. Appy, Charlotte & Georgia State are likely to get offered a spot in Sunbelt and/or C-USA. Delaware keeps doing studies and deciding that they like where they are. But if JMU & ODU are bolting they would likely reconsider their options.

Would Temple, Marshall or even East Carolina consider this group more attractive than their current set-ups? Probably not. But hard choices could be made based on the overall shifts in the college landscape and nothing is off the table. Marshall certainly has more in common with Appy & JMU than just about anybody else in C-USA. If C-USA pushes once again hard toward the Southwest region it could further disenfranchise Marshall & ECU. If East Carolina doesn't get that Big East invitation they have been craving forever, they might have to look hard at their options as well.

Keep in mind that if a group of schools banding together or the CAA itself were to apply and be denied, the thread of an Anti-Trust lawsuit against the NCAA might be enough to convince Indianapolis that they might reconsider.

[goaliejake22]

hmm... where is our part in all of this^
since we are the "most prepared in fcs to move up"

[Purple Haize]

This is hardly a new concept in regard to starting up a new FBS league. We've waxed on it about dating back to the Firehouse. Obviously there are problems with the concept with it being barred by current NCAA by-laws. The other problem for an new all sports league is that it will mean at least 3 years without access to automatic bids in ALL sports. Football doesn't need auto bids but they would probably be restricted to bowl access initially. The other option is to take a struggling league ... add a bunch of schools for awhile until you have a core group of 6 together for 3 years and then break it off into its own league. That's why we were whispering about a WAC possibility a few months back (and perhaps again if that league is raided by MWC & C-USA).

Here are the regional FCS schools that have at least publicly entertained FBS aspirations:

• Delaware
  JMU
  Liberty
  ODU
  Appalachian State
  Charlotte
  Georgia State
  Georgia Southern
  Jacksonville State
  Youngstown State

The last two frankly push the footprint a bit but are possibilities. Appy, Charlotte & Georgia State are likely to get offered a spot in Sunbelt and/or C-USA. Delaware keeps doing studies and deciding that they like where they are. But if JMU & ODU are bolting they would likely reconsider their options.

Would Temple, Marshall or even East Carolina consider this group more attractive than their current set-ups? Probably not. But hard choices could be made based on the overall shifts in the college landscape and nothing is off the table. Marshall certainly has more in common with Appy & JMU than just about anybody else in C-USA. If C-USA pushes once again hard toward the Southwest region it could further disenfranchise Marshall & ECU. If East Carolina doesn't get that Big East invitation they have been craving forever, they might have to look hard at their options as well.

Keep in mind that if a group of schools banding together or the CAA itself were to apply and be denied, the thread of an Anti-Trust lawsuit against the NCAA might be enough to convince Indianapolis that they might reconsider.

With all the raiding going on it would not be far fetched for several regional universities to join a conference. That's been one of my biggest concerns. We are not at the place as a program where we draw fans because of who we are. We do not have enough of a fan base to pay what big time FBS schools fans pay. We compete against VT and UVA when we make this move and we have to give fans a reason why they should come see us instead of them. I believe that have Western Michigan at home or Ark St won't get it done. But if we had the afore mentioned schools coming to town, we would .

[bigsmooth]

we would compete in the Sunbelt, but to win it in three years?? that is pushing it. MTSU, FIU, FAU and Troy have all been successful. North Texas used to be the horse in this league, but i doubt the current set-up will stay if C-USA decides to raid. I really cant understand why anyone cares that we have not been to the FCS playoffs! I would love to go to the New Orleans Bowl, the Go daddy.com bowl or any other bowl than going to maine for an FCS playoff game.

[Sly Fox]

Word. These no name bowls that some are trashing out of lack of knowledge are great experiences for fans. Count me in for some bowl road trips even to the much maligned Independence Bowl. I just ate at a great Cajun joint on the southside of Shreveport the other day and I would have no problem finding a way to have a great time with fellow FlameFans for several days in Louisiana.

Carr Sports Associates has a team of folks who specialize in specific areas of interest for conferences including Title IX and they will make sure we have our bases covered. Make no mistake about it, we are not blindly taking a shot at the FBS here. We've been making a concerted effort to position ourselves since the day our AD was hired.

By the way, Appalachian State leadership has recently indicated they would NOT be interested in joining Conference USA ...

Geography is certainly the biggest factor, he said, a view echoed by Board of Trustees chair G.A. Sywassink.

“We'd look at what makes sense geographically and where we can establish rivalry with like schools,” he said. “It's very important that geographically, our fans can follow the teams and follow the games.”

Athletes should be able to travel, missing minimal class time, officials say, and for that reason, Conference USA could be out.

“That's not the right geographic location for us to have a focus,” (ASU Chancellor Kenneth) Peacock said.

Click Here for Full Story

That sounds great to us. That's one less school likely to stand between us and admission to C-USA, MAC or Sunbelt. And it also indicates they would be a likely partner in any new league formed.

[alabama24]

These no name bowls that some are trashing out of lack of knowledge are great experiences for fans. Count me in for some bowl road trips even to the much maligned Independence Bowl.

I have no problem with the bowls - even the Toilet Bowl. What I have problems with is only taking 6 wins to be bowl eligible. 35 bowl games is at least 10 too many.

[LUminary]

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.

Daniel is now a scout with the Philadelphia Eagles. He actually begin his college career at Louisiana Monroe of all places before transferring to App. Good guy. He and his dad have been to Liberty. Daniel played in a 1999 game at Williams Stadium.

[bluedevilflame]

Like I've said before, unite FCS and FBS and eliminate the BCS and bowl systems. Straight playoff, bowls can be around as an NIT system and the 4 BCS bowls can be awarded to the teams that make the final 4.

[No Fear]

1. It is common knowledge LU is performing a feasibility study - so the Big South has already known their intentions.

2. The wheels are already in motion -> you would never make an offical/ public comment like we will be talking/looking at FBS programs, without ALREADY making some initial contacts and having initial discussions AND there is interest ALREADY.

3. The biggest hurdle will be getting good D-1 recruits. LU academics programs are very limited and in "early development", it will be tough to compete against good D-1 schools.
Example: Schools like VT and UVA have numerous WELL-DEVELOPED fields of study. I don't see LU winning over "Engineering" or "Medical" recruits... LU needs to build and establish more programs.
Until then, even with the Christian setting and improved Football program, recruiting will be tough.

[R i]

Let me say this without stereo typing.

Good DI Recruits that engineering and medical?

[No Fear]

I am excited too. I'd also like to compete at the next level.
Most of these boards and post are the "college cheerleaders"... and thats great to support your college no matter what (been there done that). And BJ, you knock any negative post - but as this year saw - MY posts were right - YOU were wrong on many games.
Just because I state some unpopular truths, instead of being a "blind cheerleader", doesn't mean I don't support LU.
Just silly for people to say you are going to compete at the D-1 level, when you can't even make the play-offs at the D-2 level - just shows how immature they are.

I'll restate so you can understand: because I, my kids and many other players I've known and coached, have been through the recrutiing process and picking a college:
Most players pick a college because of the academic programs they want to major in (dah...)
LU recently closed it's Law program, and right now, really has a limited number of "established", "developed" academic programs. That is hurting recruiting.
I know alot of players, several VERY good D-1 players, that would have liked to come to LU.
One wanted to major in Engineering (thats why I mention it), but went on to VT's awesome engineering program instead.
Heres acouple recent local examples - look at Rocco -he played at LCA - his uncle coached at LCA & LU - he went to UVA.
- look at Logan Thomas - he goes to Thomas Road, raised in Lynchburg - went to VT.
- LCA's D-1 "speed burner" WR - went to VT last year
- Grant Jones - yes went to LU - because he wants to major in Christian studies.
- There are several more D-1 level players coming up at LCA and Lynchburg area schools now - they are all strong Christians, but all are looking at other colleges because LU doesn't have the academic programs they want. (ie: Engineering & Medical fields....)
Even if LU was D-1, they would still be looking at other colleges because of their academic interest.
My point is D-1 is great for recruiting - but you also need to expand the academic programs to really improve your recruiting.

[Purple Haize]

BYD while you are obviously a powerful and attractive man, I can not go along with your God wants us to be FBS in football argument. Feed the hungry. Cloth the naked minister to the sick, yes. Spread the gospel would be about as close as an argument as you can get. This is a particular goal of Liberty University and it's original founder. I am not saying that it is something that is proscribed in the Bible and a bad thing but that it is demanded of Christians.
If I wanted to get REALLY nit pick I could say you read the Constitution more literally than your Bible! But I won't.

[Purple Haize]

No Fear. I get what you are saying about he academic programs, but those aren't the reason we are not getting recruits. Hopefully the day will come when we can compete with VT and UVA but thinking we could have gotten a Logan Thomas is a big stretch. Look at the majors of the majority of football players and you will see that LU offers most of those. Business, General Studies, Education Sport Management, Communications are just a few that come to mind.
Now if you are arguing that our academic programs are not as rigorous as other schools.......

[thepostman]

No Fear we are D1..that is all I have to add

[Cider Jim]

Heres acouple recent local examples - look at Rocco -he played at LCA - his uncle coached at LCA & LU - he went to UVA.
- look at Logan Thomas - he goes to Thomas Road, raised in Lynchburg - went to VT.
- LCA's D-1 "speed burner" WR - went to VT last year.

NF, do you honestly think those 3 players chose their respective colleges based on their strong academics? Of course not, they chose them because all 3 wanted to play at the D-IA level, which is exactly the direction that LU is moving.

And if football players want stonger academics, they can do what Sam Gado and dozens of other varsity athletes have done--join LU's Honors Program. LU have more Honors Program students (625) than the university has varsity athletes (400+).

[Cider Jim]

No, and NF thinks LU is playing D2 football.

And LU does have majors in enginnering and in "medical fields" (pre-med and nursing) and will be opening its own medical school soon.

http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=6908

[WinthropEagleFan]

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?

If LU is serious about moving to FBS (which is what it sounds like), then what can the Big South really do to have LU stick around? The Big South isn't going to be an FBS league at any point in the near future, so any incentives that the league would throw at LU at this point would just likely upset the other 10 members of the league, with no real benefit to the league as a whole. The efforts from the league office should be in securing the other current members, and looking for a football school given the possible departure of you guys, and possibly Stony Brook.

A lot of criticism of the league is fair, but losing a school to an FBS conference is something that the league can't realistically do much to stop.

[alabama24]

LU recently closed it's Law program

Did I miss something?

Actually, it was the English department (Don't tell Cider).

[TH Spangler]

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!

+1

A conference like that would fill a lot of seats ..... it would be easy to travel to road games. I don't under stand FBS conferences not staying regional ... now BCS realignment is different.

[Purple Haize]

Cogent point WINTHROP

[FlameFanInCarolina]

Carr Sports Associates has a team of folks who specialize in specific areas of interest for conferences including Title IX and they will make sure we have our bases covered. Make no mistake about it, we are not blindly taking a shot at the FBS here. We've been making a concerted effort to position ourselves since the day our AD was hired.

Best part of this thread is that it is a hard place for the JB haters to post. The man isn't perfect and I'm sure he would change some decissions in hindsight, but no doubt the athletic program has moved forward and in the right direction since he got here.

I had a chance to eat lunch with his wife before a football game a few years ago. My favorite line was "I can't wait for Lee Corso and College Gameday to visit Liberty Mountain." I love the vision!

[TH Spangler]

Daniel is now a scout with the Philadelphia Eagles. He actually begin his college career at Louisiana Monroe of all places before transferring to App. Good guy. He and his dad have been to Liberty. Daniel played in a 1999 game at Williams Stadium.

Maybe Daniel would make a great assistant coach for us ..... hint hint, coach Gill!!!!

[D-ZasterLU]

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

I could see this being an ACC of football in a few years

[NotAJerry]

Heres acouple recent local examples - look at Rocco -he played at LCA - his uncle coached at LCA & LU - he went to UVA.
- look at Logan Thomas - he goes to Thomas Road, raised in Lynchburg - went to VT.
- LCA's D-1 "speed burner" WR - went to VT last year.

NF, do you honestly think those 3 players chose their respective colleges based on their strong academics? Of course not, they chose them because all 3 wanted to play at the D-IA level, which is exactly the direction that LU is moving.

And if football players want stonger academics, they can do what Sam Gado and dozens of other varsity athletes have done--join LU's Honors Program. LU have more Honors Program students (625) than the university has varsity athletes (400+).

Liberty is rated #80 academically in the South region in the new US News rankings. Covenant College, the PCA school, is rated #7 in the South region. John Brown, also a Christian college, is #1 in the South region.

I'm getting a good education at LUOnline, but there's still a long, long way to go before those honors students are the rule and not the exception.

[RVAparks]

we would compete in the Sunbelt, but to win it in three years?? that is pushing it. MTSU, FIU, FAU and Troy have all been successful. North Texas used to be the horse in this league, but i doubt the current set-up will stay if C-USA decides to raid. I really cant understand why anyone cares that we have not been to the FCS playoffs! I would love to go to the New Orleans Bowl, the Go daddy.com bowl or any other bowl than going to maine for an FCS playoff game.

People forget if we join the Sun Belt it's likely b/c it has been raided, which means some teams aren't going to be there. I would guess that would mean FIU and FAU especially.