[Blessed1]

Here's my wish list:

Scenario 1 - The MAC realizes the need to expand and decides to invite not 1, but 3 Mid-Atlantic schools - Liberty, JMU and Delaware. Or....

Scenario 2 - The Sun Belt decides to meet Benson's original goal of 12 football playing schools and expands with Liberty and Appy St.

[Purple Haize]

You guys are awful at hijacking threads. Conference realignment is way more important. Looks like the WAC East is the most likely to happen. Now let us speculate - who goes into the WAC and when?

I would have a difficult time with a conference called WAC-E!

Oh my word I dont even know what to think....a few hours ago I had typed out...this conference is Wacky

Oh no. I need to take a break for some self reflection and reevaluate things...

It's insidious

[Rooster Cogburn]

WOAH! to me this makes the whole WAC thing even more likely, since it's now of almost never for Montana, UD, and others.

Reason No. 1 is the fact that last September the NCAA lifted a four-year moratorium on schools jumping from FCS to FBS. Word on the street is that the moratorium will return, and this time it could last 10 years.

ODU athletics director Wood Selig said the possibility of another moratorium is why his school moved so quickly.

"For me personally, it [a possible moratorium] created a major sense of urgency," Selig told David Teel of the Daily Press of Hampton Roads, Va.

Reason No. 2 is the same for Old Dominion as it is for Alabama: money and prestige. There is simply more of both in the bottom half of the FBS than in the top half of the FCS.

"Our attitude was if we're ever going to do this, we might as well do it now," said Brad Lambert, the former Wake Forest and Georgia assistant who was hired to build the program at Charlotte. "This opportunity presented itself now and we know it may never come again. We are just getting started in our recruiting, so we can now go after a different caliber of athlete and in greater numbers. If we're going to build, we might as well build towards this. College football is about the brand you put behind your brand."

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... ump-to-fbs

[LUconn]

Bringing back the moratorium would be a good way to get sued. But at this point I think the NCAA feels it's untouchable so what do they care

[Humble_Opinion]

The ACC and Big East appear to be the odd conferences out along with the associations formerly known as non-AQ (not automatic BCS qualifiers). The big guys are taking their ball and running away with it. The ACC’s biggest hope might be a desperation phone call to Notre Dame.

Friday’s announcement of a new New Year’s Day bowl game pitting the heavyweight champions of the SEC and Big 12 at a site to be determined by bid starting on 2014 was a significant blow to the marginal ACC and diminishing Big East. Coming just days after the Big Ten pledged its undying devotion to its beloved Rose Bowl matchup with the Pac-12, the new SEC/Big 12 pact is a case of the rich and powerful getting richer and more powerful.

“A new January bowl tradition is born,” SEC commissioner Mike Slive said Friday. “This new game will provide a great matchup between the two most successful conferences in the BCS era and will complement the exciting postseason atmosphere created by the new four-team model.

“Most importantly, it will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans with an outstanding bowl experience.”

Well that must leave some egg on the face of ACC commissioner John Swofford, who earlier in the week reiterated his union’s devotion to the bowl system. It now appears the ACC champ will join the Big East and the former non-AQs as relative outsiders in the four-team playoff being drafted. Because the four most powerful conferences seem to be creating their own bracket and backups at the exclusion of everybody else. Perfect. Just when it looked like all the idiots in the room were on the same page, they’ve thrown a grenade on the table and blown it all up.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/sco ... h-bad-idea

[LUconn]

I'm surprised there's been no mention here of the rumors of the past few weeks regarding the ACC. Especially with the Big 12 asserting it's existance with the B12/SEC Bowl. I think the ACC is about to get raided.

edit: Apparently there was mention of it as I was typing that out.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I'm hearing some things on backchannels that make me believe that WAC IS talking with East Coast FCS schools.

[jcmanson]

It's no secret that the WAC is talking to FCS east coast schools. It's no secret that we're one of the schools they've talked to. That doesn't mean it's happening.

[logic]

Why would saving the WAC with 6 FCS schools be such a long shot?


1. Liberty
2. App State
3. James Madison
4. Georgia Southern
5. Montana
6. Jacksonville State
7. Idaho
8. NMST


Seems pretty simple if you get the presidents of all 8 schools in a room together with the conference commissioner.

[LUconn]

I think because a few of those probably have no realistic chance of being able to move up in the next year or 2.

[jcmanson]

Why would saving the WAC with 6 FCS schools be such a long shot?


1. Liberty - we would do it, no question
2. App State - they're holding out hope for a CUSA or SunBelt invite; both of those doors would have to close before they would consider the WAC-E. how long before that happens?
3. James Madison - holding out hope for a MAC or CUSA invite; see App St
4. Georgia Southern - not ready to move up immediately; stated they are just beginning an 8 year process to move up
5. Montana - they turned down the WAC a year ago before the WAC was raided; why would they change their mind now?
6. Jacksonville State - they would do it, no question
7. Idaho - what other options do they have?
8. NMST - what other options do they have?


Seems pretty simple if you get the presidents of all 8 schools in a room together with the conference commissioner.

You put all that together, and it's easy to see how difficult something like is to happen. Another team you failed to mention - Delaware. You can put them in the same boat as JMU above. Could this happen? Sure. Is it a slam dunk? Far from it.

[Purple Haize]

Why would saving the WAC with 6 FCS schools be such a long shot?


Seems pretty simple if you get the presidents of all 8 schools in a room together with the conference commissioner.

Ok so I'm in a surly mood, but this makes no sense whatsoever. What does having 9 people in a room do? Is the Commisioner some sort of summoner that he can just summon these things? Is he some Joe Isuzu type of sales person? Finally, when is getting 9 people in a room, let alone to agree on something 'simple'?

[Rooster Cogburn]

The SunBelt meetings are today in Destin Fl. FYI!

[TH Spangler]

The SunBelt meetings are today in Destin Fl. FYI!

http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20 ... /205220325

[Rooster Cogburn]

WOAH! Seriously??

http://www2.newsadvance.com/sports/2012 ... r-1932268/

Virginia Military Institute regularly assesses its conference affiliation and potential new paths. Recently, the Keydets intensified their examination.

VMI has belonged to the Big South Conference since 2003. The Richmond-based Colonial Athletic Association is seeking new members after losing Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion and Georgia State since early April.

VMI Athletic Director Donny White said on Monday that being in a league with the University of Richmond (for football), William and Mary and James Madison would appeal to a good-sized chunk of VMI's alumni.

[jcmanson]

No, not seriously. VMI will not be going to the CAA. JMU, W&M, and Richmond will all be out of the CAA before VMI is added.

[Cider Jim]

Sadly, in Spangler's link, no mention of LU.

[Rooster Cogburn]

IF the Sun Belt decides to expand further, we are definitely on their radar screen. Fear not.

I trust you , and I hope so.

[Liberty22]

IF the Sun Belt decides to expand further, we are definitely on their radar screen. Fear not.

It does bother me a little that we are never mentioned in articles.. although was UTSA or UT on any news articles before Sun Belt invited them?

[SumItUp]

IF the Sun Belt decides to expand further, we are definitely on their radar screen. Fear not.

It does bother me a little that we are never mentioned in articles.. although was UTSA or UT on any news articles before Sun Belt invited them?

UTSA went to CUSA and they were mentioned as CUSA and Sun Belt possiblities. UT-Arlington was mentioned as a Sun Belt likely before they went to the Sun Belt.

[bradyfan]

Why would saving the WAC with 6 FCS schools be such a long shot?


1. Liberty - we would do it, no question
2. App State - they're holding out hope for a CUSA or SunBelt invite; both of those doors would have to close before they would consider the WAC-E. how long before that happens?
3. James Madison - holding out hope for a MAC or CUSA invite; see App St
4. Georgia Southern - not ready to move up immediately; stated they are just beginning an 8 year process to move up
5. Montana - they turned down the WAC a year ago before the WAC was raided; why would they change their mind now?
6. Jacksonville State - they would do it, no question
7. Idaho - what other options do they have?
8. NMST - what other options do they have?


Seems pretty simple if you get the presidents of all 8 schools in a room together with the conference commissioner.

You put all that together, and it's easy to see how difficult something like is to happen. Another team you failed to mention - Delaware. You can put them in the same boat as JMU above. Could this happen? Sure. Is it a slam dunk? Far from it.

JMU is not going FBS anytime soon. Get that out of your head. Believe this has been mentioned over a dozen times. Would be smart if they did but the first obstacle in moving forward is having your school's approval. JMU administration doesn't approve, they aren't moving.

[logic]

Then it looks like the Sun Belt is our only option, and they would have to expand to 12 in order for that to happen. Do we have anyone in Florida to scope out the Sun Belt meetings? Is Bill Carr putting in a good word for us? Who is fighting for old LU?

[Blessed1]

If the Sun Belt decides to go to 12 football schools, I see Liberty competing with Appalachian St and Georgia Southern for the last 2 spots.

It totally depends on what Benson and the conference presidents want to do. They could:
a) expand to 12 with New Mexico St and Idaho for football-only.
b) expand to 12 with Southern Conference rivals App St and Georgia Southern.
c) expand their footprint into Virginia and North Carolina by inviting Liberty and App St.
d) do nothing.

Personally, I feel Benson wants Liberty and App St because the Sun Belt can expand its footprint by two states. I also feel the conference presidents may want to stay "regional", thus giving Georgia Southern a slight advantage. I wonder if Falwell, Jr. will have the opportunity to "clear-up", if you will, any misunderstandings about Liberty to conference presidents.

[LUconn]

WOAH! Seriously??

http://www2.newsadvance.com/sports/2012 ... r-1932268/

Virginia Military Institute regularly assesses its conference affiliation and potential new paths. Recently, the Keydets intensified their examination.

VMI has belonged to the Big South Conference since 2003. The Richmond-based Colonial Athletic Association is seeking new members after losing Virginia Commonwealth, Old Dominion and Georgia State since early April.

VMI Athletic Director Donny White said on Monday that being in a league with the University of Richmond (for football), William and Mary and James Madison would appeal to a good-sized chunk of VMI's alumni.

VMI basically just said, we'd like to join the CAA but we can't spend as much money as CAA teams. Nice sell VMI.

[logic]

If the Sun Belt decides to go to 12 football schools, I see Liberty competing with Appalachian St and Georgia Southern for the last 2 spots.

It totally depends on what Benson and the conference presidents want to do. They could:
a) expand to 12 with New Mexico St and Idaho for football-only.
b) expand to 12 with Southern Conference rivals App St and Georgia Southern.
c) expand their footprint into Virginia and North Carolina by inviting Liberty and App St.
d) do nothing.

Personally, I feel Benson wants Liberty and App St because the Sun Belt can expand its footprint by two states. I also feel the conference presidents may want to stay "regional", thus giving Georgia Southern a slight advantage. I wonder if Falwell, Jr. will have the opportunity to "clear-up", if you will, any misunderstandings about Liberty to conference presidents.

From what I understand from cruising the Sun Belt board, is that Ga Southern is in no shape to move up. Frankly with an 11 million dollar athletics budget I am not sure how they could be ready. App State and Liberty are clearly the most ready and the best choices for the Sun Belt, but how can we get the presidents to see that? Paging Bill Carr...