[Purple Haize]

Keep in mind that it isn't a life sentence, it's just a way for us to become an FBS member. We can move later if we need to.

Here is my problem with Sweatypits' analysis on this. Where is the proof of validity in this statement? Look at how difficult it is to wrangle an invite in the first place. When we jump we need to be prepared to be there for a long time.[/quote]


Being prepared to be there for a long time is different than declining an invitation to the conference.[/quote]

It is true. Just depends on the conference we get invited too. But one of the big reasons people are giving as a positive for a move to the WAC is that we can leave. Your own posts make that argument.

[jcmanson]

San Antonio
Austin-San Antonio midpoint on I-35
Miami
Boca Raton (Ft. Lauderdale suburbs/40 miles from Miami)
Navy plays anyone, anywhere and the other is neutral site.
Boston

Those things are all extremely different from Lynchburg, VA. 5 large markets and one team who is playing a military school and a neutral site game. None of that points to a team playing Liberty in Lynchburg just because of an FBS move (unless conference schedules require it). Boise St still had to travel to every major game they had to play until they got into a better conference and Boise is 2.5x bigger than Lynchburg.

Teams are willing to travel to recent FBS upstarts/lower conference teams to get their name/brand seen in a large market without paying for the advertising. Lynchburg doesn't offer that.

Liberty would get some better opponents to come in as I'm sure a Sun Belt or MAC type of school would come to play while we're in the WAC-E. We could also likely get some of those CAA/SoCon teams, but the major schools aren't coming to Lynchburg unless there's much more of a reason than just FBS status. The biggest benefit of moving up is going to be the expanded opportunity to play OOC road games against major programs and continue building the football program's reputation.

Why would any BCS team play @ Wyoming, or @ Idaho? Yet they do

[Sly Fox]

First off, a widespread WAC would indeed be a far superior situation to the CAA. While Lynchburg area fans might not be able to travekl to Idaho, New Mexico or Texas, we certainly have plenty of alumni in those areas (especially the Lone Star State) who would suddenly have greater access to the Liberty experience that is primarily exclusive to the Mid-Atlantic region these days.

We would most certainly have a much easier time scheduling FBS opponents at Williams Stadium for several reasons. Primary among them all is the need to schedule FBS home games requires schools to enter into more home-and-homes and 2-for-1 deals. They simply don't give FCS access to those dates. But let's not forget that being in a FBS league by itself schedules FBS home games. Now you could argue that those games initially would be against top tier FCS schools. Well in case you haven't noticed, those schools haven't been lining up to play us at our place. The JMU contract was awesome but unfortunately it has been a rarity.

As for the veracity of this Scott Bilo, he's a bit of an unknown. But no one has been rushing to deny any of his statements. So for those looking for a glimmer of FBS hope, his reporting is an oasis.

[bradyfan]

Keep in mind that it isn't a life sentence, it's just a way for us to become an FBS member. We can move later if we need to.

Here is my problem with Sweatypits' analysis on this. Where is the proof of validity in this statement? Look at how difficult it is to wrangle an invite in the first place. When we jump we need to be prepared to be there for a long time.

Being prepared to be there for a long time is different than declining an invitation to the conference.[/quote]

It is true. Just depends on the conference we get invited too. But one of the big reasons people are giving as a positive for a move to the WAC is that we can leave. Your own posts make that argument.[/quote]

Because it's a legit argument. We could go independent which would be a nightmare, we could go back to FCS and play in the CAA, and realignment isn't done. On the site I posted earlier, there are rumors that UTSA and UTEP are looking at bolting to the MWC. ECU fans are expecting an invite from the Big East and the ACC may dip further into the Big East. The point is that realignment is far from over and there would very likely be some options for us if the WAC dies. Sure, there would be the small possibility of us being left in the dark, but I think that's such a small possibility. You make a solid point but it's based on such a small chance when you consider all the realignment that has yet to occur. The very worst case scenario is that we become a struggling independent team or we wind up back in the FCS.

[Purple Haize]

Of course if we went FBS we would have FBS schools playing in Lynchburg.........because they would be in the same conference. So thats sort of a given. The point would be the same if we joined the CAA with 'top tier FCS' teams. My argument would be that while I feel God Bless Texas and all that, we have a bigger foot print in the Mid Atlantic. We would draw more people playng JMU and ODU than we would WAC schools. That is why if we are the only regional school jumping to the WAC it would be a horrible decision. IMO.

[Sly Fox]

PS - Did I mention I'm probably the only guy on here jazzed about road games at Lamar?

[Purple Haize]

SweatyBrady- Those are two pretty bad worst case scenarios. And why would the CAA take us coming DOWN from FBS when they aren't taking us now? There are a lot of dominoes that need to fall, and considering we don't seem to be getting heavily courted now makes it easy to see we won't be anymore heavily courted at a later date. Not being pessimistic just saying that all that glitters is not gold.

[Purple Haize]

PS - Did I mention I'm probably the only guy on here jazzed about road games at Lamar?

Oh, we'll that settles it. I retract my previous post But only if you are supplying the BBQ at the tailgate and can arrange a meeting with your MBB coach's dad!

[Sly Fox]

You are making a great deal of assumptions about how the CAA feels about us. FBS ambitions aside, we would be there #1 target IMHO. But our FBS ambitions are very public.

And are you sure you'd want to meet up with Bobby in a parking lot? I'd never stand between him and 'cue.

[bradyfan]

Of course if we went FBS we would have FBS schools playing in Lynchburg.........because they would be in the same conference. So thats sort of a given. The point would be the same if we joined the CAA with 'top tier FCS' teams. My argument would be that while I feel God Bless Texas and all that, we have a bigger foot print in the Mid Atlantic. We would draw more people playng JMU and ODU than we would WAC schools. That is why if we are the only regional school jumping to the WAC it would be a horrible decision. IMO.

It wouldn't be a horrible decision though. If we can draw 18,000 against Kentucky Wesleyan and Charleston Southern...we can draw 20,000 against Idaho. We also aren't a regional school in terms of who comes here. Just in my dorm last year we had kids from Mass, Puerto Rico and Missouri.

Additionally, I think everyone is forgetting that by being an FBS school, your recruiting practically sky-rockets. With the way we've been recruiting in the Big South, it wouldn't surprise me if we averaged 3-4 draft picks every 4 years. That's a huge plus

[bradyfan]

SweatyBrady- Those are two pretty bad worst case scenarios. And why would the CAA take us coming DOWN from FBS when they aren't taking us now? There are a lot of dominoes that need to fall, and considering we don't seem to be getting heavily courted now makes it easy to see we won't be anymore heavily courted at a later date. Not being pessimistic just saying that all that glitters is not gold.

Is it as bad as being in the Big South now? Assuming you're single, if Scarlett Johansson asked you out today but there is potential you might break up 5 years down the road and risk not dating for a while, are you really going to say no? Has the CAA said no to us yet? The CAA isn't what it was 5 years ago, they'll gladly take a team with FBS experience and national exposure, we aren't Gardner Webb. You're correct on there being a lot of dominoes needing to fall but once they fall, why on earth would we say no? We've already invested so much into becoming FBS that it would be foolish to not take a risk on it.

[Purple Haize]

You are making a great deal of assumptions about how the CAA feels about us. FBS ambitions aside, we would be there #1 target IMHO. But our FBS ambitions are very public.

And are you sure you'd want to meet up with Bobby in a parking lot? I'd never stand between him and 'cue.

I hope we ARE their #1 choice!
And I believe it was a buffet where he attacked the school administrator!

[Purple Haize]

SweatyBrady- Those are two pretty bad worst case scenarios. And why would the CAA take us coming DOWN from FBS when they aren't taking us now? There are a lot of dominoes that need to fall, and considering we don't seem to be getting heavily courted now makes it easy to see we won't be anymore heavily courted at a later date. Not being pessimistic just saying that all that glitters is not gold.

Is it as bad as being in the Big South now? Assuming you're single, if Scarlett Johansson asked you out today but there is potential you might break up 5 years down the road and risk not dating for a while, are you really going to say no? Has the CAA said no to us yet? The CAA isn't what it was 5 years ago, they'll gladly take a team with FBS experience and national exposure, we aren't Gardner Webb. You're correct on there being a lot of dominoes needing to fall but once they fall, why on earth would we say no? We've already invested so much into becoming FBS that it would be foolish to not take a risk on it.

The fact you just equated the WAC with Scarlett Johansson took all credibility out of your argument.

[bradyfan]

SweatyBrady- Those are two pretty bad worst case scenarios. And why would the CAA take us coming DOWN from FBS when they aren't taking us now? There are a lot of dominoes that need to fall, and considering we don't seem to be getting heavily courted now makes it easy to see we won't be anymore heavily courted at a later date. Not being pessimistic just saying that all that glitters is not gold.

Is it as bad as being in the Big South now? Assuming you're single, if Scarlett Johansson asked you out today but there is potential you might break up 5 years down the road and risk not dating for a while, are you really going to say no? Has the CAA said no to us yet? The CAA isn't what it was 5 years ago, they'll gladly take a team with FBS experience and national exposure, we aren't Gardner Webb. You're correct on there being a lot of dominoes needing to fall but once they fall, why on earth would we say no? We've already invested so much into becoming FBS that it would be foolish to not take a risk on it.

The fact you just equated the WAC with Scarlett Johansson took all credibility out of your argument.

The WAC to a school who has only been around 41 years is Scarlett Johansson. In all seriousness though, it's all about risk and reward. Even if we accepted a bid to the ACC, there is always the chance that we are terrible and they kick us out. No matter what the circumstance, there is always going to be a risk associated with it. 6 months ago, the WAC wasn't very attractive and it still doesn't get me as excited as being in the C-USA did. Yet, being in the WAC gives us options to move forward eventually. One thing common about Liberty is 99% of the time we move forward, not back.

[Blessed1]

It seems like 2014 is the year for things to go down. I think the silver-lining in pushing back football membership until 2014 is because the ESPN deal does not expire until 2013. The WAC might be able to get a better tv deal in an open market with the eastern schools in place.

[Purple Haize]

Followed by the fact that you think a conference will kick you out because you aren't very good...your argument isn't getting any stronger. Otherwise Duke would be a non football member of the ACC ha ! J/k

[bradyfan]

Followed by the fact that you think a conference will kick you out because you aren't very good...your argument isn't getting any stronger. Otherwise Duke would be a non football member of the ACC ha ! J/k

Temple got kicked out of the Big East I'm pretty sure for non-competitiveness. Duke has been in the ACC since the beginning practically. Also, Duke was really competitive back in the 80's when Spurrier was coaching. I won't argue Duke's competitiveness, just that the argument isn't comparable. Although, your sarcasm is duly noted.

[Purple Haize]

Followed by the fact that you think a conference will kick you out because you aren't very good...your argument isn't getting any stronger. Otherwise Duke would be a non football member of the ACC ha ! J/k

Temple got kicked out of the Big East I'm pretty sure for non-competitiveness. Duke has been in the ACC since the beginning practically. Also, Duke was really competitive back in the 80's when Spurrier was coaching. I won't argue Duke's competitiveness, just that the argument isn't comparable. Although, your sarcasm is duly noted.

Temple didn't want to commit the resources which is different then not being competitive.
And Duke is still living off the Excitment generated from having the Rose Bowl there years ago....

[Sly Fox]

We could begin the transition in 2013 but it wouldn't help the WAC until 2014. I believe that is the point being made by Hurd at their league meetings. It is interesting to note that Hurd is indicating that he needs to wait until after school starts to start talking publicly. He also indicated confidentiality agreements were in effect with several schools.

[jcmanson]

You guys can argue WAC vs CAA all day, but go back and listen to everything JLFjr & JB have said since we publicly stated our intentions. If we have the option, we are going to the WAC. End of story.

[Blessed1]

Here's some info from Tony Jones (covers Utah State athletics for the Salt Lake Tribune)...

Tony Jones ‏@TonyAggieville
There is a chance for the WAC to save football for the 2014 season

Tony Jones ‏@TonyAggieville
A group of FCS schools back east, led by James Madison and Jacksonville State, are trying to go FBS and enter the WAC

Tony Jones ‏@TonyAggieville
There are a group of about eight schools trying to get this done. It's unlikely they can do this for this season, but could by next year

Tony Jones ‏@TonyAggieville
Jeff Hurd tells the Tribune: For this to happen, the core group of schools we already have need to remain to committed to the league

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TonyAggieville

[Cider Jim]

we would be there #1 target IMHO.

Just to clarify, Sly, is that a reference to the WAC or the CAA?

[LUaddict]

Check out this tweet from Tony Jones who covers Utah State Sports for the Salt Lakes City Tribune tweeted just today.

Tony Jones ‏@TonyAggieville
A group of FCS schools back east, led by James Madison and Jacksonville State, are trying to go FBS and enter the WAC

https://twitter.com/TonyAggieville

Here is an Article he posted about the what the WAC commish told the Tribune about a group of 8 FCS schools going FBS to the WAC.

WAC football likely won't exist in 2013
Published on Jul 26, 2012 02:04PM

With Utah State and San Jose State leaving for the Mountain West, the Western Athletic Conference has been on its last legs for some time.

That leg appears to be gone - at least for now.

Addressing the media on Thursday morning at the WAC's media day, interim commissioner Jeff Hurd all but confirmed that football for the 2013 season at the very least is out of the question.

"We don't believe football is feasible for the 2013 season," Hurd said. "We've gone trhough every option and we've gone coast to coast looking for those options."

There still appears to be hope for a conference that's taking mammoth hits to its membership over the past three years. Hurd told The Tribune that a group of FCS schools back east, led by James Madison and Jacksonville State, are making a push for FCS status, and could potentially enter into the WAC in time for the 2014 season.

In the meantime, things are still very much in the air for the league. New Mexico State and Idaho will more than likely be forced to go independent next season. And if the WAC loses any more members, the league will probably be done as a football conference for good.

Utah State left for the Mountain West earlier in the spring along with San Jose State. Nevada, Fresno State and Hawaii left for the MWC this season.

The WAC needs eight schools to be considered a conference by the NCAA. It currently sits at seven schools, however they have a two-year waiver from the NCAA. Still, the league has just one bowl tie-in for this season, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, which will go to the champion.

Tony Jones

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsususp ... e.html.csp

I thought this would be important to those that are as antsy about us trying to find out if we are going FBS or not. Sorry I have to run and go on my work out. I hope this provides some useful info for my Flames Fan Buddies. I also saw the tweet above on the WAC forum on the scout.com site.

Here's to the WAC-E.

[bradyfan]

Seeing JMU is the worst part about it though. Didn't their coach say something about he never wanted to play Liberty again?

[logic]

Brady, don't mind Haize. He's our resident pessimistic troll under the bridge who yearns for regional rivalries with the likes of James Madison and App State, or what the dreamers like me consider glorified FCS football.

Keep in mind the words of our Chancellor - "Liberty is a national school and we don't mind playing in a national, not regional conference" or something similar.