[flamesfan30]

i guess that means the circle will at least be partly replaced by fall 13.

[ballah09]

Jerry said it was part of the 5 year expansion. It will be interesting to see how they do that though
http://www.liberty.edu/news/index.cfm?P ... &MID=37241

[logic]

"The $120 million project is planned to be completed in the next five years, with the renovation and additions of several academic buildings and a freestanding library, creating 500,000 square feet of new academic space. Liberty’s oldest dorms will be replaced by multi-story buildings, allowing the campus to expand to 20,000 students, said Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr."


If this is what you are referencing, I take that as "eventual" and "ultimately" or "somewhere down the road", not hitting 20,000 in that 5 year window. Just don't see how it would/could happen unless we allowed kids to move off campus at the start of sophomore year and even then it would be tough. Also, as we all know, 5 years really means 7-10 years, so perhaps in 10 years we hit 20,000?

Maybe Chris Johnson can weigh in?

[JLFJR]

BJ e mailed me and asked me to reply but I'm not sure exactly what he would like clarified. I'm not sure when the story that quoted me was posted on Liberty's website but we are on schedule to create enough space for 20,000 students well within the timeframe that was contemplated. In fact, a private developer is building a new student housing project at Liberty Ridge in Campbell County. He plans to have enough beds ready by Christmas 2013 to move the 1200 students who now live in the dorm circle to the new project for two to three semesters. It is close enough to the university to serve as temporary dorms with bus service running at 8 minute intervals. That would allow us to demolish the dorm circle and start construction on as many medium rise dorms as necessary in early 2014. Right now, the dorm circle has 1200 beds but there is plenty of space in the circle to accommodate up to 6000 beds. That would take us to 20,000 students keeping our historic ratio of 60% living on campus, 40% off campus in place. That could easily be done by 2015 or 2016 and we are on track to have enough academic space built to accommodate 20,000 students by then as well. The bigger question is whether Liberty can recruit that many students fast enough to fill all these buildings that can be ready. The good news is we don't have to build any more dorm beds than we have students to fill them and we don't plan to build more than we need. So, the story is accurate when it says: "The $120 million project is planned to be completed in the next five years, with the renovation and additions of several academic buildings and a freestanding library, creating 500,000 square feet of new academic space. Liberty’s oldest dorms will be replaced by multi-story buildings, allowing the campus to expand to 20,000 students" (except it is now about $250 million, not $120 million in new facilities being built). But, Chris Johnson says, once the space is available, he will need some time to actually recruit 20,000 students. It can't be done overnight in the resident program. We are on track to create the space to allow the campus to expand to 20,000 students within the 5 year window but we will not see that many qualified students enrolling that soon. Is that what you wanted to know, BJ?

[adam42381]

Good info. Glad to see that they're (hopefully) going to be more selective by recruiting qualified students as well.

[Purple Haize]

I tuned out when I saw you didn't bring donuts. We told you before that we will see how you do and let you know at your next review. And to bring donuts....you are not off to a good start young man

[logic]

Great response, JLFJR. Football moving up to FBS would certainly help recruit more students as it would get the name out there to more high school kids. Chris Johnson is a stud so I am sure he will get us there with the right kind of students.

[Purple Haize]

Chris Johnson is over rated. I don't think he went higher then 4th round in any of my Fantasy Football drafts

[BJWilliams]

BJ e mailed me and asked me to reply but I'm not sure exactly what he would like clarified. I'm not sure when the story that quoted me was posted on Liberty's website but we are on schedule to create enough space for 20,000 students well within the timeframe that was contemplated. In fact, a private developer is building a new student housing project at Liberty Ridge in Campbell County. He plans to have enough beds ready by Christmas 2013 to move the 1200 students who now live in the dorm circle to the new project for two to three semesters. It is close enough to the university to serve as temporary dorms with bus service running at 8 minute intervals. That would allow us to demolish the dorm circle and start construction on as many medium rise dorms as necessary in early 2014. Right now, the dorm circle has 1200 beds but there is plenty of space in the circle to accommodate up to 6000 beds. That would take us to 20,000 students keeping our historic ratio of 60% living on campus, 40% off campus in place. That could easily be done by 2015 or 2016 and we are on track to have enough academic space built to accommodate 20,000 students by then as well. The bigger question is whether Liberty can recruit that many students fast enough to fill all these buildings that can be ready. The good news is we don't have to build any more dorm beds than we have students to fill them and we don't plan to build more than we need. So, the story is accurate when it says: "The $120 million project is planned to be completed in the next five years, with the renovation and additions of several academic buildings and a freestanding library, creating 500,000 square feet of new academic space. Liberty’s oldest dorms will be replaced by multi-story buildings, allowing the campus to expand to 20,000 students" (except it is now about $250 million, not $120 million in new facilities being built). But, Chris Johnson says, once the space is available, he will need some time to actually recruit 20,000 students. It can't be done overnight in the resident program. We are on track to create the space to allow the campus to expand to 20,000 students within the 5 year window but we will not see that many qualified students enrolling that soon. Is that what you wanted to know, BJ?

That was exactly what I was looking for sir...well said once again

[JK37]

Is recruiting additional faculty and staff necessary for the growth described?

[LUminary]

Chris Johnson is over rated. I don't think he went higher then 4th round in any of my Fantasy Football drafts

If (that) Chris Johnson didn't go until the fourth round in your drafts, I want to be playing in your leagues.

[Purple Haize]

Are you kidding? He held out last year, then got hurt. You can have him., lol

[thepostman]

Man, I would get annoyed if BJ kept e-mailing me to tell me to check out something said on Flamefans...

I guess JFjr is a much more understanding/patient guy then I

[rogers3]

Chris Johnson is a stud....

Seriously? Next you will be claiming to be the tooth fairy.

[bluedevilflame]

https://twitter.com/TroyDannenUNIAD/sta ... 9914611712

LJ has a point……say tuned..RT @i_Serve24: #UNI needs to go D1 already, give us those extra 20 scholarships and watch what we do with it!

UNI to FBS? Could be a good fit for the MAC's 14th spot

ALSO

interesting proposal for a relegation system in college football, it'll never happen, but fun to think about anyway!

http://www.lostlettermen.com/a-proposal ... elegation/

[Purple Haize]

Hmmm I remember some Professor talking about that for Football and MLB over a decade ago. Who was that guy. He was devastatingly handsome and had a smoking hot wife....what was his name.....hmmmm

[R i]

Relegation needs to make its way in to American Sports.

[bluedevilflame]

Wheels seem to be moving at Northern Iowa..

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/un ... 7f42d.html

There hasn't been a rush of teams jumping to the FBS level in recent years, but there's evidence to indicate that may change as more programs try to get in on the financial windfall created by today's television contracts, bowl opportunities and the new playoff system.

"I think it's the right time to make the move," adds Farley. "There is a window of opportunity here because of all the restructuring of conferences and the restructuring of the playoff system.

"There's a lot of research that needs to be done, but I believe this is an opportunity much like it was years ago when we were Division II going up to I-AA."

[rogers3]

Wheels seem to be moving at Northern Iowa..

http://wcfcourier.com/sports/college/un ... 7f42d.html

There hasn't been a rush of teams jumping to the FBS level in recent years, but there's evidence to indicate that may change as more programs try to get in on the financial windfall created by today's television contracts, bowl opportunities and the new playoff system.

"I think it's the right time to make the move," adds Farley. "There is a window of opportunity here because of all the restructuring of conferences and the restructuring of the playoff system.

"There's a lot of research that needs to be done, but I believe this is an opportunity much like it was years ago when we were Division II going up to I-AA."

Must be that wonderful media market out there.

[jbock13]

99'th in the country. But then again look at WVU, although the Pittsburgh market somewhat counts.

[bluedevilflame]

The only conferences that would make sense for NIU would be the MAC (250 miles away from N. Illinois most western team) and CUSA (715 miles to Tulsa, 710 miles to Marshall, closest schools).

[Sly Fox]

... or a new group of western schools reviving the WAC.

[bluedevilflame]

... or a new group of western schools reviving the WAC.

oh my!

[Purple Haize]

... or a new group of western schools reviving the WAC.

[Sly Fox]

This horse isn't completely dead. The rumored conference that had discussed moving up together with the WAC apparently was the MVFC. I'd rule nothing out.