[Purple Haize]

Careful. You are on dangerous ground as it appears you may be agreeing with me. Do you really want to associate yourself with a sarcastic blow hard who has never coached an Upward Basketball team?

[TallyW]

That is a fair observation.

[PatrickKelly]

I would think Barber is letting the Sunbelt know that Liberty may have other options and we're not standing pat and waiting by the phone. You never know what may be happing behind close doors in regards to the MAC or Conf USA.

[Blessed1]

I would think Barber is letting the Sunbelt know that Liberty may have other options and we're not standing pat and waiting by the phone. You never know what may be happing behind close doors in regards to the MAC or Conf USA.

This is exactly what I'm thinking! Everyone knows we're looking to move up. However, why put all of our eggs into one basket? How would Liberty know if the nBE, C-USA, or MAC were interested if JB and JFJ didn't initiate some phone calls? JB is doing what he needs to do to gauge interest because he's looking out for Liberty. Thank goodness we're being proactive instead of reactive.

[jbock13]

I really wouldn't be surprised if we get tied in, like we can't leave until a certain amount of time (like 10 years).

Of course I'm sure we'd find ways around it

I just have faith that Barber and JLF are doing what's best for us. We've got the team we need.

[Kricket]

Remember that when we talk about long term outlooks, it may not be positive for us. Everyone in the world now knows what our goals are. Those goals may be the Sun Belt right now, but we've made no secret where we are heading. No one wants to be used as a stepping stone. And I think any President that looks at us knows we are going to be bouncing out of the Sun Belt at the first opportunity for an upgrade as well.

You don't think every other school in the Sun Belt wouldn't bolt if C-USA came knocking?

[flamesfan30]

what if we offer to pay a large cash entrance fee? money talks and we got it.

[LUconn]

I think we need to get all of the presidents and ADs into one room and show them a presentation. And it should look a little something like this:

[youtube]

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[LUaddict]

Georgia Tech to B1G! #15, who makes it to 16? UVA or UNC?
http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2012/1 ... -expansion

[flamesfan30]

can the big 10 please change their name at this point? its more ironic and wrong then the who singing "hope i die before i get old" at this point

[TallyW]

I think they'll change it to the BIG 16. This is all a ploy to get their logo in order... they'll make the G a 6 and be done with it. B16

[bluedevilflame]

I don't see UNC or UVA going anywhere, I have heard that if the GTech rumors are true, then Kansas may be #16 for the Big Ten (16?) Here comes super conferences! The ACC needs to get on the offensive fast and try and steal a team away from the SEC or Big Ten, what do they have to lose by trying at this point?

[ALAFlamesFan]

If we are going to 16 this time around then Sun Belt won't be our only option IMO. This will be a fun few weeks...

[LUconn]

yeah, I think the one danger in this for us is any type of conference mergers that essentially "WAC" an existing FBS conference.

[bluedevilflame]

I think FBS football is going to get more condensed than anything. I know that rumors are rumors, but it is disheartening when NO ONE that is talking Sun Belt football anywhere I've read has even mentioned us recently, App St/Georgia Southern are the two I keep reading about.. cross fingers and pray at this point!

[BJWilliams]

At this point the only ones that should matter as far as talking about it are the people that are responsible for making that decision...not the writers or a bunch of butthurt fanboys on some message board because they dont like Christians possibly spoiling their little party

[ALUmnus]

I don't see UNC or UVA going anywhere, I have heard that if the GTech rumors are true, then Kansas may be #16 for the Big Ten (16?) Here comes super conferences! The ACC needs to get on the offensive fast and try and steal a team away from the SEC or Big Ten, what do they have to lose by trying at this point?

You really think the ACC could steal a team away from the B1G? Duke fans, bless their little cold black hearts.

[bluedevilflame]

I don't see UNC or UVA going anywhere, I have heard that if the GTech rumors are true, then Kansas may be #16 for the Big Ten (16?) Here comes super conferences! The ACC needs to get on the offensive fast and try and steal a team away from the SEC or Big Ten, what do they have to lose by trying at this point?

You really think the ACC could steal a team away from the B1G? Duke fans, bless their little cold black hearts.

Yeah, my heart is so black, appreciate the blessing anyway.

I think anything is possible at this point. What I am saying is that the ACC needs to be at least trying to poach instead of being the poached.

[Kricket]

It's a bit naive to think that the ACC could steal teams from either the B1G or SEC at this point.

[SumItUp]

The more you read about the possible scenarios in the major conferences, the more it makes my head spin. College athletics traditions and rivalries have been ruined. Common sense is gone. It seems every school is acting out of fear of being left out. The merry go round continues to spin and it won't stop until it leaves its base.

[lynchburgwildcats]

I don't see UNC or UVA going anywhere, I have heard that if the GTech rumors are true, then Kansas may be #16 for the Big Ten (16?) Here comes super conferences! The ACC needs to get on the offensive fast and try and steal a team away from the SEC or Big Ten, what do they have to lose by trying at this point?

And exactly why would a team leave the SEC or Big Ten for a dying conference in the ACC with a much less lucrative TV deal and annually less bowl payout money? What does the ACC offer financially that the SEC or Big Ten doesn't offer? It makes absolutely no financial sense. There's a reason why teams aren't trying to leave the SEC despite there being a $0 exit fee, and there's a reason why teams aren't leaving the Big Ten. No one wants to leave one of the two top conferences in the nation to go to a lesser conference.

[bluedevilflame]

It's a bit naive to think that the ACC could steal teams from either the B1G or SEC at this point.

I said TRY, I agree that it is far fetched, but the way things are going I could see Hawaii coming to the Big East so who know what will happen. Point is the rules have changed and college athletics at the FBS level is dog eat dog now, survival means aggression. Being the premier college basketball conference in the country for 10-20 years has to account for something in all this.

[LUconn]

College athletics traditions and rivalries have been ruined.

Good news for start ups though

[Chris Lang]

Georgia Tech has been approved by the presidents of the Big Ten. It has not been invited. Major, major difference. UVa and UNC have also been approved as a target by the Big Ten. Nothing to see here ... yet.

[lynchburgwildcats]

It's a bit naive to think that the ACC could steal teams from either the B1G or SEC at this point.

I said TRY, I agree that it is far fetched, but the way things are going I could see Hawaii coming to the Big East so who know what will happen. Point is the rules have changed and college athletics at the FBS level is dog eat dog now, survival means aggression. Being the premier college basketball conference in the country for 10-20 years has to account for something in all this.

Being the premier basketball conference doesn't get the money, football runs everything. Even mid-tier FBS conference championship games get bigger ratings than premier regular season college basketball games when going head-to-head. That might be attractive to some Conference USA school, but that isn't going to get the job done for an SEC or B1G school.