[jimflamesfan]

NBC sports...aren't they the official carrier of the CAA?

The thing that irks me is if the CAA did offer LU and LU declined, then that was a bad move in my opinion...looks like 1A may be 5 to 10 years down the road...the CAA would have been a good bridge, even if there was a huge exit fee.

[RVAparks]

The thing that irks me is if the CAA did offer LU and LU declined, then that was a bad move in my opinion.

Then you shouldn't be irked

[TH Spangler]

[youtube]

[/youtube]

[TallyW]

My favorite quote by the doubter is at 1:35: "In terms of ... uh.. financial cost... it's not a good move. Uh, not that they care."

And then this gem: "In terms of the non-financial aspects...uh... I don't think it helps them either, they aren't going to get a lot more exposure..."

There is much to this story that disappoints. This was supposed to be about sports business but the financial positioning of the school was an afterthought with only a few statistics unaddressed and buried in a graphics package.

I would have loved for this to be an honest look at the costs that go into an upgrade, marketing and the growth of our school and possibly a few examples of schools that have made the transition well vs. those who haven't done as well in making the jump. That would have been more reasonable. I'll stop now, my post is already longer than the story.

[Purple Haize]

I thought this was a very good piece. They weren't banging on LU IMO. They simply stated that only 51% of FBS Football programs mare money. Based on where we are now, the statement that it will be awhile until we turn a profit, if we do at all, is very accurate. As for exposure, this clip excluded, again, it is spot on. Until we crank out some Top 25 finishes or Top 25 upsets will we really gain much more exposure?
The last part was perfect. To paraphrase, it said none of that matters because this is all about the dream of our Founder and not about money. Which, IMO, is good and bad.

[logic]

"As far as the non-financial aspects, don't think it helps them either, they're not going to get a lot more exposure"


Who is this guy? Dan Foltz? Fultz? They never put his name up on a graphic. What planet is he living on? Consultant to the NCAA? How? What level of expertise does he bring to the table? At the very least he seriously lowers his credibility when making broad statements like that.

[logic]

I thought this was a very good piece. They weren't banging on LU IMO. They simply stated that only 51% of FBS Football programs mare money. Based on where we are now, the statement that it will be awhile until we turn a profit, if we do at all, is very accurate. As for exposure, this clip excluded, again, it is spot on. Until we crank out some Top 25 finishes or Top 25 upsets will we really gain much more exposure?
The last part was perfect. To paraphrase, it said none of that matters because this is all about the dream of our Founder and not about money. Which, IMO, is good and bad.

I agree with you Haize, except for the exposure. I would argue there is much more exposure playing FBS. One small example, try finding FCS scores on ESPN...or any FCS coverage. You have to look long and hard. FBS coverage is all over the place. And if we were to go bowling, you're looking at more exposure in one bowl game than all of our years in the Big South combined, perhaps. Even making the FCS playoffs is little league compared to a bowl game, even a low end bowl game.

No one cares about FCS. Never will. Only reason people cared about Appy was beating Michigan.

[Humble_Opinion]

NBC sports...aren't they the official carrier of the CAA?

The thing that irks me is if the CAA did offer LU and LU declined, then that was a bad move in my opinion...looks like 1A may be 5 to 10 years down the road...the CAA would have been a good bridge, even if there was a huge exit fee.

Why would we need a 'bridge'? We paid a consultant -- that has many connections in the FBS -- money to come down here and conduct a study to determine the readiness of our program to make the jump to FBS. At the end of that process he disclosed that our program is the most prepared program to jump to the FBS that he has ever seen. Going to the CAA does nothing for us, except provide a higher level of competition in football at the FCS level, which is something we can accomplish by filling our OOC slate with tougher opponents. If FBS weren't our goal, then yes - we'd jump at the opportunity to join the CAA. Since that is not our goal, it makes no sense to do it (in my HO).

[TH Spangler]

I remember in 1980 (giving away my age) the critics saying Liberty Baptist College would never be more than a few metal building on top a muddy hill over looking Lynchburg. I've heard the negativity before. That's what makes it all so special! I've learned to not doubt what's going on here.

[adam42381]

"As far as the non-financial aspects, don't think it helps them either, they're not going to get a lot more exposure"


Who is this guy? Dan Foltz? Fultz? They never put his name up on a graphic. What planet is he living on? Consultant to the NCAA? How? What level of expertise does he bring to the table? At the very least he seriously lowers his credibility when making broad statements like that.

Dan Fulks. The guy apparently knows what he's talking about.

http://www.transy.edu/about/faculty_bio.htm?ID=0061068

[TH Spangler]

Don't think any school does it expecting to make money ........... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/sport ... leges.html

It promotes the school and the kids enjoy the competition.

[LUconn]

Until we crank out some Top 25 finishes or Top 25 upsets will we really gain much more exposure?

So do you suggest we skip the part where we move to FBS and just start finishing in the FBS Top 25 and getting FBS Top 25 upsets where we are now?

In terms of the story itself, there was like techno music in the background the whole time, even while the dudes were talking. I kept thinking it was an intro and then it was over. Does the whole show have a constant music bed?

[Purple Haize]

Until we crank out some Top 25 finishes or Top 25 upsets will we really gain much more exposure?

So do you suggest we skip the part where we move to FBS and just start finishing in the FBS Top 25 and getting FBS Top 25 upsets where we are now?

In terms of the story itself, there was like techno music in the background the whole time, even while the dudes were talking. I kept thinking it was an intro and then it was over. Does the whole show have a constant music bed?

Well if we are going to criticize the production values....I'm all there

Maybe I wasn't clear. The exposure we get from being FBS will not increase markedly until we accomplish the previous quote. LU is unique in that it has plenty of exposure NOW, good and bad. Playing UT Arlington isn't going to increase that by much at all.
As to logics point, I can find an LU score on ESPN as easily as I can find a N Texas score. We already have every game on MASN or ESPN3. That's going to stay the same regardless. It's all about the edict from our Founder that we will be at the 1A level (BCS), regardless. Even if we make a Bowl game, will the number of people watching a 3rd Tier Bowl be greater then playing in The First Four or 'Play In' game in the Basketball tournament? I'm actually not sure, but would doubt it. It CERTAINLY won't bring us added income because the cost associated with those Bowls far outweigh the money it brings.

[logic]

Bowl game exposure > cost of going to bowl.


I can't prove that, but know it to be true.

[lynchburgwildcats]

Bowl game exposure > cost of going to bowl.


I can't prove that, but know it to be true.

Ask UConn how well that worked out after going to a BCS game...

[Liberty22]

Bowl game exposure > cost of going to bowl.


I can't prove that, but know it to be true.

Ask UConn how well that worked out after going to a BCS game...

UCONN is rumored to possibly move to the ACC. I think it is working out just fine

[Liberty22]

You guys are forgetting about another crucial element of FBS exposure. NCAA video games, no longer have to create the school and kids will play against or with us... thus greater exposure. Case closed. Period. I win. Boom goes the dynamite.

[TallyW]

UCONN is rumored to possibly move to the ACC. I think it is working out just fine

+1

[Purple Haize]

Bowl game exposure > cost of going to bowl.


I can't prove that, but know it to be true.

They actually have done studies on that. And unless you are either A) in one of the Big Bowl games or B) A Cinderella story you are incorrect. The amount of added exposure, especially for a school like LU, playing in something akin to the Emerald Nut Bowl is negligible.

As for the UCONN example, their football team is not the driving factor into their ACC invite.

[CajunFlame]

A move to FBS helps Liberty because it is not your run-of-the-mill university. We are not talking about UVA or Maryland, which uses a state 'pipeline' to recruit. Liberty does not recruit the majority of its players from the state of Virginia, you are only talking about 1/4 and then if you throw in border states NC, MD, WV, KY, and TN it is barely half of the student athletes. For better or worse Liberty makes it pitch on being a good christian education where parents can feel safe that their kids are going. Parents won't need to worry about their son or daughter being so far away at Liberty (there is a ban on kissing, how much of a relief is that for a parent.) Some kids are not going to want that kind of experience and will turn LU down, others are craving that experience but want to be a part of a school that is going to be on ESPN(proper) and Sportscenter. The next "Tim Tebow" will be looking to take his school to a BCS bowl and get a heisman. That stuff can't happen at an FCS school. So, what does that kids do? He jumps on the first FBS school to offer him a scholarship and tells LU......"sorry, you don't have what I am looking for."

What am I saying? FBS helps recruitment. Especially a school like Liberty that scours private christian High Schools across the nation looking for the best athletes.

[Purple Haize]

All of what you say is true. But again it does not address exposure or profits. We need more then 'The Next Tim Tebow'. One player does not a football team make. Also, we are assuming had we been FBS Tim Tebow would have wanted to come to LU. What if we were running a Pro Style offense? The trap we can fall into is that just by having an FBS affiliation all of these magical things will just appear like mana from Heaven. It won't. It gives us a better chance but is no guarantee

[CajunFlame]

I will disagree, respectfully of course, with one thing you mentioned "One player does not a football team make." My rebuttal will be in the form of names Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III, Shaun King(Tulane QB for 1998 undefeated season), Terrell Pryor, and those are just the QBs. Every team wants that ONE player you can't scheme against. The one player that each coach has nightmares about game-planning for. They don't always go to powerhouses, and they aren't always the biggest names out of high school, but they are always looking for to play with the big boys.

[Purple Haize]

I will disagree, respectfully of course, with one thing you mentioned "One player does not a football team make." My rebuttal will be in the form of names Cam Newton, Johnny Manziel, Robert Griffin III, Shaun King(Tulane QB for 1998 undefeated season), Terrell Pryor, and those are just the QBs. Every team wants that ONE player you can't scheme against. The one player that each coach has nightmares about game-planning for. They don't always go to powerhouses, and they aren't always the biggest names out of high school, but they are always looking for to play with the big boys.

No need to be respectful. Ill think you are up to something!

But you do have a point. But these are the exceptions, not the rule.

[logic]

Bowl game exposure > cost of going to bowl.


I can't prove that, but know it to be true.

They actually have done studies on that. And unless you are either A) in one of the Big Bowl games or B) A Cinderella story you are incorrect. The amount of added exposure, especially for a school like LU, playing in something akin to the Emerald Nut Bowl is negligible.

As for the UCONN example, their football team is not the driving factor into their ACC invite.

Forget not these other impacts -

1. Ability to recruit better athletes across all sports
2. Better experience and product to sell to be general students
3. Better product and school to sell to the online population (they may follow FBS more so than FCS football)


If the cost isn't an issue (thank you LUO) and the exposure is greater(it is)...why not?

[lynchburgwildcats]

Bowl game exposure > cost of going to bowl.


I can't prove that, but know it to be true.

Ask UConn how well that worked out after going to a BCS game...

UCONN is rumored to possibly move to the ACC. I think it is working out just fine

Yes, because UConn going to a BCS bowl two years ago is the primary reason for it They haven't even been bowl eligible since making it to that BCS bowl game. All that exposure from the BCS trip has done wonders for the program. 5-7 seasons and no bowls FTW!