[Purple Haize]

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?

How will being in FBS help us attract better players for WBB, Soccer, T and F or Volleyball?
I'm not sure 6 home games makes it a better product for the general student. As for experience that's a highly subjective measure.
The vast majority of online students couldn't care less about FBS or not. University of Phoenix is doing well and they don't even offer sports! An online student is looking for something completely different, experience wise, than a traditional student.

LUO will not be around with this type of revenue forever. Remember, I'm not saying if its right or wrong. I'm just pointing out the apparent fallacy of the arguments raised. There is one reason and one reason only that we are attempting to move to FBS.

[logic]

Look at the best programs in the sports you mentioned. Nearly all have big-time FBS football, big-time student-bodies, big-time athletic departments. Those kids want an experience. When recruits visit a school and see a football game with 80,000 kids they love it. Then they come here and the atmosphere/experience is a huge let down. The same goes for general students....I've always thought of Liberty trying to get the Christian students that go to Texas, Texas AM, Florida, Alabama, etc., of which there are many good Christian kids that go the aforementioned schools. They want a big-time experience and if we want those kids we need to give them that experience here. FCS football won't do it. Furthermore, the name recognition is a huge factor. There are Christian kids around the country that have never even heard of Liberty, yet we're the largest Christian school in the world and should be at the top of their list. Yet they've all heard of Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, and so forth and so on. FBS can only help in that regard and cannot hurt.

[Purple Haize]

You realize that we do have Christian kids from Texas and Florida, right?
The Christian kids you speak of who have never heard of LU, is it a large number? Do you know for certain that this is the best way to get our name out to those students? LU has one of if not the highest visibility of any Christian College/University in the country. Therefore any additional exposure due to a move to FBS in negligible
There is no financial gain to move up and a very small if any exposure reason for moving up.

[ATrain]

Lets not forget the vision: whipping Notre Dame in South Bend. That is the trajectory and goal our founder set for us, let us go forth and achieve.

[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.

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.

Well then, it is high time I start being disrespectful.

Yes, these are the exceptions, but wouldn't it be great to get a player of these guys caliber? Gill(should I call him Coach?) is a great coach, a wonderful motivator, and seems to recruit well. He can put a team together but having a Tebow, Manziel type of guy would go a long way in getting future recruits. It all starts with FBS.

For those that think the LUO students don't care about FBS......I am one that is very excited about it. Don't brush aside 80,000 people. We can't all make it to home games(I am only 3 hours away so I am fortunate in that) but with national tv exposure you will start seeing these online students take a more active role in supporting the team.

[Cider Jim]

I remember when that "one player" was 6'6", 240 pound tight end Eric Green. Coach Sam used say that it should be "illegal" for him to be playing at the I-AA (now FCS) level for LU.

As soon as the season was over, Eric was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and I think was Rookie of the Year and became an All Pro tight end in the NFL.

[Sly Fox]

Morgan Hout did a great job of bringing kids like Eric and a number of other future NFL starters to campus back when we were just a DII school with a tiny campus. It can be done and we are positioning ourselves for just such a situation moving forward.

[Purple Haize]

Lets not forget the vision: whipping Notre Dame in South Bend. That is the trajectory and goal our founder set for us, let us go forth and achieve.

This is the only reason we are doing this. Our Founder said its what he wanted.

[Sly Fox]

And I would suggest that the founder's vision has worked out more than adequately thus far for the school.

[Purple Haize]

And I would suggest that the founder's vision has worked out more than adequately thus far for the school.

If I were truly a hater I would say his life insurance policy helped out a lot. And I would also say that blindly following a persons vision doesn't end up well in the history books.

But I'm not. Again I'm just pointing out that this is the ONLY reason explaining this move. I will also point out that my other question regarding this move has never been answered nor do I expect it to be.

[Sly Fox]

I'm glad you are not a hater. Because his insurance payoff now seems like a drop in the bucket to the income we are now enjoying as a result of him recognizing that distance education was the wave of the future back when most scoffed at the concept.

[Purple Haize]

What's the point of debating whether or not we should move to FBS? That decision is made, and has been for a while. We are going FBS at the first opportunity.

The debate was renewed as to the WHY we were going not the IF we were going. The video was blasted because it stated that the added exposure for LU would not be significant nor would it be a lock to be a financially good move. I agreed with both of those statements and stated the only reason WHY is because Jerry Sr wanted it. Whether or not that is a good reason becomes an academic exercise since the decision to do it has been made.

[logic]

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?

How will being in FBS help us attract better players for WBB, Soccer, T and F or Volleyball?

This is all we need to know about you Haize. Clearly aren't in touch with college kids today. Big-time athletes, whether soccer, volleyball, or otherwise, want a big-time athletics department. And you know Haize, when those kids think big-time the first thing they think of is FCS football. Your comments are a joke Haize! Laughable!

[Purple Haize]

You keep telling yourself that logic if it helps you cope. So apparently our T and F team has really done nothing. Same with the other sports. How sad for them that their accomplishments are diminished because we aren't FBS

[ATrain]

I believe our tennis teams have defeated West Virginia, UConn and Oklahoma State recently. So much for "Big time athletes," wanting "Big time schools." Oh yeah, I think VCU and Butler are doing a stellar job of attracting good athletes depsite not fielding a football team (VCU) and having a non-scholarship FCS team (Butler).

Having a name may help some, but it is by no means a guarantee of getting the best athletes in every sport.

[Purple Haize]

I believe our tennis teams have defeated UConn and Oklahoma State recently. So much for "Big time athletes," wanting "Big time schools." Oh yeah, I think VCU and Butler are doing a stellar job of attracting good athletes depsite not fielding a football team (VCU) and having a non-scholarship FCS team (Butler).

Well apparently you aren't in touch with students TODAY. You know Dec 8, 2012. You are talking history! And true visionaries never look in the past.

(And at your age you shouldn't be in touch with students! )

[ATrain]

I believe our tennis teams have defeated UConn and Oklahoma State recently. So much for "Big time athletes," wanting "Big time schools." Oh yeah, I think VCU and Butler are doing a stellar job of attracting good athletes depsite not fielding a football team (VCU) and having a non-scholarship FCS team (Butler).

Well apparently you aren't in touch with students TODAY. You know Dec 8, 2012. You are talking history! And true visionaries never look in the past.

(And at your age you shouldn't be in touch with students! )

I'm still younger than BJ was when he finished

[CajunFlame]

Nothing to add to the previous posts, because we can go back and forth for an eternity as to what are the pros and cons of moving to FBS, however I would like to put in my 2 cents as to where I would like us to go and why......

1.) Big East - Yes, this is dreaming big, but hear me out. Big East is still desperately in need of some teams. I am not all that sure they can get a quality team from another FBS conference and maybe could look to FCS.

2.) C-USA - Of the conferences that are probable invites, this is the best. If C-USA calls, you answer the phone. They have been in flux since last year and the Big East could snatch up Southern Miss, UAB, or Marshall to get some quality teams to remain BCS eligible. This would open a door.

3.) MAC - This is my darkhorse pick. The MAC is a very quality conference and always seems to field an excellent product. There is now a playoff system in FBS and having some quality teams to play against would help in the long run.

4.) Sun Belt - The bottom of the barrel in college football from a team and fans standpoint, but if they offer take it, and then take it to each team on the field. I have read some very simple minded posts on the sun belt boards as to why Liberty should be shunned. My response to them would be, the Sun Belt is about as relevant in football as the WAC will be in 2013. We all need to take what we can get.

So, there you have it. This is my wish list. I am not hopeful this will happen for the 2013 or 2014 season but I think by 2015 conferences are going to start calling.

[Sly Fox]

While we were debating, the Mountain East Conference was formed with some familiar names to FlameFans including Notre Dame and West Liberty University. Seriously.

OK, it is going to be a new DII league but with the lack of real realignment news the past day I thought I'd pass it along. Ten of the twelve teams in the league are from WV with the other two being from Ohio including the tiny school with the big name of Notre Dame.

[CajunFlame]

Is THAT the Notre Dame Jerry Jr was talking about having a rivalry with? That makes more sense.

[Cider Jim]

2.) C-USA - Of the conferences that are probable invites, this is the best. If C-USA calls, you answer the phone. They have been in flux since last year and the Big East could snatch up Southern Miss, UAB, or Marshall to get some quality teams to remain BCS eligible. This would open a door.

CajunFlame is a GENIUS!

[Purple Haize]

2.) C-USA - Of the conferences that are probable invites, this is the best. If C-USA calls, you answer the phone. They have been in flux since last year and the Big East could snatch up Southern Miss, UAB, or Marshall to get some quality teams to remain BCS eligible. This would open a door.

CajunFlame is a GENIUS!

He works with the people who wear Girl Scout Berets.....just sayin...

Oh yeah......GO OGA!

[CajunFlame]

One edit would be that there is no need for Big East to remain BCS eligible with the advent of the playoff system. Also, Marshall could probably compete for a Big East title next year. It is a rather weak football conference.

[logic]

I believe our tennis teams have defeated West Virginia, UConn and Oklahoma State recently. So much for "Big time athletes," wanting "Big time schools." Oh yeah, I think VCU and Butler are doing a stellar job of attracting good athletes depsite not fielding a football team (VCU) and having a non-scholarship FCS team (Butler).

Having a name may help some, but it is by no means a guarantee of getting the best athletes in every sport.

The 8 teams still left in the women's volleyball tournament are FBS schools. Of the top 25 programs at the men's NCAA outdoor TF championships last year, 23 were FBS schools. 21 of the current top 25 basketball programs are FBS football schools. The list goes on and on. The non FBS football playing schools doing well on the national stage in any sport are the exception, not the rule. These kids want a big-time feel and big-time football helps tremendously.

[TallyW]

The 8 teams still left in the women's volleyball tournament are FBS schools. Of the top 25 programs at the men's NCAA outdoor TF championships last year, 23 were FBS schools. 21 of the current top 25 basketball programs are FBS football schools. The list goes on and on. The non FBS football playing schools doing well on the national stage in any sport are the exception, not the rule. These kids want a big-time feel and big-time football helps tremendously.

Boom. Truth.