[logic]

Tell me more about the "new" LFSN sports channel. How is it different than our current setup, and how will it affect our FBS move?

[jbock13]

Tell me more about the "new" LFSN sports channel. How is it different than our current setup, and how will it affect our FBS move?

It's no different, probably. And well, actually, we're still waiting on an invite.

[Sly Fox]

I just don't buy into the FBS 10 year freeze stuff and the big need to beg for an invite. I think if you meet title IX, you have the facilities and MOST importantly you have deep pockets and a willingness to put the money on the NCAA table you will get your invite. I think the only thing delaying an announcement about where we land is the major realignment of existing FBS teams playing out right now. Once that's over who ever meets "all of the above" will be in.

It would be wonderful if it worked that way, but sadly the NCAA has less to do with fairness & equity and more to do with the haves & have nots. We just emerged about a year ago from under the last FBS moratorium which helped spur this latest whole realignment insanity. Once the music stops and everyone finds a chair who the haves want to be in the game, the NCAA will take away the music completely for a period of time once again. It is coming and might lead to lawsuits this time around if certain schools feel they were not given proper access. That is why there is such urgency for us to make the move up before the door closes.

As for NM State fans, they really haven't felt the pain of being on their own quite yet. And they have just released an outstanding 2013 schedule that includes 7 home dates featuring Minnesota, their rivals from UTEP, San Diego State & Boston College. In 2014, they will be lucky to have 4 home games against FCS schools & Idaho unless they can make it into the Sun Belt or C-USA (they have zero chance to join MWC).

[Purple Haize]

Tell me more about the "new" LFSN sports channel. How is it different than our current setup, and how will it affect our FBS move?

It might be a hindrance as most Conferences will want to divvy up media rights. Texas caused a lot of consternation with their move. But we are not Texas.

[Sly Fox]

It will in no way be a hindrance. There are not likely to be major revenue streams involved. I have no more knowledge about what is involved in this new venture beyond what is in the news release. But I know a great deal about the industry. Full disclosure: I am still under contract to Fox Sports Net and I work on air with them again next week.

As it appears, we will be offering up a sports only network which would in essence be similar to regional sports net agreements that operate generally as 3rd tier conference partners. The Sun Belt has a 1st Tier agreement with ESPN that is seldom exercised and some 2nd tier options for regionals interested in specific schools. C-USA's current television situation is muddier but they have national nets working the 1st & 2nd Tiers with plenty of 3rd Tier availabilities for individual schools to market.

Having a network where both Liberty and potentially externally produced conference games could be carried would be very intriguing to a league like the Sun Belt (and especially the WAC) should this new net get carriage. It used to be all about carriage on major cable & fiber providers, DirecTv & Dish. Today with web-based services flourishing the opportunities to share content are increasing exponentially. While I am sure that we would like to generate revenue, increasing exposure is our top priority. As such, I am sure a big portion of the efforts of the new net are to get placement on Roku, an app on Xbox systems, Apple TV, Google TV, etc. With fiber offering a practically unending supply of channels, a no cost sports lineup would be a pretty easy sell to the FiOS & U-verse folks.

The only thing stopping most folks from doing what we are doing is that they lack the resources and the experience producing live content. We have both and it is something that likely will appeal to college presidents much more than the typical fan.

[Purple Haize]

Good points. I wasn't thinking of it in a Revenue v Exposure reference. I do know this was an objection thrown up several years ago and I'm glad it was overcome.

[logic]

So we wouldn't be competing with, for example, the Sun Belt's 1st tier ESPN rights should we join the SBC. ESPN won't be showing a Liberty Volleyball game anytime soon, for example, or even the majority of football games. In this case we could cover our own live events nationwide and when ESPN wants the games they pick it up.

Seems like a win/win situation for everyone involved, including opposing teams. If you have the opportunity to have an away basketball game at Liberty LIVE on TV you're going to be happy about it.


One would think the SBC President's would like that.

[LUconn]

You'd think that but they're stupid. They don't see LU as an academic peer and they don't realize that academics have nothing to do with athletic conference affiliation. Or maybe they do realize that but they like to pretend that there is a connection.

[jbock13]

Look at what happened to the WAC under Benson. How's he all the sudden any smarter with the SBC?

[SumItUp]

Look at what happened to the WAC under Benson. How's he all the sudden any smarter with the SBC?

President's make the decisions, not commissioners.

[logic]

Look at what happened to the WAC under Benson. How's he all the sudden any smarter with the SBC?

President's make the decisions, not commissioners.

This is true, but a great commissioner can get what he wants through inception style tactics..make the Presidents think it was their idea all along. My guess is that Delaney, for the most part, has the Big Ten Presidents in his back pocket.

[alabama24]

...a great commissioner can get what he wants

Yes, but THE great commissioner could walk on water, turn water into wine, AND raise the dead.

[NotAJerry]

They don't see LU as an academic peer and they don't realize that academics have nothing to do with athletic conference affiliation. Or maybe they do realize that but they like to pretend that there is a connection.

Um, tell the B1G and Pac-12 that academics have nothing to do with conference affiliation.

[LUconn]

B1G is the one league that had research cooperation programs among member schools. I don't even know if they do that anymore, but they did 10 or so years ago. But other than that, it's all fictitious.

[ATrain]

B1G is the one league that had research cooperation programs among member schools. I don't even know if they do that anymore, but they did 10 or so years ago. But other than that, it's all fictitious.

They still do it. The University of Chicago is also a member of that research consortium.

[4everfsu]

No more FCS games for Big 10

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... -fcs-teams

[PAmedic]

"So we've made an agreement that our future games will all be Division I schools. It will not be FCS schools."

[adam42381]

I think this is a smart move for the Big 10. They want to be considered a top tier football conference and improving their strength of schedule definitely helps their cause. I don't the wording Alvarez used was right since FCS is technically part of Division I, but the point he was trying to make still rings true.

[PAmedic]

yeah thats what I was getting at. Pretty much the point as to why we have to move up

even when we do, I have a sneaking suspicion there will be another tier added so the MACs and Sunbelts remain "AA"

you could argue that the move then becomes a moot point.

[jbock13]

So this means instead of playing James Madison, they'll play New Mexico State. ooooohhhhh what a tough schedule.

[adam42381]

Cherry picking one of the 3 worst teams in FBS doesn't exactly make your point true. I would imagine that some Big Ten teams will schedule teams that aren't bottom feeders.

[LUconn]

If other conferences copy, I see Charleston Southern getting foreclosed on.

[jbock13]

Cherry picking one of the 3 worst teams in FBS doesn't exactly make your point true. I would imagine that some Big Ten teams will schedule teams that aren't bottom feeders.

Fair enough. But let's look at the non-conference games they play now, that aren't FCS. That's my point. All the Big 10 does is beat down teams from the MAC. Sure, every once in awhile a MAC team might win. But it's hardly that different from top-tier FCS competition.

[badger74]

Most BIG teams have had some FCS games over the last 10 years or so.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1527 ... cs-schools

[4everfsu]

Changing landscape hits non-AQ
Originally Published: February 15, 2013
By Mark Schlabach | ESPN.com

The college football landscape will look much different in 2013 after another round of conference realignment, especially among the non-BCS leagues.

When the 2013 season kicks off in late August, Conference USA will have six new members (and at least two more by 2015).

The WAC, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last season, watched its own funeral as other leagues poached most of its remaining members. For the first time in a half-century, the WAC won't sponsor football in 2013.

Click Here for Full Story