[Kricket]

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ng-sources

Looks like Notre Dame is headed to the ACC a year earlier. Nothing really shocking about this news.

[JLFJR]

This article was on the front of the Washington Post yesterday. I thought it was some of the fairest and most objective national press ever for Liberty. I think it will help dispel prejudices and change perceptions about what Liberty is all about, how far it has come in such a short time and its aspirations for the future. Articles like this one and the one in the New York Times a few months ago provide an important independent source for the Liberty story to the decision makers in the FBS conferences that we are seeking to join!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/edu ... story.html

[rmiller1959]

Looks like the deal has been finalized:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ources-say

[rmiller1959]

This article was on the front of the Washington Post yesterday. I thought it was some of the fairest and most objective national press ever for Liberty. I think it will help dispel prejudices and change perceptions about what Liberty is all about, how far it has come in such a short time and its aspirations for the future. Articles like this one and the one in the New York Times a few months ago provide an important independent source for the Liberty story to the decision makers in the FBS conferences that we are seeking to join!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/edu ... story.html

[TH Spangler]

Good stuff!! ..... After I finish reading the comments that follow a good article like that, I'm motivated to pick up my pen and make another donation to Liberty athletics! Go Flames!

[ATrain]

Awesome article.

[4everfsu]

Get ready for America 12

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ources-say

[rmiller1959]

Get ready for America 12

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ources-say

With all the changes these conferences are making, I don't know if it's wise to have a number in the name

[FlamesBeBallin]

With Rutgers and Louisville also set to leave, the new conference in need of a name will consist of Connecticut, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Houston, Memphis, South Florida, SMU, Temple, Tulane and UCF in 2014. Navy will join in 2015 and another, possibly Tulsa, could also join.

Could pose for some more conference shifting when Tulsa most likely joins. Fingers crossed.

[LUminary]

Get ready for America 12

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ources-say

With all the changes these conferences are making, I don't know if it's wise to have a number in the name

That's the truth. You'd think that lesson would have been learned.

[ATrain]

Get ready for America 12

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... ources-say

With all the changes these conferences are making, I don't know if it's wise to have a number in the name

That's the truth. You'd think that lesson would have been learned.

At least they're avoiding geography

[rmiller1959]

Good point - that gives them some flexibility on who to bring into the mix.

[logic]

This article was on the front of the Washington Post yesterday. I thought it was some of the fairest and most objective national press ever for Liberty. I think it will help dispel prejudices and change perceptions about what Liberty is all about, how far it has come in such a short time and its aspirations for the future. Articles like this one and the one in the New York Times a few months ago provide an important independent source for the Liberty story to the decision makers in the FBS conferences that we are seeking to join!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/edu ... story.html

In my humble opinion, this was the most important part of the article -


"But his son said Liberty has turned a page.

“We’re not the Moral Majority anymore,” Falwell said, referring to the religious conservative movement his father founded. “We’re not a church. Our mission is to educate.”"


I believe we should plug that whenever and wherever we can, for the the sincerest reasons and with a deep respect for the past.

[TH Spangler]

But his son said Liberty has turned a page.

Has turned a page, and is more effective at "Training Champions for Christ" than ever before. Until that changes Liberty will have it's critics. Appease them, and it's just another liberal institution. There's one of those on every corner?

[Jbrown]

But his son said Liberty has turned a page.

Has turned a page, and is more effective at "Training Champions for Christ" than ever before. Until that changes Liberty will have it's critics. Appease them, and it's just another liberal institution. There's one of those on every corner?

+1

Our Pro-Life stance and support for the sanctity of marriage will always warrant criticism in addition to our "training champions for Christ" and may we never falter.

[rmiller1959]

At the risk of beating a dead horse, it's now official:

http://espn.go.com/college-sports/story ... st-june-30

[Sly Fox]

Over on the Sun Belt board this afternoon ...

Georgia Southern will follow App to Sunbelt
just got word that Georgia Southern will be invited. NMSU is on the short list with Liberty. Liberty is not getting a lot of support from the presidents though. I would like to be the first to say welcome aboard to App St and Georgia Southern.

No surprise here really other than the fact that somebody from Arkansas State is acknowledging that we are battling NM State for that final spot should WKU finally be invited up to CUSA following Tulsa to America 12.

I like our odds head-to-head if we can get these college presidents to set aside their animosity towards us long enough to look at the facts. With App State in the fold, we would be much closer to the Sun Belt's footprint than Las Cruces.

It should be noted that Benson had a news conference at 5pm CT and didn't touch the future membership situation.

[LUconn]

ha, that thread is a funny read. I think we wore them down to where they reluctantly accept us as a potential conference member. Except for that one guy of course.

[LUconn]

also funny that one guy said he looked on this site and didn't see any talk about conference realignment. Must have missed the 93 page thread.

[BJWilliams]

Sly you want to educate said misinformed poster?

[SumItUp]

Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson had a Q&A session with the press on Saturday evening. This followed a meeting of the league presidents where league expansion was discussed.

-Currently, the league has 8 football members and 10 other sports members.
-Last year, the league decided to add three schools (Texas State, Georgia State & Texas-Arlington) to go to a 10 football / 12 other sports model. Since that time, Florida Atlantic & Middle Tennessee State have accepted an offer to move to Conference USA.
-Since last year, there is new talk about going to 12 football teams with a conference championship game due to the new football playoff and financial payoff based on a conference's competitiveness. Benson seems to want to go to 12. Only the Big 12 and the Sun Belt have not committed to having a CCG at this time.
-Approximately 20 teams have been discussed in regards to expansion. Current FBS members New Mexico State & Idaho were the only ones mentioned by name.

Video link
http://www.kait8.com/category/240189/vi ... start=true

My thoughts on the Sun Belt expansion not mentioned in the press conference
-Western Kentucky has been rumored to be the next school to go to Conference USA. Conference USA could have an opening if Tulsa moves to the former Big East. This could be announced in the next few weeks or could happen a year from now in time to transition for the 2015 season. If WKU leaves the Sun Belt, there would only be 7 remaining football schools.
-There appears to be disagreement with the schools as to which direction to expand. Some want to move eastward and some want to move westward. Those that want to move westward are reluctant to add current Southland Conference members (Lamar, Sam Houston State).
-With the new football payout system in place, weak football programs will negatively impact a conference. This creates a caution flag for adding New Mexico State and Idaho.
-Appalachian State & Georgia Southern seem to be obvious picks for the conference due to commitment to football and keeping a relatively close footprint.
-Liberty is definitely in the conversation. With our commitment to athletics & facilities, we are a top candidate. Geographically, we would stretch the conference further east, but we are more prepared to move now (funding of athletic staffs & scholarships, APR, Title IX) than any other candidate.
-If the Sun Belt decides to go to 12 this year and WKU announces they are leaving for Conference USA, I believe Liberty will definitely receive an invitation.

[Sly Fox]

Nice summary. Most of the chatter indicates that some type of decision from the Sun Belt could come by or at their presidents meeting in May. That allows FCS teams to have their paperwork into the NCAA on time for the move up. There is speculation that presidents could go on investigative trips to each of the candidates. That would help our cause tremendously to get them on our campus and see not only our athletic facilities but also the library & medical school construction.

As mentioned above, the America 12 selecting their final member is the driving force in pushing the process along. Tulsa appears to be a shoe-in based on numerous media reports. That would open up at least one more slot for C-USA and it is widely speculated that Western Kentucky is as good as gone. It is WKU's departure that would essentially force the Sun Belt presidents to add at least 3 schools and possibly a 4th. With App State & Georgia Southern the obvious candidates now that the latter has their finances in order, we really could use some attitudes changing to help us slide into the 3rd slot. If they were to add four, as SumItUp mentioned than we would be all but assured to be in the house.

Of course, if the league simply adds two in App State & Georgia Southern in this next round, we would then have two eastern allies to help in the voting process for us to be selected over New Mexico State or either Lamar or Sam Houston State.

[SumItUp]

Most of the chatter indicates that some type of decision from the Sun Belt could come by or at their presidents meeting in May.

Benson says we should know in 30 days if they are going to 10 or 12.

[

Right now we are looking at our potential pool of members that we feel have great value. I told all of our members after Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic departed that we want to keep the same goals that we established a year ago. We want to create two geographic divisions and make sure there's at least 10 football schools while considering the option of 12.

Our meeting today focused on our goals and re-established what we have called the "10-12 Model" where we have 10 football schools and 12 overall. We also want to make sure that the schools in our league make sense geographically and are regionally aligned. Within the next 30 days I expect us to be able to be in a position to announce what the new structure is going to be. If we wanted to add teams right now, we could do that this afternoon.

[Kricket]

Hopefully sliding into the tourney bounces us up a little bit in perception as far as basketball goes.

[Sly Fox]

It didn't hurt our cause. And a little help from the ladies this afternoon and baseball the rest of the spring would be key. The Sun Belt recognizes the value of quality of a quality baseball program more than most.