[TH Spangler]

It sounds like the offer will come from the Sun Belt .... but the post about C-USA having a big surprise coming ... made me think about what my ECU friend and big ECU donor said a few months ago.... He's a former player from JB, ECU time frame. He said he heard C-USA for LU?

[flameshaw]

What i see spans a whole lot more than athletics at liberty. I REALLY don't want to get into a changing culture discussion but after sitting on the AGS and CSNBBS boards for the past few days I have come to realize just how much our stance as an institution hurts us in the athletics and academic worlds more than i suspected. I would'nt trade where we stand as a school (christian faith values,etc) for an invite to the SEC much less the Sun Belt but i do think it is going to get us passed over. I hope i'm wrong. I will gladly eat crow if we make it. my faith in humanity, not my savior, is a little shaken.

I'm with FFG, and that is what I have been saying all along,

No on wants us not because we're Christian, our values, and beliefs. It has been our past statements , actions, and our low academic profile. Believe it or not, it's true, it's clear to everyone else but some people are finally having that realization within LU. It has rubbed people the wrong way to put it lightly people do not have have short memories. That's what I holding us back. It's one thin for people to respect us, or even like us, but we are not even tolerated, because we are viewed by others as intolerant. Say what you will, by perception I reality.

If we get called by the SBC, it just to 12 members with the impending departure of WKU. If we don't get the call, we shouldn't wonder why we were on outside of the looking glass. I will gladly eat crow as well and happy for my alma mater, if we don't, it will suck, and we might ever get the FBS call.

Hitting the sauce a little early today?

[FlamesBeBallin]

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... additions/

Idaho, NMSU next up as Sun Belt additions

Yesterday brought multiple reports that Appalachian State and Georgia Southern will be shedding their FCS labels for Sun Belt membership, with speculation shifting to when a pair of erstwhile WAC members would jump to the same conference.

[LUaddict]

Hitting the sauce a little early today?

I hit sauce versus the kool-aid that some members like to chug.

(Sarcasm)

[jinxy]

It is certainly discouraging to be on the outside looking in. Remember docs most famous sermon when he said a mans greatness is measured by what it takes to make him quit. Look around at the hand of God at libertys growth and impact. It wasnt all in on our timing, its taken a while

[NotAJerry]

Negative? The SBC just filled the last two spots. Maybe I have mad math skills, I don't know.

Numbers don't lie.

Tulsa to nBE, WKU to CUSA, Liberty to Sun Belt. You're right, numbers don't lie.

[rmiller1959]

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... additions/

Idaho, NMSU next up as Sun Belt additions

Yesterday brought multiple reports that Appalachian State and Georgia Southern will be shedding their FCS labels for Sun Belt membership, with speculation shifting to when a pair of erstwhile WAC members would jump to the same conference.

One key question has been answered with these recent moves. The Sun Belt wants 12 football-playing members so they can have a conference championship. That means any moves that occur in the future increase the odds of Liberty getting a bid.

We already know that Tulsa is a prime target for The Conference Formerly Known As The Big East:

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootbal ... a-new-name

And Western Kentucky is slotted to replace Tulsa once they pull the trigger:

"But I'm certain Western Kentucky will do its best. And, yes, that is who will replace Tulsa. The Hilltoppers want to join Conference USA and league officials have confirmed WKU will be invited."

Read more: http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x ... e-in-C-USA

So the question is: who is most competitive for that coveted 12th slot in the Sun Belt?

And just to stir the pot a bit more, if the ACC, Big Ten, or Big 12 decide they're not done with expansion, they could make moves that trigger another domino effect. Florida State says they continue to look at the landscape and discuss realignment, and a persistent rumor has them and a friend (Clemson? Georgia Tech?) leaving the ACC for the Big 12.

http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-football ... -best-fit/

I'm an optimist, and it's too soon, in my opinion, to declare our chances dead.

[Purple Haize]

When do the Tulsa / fBE / WKU / CUSA dominoes fall? How sure are we that Liberty would be next in line? Sly, where are your contacts?

Logic - every time I see your posts I think of the dog in the beggin' strips commercials. :I chortle audibly.:

As JBock would say. That's phat!

[phoenix]

The Sun Belt is quickly becoming the Big South of FBS, it seems to me.

[NotAJerry]

Let's not forget the role of the UMD lawsuit against the ACC in all of this. If that goes in favor of Maryland then that likely opens the door for the next B1G and Big 12 expansions with UVA, UNC, Georgia Tech, Clemson and Florida State all in the mix to be poached. They'll then have to fill in to at least 12 spots which would move 3 more teams up and create a domino effect for new positions opening at the bottom of the ladder which would make a Liberty invite even more likely.

Then you've got a conference like the MAC. If I'm a head honcho there, I'm doing everything I can to sway WKU away from the new CUSA while pushing to bring in JMU and Delaware. If they can't convince WKU, I would think we'd be high on their radar as well.

There's still a lot left to be done folks. Once the ruling comes down in the UMD vs ACC case, we'll know a lot more about how fluid things are going to remain, but by then we may already be in the Sun Belt.

[flamesfilmguy]

the more and more i talk to people and the more i read, the more i feel like we are being left out. do I have faith that our founders vision will eventually come to fruition? of course. this is a BHAG. it can happen and if its God's will then will happen. My worry is its not going to be this round. or even the next. and I'm an impatient person. haha

[NotAJerry]

The Sun Belt is quickly becoming the Big South of FBS, it seems to me.

Nah. ULL, Arkansas State, and Troy are all very solid programs. Georgia State and Texas State both have big potential. Appalachian State and Georgia Southern are about as well run as FCS programs can be so they should transition well. The Sun Belt should be fairly competitive with the MAC and CUSA still.

[Liberty22]

the more and more i talk to people and the more i read, the more i feel like we are being left out. do I have faith that our founders vision will eventually come to fruition? of course. this is a BHAG. it can happen and if its God's will then will happen. My worry is its not going to be this round. or even the next. and I'm an impatient person. haha

You...impatient....nooooooooo

[jbock13]

I keep hearing IF, IF, IF, which is the same things we heard two years ago.

[Liberty22]

I keep hearing IF, IF, IF, which is the same things we heard two years ago.

Ask app how they felt for 10 years.. they got the nod, I can assure you it won't take us that long. We are next folks, there is simply no one else right now that app and gaso are gone

[4everfsu]

I keep hearing IF, IF, IF, which is the same things we heard two years ago.

Ask app how they felt for 10 years.. they got the nod, I can assure you it won't take us that long. We are next folks, there is simply no one else right now that app and gaso are gone

You mean ask them how they felt 2 to 3 years ago, they did not do their study to move up until 2010/2011

[Humble_Opinion]

What i see spans a whole lot more than athletics at liberty. I REALLY don't want to get into a changing culture discussion but after sitting on the AGS and CSNBBS boards for the past few days I have come to realize just how much our stance as an institution hurts us in the athletics and academic worlds more than i suspected. I would'nt trade where we stand as a school (christian faith values,etc) for an invite to the SEC much less the Sun Belt but i do think it is going to get us passed over. I hope i'm wrong. I will gladly eat crow if we make it. my faith in humanity, not my savior, is a little shaken.

I understand this. Don't pay much attention to the CSNBBS boards. Yes - there are a handful of people over there that speak loudly, but most everyone are neutral on the topic of LU joining. These people are the ones we need to focus on convincing. Let these guys that spew hate hang themselves with their words. Sly does a pretty good job of that. I guess my point is, in keeping with what I said earlier and what Tally stated in even better terms... we've come so far as an institution and we are finally fulfilling the vision of LU in a real way. So... it's only a matter of time before you have to eat crow

Negative? The SBC just filled the last two spots. Maybe I have mad math skills, I don't know. The fact is Bensons is willing to take on a member that according to Flames_Nations has the following data:

There are other factors at play. Idaho had one thing going for them that we didn't. They're FBS already, so there's no transition needed really. Don't forget that the SBC is moving lots of FCS programs up. In order for us to be considered, they need another FULL member to leave, which is WKU. It's going to happen. Every other viable program at this point has been taken. Others that have been mentioned - simply aren't ready.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I jsut want to state one important thing for the edification of those who obviously either don't remember or never heard. When JB and JFLJR held that FBSREADY presser, the purpose was to state that LU wanted to move UP to FBS. There was no option B of move sideways to the SOCON or CAA. The goal is to move up, and we will, so let's stop the CAA and SOCON nonsense please. Thanks, and go back to your chicken little rantings!

[Kolzilla41]

I didn't say it will never happen. I do not see us getting in anytime soon. To those of you calling reasonable minds "Chicken Little", play the lottery. I'm sure you're bound to hit the jackpot eventually, right?

[NotAJerry]

I jsut want to state one important thing for the edification of those who obviously either don't remember or never heard. When JB and JFLJR held that FBSREADY presser, the purpose was to state that LU wanted to move UP to FBS. There was no option B of move sideways to the SOCON or CAA. The goal is to move up, and we will, so let's stop the CAA and SOCON nonsense please. Thanks, and go back to your chicken little rantings!

Agreed except that CAA and SoCon aren't sideways moves. The Big South barely exists. Even if the FBS call doesn't happen, the Big South needs to be left in the dust.

[NotAJerry]

I didn't say it will never happen. I do not see us getting in anytime soon. To those of you calling reasonable minds "Chicken Little", play the lottery. I'm sure you're bound to hit the jackpot eventually, right?

The lottery is chance. Tulsa and WKU moving are leaked by the folks who have been right on more things than not in recent conference moves and we're the only truly viable option left to replace WKU. That's not chance.

[Kolzilla41]

I didn't say it will never happen. I do not see us getting in anytime soon. To those of you calling reasonable minds "Chicken Little", play the lottery. I'm sure you're bound to hit the jackpot eventually, right?

The lottery is chance. Tulsa and WKU moving are leaked by the folks who have been right on more things than not in recent conference moves and we're the only truly viable option left to replace WKU. That's not chance.

Just because there is an open spot, doesn't mean we fit. Go back to my post about Idaho. Look at their resume. They chose Idaho over Liberty. If you can't see the light go off, I can't help that.

[LUconn]

Moving up is an inevitability. It may take years or it may be next week. The only circumstances I'm remotely worried about is a case where we're moving up to FBS tier-II where the big boys have essentially created a championship amongst themselves.

[Humble_Opinion]

Just because there is an open spot, doesn't mean we fit. Go back to my post about Idaho. Look at their resume. They chose Idaho over Liberty. If you can't see the light go off, I can't help that

You're missing the point bob. SBC saw an opportunity to snag to CURRENT FBS members for football to bring their conference membership to 12 so they could host a championship in football. So they jumped on it. It wasn't a matter of them choosing Idaho and NMSU over us necessarily. I've been reading the rumors regarding the nBE, which is currently at 11 members for football (I think). Once they finally get a name, they will likely move on Tulsa. They aren't going to stay at '11'. That domino falling represents the best chance to date of us getting an invite. At some point, one of these opportunities will come through for us. Whether you, or anyone else wants to be optimistic or pessimistic about that eventuality doesn't really matter.

[jcrew4]

What i see spans a whole lot more than athletics at liberty. I REALLY don't want to get into a changing culture discussion but after sitting on the AGS and CSNBBS boards for the past few days I have come to realize just how much our stance as an institution hurts us in the athletics and academic worlds more than i suspected. I would'nt trade where we stand as a school (christian faith values,etc) for an invite to the SEC much less the Sun Belt but i do think it is going to get us passed over. I hope i'm wrong. I will gladly eat crow if we make it. my faith in humanity, not my savior, is a little shaken.

I'm with FFG, and that is what I have been saying all along,

No on wants us not because we're Christian, our values, and beliefs. It has been our past statements , actions, and our low academic profile. Believe it or not, it's true, it's clear to everyone else but some people are finally having that realization within LU. It has rubbed people the wrong way to put it lightly people do not have have short memories. That's what I holding us back. It's one thin for people to respect us, or even like us, but we are not even tolerated, because we are viewed by others as intolerant. Say what you will, by perception I reality.

If we get called by the SBC, it just to 12 members with the impending departure of WKU. If we don't get the call, we shouldn't wonder why we were on outside of the looking glass. I will gladly eat crow as well and happy for my alma mater, if we don't, it will suck, and we might ever get the FBS call.

Hitting the sauce a little early today?

See, Catholic 7 potential here!!! We can do this. Catholic 7 plus the Baptist Conference.