[Humble_Opinion]

I knew that was coming. They have zero. But they are three large, public, state institutions will fully accredited programs. Usually those are a lot more attractive than...well you get it.

Let's see.... Large? Last time I checked LU was the LARGEST school by enrollment in the state and I believe Top 10 in the country? Public, No. Fully-accredited? Yeah... we are. ABET, ABA, CCNE, NCATE, and most importantly SACS. Sure, we aren't AACSB, but we will have an accreditation forthcoming for the School of Business.

Their hate for us centers around decades old quotes, some taken out of context, by our founder. They also don't like the fact that we offer a course called 'Creation Studies'. And for some reason they think we are racists? Not sure on the origin of that rumor. But yeah, that's essentially what drives their views towards us.

[TH Spangler]

Could highly paid public school facility see successful private Christian schools, home schoolers and distance learning as a threat to their lively hood? I see it as innovative or progressive .... I thought that's what they were, progressive? We live in strange times ....

[Liberty22]

This is from a JMU poster referring to JMU beat writer and his conversations with admin

Now he's claiming there's a next to no chance of JMU going to the sun belt. MAC is more likely he says.

[jbock13]

It really depends. Yes, we've had many people who represent us say very stupid things. But let's say we believe in Biblical marriage, and thus we don't be believe in gay marriage. What have we become to academia?

Backward ignorant biggots who don't believe in human rights.

And it doesn't matter if a person truly hates gays, or stresses the love, compassion, and forgiveness of Christ to all people including those who are gay. It doesn't matter to them. We will never become as "progressive and enlightened" as they, unless we compromise our faith.

As for the politics, I agree with you ballah.

[TH Spangler]

Have been hoping Liberty, JMU and App State ended up together. Would have been fun.

[ballah09]

Liberty can stop with the politics and still be Liberty. Just like BYU will always be BYU. Doesn't make it not Christian or conservative anymore.

thing is majority of christians don't believe in gay marriage jbock. go to baylor or byu and interview the students and faculty i bet 70-80% will disagree with it just like Liberty. ask them if it's a liberal school, all them will tell you it's conservative. I don't see how it has to involve academics. how lu likes to make it sometimes, it's personal and again should belong outside on a personal time. just like both those schools handle it.

i'm not for censoring either. other schools has professors that say stupid things (see fau) but sometimes lu needs to watch some of them and distance themselves if they're not going to fire them. when you have guys like this employed
https://twitter.com/jmattbarber or staver

not going to help you. esp when the media like the huffingtonpost treat him like a schools spokesman.

[PatrickKelly]

I agree ballah09. Matt Barber is not helpful to Liberty's cause. He is constantly making comments just to tick the other side off. I question if Liberty should be associated with him. He's extreme.

[LUaddict]

Liberty can stop with the politics and still be Liberty. Just like BYU will always be BYU. Doesn't make it not Christian or conservative anymore.

thing is majority of christians don't believe in gay marriage jbock. go to baylor or byu and interview the students and faculty i bet 70-80% will disagree with it just like Liberty. ask them if it's a liberal school, all them will tell you it's conservative. I don't see how it has to involve academics. how lu likes to make it sometimes, it's personal and again should belong outside on a personal time. just like both those schools handle it.

i'm not for censoring either. other schools has professors that say stupid things (see fau) but sometimes lu needs to watch some of them and distance themselves if they're not going to fire them. when you have guys like this employed
https://twitter.com/jmattbarber or staver

not going to help you. esp when the media like the huffingtonpost treat him like a schools spokesman.

I cannot agree with this statement anymore, if we were able to go in this direction, more people would not feel like we are an institution of hate and intolerence. Here here!

[PatrickKelly]

So if JMU is not interested in the SB that would leave LU, Jack St. Lamar, and SHSU. I never really bought the JMU to the SB story. JMU thinks a little to highly of themselves to join a bunch of Cajans and Mountain folk in a conference. One thing for sure. If we don't get an invite from the SB we need to bolt from the Big South as soon as possible. Nothing good is going to come from staying in the Big South. Does it help to play Charleston Southern and Presby schools of the world? I think not.

[LUaddict]

So if JMU is not interested in the SB that would leave LU, Jack St. Lamar, and SHSU. I never really bought the JMU to the SB story. JMU thinks a little to highly of themselves to join a bunch of Cajans and Mountain folk in a conference. One thing for sure. If we don't get an invite from the SB we need to bolt from the Big South as soon as possible. Nothing good is going to come from staying in the Big South. Does it help to play Charleston Southern and Presby schools of the world? I think not.

Most of the schools that you mentioned will get blocked, are not ready to move up, or will have a hard time coming up with resources to move up. I hope that we get the call if the schools agree that we bring value to the conference and competitive sports.

[flameshaw]

I believe u guys r making too big of a thing about the politics. If these schools are as tolerant as they preach, they would certainly respect our beliefs. However, since we know they are hypocritical, they will only talk the talk. Those who call us racist are just like those who say that the Republicans only care about the rich. It is something they say with zero concerns for the truth or facts. It has gotten to the point that you can write their silly arguments for them. Christ was perfect, never hurt anyone and he was killed by the crowd that really knew nothing about him.
I suspect our time will come. I would rather have us shut down the athletic department than to become just another Christian University in name only, to become a part of a group. I am not a hard core guy, I am speaking of the important things, not keeping every jot or tittle of the Liberty Way. We are light years ahead of when I drove into Lynchburg in 1972. I suspect we will take another huge leap forward in the next 40 years as well. Maybe we are trying to be taught some patience. .
Back to the regularly scheduled programming.

[adam42381]

i'm not for censoring either. other schools has professors that say stupid things (see fau) but sometimes lu needs to watch some of them and distance themselves if they're not going to fire them. when you have guys like this employed
https://twitter.com/jmattbarber or staver

not going to help you. esp when the media like the huffingtonpost treat him like a schools spokesman.

His twitter feed alone would keep some schools from associating with Liberty. He comes off like a raving lunatic.

[jimflamesfan]

I still hope the Sunbelt is interested.

As far as the politics, I believe Liberty can remain a conservative evangelical Christian school. I don't even think it's that big of a deal to have political figures speak at commencement...all kinds of colleges do that. However, it needs to separate itself from entities that send out emails saying they support Westboro Baptist's right to assemble (i.e. Liberty Counsel...it is sortof ironic because Westboro Baptist even picketed Thomas Road before...). I think Liberty Counsel sends out a lot of unnecessary emails in an attempt to get donations...but in the end it cheapens the image of the entire school. Just move Liberty Counsel into offices away from the school, change the name to something that doesn't have Liberty in it, and let them operate their own stuff...keep it separate from the college and law school.

Everything else could basically remain the same. I remember when Frank Page was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention...he said that we need more people with a sweet spirit...in other words, he said, there were many people that believed the right things, but they seemed mad about it...you can still believe the right things and present them in a compassionate way.

I think Jonathan at Thomas Road, & Jerry Jr. at LU have done a great job at this. Holding to the Conservative Christian convictions, while at the same time not being mean about it. Speaking the truth in love, in a way.

But some people will always think we're intolerant, and there's nothing we can do about that. It is true that many people on the left in academia are actually hippocrites...they act like they're all for diversity, but the last thing they want to do is be associated with someone different than them.

It's funny that people will complain that Liberty can't be accepted because it's founder made "controversial remarks about gay people"...while at the same time they're gun-ho over James Madison University...a school named after a president THAT OWNED SLAVES!!

I'm just saying...maybe they should make JMU change their name before they join...I mean, William and Mary lost a feather...

[jimflamesfan]

However, I do think there comes a point where if it feels like LU's not going to be picked by an FBS conference, LU still needs to look at the options.

Kathy Truett, the founder of Chickfila, when they were experiencing their first competition from Boston Market...he brought in his high level advisors...all of them were talking about how Chickfila could borrow money and get bigger and bigger...that's what Boston Market was doing.

Kathy Truett, he pounded his fist on the table and said, "Who is going to tell me how we can get better. If we get better, the public will demand we get bigger."

I think the same can be said in sports for LU. If the presidents of the SunBelt are bent on not giving LU a fair shake...LU has to look at our options for getting better...this may be a 10 year project.

I think the CAA would be a major step up...just compare the stadium sizes CAA vs. Big South

Big South:
VMI: 10,000
Presby: 6,500
Coastal: 6,500
Chuck South: 4,000
Gardner Webb: 8,500

CAA:
Maine: 10,000
New Hampshire: 8,000
Delaware: 22,000
Towson: 11,000
Stoney Brook: 8,200
Rhode Island: 5,180
William & Mary: 12,300
Albany 8,500

Also geographic area...the CAA stretches from Boston, MA to Wilmington, NC.
The Big South stretches from Lexington VA to Charleston Southern, SC.

Then their's enrollment #s...I imagen it's not even close in terms # of on campus resident students at the CAA schools compared to the Big South...

The CAA would definately be a step up in terms of exposure and publicity...and at some point, if LU realizes that Conf. USA & the Sunbelt don't want us right now...they still need to take the oppertunity to make the most out of this relalignment shuffle to better themselves...When LU gets better, people will demand LU get bigger.

[NotAJerry]

To say JMU didn't have any aspirations to move up I think is a mistake. Sure, they weren't as public about it as we were, but I'm sure they've been building their program with a move-up in mind. Recent events just changed the time frame of their move-up.

And I think he was framing the "for us/against us" line towards the LU faithful and not necessarily those decision makers outside of LU. At least that's how I took it...

JMU expanded their stadium specifically to prepare for FBS. They've been pursuing MAC membership. I'm not sure how anyone thought otherwise. Here's the direct quote from their AD from Sept 2011 saying they were aiming for the move up and thought it could happen in 18-24 months, which has already been discussed here:

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/ ... =4&t=26185

[NotAJerry]

Liberty can stop with the politics and still be Liberty. Just like BYU will always be BYU. Doesn't make it not Christian or conservative anymore.

thing is majority of christians don't believe in gay marriage jbock. go to baylor or byu and interview the students and faculty i bet 70-80% will disagree with it just like Liberty. ask them if it's a liberal school, all them will tell you it's conservative. I don't see how it has to involve academics. how lu likes to make it sometimes, it's personal and again should belong outside on a personal time. just like both those schools handle it.

i'm not for censoring either. other schools has professors that say stupid things (see fau) but sometimes lu needs to watch some of them and distance themselves if they're not going to fire them. when you have guys like this employed
https://twitter.com/jmattbarber or staver

not going to help you. esp when the media like the huffingtonpost treat him like a schools spokesman.

Very well said. I'd go even farther and say that we need to stop equating politically conservative with biblical.

[flamesfilmguy]

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/03/2 ... onference/

Looks like we need to abandon the Big south's sinking ship. KK is going to have his hands full. Coastal is almost a lock for the socon now IMO. they add 5- Mercer/KSU ETSU/VMI and Coastal. that leaves Liberty in a precarious position. Time to call up Yeager and beg. CAA PLEEEEASE?

Welcome to the Real Darkside :

[bluedevilflame]

Liberty can stop with the politics and still be Liberty. Just like BYU will always be BYU. Doesn't make it not Christian or conservative anymore.

thing is majority of christians don't believe in gay marriage jbock. go to baylor or byu and interview the students and faculty i bet 70-80% will disagree with it just like Liberty. ask them if it's a liberal school, all them will tell you it's conservative. I don't see how it has to involve academics. how lu likes to make it sometimes, it's personal and again should belong outside on a personal time. just like both those schools handle it.

i'm not for censoring either. other schools has professors that say stupid things (see fau) but sometimes lu needs to watch some of them and distance themselves if they're not going to fire them. when you have guys like this employed
https://twitter.com/jmattbarber or staver

not going to help you. esp when the media like the huffingtonpost treat him like a schools spokesman.

Here here!
It'd be a beautiful thing if the council took Liberty out of their name. We all know the association with that group but the outside does not and until they have another name, LU will always be drug through the mud when they something crazy.

[bluedevilflame]

http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2013/03/2 ... onference/

Looks like we need to abandon the Big south's sinking ship. KK is going to have his hands full. Coastal is almost a lock for the socon now IMO. they add 5- Mercer/KSU ETSU/VMI and Coastal. that leaves Liberty in a precarious position. Time to call up Yeager and beg. CAA PLEEEEASE?

Welcome to the Real Darkside :

We are screwed if we stand pat in the Big South, I hope we make an FCS move if FBS isn't in the cards. It's disheartening when there are NO real rumors or smoke around our name.

[Liberty22]

I really hope for the SunBelt now, more than I did with the original lineup. Yea it might be more former FCS schools, but playing consistently with App, and GaSo, specifically, not to mention Troy, etc. Will be an awesome regional league. I could be happy with that for a long time. I bet we could help build up the SunBelt brand with the schools going in.

[flamesfilmguy]

22- love your enthusiasm man but it ain't looking good. we need to grovel at yeagers feet if we don't want to wind up in the Big south. we will be in DEEP trouble without an AQ

also just a word of advice, stay away from the CSNBBS boards for awhile. you aren't exactly giving a good impression.

[Liberty22]

22- love your enthusiasm man but it ain't looking good. we need to grovel at yeagers feet if we don't want to wind up in the Big south. we will be in DEEP trouble without an AQ

also just a word of advice, stay away from the CSNBBS boards for awhile. you aren't exactly giving a good impression.

Actually, you are way wrong on this. I have gotten multiple private messages from moderators and regulars, all of which have been positive. One moderator even asked me to be the Liberty Insider when we get an invitation. I don't think I want that, maybe Sly would want to do that.

[flamesfilmguy]

Trust me I've read your comments on your rep points. Most of those are lurkers. I'm all for standing up for our school and what we believe in but I'm not for pushing peoples buttons to get a reaction in the process. but to each his own I guess.

[Liberty22]

Trust me, im doing just fine. Just cause you disagree with my good natured rib at the Texas St. cat for complaining about being in a conference full of startups when he himself is a start up, does not mean im doing bad. You see the irony in that guys post right? When moderators are telling me to be an insider and that they enjoy my posts, i think im doing alright...

[flamesfilmguy]

Trust me, im doing just fine. Just cause you disagree with my good natured rib at the Texas St. cat for complaining about being in a conference full of startups when he himself is a start up, does not mean im doing bad. You see the irony in that guys post right? When moderators are telling me to be an insider and that they enjoy my posts, i think im doing alright...

Like I said to each his own. I guess i'm a little older fashion when it comes to message boards. I tend to try to avoid pissing matches at all costs. If I'm a nice guy who doesn't rib much and takes ribbing lightly then they tend to be a little more accepting. but hey keep doin your thing man.