[JLFJR]

Fox News said it was today. Oh well.

[Purple Haize]

Fox News said it was today. Oh well.

I though maybe your dad delayed the release date in Lynchburg

[TH Spangler]

JB... I hope you didn't construe my comments about Carson as an endorsement for president.

Not you. Spangler. The only reason he wants Carson to be president is because he's the flavor of the month, and, dare I say it, the Herman Cain effect. I know it's rude, but it's true.

But I do like Herman Cain. Just not for president.

JB you don't know me, at all? ..... So what are you basing that on? Your commit says more about you than me?

I'm a NC registered independent. Carson is the only ligament Independent considering a run. He's smart, has a lot of common sense, humble .... he's in the middle on most issues. I like what he has to say. I like him a lot more than Herman. I'm not crazy about any of the Rep's. Rand is the only one that comes close.

[Liberty22]

Can I just say, that I absolutely love Liberty and the fact that JLFJR takes the time to write and address the concerns on our message boards! Thank you.

[rjhenz]

Can I just say, that I absolutely love Liberty and the fact that JLFJR takes the time to write and address the concerns on our message boards! Thank you.

+1

[SuperJon]

Jr has spoken. He knows more than all of us combined. Can we kill this thread now?

[adam42381]

Thanks for the response, Chancellor. It was well stated. And I wasn't thinking about the 50th anniversary of the album, it was just the first thing I thought of when I heard the term dark side. Solid album, though not my favorite from them.

[LUalumfromnc]

Most people are forced to go to Liberty. Some are Christians as well, but not crazy Christians.

Uhhh what?

Lots of people who go to LU are either PK's (Preacher Kids) or this is the only place where parents will pay for all or some of their child's schooling and if they do not go here then they will have to pay all of it on their own. I was forced to go to LU (I am not a PK) and I wanted to go to ECU.

[LUalumfromnc]

Who cares about Matt Barber? The only time I ever hear about this guy is when it comes to whiners whining about athletic conferences. He appears to be a loud guy with little tact. How many stupid stories to we read about every day about some idiot professes at State U making his class do some dumb thing that we get all outraged at? Yet they never seem to come up in conference realignment talk. I wonder why? Because it has nothing to do with athletics.

LUconn, you hit the nail on the head. Universities are supposed to be about the free expression of ideas. That's why you hear and see so many nutty left wing ideas from professors at secular universities. Nobody ever assumes that the professors' personal opinions are the official position of the university.

I am glad we have diverse viewpoints being expressed on the conservative sides of these issues from Matt Barber, Stuart Schwartz, Karen Prior and others. I would be disappointed if all our faculty and staff were in lock step on every issue but anyone with average intelligence knows that our people speak for themselves, not officially for the university. I think it is amusing that our critics have to go back a dozen years to find a statement by LU's top leadership to support their argument that Liberty is a bigoted school -- and they always ignore the fact that Dad apologized for that statement.

As a Christian university, Liberty hires only Christian professors who affirm the university's doctrinal statement. Beyond that, our faculty and staff have complete academic freedom. Liberty has no official position on party politics. Most of our students, faculty and staff are conservatives just like most of Harvard's students, faculty and staff are liberals. That doesn't mean Liberty is officially Republican or that Harvard is officially a Democratic school.

When the law school applied for ABA accreditation, many argued that, because Liberty's leadership over the years have been outspoken conservatives on theological and political issues, we would have difficulty because the ABA is so liberal. Just the opposite happened. The law school was accredited in record time. People in leadership at the ABA and in these athletic conferences don't base their decisions on whether or not they like a school's political or religious leanings. They are more professional than that and they like diversity. Liberty definitely provides them with that! As it turned out, the things that so many said would be negatives with the ABA actually helped Liberty in the accreditation process.

I believe Liberty is prospering, not only because our academic programs, facilities and athletics are continuing to improve, but because of our distinctiveness as a Christian university -- including our faculty's and staff's conservatism on theological and poltical issues, our code of conduct, our convocation services, and student missions trips. The world is full of liberal secular universities and the last thing it needs is another one. I believe the worst thing Liberty could ever do is try to hide who we are or what we believe.

Our distinctiveness as a conservative, Christian university will ultimately be what gets us invited to the FBS and that is what will attract many fans and players to Liberty once we get to FBS. I even had a billionaire in New York (not Donald Trump) tell me at a Hanukkah Party late last year that he believes Liberty's business model along with its unique blend of online and residential delivery and faith-based instruction will ultimately revolutionize higher education in this country.

4everfsu is right. Liberty will move to the FBS when the time is right. When we first announced our intentions, I told all the CEOs in the Big South that we might get an invitation to a FBS conference in 10 days and we might not get one for 10 years. I believe it will happen soon but, either way, everybody just needs to relax and enjoy all the great things that are happening at Liberty now!
And, Adam and PH, did you know today is the 40th anniversary of the release of the Dark Side of the Moon album or was it a coincidence that you posted the album cover today?

Are you, Jeff Barber, and other people for LU trying to sway the votes against us by some Sun Belt presidents because of our beliefs and political affiliation? They need to hear the positives about our university and not just what was said in the past.

[jbock13]

Of course he can't answer that question publically... Duh. In negations you don't talk about the person you're making a deal with. You may not be aware of this.

[TH Spangler]

Jr has spoken. He knows more than all of us combined. Can we kill this thread now?

Some light for the dark side ... Thx you JFJR This thread makes me crazy ... ... If the FBS move takes 10 year there will be a 1000 pages of it ....

[LUGrad2000]

Can I just say, that I absolutely love Liberty and the fact that JLFJR takes the time to write and address the concerns on our message boards! Thank you.

+1

And a two.
Takes me back to the time when Jerry tried to run me over with his Suburban!

[01LUGrad]

Can I just say, that I absolutely love Liberty and the fact that JLFJR takes the time to write and address the concerns on our message boards! Thank you.

+1

And a two.
Takes me back to the time when Jerry tried to run me over with his Suburban!

That only happened to you one time?? He repeatedly tried to wipe out the entire distance portion of the track team while we warmed up on University Blvd. Avoiding the moving vehicle was actually good cross training for us.

[ATrain]

I got my revenge on the black suburban in a snowstorm. At a stop sign, and lobbed a snowball from the Hill and landed squarely in the middle on the driver's side of the windshield. Got Jerry himself later that afternoon.

[LUGrad2000]

I miss him.
The next generation og LU students will never have the connection to Jerry that we do.

[Liberty22]

AppFan.com ‏@AppFanBlog 1h
Sun Belt did in fact contact a third SoCon school to gauge interest in joining http://www.appfans.com/2013/03/29/sun-b ... s-respond/ …

I may have just fallen onto 'the dark side'.... Sunbelt has been contacting schools that aren't ready or even considered moving just to avoid adding us...

[Purple Haize]

AppFan.com ‏@AppFanBlog 1h
Sun Belt did in fact contact a third SoCon school to gauge interest in joining http://www.appfans.com/2013/03/29/sun-b ... s-respond/ …

I may have just fallen onto 'the dark side'.... Sunbelt has been contacting schools that aren't ready or even considered moving just to avoid adding us...

Welcome. Give in to your feelings.

[PatrickKelly]

UT Chattanooga was contacted a few months ago to gauge interest in a possible move up. They have no aspirations to move up as they have serious budget issues. I appreciate Jerry Jr making a comment on our board and I appreciate even more his steadfastness in this process. It surely doesn't sound like he's in panic mode as some of are.

I believe the Sunbelt is likely a no go for us. Just put two plus two together. Te outside the footprint doesn't hold water with the Idaho addition. The interest in JMU also negates those thoughts. So be it. We just need to keep positioning ourselves in the best possible situation. That's all we have control of.

[PatrickKelly]

I would like to know the pres. that are against us joining.

[4everfsu]

I miss him.
The next generation og LU students will never have the connection to Jerry that we do.

They got the next best thing, his son, Jerry Jr.

[4everfsu]

Who cares about Matt Barber? The only time I ever hear about this guy is when it comes to whiners whining about athletic conferences. He appears to be a loud guy with little tact. How many stupid stories to we read about every day about some idiot professes at State U making his class do some dumb thing that we get all outraged at? Yet they never seem to come up in conference realignment talk. I wonder why? Because it has nothing to do with athletics.

LUconn, you hit the nail on the head. Universities are supposed to be about the free expression of ideas. That's why you hear and see so many nutty left wing ideas from professors at secular universities. Nobody ever assumes that the professors' personal opinions are the official position of the university.

I am glad we have diverse viewpoints being expressed on the conservative sides of these issues from Matt Barber, Stuart Schwartz, Karen Prior and others. I would be disappointed if all our faculty and staff were in lock step on every issue but anyone with average intelligence knows that our people speak for themselves, not officially for the university. I think it is amusing that our critics have to go back a dozen years to find a statement by LU's top leadership to support their argument that Liberty is a bigoted school -- and they always ignore the fact that Dad apologized for that statement.

As a Christian university, Liberty hires only Christian professors who affirm the university's doctrinal statement. Beyond that, our faculty and staff have complete academic freedom. Liberty has no official position on party politics. Most of our students, faculty and staff are conservatives just like most of Harvard's students, faculty and staff are liberals. That doesn't mean Liberty is officially Republican or that Harvard is officially a Democratic school.

When the law school applied for ABA accreditation, many argued that, because Liberty's leadership over the years have been outspoken conservatives on theological and political issues, we would have difficulty because the ABA is so liberal. Just the opposite happened. The law school was accredited in record time. People in leadership at the ABA and in these athletic conferences don't base their decisions on whether or not they like a school's political or religious leanings. They are more professional than that and they like diversity. Liberty definitely provides them with that! As it turned out, the things that so many said would be negatives with the ABA actually helped Liberty in the accreditation process.

I believe Liberty is prospering, not only because our academic programs, facilities and athletics are continuing to improve, but because of our distinctiveness as a Christian university -- including our faculty's and staff's conservatism on theological and poltical issues, our code of conduct, our convocation services, and student missions trips. The world is full of liberal secular universities and the last thing it needs is another one. I believe the worst thing Liberty could ever do is try to hide who we are or what we believe.

Our distinctiveness as a conservative, Christian university will ultimately be what gets us invited to the FBS and that is what will attract many fans and players to Liberty once we get to FBS. I even had a billionaire in New York (not Donald Trump) tell me at a Hanukkah Party late last year that he believes Liberty's business model along with its unique blend of online and residential delivery and faith-based instruction will ultimately revolutionize higher education in this country.

4everfsu is right. Liberty will move to the FBS when the time is right. When we first announced our intentions, I told all the CEOs in the Big South that we might get an invitation to a FBS conference in 10 days and we might not get one for 10 years. I believe it will happen soon but, either way, everybody just needs to relax and enjoy all the great things that are happening at Liberty now!
And, Adam and PH, did you know today is the 40th anniversary of the release of the Dark Side of the Moon album or was it a coincidence that you posted the album cover today?

+1 thanks for chiming in on this thread.

[4everfsu]

Most people are forced to go to Liberty. Some are Christians as well, but not crazy Christians.

Uhhh what?

We are known outside Lynchburg as Stalag LU

I think that title belongs to either BJU or PCC

[forbidden]

My parents told me along time ago, you only have one time to make a good first impression, and I hate to say it, that impression was or has been made. Now JF Jr is in stillin cleanup mode, still after all these years.

[Sly Fox]

I still believe the football affiliate additions should not be used as a measuring stick for the Sun Belt's interest in us. Both are current FBS members who can be full counters right away and who have tons of flexibility in their schedules. I don't believe the Sun Belt has ever seriously viewed us a football affiliate option. If we come into that league, it will be as a full member. And the fact that the geographic footprint has now moved considerably closer to us based on the App State addition actually helps a great deal. That is why JMU suddenly became much more attractive to the league. It also plays to our benefit as well. Then again, it has been mentioned numerous times that I feel very comfortable in my LU-tinted glasses.

I will readily admit that if we don't receive an invitation from the Sun Belt once Western Kentucky and/or George State/Arkansas State leave for greener pastures, then we will likely be at least another year in our current status. And frankly, the CUSA may become our most likely scenario and it is a long shot in the short term.

And for those pining for CAA or SoCon membership should the Sun Belt fall apart, please explain to me what great advantages would come from joining those leagues in light of their own massive defections. The SoCon is likely to add start-up programs to their already depleted lineup. Without VCU, Mason, ODU & Georgia State (and possibly Delaware) the league is a shell of what it was just a year ago. The only way I see us sliding into another FCS league is if the Big South loses both Coastal Carolina & VMI. At this juncture, that doesn't appear to be a concern.

[logic]

I would like to know the pres. that are against us joining.

I would like to know this is as well. Which of the SBC Presidents are blocking us and why?