[LUconn]

ha! Fighting Koalas.

[TRIguyRVA]

A source who has been in on meetings with the AD at jmu still thinks sun belt is last resort for jmu. He seems to know that another team is going to leave the sun belt and that JMU and LU would be taken as a pair. Apparently the sunbelt wants two VA teams if they take any. Maybe you guys know this but thought I'd share anyways. Still don't have my hopes up even though I'd like to.

[LUGrad2000]

A source who has been in on meetings with the AD at jmu still thinks sun belt is last resort for jmu. He seems to know that another team is going to leave the sun belt and that JMU and LU would be taken as a pair. Apparently the sunbelt wants two VA teams if they take any. Maybe you guys know this but thought I'd share anyways. Still don't have my hopes up even though I'd like to.

That would make sense to take us as a package deal.

[Purple Haize]

Can't see JMU wanting to do us any favors

[jbock13]

Can't see JMU wanting to do us any favors

Exactly.

[Blessed1]

So basically the Sun Belt is willing to sacrifice a championship game in football for 2014 to wait for JMU? Well, thank goodness they have Idaho and NMSU to ease the pain.

[LUGrad2000]

Can't see JMU wanting to do us any favors

Maybe not. It would make travel sense though. It would have the makings of a nice rivalry.

[flamesfan30]

if by nice, you mean instantly the best rivalry in the sunbelt and possibly the entire group of 5, then yes.

they HATE US. we really don't like them cause they beat us at everything. this would not be a "friendly rivalry" like the one we made up against coastal. this would be real.

[Purple Haize]

So basically the Sun Belt is willing to sacrifice a championship game in football for 2014 to wait for JMU? Well, thank goodness they have Idaho and NMSU to ease the pain.

For 1 year? Yep. Plus, JMU may have been offered a Football only spot

[Purple Haize]

if by nice, you mean instantly the best rivalry in the sunbelt and possibly the entire group of 5.

they HATE US. we really don't like them cause they beat us at everything. this would not be a "friendly rivalry" like the one we made up against coastal. this would be real.

Don't you actually have to beat a team to make it a rivalry?
JMU, Appy St and GSU are good rivals

[LUGrad2000]

Personally if given a choice for football between a conf and indy I would take indy. You could play Army, Navy, Air Force, BYU, ND, Baylor, a couple of ACC teams Wake, Duke or NC State, an in-state team like ODU or JMU and a FCS team. Televise them all to 130 million homes. Forget the bowls. Stick the b-ball in with the Catholic school.

I know I'm dreaming ....

We could play all of those teams, but to be FBS independent we would need 5 FBS home games a year. That would be difficult to impossible. We would also have no bowl tie ins. FBS without the B. well, we don't have the C in FCS so that would fit us.

[TH Spangler]

Personally if given a choice for football between a conf and indy I would take indy. You could play Army, Navy, Air Force, BYU, ND, Baylor, a couple of ACC teams Wake, Duke or NC State, an in-state team like ODU or JMU and a FCS team. Televise them all to 130 million homes. Forget the bowls. Stick the b-ball in with the Catholic school.

I know I'm dreaming ....

We could play all of those teams, but to be FBS independent we would need 5 FBS home games a year. That would be difficult to impossible. We would also have no bowl tie ins. FBS without the B. well, we don't have the C in FCS so that would fit us.

If indy, most of those teams could be scheduled at a 30,000 seat Williams stadium?

I think a LU - App State, Sun Belt game at Williams could draw 30,000. App State fans travel in numbers. We could probably get 5,000 to Boone for a match up there.

[Kolzilla41]

Guys, we will not go independent. I guarantee it.

[jbock13]

Sigh.

[Purple Haize]

Personally if given a choice for football between a conf and indy I would take indy. You could play Army, Navy, Air Force, BYU, ND, Baylor, a couple of ACC teams Wake, Duke or NC State, an in-state team like ODU or JMU and a FCS team. Televise them all to 130 million homes. Forget the bowls. Stick the b-ball in with the Catholic school.

I know I'm dreaming ....

We could play all of those teams, but to be FBS independent we would need 5 FBS home games a year. That would be difficult to impossible. We would also have no bowl tie ins. FBS without the B. well, we don't have the C in FCS so that would fit us.

You do realize non of those teams would schedule us home and home? And most would not schedule us period.

[jbock13]

I mean, I can start the whole "Lets wait for the SEC" crap again if its needed.

[jlread]

Can't see JMU wanting to do us any favors

Maybe not. It would make travel sense though. It would have the makings of a nice rivalry.

Why don't we Just grab Norfolk state and bring them with us to the Sunbelt. Geeze WAY WAY better market area and also closer to the Sunbelt footprint as well. Plus their about equal to JMU LOL we can't beat either team so id say that ones just as good a match as the other.

[Purple Haize]

Norfolk St has a better band

[TH Spangler]

Personally if given a choice for football between a conf and indy I would take indy. You could play Army, Navy, Air Force, BYU, ND, Baylor, a couple of ACC teams Wake, Duke or NC State, an in-state team like ODU or JMU and a FCS team. Televise them all to 130 million homes. Forget the bowls. Stick the b-ball in with the Catholic school.

I know I'm dreaming ....

We could play all of those teams, but to be FBS independent we would need 5 FBS home games a year. That would be difficult to impossible. We would also have no bowl tie ins. FBS without the B. well, we don't have the C in FCS so that would fit us.

You do realize non of those teams would schedule us home and home? And most would not schedule us period.

Today .... FCS yes.

[alabama24]

You do realize non of those teams would schedule us home and home? And most would not schedule us period.

Today .... FCS yes.

If Boise State can't schedule home & home, how would we be able to? (It must be the blue turf)

[TH Spangler]

We're all guessing, right ..... Here's mine, JMU and LU go to the Sun Belt together. Reasons, Sun Belt wants two Virginia schools. Would create instant rivalries between LU, JMU, App State. Liberty's new network could televise a lot of the big games (Benson likes that). All three fairly close together. Carr Sports hired by JMU.

Everything points to JMU and LU to the Sun Belt. I think some of the JMU folks will have to be drug kicking and screaming. But I think that's what will happen.

[Purple Haize]

We're all guessing, right ..... Here's mine, JMU and LU go to the Sun Belt together. Reasons, Sun Belt wants two Virginia schools. Would create instant rivalries between LU, JMU, App State. Liberty's new network could televise a lot of the big games (Benson likes that). All three fairly close together. Carr Sports hired by JMU.

Everything points to JMU and LU to the Sun Belt. I think some of the JMU folks will have to be drug kicking and screaming. But I think that's what will happen.

I think ideally they only want one from VA until they can get one to make the 'West' members happy.

[Blessed1]

Honestly speaking, the only teams that are willing to play at Liberty are Division 2 schools and some MEAC schools. Being in a conference assures us that we will have guaranteed home games. With that said, scheduling as a independent might be a drag. I agree with some of you here in that regard.

Wow, does Liberty have any friends in FCS or FBS? In FCS, I see Chuck South, VMI (we appear to be patriotic by celebrating military day), and Coastal Carolina (friendly rivalry that we developed over the years). In FBS, I could see Baylor, Wake Forest, and maybe Army & Navy (see VMI). That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Unless Chuck, VMI, and Coastal move up with us, we would have some issues in scheduling as a independent.

[Sly Fox]

Montana is coming to Williams Stadium in 2015 barring a buyout by one of the parties. But that is indeed a rarity. We have had success booking in-state CAA schools (JMU, W&M & UR) to home-and-homes.

[TH Spangler]

Wow, does Liberty have any friends in FCS or FBS? In FCS, I see Chuck South, VMI (we appear to be patriotic by celebrating military day), and Coastal Carolina (friendly rivalry that we developed over the years). In FBS, I could see Baylor, Wake Forest, and maybe Army & Navy (see VMI). That's all I can think of off the top of my head. Unless Chuck, VMI, and Coastal move up with us, we would have some issues in scheduling as a independent.

Don't believe all the internet chatter. Liberty has far more friends than any of us realize ...... The world's largest evangelical Christian University, whoever it happens to be, will always have a bunch of internet liberal hater's spinning. What's really funny is all the lies (people see through it) actually unite a lot of people behind the school ..... which equals more fans more students more donors. I see it first hand.