[BJWilliams]

Would be good to clear Brevard off the schedule. I started the schedule discussion on AGS so we can get some inkling at who could take their place

[PAmedic]

would it really be any worse to schedule Davidson or Campbell?

gotta be better than playing down a level

[VAGolf]

Please, for the love of God, get Brevard off the schedule. Playing them makes absolutely no sense. We'd be better off playing Ferrum.

As for JMU, that makes perfect sense. Gill would be in his 3rd year, with several experienced players, and JMU would be vulnerable with a new head coach. Us beating them is their worst nightmare. Additionally, most of their administration absolutely hates us. If I were Barber, I would force them to play that game with us. We need to buck our in-state trend, especially with JMU, and that would be a prime opportunity.

[Sly Fox]

would it really be any worse to schedule Davidson or Campbell?

gotta be better than playing down a level

The problem is with the Pioneer schools is that they don't have many non-conference clots available. I am sure we would much prefer having exceptionally weak DI schools on our schedule as opposed to D2s.

[Purple Haize]

SJ breaking the worst kept secret in LU sports this month :I chortle audibly.:

Just playing, I'm glad someone went ahead and spilled it, b/c we couldn't.

It's the price you pay for getting into bed with The Man. There is no reason an independent outfit like yours shouldn't be allowed to post publish something like that. Its sorta one of the reasons you exist

[Purple Haize]

Sure there is. Sometimes people tell you things off the record. You have to honor that. Sometimes people leak information to us with the express purpose of us getting it out there. We will honor that as well.

We aren't in bed with the man in any way, shape, or form. You know that.

No I don't but I'll take your word for it. I'm trusting that way

[-army56mike-]

Home
Monmouth
Richmond
Brevard
Charleston Southern
Gardner-Webb
Bryant

Road
North Carolina
Norfolk State
JMU
Coastal Carolina
Presbyterian
Appalachian St.

This Brevard game really needs to go away. Would it be better to take a road game against an FCS team than play a home game against a DII team? Probably yes. Otherwise this is a good schedule.

[Purple Haize]

Our first priority is finding a replacement for the JMU game. We may be able to shift the Brevard game to give us flexibility. But it is going to be difficult to find 2 FCS opponents

[-army56mike-]

Even if public schools "seem" to have a distain for scheduling us why can't we get some of the other privates to schedule us... Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word, Houston Baptist, Sacred Heart, Duquesne, St. Francis, Holy Cross, Georgetown, Fordham, Lafayette, Lehigh, Campbell, Samford, Bethune-Cookman, etc. I'd think a trip to Florida, Texas or Pennsylvania would be a great thing for the team.

[Chippy]

Even if public schools "seem" to have a distain for scheduling us why can't we get some of the other privates to schedule us... Abilene Christian, Incarnate Word, Houston Baptist, Sacred Heart, Duquesne, St. Francis, Holy Cross, Georgetown, Fordham, Lafayette, Lehigh, Campbell, Samford, Bethune-Cookman, etc. I'd think a trip to Florida, Texas or Pennsylvania would be a great thing for the team.

I vote for Duquesne.

[BJWilliams]

I'd vote for Sacred Heart on the road. it would give us a playoff team from 2013 which would boost schedule quality. as for a home game to replace Brevard I'd go with HBU (throwing a bone Sly's way) or Bethune Cookman

[thepostman]

How is that throwing a bone sly's way if it's a home game????

[BJWilliams]

You know how Sly waxes poetic about his stomping grounds. I figure why not get them to come to town and enjoy hearing a thread full of Houston stories in the run up to that matchup

[-army56mike-]

I get it that if we each had a vote we'd have a particular team we'd want to play. But the point is, are even the private schools unwilling to have a home/home with LU? Are the Brevard's and Kentucky Wesleyan's of the world scheduled because we can't get an FCS game or are they scheduled for 2 sure wins on the season, and as home games to generate revenue?

If we had a vote, which I assume none of us do, than I'd always have LU play an FCS opponent within easy driving distance from me, i.e. Austin Peay, Tennessee St., UT-Martin, Tennessee Tech, Murray St.; or a team that exposes our name in recruiting rich areas, i.e. Florida A&M, Bethune Cookman, Stetson, Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word, Abilene Christian, Sam Houston St., S.F. Austin, Texas So., or a team in California, Ohio, or Pennsylvania.

I think a big part of the problem is playing in such a small conference. We have too many OOC games to worry about scheduling. There needs to be at least 9 teams in the BSC.

[Sly Fox]

Over the years, some Catholic schools have been reluctant to schedule us based on principle. I get the feeling that is no longer the issue it once was. But it has been a factor.

The goal has always been to try and get 5-6 home dates on the schedule. Obviously 6 is better than 5 n most cases. If you ask the football folks today, they would gladly have given up a D2 home game this year for a trip to an FCS school that might have pushed them into the playoffs. The costs for guarantee games with FCS schools is obviously much higher than D2s. And most FCS schools want home-and-homes or home-away-home contracts that benefit them.

HBU & Incarnate Word are start-up programs that many assumed wouldn't help anyone's playoff resume. But Sam Houston just received an at large with those making up 2 of their wins and another coming from FCS transitional school Abilene Christian. Anything remotely DI is apparently OK with the selection committee.

I would be thrilled with an HBU date in Lynchburg. I might even be able to manufacture an excuse to make an extra trip besides Homecoming next fall.

[-army56mike-]

I'm not going to pretend to be schooled up on all things FCS, but are there cross regional games regularly scheduled? I mean, do FCS teams usually travel out of their home regions, or at the FCS level is this cost prohibitive? I know Liberty went to Montana, but that was an acception and not the norm correct? Will a team from Texas, California, or other farther reaching region make a trip to Lynchburg? Do they really do it for other teams? Or at the FCS level do you try and travel within your own geographic footprint? Could this be what is hindering us from getting games?

[Sly Fox]

It doesn't happen frequently but there are plenty of cases particularly among the top tier FCS schools who want to beef up their playoff resumes. This year Appy State went up to Montana and Sam Houston faced Eastern Washington. And that is just off the top of my head.

Frankly economics keep it from being practical for most schools. I feel confident that our football office is more than willing to make a trip to Texas or Florida. But I suspect they'd also like to have a return trip in the contract like we have with Montana in 2015.

[BJWilliams]

Sly hit it on the head. I dont think we have had a team west of the Eastern time zone in Lynchburg in the last 13 years (Samford came in 2000)

[jcmanson]

Here's our preview of the schedule - http://www.libertyflamesnation.com/2014 ... -schedule/

[Kolzilla41]

I'm pumped about this schedule. I'll be at all home games and at least the UNC game. I hope this team shows up hungry and the coaches are ready to go. Can't really afford another non-playoff year.

[BJWilliams]

Its a very solid schedule. At first blush we really are only "out of it" in 1-2 games (UNC and Appalachian State). If the JMU buyout is successful Im interested to see what game replaces it. It could really boost the SoS depending on who the new opponent is

[SumItUp]

Its a very solid schedule. At first blush we really are only "out of it" in 1-2 games (UNC and Appalachian State). If the JMU buyout is successful Im interested to see what game replaces it. It could really boost the SoS depending on who the new opponent is

The same App State team that lost this season at home to Charleston Southern 27-24?

[BJWilliams]

Indeed. I dont think it will be one sided (as the case has been in our FBS games the last seven seasons...that is to say they have all not been one sided) but they are going to be a transitional FBS team and I dont think they are going to be as embarrassing as FFG's former employer in their first year as an FBS program. The boys from Boone have the matchup edge as well having won the last 5 meetings between the two teams

[Purple Haize]

Its a very solid schedule. At first blush we really are only "out of it" in 1-2 games (UNC and Appalachian State). If the JMU buyout is successful Im interested to see what game replaces it. It could really boost the SoS depending on who the new opponent is

The same App State team that lost this season at home to Charleston Southern 27-24?

Im with you. I think the only game we are'out of it' is UNC. But a scandal or 2 in the off season there is not out of the question and would increase our chances.

[SuperJon]

App redshirted half their team this year. They will be significantly better next year.