[jlread]

Hadn't seen this posted yet but sounds like Benson is not adding anyone during sunbelt basketball tournament meeting.. But we got a good little plug of liberty being advertised as a good option in the article.

Sun Belt still eyes expansion
Mar. 8, 2014 7:39 PM |

Written by
Tim Buckley

When representatives of Sun Belt-member schools gather later this week in New Orleans in conjunction with the conference’s postseason basketball tournament there, the ever-popular subject of expansion again will be high on the list of expected topics of discussion.

If the league wants to add a 12th football-playing member in time for the 2015 season, it must do so before June 1.

That’s because, Sun Belt commissioner Karl Benson said when in Lafayette last Sunday, “of the NCAA deadline that any FCS team (planning to make the jump to an FBS conference) has to declare by June 1 for the following year.”

Benson said no decision has been made yet, however, on whether or not the Sun Belt indeed will make such an addition.

But the matter will be discussed.

“We will be going through a process again,” Benson said. “We are meeting in New Orleans – presidents, chancellors and athletic directors. That issue on our agenda.”

But no decision of any sort is expected this week.

“Absolutely not,” Benson said.

Offering a membership invitation to Lynchburg, Va.-based Liberty University is one way to get there

As the world’s largest Christian university, founded in 1971 by Rev. Jerry Falwell, it would be the Sun Belt’s only religious-oriented member. Unlike most Sun Belt schools, it also has an extensive enrollment of online students.

Liberty’s football team went 8-4 last season and 6-5 in 2012 under ex-Kansas and former University of Buffalo coach Turner Gill.

Its athletic department is well-funded, and it is prepared to jump up to FBS play.

But the Flames, current FCS Big South Conference members, have not had enough support to garner a Sun Belt invite in the past. They’ve applied for SBC membership, but it remains to be seen if they’ll have sufficient support this year.

At least 75-percent approval from SBC members is needed to issue an invite.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

I've been offline for most of the past couple of weeks while travelling and likely will be for the coming 3-4 weeks. But a couple of things should be noted.

I think there seems to be clarity around JMU being the Sun Belt's top choice. That is not necessarily a slight toward us but rather an indication of JMU's strength. If they want in the Sun Belt, they are a no-brainer.

Now if they pass, the torch gets passed to Missouri State. They have already begun investing in their football program which currently is actually leagues behind us. But if they decide they are willing to let their non-football programs take a hit in order to advance football then I suspect they will be Sun Belt football member #12 at the Presidents meeting.

Once it gets passed this point, then I suspect we will be brought up for a vote. Last year, Benson reportedly nominated us and no one was willing to second the nomination and we didn't even come to a vote. Based on random intel I have gathered from various sources, if JMU & Missouri State are not options then we now have the necesary support to be brought up for a vote. Here is where the speculation grows significantly. Remember, only full members can vote on league expansion. So New Mexico State & Idaho are sitting on the sidelines watching this drama unfold. But non-hoops schools UT-Arlington & Arkansas-Little Rock do have a say and that actually works against us. That lines up for eleven voting institutions. Based purely on buzz that I have heard from some folks at current Sun Belt schools, here is where things may be standing right now.

Likely to Vote NO on our candidacy:

• Arkansas-Little Rock
  Arkansas State
  Louisiana-Lafayette
  Louisiana-Monroe

These schools have little interest in any eastern candidate and may want to play stall ball for another year in hopes that Missouri State gets their act together or changes their mind.


Likely to Vote YES on our candidacy:

• Appalachian State
  Georgia Southern
  Georgia State
  Texas State

The three eastern additions of a year ago make a great deal of sense. Texas State owes Benson more than a few solids and reportedly gets that a divisional alignment could be beneficial especially if Idaho is thrown in an eastern division as suspected.


Could go either way:

• South Alabama
  Troy
  UT-Arlington

Once again, this is pure speculation based on what I have heard from sources at a couple of Sun Belt schools. chiefsfan over at csnbbs clearly is hearing negative reports from his connections inside stAte. But I am hearing much more positive reports here in Texas & Louisiana.

[jlread]

Seems foolish for Missouri state to be next after JMU considering everything stated by Benson is about an eastern school/travel partner for Appy. I still think it's just us and JMU(and they aren't interested).

[Purple Haize]

Didn't we have a tie in with Arkansas State a few years ago. There was a big Todo to play them in basketball and something else. I don't recall, maybe we share a big dollar donor or something

[michaeleyou]

You guys who were never able to be around Dr. Falwell really need to read this book. You have bought in to the medias portrayal of him and are missing out on the real man. This book will also allow you to see the real story behind some of the comments you refer to, that were totally taken out of context. Many times, no doubt, just to try and damage him in the public eye. I'm not saying he never made a mistake. Just that some things that seem to get brought up alot were not as they are repeated. It's a good read that gives the behind the scenes story about the early years.

http://www.amazon.com/Macel-Falwell/e/B001JS17RC

[adam42381]

You know luaddict your comments might be received better without the passive aggressive tone and the seemingly inherent martyr complex

[Sly Fox]

Didn't we have a tie in with Arkansas State a few years ago. There was a big Todo to play them in basketball and something else. I don't recall, maybe we share a big dollar donor or something

I remember we had Dickie Nutt come speak in convo while he was stAte head hoops coach. But I don't recall much beyond that connection.

[BJWilliams]

You know luaddict your comments might be received better without the passive aggressive tone and the seemingly inherent martyr complex

well played Adam...I still think he could adjust the tone a good bit despite his frustration

[flameshaw]

I just read through my last comment and realized it could be taken differently than I meant it. I really was attempting to go to bat for Doc. No, I didn't agree with everything he said, but that's true of anyone. What I do know is that no one I've ever met cared more about bringing people to Christ than him. He loved Christ, he loved this country, and he loved the university he created. Without him we wouldn't have this great place to love and argue about. While we may want to continue to refine who we are as a university, we shouldn't stray from the vision that Doc had.

+1

[flameshaw]

I believe A State beat us in basketball with a 3 at the buzzer, or OT, or something similar. That is from my memory bank, which is not as solid as it used to be.

[Sly Fox]

Perhaps the Red Wolves are howling for us ...

Click this Link for Comedy Gold from stAte Athletic Department

[LUaddict]

If you think think i'm passive aggressive, I sorry that you think that of me, as it was not my intention. This is just my frustration and the way I feel, many people would feel this way about JF Senior comments. If I was being condescending and belligerent you might have listened you might have been less apt to listen to me. I actually thought I was being as neutral as possible, given my high level of frustration and embarrassment that I get when I think about those media comments in the past.

Those comments were not taken out of context, they were judgmental and came off as intolerant. When you blames feminist, abortionist, gays, and others for 9/11, don't think think its going to rub people the wrong way. These individuals mentioned did not plan this attack on the twin towers, terrorists did. I fought in Iraq and Afghanistan with my assigned Marine unit as a Navy Corpsman, I'm sure that I was fighting for the Global War on terrorism, against terrorist. If blame others for an act of terrorism, how can you take that comment out of context, come one now. It's pretty clear what he said. It hard for me to let it go, even though he apologized, we should all be extended grace as some mentioned earlier.

I'm actually going to stop talking about this because I hijacked this thread, it's my personal opinion, not just media would feel this way about such intolerant comments. I'll stick around, I'll support the university and hoping to grow as a national university and possible FBS program.

[michaeleyou]

I wasn't refering to that comment. Read the book! But with that, I'm letting this go. On to other conversation...

[thepostman]

You know luaddict your comments might be received better without the passive aggressive tone and the seemingly inherent martyr complex

well played Adam...I still think he could adjust the tone a good bit despite his frustration

You can think that all day long, but you should probably worry about yourself in that area before you start jumping on someone for it.

With that said your posts have always entertained me so I hope you don't change I thing, but that is for merely selfish reasons.

[flameshaw]

I will say that JF Sr. was much more tolerant, than those who called him intolerant. Back to realignment.

[LUaddict]

A lot people have said he's not as credible, but the Sun Belt insiders's blog and summary of the advertiser article that mentioned us as a possible expansion. He seems to have an optimistic view of us getting invited, as he has said in blogs in the past few years.

http://sunbeltinsider.info/?p=1003

Sun Belt Conference still have it’s eyes on 12th team

Now that the Sun Belt Conference looks to be a stable conference, adding a 12th team would allow the conference to maintain a two six team division conference in all sports for the foreseeable future. The question remains, which will the 12th team, be? There are speculations that the Sun Belt Conference is looking at Liberty a team that have already announced they are ready to make the move up and will join a FBS conference that invites them ; but there is also rumors to believe that members of the Sun Belt Conference is in doubt about adding a religious school as Liberty.

Wait a minute now, they don’t want to add liberty due to their religious status and beliefs, but don’t count Liberty out just yet. Liberty may be the last hope the Sun Belt Conference has as time runs out to add a 12th team, especially with the new college playoff system in place and the conference wants to get to a conference football championship. Why, it because other programs the SBC wish to add may not be ready to make the move, or some may not just want to be a part of the Sun Belt Conference.

Here is a list of all the possible schools that may be interested, but not ready to make the move or they may not want to bring all of their sports to the Sun Belt Conference.

Liberty
James Madison
Chattanooga
Jacksonville State
Missouri State

This information similar to all the online articles and forum chatter.

[Sly Fox]

For the record, Doc publicly apologized for the 9/11 statement. And with a closer look at the context, he was not blaming 9/11 on any of the above mentioned groups but instead on the Christians in America who had allowed the nation to lose its core values. I know that sounds like homiletics but it is indeed the intent of his statement that day. Sadly the way it was delivered left it open for easy misinterpretation. The statements I found most regrettable were early in his career around race. Thankfully Doc also found them embarrassing and did everything in his power through Liberty to right those wrongs.

Now back to realignment ... I have a feeling that some folks will be watching tail numbers closely later this week travelling between LYH & MSY. I have no idea if we will be making a presentation to the league members during the tournament in the Big Easy. But it would be great if we had a chance to look them all in the eye at once so they can see that we aren't the caricatures many perceived a year ago.

[CinciFlame]

Don't let a few dumb comments take away from what doc was able to do and how God used him. Home for alcoholic men, home for unwed mothers, educating kids from K-dr. degrees. I worked at the Holiday Inn crown Plaza downtown while went to Liberty. Doc had s board of regents meeting at the hotel. He came up behind me and hit my shoulder so hard I thought it was out of joint. He asked me about myself and if I were an LU student. From that day forward he remembered my name. He told me if I ever needed anything to contact his secretary. I've heard hundreds of similar stories.

[BJWilliams]

I had a few encounters with Doc but the one I most remember was I think 2005-2006 basketball season. I saw him at a game and figured Id get a pic with him to add to my future wall of famous people. Im standing waiting to ask for a picture and I feel someone pinch the back of my leg and I thought I was going to jump clear out of my skin. I look down and Dr Falwell is laughing at me...I rolled my eyes and asked for the picture, which he gladly took. What saddens me is that I lost that camera in the move from our rent house to our house that was being remodeled so I don't have that pic to show to people.

[thepostman]

I disagreed with JF Sr on many occasions, but he was one of the kindest, most sincere people I have ever met. He was, more times than not, taken out of context and when people bring up certain quotes and try to paint into the terrible person I know they haven't done much research on the man he really was.

[CinciFlame]

+1

[Rooster Cogburn]

Doc had a heart that was unreal. If you never had a fairly long talk with him, you absolutely missed out. He didn't ask how you were doing lightly like most people, he actually cared. He was a relentless worker, but always had time for people. It's a shame that a few unfiltered moments will always cloud a huge # of people from ever being able to see that.

[alabama24]

I disagreed with JF Sr on many occasions, but he was one of the kindest, most sincere people I have ever met. He was, more times than not, taken out of context and when people bring up certain quotes and try to paint into the terrible person I know they haven't done much research on the man he really was.

+1

[Curtisc83]

So if that advertiser article is correct we will need 9 of 11 votes...that's not going to happen. Maybe ever...

I'm not sure how the voting works but 3/4's of 11 is 8.25. So is it 8 or 9 votes?

[Curtisc83]

Well 8 is less than 75%, and there aren't quarter-votes. So in my mind it's gotta be 9.

We would really need to see the SBC bylaws to really know. 9 out of 11 is 81%, for that to be the bare min seems a tad crazy.