[jcmanson]

It's crazy how much this stuff goes back and forth. Monday night/Tuesday morning, I felt we were pretty much a lock. Now, I feel we will be on the outside looking in.

[adam42381]

1,000 strong by 2015
http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=10904

If you are an alum and follow the Flames on this board, you should be a Flames Club member. The basic membership is $60.00. There is no excuse for not being a Flames Club member. Click the link and sign up!

I'm not sure if my previous post was censored or if I forgot to click submit, but I'll post it again anyway: Here we go again...

https://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewto ... 26#p429226

[jcmanson]

1,000 strong by 2015
http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=10904

If you are an alum and follow the Flames on this board, you should be a Flames Club member. The basic membership is $60.00. There is no excuse for not being a Flames Club member. Click the link and sign up!

I'm not sure if my previous post was censored or if I forgot to click submit, but I'll post it again anyway: Here we go again...

https://www.flamefans.com/forums/viewto ... 26#p429226

It wasn't censored.

[JakeP50]

Could we move up as an FBS-independent and keep everything else in the Big South until an FBS conference can't say no. I know we don't have the same tradition and high profile rivalries like Notre Dame but maybe get them to play us once, even if it's in South Bend. The media would have a field day, I can see the headline now
THE BEGINNING OF A NEW HOLY WAR? BAPTISTS VERSUS CATHOLICS!
Liberty University Flames take on the Fighting Irish for the first time

I chortle audibly

[Chris Lang]

No one can move from FCS to FBS without conference affiliation.

[JakeP50]

Oh than that answers my question and completely kills my ridiculous fake headline

[TH Spangler]

It wasn't censored.

[thepostman]

how many times in this thread has someone said we should go independent???

[JakeP50]

With my last one, easily close to 300. I'm not sure how many are desperate half jokes like mine but still

[R i]

Seems like Athletically and Geographically they want us. However some of chief's comments about brother hood as a conference have me thinking we are a much tougher sell to the Presidents than the commissioner was anticipating.

[jbock13]

We've been through this song and dance multiple times.

Benson wants us. (maybe)
The eastern schools don't mind us.
The western schools don't want us.

[adam42381]

It wasn't censored.

Ok, good to know I'm just an idiot who can't remember to press the submit button.

[ValleyBoy]

Just from reading some of the posts on the Sun Belt mesage board and several team sites I believe we a seeing where Liberty stands at this time.

I feel like Benson has been pushing Liberty because Ya'll are the only school that is ready willing and able to move up at this time and everyone know this. It looks like Liberty is several votes short at this time but that could change if JMU is not willing to except an all sports invite. This is more than likly why your president has been visiting so many conference member schools.

[olldflame]

The more I hear that if JMU turns down the invite our chances are substantialy improved, the more encouraged I am. I honestly don't think JMU wants any part of the SBC.

[Purple Haize]

The more I hear that if JMU turns down the invite our chances are good, the more encouraged I am. I honestly don't think JMU wants any part of the SBC.

Didn't someone make that same prediction about 20 pages ago.....

[JakeP50]

Yeah but hope JMU wasn't just bluffing is all we have left

[olldflame]

Not a prediction Purple, just a positive vibe, and it's really pretty clear that if JMU were to ultimately accept the SBC invitation, they would do it while holding their nose. There is still a strong contingent in Harrisonburg that are against moving up at all, and those who do want to go FBS want to wait for an offer from C-USA or the MAC.

[JakeP50]

Why are they so against the Sun Belt? Academics, geography or athletics?

[VAGolf]

There is still a strong contingent in Harrisonburg that are against moving up at all

You are right on.

I think what most people fail to understand is that, many in JMU's admin are anti-anything-but-the-CAA. The ones who aren't that way, are really only interested in staying CAA or getting invited to the MAC. Very few in Harrisonburg are longing to be FBS like we are.

In my opinion, there would be only two reasons why JMU would join the Sun Belt.

1. To keep us out of FBS.
2. I don't know if this would even be feasible but I could see a situation where the MAC promises JMU an invite after JMU transitions to FBS. So, essentially JMU accepts a bid to join the Sun Belt and only stays 2 to 3 seasons.

Even if JMU turns down the SB again, I'm not optimistic about our chances. It seems like a lot of people are salivating over Missouri State, and rightfully so. I won't claim to have any sources but I did do some messaging with Ben Moore, the one who tweeted about us going to the Sun Belt on Monday. Our messages started out with him saying that we'll be conference mates very soon. But by yesterday, he mentioned that things are getting crazy and he's now hearing that its JMU's bid to turn down. He also mentioned that Missouri State keeps popping up. That isn't old news but it's certainly different than what we were being led to believe on Monday.

I really hope that Jeff Barber isn't focusing all of his time on getting us to the Sun Belt. I know that's the reason why he was hired, but we've pitched the best offer that we possibly could have. I honestly believe that if our football team had a couple of playoff appearances, or if our basketball team was remotely relevant, we would have an offer on the table.

[olldflame]

I was right with you til your last sentence VAGolf. I don't believe our failure to make the playoffs in football is a significant factor. Our poor record in basketball even less so.

[flamesfilmguy]

Unless JMU has a standing promise from the mac or CUSA for a spot later down the road they have to take an SBC invite. If they don't its just as(if not more) ludacris as what you Umass did. that they would turn the invite down.

[jbock13]

JMU is proof that winning does matter. But just my own little unenlightened opinion.

[flamesfilmguy]

There is still a strong contingent in Harrisonburg that are against moving up at all

You are right on.

I think what most people fail to understand is that, many in JMU's admin are anti-anything-but-the-CAA. The ones who aren't that way, are really only interested in staying CAA or getting invited to the MAC. Very few in Harrisonburg are longing to be FBS like we are.

In my opinion, there would be only two reasons why JMU would join the Sun Belt.

1. To keep us out of FBS.
2. I don't know if this would even be feasible but I could see a situation where the MAC promises JMU an invite after JMU transitions to FBS. So, essentially JMU accepts a bid to join the Sun Belt and only stays 2 to 3 seasons.

Even if JMU turns down the SB again, I'm not optimistic about our chances. It seems like a lot of people are salivating over Missouri State, and rightfully so. I won't claim to have any sources but I did do some messaging with Ben Moore, the one who tweeted about us going to the Sun Belt on Monday. Our messages started out with him saying that we'll be conference mates very soon. But by yesterday, he mentioned that things are getting crazy and he's now hearing that its JMU's bid to turn down. He also mentioned that Missouri State keeps popping up. That isn't old news but it's certainly different than what we were being led to believe on Monday.

I really hope that Jeff Barber isn't focusing all of his time on getting us to the Sun Belt. I know that's the reason why he was hired, but we've pitched the best offer that we possibly could have. I honestly believe that if our football team had a couple of playoff appearances, or if our basketball team was remotely relevant, we would have an offer on the table.

Ben is typically very well connected. good friend of mine(sly 1,000,000 FFG 1) He has been in constant contact with McMurphy so i trust his sources. Its still fluid. I'm skeptical

[bluedevilflame]

I don't understand why we feel like the Sun Belt has used us to stir the pot with JMU, this is all speculation and most of the reliable sources I've read for some time have always said JMU is well ahead of us on the pecking order, nothing new we knew that already. I have a feeling this is all going to end with us sueing to get in either as an independent or through a conference, it's the only way I see it happening.

[flamehunter]

We're not going to go in as an independent! I don't know why every other day someone brings that up again. And to sue to go in as an independent would be ridiculous. If by some miracle we won that suit, who would want to play us? And what good would it do to play FCS and low, really low FBS schools, which is probably all we could schedule. It would be worse than being in the Big South. No chance at post season, and not just in football.