[JakeP50]

I would pay to see the looks on the hater's faces if we get in. And If we don't we never mention the conference again and we just wildly speculate about going to C-USA, the MAC or the American.

[ValleyBoy]

It has been a roller coaster ride over the past several weeks with all the rumors an speculations of what the Sun Belt conference is going to do. I have no idea what the outcome is going to be. We will all just have to all take a wait a see additude.

This one fan of the Sun Belt would not have any problem with Liberty being the one. i feel like there are many others like me. We a just not a vocal as some of the other posters that are shouting from the mountain top against Liberty.

[BJWilliams]

Naturally...heck they'd mention Abilene Christian or some random NAIA school just to avoid the thought of "those darn Christians" sullying their very shaky ivory tower...valleyboy being the exception

[Liberty22]

It has been a roller coaster ride over the past several weeks with all the rumors an speculations of what the Sun Belt conference is going to do. I have no idea what the outcome is going to be. We will all just have to all take a wait a see additude.

This one fan of the Sun Belt would not have any problem with Liberty being the one. i feel like there are many others like me. We a just not a vocal as some of the other posters that are shouting from the mountain top against Liberty.

Thanks for the support Valleyboy!

[Liberty22]

What If....

So we all thought that Sun Belt leaked our name last Monday as an attempt to lure out JMU.
It was reported that the deal between SBC and us was essentially done, it all just came down to LFSN. What if, it is a done deal and Benson (we all know he wants us) leaked out JMU rumors in order for fans, etc. to believe that the SBC was doing all it could to get JMU, knowing full well JMU has already turned them down. What if Benson knew that this leak would appease fans yet also prompt JMU administration to deny rumors which would appear publicly that they said no thanks when in reality we are already "invited" in. There would be a whole lot less hate emails flooding the conference about Liberty joining if it appeared they did everything to lure JMU and MoSt.

What if...

[Sly Fox]

I sense a few more of the Dark Side beginning to show a bit of cautious optimism. Welcome to the club!

The primary thing that I would like to point out is that there has been a heightened cone of silence around the administration and athletic department the past month or so. Frankly I like the idea of us being publicly quiet to avoid saying anything that might damage our candidacy in the eyes of the voting members of the Sun Belt.

[Blessed1]

I found this on the WAC message board. It's a footprint map has Liberty, JMU AND Missouri State. I know JMU may never happen especially if Liberty is invited to the Sun Belt, but I thought the map looked pretty cool and I wanted to share it.

The Sun Belt conference map with LU, JMU, and MoSt...
(The map is too big to post in here and I do not know how to reduce it and repost.)

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k358 ... lt_map.png

Here's the logo...

http://i324.photobucket.com/albums/k358 ... lslogo.png

[Sly Fox]

This was at the end of a long email from Pres. Alger to JMU employees titled "Spring Update" ...

Conference Affiliation Discussions: The topic of athletics conference membership continues to be on the minds of many of our constituents. As we plot our course through a constantly shifting landscape, we remain committed to thoughtful and open communication.

We are well aware of the changing scene within our conference as well as nationally. In response, we have engaged in a rigorous analysis of our athletic profile within the context of our strategic planning process. This process, resulting in The Madison Plan, confirmed our institutional core values: Academic Quality, Community, Diversity, Excellence, Integrity and Student Focus. Further, we determined that any new conference membership opportunity must align with the following guiding principles and criteria: academic profile and fit, university culture, student and student-athlete welfare, financial impact and sustainability, competitive balance, and geographic footprint. Feedback received from the JMU community and its many constituencies through extensive and thoughtful dialogue supports these values and principles, and we will use them as criteria for all future decisions, including those involving athletics.

Consistent with these values and principles and the ongoing issue of conference alignment, JMU will not pursue or accept an invitation from a conference that does not meet our criteria. If we do receive an offer consistent with our established values, we are prepared to review it and make a recommendation to the Board of Visitors. This process is ongoing and will require continued support on the part of the university, students, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, and fans.

In the meantime, we are enjoying the close of our spring sports season and looking forward to an exciting new year in 2014-15 across our entire athletics program.

As you can tell, it has been an eventful year at JMU. JMU is clearly on the move, and we are excited about the future as we continue to dream big together. Thank you all for being part of the JMU community!

Jon Alger
President

If legitimate ... Wow!

[Blessed1]

JMU will not pursue or accept an invitation from a conference that does not meet our criteria.

I guess for #FunBelt for JMU.

[Sly Fox]

Multiple posters on the JMU board are now confirming that they received the same email. So JMU is definitely off the table alongside Missouri State.

[Blessed1]

Multiple posters on the JMU board are now confirming that they received the same email. So JMU is definitely off the table alongside Missouri State.

Insert 'South Eastern Union University' as the next candidate from the East...

Sun Belt posters are like... South Eastern Union would make a good candidate because of X, Y, and Z...

In the meantime, I'm like this... , , ,

[VAGolf]

This doesn't surprise me at all. I've been saying for a while that the biggest obstacle keeping JMU from joining the SunBelt is JMU. With JMU and Missouri State out of the picture, my optimism is starting to grow. However, with that said, I'm really not impressed with how the Sun Belt is viewed by even it's current members. I'm pretty sure if any of them were presented with an opportunity to join the C-USA, MWC or AAC, they would jump without blinking.

If we get in to the Sun Belt, we need to court the hell out of ODU. Start an in-state rivalry and give the ticket sales to some mutually agreed upon charity, or something. If/when the Sun Belt dies, we'll need a fall back option.

[Sly Fox]

We will do no such thing. If we get into the Sun Belt, we will be thanking Jesus for getting us there. We will be thrilled to establish ties in heavily Evangelical communities along the Gulf Coast. For the growth of the school, there is no better G5 league for us right now than the Sun Belt. None.

[VAGolf]

We will do no such thing. If we get into the Sun Belt, we will be thanking Jesus for getting us there. We will be thrilled to establish ties in heavily Evangelical communities along the Gulf Coast. For the growth of the school, there is no better G5 league for us right now than the Sun Belt. None.

I'm sorry. Would it be a negative to have a 4 to 5 year (2 homes/2 aways) agreement with ODU?

I'm not talking about jumping ship the moment we get invited. I'm talking about having options when the Sun Belt dies.

[JakeP50]

We will do no such thing. If we get into the Sun Belt, we will be thanking Jesus for getting us there. We will be thrilled to establish ties in heavily Evangelical communities along the Gulf Coast. For the growth of the school, there is no better G5 league for us right now than the Sun Belt. None.

"Be to Evangelical Christians what Notre Dame is for Catholics and BYU is for Mormons"

If we get in to the Sun Belt, we need to court the hell out of ODU. Start an in-state rivalry and give the ticket sales to some mutually agreed upon charity, or something. If/when the Sun Belt dies, we'll need a fall back option.

I like the idea of this one, make this a major rivalry and if the Sun Belt does collapse we have a connection in C-USA. If the Sun Belt does collapse it will be a few years before that does happen so we will have plenty of time.

[alabama24]

We will do no such thing. If we get into the Sun Belt, we will be thanking Jesus for getting us there. We will be thrilled to establish ties in heavily Evangelical communities along the Gulf Coast. For the growth of the school, there is no better G5 league for us right now than the Sun Belt. None.

+1

As long as we dont talk about UA or UT, I think we agree most of the time. Maybe.

[LUGrad2000]

A yearly game with ODU would make for a great rivalry. Who would be ODU's biggest rival from C-USA?

[VAGolf]

A yearly game with ODU would make for a great rivalry. Who would be ODU's biggest rival from C-USA?

I'm guessing biggest regional rival would be Charlotte.

[flamesfilmguy]

when in may are we supposed to find all this stuff out? It would be just my luck that something goes down(either we get invited or someone else does) and I'm on my honeymoon. lol I remain skeptical at this point. but the signs are looking good.

[jcmanson]

So in one day, we go from "the sky is falling we'll never make FBS" to "we need to start a series with ODU for when we bolt the Sun Belt."

Makes sense.

[PAmedic]

Let's all make a pact. If the Sun Belt doesn't get JMU, Mo St, and skips over us again, let's just never speak of our possible association with that league again. Because it's never going to happen if that's the case.

I'll drink to that

[JakeP50]

So in one day, we go from "the sky is falling we'll never make FBS" to "we need to start a series with ODU for when we bolt the Sun Belt."

Makes sense.

Since when does anything we say make sense

[flamesfilmguy]

So in one day, we go from "the sky is falling we'll never make FBS" to "we need to start a series with ODU for when we bolt the Sun Belt."

Makes sense.

Are you surprised? thats like our thing! I for one have mostly taken the approach of I'll believe when I see it. we've done this song and dance too many times not to in the past 2 years.

[flamesfilmguy]

So in one day, we go from "the sky is falling we'll never make FBS" to "we need to start a series with ODU for when we bolt the Sun Belt."

Makes sense.

Since when does anything we say make sense

Someone learns fast.

[JakeP50]

So in one day, we go from "the sky is falling we'll never make FBS" to "we need to start a series with ODU for when we bolt the Sun Belt."

Makes sense.

Since when does anything we say make sense

Someone learns fast.

Believe me you only have to read one page of a thread, this one especially, to realize that. It doesn't take long