[Liberty22]

Again. How do we know. I have seen no flights coming into Lynchburg from those regions. Are they riding magic carpets? I suppose of course they could have connected in Charlotte and we would never know where they came from but nowhere else is this being talked about.

[CinciFlame]

Surely that would have leaked out. I can't imagine no one reporting that if it's true.

[BJWilliams]

thanks BYD...and checking FlightAware for flights in from Charlotte really won't help if they are commercial because we get quite a few flights in from there each day. Even if there are charter flights that could have any number of causes

[CinciFlame]

You would think we would have sent our plane down to pick them up.

[TH Spangler]

I work for a CLT based airline ...... but I'm restricted from giving out "any" passenger info. So don't ask.

[Kricket]

May have been posted here, but basically this article is just repeating what has been said on here recently.

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/sun-bel ... remain-caa

[Cider Jim]

I wonder if our just announced graduation speaker will help our chances with the Sun Belt?

http://www.liberty.edu/champion/2014/04 ... mencement/

[BearlyDoug]

Via http://TwoCentsRadio.net/s/April162014.html

FlameFans.com's own jcmanson will join Jay Bir and myself on tonight's TwoCentsRadio.net tonight. Visit the link above (and below) to find out how you can listen!

Wow, quite a packed show tonight!

We'll cover the FOUR confirmed and 6 potential FBS Bowl tie ins for the Sun Belt Conference, Arkansas State's "Want to Coach our Spring Game?" auction, Tennessee Vol's Cuonzo Martin hoofing it over to Cal and more!

We'll also be joined by Jon Manson (@Flames_Nation on Twitter), the man behind FlameFans.com as we talk about a potential Liberty Flames <-> Sun Belt Conference change....

Come join us at 9 PM Eastern!

http://TwoCentsRadio.net/s/April162014.html

[TH Spangler]

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/04/sun-bel ... remain-caa

[flameshaw]

Maybe Purple is taking BJ's place in the bushes and spying on the Sun Belt Presidents.

[bluedevilflame]

Something tells me more politics is not what will help us, even if it is a Southern politician. I doubt it hurts us either though.

amen, do we have to have a politician constantly? But I don't see this hindering in us anyway.

[thepostman]

At this point I am taking the stance BJ seems to take on all things, I won't believe until I see the press release on the school's website. All this other crap going back and forth is just ridiculous.

[BJWilliams]

Frankly putting that much stock in who we host for commencement affecting potential membership is ludicrous at best.

[jbock13]

At least it wasn't John McCain and Lindsay Graham. That day we recongnized them was rather embarrassing.

[R i]

Listening to Manson on the Radio.

[CinciFlame]

I would like a quick recap if possible.

[Rooster Cogburn]

I forgot

[R i]

Manson did great. Very knowledgeable and was able to list basically every major LU athletic accomplishment. Good job Jon, the guys on the radio made it sound like in a month they would have him back on to discuss the invite Liberty had received.

My favorite part was when Manson told them our current athletic budget would rank 4th in the Sun Belt.

[LUGrad2000]

Manson did great. Very knowledgeable and was able to list basically every major LU athletic accomplishment. Good job Jon, the guys on the radio made it sound like in a month they would have him back on to discuss the invite Liberty had received.

My favorite part was when Manson told them our current athletic budget would rank 4th in the Sun Belt.

At least they ended being pro Liberty. The one host talked about his ignorance on Liberty, but seemed to be impressed with what he learned throughout the day.

[chiefsfan]

Some Notes:

1. My source who insisted Missouri State had an open conversation to the Sun Belt, has suddenly started agreeing with what their president said, yet he really said nothing earth shattering because no administrator is foolish enough to openly talk about conversations with another league because if things go wrong, they are stuck in their own league which is now angry at them.

2. My last rounds told me that Liberty has 6 yes votes for SBC Membership. The 5 no votes all reside in the Western Division. However, because of how this all works. If you convince just two of the West members to change their minds...the other three should follow along.

3. UMass has always been possible, but nothing is close. The thing to understand here is that the league is not choosing UMass over Liberty, they are choosing EKU. EKU is far from ready, but will probably be in 3-4 years. FB Only invites are four year deals. Essentially, we could ride UMass for 4 years and then send them on their way and pick up EKU. Same theory for Idaho and Missouri State (Who I still think will be singing a different tune in a couple years)

NMSU is still a wild card. They didn't have the votes for SBC Membership a few months ago. Yet, I could easily see Western Schools saying no to Umass or Liberty without NMSU, and Eastern Schools blocking NMSU and telling the West, Liberty or no Title game. At which point it becomes a fun staring contest.

To address stability. No conference is stable. CUSA's TV Contract isn't likely to change. I could see that league blowing up in a few years when enough members get angry, and starting their own Geographically based leagues by killing off the SBC. Likewise, you can't have a good SBC Meeting without someone making open threats about going off on their own. The same theory exists in a fragile AAC. Its realignment

To address the conference board: Don't get me started. If you guys did get in, rest assured several posters would promise a boycott of their school. Realize they've already bought tickets and show up anyway...but still shout about how angry they are having to attend said game. They'll probably even visit Lynchburg for some important game, but they wont happy about it...No no no.

[Sly Fox]

Sorry I missed the radio excitement. It has been quite a ride today.

[chiefsfan]

On an unrelated side note: I am getting the PM's about being unable to post on the conference board. Its just my ASU education has led me to not find the reply button. If someone could explain how to do so, I'll try and respond to those requests.

If you cant get in, and want to. Let me know, and I'll try and check with out admins and see what happened.

[Sly Fox]

Thanks, chiefsfan. I feel your pain.

[CinciFlame]

I would think that's why the flight were made to Ark St. and L-Monroe. Getting those votes would be huge.

[BearlyDoug]

I would like a quick recap if possible.

Sorry I missed the radio excitement. It has been quite a ride today.

Not to worry... we'll have the Podcast of it up on SMCRadio.com in a few days, so you'll be able to listen to it then.

Manson did great. Very knowledgeable and was able to list basically every major LU athletic accomplishment. Good job Jon, the guys on the radio made it sound like in a month they would have him back on to discuss the invite Liberty had received.

My favorite part was when Manson told them our current athletic budget would rank 4th in the Sun Belt.

Jon did a GREAT job tonight... and yes, we will definitely have him back on TCR in the near future, especially if Liberty does end up heading to the Sun Belt.

At least they ended being pro Liberty. The one host talked about his ignorance on Liberty, but seemed to be impressed with what he learned throughout the day.

That was Jay... I've had a *little* (that's not saying much, haha!) more info since I've actually done some forum work around here... Jon really opened our eyes on a few things.

2. My last rounds told me that Liberty has 6 yes votes for SBC Membership. The 5 no votes all reside in the Western Division. However, because of how this all works. If you convince just two of the West members to change their minds...the other three should follow along.

There's really no Western Division right now... maybe the western side of the conference? (Good to see you here too, man!). I assume that UTA, TXST, Idaho and NMSU are four of the no votes? Who's the 5th? IMHO Idaho and NMSU shouldn't even have any votes since they're not full members, anyway.

3. UMass has always been possible, but nothing is close. The thing to understand here is that the league is not choosing UMass over Liberty, they are choosing EKU. EKU is far from ready, but will probably be in 3-4 years. FB Only invites are four year deals. Essentially, we could ride UMass for 4 years and then send them on their way and pick up EKU. Same theory for Idaho and Missouri State (Who I still think will be singing a different tune in a couple years)

NMSU is still a wild card. They didn't have the votes for SBC Membership a few months ago. Yet, I could easily see Western Schools saying no to Umass or Liberty without NMSU, and Eastern Schools blocking NMSU and telling the West, Liberty or no Title game. At which point it becomes a fun staring contest.

UMass has been shot out of the park for Sun Belt. The transportation, alone, would cripple their budget. I'm still perplexed as to how Idaho and NMSU managed to get invites to SBC at all.

To address stability. No conference is stable. CUSA's TV Contract isn't likely to change. I could see that league blowing up in a few years when enough members get angry, and starting their own Geographically based leagues by killing off the SBC. Likewise, you can't have a good SBC Meeting without someone making open threats about going off on their own. The same theory exists in a fragile AAC.

With the fact that there are NOW 4 guaranteed bowl games for the SBC and a 5th/6th rotational one, this gets the SBC in a better position to start working on their own TV network/contracts. If everyone was smart, it'll be a CBS or NBC Network contract with ESPN style money/exposure. Once the TV contracts get secured, you'll start hearing less of squabbles within the SBC member schools, especially if it's set up like the SEC or Pac12 (Equal distribution).