[Sly Fox]

I split off the discussion of LU and the possibility of FBS Independence and put the new thread in the football forum.

[bluejacket]

Should've clarified: I'm talking in the G5 world, not P5. They could become one of the top G5 schools in 15-20 years if the funding is there. That's the biggest hinge point.

Edit: I also believe we are a sleeping giant. We could easily be a top G5 school in that same time if given the chance.

I am talking about the G5 too. Coastal would quickly be competitive in almost all of their sports. I wouldn't say giants though.

Football would take much longer to build up. Although there are some significant differences between Coastal and these schools, I see a lot of parallels between them, FIU, and FAU. And some of the obstacles that Coastal faces are much, much larger. I'm not saying that they can't overcome the challenges that those schools faced (and still face) and become a top G5 football program but I think that football will have a difficult transition if they move up. They'll eventually be competitive, but not the top.

[rmiller1959]

This televised Thursday night game will raise the profile of both schools, but Coastal will probably be FBS-bound by that time...

http://www.bigsouthsports.com/entries/c ... on-espnews

[alabama24]

it will be the night they make the announcement. lol

[jimflamesfan]

November 19th is my birthday.

We are guaranteed to win now!!!! I will make the wish before I blow out the candles.

Or maybe I'll just let them light and fan the flames!!

[flameshaw]

If CCU accepts an invitation to the SBC, will they be eligible for post-season play this year? How will that impact the auto-bid? TIA

[SuperJon]

If CCU accepts an invitation to the SBC, will they be eligible for post-season play this year? How will that impact the auto-bid? TIA

They would be eligible this year because they hadn't starting increasing scholarships. Next year they wouldn't be.

[LUDad]

If CCU accepts an invitation to the SBC, will they be eligible for post-season play this year? How will that impact the auto-bid? TIA

They would be eligible this year because they hadn't starting increasing scholarships. Next year they wouldn't be.

What about baseball? If CCU anounces that they out the door, could/would/might BSC disqualify CCU from tournament, forcing CCU to at-large bid?

[Sly Fox]

That would be a conference decision.

[ATrain]

That would be a conference decision.

VMI was eligible after they announced they were returning to the SoCon, so unless the bylaws have changed, they're eligible to compete for BSC championships until they're gone.

[alabama24]

"SEC commissioner Greg Sankey: ‘Expansion is not a front burner issue’"

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-fo ... ner-issue/

[flamesfilmguy]

Coastal reportedly getting voted in tomorrow. Anyone think this wasn't about what Liberty stood for now?

[SuperJon]

Coastal reportedly getting voted in tomorrow. Anyone think this wasn't about what Liberty stood for now?

Yes.

I think that was part of it, but it wasn't the entire thing. I think it's a combination of multiple things that kept us from getting in.

The bigger question is how long before we file the lawsuit.

[rmiller1959]

Here's the latest report - it suggests that they're still deciding between Coastal and Eastern Kentucky, and that while the decision could be made in days, it could also be in a few weeks:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nc ... /71322494/

And here's another take on the same report:

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.co ... 12th-spot/

[Purple Haize]

Coastal reportedly getting voted in tomorrow. Anyone think this wasn't about what Liberty stood for now?

Yes.

I think that was part of it, but it wasn't the entire thing. I think it's a combination of multiple things that kept us from getting in.

The bigger question is how long before we file the lawsuit.

Because our willingness to sue will endear us to so many other Conference suitors. Or opponents if we try the nuclear option of Independent

[Sly Fox]

The fact that we no longer even a candidate supports your inference, FFG. I have folks at other FBS schools indicating to me that they wouldn't hold it against us if we used the threat of legal action to get independent status. We wouldn't be suing conferences or schools ... trust me when I say that there is no great respect for Indianapolis from the membership. I doubt we would ever actually have to even file a suit. Just the threat might be enough to get us an exemption.

[rmiller1959]

A couple of Twitter sources are proclaiming Coastal Carolina as the 12th member of the Sun Belt after they vote in Dallas tomorrow:

A couple of random but related thoughts should Coastal be named tomorrow:

1) If we can get through this gauntlet of a schedule to be in contention for the Big South title against Coastal on November 19th, is that possibly the biggest game ever played at Williams Stadium? ESPN, a night game for a championship, and the added incentive of beating the Sun Belt's newest member -- what a matchup!

2) If the Lord was seeking to humble us, allowing our biggest rival to secure an FBS invitation that we coveted and that they weren't even seeking would do the trick!

[TallyW]

Charm has to take a backseat to being treated fairly under the law. Collusion is a legitimate concern here.

Personally, I have been okay with waiting and letting everything play out... until this round of discussions. Losing out to JMU, App St., etc.? Fine. I get it. Losing out to a school drawing 9,000 in attendance? Nope. We're obviously best positioned. This is about something else.

The main wedge here is institutional perception of our religious beliefs. I'm a "Freedom Of Association" fan. Schools can't be made to invite us... but Liberty should be allowed to make it's own path if necessary. The current rules give other institutions a power over us that they should not have.

As for the hurdles with being independent, we can handle them. The olympic sports can find a home fairly easily. This is all about football.

I'd rather we not file a suit but if that's our last option, we need to go ahead and play hard ball. The threat of lawsuits have brought about changes in other (recent) situations involving the NCAA. From time to time rules do need to be challenged. This may be that time.

I hold out hope that we'll get a call soon... if not, I would not be upset if @JLFJR decides to litigate.

[thepostman]

I am not upset about not being invited to join the sun belt but you really have to reach to think coastal will be ready by next year. It's crazy. I know Jon has his personal coastal feelings but aside from his biased opinion there is just no way they are ready next year.

That is just insane to me. Sun belt is the big south of FBS and this just proves that.

[ballah09]

Wish nothing but the best for ccu but honestly all is see is another fau. With northern transplants and the beach I don't see 15k plus anytime soon. i really don't see the potential there.

Shame though they didn't come back in the begining of the year. No Liberty counsel, new law dean, new rules (a lax Liberty way) which some were concern about, and they would see a different Liberty from 2012. I agree though Indy is the only way and I don't see how enemies will be built, they know libertys situation.

[Purple Haize]

The fact that we no longer even a candidate supports your inference, FFG. I have folks at other FBS schools indicating to me that they wouldn't hold it against us if we used the threat of legal action to get independent status. We wouldn't be suing conferences or schools ... trust me when I say that there is no great respect for Indianapolis from the membership. I doubt we would ever actually have to even file a suit. Just the threat might be enough to get us an exemption.

Slippery slope. If I'm a school with an open date and I chose S Alabama instead of Liberty. Or keep the date open instead of scheduling us. I can see an AD being hesitant to take our call

[Rooster Cogburn]

The strange deal is that the NCAA passed the independent rule to keep a school from moving up before they are ready, but now a conference my allow it to happen anyway.

[LUconn]

This is not surprising from a conference whose fan discussions still seem to include Lamar as a good option.

[SuperJon]

I am not upset about not being invited to join the sun belt but you really have to reach to think coastal will be ready by next year. It's crazy. I know Jon has his personal coastal feelings but aside from his biased opinion there is just no way they are ready next year.

That is just insane to me. Sun belt is the big south of FBS and this just proves that.

There's no way they're ready next year. It's gonna take years for them to be fully ready but they're in a good position to make the changes needed to be ready.

[thepostman]

Which is why they shouldn't be invited. Yet anyways.