[cruzan_flame13]

Theodore Hesburgh was leading ND from 1913 on? Wow. Talk about job security
I'm just glad BYU SMU Baylor and USC don't want to have successful football teams. LU has the inside track

Again, like I said, the number is low compared to all of the universities/colleges in the FBS. I guess someone have to break it down so deep enough that you to comprehend that. Also you're not even getting the point between why that letter was important to Jerry Jr (that's why those two school are discussed since Jerry Sr. admired ND in perticular). So I'll just stop here because this will go on and on. You can lead the horse to water but you can't make it drink.

[Class of 20Something]

Hey! Did y'all hear that we are going to FBS?!?!?!

[Purple Haize]

Hey! Did y'all hear that we are going to FBS?!?!?!

Just like ND!!

[Class of 20Something]

Hey! Did y'all hear that we are going to FBS?!?!?!

Just like ND!!

[Purple Haize]

Hey! Did y'all hear that we are going to FBS?!?!?!

Just like ND!!

That's what I was going for.

[Class of 20Something]

Just a thought with recruiting.

Do you think we play the big fish in a small pond card with these recruits that have P5 offers?

I remember Mike Brown had offers from UVA and chose LU. With the increase in scholarships we might be in a position that we can tell a 3* that because of the depth and 4* recruits they won't get seen because they'll be on the bench. I'm sure we can spin it in a way that sounds better, but the idea is there.

Could that have an effect on our recruiting?

[Purple Haize]

Just a thought with recruiting.

Do you think we play the big fish in a small pond card with these recruits that have P5 offers?

I remember Mike Brown had offers from UVA and chose LU. With the increase in scholarships we might be in a position that we can tell a 3* that because of the depth and 4* recruits they won't get seen because they'll be on the bench. I'm sure we can spin it in a way that sounds better, but the idea is there.

Could that have an effect on our recruiting?

I would certainly hope it's an angle they have been using. Being able to secure a big P5 game every year will also help with that pitch.

[olldflame]

Just a thought with recruiting.

Do you think we play the big fish in a small pond card with these recruits that have P5 offers?

I remember Mike Brown had offers from UVA and chose LU. With the increase in scholarships we might be in a position that we can tell a 3* that because of the depth and 4* recruits they won't get seen because they'll be on the bench. I'm sure we can spin it in a way that sounds better, but the idea is there.

Could that have an effect on our recruiting?

When you are recruiting players that are being pursued by bigger programs, the opportunity to get on the field is always a carrot you can hold out. We have been doing it all along, it will just be for a somewhat more in-demand group of recruits now.

[Class of 20Something]

Just a thought with recruiting.

Do you think we play the big fish in a small pond card with these recruits that have P5 offers?

I remember Mike Brown had offers from UVA and chose LU. With the increase in scholarships we might be in a position that we can tell a 3* that because of the depth and 4* recruits they won't get seen because they'll be on the bench. I'm sure we can spin it in a way that sounds better, but the idea is there.

Could that have an effect on our recruiting?

When you are recruiting players that are being pursued by bigger programs, the opportunity to get on the field is always a carrot you can hold out. We have been doing it all along, it will just be for a somewhat more in-demand group of recruits now.

I love the idea of "Would you rather be on the field with Liberty on your chest or on the bench with Virginia Tech on it?" That has to make an 18 year old think for a bit.

Tangent: I'm only 25 and realize how foolish I was about the world and life at 18. Why was I allowed to make decisions by myself then? Choosing a school or career is hard enough at 18, the pressures of being a sought after recruit must be excruciating.

[rmiller1959]

Returning to the topic of FBS stadium expansion/renovation for a moment, ODU doesn't have a lot of ambition in its stadium plans - only 22,130 seats?

http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/o ... cd606.html

[cruzan_flame13]

Returning to the topic of FBS stadium expansion/renovation for a moment, ODU doesn't have a lot of ambition in its stadium plans - only 22,130 seats?

http://pilotonline.com/sports/college/o ... cd606.html

This should answer the question about ODU's ambition:

"Yet in these difficult financial times, with universities being forced to absorb huge financial cuts for academic programs, moderation is apparently just what the General Assembly wanted to hear. Legislators “were impressed that Old Dominion chose a very reasonable approach to the project,” said Anthony Maggio, a fiscal analyst for the House Appropriations Committee."

They're just budgeting with what they have financially. I just hope LU designs something remarkable to appeal to the students, alumni, Lynchburg and surrounding areas. This is where boosters need to step it up. Yes we have a net worth about 6-7 times more than ODU, however we still need to budget as well but think of ways now to gain more revenue plus to save. The online opportunity will not carry on forever since many other universities are getting on board. As Falwell Jr. stated in an interview, he is thinking ahead and saving while reconstructing the campus and academia/athletics. He hope to increase LU's assets to 3-4 billion dollars (US). Now that's what you call long term planning.

[rmiller1959]

Williams Stadium visitor's locker room to be replaced for 2017

http://www.aseaofred.com/williams-stadi ... -for-2017/

Check out the live cam - the demolition has begun:

http://www.liberty.edu/aboutliberty/ind ... oom%20Demo

[rhezick]

Williams Stadium visitor's locker room to be replaced for 2017

http://www.aseaofred.com/williams-stadi ... -for-2017/

Check out the live cam - the demolition has begun:

http://www.liberty.edu/aboutliberty/ind ... oom%20Demo

Have the stands to the far right and far left always been there? Or are those part of the temporary bleachers?

[Class of 20Something]

Williams Stadium visitor's locker room to be replaced for 2017

http://www.aseaofred.com/williams-stadi ... -for-2017/

Check out the live cam - the demolition has begun:

http://www.liberty.edu/aboutliberty/ind ... oom%20Demo

Have the stands to the far right and far left always been there? Or are those part of the temporary bleachers?

Those are temp for El Presidente coming to town next month.

I've heard the new Visitors Locker Room will be dug into the hill to allow for the shoe

[thepostman]

I don't know why but I have always been way too excited about finally getting the shoe.

[cruzan_flame13]

I don't know why but I have always been way too excited about finally getting the shoe.

That means that they'll start constructing the shoe and also the mid/upper deck on the east side of the student section at the same time frame? Also, they've stated that the visitors side will be expanded as well, however where exactly? I know the idea is to reach 35k, then why does it still state on the construction website of the company who built the upper deck on the west side that it could reach 60k? I'm guessing that is just a possibility for a later time.

[Class of 20Something]

I don't know why but I have always been way too excited about finally getting the shoe.

While I love the idea for needing it, it's a catch 22. They hide big crowds very well, they are so good at sitting the masses it can make attendance look lighter than it is. They end up being nearly as long as a sideline stretch and seating as many, but knowing that it's on the short side of the field, we naturally think it holds less. The worse part, is if empty, they lose that magic of looking small. They suddenly look massive. I would rather the grand stand come first on the student side then shoe it when we have steady attendance at 25-27k. But that's me. Perception is reality. If we do the shoe first, 25k can easily look like 20k when the stadium seats 28k. If people think attendance is an issue, even if reality is fine, it becomes an issue.

Cruzan, I don't know that it means they're moving it up, but just not building something with the expectation of tearing it down. Build it once. I think they have to always think about continuous expansion. I think 35k is realistic to maintain every year with the better opponents. That is still nearly double last year's average attendance though. 60k would only come to fruition if we joined a P5 conference.

[Purple Haize]

It seems that the AD has hit the reset button on the original 3 phase expansion plan. So who knows what the next expansion project will look like. He mentioned in Jon's interview that there is more desire for enhancing the premium seating experiences than necessarily just creating more bleacher space. That being said, in the original plan, the expansion on the west side (and phase 2 east side) were always intended and referred to as "mid-decks" in the grand scheme of things. The idea being that one day in the not so near future, upper decks could be built on top of those. That's where the 60k numbers get floated.

I for one would like to see a moderate capacity expansion on the east side that focused heavily on premium seating and amenities long before we jump into an end zone seating situation.

If we start getting schools to come here that get people motivated to show up, we can hit the fast forward button. Until then, let's play it conservatively.

You almost sound like a member of
I think it's a great strategy. Optimize what you have

[thepostman]

Don't get me wrong I don't think we should rush the end zone seating. Student side seating/more luxury suites make much more sense in the near future

[cruzan_flame13]

Don't get me wrong I don't think we should rush the end zone seating. Student side seating/more luxury suites make much more sense in the near future

It looks like that is the goal from the AD. Nonetheless, Jerry Jr. did say that they might include the shoe as well during the next phase. I may be wrong, but from his response it seemed likely.

[LUGrad2000]

Keep it intimate. Expand, but make the stadium a showpiece with multi tier premium seating. Even with the FBS opponents we will have at the he Bill, will we need more than 25-30k? I don't think so for the next several years.

[cruzan_flame13]

Keep it intimate. Expand, but make the stadium a showpiece with multi tier premium seating. Even with the FBS opponents we will have at the he Bill, will we need more than 25-30k? I don't think so for the next several years.

30-35k is good for now until there is a demand based on the growth in fan base.

[rmiller1959]

When talking about seating for stadium expansion, I've often wondered how, during Commencement, we squeezed 38,000 people into a stadium with a capacity of 19,200. I'm presuming that includes bleachers and seats on the field itself, and now they are projecting an additional 12,000 this year. Does that mean temporary bleachers are going to fill out the end zone to make that capacity possible?

For the record, I would second a modest expansion and focus on luxury suites/press boxes on the student side. I've been to several games in recent years and attendance, while easily exceeding FBS requirements, was never really impressive to me except for a few occasions (Richmond, the overtime game against Coastal, Montana, the ESPN Thursday Night game vs. Coastal). Once we start bringing in FBS schools, I hope that will change.

[Purple Haize]

I must say I am shocked and surprised at these calls for limited to modest expansion. It's downright prudent. What are you people becoming!!!!!

[ballcoach15]

We should expand to at least 40,000. Once FBS teams start coming to Lynchburg, attendance will be good. teams we play now, never bring any fans . Bringing in P5 teams from east and south, and they will have a good fan base. Even some non P5 teams will bring more fans than all BSC teams bring, combined.