[LUGrad2000]

I think it is a 3 for 2 because the 2020 trip to VT was already scheduled. Of course it could be part of the deal. 3 for 2 is a pretty good deal at any rate. I can't wait!

[rmiller1959]

An interesting article on our transition to FBS:

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... u10u8macvr

[Purple Haize]

Great article
Words of wisdom
The Monarchs played the 2013 season as an independent and Wilder said that put them in a sort of “no man’s land” when it came to creating the schedule. Liberty, which opens the 2017 season at Baylor, plans to enter FBS as an independent. Wilder cautioned against trying to do too much too soon.

[Class of 20Something]

Great article
Words of wisdom
The Monarchs played the 2013 season as an independent and Wilder said that put them in a sort of “no man’s land” when it came to creating the schedule. Liberty, which opens the 2017 season at Baylor, plans to enter FBS as an independent. Wilder cautioned against trying to do too much too soon.

2020 has 3 ACC opponents on the road already.

And as it stands 2022 will be the first season we host two P5(BYU is included by strength) schools in Lynchburg.

I am afraid that we have bitten off more than we can chew.

On the other side of that coin. I went by the Bill today to scope out the view from my seats and observed a full contact practice(spring game style) complete with 7 officials, play clock, and chain gang. This seems like a departure from HCTG's past coaching strategy. I'm glad to see him adapt.

[LUGrad2000]

An interesting article on our transition to FBS:

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... u10u8macvr

IM, "schedules through 2021 are done".
I am impressed.

[Class of 20Something]

An interesting article on our transition to FBS:

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... u10u8macvr

IM, "schedules through 2021 are done".
I am impressed.

I can't help but think where we would be with JB at the helm right now.

[Purple Haize]

JB couldn't do what IM has done.
Just because you CAN do something doesn't always mean you should

[Class of 20Something]

JB couldn't do what IM has done.
Just because you CAN do something doesn't always mean you should

I wholeheartedly agree. I think the AD change will be seen as the reason we transitioned successfully.

[Sly Fox]

I think you missed the point of the resident contrarian.

[Purple Haize]

I think you missed the point of the resident contrarian.

I agree that if LU wanted to make the move FBS Independent they have a much better chance of it being successful with IM as AD than JB. Also, tossing money around like Monopoly doesn't hurt.
People like to insinuate things that I never say or mean. IM is a good AD. He has the connections and background to get things done. I never ever said he wasn't good at the business part of running an Athletic Department. He does have his serious short comings. But the Strategic vision needed for an AD is not one of them.

We can continue the debate as to whether or not moving up to FBS Independent was a good idea. I've made my thoughts clear (and I'm POSITIVE some will just assume they know). But what is done is done. We can continue to debate whether LU hiring IM was in line with LU Beliefs or not. It certainly was business wise. But again. What's done is done.

So now the schedule. It certainly is sexy looking. Especially if teams don't back out of the late year deals. But will LU be competitive in those games? Yes LU playes VT 6 times. Will the fan base be happy 0-6? These teams are scheduling LU for FBS wins. At what point does LU become Fresno or Boise St and bring in the talent needed regardless of background to compete and win these games? Remember, LU is only a few months removed from losing to CSU and not that far removed from losing to GW etc.
Thus my quote. But feel free to continue to project

[olldflame]

I'm fairly certain that the primary reason JB is no longer our AD is that he simply was not "on board" with pursuing FBS indy status. I doubt if we are talking about outright insubordination, but his heart would not have been in it. JLFJR needed someone who would go all in and had the chops to pull it off, and Ian was clearly that man. Now the issue is to find out if TG is the right man to put together a team that can compete and WIN at that level. I, as do most of us I believe, hope he is, but I have my doubts, especially with his current staff.

[Purple Haize]

I'm fairly certain that the primary reason JB is no longer our AD is that he simply was not "on board" with pursuing FBS indy status. I doubt if we are talking about outright insubordination, but his heart would not have been in it. JLFJR needed someone who would go all in and had the chops to pull it off, and Ian was clearly that man. Now the issue is to find out if TG is the right man to put together a team that can compete and WIN at that level. I, as do most of us I believe, hope he is, but I have my doubts, especially with his current staff.

I think you misspelled OL and DL

[olldflame]

I'm fairly certain that the primary reason JB is no longer our AD is that he simply was not "on board" with pursuing FBS indy status. I doubt if we are talking about outright insubordination, but his heart would not have been in it. JLFJR needed someone who would go all in and had the chops to pull it off, and Ian was clearly that man. Now the issue is to find out if TG is the right man to put together a team that can compete and WIN at that level. I, as do most of us I believe, hope he is, but I have my doubts, especially with his current staff.

I think you misspelled OL and DL

I think we all know we will need more and better big guys in the trenches to win in FBS, but they aren't going to just show up. We need the right men to recruit them.

Beyond that, our OC really needs to step it up this year, or he should be gone, even if Gill sticks around. We need to actually run the much-talked-about "fast pace" offense, and show some creativity and fool defenses occasionally as well as improving execution.

[Purple Haize]

I'm fairly certain that the primary reason JB is no longer our AD is that he simply was not "on board" with pursuing FBS indy status. I doubt if we are talking about outright insubordination, but his heart would not have been in it. JLFJR needed someone who would go all in and had the chops to pull it off, and Ian was clearly that man. Now the issue is to find out if TG is the right man to put together a team that can compete and WIN at that level. I, as do most of us I believe, hope he is, but I have my doubts, especially with his current staff.

I think you misspelled OL and DL

I think we all know we will need more and better big guys in the trenches to win in FBS, but they aren't going to just show up. We need the right men to recruit them.

Beyond that, our OC really needs to step it up this year, or he should be gone, even if Gill sticks around. We need to actually run the much-talked-about "fast pace" offense, and show some creativity and fool defenses occasionally as well as improving execution.

If only there were a coach available out there who had experience building a program into prominence while running an 'up tempo' offense. But golly, there can't be any coaches out there who've had a Heisman Trophy winner at QB running that type of offense sitting on the open market looking for a job, can there?

[BJWilliams]

If only there were a coach available out there who had experience building a program into prominence while running an 'up tempo' offense. But golly, there can't be any coaches out there who've had a Heisman Trophy winner at QB running that type of offense sitting on the open market looking for a job, can there?

If he isn't a moral pariah and PR nightmare waiting to happen, I'd like to meet him

[Purple Haize]

If only there were a coach available out there who had experience building a program into prominence while running an 'up tempo' offense. But golly, there can't be any coaches out there who've had a Heisman Trophy winner at QB running that type of offense sitting on the open market looking for a job, can there?

If he isn't a moral pariah and PR nightmare waiting to happen, I'd like to meet him

LU has shown it does not shy away from those people

[SumItUp]

If only there were a coach available out there who had experience building a program into prominence while running an 'up tempo' offense. But golly, there can't be any coaches out there who've had a Heisman Trophy winner at QB running that type of offense sitting on the open market looking for a job, can there?

Do you really think Bob Stoops would be a fit at LU?

[Purple Haize]

If only there were a coach available out there who had experience building a program into prominence while running an 'up tempo' offense. But golly, there can't be any coaches out there who've had a Heisman Trophy winner at QB running that type of offense sitting on the open market looking for a job, can there?

Do you really think Bob Stoops would be a fit at LU?

He does have a closet full of red apparel

[flameshaw]

IM has done a remarkable job thus far as AD. I believe, JB did about all he was capable of doing and did a good/decent job as our AD for many years. I think that he considered himself untouchable at one time, which resulted in a protracted downhill journey with the administration. His wife's involvement wasn't considered a positive either.
Like many things mentioned here, IM's negatives have been waaaay overstated. We vetted him for over a year before we hired him. I am confident he is the right guy for us, at this time in our history. Hopefully he can hire a good football coach if/when the time comes. Like several others, I hope TG is the guy, but appears very doubtful. We have a pretty good read on him now, based on the last several years.
We are really going to have to step up super bigly to be competitive with our future schedules. Not enthused thus far with the recruiting results.

[Purple Haize]

IM has done a remarkable job thus far as AD. I believe, JB did about all he was capable of doing and did a good/decent job as our AD for many years. I think that he considered himself untouchable at one time, which resulted in a protracted downhill journey with the administration. His wife's involvement wasn't considered a positive either.
Like many things mentioned here, IM's negatives have been waaaay overstated. We vetted him for over a year before we hired him. I am confident he is the right guy for us, for at this time in our history. Hopefully he can hire a good football coach if/when the time comes. Like several others, I hope TG is the guy, but appears very doubtful. We have a pretty good read on him now, based on the last several years.
We are really going to have to step up super bigly to be competitive with our future schedules. Not enthused thus far with the recruiting results.

How could LU have vetted IM for over a year before hiring him?

[Class of 20Something]

It was probably closer to 9 months given timing, but I'm sure they had an idea before JB "left"

[Purple Haize]

It was probably closer to 9 months given timing, but I'm sure they had an idea before JB "left"

IM resigned May 30. JR hired him Mid November. So you are contending that it was LU's Master Plan to hire him AWAY from Baylor regardless? Interesting

[flameshaw]

IM has done a remarkable job thus far as AD. I believe, JB did about all he was capable of doing and did a good/decent job as our AD for many years. I think that he considered himself untouchable at one time, which resulted in a protracted downhill journey with the administration. His wife's involvement wasn't considered a positive either.
Like many things mentioned here, IM's negatives have been waaaay overstated. We vetted him for over a year before we hired him. I am confident he is the right guy for us, for at this time in our history. Hopefully he can hire a good football coach if/when the time comes. Like several others, I hope TG is the guy, but appears very doubtful. We have a pretty good read on him now, based on the last several years.
We are really going to have to step up super bigly to be competitive with our future schedules. Not enthused thus far with the recruiting results.

How could LU have vetted IM for over a year before hiring him?

Actually it was almost 2 years, but I knew some wouldn't believe it was even the one year I posted. I talked to one of the people who was responsible for the vetting. Not saying that the decision to replace JB was made that early. But good leadership/management is always looking and making succession plans. I know that the Fortune 500 companies I worked for, were very proactive in this area. It was part of the annual review process for senior level employees.

[Purple Haize]

So that's breaking news. LU was looking at hiring IM while he was still AD at Baylor

[flameshaw]

So that's breaking news. LU was looking at hiring IM while he was still AD at Baylor

I have spoke about it before in previous posts, when people were guessing/saying that we vetted him for all of 4 days. Not really breaking news. I come here almost every day and like the site, but there are a lot of things speculated on/about that just aren't true. Remember the one that said we were going to cut the athletic budget?