- October 25th, 2021, 11:12 pm
#634021
Just a few of my thoughts on last week and some of your posts:
1. If McCaw did in fact turn down several G5 offers and/or still has a Sun Belt offer on his desk, then I'm definitely more comfortable with the probable state of conference realignment as it appears today and our ability to schedule.
2. Damian's article with McCaw's immediate response also calmed me down as he believes as I do, that more realignment is coming. It didn't sound like he's ruled anything out, including CUSA. He does continue to tout regional conferences, but he again says that a P5 is where we're headed and that "an intermediate" will work in the meantime. He may be saying the right things or I'm reading too much into it, but it's still hopeful.
3. It's hard to disagree with most of what our ASOR rookie, lawdawg2002, has posted about how other schools actually perceive us. We definitely need to keep improving our academic chops, especially on research, pay, job security (for all employees much less just professor)s, working environment, etc. It's definitely past time to get an actual permanent president that will actually do the job and build relationships with other schools and in the community. He also needs to be seen. Dr. Falwell was always visible and approachable all over CVA. I'd run into him or past him virtually everyday. I've yet to cross paths with Jr., Jonathon, or Prevo anywhere but on campus and that has been limited.
4. I differ slightly on BYU and the Republican farm system (as opposed to the offended-woke-socialist farm system that the vast majority of higher Ed has become). BYU is obviously more respected than us, but that's just because they're a more established bigger brand. Their ticket only got punched cause the B12 was desperate. Also, even huge Trump supporting grads like myself, don't want our president out on the campaign trail behaving in an undignified manner. I want Liberty to remain the home of Christian conservatism that our political leaders want to flock to, but again, we shouldn't be setting up campaign headquarters here either. Our emphasis should always be evangelism and education, and that can't be divorced from the moral and political issues of the day.
5. Bottom line we're either still Indy by choice or, because of our wealth, faith, and politics but magnified by society's political climate. But in essence, they don't want us doing to them, what we've done to the ASUN.
6. At this time, we need to really embrace being Indy. I think that means strengthening our schedule and trying to schedule at least 4 P5's a year and gradually increasing to at least 6 as we improve. This is necessary if we really want to emulate Notre Dame and BYU. We're starting to get top tiered recruits that want a Christian school. We can get to the point where the Tebows look our way first. But we've got to do our best to play enough P5's for them to consider us. We've already had recruits say that the multiple P5's we play were a big attraction here.