[tyndal23]

Interesting... If the PAC 18 becomes reality what happens to the ACC? If they lose the FSU/Clemson duo plus the NC schools, they have very few places left to go to sure up their ranks.

That won’t happen for 13 years at most - probably 15 ( a year before end of contract ). .GOR is ironclad. The $120 million conference exit fee only allows them out of ACC - it doesn’t free up their GOR. Why would a broke ESPN let them go, only to turn around and pay them over twice as much to play in SEC? All ESPN has to say to SEC is we aren’t paying prorata for them as an addition and the deal Is a non starter. It will have to be a breakaway new league LIV Golf type thing to include them ( which is a much higher probability than - “FSU to SEC”.

As for Liberty - things could start to clear up by tomorrow night if ACC is actually voting on Cal / Stanford addition. Hopefully it is a no vote. Personally - I would sit tight if AAC gets another raid ( I reserve the right to change my mind depending on the teams left ) but instead start whispering in Yormack’s ear about LU future Big 12 eastward expansion and present our cash, renderings of Williams stadium expansion, Vines upgrade for hoops, baseball stadium expansion, and whatever max cash, deferred payout it would take to be a contender with the likes of UCONN/Memphis etc. He is in no big hurry now, get in his ear, make offers he has to consider and at least present to Presidents - get WVU, Cinci in our corner for travel, start working BYU Baylor, TCU relationships at President level - layout bold academic future goals and plan. Max out our ESPN relationship and offer free LU productions for our home conference games ( in addition to the rest ) There isn’t time to “ grow organically” and climb the ranks.

[TH Spangler]

Interesting... If the PAC 18 becomes reality what happens to the ACC? If they lose the FSU/Clemson duo plus the NC schools, they have very few places left to go to sure up their ranks.

That won’t happen for 13 years at most - probably 15 ( a year before end of contract ). .GOR is ironclad. The $120 million conference exit fee only allows them out of ACC - it doesn’t free up their GOR. Why would a broke ESPN let them go, only to turn around and pay them over twice as much to play in SEC? All ESPN has to say to SEC is we aren’t paying prorata for them as an addition and the deal Is a non starter. It will have to be a breakaway new league LIV Golf type thing to include them ( which is a much higher probability than - “FSU to SEC”.

As for Liberty - things could start to clear up by tomorrow night if ACC is actually voting on Cal / Stanford addition. Hopefully it is a no vote. Personally - I would sit tight if AAC gets another raid ( I reserve the right to change my mind depending on the teams left ) but instead start whispering in Yormack’s ear about LU future Big 12 eastward expansion and present our cash, renderings of Williams stadium expansion, Vines upgrade for hoops, baseball stadium expansion, and whatever max cash, deferred payout it would take to be a contender with the likes of UCONN/Memphis etc. He is in no big hurry now, get in his ear, make offers he has to consider and at least present to Presidents - get WVU, Cinci in our corner for travel, start working BYU Baylor, TCU relationships at President level - layout bold academic future goals and plan. Max out our ESPN relationship and offer free LU productions for our home conference games ( in addition to the rest ) There isn’t time to “ grow organically” and climb the ranks.

I'm hearing ESPN will belong to Apple in 6 to 9 months. How might that affect the ACC GoR?

[flameshaw]

I am hearing from very reliable sources that we are going all in. We will be buying our own franchise and will enter the NFL in 2028.

[cruzan_flame13]

Interesting... If the PAC 18 becomes reality what happens to the ACC? If they lose the FSU/Clemson duo plus the NC schools, they have very few places left to go to sure up their ranks.

That won’t happen for 13 years at most - probably 15 ( a year before end of contract ). .GOR is ironclad. The $120 million conference exit fee only allows them out of ACC - it doesn’t free up their GOR. Why would a broke ESPN let them go, only to turn around and pay them over twice as much to play in SEC? All ESPN has to say to SEC is we aren’t paying prorata for them as an addition and the deal Is a non starter. It will have to be a breakaway new league LIV Golf type thing to include them ( which is a much higher probability than - “FSU to SEC”.

As for Liberty - things could start to clear up by tomorrow night if ACC is actually voting on Cal / Stanford addition. Hopefully it is a no vote. Personally - I would sit tight if AAC gets another raid ( I reserve the right to change my mind depending on the teams left ) but instead start whispering in Yormack’s ear about LU future Big 12 eastward expansion and present our cash, renderings of Williams stadium expansion, Vines upgrade for hoops, baseball stadium expansion, and whatever max cash, deferred payout it would take to be a contender with the likes of UCONN/Memphis etc. He is in no big hurry now, get in his ear, make offers he has to consider and at least present to Presidents - get WVU, Cinci in our corner for travel, start working BYU Baylor, TCU relationships at President level - layout bold academic future goals and plan. Max out our ESPN relationship and offer free LU productions for our home conference games ( in addition to the rest ) There isn’t time to “ grow organically” and climb the ranks.

Check dm

[Have_a_Gansett_2011]

I mean I’d like a DM if you’re able to expound on this!

[Sly Fox]

The AAC is essetially the feeder system for the Big XII aside from the Pac collapse. If you want to be considered by Yormark, being in the AAC is the place you want to be competing. The make-up of a picked over AAC still matches up better for us with regional rivals than today's CUSA.

[LUOrange]

The AAC is essetially the feeder system for the Big XII aside from the Pac collapse. If you want to be considered by Yormark, being in the AAC is the place you want to be competing. The make-up of a picked over AAC still matches up better for us with regional rivals than today's CUSA.

I wouldn't complain having UAB, UNCC, ECU, Navy & Temple as conference rivals. Top that off with FAU & Wichita State in MBB is a bonus. 4 reasonable road trips vs. none in CUSA sounds great to me.

[tyndal23]

The AAC is essetially the feeder system for the Big XII aside from the Pac collapse. If you want to be considered by Yormark, being in the AAC is the place you want to be competing. The make-up of a picked over AAC still matches up better for us with regional rivals than today's CUSA.

I wouldn't complain having UAB, UNCC, ECU, Navy & Temple as conference rivals. Top that off with FAU & Wichita State in MBB is a bonus. 4 reasonable road trips vs. none in CUSA sounds great to me.

Depends on the timing BY has in mind for for eastern expansion ( with presidents, AD, network blessings). Example if he could add UCONN for free in 2024 by using LU and it is nothing more than additional exposure and tv rev for the conference, then that is what LU should pitch. Put LU on an “ Associate Member” with no voting rights until building/budget benchmarks are met. He wants UCONN, LU can partner with UCONN and help financially - play that angle and get him what he wants for free. IF LU sees Big 12 as a viable P5/4/3 for 10 years, then make the gamble. If LU thinks the top 40 break away in x amount of years - still take the gamble - worst case - have established the budgets, infrastructure to be top level of the Non semi pro’s. Offer to make OKC a neutral softball home and home for 4 Corner opponents in Big 12 (practice for World Series for both teams ) make LV a semi annual hoops LU neutral home game for 4 corner/BYU - or kick in for travel. There are a 100 angles to take if we really want to get in the club. Stanford and Cal have been rumored to offer long deferred tv payouts to join ACC - I am not the only one who can do 1st grade math and see the long term difference in P vs G conference $...

[cruzan_flame13]

The AAC is essetially the feeder system for the Big XII aside from the Pac collapse. If you want to be considered by Yormark, being in the AAC is the place you want to be competing. The make-up of a picked over AAC still matches up better for us with regional rivals than today's CUSA.

I wouldn't complain having UAB, UNCC, ECU, Navy & Temple as conference rivals. Top that off with FAU & Wichita State in MBB is a bonus. 4 reasonable road trips vs. none in CUSA sounds great to me.

Depends on the timing BY has in mind for for eastern expansion ( with presidents, AD, network blessings). Example if he could add UCONN for free in 2024 by using LU and it is nothing more than additional exposure and tv rev for the conference, then that is what LU should pitch. Put LU on an “ Associate Member” with no voting rights until building/budget benchmarks are met. He wants UCONN, LU can partner with UCONN and help financially - play that angle and get him what he wants for free. IF LU sees Big 12 as a viable P5/4/3 for 10 years, then make the gamble. If LU thinks the top 40 break away in x amount of years - still take the gamble - worst case - have established the budgets, infrastructure to be top level of the Non semi pro’s. Offer to make OKC a neutral softball home and home for 4 Corner opponents in Big 12 (practice for World Series for both teams ) make LV a semi annual hoops LU neutral home game for 4 corner/BYU - or kick in for travel. There are a 100 angles to take if we really want to get in the club. Stanford and Cal have been rumored to offer long deferred tv payouts to join ACC - I am not the only one who can do 1st grade math and see the long term difference in P vs G conference $...

That's crazy talk Tyndall, even though coach Dot mention the same pitch like two years ago for LU to get in the ACC. She's crazy too

[JK37]

Make the pitch. One point and one question:

1) All of softball community already thinks anything later in OKC is unfair. Comes up all the time. Everybody run is OU has an advantage. Eh, whatever. Just sayin.

2) What makes you think LU has the ability financially to do what you’re saying?

[cruzan_flame13]

Make the pitch. One point and one question:

1) All of softball community already thinks anything later in OKC is unfair. Comes up all the time. Everybody run is OU has an advantage. Eh, whatever. Just sayin.

2) What makes you think LU has the ability financially to do what you’re saying?

That's where endowment and sponsorships comes in play. Apparently taking risks is looked at as a sin here. If LU didn't take a risk with home education/online schooling, we wouldn't be where we are now. So why not reach out to companies/ businesses that are Christian/conservatives nationally or even internationally. If it's Christian it has to be better right? . The slow growing concept that most people are projecting here is insufficient long term compared to how other school progressed. It took the blue bloods decades to even become who they are today(we don't have time to do that in the present day of college sports). The advantage that LU has right now is that its value grew way quicker than anyone could imagine. So yes, we have to continue investing to keep money coming in, and we all know that is exactly what LU is doing. It's not as far fetched than what some claim it you be, hence why people call LU a "diploma mill." So yes LU can now established a grand plan for academic and athletic growth that can occur way faster than expected (Just look at the growth from 2013-2023 alone). We have a president that literally established growth at CSU in less than 5 years; imagine what he can do at LU. Yes, we shouldn't depend on online alone, hence why we should gradually expand the campus and residential population like what occurred during 2013-2017. I know we are not liked around the college world, but money talks (look at realignment these days). I don't have a plan on how it will be done, but it will be asinine to think that it can not be done in the position that we're in now. Athletically speaking, we just came into the FBS world and we're already a top G5 school. A good master plan and presentation could benefit us and I am sure this is already in the plans of the president/executive board in the near future. Just a thought.

Side topic, I wonder what's happening in Oregon State's athletic department right now:

https://kobi5.com/news/oregon-state-uni ... bt-212997/

[tyndal23]

Make the pitch. One point and one question:

1) All of softball community already thinks anything later in OKC is unfair. Comes up all the time. Everybody run is OU has an advantage. Eh, whatever. Just sayin.

Trying to decipher your sentence - but in essence playing the 4 corner and BYU gives all those teams game experience in the World Series Stadium vs just OU and OSU playing there...plus it sits empty year round and saves travel distance for the western schools.

2) What makes you think LU has the ability financially to do what you’re saying?

Still waiting on your non response from last time you asked this - provide all the LU financial numbers for us...cash on hand, investment portfolio, endowment, - you keep telling us we can’t afford anything - so what is that based on ?

[TH Spangler]

Make the pitch. One point and one question:

1) All of softball community already thinks anything later in OKC is unfair. Comes up all the time. Everybody run is OU has an advantage. Eh, whatever. Just sayin.

2) What makes you think LU has the ability financially to do what you’re saying?

That's where endowment and sponsorships comes in play. Apparently taking risks is looked at as a sin here. If LU didn't take a risk with home education/online schooling, we wouldn't be where we are now. So why not reach out to companies/ businesses that are Christian/conservatives nationally or even internationally. If it's Christian it has to be better right? . The slow growing concept that most people are projecting here is insufficient long term compared to how other school progressed. It took the blue bloods decades to even become who they are today(we don't have time to do that in the present day of college sports). The advantage that LU has right now is that its value grew way quicker than anyone could imagine. So yes, we have to continue investing to keep money coming in, and we all know that is exactly what LU is doing. It's not as far fetched than what some claim it you be, hence why people call LU a "diploma mill." So yes LU can now established a grand plan for academic and athletic growth that can occur way faster than expected (Just look at the growth from 2013-2023 alone). We have a president that literally established growth at CSU in less than 5 years; imagine what he can do at LU. Yes, we shouldn't depend on online alone, hence why we should gradually expand the campus and residential population like what occurred during 2013-2017. I know we are not liked around the college world, but money talks (look at realignment these days). I don't have a plan on how it will be done, but it will be asinine to think that it can not be done in the position that we're in now. Athletically speaking, we just came into the FBS world and we're already a top G5 school. A good master plan and presentation could benefit us and I am sure this is already in the plans of the president/executive board in the near future. Just a thought.

Side topic, I wonder what's happening in Oregon State's athletic department right now:

https://kobi5.com/news/oregon-state-uni ... bt-212997/

West Virginia cutting?

https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/08/1 ... on-at-wvu/

[LUOrange]

I'm happy to be in CUSA right now, despite those stupid mid-week games. My fear, as probably shared by all of us, is that since realignment is moving so fast that we're going to get stuck in a CUSA/G5/FBS Level 3 purgatory. That said, I'm sure McCaw and Costin are and will do what's in the best interests of Liberty. i enjoy realignment for the drama, but hate what it's actually doing to college athletics.

[tyndal23]

Make the pitch. One point and one question:

1) All of softball community already thinks anything later in OKC is unfair. Comes up all the time. Everybody run is OU has an advantage. Eh, whatever. Just sayin.

Trying to decipher your sentence - but in essence playing the 4 corner and BYU gives all those teams game experience in the World Series Stadium vs just OU and OSU playing there...plus it sits empty year round and saves travel distance for the western schools.

2) What makes you think LU has the ability financially to do what you’re saying?

Still waiting on your non response from last time you asked this - provide all the LU financial numbers for us...cash on hand, investment portfolio, endowment, - you keep telling us we can’t afford anything - so what is that based on ?

Forgot to add - OKC is also home to LU ‘ s wealthiest donor who is giving all his $ away to Christian organizations - should be Dondi’s first flight...

[ballcoach15]

I'm happy to be in CUSA right now, despite those stupid mid-week games. My fear, as probably shared by all of us, is that since realignment is moving so fast that we're going to get stuck in a CUSA/G5/FBS Level 3 purgatory. That said, I'm sure McCaw and Costin are and will do what's in the best interests of Liberty. i enjoy realignment for the drama, but hate what it's actually doing to college athletics.

Realignment, NIL, Transfer Portal = not good. NCAA is worst run organization in the world, even worse than Congress and the United Nations.

[flameshaw]

I'm happy to be in CUSA right now, despite those stupid mid-week games. My fear, as probably shared by all of us, is that since realignment is moving so fast that we're going to get stuck in a CUSA/G5/FBS Level 3 purgatory. That said, I'm sure McCaw and Costin are and will do what's in the best interests of Liberty. i enjoy realignment for the drama, but hate what it's actually doing to college athletics.

Realignment, NIL, Transfer Portal = not good. NCAA is worst run organization in the world, even worse than Congress and the United Nations.

You were on target until the comma.

[LUOrange]

I'm happy to be in CUSA right now, despite those stupid mid-week games. My fear, as probably shared by all of us, is that since realignment is moving so fast that we're going to get stuck in a CUSA/G5/FBS Level 3 purgatory. That said, I'm sure McCaw and Costin are and will do what's in the best interests of Liberty. i enjoy realignment for the drama, but hate what it's actually doing to college athletics.

Realignment, NIL, Transfer Portal = not good. NCAA is worst run organization in the world, even worse than Congress and the United Nations.

NCAA is bad. Just not worse than the "Rich Men north of Richmond" or the supposed United Nations.

[Humble_Opinion]

Make the pitch. One point and one question:

1) All of softball community already thinks anything later in OKC is unfair. Comes up all the time. Everybody run is OU has an advantage. Eh, whatever. Just sayin.

2) What makes you think LU has the ability financially to do what you’re saying?

LU has the financial ability to do whatever it wants in Athletics. We ended FY 2021 with ~$310M in Operating Income. Our fund balance (Balance Sheet) has a surplus of ~$3.5B. The "Endowment" has a balance of ~$2.2B, though FY 2021 was a rough year in terms of ROI. However, the vast majority of the endowment is a "quasi-endowment", which means the university maintains control over the purpose/usage of those funds, as they are not subject to donor restrictions. We ended the year with ~$342M in cash, plus an additional ~$73M in equivalents. We aren't cash strapped by any means... The fact is that the very few schools (with the exception of GCU and a few others with robust online operations) have a balance sheet/income statement that looks like ours. It affords us a lot of flexibility to pursue our long-term goals.

[LUOrange]

Thoughts?

[BlueBlood]

If LU has the most money, then this would benefit LU more than any other conference member, correct? LU likely has the funds to buy their way out, others may not.

[AATL]

If LU has the most money, then this would benefit LU more than any other conference member, correct?

I'd certainly think so. If the term is the same duration as the media rights deal (5 years), then Liberty likely has the cash to buy their way out at any time if another opportunity becomes available. It will force the CUSA members who don't have that kind of cash on hand to stay put for the short term, which offers some protection against the tides of realignment. Plus, it offers some short-term stability for any FCS call-ups (Deleware, etc.) who might be considering making the jump before the threshold to do so becomes significantly costlier.

The term is so short that it seems like it is just a "survive this round of realignment with some stability" pact. It's no 20-year term like the MAC wanted of WKU, nor an ACC GoR situation where unhappy members won't be able to leave.

[AATL]

This is no great surprise, but worth sharing nonetheless: https://www.espn.com/college-football/s ... mmish-says

tldr; Sankey is calling for a reexamination of the CFP format. The article implies that he is referring to the auto-qualifying of six conference champions instead of the number of teams.

[Sly Fox]

Apparently it was a necessary term to sign the media deal last fall. And yes, we could easily buy our way out. This won't stop us from going to the AAC if the opportunity arises.

[LUOrange]

Apparently it was a necessary term to sign the media deal last fall. And yes, we could easily buy our way out. This won't stop us from going to the AAC if the opportunity arises.

This was what I thought as well. I didn't think that they'd lock themselves in to CUSA that long.