By the way, I will be moving any posts that deal with anything other than the potential of Liberty as an expansion candidate out of this thread and onto the smack board. Thanks

Hasn't this guys been covering the SBC for quite a while. I don't think he has any ties to LU, he just think we have a lot to offer and are being snubbed. sounds reasonable.

Had someone just email me "Never trust and 'insider' with 250 followers"

(01-28-2014 01:50 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  Hasn't this guys been covering the SBC for quite a while. I don't think he has any ties to LU, he just think we have a lot to offer and are being snubbed. sounds reasonable.

LOL...covering..um ok...sure...go on...

(01-28-2014 01:42 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  There goes another level-headed stAte fan post. Of course, many on this board have presumed any talks with Liberty to have died forever last spring.

There is no such thing as dead talks. Especially when no one knows for sure what schools will say when we ask.

Liberty is still ahead of Jacksonville State and any Southland programs on a lot of expansion lists.

What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

(01-28-2014 01:25 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:22 PM)AppfanInCAAland Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:04 PM)GSUALUM Wrote:  A part of me wants this to be true. I don't like the arrogance of JMU towards the Sun belt.

Other than that they are a short drive from home for me, this is the only reason I'd like to have Liberty in the conference. It would serve those purple dukies right to shun us and then see a supposedly inferior school down the road get the last spot just as the FBS door shut for a very long time. Hopefully, this is a plot to make them jump in Harrisonburg.

However, you may take your school's recent change in heart by scheduling LU for football as a sign of their support for LU.

I have to say I wouldn't mind Liberty. They are very well resourced, have a TV network that would add a lot more exposure to the Sun Belt, and have very good facilities. Every school has admins and profs that say insensitive, ugly, and absurd things, Liberty is no different. I really don't want to get into all of that. But I see them as no different than ND or BYU... all religious schools that teach from a religious perspective. I'm sure that BYU would be welcomed with open arms if they applied for membership.

In the end, its about athletics and Liberty has the facilities and resources to be a high-performing conference member.

(01-28-2014 01:53 PM)panama Wrote:  What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's why you talk. Its sort of like the Lamar rumors. Suire, they are probably not our top choices...but you don't just talk to your #1 choice.

After seeing UTC's faclities I would take them or Jacksonville State over Liberty if for no other reason than Lynchburg, VA

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:53 PM)panama Wrote:  What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's why you talk. Its sort of like the Lamar rumors. Suire, they are probably not our top choices...but you don't just talk to your #1 choice.

There is also one way talk. Likely many talking one way towards NOLA. I have to think the Lamar talk is one way.

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:53 PM)panama Wrote:  What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's why you talk. Its sort of like the Lamar rumors. Suire, they are probably not our top choices...but you don't just talk to your #1 choice.

Or maybe all 3? I have no info, just throwing it our there.

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  I have to say I wouldn't mind Liberty. They are very well resourced, have a TV network that would add a lot more exposure to the Sun Belt, and have very good facilities. Every school has admins and profs that say insensitive, ugly, and absurd things, Liberty is no different. I really don't want to get into all of that. But I see them as no different than ND or BYU... all religious schools that teach from a religious perspective. I'm sure that BYU would be welcomed with open arms if they applied for membership.

In the end, its about athletics and Liberty has the facilities and resources to be a high-performing conference member.

TV network is irrelevant. The Sun Belt's television contract with ESPN prohibits telecasting games outside of any state that has a Sun Belt team or states bordering those states.

Unless Liberty plans on blacking out their content in the many states that don't fit that, they can't show Sun Belt games.

The contract also gives window exclusivity to ESPN and CSS/CST. So they cannot telecast any game that overlaps another Sun Belt telecast.

If they do address those issues, they are then required to make the game available to ESPN3 free of charge and ESPN will strip out their commercials.

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's the million dollar question: Does the committee feel we HAVE to get a 12th team?

(01-28-2014 01:58 PM)panama Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:53 PM)panama Wrote:  What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's why you talk. Its sort of like the Lamar rumors. Suire, they are probably not our top choices...but you don't just talk to your #1 choice.

There is also one way talk. Likely many talking one way towards NOLA. I have to think the Lamar talk is one way.

I think a lot of Lamar's talk is one way. I truly believe that there are several things about Liberty that are intriguing to SBC Officials, and several things that are concerning. It would make sense to have a two way dialogue with Liberty to get them to address both issues.

(01-28-2014 02:03 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:53 PM)panama Wrote:  What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's why you talk. Its sort of like the Lamar rumors. Suire, they are probably not our top choices...but you don't just talk to your #1 choice.

Or maybe all 3? I have no info, just throwing it our there.

Why all 3?

Or a better question is what could happen in the next few (or even 10) years to make those teams unavailable?

To me, adding anyone at this point that is not already FBS is silly. We don't HAVE to be at 12, and with another year or two building on the success this year (I'm counting on the Cajuns cracking the top 25 and getting closer to top 15 next season), the pecking order can change.

(01-28-2014 01:57 PM)panama Wrote:  After seeing UTC's faclities I would take them or Jacksonville State over Liberty if for no other reason than Lynchburg, VA

I like UTC too. I don't know if they feel comfortable making the jump. Could be an issue of a lack of vision. I know when Benson called it was like a house painter calling while your house was burning down... They had no AD and a brand-new chancellor... another call might be in order, but it still might take them 1-2 years to get it together... by then I'm thinking we have a full membership.

notes from above:
ESPN3 already takes the majority of LU Basketball (M and W) and Football.
The network that is established has stations in almost every state and should easily be able to be tailored to SBC/ESPN wishes
I hope if there are talks, it includes SBC School officials coming to see Liberty for themselves.

(01-28-2014 02:04 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  I have to say I wouldn't mind Liberty. They are very well resourced, have a TV network that would add a lot more exposure to the Sun Belt, and have very good facilities. Every school has admins and profs that say insensitive, ugly, and absurd things, Liberty is no different. I really don't want to get into all of that. But I see them as no different than ND or BYU... all religious schools that teach from a religious perspective. I'm sure that BYU would be welcomed with open arms if they applied for membership.

In the end, its about athletics and Liberty has the facilities and resources to be a high-performing conference member.

TV network is irrelevant. The Sun Belt's television contract with ESPN prohibits telecasting games outside of any state that has a Sun Belt team or states bordering those states.

Unless Liberty plans on blacking out their content in the many states that don't fit that, they can't show Sun Belt games.

The contract also gives window exclusivity to ESPN and CSS/CST. So they cannot telecast any game that overlaps another Sun Belt telecast.

If they do address those issues, they are then required to make the game available to ESPN3 free of charge and ESPN will strip out their commercials.

The prodigal Arkstfan has returned from his self imposed exile to the realignment board?

(01-28-2014 02:07 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 02:03 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:53 PM)panama Wrote:  What 9 schools would vote yes? What western schools would vote yes to Liberty?

At this moment. Not many. However, if Missouri State and JMU were not available and the committee really felt we had to get a 12th team? You might see a lot of minds change.

That's why you talk. Its sort of like the Lamar rumors. Suire, they are probably not our top choices...but you don't just talk to your #1 choice.

Or maybe all 3? I have no info, just throwing it our there.

Why all 3?

Or a better question is what could happen in the next few (or even 10) years to make those teams unavailable?

To me, adding anyone at this point that is not already FBS is silly. We don't HAVE to be at 12, and with another year or two building on the success this year (I'm counting on the Cajuns cracking the top 25 and getting closer to top 15 next season), the pecking order can change.

Just brought it up due to the other rumor of adding 3 because 2 more might leave.

(01-28-2014 02:04 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(01-28-2014 01:55 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  I have to say I wouldn't mind Liberty. They are very well resourced, have a TV network that would add a lot more exposure to the Sun Belt, and have very good facilities. Every school has admins and profs that say insensitive, ugly, and absurd things, Liberty is no different. I really don't want to get into all of that. But I see them as no different than ND or BYU... all religious schools that teach from a religious perspective. I'm sure that BYU would be welcomed with open arms if they applied for membership.

In the end, its about athletics and Liberty has the facilities and resources to be a high-performing conference member.

TV network is irrelevant. The Sun Belt's television contract with ESPN prohibits telecasting games outside of any state that has a Sun Belt team or states bordering those states.

Unless Liberty plans on blacking out their content in the many states that don't fit that, they can't show Sun Belt games.

The contract also gives window exclusivity to ESPN and CSS/CST. So they cannot telecast any game that overlaps another Sun Belt telecast.

If they do address those issues, they are then required to make the game available to ESPN3 free of charge and ESPN will strip out their commercials.

That sounds doable to me. Sounds like a way to get more games on ESPN3 that were not planned... also, it would not prohibit Liberty's network from offering Sun Belt coverage... coaching shows, football previews, Sun Belt weekly highlights... and the like.