If they want to be FBS, you take what is the best available option for you that day. It can be argued that UTSA and Texas State by starting their transition with the WAC made themselves more attractive when the Sun Belt and C-USA were looking for members.

11/30/10 TCU accepts invite to Big East.
10/10/11 TCU accepts invite to Big XII without having played in the Big East.

11/10/10 Denver joins WAC
11/27/12 Denver joins Summit

12/7/11 San Diego State joins Big East for football
12/12/11 San Diego State places all sports except football in Big West.
1/16/13 SDSU withdraws from the Big West.
1/16/13 SDSU withdraws from the Big East

11/7/11 Boise State accepts Big East invite
11/31/12 Boise State witdraws from the Big East

11/11/10 Texas State and UTSA join WAC
4/28/12 UTSA to CUSA
5/2/12 TXST to Sun Belt

7/14/11 UTA to WAC
5/24/12 UTA to Sun Belt.

We've seen quite a few schools leave a conference they joined without playing a game and we've seen schools play only a year or two.

WKU had they not opted to make the FBS move, probably is mailing postcards to MVC members.

If JMU REALLY wants to be FBS, they move and worry about getting closer to where they might want to be later.

Thinking more about it.

I'm agnostic about adding Liberty, I understand presidents view this matter differently but...

From solely a sports business perspective, I think the proper course of action is tell JMU to do something or get off the pot by COB May 16, 2014 or the Sun Belt will extend an invite to Liberty. If we take Liberty, we won't take a second Virginia school.

That removes the Sun Belt as an option for JMU and leaves them with the longer shots at the MAC (who may do nothing or seek a football only if they do expand) and even longer shot at C-USA where it is an unknown whether C-USA's next TV deal makes expansion worthwhile and if expansion does happen you have the competing interest of the Commissioner who purportedly wants two in the west and the ODU AD who wants one east one west and even if ODU wins the east/west battle, they have to convince the membership to go for another team that is in FCS vs. Georgia State sitting in a major airline hub and briding the Florida schools with the rest of the league.

Taking Liberty would significantly reduce the possibility that JMU is EVER in FBS. A May 31 press conference would work quite well.

I see it that way too. It will take two years to transition, why not go ahead and get process started? There is also no penalty for leaving, and if you're FBS already you are a more attractive team to CUSA or the MAC.

I guess it makes sense if they think an invite is imminent...and admittedly I'm not a JMU fan but I don't see why they wouldn't.

I agree completely.

First of all, I always thought JMU or anyone with a desire to move wouldn't jump at the chance to get in before doors close. Being in one conference is not a barrier to joining another and having the FBS tag possibly makes a program more attractive when expansion occurs.

If MSU isn't ready then I am onboard with a drop dead date for JMU before we invited Liberty. I cannot imgaine that JMU wants to see yet another Virginia school move to FBS ahead of them. It not only hurts their FBS prospects but it damages their ability to recruit at the FCS level. Liberty has its faults but they have the facilities , the budget and the geography to make it work.

Even if we add one of the VA schools, there may be room down the road for MSU if they are not ready at this time.

(03-24-2014 10:08 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  I agree completely.

First of all, I always thought JMU or anyone with a desire to move wouldn't jump at the chance to get in before doors close. Being in one conference is not a barrier to joining another and having the FBS tag possibly makes a program more attractive when expansion occurs.

If MSU isn't ready then I am onboard with a drop dead date for JMU before we invited Liberty. I cannot imgaine that JMU wants to see yet another Virginia school move to FBS ahead of them. It not only hurts their FBS prospects but it damages their ability to recruit at the FCS level. Liberty has its faults but they have the facilities , the budget and the geography to make it work.

Even if we add one of the VA schools, there may be room down the road for MSU if they are not ready at this time.

If either MSU or JMU says no then the SBC should just hold and reevaluate its long term goal. I do not believe Liberty fits the bill nor has the votes.

There is only one reason to keep Liberty out. If that is enough for you then fine but otherwise they fit the bill.

(03-24-2014 10:20 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  There is only one reason to keep Liberty out. If that is enough for you then fine but otherwise they fit the bill.

There's actually a few reasons, but that's not the point.

At such a great school like JMU, one so similar to App and so close geographically, it would be a shame to see their short-sighted leadership squander their only FBS opportunity.

(03-24-2014 10:47 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  At such a great school like JMU, one so similar to App and so close geographically, it would be a shame to see their short-sighted leadership squander their only FBS opportunity.

I am of the mind that if they don't jump it is not the leadership at fault, but the faculty, scared of the POTENTIAL regression in academic focus.

I say potential because it's no guarantee that will happen. Plenty of FBS schools that maintain a high academic standards.

(03-24-2014 10:33 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:20 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  There is only one reason to keep Liberty out. If that is enough for you then fine but otherwise they fit the bill.

There's actually a few reasons, but that's not the point.

There are a lot of reasons to not invite Liberty but none are sports business reasons. I'm not a university president so while I'm aware of their concerns, their concerns have no bearing on analyzing the situation strictly on a business basis.

(03-24-2014 10:47 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  At such a great school like JMU, one so similar to App and so close geographically, it would be a shame to see their short-sighted leadership squander their only FBS opportunity.

It's better for CAA and FCS if they remain FCS. I've no problem with shutting the door for them if they lack the courage to choose to act by moving or repudiating the idea of moving.

(03-24-2014 10:54 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  There are a lot of reasons to not invite Liberty but none are sports business reasons. I'm not a university president so while I'm aware of their concerns, their concerns have no bearing on analyzing the situation strictly on a business basis.

I agree that the reasons to not invite Liberty are not sports related, but they do have an impact on sports.

(03-24-2014 10:56 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:54 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  There are a lot of reasons to not invite Liberty but none are sports business reasons. I'm not a university president so while I'm aware of their concerns, their concerns have no bearing on analyzing the situation strictly on a business basis.

I agree that the reasons to not invite Liberty are not sports related, but they do have an impact on sports.

They have an impact on the decision-makers. No question about that.

(03-24-2014 10:33 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:20 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  There is only one reason to keep Liberty out. If that is enough for you then fine but otherwise they fit the bill.

There's actually a few reasons, but that's not the point.

Exactly and many that have been bought upon many threads. While the whole religious/political potential grenade is a problem there is also the matter that they do nothing for MBB which is a need. Another poster bought up the ability to pay their bills has been an ongoing issue and one wonders how stable a private school with a $60M endowment can possibly be. But it doesnt matter because the bottom line is can they get 9 votes? Most think no because they have failed twice and nothing has changed.

I can see where JMU may take ArkStFan's point of view which is what GSU did. Priority became get out of FCS and out of the CAA by any means. Once youre in youre in. Worry about conference affiliation later. Who knows, maybe JMU and MoState take that approach.

(03-24-2014 10:54 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:33 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:20 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  There is only one reason to keep Liberty out. If that is enough for you then fine but otherwise they fit the bill.

There's actually a few reasons, but that's not the point.

There are a lot of reasons to not invite Liberty but none are sports business reasons. I'm not a university president so while I'm aware of their concerns, their concerns have no bearing on analyzing the situation strictly on a business basis.

Which is the way it should be conducted. Would JMU be football only, or a full member?

(03-24-2014 10:47 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  At such a great school like JMU, one so similar to App and so close geographically, it would be a shame to see their short-sighted leadership squander their only FBS opportunity.

They're apparently quite adept at squandering things.

I'm still not at all sure how JMU's admin really feels. They seem to keep it close or even say things to play games. I'll feel better as a Liberty guy if I ever hear something official that they prefer CUSA or MAC. Other than that, I still wonder if they are in the SBC drivers seat. And thanks to those who are throwing up some LU support on here.

(03-24-2014 10:52 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:47 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  At such a great school like JMU, one so similar to App and so close geographically, it would be a shame to see their short-sighted leadership squander their only FBS opportunity.

I am of the mind that if they don't jump it is not the leadership at fault, but the faculty, scared of the POTENTIAL regression in academic focus.

I say potential because it's no guarantee that will happen. Plenty of FBS schools that maintain a high academic standards.

So, the question is, does the Faculty have that much say?

(03-24-2014 10:58 AM)panama Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:33 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:20 AM)Crump1 Wrote:  There is only one reason to keep Liberty out. If that is enough for you then fine but otherwise they fit the bill.

There's actually a few reasons, but that's not the point.

Exactly and many that have been bought upon many threads. While the whole religious/political potential grenade is a problem there is also the matter that they do nothing for MBB which is a need. Another poster bought up the ability to pay their bills has been an ongoing issue and one wonders how stable a private school with a $60M endowment can possibly be. But it doesnt matter because the bottom line is can they get 9 votes? Most think no because they have failed twice and nothing has changed.

I can see where JMU may take ArkStFan's point of view which is what GSU did. Priority became get out of FCS and out of the CAA by any means. Once youre in youre in. Worry about conference affiliation later. Who knows, maybe JMU and MoState take that approach.

Please! You did something for basketball this season, but I don't see that Gstate has done much of anything else thus far. Let's not pretend Gstate is years above Liberty, you are not!

(03-24-2014 12:17 PM)knucklehead Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:52 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(03-24-2014 10:47 AM)DrGonzo Wrote:  At such a great school like JMU, one so similar to App and so close geographically, it would be a shame to see their short-sighted leadership squander their only FBS opportunity.

I am of the mind that if they don't jump it is not the leadership at fault, but the faculty, scared of the POTENTIAL regression in academic focus.

I say potential because it's no guarantee that will happen. Plenty of FBS schools that maintain a high academic standards.

So, the question is, does the Faculty have that much say?

In the case of App State the faculty (or a few rabble rousers who really only represent a minority of the faculty), can do little more than try to convince their students that it's a bad idea and try raise hell to the media. They have no direct impact on the decision, and rightly so.