(04-29-2014 02:39 PM)buryyourduke Wrote:  I know he's not full of crap on this. 100% fact. Keep believing what you want.

We know. Everything that we don't know and cannot be proven is "speculation," unless of course it comes from Liberty's beat writer. Then, it's the gospel.

I've never said he's wrong, I just think the LU posters discrediting EKU's president's comments are hilarious.

(04-29-2014 03:29 PM)Eagleditka Wrote:  I don't think it's a stretch to believe Liberty is still under consideration. Yeah Karl Benson said the addition won't come from FCS, but this process is fluid.

Note that the statement by Micheal Benson is not as cut and dried as the second point as on the first:

Quote: We have learned from the Commissioner of the Sun Belt that we are no longer being considered for expansion at this time. Instead, the member institutions of the Sun Belt seem to be narrowing their attention to those universities currently within the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), and not to those Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) schools considering a move upward.

So there is a clearly sourced, clearly part of the process individual, who is no longer angling for the spot, who says that the Sunbelt "seems to be" moving in one direction.

And there is a report from a Liberty beat reporter from what appears to be a Liberty insider ~ who is still clearly angling for the spot, whatever their real prospects are from the inside.

I'd be inclined to give the edge to Micheal Benson's statement, since he has no incentive at this point in time to lie through his teeth, but even if UMass has the votes at this time, votes can flip between an early whip count and the actual time of the vote.

Quote: If UMass doesn't have the votes, or is unwilling to commit to the SBC, ...

Narrow that down to "If UMass doesn't have the votes" ... if UMass gets a FB-only invite, they're accepting it.

That wouldn't make Michael Benson a liar. This is a fluid process and facts on the ground can change. If UMass doesn't work for whatever reason, the SBC will have no choice but to reconsider Liberty, unless Army miraculously has a change of heart.

(04-29-2014 07:24 PM)Eagleditka Wrote:  That wouldn't make Michael Benson a liar. This is a fluid process and facts on the ground can change. If UMass doesn't work for whatever reason, the SBC will have no choice but to reconsider Liberty, unless Army miraculously has a change of heart.

Reconsidering doesn't equal an invite.

Liberty is problematic. They are an easy choice on facilities, budget and arguably location. The only athletic red flag is success hasn't match commitment.

It's all that other stuff that hangs them up.

(04-29-2014 07:39 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Liberty is problematic. They are an easy choice on facilities, budget and arguably location. The only athletic red flag is success hasn't match commitment.

It's all that other stuff that hangs them up.

No, that's not what's hanging them up. Don't believe it? Just ask them, they'll tell you.

You have been very clear in your hangups with us, Rev. As for our lack of athletic success in football & mens hoops, we readily admit our underachievement. So what are you all so afraid of in regard to us?

(04-29-2014 08:27 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  You have been very clear in your hangups with us, Rev. As for our lack of athletic success in football & mens hoops, we readily admit our underachievement. So what are you all so afraid of in regard to us?

You mistake fear with a desire to not associate. At least with me.

Yes, 11 sounds good if nmsu and umass is not workable .

(04-29-2014 10:37 PM)redfan Wrote:  Yes, 11 sounds good if nmsu and umass is not workable.

I think UMass is a lock if they are interested in joining (and I imagine they would be if their other option is independent). Both sides know it is a temporary situation, as UMass has it's sights set on AAC, and the Sun Belt is interested in biding time until EKU/MSU are ready.

NMSU for all sports might be a bit trickier. I've seen it said that WKU was the primary "anti-all sports" for NMSU. So, if that hurdle is removed, theoretically they should be able to get in. But that "no" spot could be replaced with Georgia Southern or App State.

(04-29-2014 10:48 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(04-29-2014 10:37 PM)redfan Wrote:  Yes, 11 sounds good if nmsu and umass is not workable.

I think UMass is a lock if they are interested in joining (and I imagine they would be if their other option is independent). Both sides know it is a temporary situation, as UMass has it's sights set on AAC, and the Sun Belt is interested in biding time until EKU/MSU are ready.

NMSU for all sports might be a bit trickier. I've seen it said that WKU was the primary "anti-all sports" for NMSU. So, if that hurdle is removed, theoretically they should be able to get in. But that "no" spot could be replaced with Georgia Southern or App State.

What I have heard on eku is they are unlikely to get ready without being invited first and then they may struggle to finance improvements. Lot of unknowns with them. There is not even support for the $50 fee that is to be voted on. Do not know that much about msu.

(04-29-2014 11:19 PM)redfan Wrote:  What I have heard on eku is they are unlikely to get ready without being invited first and then they may struggle to finance improvements. Lot of unknowns with them. There is not even support for the $50 fee that is to be voted on. Do not know that much about msu.

My GUESS would be that if UMass is invited, EKU would have been told that if they can get ready in X years, then the invite is theirs.

Now, whether they can make it once done? Who knows. Whether they could keep going once an invite comes? Who knows. I haven't seen any financials from them, but a smaller budget FBS team can be done, and their AD seems like a strong one who could get support if an offer was forthcoming.

I figure we'll know where they stand depending on the other things that happen over the next season with them.

(04-29-2014 11:43 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(04-29-2014 11:19 PM)redfan Wrote:  What I have heard on eku is they are unlikely to get ready without being invited first and then they may struggle to finance improvements. Lot of unknowns with them. There is not even support for the $50 fee that is to be voted on. Do not know that much about msu.

My GUESS would be that if UMass is invited, EKU would have been told that if they can get ready in X years, then the invite is theirs.

Now, whether they can make it once done? Who knows. Whether they could keep going once an invite comes? Who knows. I haven't seen any financials from them, but a smaller budget FBS team can be done, and their AD seems like a strong one who could get support if an offer was forthcoming.

I figure we'll know where they stand depending on the other things that happen over the next season with them.

My guess is no one is being told you can have an invite down the road but are being told what would be needed to help their cause.

(04-30-2014 12:12 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  My guess is no one is being told you can have an invite down the road but are being told what would be needed to help their cause.

Yeah, that's far more likely. "Here's why you were ruled out of the process" is kind of a list of things to be accomplished if you come away with the impression that there may be an opening available another four to six years down the track.

Things can change a lot in four to six years, as well as teams and schools.
No way of knowing what things will be like then.

If having a championship game is such a concern and we want one in 2015 UMass may be given an ultimatum-- the Sun Belt will add you but you must pay the $250,000 and get out of the MAC after this football season.

If UMass is going to finish the next 2 years in the MAC then inviting Liberty before June 1 will put Liberty playing a Sun Belt schedule next year (2015) and a championship game next year.

The $250,000 isn't an issue for UMass. We just had a booster pay $800,000 to fire our head coach.

I would think playing as an independent would be a scheduling nightmare for UMass so I have to belive they are trying hard to persuade the Sun Belt to add them as a FB only member.

To any of the UMass folks... I think we all agree that your ultimate goal is the AAC (please correct if I am wrong). What is keeping you from joining? Is it an AAC university? Performance? Attendance? Something else?

And then a follow up: What is the administration doing to overcome those hurdles?

(04-30-2014 09:10 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  To any of the UMass folks... I think we all agree that your ultimate goal is the AAC (please correct if I am wrong). What is keeping you from joining? Is it an AAC university? Performance? Attendance? Something else?

And then a follow up: What is the administration doing to overcome those hurdles?

We have 12 schools don't need another. And like you, most are mid-Atlantic to southern so they would be an Idaho.

(04-30-2014 09:14 PM)Pony94 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:10 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  To any of the UMass folks... I think we all agree that your ultimate goal is the AAC (please correct if I am wrong). What is keeping you from joining? Is it an AAC university? Performance? Attendance? Something else?

And then a follow up: What is the administration doing to overcome those hurdles?

We have 12 schools don't need another. And like you, most are mid-Atlantic to southern so they would be an Idaho.

There are a number of reasons.
1) They don't need to add as Pony94 has stated.
2) We need to expand our on campus stadium to the 30-40k range. McGuirk is 17k.
3) Our Athletic budget is around 30 mill and the average AAC team is 57 Mill. Note our student athletic fee is $205 per semester with 23k undergradutes. We have been trying and succeeded getting the balance of a 50-50 split between the state support and students from a 40-60 split. So raising student athletic fees is off the table.
Article of State funding

Quote:BOSTON - UMass President Robert L. Caret today announced that the University of Massachusetts will seek $519 million in state funding for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2014 - a sum that would advance the University's quest for student-state funding parity and allow for tuition and mandatory fees for in-state undergraduate students to be frozen for a second consecutive year.

"With this request, we are asking the Commonwealth to maintain its position as a national leader in restoring funding for public higher education," President Caret said as the Board of Trustees' Committee on Administration and Finance met in Boston.

"The additional funding we are seeking would bring about a second consecutive tuition-and-fee freeze, a remarkable achievement that would be welcomed by families across the Commonwealth," President Caret added.

President Caret noted that this year's freeze has significantly improved the university's standing on the measure of affordability.
"If we can freeze tuition and fees for one more year, we will be in a much better place in terms of affordability for our students," President Caret said.

The five-campus UMass system is seeking $519 million in state funding for the upcoming fiscal year, a $40 million increase over the University's current $479 million appropriation.

Personally like the idea of the Sun Belt and concentrate on a practice bubble for all sports for next year.
We have just spent 38 Million on Football upgrades including the Performance Center, Press and Sky box, and the new field turf and other small improvements. We had 3 significant donations of 2.5 Mill, 2.25 Mill and 250k from three donors, plus the largest donor also bought out Molnar's and staff contract for $880k.

We have a new 22 mill Basketball Practice facility going up and received a 10 mill donation.

McGuirk will be expanding but not sure of the timing and is dependent on donations and selling out McGuirk. Homecoming is no problem, but band day will be at Gillette and leaves 2 mid-week November games on campus. The first will be on ESPN and should do well but not sure about a sell out.

Attendance wise guessing 75k at Gillette and 42k on campus for an average of 19.5k attendance.