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Liberty to WAC?
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dancingNMSUaggie Offline
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Post: #1
Liberty to WAC?
At the risk of starting a mindless tortuous annoying WAC fantasy thread I'm just going to go ahead and do it. Could any of the WAC team realistically start FBS football again? I've heard over the years talk by UTVRG and Utah Valley. Is there any steam behind it still? What if the WAC got Liberty to join and convince their brethren at GCU to start a program. You would then have a basis for the WAC "resurrecting" FBS football with the two money Christian school giants and NMSU. Could it happen? How many football programs do you need to have a conference? Is it 5 or 6?
09-26-2017 03:50 PM
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NoDak Offline
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RE: Liberty to WAC?
(09-26-2017 03:50 PM)dancingNMSUaggie Wrote:  At the risk of starting a mindless tortuous annoying WAC fantasy thread I'm just going to go ahead and do it. Could any of the WAC team realistically start FBS football again? I've heard over the years talk by UTVRG and Utah Valley. Is there any steam behind it still? What if the WAC got Liberty to join and convince their brethren at GCU to start a program. You would then have a basis for the WAC "resurrecting" FBS football with the two money Christian school giants and NMSU. Could it happen? How many football programs do you need to have a conference? Is it 5 or 6?
FBS needs 8. FCS needs 6.
09-26-2017 04:01 PM
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gleadley Offline
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RE: Liberty to WAC?
Any talk of GCU football automatically puts the conversation squarely in fantasyland. Not. Going. To. Happen. Ever.
09-26-2017 04:54 PM
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RandomFan Offline
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RE: Liberty to WAC?
I don't see how joining the WAC would benefit Liberty.
09-26-2017 05:16 PM
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TardisCaptain Offline
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RE: Liberty to WAC?
It would have to be a football only invite for Liberty. Same with UMass if they wanted a football home. WAC member NMSU is already sporting a FBS team.

Did UTRGV ever completed the football study? If they said yes, that would be four teams. Still not enough. Plus I feel that the bulk of the teams should be full WAC members.

Missouri State and Northern Iowa also wanted FBS, but (at the time when Wichita St was still in the league) didn't want to leave their Olympic league. Before joining the AAC, Wichita St was looking at restarting a football program, but I'm not certain if those plans have changed with the AAC invite. That could have been three potential football only members.

Idaho and the Dakotas would have to be pulled in as full members (if they accepted) they could have made seven (with NMSU and UTRGV). I could have seen a couple of FB only members. However I see the Summit being controlled by the Dakotas and I don't think they want to give up that position. The Montana schools don't have the balls to move up (they like being big fishes in a very small pond). So unless they are embarrassed about being left behind by Idaho and the Dakotas, I don't see them as possible members.

I don't know the GCU situation, so I'll let others speak of that. Utah Valley was looking at football (even had a helmet design and a stadium site picked out) if it meant getting into an auto-qualifying league. (I think they were thinking it was the only way to get into the Big Sky) Once they joined the WAC, those interests dried up (and UVU gets very little mention in the local sports media)

Chicago St seemed interested in a football program, but I don't know if it was just something to get interest in the school. With the money issues, I'm not certain if they could pull it off.

I have not seen any rumblings of football programs at the other WAC schools.

Long story short, unless there is some interest in an FCS league (something NMSU isn't interested in), I seriously doubt we'd see any WAC football soon.
09-26-2017 06:03 PM
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ProfScott Offline
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RE: Liberty to WAC?
(09-26-2017 06:03 PM)TardisCaptain Wrote:  I don't know the GCU situation, so I'll let others speak of that. Utah Valley was looking at football (even had a helmet design and a stadium site picked out) if it meant getting into an auto-qualifying league. (I think they were thinking it was the only way to get into the Big Sky) Once they joined the WAC, those interests dried up (and UVU gets very little mention in the local sports media)
The current administration at GCU is definitely not interested in pursuing football for the following reasons: (1) Football is seen as a money pit and not a good investment; (2) It would cause major Title IX issues due to the increased number of male athletes needed. We would either have to add more female sports (which would be next to impossible since we already have every major women's sport) or eliminate a few male sports like soccer and something else; (3) Soccer is big in Arizona and growing. While football is way more popular right now than soccer, the administration feels it is on a decline (especially in AZ) so there is no upside. Soccer is the future, especially in an area with a high Hispanic population like AZ. We are also proud to promote that we have the only Division I soccer in the state of Arizona. Finally, (4) our President and CEO is a die-hard basketball fan (and former basketball coach) who likely enjoys the fact that men's basketball is the most popular sport on campus.
In short, football ain't happening for GCU.
09-28-2017 07:25 PM
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MJG Offline
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Post: #7
RE: Liberty to WAC?
Would their olympic sports be enough?
With a travel subsidy of course help stabilize the WAC.
Gives Liberty the national exposure they want vs Big South.

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09-28-2017 08:15 PM
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NewTimes Offline
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Post: #8
RE: Liberty to WAC?
In the past Liberty may been interested before they were granted indy status. Then, LU was desperate on the outside looking in with no FBS FB home. Since Feb when LU got it's indy FBS membership, their future schedule has included several ACC and P5 schools with both home and away games. P5 games, and local G5 rival games, are what LU desires. The time for LU in the WAC has passed.
09-29-2017 07:11 AM
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