Just wanted everyone's thoughts on our chances of getting a SBC invite. Please be as detailed as you want to be. I think our chances are slim. Aside from the FB success we are still viewed as that crazy LU school from long ago.

(01-12-2015 05:42 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  Just wanted everyone's thoughts on our chances of getting a SBC invite. Please be as detailed as you want to be. I think our chances are slim. Aside from the FB success we are still viewed as that crazy LU school from long ago.

Curtis, your post is a little premature with expected changes in the Big 12, which could then effect the AAC and C-USA, that could then effect the SBC, that could then effect the invite LU may receive.

No FBS invites for LU can be expected until other FBS team(s) move/join conferences. The U-AB situation may cause a C-USA/SBC move that would that may open up a SBC slot. Your post will generate lots more interest and replies once some movement was discussed and/or happens. You're about 6 weeks + early with the questions before any expected movement from most reports.

(01-12-2015 08:11 PM)NewTimes Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 05:42 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  Just wanted everyone's thoughts on our chances of getting a SBC invite. Please be as detailed as you want to be. I think our chances are slim. Aside from the FB success we are still viewed as that crazy LU school from long ago.

Curtis, your post is a little premature with expected changes in the Big 12, which could then effect the AAC and C-USA, that could then effect the SBC, that could then effect the invite LU may receive.

No FBS invites for LU can be expected until other FBS team(s) move/join conferences. The U-AB situation may cause a C-USA/SBC move that would that may open up a SBC slot. Your post will generate lots more interest and replies once some movement was discussed and/or happens. You're about 6 weeks + early with the questions before any expected movement from most reports.

Just seeing what folks think.

One can dream..

I think the only way an invite comes is if they have to replace a team or two and liberty is one of their only options.

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(01-12-2015 11:35 PM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  I think the only way an invite comes is if they have to replace a team or two and liberty is one of their only options.

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I agree. I was looking on wiki and had a question is the Big South the only NCAA conference LU has played in for football and basketball?

Since becoming d1, yes.

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No, Liberty is not likely to receive an FBS invite anytime soon. We are making great strides academically, athletically, and through campus infrastructure. Our success in football last year was another step forward, but in the grand scheme of things is still small potatoes in the college football realm. If we win a national championship or four then we can have something to hang our hat on. Our men's basketball team is a huge black eye in regards to our FBS attractiveness. And ultimately, yes, we are viewed as that crazy wacko Christian school. That view us not likely to change in the social chaos of our nation right now. And I hope that Liberty holds fast to it strong foundation of faith and proudly continues to build champions for Christ.

I am ever hopeful an FBS invite comes, but I'm not holding my breath. We need a conference with some other private schools to show some interest.

(01-13-2015 09:02 AM)army56mike Wrote:  No, Liberty is not likely to receive an FBS invite anytime soon. We are making great strides academically, athletically, and through campus infrastructure. Our success in football last year was another step forward, but in the grand scheme of things is still small potatoes in the college football realm. If we win a national championship or four then we can have something to hang our hat on. Our men's basketball team is a huge black eye in regards to our FBS attractiveness. And ultimately, yes, we are viewed as that crazy wacko Christian school. That view us not likely to change in the social chaos of our nation right now. And I hope that Liberty holds fast to it strong foundation of faith and proudly continues to build champions for Christ.

I am ever hopeful an FBS invite comes, but I'm not holding my breath. We need a conference with some other private schools to show some interest.

Maybe less wacky actions and a credible MBB effort will help. With the changing landscape as stated in previous posts, LU will be more appealing as others conference shifts occur. It will not need to win 4 national championships but continue to be credible with quality wins, make the playoffs and win important games. We are closer than we've ever been to FBS with non LU factors favoring our desirability.

We need to make sure we don't say or do anything stupid as a university over the next couple years.

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(01-13-2015 09:40 AM)Libertygrad01 Wrote:  We need to make sure we don't say or do anything stupid as a university over the next couple years.

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Our college Prez needs to control and use wisdom in how the school takes stances and what causes it supports. Those shoot from the hip actions in the past are a major reason we are perceived as a present day rebel. It's okay to be different and distinctive. It's not okay to be extreme if one wants to play in an arena where acceptance by peers has a huge impact on goals of the university (FBS invite).

If LU does not temper it's overt stances on gay rights, as it has done in the past, and other social issues, we'll still be having these same conversations years from now. If LU wants to be continue to be a lightning rod and appeal to a select but powerful minority segment of the society, then it can achieve high visibility (ex Moral Majority) without acceptance into FBS.

We are paying the price now for those past high profile stances, that I and other LU supporters did not agree with, but still support the school. As a Lynchburg native, I know the many great, positive, outstanding things the school and leaders have done for many in the past. I know those things. I lived them. I have shaken my head at times wondering what LU was doing/saying but have stayed with them as a fan of the school's athletic department.

That's why I can defend the school, not being the demon some portray it to be, but as a young school, who is developing and evolving it's identify, hopefully learning from it's past mistakes. It would be a sad day for me, and I believe many others, to abandon the program based on a renewed activism on political/social stances that would be similar to actions in the past that were unwise, and sometimes really stupid.

Current leadership seems to have an awareness and wisdom absent in the past. AD Barber is a smart guy and so is the college Prez. They more than any others, set the tone for the university and the athletic department. I like what I see so far.

(01-12-2015 05:42 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  Just wanted everyone's thoughts on our chances of getting a SBC invite. Please be as detailed as you want to be. I think our chances are slim. Aside from the FB success we are still viewed as that crazy LU school from long ago.

With UAB likely leaving CUSA due to dropping football, CUSA may go for ULL or USA(which would be an easy drop in replacement).

sun belt would likely be looking at JMU with liberty as an alternate. I suspect JMU will pass once again, im assuming JMU does not want to be part of the sun belt.

Worst case scenario for liberty would be CUSA taking JMU which creates no opening in the sun belt. Dark horse scenario would be JMU passes on cusa and fbs altogether and cusa thinks liberty might be a good fit with ODU and charlotte

Voss, spot on. Worse case scenario is conf USA takes JMU. that leaves liberty in a bad spot.

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(01-13-2015 11:19 AM)voss749 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 05:42 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  Just wanted everyone's thoughts on our chances of getting a SBC invite. Please be as detailed as you want to be. I think our chances are slim. Aside from the FB success we are still viewed as that crazy LU school from long ago.

With UAB likely leaving CUSA due to dropping football, CUSA may go for ULL or USA(which would be an easy drop in replacement).

sun belt would likely be looking at JMU with liberty as an alternate. I suspect JMU will pass once again, im assuming JMU does not want to be part of the sun belt.

Worst case scenario for liberty would be CUSA taking JMU which creates no opening in the sun belt. Dark horse scenario would be JMU passes on cusa and fbs altogether and cusa thinks liberty might be a good fit with ODU and charlotte

Good points Voss. JMU may have a change of heart if asked again. Reading the JMU board, there is sentiment by some to accept if an second offer comes. JMU would croak if Liberty beat them to the FBS as they are perceived as the FCS darling. If the rumblings with Marshall are true and they jump from C-USA, that could create another SBC opening.

(01-13-2015 11:38 AM)NewTimes Wrote:  

(01-13-2015 11:19 AM)voss749 Wrote:  

(01-12-2015 05:42 PM)Curtisc83 Wrote:  Just wanted everyone's thoughts on our chances of getting a SBC invite. Please be as detailed as you want to be. I think our chances are slim. Aside from the FB success we are still viewed as that crazy LU school from long ago.

With UAB likely leaving CUSA due to dropping football, CUSA may go for ULL or USA(which would be an easy drop in replacement).

sun belt would likely be looking at JMU with liberty as an alternate. I suspect JMU will pass once again, im assuming JMU does not want to be part of the sun belt.

Worst case scenario for liberty would be CUSA taking JMU which creates no opening in the sun belt. Dark horse scenario would be JMU passes on cusa and fbs altogether and cusa thinks liberty might be a good fit with ODU and charlotte

Good points Voss. JMU may have a change of heart if asked again. Reading the JMU board, there is sentiment by some to accept if an second offer comes. JMU would croak if Liberty beat them to the FBS as they are perceived as the FCS darling. If the rumblings with Marshall are true and they jump from C-USA, that could create another SBC opening.

JMU folks keep posting how they had a offer but they never had one. SBC would of been interested in having a invite talk with them but the JMU BOV had other ideas. I'm not even sure if JMU would take an SBC invite if it was offered today. The entire academic profile of the conference isn't exactly JMU caliber. Also after the whole UAB thing JMU's BOV might have got even colder feet about the extra money it will take to go FBS and be successful.

If you read the JMU board you'll get a good laugh. Some of those guys think they're going to get an invite from the AAC. I can't imagine even conf-usa being interested.

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If the Sunbelt (or another G5 conference) needed a school or die, we'd get an invite. However that is not the case. We'll get there eventually.

I think our chances of getting a Sun Belt invite this year (by June 30th that is) is around 2%.

There is some speculation that the Sun Belt will not renew the contracts of Idaho and New Mexico State for the 2017? season. That would drop them to 9 football members which is barely enough for a full 8 game schedule. With a poach likely to happen before then, we could have another opportunity to move up, especially if the rule for 12 conference members and two divisions to hold a conference championship game holds. With the full cost of attendance raising budgets and funding getting slashed for public schools, more schools may be weeded out and fill ups may occur.

Truth and Faith over sports. Go Flames!