For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

(02-16-2017 06:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

No. The NCAA approved a waiver. In other words, they made an exception to the rule. Wonder what kind of can of worms that may open?

(02-16-2017 06:21 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

No. The NCAA approved a waiver. In other words, they made an exception to the rule. Wonder what kind of can of worms that may open?

Exactly. James Madison has hesitated on making the jump because they don't want to play in CUSA. Now they make the jump without CUSA and with H&H's vs Liberty, Umass and Army probably.
Cheers!

The NCAA has shown it doesn't want to go to court to defend its oh-so-airtight rulebook and conference invite rule. So the rule may technically still be in place but the precedent is set.

(02-16-2017 06:21 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

No. The NCAA approved a waiver. In other words, they made an exception to the rule. Wonder what kind of can of worms that may open?

This move is good for NM St maybe? Yet another Indy to play. Maybe Idaho figures out a way to stay FBS? More and more schools could be doing it.
Cheers!

(02-16-2017 06:34 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  The NCAA has shown it doesn't want to go to court to defend its oh-so-airtight rulebook and conference invite rule. So the rule may technically still be in place but the precedent is set.

I bet James Madison could go Indy right now.

Cheers!

Through today's decision, the NCAA demonstrated a clear path to FBS Indy status aside from conference invitation. But very few teams have the facilities and resources and limited pathway to make it happen. Perhaps NDSU & JMU and maybe Montana if they so desired. I am curious to see if they follow suit now that they know there is opportunity. As a Liberty fan, I'd love more indies to fill a schedule.

I hope this results in a flood of schools looking to jump up but who are currently blocked from doing so. With the influx of new schools hopefully a new conference or two emerges.

MAH GAWD!!!!! THAT'S NODAK'S MUSIC!!!!!!!

I could think of several Eastern FCS teams using this loophole to go FBS.

Cheers!

(02-16-2017 06:44 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  MAH GAWD!!!!! THAT'S NODAK'S MUSIC!!!!!!!

Hahahaha

Cheers!

Fairly confident UCONN (and others not satisfied) could fill an independent football schedule as a result of this loophole. Just sayin...

que David St in 3....2.....1


Cheers!

(02-16-2017 06:33 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:21 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

No. The NCAA approved a waiver. In other words, they made an exception to the rule. Wonder what kind of can of worms that may open?

Exactly. James Madison has hesitated on making the jump because they don't want to play in CUSA. Now they make the jump without CUSA and with H&H's vs Liberty, Umass and Army probably.
Cheers!

When did JMU have an invitation to C-USA?

(02-16-2017 06:47 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:33 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:21 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

No. The NCAA approved a waiver. In other words, they made an exception to the rule. Wonder what kind of can of worms that may open?

Exactly. James Madison has hesitated on making the jump because they don't want to play in CUSA. Now they make the jump without CUSA and with H&H's vs Liberty, Umass and Army probably.
Cheers!

When did JMU have an invitation to C-USA?

They didn't but I'm pretty sure the Sunbelt offered and they rebuffed them. JMU wants to move up but they want to do it on their terms and be in a conference with Charlotte and ODU.

(02-16-2017 06:46 PM)HuskyU Wrote:  Fairly confident UCONN (and others not satisfied) could fill an independent football schedule as a result of this loophole. Just sayin...

I think Uconn could have done it anyway but now
-Indiana
-Maryland
-ACC (BC)
-ACC (Cuse)
-Indy (Army)
-Indy (UMASS)
-Indy (Liberty)
-Indy (BYU)
-Indy (Notre Dame)
-Indy (James Madison?)
-Buffalo
-FCS
12 games.
Cheers!

(02-16-2017 06:47 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:33 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:21 PM)NotANewbie Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:19 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  For years I've heard talk that an FCS school couldn't move up to FBS without an FBS conference "sponsoring" them. ESPN is reporting Liberty will be an FBS Independent in 2018. Did they change the rules?

No. The NCAA approved a waiver. In other words, they made an exception to the rule. Wonder what kind of can of worms that may open?

Exactly. James Madison has hesitated on making the jump because they don't want to play in CUSA. Now they make the jump without CUSA and with H&H's vs Liberty, Umass and Army probably.
Cheers!

When did JMU have an invitation to C-USA?

My bad. Sun Belt. Not CUSA.

Cheers!

(02-16-2017 06:45 PM)billybobby777 Wrote:  

(02-16-2017 06:44 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  MAH GAWD!!!!! THAT'S NODAK'S MUSIC!!!!!!!

Hahahaha

Cheers!

JMU, Delaware, Stony Brook, Youngstown St, Albany, Jacksonville St, Missouri St, Lamar, and Sam Houston St could announce soon. Wichita St and UTRGV need to get an FCS team first. An FBS schedule will be easy to make with those teams.

Its only a loophole if they grant a waiver. They granted a waiver to Liberty because they don't want a religious discrimination lawsuit. That would not be the case with others seeking a waiver.

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(02-16-2017 07:05 PM)ark30inf Wrote:  Its only a loophole if they grant a waiver. They granted a waiver to Liberty because they don't want a religious discrimination lawsuit. That would not be the case with others seeking a waiver.

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The FBS invite rule wouldn't stand up in the case of public institutions either. Nobody wants Youngstown St either, but they have Tressel, Pelini, facilities, fans and a desire.