(03-12-2015 02:57 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  Guys, there is some NCAA rule about forming an FBS conference. I'm not totally up to speed on it, but I do know that a certain number of members have to already be FBS. I'm thinking that it only calls for two FBS teams and that you must have at least six schools total to make a conference. If my thoughts are correct, then you would need four FCS teams who were wanting to move up. Idaho and NMSU had this opportunity as the WAC was winding down the sponsorship of football. Just something for you guys to chew on. We played out all the possibilities 2 -3 years ago when our message board was over on the CAAZone.

Things are in such a flux now it's likely we could see a revision to the indy rule in the near future. If so, the present rules and guidelines would be amended that could re-define new requirements. Certainly knowing the current guidelines for indy are important for any school considering that option.

(03-12-2015 08:19 PM)army56mike Wrote:  I remember. There was supposed a WAC West and East. Would have been a nice road in for Liberty had it occured. Now NMSU is closer to being a full member of the SBC from many opinions than being an Independent, unlike Idaho.

There have been numerous reports that they may consider making the move to FCS without any push from the SB. Google "Idaho to FCS" and you will find several articles.

My gut tells me that the best thing for NMSU to stay exactly where they are with FB only in the SB. Then it would be in the SB's best interest to bring in UAB for everything but FB. This still leaves only 11 in FB, therefore they should still seek another school to join as full members.

Though in FB, they really need a western school, however, for all the other sports they need an eastern school as they have UT Arlington and UALR as Olympic Sports only which weighs on the eastern schools having to travel so far so often. Therefore a Liberty or JMU is clearly what they should go after.

Now, if you only listen to the SB message board posters, they only think about what is best for FB, as it is with most programs, but an athletic director has to look at the big picture when he's putting together a travel budget for all of the sports under his control. Therefore, no matter what so many SB posters want, i.e. Missouri State, that is not in the best interest for the conference. Should they go that route, its because they lacked the support to bring you guys in or because our admin continues to desire CUSA or the MAC.

For me personally, I find little difference in the SB vs CUSA. Though, I'd much prefer to be in a conference with Appy over any team in any G5 conference, simply because we have so much in common. However, should Appy ever decide to leave the SB, it would be devastating to our decision to have joined. Where as, in CUSA, there is Marshall, ODU, and Charlotte all within an easy bus ride for every sport. Though the MAC schools align with our academic mission, I simply have no thoughts on any of them. They are all grouped together forming a nice regional footprint, we would be the out lying school.

Everything I have stated here is applicable to Liberty as well, except that you have an extra hurdle in acceptance that we don't.

I don't expect Idaho to drop to FCS. I think they would crash and burn trying to sell that to fans and alumni. Any school dropping loses national recognition and free advertising on the ESPN bottom line. UAB is the only school in the last however many years to drop FBS football and that is a highly unusual circumstance.

I am quite curious as to why JMU sees App State as a peer and equal. To my knowledge they have never been in the same conference. Aside from being in a neighboring state, I don't see much in common from an outsider's perspective.

JMU and App State have had a nice rivalry for the better part of a decade in football.

As for Idaho, they continue to play a waiting game hoping that somehow the MWC will have an opening. Frankly I don't see any possible scenario where they would be chosen. And next summer, the Sun Belt can serve notice to the Vandals that they are being dropped from the league. At that point, they will have two options:

• 1. Go Independent - It would be neary impossible to schedule 5 FBS home games in Moscow
  
  2. Move Football to Big Sky - They already have moved every other sport to the league with their historical rivals. This is a rare situation where the alumni base wouldn't be as up in arms about dropping down as nearly every other FBS program. The only thing stopping this move Boise State envy.

I just wish the Sun Belt would get over their reservations and do what is inevitable and invite us.

(03-13-2015 12:29 PM)GE and MTS Wrote:  I don't expect Idaho to drop to FCS. I think they would crash and burn trying to sell that to fans and alumni. Any school dropping loses national recognition and free advertising on the ESPN bottom line. UAB is the only school in the last however many years to drop FBS football and that is a highly unusual circumstance.

I am quite curious as to why JMU sees App State as a peer and equal. To my knowledge they have never been in the same conference. Aside from being in a neighboring state, I don't see much in common from an outsider's perspective.

The two schools are just about as identical as you can get. I don't know how to put it any other way. I'm pretty sure we have played them more than any other OOC team in our history. We are both public. We are the same size. We both have campuses not near any metro area, but pull the majority of our high school students from large metro areas about two hours away, therefore rendering us both in a small media market. Appy pulls the majority from Charlotte and we pull mainly from DC. They also have a secondary area in the Triad, we have the Richmond area. Though, we both argue that our media market is where our fans are rather than the school location. When we play its like a small version of Ohio St. vs Michigan. We are just barely far enough away that we don't overlap our students, but the same student living in NC with a desire to attend Appy, would be the same student in VA who desires to go to JMU.

(03-13-2015 01:17 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  JMU and App State have had a nice rivalry for the better part of a decade in football.

Our history goes way, way beyond a decade. When I was there in the early 80's they were the team we most wanted to beat. Of course, we wanted to beat UVA, and did, but they will never be a rival (plus they refuse to have serious discussion about another contract). They are simply an instate school with a ton of prestige both on the field and in the classroom. Playing Tech will never be a rival game, though they don't outdo us in the classroom, they certainly have poured the money into their football program, therefore, its always good to beat those who are out spending you as well.

I agree with Sly....LU to the SunBelt is inevitable IMHO.

Did anyone see MTSU's AD mentioning LU as a good Candidate? http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/..._does.html

Bleeding Purple Wrote:Our history goes way, way beyond a decade. When I was there in the early 80's they were the team we most wanted to beat. Of course, we wanted to beat UVA, and did, but they will never be a rival (plus they refuse to have serious discussion about another contract).

Are you talking about App State or us? For the record, I enjoyed beating you guys back in the '80s very much.

(03-13-2015 08:45 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  

Bleeding Purple Wrote:Our history goes way, way beyond a decade. When I was there in the early 80's they were the team we most wanted to beat. Of course, we wanted to beat UVA, and did, but they will never be a rival (plus they refuse to have serious discussion about another contract).

Are you talking about App State or us? For the record, I enjoyed beating you guys back in the '80s very much.

Is this the 80's you were referring to?

1 W 10-11-1980 30 - 14
2 W 09-26-1981 36 - 14
3 W 09-24-1983 44 - 35
4 W 09-22-1984 52 - 43
5 L 09-21-1985 3 - 9
6 L 09-20-1986 7 - 17
7 W 10-01-1988 31 - 28
8 L 09-30-1989 14 - 19

I know you are just trying to talk some smack, with that being said, I did a little research and we've played LU 18 times with a record of 12 - 6. Yet we played Appy only 16 times. I really thought we'd played them significantly more than you not realizing we had so many games in the 80's.

(03-13-2015 10:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 08:45 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  

Bleeding Purple Wrote:Our history goes way, way beyond a decade. When I was there in the early 80's they were the team we most wanted to beat. Of course, we wanted to beat UVA, and did, but they will never be a rival (plus they refuse to have serious discussion about another contract).

Are you talking about App State or us? For the record, I enjoyed beating you guys back in the '80s very much.

Is this the 80's you were referring to?

1 W 10-11-1980 30 - 14
2 W 09-26-1981 36 - 14
3 W 09-24-1983 44 - 35
4 W 09-22-1984 52 - 43
5 L 09-21-1985 3 - 9
6 L 09-20-1986 7 - 17
7 W 10-01-1988 31 - 28
8 L 09-30-1989 14 - 19

I know you are just trying to talk some smack, with that being said, I did a little research and we've played LU 18 times with a record of 12 - 6. Yet we played Appy only 16 times. I really thought we'd played them significantly more than you not realizing we had so many games in the 80's.

Don't forget the game we have coming up against each other this year! Wait a minute...

There is much speculation that Idaho and New Mexico State will not be renewed with their football-only status in the Sun Belt and that they will have to go independent. With UMass also getting the boot from the MAC and no alternative solutions for their football team, they seem to be in a tough spot as well. How likely is it that they would be a supporter of getting some sort of waiver so that Liberty and a couple of others move up to FBS without a conference invite so that they could all have a scheduling agreement and have the required five home games each year? It would basically be an unofficial new fooball-only conference consisting of a few soon-to-be independents and current FCS schools.

(03-14-2015 07:09 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 10:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 08:45 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  

Bleeding Purple Wrote:Our history goes way, way beyond a decade. When I was there in the early 80's they were the team we most wanted to beat. Of course, we wanted to beat UVA, and did, but they will never be a rival (plus they refuse to have serious discussion about another contract).

Are you talking about App State or us? For the record, I enjoyed beating you guys back in the '80s very much.

Is this the 80's you were referring to?

1 W 10-11-1980 30 - 14
2 W 09-26-1981 36 - 14
3 W 09-24-1983 44 - 35
4 W 09-22-1984 52 - 43
5 L 09-21-1985 3 - 9
6 L 09-20-1986 7 - 17
7 W 10-01-1988 31 - 28
8 L 09-30-1989 14 - 19

I know you are just trying to talk some smack, with that being said, I did a little research and we've played LU 18 times with a record of 12 - 6. Yet we played Appy only 16 times. I really thought we'd played them significantly more than you not realizing we had so many games in the 80's.

Don't forget the game we have coming up against each other this year! Wait a minute...

...and the one you backed out on in 2012, oh yes, that's right, it was the same contract.

(03-14-2015 07:49 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:09 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 10:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 08:45 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  

Bleeding Purple Wrote:Our history goes way, way beyond a decade. When I was there in the early 80's they were the team we most wanted to beat. Of course, we wanted to beat UVA, and did, but they will never be a rival (plus they refuse to have serious discussion about another contract).

Are you talking about App State or us? For the record, I enjoyed beating you guys back in the '80s very much.

Is this the 80's you were referring to?

1 W 10-11-1980 30 - 14
2 W 09-26-1981 36 - 14
3 W 09-24-1983 44 - 35
4 W 09-22-1984 52 - 43
5 L 09-21-1985 3 - 9
6 L 09-20-1986 7 - 17
7 W 10-01-1988 31 - 28
8 L 09-30-1989 14 - 19

I know you are just trying to talk some smack, with that being said, I did a little research and we've played LU 18 times with a record of 12 - 6. Yet we played Appy only 16 times. I really thought we'd played them significantly more than you not realizing we had so many games in the 80's.

Don't forget the game we have coming up against each other this year! Wait a minute...

...and the one you backed out on in 2012, oh yes, that's right, it was the same contract.

That's news to me. Do you have a link?

(03-14-2015 08:23 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:49 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:09 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 10:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 08:45 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  Are you talking about App State or us? For the record, I enjoyed beating you guys back in the '80s very much.

Is this the 80's you were referring to?

1 W 10-11-1980 30 - 14
2 W 09-26-1981 36 - 14
3 W 09-24-1983 44 - 35
4 W 09-22-1984 52 - 43
5 L 09-21-1985 3 - 9
6 L 09-20-1986 7 - 17
7 W 10-01-1988 31 - 28
8 L 09-30-1989 14 - 19

I know you are just trying to talk some smack, with that being said, I did a little research and we've played LU 18 times with a record of 12 - 6. Yet we played Appy only 16 times. I really thought we'd played them significantly more than you not realizing we had so many games in the 80's.

Don't forget the game we have coming up against each other this year! Wait a minute...

...and the one you backed out on in 2012, oh yes, that's right, it was the same contract.

That's news to me. Do you have a link?

It was a four game contract, are you not aware of this?

(03-14-2015 08:38 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:23 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:49 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:09 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-13-2015 10:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  Is this the 80's you were referring to?

1 W 10-11-1980 30 - 14
2 W 09-26-1981 36 - 14
3 W 09-24-1983 44 - 35
4 W 09-22-1984 52 - 43
5 L 09-21-1985 3 - 9
6 L 09-20-1986 7 - 17
7 W 10-01-1988 31 - 28
8 L 09-30-1989 14 - 19

I know you are just trying to talk some smack, with that being said, I did a little research and we've played LU 18 times with a record of 12 - 6. Yet we played Appy only 16 times. I really thought we'd played them significantly more than you not realizing we had so many games in the 80's.

Don't forget the game we have coming up against each other this year! Wait a minute...

...and the one you backed out on in 2012, oh yes, that's right, it was the same contract.

That's news to me. Do you have a link?

It was a four game contract, are you not aware of this?

Yes I am aware it was a four game contract but it is news to me that it was Liberty's fault the game in 2012 wasn't played. After a quick internet search, I found nothing that even hints that Liberty cancelled.

2012 was mutually agreed upon to push it back and I believe it had to do with the Dukes playing a game in DC at RFK and us also getting an offer for a guarantee game. But that is just my faulty memory.

My years at LU were '85-'89. When I left school we looked like the football program on the rise of the two. But after we both had mediocre decades in the '90s, you guys hired Mickey and we brought in a guy named Karcher and we headed in two different directions.

I'm just glad we have the upper hand in the present tense.

(03-14-2015 08:49 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:38 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:23 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:49 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:09 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  Don't forget the game we have coming up against each other this year! Wait a minute...

...and the one you backed out on in 2012, oh yes, that's right, it was the same contract.

That's news to me. Do you have a link?

It was a four game contract, are you not aware of this?

Yes I am aware it was a four game contract but it is news to me that it was Liberty's fault the game in 2012 wasn't played. After a quick internet search, I found nothing that even hints that Liberty cancelled.

I didn't realize the internet is where our AD's communicated with each other. I will state once again, the original deal called for four games to be played in '08, '09, '10,''11. The '08 game was postponed until '12. When it came time to officially set our 2012 schedule, your AD said it wouldn't work and shelved it without a commitment of a date. If this disturbs you so much, you may want to contact Jeff Barber. His email is jbarber2@liberty.edu

As for me, I'm not any more pleased than you about our schedule this year. It is ridiculous that we didn't have an FBS team on the original draft. In addition, we have three home cupcake games in a row before the SMU game. I would have easily made the LU game as my in-laws live in Madison Heights. This now means one less JMU game I will be attending. I'd much rather have changed out Morehead State than Liberty.

Again, if you need further clarification on what went down with all the particulars of the four game contract please rely those who make the decisions rather than a message board poster or the internet. Of course, the whole story may still not be revealed through either of our athletic directors.

(03-14-2015 09:25 AM)SlyFox Wrote:  2012 was mutually agreed upon to push it back and I believe it had to do with the Dukes playing a game in DC at RFK and us also getting an offer for a guarantee game. But that is just my faulty memory.

My years at LU were '85-'89. When I left school we looked like the football program on the rise of the two. But after we both had mediocre decades in the '90s, you guys hired Mickey and we brought in a guy named Karcher and we headed in two different directions.

I'm just glad we have the upper hand in the present tense.

If in some fortunate arrangement both LU and JMU end up in the SBC, that would be very strong for us and them, and fan interest would be huge and with App St. in the mix it's just a win-win. Add ODU as an OOC foe and that makes it even sweeter.

What happened years ago with JMU, well that was years ago. It one team screwed over the other, that's a bid deal. If it was by mutual consent then less deal and it really carries little merit other than for historical reference. Knowing all the details will produce little is no change or impact. Now, JMU in the same or different FBS conferences, now that can get your dander up. I like dander.

(03-14-2015 09:41 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:49 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:38 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 08:23 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  

(03-14-2015 07:49 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  ...and the one you backed out on in 2012, oh yes, that's right, it was the same contract.

That's news to me. Do you have a link?

It was a four game contract, are you not aware of this?

Yes I am aware it was a four game contract but it is news to me that it was Liberty's fault the game in 2012 wasn't played. After a quick internet search, I found nothing that even hints that Liberty cancelled.

I didn't realize the internet is where our AD's communicated with each other. I will state once again, the original deal called for four games to be played in '08, '09, '10,''11. The '08 game was postponed until '12. When it came time to officially set our 2012 schedule, your AD said it wouldn't work and shelved it without a commitment of a date. If this disturbs you so much, you may want to contact Jeff Barber. His email is jbarber2@liberty.edu

As for me, I'm not any more pleased than you about our schedule this year. It is ridiculous that we didn't have an FBS team on the original draft. In addition, we have three home cupcake games in a row before the SMU game. I would have easily made the LU game as my in-laws live in Madison Heights. This now means one less JMU game I will be attending. I'd much rather have changed out Morehead State than Liberty.

Again, if you need further clarification on what went down with all the particulars of the four game contract please rely those who make the decisions rather than a message board poster or the internet. Of course, the whole story may still not be revealed through either of our athletic directors.

And I will also state once again that I know Liberty and JMU had a four game contract. I wasn't using the internet to see how our two universities contacted each other but rather a press releases or articles exactly like the ones from a month ago where JMU got bought by SMU. And I'm still not sure if you are serious or just trolling when you say the internet isn't how our ADs communicate and then give me my AD's email. Oh the irony!

And if nobody knows all the details of what went down aside from our two ADs, then how are you so sure that it was Liberty's fault the game wasn't played in 2012? If we (once again) go back and look at the contract, two games were in Lynchburg, and two were supposed to be in Harrisonburg. However, the final game is currently scheduled to be in Lynchburg for the third time so why would JMU agree to that if it was Liberty's fault for the postponements?