(09-07-2017 01:33 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  

(09-06-2017 09:02 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  On the scheduling thing, you don't deny you are paying some teams $1million to play you right? That's what I'm saying. There are zero SBC schools that would do or could do that. I'd put CUSA, MAC and most of the MW in that category as well. Liberty can, and more power to them, but you can certainly see why it makes more sense for you to be independent rather than in a G5 league.

We did it one time with ODU out of necessity right after we were given the mandate to get all of these FBS home dates on our schedule for 2018 & 2019. As mentioned above, that one time deal with ODU opened up 4-5 FBS home games for us through a series of dominoes falling predicated on our initial deal. We made that cash back with a guarantee game at Auburn later in that season.

We also included some money on a home-and-home deal with Marshall in order to facilitate so moves on their schedules. Otherwise all of the deals have been built on our schedule flexibility that we possess as an indy.

I agree wholeheartedly that FBS Indy is a much better situation for us than being in the Sun Belt. Not in our wildest dreams did most of us envision the type of scheduling that we have been able to pull off in just a few months. All worked out the best for everybody involved in the circumstances.

Now when the next major wave of realignment comes around, we will definitely be looking to position ourselves with a conference. But who know what the G5 landscape will look like at that time. We may wind up in a league with many of you folks down the road. But if not, independence has its advantages.

For the record, the Coastal folks likely won't admit it but our longstanding rivalry still simmers below the surface. I'd love to see us continue to meet on the field in football and baseball. Those games were always a blast.

Not so sure about the Marshall statement. You gave Southern Miss the same deal and their schedule was open.

Back to the OP's question, I think so, I think we should have invited Liberty with CCU.

(09-08-2017 11:32 AM)GaSouthern Wrote:  Back to the OP's question, I think so, I think we should have invited Liberty with CCU.

You still can! Oh, and then you'd need a 12th football member for balance. Hey, Idaho has a pretty good program these days!

As a diehard Coastal fan, I'm willing to say the following to all the Liberty fans and Liberty sympathizers that constantly lurk on this board just waiting for a chance to promote Liberty and disparage everything positive that Coastal does just so we never have to hear about these rejects again:

"Liberty is super amazing and we should all bask in the glory that is the everlasting football light shown bright by the Flames. Coastal was an awful addition to the conference, and Liberty was discriminated against due to their religious designation. Liberty is better off than the lowly sun belt, and in the coming years they will be discussed in the same light as BYU and Notre Dame."

There. Can we never talk about Liberty ever ever ever again? This is my attempt to end it once and for all.

Kind of like patting the special kid on the head and saying "you're right. Now run away and go play."

Hey, ask UMASS how they like being Indy and how well it's working out for them.

(09-08-2017 02:28 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  Hey, ask UMASS how they like being Indy and how well it's working out for them.

Well they didn't get the hell beat out of them by us near as bad as Liberty did the last time we played them. So there's that.

(09-08-2017 01:14 PM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  There. Can we never talk about Liberty ever ever ever again? This is my attempt to end it once and for all.

Kind of like patting the special kid on the head and saying "you're right. Now run away and go play."

Two posts later ...

Quote:Well they didn't get the hell beat out of them by us near as bad as Liberty did the last time we played them. So there's that.

Don't go changin', 2011.

(09-08-2017 03:35 PM)SlyFox Wrote:  

(09-08-2017 01:14 PM)CoastalAlum2011 Wrote:  There. Can we never talk about Liberty ever ever ever again? This is my attempt to end it once and for all.

Kind of like patting the special kid on the head and saying "you're right. Now run away and go play."

Two posts later ...

Quote:Well they didn't get the hell beat out of them by us near as bad as Liberty did the last time we played them. So there's that.

Don't go changin', 2011.

The end of the discussion was last year. 42-7.

(09-08-2017 02:28 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  Hey, ask UMASS how they like being Indy and how well it's working out for them.

I think with Liberty being independent it's vastly different, as they aren't a public university so they will have a budget issue. Liberty, does not.

I think Liberty will struggle early on, but primarily because of their lack of bowl tie ins. I could see them trying to start their own bowl if they have the ability (not financial, but if the NCAA will allow it) to alleviate that problem in the short-term.

In the long-term, I will wager they will get some form of affiliation with a conference that will give them access to bowls. That affiliation may be in the form of some scheduling agreement or just a straight "rental" of affiliation.

But either way, I think Liberty will be fine as an independent. They could be the "notre dame of the G5", which is the lamest correlation I have ever made (not knocking Liberty here).

(09-08-2017 04:15 PM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(09-08-2017 02:28 PM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  Hey, ask UMASS how they like being Indy and how well it's working out for them.

I think with Liberty being independent it's vastly different, as they aren't a public university so they will have a budget issue. Liberty, does not.

I think Liberty will struggle early on, but primarily because of their lack of bowl tie ins. I could see them trying to start their own bowl if they have the ability (not financial, but if the NCAA will allow it) to alleviate that problem in the short-term.

In the long-term, I will wager they will get some form of affiliation with a conference that will give them access to bowls. That affiliation may be in the form of some scheduling agreement or just a straight "rental" of affiliation.

But either way, I think Liberty will be fine as an independent. They could be the "notre dame of the G5", which is the lamest correlation I have ever made (not knocking Liberty here).

You've changed Rev, it is quite refreshing.

(09-06-2017 04:52 PM)airtroop Wrote:  

(09-06-2017 06:44 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(09-05-2017 11:00 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(09-05-2017 10:11 PM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  I think it's really funny how a lot of folks on here are trying hard to make it clear that the SBC is better off without Liberty and vice versa.

The factor the matter is, the Liberty athletic department would prefer to be in a conference which offers more financial stability, a TV package, offers conference championships, and offers bowl bids and NCAA Tournament bids. They don't get those benefits being independent.

On the flip side, this notion that Liberty is culturally at odds with basically every FBS conferences is a worn out record. Liberty's "culture" isn't all that uncommon.

The MWC would fall over itself to have the largest religious university in the country, BYU, back in it's conference. BYU is even considered a Big XII expansion candidate. And that's a school that requires it's attendees to follow an honor code by the Latter Day Saints Church, including not drinking alcohol or having sex.

Pretty sure the MVC had no issues inviting Valpo, which is ran by the Lutheran Church.

How about TCU or Notre Dame? TCU is affiliated with the Disciples of Christ and even has a divinity school on its campus. And don't kid yourself by thinking that Liberty is so much different from all of those aforementioned schools.

If Liberty was the second-coming of Boise State, most of you would be hoping the SBC could snag them. Likewise, Liberty is always going to try and seek out a conference home for it's athletics, despite what any LU fans say about the supposed advantages of being Indy rather than being in the SBC.

Meanwhile, Utah with a smaller local fan base and a much smaller national following was invited to the Pac-12 and BYU wasn't.

Baylor was NOT who the Big 8 wanted for their 12th member but local politics made Baylor their 12th member because without Baylor the politics involved would have blocked UT and TAMU going.

The Sun Belt had applicants pending, considered them and instead took the initiative to approach Coastal who had a superior resume.

the pac12 was wanting only aau schools and you're right, baylor and tech were forced on the big8. I'm not bashing coastal but am curious what was so attractive to the conference boss about a small school with little academic standing and small fan base other than maybe location.

While CC's location is great for the Belt, Karl Benson made it clear from the beginning that bringing them aboard was about their strong Olympic sports. Football was just icing on the cake.

true that.

(09-08-2017 04:28 PM)Campaign4Liberty Wrote:  You've changed Rev, it is quite refreshing.

Nope. Same stance as always. Don't want to associate with Liberty, but won't try to stop them from achieving their goals.

I think I even stated somewhere that I would have supported Liberty fighting the NCAA going Independent. Turns out that was unnecessary (which is a good thing).

Wow. This weekend might answer your question.

(09-03-2017 09:49 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  At the time the decision was made, I wouldn't necessarily call it a mistake. But Idaho is currently one of the top programs in the Sun Belt and is helping the conference financially. Intelligent organizations revisit decisions when the facts change. Frankly, the Sun Belt still has all the leverage and could offer Idaho another temporary deal, leaving your option open to kick us out if we start to suck again.

Assuming the Sun Belt were willing to do that, the Belt would almost have to offer Idaho ten games for 2018 at this point. Presumably with the Sun Belt offering five home games, Idaho could keep its payday games versus Florida and Fresno State. The best case for the Sun Belt would be that Idaho is able to keep two more games - even if they are FCS opponents from the Big Sky, which might cut down on damages sought by the Big Sky.

I guess it's also possible that Liberty and New Mexico State could pare down their four games scheduled for 2018-19 down to two games, allowing Idaho to pick up games against both programs.

The Sun Belt would almost certainly lose its championship game for 2018, but that might not be a bad thing. The alternative would be to have an unbalanced conference schedule where some teams play more than others, or possibly miss a divisional opponent.

There would also be the issue of moving other sports to the WAC, but I doubt that would be much of an issue beyond perception and exit fees from the Big Sky.

(09-04-2017 06:49 PM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  Baylor is good and will have a good season. Just watch.

Baylor just lost to UTSA. Ouch.

(09-06-2017 12:08 AM)CardinalBlackTrojan Wrote:  

(09-05-2017 11:00 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Meanwhile, Utah with a smaller local fan base and a much smaller national following was invited to the Pac-12 and BYU wasn't.

Utah is located in the largest city in the state and is the flagship university.

In the 8 years leading up to the Pac-12 expansion, Utah had an 80-22 record, a Sugar Bowl and a Fiesta Bowl win, five Top 25 finishes, and twice finished ranked in the Top 5.

BYU is in the third-largest city in Utah. Not a flagship school.

BYU went 65-36 in that same span, had zero major bowl appearances, had four Top 25 rankings, and never finished ranked in the Top 10.

Politics and religious affiliations aside, who would you have picked if you were the Pac-12? The answer is obvious.

BYU. Larger attendance. Larger national interest. Larger local interest

(09-09-2017 06:56 PM)chargeradio Wrote:  

(09-03-2017 09:49 PM)LatahCounty Wrote:  At the time the decision was made, I wouldn't necessarily call it a mistake. But Idaho is currently one of the top programs in the Sun Belt and is helping the conference financially. Intelligent organizations revisit decisions when the facts change. Frankly, the Sun Belt still has all the leverage and could offer Idaho another temporary deal, leaving your option open to kick us out if we start to suck again.

Assuming the Sun Belt were willing to do that, the Belt would almost have to offer Idaho ten games for 2018 at this point. Presumably with the Sun Belt offering five home games, Idaho could keep its payday games versus Florida and Fresno State. The best case for the Sun Belt would be that Idaho is able to keep two more games - even if they are FCS opponents from the Big Sky, which might cut down on damages sought by the Big Sky.

I guess it's also possible that Liberty and New Mexico State could pare down their four games scheduled for 2018-19 down to two games, allowing Idaho to pick up games against both programs.

The Sun Belt would almost certainly lose its championship game for 2018, but that might not be a bad thing. The alternative would be to have an unbalanced conference schedule where some teams play more than others, or possibly miss a divisional opponent.

There would also be the issue of moving other sports to the WAC, but I doubt that would be much of an issue beyond perception and exit fees from the Big Sky.

No. NCAA permits FBS schools to have one non-compliant season over a rolling 10 years.
If Idaho and Sun Belt reversed course there would be no need to fix the schedule until 2019

(09-10-2017 08:28 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  No. NCAA permits FBS schools to have one non-compliant season over a rolling 10 years.
If Idaho and Sun Belt reversed course there would be no need to fix the schedule until 2019

I did not know that about the non-compliant schedule. Chalk up another time Idaho admins have lied to my face. Doubt it makes much of a difference re: the Sun Belt but it does extend the window of time we'd have to go FBS Indy if Chuck Staben has a heart attack.

(09-10-2017 07:29 AM)EigenEagle Wrote:  

(09-04-2017 06:49 PM)Liberty Fan Wrote:  Baylor is good and will have a good season. Just watch.

Baylor just lost to UTSA. Ouch.

Darn, I really thought Liberty had become a juggernaut overnight but I guess even a gajillion dollars takes time to buy BYU status.

Maybe yall can kick out GS and add liberty