(05-12-2012 06:22 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  With the extreme religious views from Jerry Fawlwell and his son after his death, also with their views on 9/11 it will be hard for Liberty to find a IA conference.

The voting would seem to bare this out; 90% agaisnt.

Jerry Falwell Sr. is no longer alive for one, and those statements were renounced, two. Son Jerry Jr. has made no such comments since he took over as Chancellor and President in 2007. In another 10 years no one will remember the 9/11 comments made by Sr. In 5 short years Jerry has quietly built a sleeping giant, and in another 10 we'll be light years from where we are now. I am not sure you understand the growth happening here right now. We're in the middle of a 250 million dollar campus upgrade with no end in sight. We are not proud of those comments. They were wrong. We get it. People forget. Look at Arkansas, USC, Penn State, Syracuse, etc...scandals and so forth...yet all continue to chug along, just as Liberty has.

(05-12-2012 07:19 PM)Campaign4Liberty Wrote:  Zero brand recognition? Does the world's largest Christian University not bring brand recognition and nationwide appeal? See my latest post in the thread I started...

1. 78% of the US identifies themselves as Christian
2. 1.7% are Mormon
3. 1.6% are atheists

And Atlanta....last I heard Georgia was a red state, very conservative overall, especially religiously. Check out Greater Atlanta Christian School, one of the biggest in the country with exceptional facilities and one that produces a slew of D1 blue chip recruits in all of their sports.

I was born and raised Southern Baptist and participated heavily in AWANA. I have never, ever heard of Liberty and could not care less that a Baptist school is(would be?) playing FBS football. My issues with Liberty are not those of cultural rifts or whatever, I just don't know who you are and am tired of adding FCS/start up schools. Adding TxSt, USA, and GSU is pushing it. At least I have heard of Southern and App, and if I have then others have. You aren't even really in the footprint.

I wouldn't sit in a corner and cry if Liberty was added, but I feel there are better options for the Belt right now. If we do end up adding you then I trust all our options were weighed and would welcome you as family, but right now knowing what little I do, I am unsupportive of LU.

That says something about your program. West Virginia, wake forest and others didn't have any issues selling tickets against Liberty.

(05-12-2012 07:29 PM)Tiguar Wrote:  I was born and raised Southern Baptist and participated heavily in AWANA. I have never, ever heard of Liberty and could not care less that a Baptist school is(would be?) playing FBS football. My issues with Liberty are not those of cultural rifts or whatever, I just don't know who you are and am tired of adding FCS/start up schools. Adding TxSt, USA, and GSU is pushing it. At least I have heard of Southern and App, and if I have then others have. You aren't even really in the footprint.

I wouldn't sit in a corner and cry if Liberty was added, but I feel there are better options for the Belt right now. If we do end up adding you then I trust all our options were weighed and would welcome you as family, but right now knowing what little I do, I am unsupportive of LU.

This is a fantastic post, and I am glad you brought it up. It is an issue, for sure. We understand we're an up and coming FCS program. We do not yet have the recognition of other FCS schools who have won FCS Championships and what not...I mean who hasn't heard of App State? We're only 40 years old, and when you were growing up we weren't but a blip on the FCS radar...but things are changing, and more and more recognition and publicity are coming our way. I know it may be hard to see, but 10 years from now, 20 years from now...Everyone will know Liberty University, especially those born into a Christian family. It certainly will not be the first school of choice for everyone, and we understand that...but they will know about us.

We added 14,000 graduates today, and will add 10,000 + for the next 10+ years. To put it in perspective, our first ever graduating class in 1975 hasn't even retired yet. For us to even be mentioned in FBS discussion after only 40 years of existence should tell you something about potential future growth.

I had a great mentor who often talked of risk/reward. Are we risky...yes, absolutely. The dream of becoming what BYU is for Mormons and Notre Dame is for Catholics may not be realized any time soon, if at all. But when you look at what is happening here, all signs are pointing towards a huge reward to whoever wants to take a chance on us.

When you look at numbers, sheer facts and stats, I strongly believe we have a lot to offer a lower level FBS conference, and honestly, if the Big East raids CUSA again and then CUSA raids the Sun Belt....

I know you want JMU...but they are 2.5 hours further north, out of the footprint, and anyone with even the slightest sense of logic and reason can see that our long term potential is much, much greater than that of James Madison or even App State for that matter. Both are great schools...awesome FCS facilities...but both are regional state schools that will ebb and flow with state budgets and will ALWAYS, I repeat ALWAYS be third or 4th string to their larger state counterparts...IE..UVA and Tech for JMU and Duke, UNC, NCState, and WF for App State...

Liberty on the other hand has no equals for our specific demographic. At no other university in the country can you find the marriage of big-time Division I college athletics AND the close-knit community of a small Bible college. That is our niche - the kids who want both, a Christian education AND the experience of a large state school. We're quietly doing both, and doing it very well. The long term potential there is huge.

Look Liberty folks, I understand that you guys want the same things for your school athletically as other schools do and want to see your program at the top as do each of us here. And Im quite sure if you get to FBS, there would be a very excited press conference. The problem is that most of want to support our schools only to improve same. Liberty seems to also want a FBS program to further its political agenda. Today's pronouncements didnt help dispell that preception (my current belief as well).

Im not so sure theres not going to be a blockbuster announcement tomorrow about facilities or the like to pretty up your prom dress so to speak. I think that therea a lot of pressure being placed on the voters to admit Liberty. I dont think you will or should get in the SBC but Im afraid its not going to be a summary dismissal either.

They wouldn't be my first choice, but if it's Liberty or expanding further west - I'll take Liberty any day. I'd rather JMU if we're going into Virginia.

I couldn't care less if they're religious nuts. How many peeps can you stick in your stadium? I'd welcome Notre Dame or BYU, they're pretty religious.

No, Liberty is not what we need right now. Try the WAC or MAC, kthxbye.

(05-12-2012 05:16 PM)WestEndRaider Wrote:  

(05-12-2012 05:07 PM)RidgeRunner Wrote:  

(05-12-2012 05:01 PM)WestEndRaider Wrote:  I'm sorry, but I don't believe Georgia State has anymore name recognition than Liberty. I had never even heard of Georgia State, until they played Bama. Now, I don't have anything against the Panthers, but that's like me trying to talk down to Louisiana, FAU, WKU, etc.

I had not heard of a lot of schools in SBC and the only reason I have heard of MTSU was I once lived in Nashville and drove by it on the way to ATL.

When did you start watching football? I've been following college football since I was a kid and can name every FBS team just off of the top of my head. If you just now started following football since Georgia State got a team, then I guess that would make sense.

Is this the best you can do. Up to now I have never watched a SBC football game but I have watched plenty of real FBS football.

(05-12-2012 08:41 PM)RidgeRunner Wrote:  Up to now I have never watched a SBC football game but I have watched plenty of real FBS football.

hurr hurr durr

(05-12-2012 08:41 PM)RidgeRunner Wrote:  Is this the best you can do. Up to now I have never watched a SBC football game but I have watched plenty of real FBS football.

You do realize you just joined the SBC football conference, the one you just called a "not real" FBS conference.

Oh I get it, we're now a real conference now that GSU is here. Yep, that's what we were waiting for - Georgia State.

Attention Raiders, Trojans, Red Wolves, Cajuns, and Red Blood Cells - we're now legit now that GSU is here!

(05-12-2012 08:44 PM)RaiderDoug Wrote:  

(05-12-2012 08:41 PM)RidgeRunner Wrote:  Is this the best you can do. Up to now I have never watched a SBC football game but I have watched plenty of real FBS football.

You do realize you just joined the SBC football conference, the one you just called a "not real" FBS conference.

Oh I get it, we're now a real conference now that GSU is here. Yep, that's what we were waiting for - Georgia State.

Attention Raiders, Trojans, Red Wolves, Cajuns, and Red Blood Cells - we're now legit now that GSU is here!

*Disclaimer: Ridge is from NY

(05-12-2012 07:27 PM)Campaign4Liberty Wrote:  Jerry Falwell Sr. is no longer alive for one, and those statements were renounced, two. Son Jerry Jr. has made no such comments since he took over as Chancellor and President in 2007. In another 10 years no one will remember the 9/11 comments made by Sr. In 5 short years Jerry has quietly built a sleeping giant, and in another 10 we'll be light years from where we are now. I am not sure you understand the growth happening here right now. We're in the middle of a 250 million dollar campus upgrade with no end in sight. We are not proud of those comments. They were wrong. We get it. People forget. Look at Arkansas, USC, Penn State, Syracuse, etc...scandals and so forth...yet all continue to chug along, just as Liberty has.

Nothing is forgotten when it's on YouTube....

As much as I cannot see Liberty in the SB, I would take them over UTA.
And I sure wouldn't take Liberty.

I'm in line with Doug on this. No need to rehash reasons why to add.

I am, however, a Christian, Calvinist and reformed. I don't support a school on the sole basis of faith but I do know that a lot of people possibly would. I just read the Doctrinal Statement of faith for the university and it seems pretty solid.

I don't see an invite coming but I also am not counting anything out. I am just coming to grips with our recent additions.

quote='RaiderDoug' pid='7885836' dateline='1336871279']
They wouldn't be my first choice, but if it's Liberty or expanding further west - I'll take Liberty any day. I'd rather JMU if we're going into Virginia.

I couldn't care less if they're religious nuts. How many peeps can you stick in your stadium? I'd welcome Notre Dame or BYU, they're pretty religious.
[/quote]

(05-12-2012 09:21 PM)johndavidblue Wrote:  I'm in line with Doug on this. No need to rehash reasons why to add.

I am, however, a Christian, Calvinist and reformed. I don't support a school on the sole basis of faith but I do know that a lot of people possibly would. I just read the Doctrinal Statement of faith for the university and it seems pretty solid.

I don't see an invite coming but I also am not counting anything out. I am just coming to grips with our recent additions.

quote='RaiderDoug' pid='7885836' dateline='1336871279']
They wouldn't be my first choice, but if it's Liberty or expanding further west - I'll take Liberty any day. I'd rather JMU if we're going into Virginia.

I couldn't care less if they're religious nuts. How many peeps can you stick in your stadium? I'd welcome Notre Dame or BYU, they're pretty religious.

[/quote]

BINGO> This is about FOOTBALL!

There is a difference between religious and ridiculous. Liberty falls in that category of ridiculous, along with Bob Jones University in South Carolina.

I don't have a problem with Liberty, but at best they are the second best virginia option.

(05-12-2012 09:36 PM)FeFiFo Wrote:  There is a difference between religious and ridiculous. Liberty falls in that category of ridiculous, along with Bob Jones University in South Carolina.

Haha we are light years from Bob Jones University....at one time they wouldn't even let men watch women play rec sports...

This would NEVER fly at BJU...




BJU requires chaperones on dates and a lot of other good stuff. The way you guys make fun of us for our "crazy" rules is the way we make fun of BJU, all in good fun of course.

(05-12-2012 07:19 PM)Campaign4Liberty Wrote:  

(05-12-2012 05:20 PM)panama Wrote:  

(05-12-2012 05:01 PM)WestEndRaider Wrote:  I'm sorry, but I don't believe Georgia State has anymore name recognition than Liberty. I had never even heard of Georgia State, until they played Bama. Now, I don't have anything against the Panthers, but that's like me trying to talk down to Louisiana, FAU, WKU, etc.

With all due respect I stand by my statement. We have been playing Campbell and the like for 2 years. Nobody cares. Atlanta is the capital of college football and people here would see Liberty and equate them to playing nobody. I am just being a realist here. You may see it as talking down but I don't wake up in the morning and equate GSU to Emory. Why, because GSU is not at the level of Emory University. Still, our Carnegie Research Institution grade is RU/VH. Liberty's is Master's L, three levels below. They are not FCS world beaters and bring zero brand recognition even in FCS. They are in Lynchburgh, VA and bring zero market. That all we be enough for them to not get an invite. But then you add their controversial politico-religious reputation and why would I want them? We exited the CAA to not have to drive 10 hrs to some small town in VA. But I would still rather drive to ODU or JMU than Liberty.

Zero brand recognition? Does the world's largest Christian University not bring brand recognition and nationwide appeal? See my latest post in the thread I started...

1. 78% of the US identifies themselves as Christian
2. 1.7% are Mormon
3. 1.6% are atheists

And Atlanta....last I heard Georgia was a red state, very conservative overall, especially religiously. Check out Greater Atlanta Christian School, one of the biggest in the country with exceptional facilities and one that produces a slew of D1 blue chip recruits in all of their sports.

But 78 percent of Americans do not identify with Liberty's brand of "Christianity". Not by a long shot. I identify as Christian. Christianity isn't what Liberty sells. They may wrap what they sell in a patina of Christian doctrine, but what they really sell is discrimination, partisan politics, junk science, revisionist history (David Barton), and attempts to compel those that do not share their beliefs to adhere to their view of "Christianity" by virtue of government fiat or punishment. You can't even separate your announcement of moving to FBS from a political panderfest to discrimination and partisan politics.

Besides, Liberty doesn't consider Episcopalians, many Lutherans, UCCers, MCCers, and Congregationalists to be part of their "Christian" faith.

Look guys. Its obvious from the polls in here that many do not want you in our conference. You aren't a fit culturally. You aren't moving to FBS to compete to win. You are moving to FBS to attempt to gain a larger platform for your political campaigns for a certain political party and to advocate for discrimination against women, Gays, non-fundamentalists, and others. You aren't in the SBC footprint. You aren't in a major market. You are not even the best FCS football school available to us. You didn't make the Big South prominent. You wont make the Sun Belt prominent. Your gameday experience would be a big flatline for most visiting Sun Belt fans. If we added you, no one would want to join our conference. You bring acrimony wherever you go. You have nice facilities. We can build stadiums. Its much harder to build a conference family with one sanctimonious member that insults and demeans a lot of the other members.

PS. Whoever has that "Champions for Christ" tag on their posts is being really presumptious. You don't speak for my Christ, or for many others Christ. The Sun Belt is looking for Champions. Regardless of religion, gender, political persuasion, or sexual orientation.

In short you don't fit us. And I don't think you fit anyone else in FBS either.