Liberty ready to announce today that they are moving up to FBS level in football as an Independent.

They certainly have the resources, even though it will still be tough.

Move will be official in 2019.

Just cannot understand such a move (especially without a conference affiliation!), but I didn't understand ODU's move, either.

(02-16-2017 04:41 PM)WM Beancounter Wrote:  Just cannot understand such a move (especially without a conference affiliation!), but I didn't understand ODU's move, either.

They probably assume that this makes them the most "shovel-ready" team available in the event of any conference expansion/realignment and therefore gives them an edge.

This move blows my mind.

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(02-16-2017 04:54 PM)nogretheogre Wrote:  They probably assume that this makes them the most "shovel-ready" team available in the event of any conference expansion/realignment and therefore gives them an edge.

I agree with you on the reason.

Also, their "online University" has been SUCH a surprise money maker (literally millions a year), that they are flush in cash.
They figure to look attractive to someone in a year or two.

Other than the chance to get a cheap FBS win, should anybody care about this news? I mean it hasn't exactly been seashells and balloons for ODU and they are actually in a conference. BTW, forget ever going to the NCAA tournament in basketball as an independent. If G5 ever becomes more viable, I guess I get it, but it seems like a money and competitive loss to me. Of course, they do have lots of money to burn.

I think Liberty sees JMU as a major competitor against their own FBS aspirations, given Bridgeforth stadium and the recent championship. There definitely isnt room for two nearby Virginia small-town teams in FBS and they are likely trying to do everything to bolster themselves against a Dukes bid.


...so if this means JMU stays CAA, it is relevant to WM.

I thought you needed to have a conference invite you to move up?

They received a waiver from the NCAA.

These guys running the show at LU have embraced the 21st century and know what they're doing. I'd trust their judgement and wish them the best.

(02-16-2017 07:05 PM)tribelifer Wrote:  They received a waiver from the NCAA.

It will be interesting to see what they said to get that waiver. I'd imagine there will be a few others who try that. Let's also not forget they have a complete sleaze bag in McCaw as their AD...

Are they SBC bound? Makes a lot of sense.

They're "whoever will take us" bound. If there was a conference entirely in Alaska and it invited them, they'd be in.

(02-16-2017 07:19 PM)ocfrank Wrote:  These guys running the show at LU have embraced the 21st century and know what they're doing. I'd trust their judgement and wish them the best.

Yeah, they knew what they were doing when they dropped their pants and hired the ex-Baylor AD...

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My guess is that they see what Baylor is doing athletically and are following suit. They are the only big time Christian (not Catholic) school on the east coast and they will draw student athletes for that reason. Believe it or not a lot of people are born again.

I have avoided the JMU board after last night's loss...but this may get me back over there. They have to be losing it over this one!

(02-17-2017 06:34 AM)Tribe32 Wrote:  My guess is that they see what Baylor is doing athletically and are following suit. They are the only big time Christian (not Catholic) school on the east coast and they will draw student athletes for that reason. Believe it or not a lot of people are born again.

Terrifying

Not talking about the scandals when I say following suit. Just saying that they are putting a lot of money into athletics.

No one yet has run in screaming about how W&M should follow suit. I'm proud of you all.