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Post by northalaspectator on May 16, 2018 17:13:14 GMT -6
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Post by brandon on May 16, 2018 17:24:48 GMT -6
WOW! Didn't see that coming. |
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Post by unafied on May 16, 2018 20:02:41 GMT -6
So, wait... help me out here.
Liberty is/was in the Big South. They decided to move football to FBS, but don’t have a conference invite, I suppose? So they’re independent for now. Did the Big South want to kick the rest of their teams out? Seems they did, if I read that article correctly. But then the Big South ended up granting them a waiver so the other sports could stay.
And now they come to the ASUN?
I don’t really understand it. Obviously it sounds like it could be good for the ASUN, but aren’t most Big South teams a little closer to Liberty geographically? I’m not sure I understand the point of them moving, unless they’d rather just play our conference’s Florida teams. Maybe being an “associate” member cuts you out of conference benefits/payouts/etc.? That could be an issue.
Am I missing something?
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Post by catscratchfever4 on May 16, 2018 20:36:17 GMT -6
Who do they think they is? Noter dam?
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Post by brandon on May 16, 2018 20:37:32 GMT -6
So, wait... help me out here. Liberty is/was in the Big South. They decided to move football to FBS, but don’t have a conference invite, I suppose? So they’re independent for now. Did the Big South want to kick the rest of their teams out? Seems they did, if I read that article correctly. But then the Big South ended up granting them a waiver so the other sports could stay. And now they come to the ASUN? I don’t really understand it. Obviously it sounds like it could be good for the ASUN, but aren’t most Big South teams a little closer to Liberty geographically? I’m not sure I understand the point of them moving, unless they’d rather just play our conference’s Florida teams. Maybe being an “associate” member cuts you out of conference benefits/payouts/etc.? That could be an issue. Am I missing something? I have been trying to figure this out as well. I have a couple of my ideas. One logical and the other a little more controversial . We will start with logic. Liberty is a huge school, and puts themselves in the same breath as BYU and Notre Dame. But don't have an FBS conference, and I'm not sure they want one. They may want to be in a non-football conference and a Indy in football like their peer (for lack of better word) schools in BYU and ND. This could be more benifital for UNA and KSU and whomever else may join with FCS football in the A-Sun. I can just hear a deal being made by the conference and Liberty saying that they have to reserve games with all FCS members on a rotations in the A-Sun. Helps Liberty with schedules as an Indy. Also helps rivalries in other sports. Controversial But not as far fetched as you may think. The A-Sun/Big South football deal was created to help both conferences, and I think it helps the A-Sun more. What if, the A-Sun is also making a deal with one of the FBS conference in the same way? If you are a football school in the A-Sun and want non scholarship ball, you go Pioneer, if you want FCS scholarship ball, Big South, if you want FCS ball, (insert conference name). It's kinda genius on the A-Sun part. They are serious about not losing schools because of the lack of sponsoring football. So that would mean that Liberty may have a football home, and if UNA or KSU or whomever else joins, could have a FBS home if that's what they wanted to do, and not have to leave the A-Sun. That would also potentially make the A-Sun a very powerful non football conference. |
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Post by northalaspectator on May 16, 2018 21:03:40 GMT -6
From what I have been reading for the past 4 or 5 years they have been wanting to leave the Big South. From my understanding they have approached the Southern Conference, the OVC, and two years ago the ASUN and was turn down at that time.
Yes for travel purposes the Big South is closer for them.
The following has been posted in their sports forum and it makes sense:
1) Destination cities people want to visit and places we already have large alumni bases. We're swapping out Clinton, SC; Buies Creek, NC; and Farmville, VA for Atlanta, Nashville, and multiple trips to Florida.
2) In baseball the conference RPI is 7. Big South is 22. 7 of 8 teams are inside the top 200. 6 in the top 150.
3) Basketball is 6 spots behind the Big South but with us coming in it should go higher. Also has a better program (FGCU) than any team in the Big South.
4) WBB had 2 top 100 RPI teams this year and Stetson is traditionally in that mix although they were down this year. WBB RPI was 23. BS is 27. But take us out and that drops. Add us to ASun it goes up. So there’s another plus.
5) It helps MBB recruiting because now you go to Florida multiple times per year. Thats a state that has tons of private Christian schools with good programs. You tell those kids and their parents they can play in front of family for half the conference schedule and that’s big.
6) For softball, 4 of the 7 teams in the league won 30+ this year.
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Post by unalions on May 17, 2018 0:48:30 GMT -6
Weird! Lol.
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Post by unafied on May 17, 2018 3:54:00 GMT -6
From what I have been reading for the past 4 or 5 years they have been wanting to leave the Big South. From my understanding they have approached the Southern Conference, the OVC, and two years ago the ASUN and was turn down at that time. Yes for travel purposes the Big South is closer for them. The following has been posted in their sports forum and it makes sense: 1) Destination cities people want to visit and places we already have large alumni bases. We're swapping out Clinton, SC; Buies Creek, NC; and Farmville, VA for Atlanta, Nashville, and multiple trips to Florida. 2) In baseball the conference RPI is 7. Big South is 22. 7 of 8 teams are inside the top 200. 6 in the top 150. 3) Basketball is 6 spots behind the Big South but with us coming in it should go higher. Also has a better program (FGCU) than any team in the Big South. 4) WBB had 2 top 100 RPI teams this year and Stetson is traditionally in that mix although they were down this year. WBB RPI was 23. BS is 27. But take us out and that drops. Add us to ASun it goes up. So there’s another plus. 5) It helps MBB recruiting because now you go to Florida multiple times per year. Thats a state that has tons of private Christian schools with good programs. You tell those kids and their parents they can play in front of family for half the conference schedule and that’s big. 6) For softball, 4 of the 7 teams in the league won 30+ this year. Thanks spectator. That really answers my questions. I think perception-wise, most fans view the Big South as being a bit higher than the ASUN. And as arrogant as it sounds, Liberty seems to think they can help change that. They’re probably right though. The ASUN has been a stepping-stone conference for years, so it’s nice to see a school that wants to join. Perhaps some of the others who have been supposedly debating a move will now come on over. FWIW, I spent a little time in Lynchburg, Virginia, last fall. It’s a beautiful area. It should definitely be on your road trip list when we start to play games at Liberty. |
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Post by unafied on May 17, 2018 9:50:02 GMT -6
1:00 Central today...
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Post by brandon on May 17, 2018 11:20:45 GMT -6
Personally, I think this is a case were perception and reality is vastly different. For example, nobody thinks the SEC should have invited Texas A&M and Missouri over Clemson and Florida St. But the SEC already has schools in both Florida and South Carolina. I think the A-Sun and Liberty looks at it the same way. Liberty is not limited to the Carolinas in the A-Sun. They get to travel to areas that they normally don't get to get their brand out. Basically, all of Florida, Atlanta, Nashville, Alabama, and New Jersey/New York metro areas. On the A-Sun side, now they are in Virginia. The Big South does not offer anything close to that.
Also, it is going to make competition both athletics and facilities get better.
Liberty is usually competitive in baseball, softball, basketball, pretty much all sports. It will help them Bing in a Conference that can potentially put multiple teams in tournaments. The A-Sun has been close lately. In basketball, you could see 2 or 3 in in the near future because the add of Liberty, it would not have happened in the Big South. FGCU, Lipscomb, Liberty and North Florida will probably be the top in basketball for the next few years.
I would also be on the look out for 1 more school being added in the A-Sun in the very near future. I do know from talking with the Commissioner of the A-Sun, the conference has very progressive plans to be a premier non-football D1 conference. By what I have been told and what I have witnessed since UNA was invited, he is doing exactly that.
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Post by unafied on May 17, 2018 12:16:16 GMT -6
Personally, I think this is a case were perception and reality is vastly different. For example, nobody thinks the SEC should have invited Texas A&M and Missouri over Clemson and Florida St. But the SEC already has schools in both Florida and South Carolina. I think the A-Sun and Liberty looks at it the same way. Liberty is not limited to the Carolinas in the A-Sun. They get to travel to areas that they normally don't get to get their brand out. Basically, all of Florida, Atlanta, Nashville, Alabama, and New Jersey/New York metro areas. On the A-Sun side, now they are in Virginia. The Big South does not offer anything close to that. Also, it is going to make competition both athletics and facilities get better. Liberty is usually competitive in baseball, softball, basketball, pretty much all sports. It will help them Bing in a Conference that can potentially put multiple teams in tournaments. The A-Sun has been close lately. In basketball, you could see 2 or 3 in in the near future because the add of Liberty, it would not have happened in the Big South. FGCU, Lipscomb, Liberty and North Florida will probably be the top in basketball for the next few years. I would also be on the look out for 1 more school being added in the A-Sun in the very near future. I do know from talking with the Commissioner of the A-Sun, the conference has very progressive plans to be a premier non-football D1 conference. By what I have been told and what I have witnessed since UNA was invited, he is doing exactly that. Well said. I think it's great news. Suddenly I feel a lot better about our position than I did. I was always a guy that wanted the OVC or SoCon, but pending how the next few years shake out, we might end up being in a better position where we are. I know it's been discussed in another thread about other potential new members. If the ASUN could now bring in a 10th (hopefully football-playing) school that fits in well, I think you could see a stable group of teams for a while to come. Another, perhaps small benefit... as an FBS independent, Liberty will always be looking for teams to play. Shouldn't be hard to arrange something in a few years. |
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Post by brandon on May 17, 2018 12:50:38 GMT -6
Personally, I think this is a case were perception and reality is vastly different. For example, nobody thinks the SEC should have invited Texas A&M and Missouri over Clemson and Florida St. But the SEC already has schools in both Florida and South Carolina. I think the A-Sun and Liberty looks at it the same way. Liberty is not limited to the Carolinas in the A-Sun. They get to travel to areas that they normally don't get to get their brand out. Basically, all of Florida, Atlanta, Nashville, Alabama, and New Jersey/New York metro areas. On the A-Sun side, now they are in Virginia. The Big South does not offer anything close to that. Also, it is going to make competition both athletics and facilities get better. Liberty is usually competitive in baseball, softball, basketball, pretty much all sports. It will help them Bing in a Conference that can potentially put multiple teams in tournaments. The A-Sun has been close lately. In basketball, you could see 2 or 3 in in the near future because the add of Liberty, it would not have happened in the Big South. FGCU, Lipscomb, Liberty and North Florida will probably be the top in basketball for the next few years. I would also be on the look out for 1 more school being added in the A-Sun in the very near future. I do know from talking with the Commissioner of the A-Sun, the conference has very progressive plans to be a premier non-football D1 conference. By what I have been told and what I have witnessed since UNA was invited, he is doing exactly that. Well said. I think it's great news. Suddenly I feel a lot better about our position than I did. I was always a guy that wanted the OVC or SoCon, but pending how the next few years shake out, we might end up being in a better position where we are. I know it's been discussed in another thread about other potential new members. If the ASUN could now bring in a 10th (hopefully football-playing) school that fits in well, I think you could see a stable group of teams for a while to come. Another, perhaps small benefit... as an FBS independent, Liberty will always be looking for teams to play. Shouldn't be hard to arrange something in a few years. As far as football, I can see a deal being made with the A-Sun and Liberty saying if you need to fill your Indy schedule, you give the A-Sun football schools a spot. Or schedule UNA and KSU every other year on rotating schedules. Who knows, Liberty may not have a problem playing at UNA and KSU occasionally. But all in all, this is Huge for the conference. I imagine that for the most part, Liberty and NJIT will be travel partners. UNA and Lipscomb. I will say this, UNA and the rest of the A-Sun needs to be very progressive in upgrading facilities. I can't wait. ROAR LIONS |
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Post by northalaspectator on May 17, 2018 19:46:10 GMT -6
I do know from talking with the Commissioner of the A-Sun, the conference has very progressive plans to be a premier non-football D1 conference. By what I have been told and what I have witnessed since UNA was invited, he is doing exactly that. Today Falwell Mention progressive in just about every sentence. What Falwell said in his closing remarks in the Press Conference was what caught my attention. In talking about the ASUN and especially the Commissioner he said, Open to ideals outside of the box, creative and innovative that may come to fruition and take us to a higher level. |
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