Liberty University a possible addition for the Sun Belt Conference in 2014

The flames have what it takes and needs to be on the FBS level, and that could happen with the Sun Belt Conference

We all know that college football is the driving force behind all the conference re-alignment, and it has not slow down yet. Several changes have taken place over the past week in the Sun Belt Conference and others that will make you say – what’s next?

Over the past week we have seen the Sun Belt Conference add two FCS powerhouses in Appalachian State and Georgia Southern; the SBC also added two former disbanded WAC football members New Mexico State and Idaho that are now independents and formers members of the Sun Belt Conference as well. All four of these teams will be added on July 1, 2014.

On today conference re-alignment took another twist with Western Kentucky announcing they are leaving the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA beginning in 2014. WOW, big surprise Western Kentucky, lol! According to SBC Commissioner Karl Benson, the SBC was prepared and waiting for the moment to happen with Western Kentucky and there is no surprise on April fool day.

With Western Kentucky leaving, that creates an open spot in the Sun Belt Conference and a newly anticipated eastern division that will stage a conference championship game beginning in 2014. The Board of Directors and AD’s have work hard to create a 12 member conference in all sports and create a conference football championship game.  This is a move that I applaud the SBC for making over the past week. Now that WKU is leaving, that 12^th member will receive an invitation soon from the Sun Belt Conference, but the question still remains –who?

There are many speculations and rumors on who is next or at the top of the Sun Belt list to become the 12^th member. There are many reports that JMU (James Madison University) is the top favorite to become that 12^th. Then you have others that say LU (Liberty University) is the top favorite for the #12 spot. Your guess is better than mind.

Liberty University is a Christian program that would make an outstanding addition to the Sun Belt Conference in all sports. Liberty is located in Lynchburg, VA (Do the SBC want to expand to Virginia? I’m pretty sure they do for a quality program.) Liberty is located in the 65^th media market if that makes any difference, sounds ok to me; Liberty has over 12,000 residential students and over 75,000 online students, 220 Programs of Study with an 968 average APR. Liberty is expected to add a law school and medical school by 2014. There are 26 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans at Liberty.

Is Liberty ready for TV production-YES with a 20,000 seat stadium and is expected to expand to over 25,000 seats; their basketball arena holds 8,000 with a 3-court practice facility. Liberty has 6 NCAA D1 National Champions teams with 35 NCAA Championship appearances and 20 full funded scholarships teams. Not only that, Liberty has that cash to go with it.  Who wouldn’t be looking for a program like that?

Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson released a statement today saying he is confident in the Sun Belt future, and is prepared to add another program to the conference. In order to stage that conference football championship game in 2014 and have six eastern division members a new member must be added before June 1^st in order for them to declare they are moving up from FCS to FBS. Sun Belt will not have 12 all sports members in 2014 if they don’t add a program by June 1^st, unless they are willing to add another already FBS program; which I don’t know who that will be.

Liberty, James Madison, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State, Lamar, Missouri State, and maybe a couple of Louisiana FCS programs are all possibilities at this point. So when will we know, that remain to be answered; but do expect an answer by the end of April or the beginning of May.