The plans were laid out and there were options if the Sun
Belt needed them; could those options answer for the Sun Belt Conference soon?
After Western Kentucky made it official
that they will be leaving the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA in 2014
that left an open spot in the Sun Belt Conference. Commissioner Carl Benson
said on Monday that Western Kentucky news was no surprise to him or the Sun Belt
Conference, and that they have been preparing for the moment. Now that WKU is
gone, Commissioner Benson has been in active talks with several programs and
most notably James Madison and Liberty.
On last evening I confirmed that Liberty
AD Jeff Barber and Liberty has been in active discussions with the Sun Belt
Conference and Commissioner Karl Benson. Today I have learned here at the
Insider that Commissioner Benson has acknowledged that there are talks between
himself and Liberty at this time. Could Liberty be preparing to accept that
invitation if offered- certainly! Liberty has made it known in 2012 through the
announcement of their school president that they desire to be at the highest
level of competition in college sports.
What makes this possible is that the long
rumored James Madison University also located in Virginia was a front runner
for the #12 spot as well, may have rejected the invitation to move up to FBS
and join the Sun Belt Conference. Many reports and sources have stated that JMU
is not interested at this time and not looking to move up to FBS. However, I
still say there is still a chance that the Sun Belt Conference may be still
lobbying JMU for that number 12 spot while they talk with their back up
Liberty.
With all the talk about Liberty, you have
many that believe Liberty religious views may not work in the Sun Belt Conference
and more so – not welcomed by many.
Well I think we will all find out the
answer to these discussions very soon. I don’t think the wait will be pushed
back to long, because the schools need to announce before June 1st
that they intend to move up to FBS from FCS. If Liberty or James Madison
accepts they will play as FCS independents in 2013 and will not be able to
compete for any FCS post season games or conference championships. Either
school will join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014 as transitional members in
football and members in all other sports; they will be able to compete for Sun
Belt Conference championships. Football program will not be able to participate
in any FBS Bowl games until 2015.
Liberty or James Madison will be a member
of the Sun Belt Conference projected eastern division.
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.
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 65th 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.
