Liberty is a diploma mill. It's a religious version of the University of Phoenix. Add to that some non-mainstream views and there's a reason no one wanted them until we needed them to save CUSA.
A ProPublica/New York Times Magazine investigation reveals shady practices at the university’s distance learning program. But its status as a nonprofit means federal crackdown is unlikely.
www.vox.com
I don't know anything about Tarleton State. I fully admit that much of my distaste is snobbery, and with respect to our actual athletic achievements (at least in football), relatively unwarranted.
That said, there's a point where you water down the G5 to the point where it's a completely indistinguishable mish-mash of laughable sounding schools. With all due respect to those football programs (who i'm sure will obliterate us on the field the first time we play) - Tarleton State? Kennesaw State? Jacksonville State? What and where the heck are these things?
One directional state U? Sure. Two of them. Ok. Three? Eh. An entire conference? Not a good idea. And these aren't even directional states. Tarleton? Jacksonville (and not the Florida one), Kennesaw. They sound made up. WTF is a Tarleton? I'd have less an issue with Central Texas U or North Georgia State. At least there's some sort of Q-rating when you hear that.
The point is, if you take a bunch of FCS teams, and all of a sudden move them up to the FBS - you still have the same old FCS crud, you haven't really done anything except change the name.
Shame on us for squandering a 25 year headstart, but I do feel we should be better than to be lumped in with a bunch of start-ups.
WRT Coastal Carolina - they're going to last as long as they can keep that coach....which is about 6 more months. They are not built on a solid foundation like App State.
