Before a record crowd at Williams Stadium on Saturday for its 39th Commencement, Chancellor and President Jerry Falwell, Jr. announced Liberty University’s intention to seek NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference affiliation for its 20-team athletics program.
During the last six months, Liberty has worked with Carr Sports Consulting, LLC, to conduct an exhaustive analysis of its athletic and university programs.
The expansive FBS feasibility study examined all facets of the university to see if it is capable of meeting the demands of competing at the highest level of NCAA Division I competition.
Liberty held a press conference on May 14 on the club level of the Williams Stadium tower to further explain the results of the feasibility study.
Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. released this statement prior to the press conference: “Competing at the highest levels of collegiate competition has been the vision for Liberty University since its founding in 1971. It is exciting to watch the fulfillment of that dream taking shape as Liberty now has the financial resources, facilities, academic support, and athletics professionals necessary to move forward.”
Falwell fielded questions from Liberty staff,media, and fans, along with Jeff Barber, athletic director; Bill Carr of Carr Sports Consulting, LLC; and Neal Askew, Liberty’s executive vice president.
For the first time, Flames fans had a chance to watch the press conference live through the Liberty Channel and Liberty’s new mobile app, Liberty Today.
Liberty has not yet been invited to join an FBS conference, but when they are, it was announced that Liberty will be prepared to make that decision within 48 hours.
- View the press conference and a highlight package from the Flames Sports Network at www.libertyflames.com.
