Liberty is scheduled to play Iona College next Oct. 3. But what happens if that program ceases to exist?

That’s a legitimate question after Iona’s student paper reported that the school is considering re-evaluating its football program.

...

Iona, located in New Rochelle, N.Y., plays non-scholarship football as a Division I independent. The Gaels used to be a member of the MAAC before that league disbanded entirely. In this decade alone, MAAC programs St. John’s, Fairfield, Siena, Canisius, St. Peter’s and La Salle have all folded their programs. Marist is playing as an independent this season before moving to the Pioneer League for 2009. Duquesne left the MAAC to join the Northeast Conference, which doesn’t appear to want to have anything to do with Iona.

That leaves Iona with precious few options. Life as an independent is tough for any school, much less one that doesn’t offer any athletic aid. Iona’s program isn’t flush enough with cash to continue to make trips to UC Davis, like it did last week, or Cal Poly, like it did last year. Is it Pioneer or bust for the Gaels? And if the Pioneer doesn’t want Iona, does the program fold entirely? That’s a realistic possibility, considering what has happened to the rest of the MAAC.

It’s a situation worth watching for Liberty fans, and the Flames’ athletics department, which might be scrambling to fill a spot come the summer if Iona indeed does fold.

Iona football in trouble?
By Chris Lang, The Lynchburg News & Advance
http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/sports/sports_blog/article/liberty_report_iona_football_in_trouble/9967/