(01-23-2019 11:04 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(01-23-2019 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2019 09:07 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(01-23-2019 08:40 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2019 07:49 AM)ParentofJMUMRDs Wrote:  From what I recall JMU and NDSU were interested in playing on the opening FCS ESPN game back in 2016 at NDSU but they were not willing to come to BFS as part of a home and home so JMU declined. Which I fully support as being the correct move by JMU. Games of that magnitude against an opponent like that can not be a one away game setup. Has to have a return game at Harrisonburg.

Brian

What’s BS about that is NDSU in Aug 2016 agreed to a home and home with UD..

VT played UD in 2017. And UVA plays either W&M or RU every year. Just like those schools, NDSU knows there is a strong chance they would lose, especially at BFS. Nobody wants to schedule regular season losses when playoff seeding is at stake. Thats why it also made no sense for us to go to Fargo on a one-way deal. NDSU isn't worried about UD (yet).

Back in 2016 before the season started JMU couldnt have been looked at as a serious threat. Why would NDSU, at that time having won 5 straight NC, have been afraid to do a home and home with a team the previous 4 seasons:
2012: missed playoffs.
2013: missed playoffs.
2014: lost in the 1st round.
2015: lost in the 2nd round/Round of 16
Fargo to Harrisonburg just under 1400 miles..

In Aug 2014, when the 2016-2017 home and home between NDSU & EWU was announced, NDSU was coming off 3 straight NC, and EWU the previous 4 seasons:
2010: won NC
2011: missed playoffs
2012: made semis
2013: made semis & beat ranked Oregon St.
Fargo to Cheyney just under 1400 miles..

So if they weren’t afraid to schedule EWU at the time they did, they shouldn’t have been afraid to schedule JMU in 2016..

EWU is from the big fluffy. Nobody is scared of them. It wasn't until Best became coach and the Weber St. guy that they are started to shed that rep. Hopefully this is a permanent change and changes how the rest of that league operates because I think FCS is better if all three power leagues are strong.

During that 4 year stretch when EWU made 3 semifinals, won the NC (including beating NDSU in the qtrfinals, defending champ VU in the semis & UD in the NC game), and beat ranked Oregon St, I can guarantee a lot more people were afraid of them, than JMU during that time, last 2 seasons MM/1st 2 seasons EW...Heck 2014-2015 JMU was a Big Fluffy team- all offense/no defense..

And in that 1st game of the home/home series vs NDSU in 2016, they lost in OT @ NDSU. It was only due a complete fluke play in the 2016 EWU/YSU semis that JMU was playing YSU & not EWU in the NC game.