keep this in mind also - the higher up the food chain, the more academics matter.

the combination of athletics, support and academics at JMU is better than the vast majority of CUSA, MAC and Sun Belt schools remaining, if not better than all of them.

It is NOT far fetched to see JMU in the AAC. Maybe not this summer, but sooner than some of you believe.

Here is what I think is happening for jmu regarding communication with each conference:

AAC: hey you guys interested? No? Welp, see ya later!

CUSA: hey odu what are they saying about us? Oh. Well thanks for trying we'll be in touch.

MAC: hey we like you. Wanna go out sometime?

Sun belt: football only football only football only

CAA: when you think about 16 of 17 sports would still be in your conference and that ain't bad.

ACC: <speaking to answering machine> hey guys, i know you're there, pick up.

WAC-East: Yeah right, quit calling us.

(06-07-2013 12:31 PM)DBJMU2006 Wrote:  Realitywise JMu has solid facilities but the perception nationwide is jmu is an FCS/D2 school. The AAC would put all the CUSA schools in a hat and draw a name before they would promote jmu. Not to mention the stigma of losing their Big East title just a few months ago they would look even more small-time promoting us.

This ^^^^. Heck, many of our students/alums think we play all our sports in D2. I remember explaining to my gfs room mate (a JMU grad) that we would indeed be competing in the same NCAA tournament as Indiana, Syracuse and Georgetown.

We can claim facilities/attendance figures/school population all we want, fact remains, we still have the FCS stink.

I'm not even advocating go FBS at all costs as soon as possible, I just feel like we can all safely assume an AAC invite won't come to us directly from the FCS.

http://www.jmu.edu/news/2013/06/07-bov-summary.shtml

Summary of board actions. Go back to your regular fretting.

(06-07-2013 12:31 PM)DBJMU2006 Wrote:  Realitywise JMu has solid facilities but the perception nationwide is jmu is an FCS/D2 school. The AAC would put all the CUSA schools in a hat and draw a name before they would promote jmu. Not to mention the stigma of losing their Big East title just a few months ago they would look even more small-time promoting us.

I have heard it said by some within JMU that our current reputation and future potential amongst the Athletic Directors and Conference Administrators is well regarded. So while the average fan may know little to nothing about us, those that are actually in charge of these re-alignment decisions do. Whether that translates into an FBS conference move remains to be seen.

(06-07-2013 03:52 PM)JMUDuke2002 Wrote:  http://www.jmu.edu/news/2013/06/07-bov-summary.shtml

Summary of board actions. Go back to your regular fretting.

Gotcha...so basically this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gSQg1i_q2g

(06-07-2013 03:52 PM)JMUDuke2002 Wrote:  http://www.jmu.edu/news/2013/06/07-bov-summary.shtml

Summary of board actions. Go back to your regular fretting.

Ah, the first result from the "Vision Fund" fundraising campaign - nothing but a trip to Colonial Williamsburg. Very refreshing.

(06-07-2013 03:52 PM)JMUDuke2002 Wrote:  http://www.jmu.edu/news/2013/06/07-bov-summary.shtml

Summary of board actions. Go back to your regular fretting.

Well, no conference news (as expected), but differential tuition for the College of Business is pretty significant. I'm glad to see that was actually approved. Hopefully the higher tuition in COB can begin to address the salary challenges in that college.

While I don't think JMU can move directly to the AAC (or is even willing financially), it is not far fetched to think that is destination #2 after the football program gets a few years in an FBS entry level conference.

i.e. South Florida spent 2 years in CUSA before moving up to the Big East.
Central Florida spent 3 years in the MAC before moving up to C-USA.

None of the current entry level conferences are an ideal fit for JMU so I think they would be a stepping stone to something better in a few years.

(06-07-2013 05:21 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  While I don't think JMU can move directly to the AAC (or is even willing financially), it is not far fetched to think that is destination #2 after the football program gets a few years in an FBS entry level conference.

i.e. South Florida spent 2 years in CUSA before moving up to the Big East.
Central Florida spent 3 years in the MAC before moving up to C-USA.

None of the current entry level conferences are an ideal fit for JMU so I think they would be a stepping stone to something better in a few years.

Some might argue that CUSA is not a step up from the MAC. Lateral move at best. Enjoyed the golf!

(06-07-2013 06:03 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  

(06-07-2013 05:21 PM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  While I don't think JMU can move directly to the AAC (or is even willing financially), it is not far fetched to think that is destination #2 after the football program gets a few years in an FBS entry level conference.

i.e. South Florida spent 2 years in CUSA before moving up to the Big East.
Central Florida spent 3 years in the MAC before moving up to C-USA.

None of the current entry level conferences are an ideal fit for JMU so I think they would be a stepping stone to something better in a few years.

Some might argue that CUSA is not a step up from the MAC. Lateral move at best. Enjoyed the golf!

BSKB, I would be one who you could be speaking of, and agree that C-USA is equal, at best, to the MAC. However, for me personally and selfishly, I'm concerned about weekday games. If my circumstances do not change, those games will be a no show for me. I would have to take at least 1.5 days off work to make it.

In addition, I could never make it to an away MAC game. As for the SB or C-USA, an Appy or a Charlotte away game, I'm all in. However, this is me being self-serving. I believe the MAC schools are much closer aligned to the JMU mission.

I tend to favor the SB as a FB only conference and I believe games with Appy will be a better draw for both schools, verses games with ODU. I was disappointed in the turnout for the ODU game this past season and I believe had that game been against Appy, the tickets would have sold out before the season began. I just don't believe ODU will have a very good traveling fan base. I, also, believe that we need to count on opposing teams fans coming to BFS in order for us to bang on the 25,000 sell-out crowd number, to become normal.

I've jumped around in my thoughts, but bottom line, I will not make a fuss over any of the three conferences.

I don't think it matters where we end up if admin decides to pursue FBS, we'll likely play App State, ODU, Georgia Southern, Georgia State or UNC-Charlotte on a fairly frequent basis. All of the listed schools above will likely be burdened with having to travel and compete against schools upwards of 2000 miles and two times zones away in MOST sports from time to time.

I imagine future OOC schedules will likely be a road game against a top BCS (or low tier BCS like UMD, UVA or Temple), a home game against a 1AA and some combination of games against two of the schools listed in the first paragraph. That would leave the OOC to generally be something like:
@ UVA
vs. Towson
@ ODU
vs. Georgia Southern

Some posters like to say that our schedule wouldnt' get that much better with a move to FBS, but what I have listed above is an AVERAGE OOC that we will likely see every year (with some years being better). I just think the quality of football we'll see will generate more interest from both diehards and casual fans in an FBS conference.

(06-07-2013 09:14 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I don't think it matters where we end up if admin decides to pursue FBS, we'll likely play App State, ODU, Georgia Southern, Georgia State or UNC-Charlotte on a fairly frequent basis. All of the listed schools above will likely be burdened with having to travel and compete against schools upwards of 2000 miles and two times zones away in MOST sports from time to time.

I imagine future OOC schedules will likely be a road game against a top BCS (or low tier BCS like UMD, UVA or Temple), a home game against a 1AA and some combination of games against two of the schools listed in the first paragraph. That would leave the OOC to generally be something like:
@ UVA
vs. Towson
@ ODU
vs. Georgia Southern

Some posters like to say that our schedule wouldnt' get that much better with a move to FBS, but what I have listed above is an AVERAGE OOC that we will likely see every year (with some years being better). I just think the quality of football we'll see will generate more interest from both diehards and casual fans in an FBS conference.

Totally agree. The OOC is where the real opportunity is. This is where I have concerns about MM. Will he continue to influence JB in his desires to play a softer OOC schedule? I don't want to see our OOC consist of the "GA State's" of FBS. In addition, our one FCS game needs to be against the "W&M" types and not the "St. Francis" level schools.

(06-07-2013 09:14 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I don't think it matters where we end up if admin decides to pursue FBS, we'll likely play App State, ODU, Georgia Southern, Georgia State or UNC-Charlotte on a fairly frequent basis. All of the listed schools above will likely be burdened with having to travel and compete against schools upwards of 2000 miles and two times zones away in MOST sports from time to time.

I imagine future OOC schedules will likely be a road game against a top BCS (or low tier BCS like UMD, UVA or Temple), a home game against a 1AA and some combination of games against two of the schools listed in the first paragraph. That would leave the OOC to generally be something like:
@ UVA
vs. Towson
@ ODU
vs. Georgia Southern

Some posters like to say that our schedule wouldnt' get that much better with a move to FBS, but what I have listed above is an AVERAGE OOC that we will likely see every year (with some years being better). I just think the quality of football we'll see will generate more interest from both diehards and casual fans in an FBS conference.

You may be right but they won't be home games for us. They will all be played on their home turf ala Akron so long as we are fcs

Looking at the BOV minutes, it shows approval for several real estate transactions. It appears JMU is buying a bunch of houses that border the campus. Does anyone know of any specific uses for these or is this an example of slowly buying up the neighborhood for potential big development at a much later date. Just curious really.

i think that entire area between Port Republic/S Main/Bluestone is vunerable to JMU.

i would imagine they'd like that entire plot of land to grow the university within the same footprint.

(06-08-2013 08:52 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  i think that entire area between Port Republic/S Main/Bluestone is vunerable to JMU.

i would imagine they'd like that entire plot of land to grow the university within the same footprint.

Of the 5 properities purchased, one is near the warsaw parking deck on harrison street, one is in the area you just mentioned. Another is across the street of port republic and 2 are in the neighborhood between the convo and the days inn.
You are correct in that it looks like they're slowly buying properties surrounding the southern portions of campus to enable future expansion in that direction.

Any idea if they bull doze them now or maintain them and rent them out, etc.

Also, the neighborhood between the convo and the days inn appears to have quite a few houses. How long will it take to get ownership of all of it? Seems it may be a while.