http://jmusportsblog.com/?p=5664

According to this blog they did. Not sure what the nature of the visit was. All I know, and this is not a knock on JMU, but I DO NOT want to add anymore schools. Stay at 14 Banowsky.

I believe C-USA visited all Sun Belt schools and a dozen or so FCS schools. Just surveying the landscape and keeping future options open. There are no imminent additions to C-USA unless another shift happens in realignment.

These visits are happening at half a dozen schools or more. CUSA doesn't believe realignment is over, and they know they will be raided again if it isn't.

Expansion itself isn't up to Banowsky, but it is his job to protect the conference's product. The university presidents don't want to expand, but they don't want to be caught unawares either.

Here is the thread on the Katz article.

http://csnbbs.com/showthread.php?tid=639...pid9487684

This is rather hypocritical from an ODU fan, but I don't want more FCS move ups. I'd rather stay at 14, I really don't like 16 anyway, but staying at 14 gives us room to maneuver just in case we want to take in an SBC team or two if a couple of them really kick it off.

JMU offers a lot, they're similar to ODU athletically and they have some really decent facilities and would provide a good in state rival for us, but objectively I don't think it's enough to justify adding JMU and a western member. That also means that the SBC would have to add someone else, or replace whoever went to C-USA from the west. Three more FCS adds would just be so messy and I can't think of two more teams to move up, UD don't seem to want it. JMU to the SBC makes sense, they're too good of a package to stay FCS, but going to C-USA doesn't work in my mind.

And I'll repeat, I get that this is complete hypocrisy, but in my eyes, it's not worth it now, I'd have chosen JMU way over some of the other move ups a year ago.

CUSA visited JMU in June.

From the local newspaper yesterday.

"Sources say a small C-USA contingent visited JMU not long ago and came away impressed with the school – and who wouldn’t be, given the university’s dramatic new 25,000-seat football stadium and plans for an $88 million basketball arena (though that project tentatively has been pushed back from its initial 2014 start date because of academic priorities)?"

(07-25-2013 10:48 AM)SATXBOSSMAN Wrote:  http://jmusportsblog.com/?p=5664

According to this blog they did. Not sure what the nature of the visit was. All I know, and this is not a knock on JMU, but I DO NOT want to add anymore schools. Stay at 14 Banowsky.

League officials are fully aware of the pending loss of one or more teams and are only doing their jobs by making preparations.

LINK? [me thinks eager eagle is too eager]

(07-25-2013 10:50 AM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  I believe C-USA visited all Sun Belt schools and a dozen or so FCS schools. Just surveying the landscape and keeping future options open. There are no imminent additions to C-USA unless another shift happens in realignment.

This ^.

The ODU AD himself expressed his doubt about JMU garnering the interest/votes from the rest of the league.

The conference is too east heavy as is. If anything, they need to add 2 out west to push UAB east.

But I am not in favor of anymore expansion unless we lose a couple of teams.

I still do not believe that JMU is seriously considering a move to FBS. I think our entire feasibility study is simply intended to silence the increasingly vocal majority of alumni who want a move to FBS. I fully expect the report to say something to the effect of "though FBS would have certain advantages, there is no viable conference option available at this time". JMU's administration is putting on a dog and pony show in their pursuit of CUSA, because they know that CUSA has no intention of expanding.

(07-25-2013 11:22 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  LINK? [me thinks eager eagle is too eager]

I just posted the link. The article shows that UTEP is trying to leave. JMU maybe UTEP's potential replacement.

(07-25-2013 12:01 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  

(07-25-2013 11:22 AM)TOPSTRAIGHT Wrote:  LINK? [me thinks eager eagle is too eager]

I just posted the link. The article shows that UTEP is trying to leave. JMU maybe UTEP's potential replacement.

But there's no real spot for UTEP in the MWC unless the MWC expands beyond 12 and into one or more of the large Texas television markets (UTSA, Rice, UNT).

Please no

Obviously there is a lot going on behind the scenes, but we just don't know. JMU may want to move up. C-USA has the responsibility to review them. They may or may not want them in the conference. The Sun Belt may or may not want them in the conference. The SB still needs a team to replace WKU.

But I wonder with the P5 rattling their sabers, is this... A) the wrong time to move up or B) the right time to move up?

Think if there is going to be a split to further distance the FBS schools from the FCS? Or is it BCS distancing from all other schools FBS or FCS. Say JMU moves up only to be left out of a future split. That would be a bad move? Or maybe they move up to be included in a future split. Then that is a good move.

Again, we don't know... but you got to ask that question, I quess.

Been doing all I can to confirm what Eager Eagle is saying. I keep getting the same canned phrase of Southern Miss is reviewing its athletic affiliation options. I don't think there is a pending departure but I think if the AAC loses one we are the next call up.

(07-25-2013 12:37 PM)cyc46 Wrote:  Been doing all I can to confirm what Eager Eagle is saying. I keep getting the same canned phrase of Southern Miss is reviewing its athletic affiliation options. I don't think there is a pending departure but I think if the AAC loses one we are the next call up.

UMass is next in line according to several reports when Tulsa was added.

(07-25-2013 12:29 PM)Hilltop1215 Wrote:  Obviously there is a lot going on behind the scenes, but we just don't know. JMU may want to move up. C-USA has the responsibility to review them. They may or may not want them in the conference. The Sun Belt may or may not want them in the conference. The SB still needs a team to replace WKU.

But I wonder with the P5 rattling their sabers, is this... A) the wrong time to move up or B) the right time to move up?

Think if there is going to be a split to further distance the FBS schools from the FCS? Or is it BCS distancing from all other schools FBS or FCS. Say JMU moves up only to be left out of a future split. That would be a bad move? Or maybe they move up to be included in a future split. Then that is a good move.

Again, we don't know... but you got to ask that question, I quess.

Just my own speculation, but I believe the boat has sailed for FCS schools moving to FBS. I just don't think the support is going to be there until we all know the future of the current Division I.

At this point I think expansion has far less to do with bowls, access, and TV contracts, but will leagues have enough schools able to meet whatever new potential thresholds that may emerge. Just seems like a ton of uncertainty right now for another FCS transition.

(07-25-2013 12:40 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(07-25-2013 12:37 PM)cyc46 Wrote:  Been doing all I can to confirm what Eager Eagle is saying. I keep getting the same canned phrase of Southern Miss is reviewing its athletic affiliation options. I don't think there is a pending departure but I think if the AAC loses one we are the next call up.

UMass is next in line according to several reports when Tulsa was added.

Yeah, I'm thinking UMass will be the choice.

(07-25-2013 12:40 PM)StillJonesing Wrote:  

(07-25-2013 12:37 PM)cyc46 Wrote:  Been doing all I can to confirm what Eager Eagle is saying. I keep getting the same canned phrase of Southern Miss is reviewing its athletic affiliation options. I don't think there is a pending departure but I think if the AAC loses one we are the next call up.

UMass is next in line according to several reports when Tulsa was added.

UMAss ain't going anywhere but the AAC (if invited).

CUSA requires full membership, and UMass is wedded to the A-10. The MAC doesn't seem too eager to force their hand at this time.