http://www.jmu.edu/madisonfuture/docs/at...-study.pdf

This is a rather long study, and I'll admit I didn't read it all, but the gist seems to be that JMU would favorably consider a move to FBS, if asked. There is no firm recommendation that I can see. But the stage is set if a conference wishes to invite them, and I do believe they would make the move. There are some financial gains to be made by the jump to FCS

For C-USA (which you can infer is their preferred target...see page 61...although there is no large financial distinction between C-USA, MAC and SBC), with no disrespect to JMU, at all, I just don't think it makes any sense to add another team or consider 16. If we lost a school (and that would be most likely in the west) then we should add in the West, not the East. But two balanced 7 teams division is working out just fine in football.

The MAC has an opening if they desire to balance out Umass, but JMU and UMASS are not in the footprint. SBC seems more likley, but the East becomes almost exclusively recent FCS move ups, with JMU, Ga. State, ASU, Georgia Southern, South Alabama and Troy most likely.

But if movement comes, I suspect we are looking at January to May, following football season.

If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports? The Atlantic Sun or America East would be a downgrade. I don't know if the Big South would take them, although there is an opening since they are at 11 members.

I am thinking the Sun Belt may be the only realistic option. The SBC may have to go to a zipper format in football for competitive balance for a few years:

Troy/South Alabama
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
Texas State/Arkansas State
App State/James Madison
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State/Idaho

We know JMU is actively lobbying CUSA, and that should UTEP bounce, JMU will be one of the top candidates to replace them.

The MAC has expressed interest in JMU and will likely pursue additional talks now that the report is out.

The SBC has been pretty open in their desire to add JMU. I would have no problem with JMU going there.

(10-05-2013 08:21 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports? The Atlantic Sun or America East would be a downgrade. I don't know if the Big South would take them, although there is an opening since they are at 11 members.

I am thinking the Sun Belt may be the only realistic option. The SBC may have to go to a zipper format in football for competitive balance for a few years:

Troy/South Alabama
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
Texas State/Arkansas State
App State/James Madison
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State/Idaho

CAA football is a separate entity from the CAA, so JMU could conceivably make a football only move and leave it's other sports in the CAA. We are a founding member of the CAA, and I doubt that the CAA is very eager to lose any more members, so they may accommodate us. I don't see the MAC adding any other football only members, and CUSA requires full membership.....so realistically the only option is football only in the SBC. That COULD HAPPEN if NMSU moves fully to the SBC.

(10-05-2013 08:21 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports?

They could leave there sports in the Colonial, as the Colonial does not offer FBS football.

drexel,elon,hofstra unc wilmington,northeastern,and college of Charleston are all in the colonial and are not part of Colonial Football.



If Missouri St came as a football only to either the MAC or Sun Belt
they can stay in the MVC for other sports because the MVC does not offer FBS Football.

(10-05-2013 08:42 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  We know JMU is actively lobbying CUSA, and that should UTEP bounce, JMU will be one of the top candidates to replace them.

The MAC has expressed interest in JMU and will likely pursue additional talks now that the report is out.

The SBC has been pretty open in their desire to add JMU. I would have no problem with JMU going there.

C-USA was a target for a lot of schools when its ranks were filled with bigger programs with some considerable history in FBS/Div. 1. Considering C-USA of today is what JMU was turning down in the SBC practically last year, is C-USA still a target?

I think it was very sensible for JMU to wait and not jump into FBS like ODU did. ODU relied on ECU's support, who ODU won't even get to enjoy once fully FBS. Is the attraction to C-USA for partnering with ODU? It just sounds like the MAC is a far more stable, institutionally similar collective of institutions.

It's not a knock on C-USA, more a knock on these schools who operate on this "we have to move or else someone else will." I'd like to think JMU needn't be another "eastern indie" -like program.

(10-05-2013 07:48 AM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  The MAC has an opening if they desire to balance out Umass, but JMU and UMASS are not in the footprint.

JMU is not as far from the MAC East as UMass ~ 5hrs drive from OhioU, 6hrs from Akron/Kent, 7hrs from Buffalo, 7.5hrs from MiamiU. Only Buffalo is closer to UMass than that.

The more schools in Virginia that move up to FB'S, the less likely it becomes that VCU will do so, making their case as a basketball first candidate for Big East expansions stronger.

(10-05-2013 08:42 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  We know JMU is actively lobbying CUSA, and that should UTEP bounce, JMU will be one of the top candidates to replace them.

The MAC has expressed interest in JMU and will likely pursue additional talks now that the report is out.

The SBC has been pretty open in their desire to add JMU. I would have no problem with JMU going there.

If UTEP does leave, CUSA will need to select a western team to maintain some semblance of balance. Adding another eastern team pushes either WKU or MTSU west, which is something no one wants.

I think CUSA's too heavy in the south. 9 schools spread between TX and FL? They can shed a TX school without it hurting them.

(10-05-2013 08:45 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 08:21 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports? The Atlantic Sun or America East would be a downgrade. I don't know if the Big South would take them, although there is an opening since they are at 11 members.

I am thinking the Sun Belt may be the only realistic option. The SBC may have to go to a zipper format in football for competitive balance for a few years:

Troy/South Alabama
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
Texas State/Arkansas State
App State/James Madison
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State/Idaho

CAA football is a separate entity from the CAA, so JMU could conceivably make a football only move and leave it's other sports in the CAA. We are a founding member of the CAA, and I doubt that the CAA is very eager to lose any more members, so they may accommodate us. I don't see the MAC adding any other football only members, and CUSA requires full membership.....so realistically the only option is football only in the SBC. That COULD HAPPEN if NMSU moves fully to the SBC.

SBC will not accept JMU or Missouri State football only. That's pretty much been confirmed. Only reason NMSU and Idaho are football only is because they are so far out of the footprint.

(10-05-2013 04:25 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 08:45 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 08:21 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports? The Atlantic Sun or America East would be a downgrade. I don't know if the Big South would take them, although there is an opening since they are at 11 members.

I am thinking the Sun Belt may be the only realistic option. The SBC may have to go to a zipper format in football for competitive balance for a few years:

Troy/South Alabama
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
Texas State/Arkansas State
App State/James Madison
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State/Idaho

CAA football is a separate entity from the CAA, so JMU could conceivably make a football only move and leave it's other sports in the CAA. We are a founding member of the CAA, and I doubt that the CAA is very eager to lose any more members, so they may accommodate us. I don't see the MAC adding any other football only members, and CUSA requires full membership.....so realistically the only option is football only in the SBC. That COULD HAPPEN if NMSU moves fully to the SBC.

SBC will not accept JMU or Missouri State football only. That's pretty much been confirmed. Only reason NMSU and Idaho are football only is because they are so far out of the footprint.

First, I think NMSU actually wants to move its basketball to the Belt. But, the Belt doesn't want football onlys. Otherwise, why not offer a bid to NDSU (seriously, we have Idaho for football only, so why not?). NDSU would be a better add than JMU and NDSU would probably perform better and wouldn't be looking for the exits from day one (NDSU, due to its geography, has very few options). And NDSU wouldn't need a study. Unlike JMU, they'd see Belt membership as something valuable.

I'm good with JMU exploring joining the MAC or CUSA or staying in FCS. Not everyone wants to play in the Belt. And that's okay. There appears to be significant opposition in the JMU community towards the Belt. Opposition that should be resolved before we take a team that might lead to more instability in our conference.

If JMU wants to join us, they are welcome to apply. But please remember that fit goes both ways.

(10-05-2013 03:24 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  I think CUSA's too heavy in the south. 9 schools spread between TX and FL? They can shed a TX school without it hurting them.

yes, but they can't replace them with an eastern team. They would further unbalance the divisions.

I am skeptical that MWC is close to taking UTEP.
I further am skeptical that the MAC will add another football only. UMass was brought in to balance Temple and that certainly didn't work out.
There is real division within the Sun Belt on the NMSU question. The western schools fought hard to add NMSU for all sports. If JMU comes to the Sun Belt that issue could lead to an impasse.

(10-05-2013 04:43 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 04:25 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 08:45 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(10-05-2013 08:21 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports? The Atlantic Sun or America East would be a downgrade. I don't know if the Big South would take them, although there is an opening since they are at 11 members.

I am thinking the Sun Belt may be the only realistic option. The SBC may have to go to a zipper format in football for competitive balance for a few years:

Troy/South Alabama
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
Texas State/Arkansas State
App State/James Madison
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State/Idaho

CAA football is a separate entity from the CAA, so JMU could conceivably make a football only move and leave it's other sports in the CAA. We are a founding member of the CAA, and I doubt that the CAA is very eager to lose any more members, so they may accommodate us. I don't see the MAC adding any other football only members, and CUSA requires full membership.....so realistically the only option is football only in the SBC. That COULD HAPPEN if NMSU moves fully to the SBC.

SBC will not accept JMU or Missouri State football only. That's pretty much been confirmed. Only reason NMSU and Idaho are football only is because they are so far out of the footprint.

First, I think NMSU actually wants to move its basketball to the Belt. But, the Belt doesn't want football onlys. Otherwise, why not offer a bid to NDSU (seriously, we have Idaho for football only, so why not?). NDSU would be a better add than JMU and NDSU would probably perform better and wouldn't be looking for the exits from day one (NDSU, due to its geography, has very few options). And NDSU wouldn't need a study. Unlike JMU, they'd see Belt membership as something valuable.

I'm good with JMU exploring joining the MAC or CUSA or staying in FCS. Not everyone wants to play in the Belt. And that's okay. There appears to be significant opposition in the JMU community towards the Belt. Opposition that should be resolved before we take a team that might lead to more instability in our conference.

If JMU wants to join us, they are welcome to apply. But please remember that fit goes both ways.

Another USA fan who claims that JMU has said it is "too good" for the SBC. You are relying on a very few JMU fans, an ODU beat writer, and a student newspaper writer for that opinion.

Not once, NEVER, has JMU said anything derogatory about the SBC. JMU asked for more time to complete their study. Now, the SBC is free to put the full court press on. By all means, invite MSU if ya'll think a middling FCS program with under 10,000 attendance is a good fit.

USA fans may want more western teams.....but there simply is no one out there. MSU is a basketball school who HOPES to one day be successful in FCS. Unless the SBC is trying to become a basketball first conference, I don't see the attraction.

Historically the Sun Belt has been a basketball first conference - it's just that all of the historically good programs in the Belt other than South Alabama and Louisiana are now in Conference USA (ODU, Charlotte, WKU), the Atlantic Sun (Jacksonville), or Atlantic 10 (VCU). That said, Louisiana hasn't finished first in the conference or their division in ten years, and USA hasn't done the same in seven years, although at least USA made the NCAA Tournament in 2008. Even some schools that have occasional good runs like North Texas are no longer in the conference. Missouri State may not have been to the NCAA tournament since 1999, but at least the program has averaged almost 20 wins a season over the last four years.

The Sun Belt needs another eastern school, though, to geographically balance divisions in football. James Madison is the most logical pairing with Appalachian State. In all other sports, this also makes for seven pairs of travel partners:

James Madison/Appalachian State
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
South Alabama/Troy
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
Arkansa State/UALR
Texas State/Texas-Arlington

(10-05-2013 08:21 AM)chargeradio Wrote:  If the MAC were willing to add JMU as football only, where does JMU park its other sports? The Atlantic Sun or America East would be a downgrade. I don't know if the Big South would take them, although there is an opening since they are at 11 members.

I am thinking the Sun Belt may be the only realistic option. The SBC may have to go to a zipper format in football for competitive balance for a few years:

Troy/South Alabama
Georgia Southern/Georgia State
Texas State/Arkansas State
App State/James Madison
Louisiana/Louisiana-Monroe
New Mexico State/Idaho

Could leave their BB and and Olympic sports in the CAA or move them to the A-10 if they would join the MAC for FB only to even out the conference with UMass as a FB only. There are no openings in the other conferences so the MAC would be a good start for them as FB only with their remaining sports staying in the CAA until realignment fires up again.

JMU questions?

How large is football stadium?
What is your average football attendance per game?
How large is your basketball arena?
What is your average basketball attendance per game?

(10-06-2013 08:59 AM)Wilkie01 Wrote:  JMU questions?

How large is football stadium?
What is your average football attendance per game?
How large is your basketball arena?
What is your average basketball attendance per game?

Officially it is 25,000....though that seems a bit low to me.

Last year is was 23k....the year before 25k. Through 4 games, we are averaging 22k this year....pretty miserable home schedule and a monsoon game have affected that.

Arena seats 7600. It is 30 years old and a new 9000 seat arena will break ground with 24 months.

I think we averaged around 3500 for bball. Made the NCAA tourney last year for the first time in nearly 20 years.

I use to live in Virginia, back in the day in the Tidewater area in Newport News. UVA, VPI (now VA Tech) and William and Mary were the football powers in 1960s & 70s. . Now it appears to be VA Tech, UVA, JMU and ODU. I see ODU growing fast.

Ok. JMU as near Blacksburg right? Where does most of JMU students hale from in Virginia?

My personal opinion is the Big 5 in Virginia will soon be:

VA Tech
UVA
James Madison
ODU
VCU ( do they play football at all?)

Richmond and William ^ Mary remain excellent University but are not plays in athletics.