http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=209320678

Hard to say what they're going for with this. Maybe it's just something to quell the grumbling coming from JMU fans. Maybe it's intended as a message to certain FBS conferences that they're finally ready for an invitation. Maybe it's something they intended to put out months ago to coincide with the completion of their feasibility study, but they just got around to doing it now which would fit with their glacial pace on this issue.

My question is: Who would take them? Sun Belt? C-USA?

(11-22-2013 11:15 PM)mnjayhawk Wrote:  My question is: Who would take them? Sun Belt? C-USA?

MAC maybe? They're sitting at 13 right now for FB. Maybe they can convince UMass to come on board as an all sports member? I know UMass enjoys being in the A-10 but that league is becoming destabilized by the Big East/AAC/CUSA's raids and the lingering cloud of future raiding.

Quote:Based on some of the same factors discussed above, a move might not make sense if an invitation from another conference (even if forthcoming) did not meet the university’s criteria from an academic, financial, or competitive perspective. The situation in intercollegiate athletics is fluid at the present time, and the university must continue to be cognizant of all possibilities, including the ramifications of maintaining its current affiliations.

http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbm...=209320678

A sharp tounged release by the JMU athletic department throughout the FAQ.

It was good that they've taken the time to make a formal study before blindly jumping into another FBS conference like basically every other school does. OP is a move to FBS would help JMU compete in recruiting and they need to have the finances set up in a way the school will not be reliant on student fees. That just isn't happening in a G5 conference, IMO.

(11-22-2013 11:27 PM)NJRedMan Wrote:  

(11-22-2013 11:15 PM)mnjayhawk Wrote:  My question is: Who would take them? Sun Belt? C-USA?

MAC maybe? They're sitting at 13 right now for FB. Maybe they can convince UMass to come on board as an all sports member? I know UMass enjoys being in the A-10 but that league is becoming destabilized by the Big East/AAC/CUSA's raids and the lingering cloud of future raiding.

The MAC could be seeing a few defections itself by 2016 when the MAC and CUSA TV deals are up for renegotiation. 13 is just the number for now.

(11-22-2013 11:15 PM)mnjayhawk Wrote:  My question is: Who would take them? Sun Belt? C-USA?

SBC has all but extended the formal offer.

CUSA says no.

MAC says nothing.

JMU is posturing for CUSA or the MAC to make a move. They are not an ideal fit in the SBC. My guess is they have an SBC invite in hand should they want it, but the longer they sit, the more likely it is that Missouri State or Eastern Kentucky sneak into the picture.

(11-23-2013 12:40 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  JMU is posturing for CUSA or the MAC to make a move. They are not an ideal fit in the SBC. My guess is they have an SBC invite in hand should they want it, but the longer they sit, the more likely it is that Missouri State or Eastern Kentucky sneak into the picture.

I agree....except on EKU and MSU.

If it's not JMU, it WILL be Liberty.

(11-23-2013 12:44 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:40 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  JMU is posturing for CUSA or the MAC to make a move. They are not an ideal fit in the SBC. My guess is they have an SBC invite in hand should they want it, but the longer they sit, the more likely it is that Missouri State or Eastern Kentucky sneak into the picture.

I agree....except on EKU and MSU.

If it's not JMU, it WILL be Liberty.

Liberty appears to be out. Too much baggage. There has been a lot of communication between SBC West Members and Missouri State of late, and the hope is to convince the Bears to take an invite.

EKU is pushing hard for an invite, though they have some work to do.

If Karl Benson had a choice, Liberty would already be in the league.

(11-23-2013 12:47 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:44 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:40 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  JMU is posturing for CUSA or the MAC to make a move. They are not an ideal fit in the SBC. My guess is they have an SBC invite in hand should they want it, but the longer they sit, the more likely it is that Missouri State or Eastern Kentucky sneak into the picture.

I agree....except on EKU and MSU.

If it's not JMU, it WILL be Liberty.

Liberty appears to be out. Too much baggage. There has been a lot of communication between SBC West Members and Missouri State of late, and the hope is to convince the Bears to take an invite.

EKU is pushing hard for an invite, though they have some work to do.

If Karl Benson had a choice, Liberty would already be in the league.

Benson said it will be an eastern team.

EKU is way way way far away from FBS.

MSU is in play, of course, but convincing a basketball school to become a football school is tough.

So after that, who? Neither EKU or MSU are likely to move. No Southland schools will be invited....so who?

Liberty

Chattanooga

Doesn't sound like jmu is going the way of the SBC. The repeated need for a conference that they would fit academically seems to eliminate that option.
Sounds a little like they are floating a plan to join the Mac.

(11-23-2013 01:00 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Chattanooga

They have the stadium.

But the budget issues are HUGE at UT-C.

Nope. They're further away than MSU.

Youngstown State

(11-23-2013 01:37 AM)Kittonhead Wrote:  Youngstown State

Budget.

No money at YSU either, unless Tressel drops $5 mil/year.

Still points to Liberty. They have the facilities, the money, the TV network.....just have to forget their FN crazy founder and professors.

North Dakota State

I could see North Dakota State taking an invite, but I doubt the Sun Belt would invite them unless if there were truly no other options. If the Summit League implodes, NMSU would probably get the all-sports invite from the Sun Belt, and NDSU could replace them in the WAC while moving football to the Sun Belt.

(11-23-2013 12:44 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:40 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  JMU is posturing for CUSA or the MAC to make a move. They are not an ideal fit in the SBC. My guess is they have an SBC invite in hand should they want it, but the longer they sit, the more likely it is that Missouri State or Eastern Kentucky sneak into the picture.

I agree....except on EKU and MSU.

If it's not JMU, it WILL be Liberty.

No. JMU sees itself as too good for the Belt, if JMU continues to feel that way the Belt will go in another direction, likely Missouri State.

(11-23-2013 12:52 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:47 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:44 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-23-2013 12:40 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  JMU is posturing for CUSA or the MAC to make a move. They are not an ideal fit in the SBC. My guess is they have an SBC invite in hand should they want it, but the longer they sit, the more likely it is that Missouri State or Eastern Kentucky sneak into the picture.

I agree....except on EKU and MSU.

If it's not JMU, it WILL be Liberty.

Liberty appears to be out. Too much baggage. There has been a lot of communication between SBC West Members and Missouri State of late, and the hope is to convince the Bears to take an invite.

EKU is pushing hard for an invite, though they have some work to do.

If Karl Benson had a choice, Liberty would already be in the league.

Benson said it will be an eastern team.

EKU is way way way far away from FBS.

MSU is in play, of course, but convincing a basketball school to become a football school is tough.

So after that, who? Neither EKU or MSU are likely to move. No Southland schools will be invited....so who?

Liberty

This.

JMU wants CUSA with ODU, Marshall, Charlotte. That is just not likely for the time being. With JMU being so adamantly against the Sunbelt they either stay put or try to join the MAC either football only or all sports. If FBS become a huge priority I say they join the MAC as football only and balance out UMASS, like UMass was supposed to do with Temple.