Rome wasn't built in a day.

Welcome to the boards!

(04-21-2014 07:16 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Rome wasn't built in a day.

...and as us old timers know, Ron Carrier would finish that line with "That's because I wasn't in charge!"....still one of Ron's all-time great quips.


Welcome TXGiant and FreshDad! Always happy to hear from alums in Texas, and FreshDad it's rewarding to read that your daughter had such a wonderful first year experience.

Can we just close this thread. It's very depressing to see all our hoping come to this. It's sad to say but I think it's over. CAA4lyfe it is! Even the hopeful posters are saying- be patient and we will get a better invite next year

(04-21-2014 09:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(04-21-2014 07:16 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Rome wasn't built in a day.

...and as us old timers know, Ron Carrier would finish that line with "That's because I wasn't in charge!"....still one of Ron's all-time great quips.


Welcome TXGiant and FreshDad! Always happy to hear from alums in Texas, and FreshDad it's rewarding to read that your daughter had such a wonderful first year experience.

That is what Carrier said to Lou Frye once when Lou had to make a deadline involving BFS. Lou was a character. Not many on here would have known him, but he moved to JMU from King George. He was a big supporter of King George athletics when I was a student. His wife drove our team bus.

(04-20-2014 08:30 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  So far, I am 100% on board with decision #1: turning down the woeful SBC.

The Sun Belt might be woeful, but it is still a step up from the CAA in my opinion. I suppose comparing the two is like debating the merits of being burned at the stake vs. hanged, drawn, and quartered. Both options are pretty damn terrible. I give up.

I want FBS as much as the next fella on here but it's not the end of the world if we don't go. I will lose interest if we continue with Elon, Albany, Stony Brook and I will die a little inside everytime I see one of our peers have success in FBS (which will happen sooner rather than later), but I won't stop rooting for the Dukes. However, I'm most concerned that Alger's inactivity, constant monitoring and lack of transparency with regards to athletics will carry over to other aspects of the university. It will be a far greater tragedy if we're still #5 or so in ten years as a southern masters level university with no real noticable goals/direction than if we were to still be playing football in the CAA.

(04-20-2014 08:30 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  ....That conference is on the verge of going away. It needs us more than we need it....

If we were in the SB and then it went away, it could be the very best thing that ever happens to us. We could take the cream and form our own deal because you cannot do this without first being a player.

I will not disagree that the conference needs us more than we need it, so what? The ACC needs UNC worse than Carolina needs the ACC.
We are going in reverse by staying FCS. The G-5 conferences (AAC, CUSA, MAC, SB, and the MWC) are today what the FCS was 10 - 15 years ago. FCS is now another tier lower.

Our university is not setting an example to our young people and trying to be all that it can be with the taking of a few risks. We are trying to survive rather than being somebody. Unless I'm not seeing the whole picture, and our debt is so much greater than ODU, APPY, GA Southern, Marshall, ECU, etc., etc., then you are saying they have all hired incompetent administrators, or we are simply conservative to a fault.

We are administering out of fear of failure and Uncle Ron needs to come to this party and straighten a few people out.

(04-21-2014 07:16 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Rome wasn't built in a day.

Welcome to the boards!

but in fell in one

(04-21-2014 05:36 PM)dukeDoom Wrote:  

(04-21-2014 07:16 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Rome wasn't built in a day.

Welcome to the boards!

but in fell in one

Ehhh, I could recommend a few books for you on the thousand year fall of Rome.

(04-21-2014 05:20 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-20-2014 08:30 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  ....That conference is on the verge of going away. It needs us more than we need it....

If we were in the SB and then it went away, it could be the very best thing that ever happens to us. We could take the cream and form our own deal because you cannot do this without first being a player.

I will not disagree that the conference needs us more than we need it, so what? The ACC needs UNC worse than Carolina needs the ACC.
We are going in reverse by staying FCS. The G-5 conferences (AAC, CUSA, MAC, SB, and the MWC) are today what the FCS was 10 - 15 years ago. FCS is now another tier lower.

Our university is not setting an example to our young people and trying to be all that it can be with the taking of a few risks. We are trying to survive rather than being somebody. Unless I'm not seeing the whole picture, and our debt is so much greater than ODU, APPY, GA Southern, Marshall, ECU, etc., etc., then you are saying they have all hired incompetent administrators, or we are simply conservative to a fault.

We are administering out of fear of failure and Uncle Ron needs to come to this party and straighten a few people out.

No they're not. The non Big 5 conferences were a distant 2nd fiddle to the top 5 conferences 10-15 years ago, and they still are.

I-AA wasn't what the non Big 5 are now 10-15 years ago. And I-AA isn't a lower tier than it was 10-15 years ago. It wasn't getting on TV like it is now. The product on the field is just as good. Has been churn (a handful of prgrams have moved up, new programs have been added), has lost 2 powerhouse teams (App & GSU), but has gained another (NDSU). Are more fully scholly teams (10-15 years NEC and Patriot gave no schollies. Now Patriot is going full scholly and NEC is at around 40).

JMU simply needs to move up not because I-AA has shrunk, but because JMU has outgrown I-AA.

How could you possibly make the argument that 22 more scholarship players that other schools are competing for doesn't improve the product? That makes no sense at all. Of course the product is better if you're FBS. If I have 22 more scholarships, not only do I have more depth, I have more options. If a guy doesn't pan out like I thought, he can be replaced a lot more easily. Sure would have liked 22 more scholarships last year when our corners were getting torn apart.

(04-21-2014 10:58 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  How could you possibly make the argument that 22 more scholarship players that other schools are competing for doesn't improve the product? That makes no sense at all. Of course the product is better if you're FBS. If I have 22 more scholarships, not only do I have more depth, I have more options. If a guy doesn't pan out like I thought, he can be replaced a lot more easily. Sure would have liked 22 more scholarships last year when our corners were getting torn apart.

It's depends on the people recruiting. 22 schollies doesn't guarantees more quality players , it could work in the opposite direction. We rarely take any recruits from VT and UVA when they have legit offers from those schools. That won't change for some time now. ODU has a great location for recruits JMU doesn't. And the system of replacing guys in college does not work in my opinion.

(04-20-2014 08:30 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  That conference is on the verge of going away.

And the CAA isn't falling apart? We lost all of our good basketball teams, ODU, GMU, VCU, Richmond. And we lost several promising football programs. ODU, GSU, as well as App State and Charlotte who would be in the CAA now, if they didn't go FBS.

The Sun Belt almost fell apart, but they rebuilt already, using teams we would be happy to have in the CAA. The new version of the Sun Belt looks great to me compared to the CAA. Everyone with any football ambition wants out of the CAA and into FBS, even to the Sun Belt.

(04-22-2014 10:09 AM)truthahn Wrote:  The Sun Belt almost fell apart, but they rebuilt already, using teams we would be happy to have in the CAA. The new version of the Sun Belt looks great to me compared to the CAA.

Except for G-State. That school is turrible.

(04-22-2014 10:15 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 10:09 AM)truthahn Wrote:  The Sun Belt almost fell apart, but they rebuilt already, using teams we would be happy to have in the CAA. The new version of the Sun Belt looks great to me compared to the CAA.

Except for G-State. That school is turrible.

I still take them over Albany or Elon.

(04-22-2014 10:19 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 10:15 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 10:09 AM)truthahn Wrote:  The Sun Belt almost fell apart, but they rebuilt already, using teams we would be happy to have in the CAA. The new version of the Sun Belt looks great to me compared to the CAA.

Except for G-State. That school is turrible.

I still take them over Albany or Elon.

Agreed. They have much more potential than 3/4 of the CAA.

(04-22-2014 10:20 AM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 10:19 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 10:15 AM)HyperDuke Wrote:  

(04-22-2014 10:09 AM)truthahn Wrote:  The Sun Belt almost fell apart, but they rebuilt already, using teams we would be happy to have in the CAA. The new version of the Sun Belt looks great to me compared to the CAA.

Except for G-State. That school is turrible.

I still take them over Albany or Elon.

Agreed. They have much more potential than 3/4 of the CAA.

Also, I look at it like this every conference has a doormat ---- just so it is not you so be it. And G-State would kick jmu's butt in Men's Basketball and Baseball.

34 seconds in.

(04-21-2014 10:58 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  How could you possibly make the argument that 22 more scholarship players that other schools are competing for doesn't improve the product? That makes no sense at all. Of course the product is better if you're FBS. If I have 22 more scholarships, not only do I have more depth, I have more options. If a guy doesn't pan out like I thought, he can be replaced a lot more easily. Sure would have liked 22 more scholarships last year when our corners were getting torn apart.

You replied after my post, but just to be clear, it wasn't me making that argument (that 22 more schollies doesn't = an improved product). It was Bleeding Purple saying that the non Big 5 (despite 22 more schollies) are what I-AA was 10-15 years ago.