So did anybody else notice that one of the areas of revenue growth highlighted was game guarantees? What's the best way to increase those??? It seems odd that those would be singled out, but maybe that's just me.

(04-23-2015 08:26 PM)JMUDukeDawg Wrote:  So did anybody else notice that one of the areas of revenue growth highlighted was game guarantees? What's the best way to increase those??? It seems odd that those would be singled out, but maybe that's just me.

Good point

(04-23-2015 01:07 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:37 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I feel like every question we have has been answered except conference realignment (which has nothing to report). Meanwhile, we're given the open, communicative blog post we've been begging for for years and we're STILL bitching.
We're an insufferable bunch, aren't we?

Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question in our since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

I want FBS even enough to join the SBC, but even I am not so dense that I don't realize how damaging publicly "promising" FBS can be if you fail to ultimately deliver on said promise.
I don't blame them for playing it safe by not publicly commenting on the subject, even if it's frustrating for hardcore fans on a message board.
Liberty looks really stupid IMO for holding a press conference and 3 years later, they still have nothing to show for it. It's desperate and sad.

+1. There are things that can be said verbally so I encourage people to ask Bourne the questions you have and if he can answer, he will. JMU has made the strategic decision to do the FBS pitching behind the scenes with good conferences. Whether we like this approach or not, this is the path Alger has chosen to take and the leaders under him have to carry the message. That being said, there are a number of things that can be done and are being done to make us ready and attractive for an invitation.

(04-23-2015 08:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 01:07 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:37 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I feel like every question we have has been answered except conference realignment (which has nothing to report). Meanwhile, we're given the open, communicative blog post we've been begging for for years and we're STILL bitching.
We're an insufferable bunch, aren't we?

Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question in our since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

I want FBS even enough to join the SBC, but even I am not so dense that I don't realize how damaging publicly "promising" FBS can be if you fail to ultimately deliver on said promise.
I don't blame them for playing it safe by not publicly commenting on the subject, even if it's frustrating for hardcore fans on a message board.
Liberty looks really stupid IMO for holding a press conference and 3 years later, they still have nothing to show for it. It's desperate and sad.

+1. There are things that can be said verbally so I encourage people to ask Bourne the questions you have and if he can answer, he will. JMU has made the strategic decision to do the FBS pitching behind the scenes with good conferences. Whether we like this approach or not, this is the path Alger has chosen to take and the leaders under him have to carry the message. That being said, there are a number of things that can be done and are being done to make us ready and attractive for an invitation.

Thanks for this as well

(04-23-2015 08:26 PM)JMUDukeDawg Wrote:  So did anybody else notice that one of the areas of revenue growth highlighted was game guarantees? What's the best way to increase those??? It seems odd that those would be singled out, but maybe that's just me.

Not at all just you. Anyone willing to read that with an open mind, while not simultaneously shoving needles into their voo-doo-what-we-do dolls, of Bourne, King and Alger, will see there are several of that type "hint" as to what they are driving at.

Whether they are simply doing that to snowball us remains to be seen. I remain optimistic...

On the damned if you do, damned if you don't about messaging: I disagree. Leadership is about taking a stand and putting the assets around you - human capital and financial capital - in the right position to strengthen your position, as well as acknowledge when you have made mistakes to move forward without resentment. I have seen JMU strengthening its position for years regarding athletics facilities, but the lack of taking a stand completely undermines the ability to generate the financial goals stated in this latest message to support continued infrastrature needs to compete nationally.

Sadly, in an effort to manage expectations, JMU has done an admirable job of failing to do just that.

Oh and Dolley - stop making so much sense! We need more irrational thought on this board!

I was very happy with the email. Now that it's been pointed out, it does look a little funny to say we're trying to get to 50% without giving a reason for it, but overall I think it's a huge step in the right direction and what a lot of people have been clamoring for.

(04-23-2015 11:26 AM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 11:17 AM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 10:55 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 09:48 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 09:38 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Looking forward to attending Coaches Caravan next week.

If you have questions you feel aren't being answered openly - such as conference affiliation - I encourage you to attend the caravan events near you and ask the questions you have.

I think the Coaches Caravans are great. But the one I went to a few years ago down here in Hampton Roads there were like 50 people. Lets assume on the heavier side, 100 people come out to each of these events. With a half dozen events, that's 600 people hearing the message out of 100,000 alumni and tens of thousands of more parents, students, and friends of the university.

I agree 100% that if you care about this stuff, the Coaches Caravans are something you should attend. But too often I have heard on here that the people offering criticism wouldn't be doing so had they attended [insert Duke Club event]. We can't bank the entire communication plan of our athletic program on 100 person Duke Club events...

Not sure I understand your point. You're never going to reach 100,000 alumni + tens of thousands more. What's better than hosting open forum events where people can meet and mingle with those responsible for how things are run? How else do you engage the couple thousand who come to games every year? How about the few hundred who are actively involved most of the time? Should we have a BBQ on Godwin field before a football game this fall that all ticket holders are required to attend?

The caravan events depend on a couple hundred coming out, and then those people carrying the message on. It seems to me this is a fairly common and practical approach.

You tend to forget that not all alumni are in range to attend such gatherings... If they want to be an engaged NATIONAL university then consider the alumni outside of Virginia.

Agreed, not sure why we don't have on of these somewhere between NY and Philly.

Or between DC and NYC- ie. in the Philly area...

(04-23-2015 11:31 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 11:17 AM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 10:55 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 09:48 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 09:38 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  Looking forward to attending Coaches Caravan next week.

If you have questions you feel aren't being answered openly - such as conference affiliation - I encourage you to attend the caravan events near you and ask the questions you have.

I think the Coaches Caravans are great. But the one I went to a few years ago down here in Hampton Roads there were like 50 people. Lets assume on the heavier side, 100 people come out to each of these events. With a half dozen events, that's 600 people hearing the message out of 100,000 alumni and tens of thousands of more parents, students, and friends of the university.

I agree 100% that if you care about this stuff, the Coaches Caravans are something you should attend. But too often I have heard on here that the people offering criticism wouldn't be doing so had they attended [insert Duke Club event]. We can't bank the entire communication plan of our athletic program on 100 person Duke Club events...

Not sure I understand your point. You're never going to reach 100,000 alumni + tens of thousands more. What's better than hosting open forum events where people can meet and mingle with those responsible for how things are run? How else do you engage the couple thousand who come to games every year? How about the few hundred who are actively involved most of the time? Should we have a BBQ on Godwin field before a football game this fall that all ticket holders are required to attend?

The caravan events depend on a couple hundred coming out, and then those people carrying the message on. It seems to me this is a fairly common and practical approach.

You tend to forget that not all alumni are in range to attend such gatherings... If they want to be an engaged NATIONAL university then consider the alumni outside of Virginia.

This is one reason you try to schedule events like road football games outside of the area ---- like this fall in Houston area. Or last years road game in Charlotte. They are not as much about having an event for folks to travel too as they are about connecting with fans/alumn in that area.

I am not comparing JMU to USC but that is why schools like USC schedule an east coast home-home series with someone. So they can cater to fans/alums outside of the traditional SoCal market. For example when USC played UVA a few years ago there were more USC folks at the game than USC.....and USC rented out large venues on the UVA campus to host events.

What???

(04-24-2015 08:53 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 11:31 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 11:17 AM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 10:55 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 09:48 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  I think the Coaches Caravans are great. But the one I went to a few years ago down here in Hampton Roads there were like 50 people. Lets assume on the heavier side, 100 people come out to each of these events. With a half dozen events, that's 600 people hearing the message out of 100,000 alumni and tens of thousands of more parents, students, and friends of the university.

I agree 100% that if you care about this stuff, the Coaches Caravans are something you should attend. But too often I have heard on here that the people offering criticism wouldn't be doing so had they attended [insert Duke Club event]. We can't bank the entire communication plan of our athletic program on 100 person Duke Club events...

Not sure I understand your point. You're never going to reach 100,000 alumni + tens of thousands more. What's better than hosting open forum events where people can meet and mingle with those responsible for how things are run? How else do you engage the couple thousand who come to games every year? How about the few hundred who are actively involved most of the time? Should we have a BBQ on Godwin field before a football game this fall that all ticket holders are required to attend?

The caravan events depend on a couple hundred coming out, and then those people carrying the message on. It seems to me this is a fairly common and practical approach.

You tend to forget that not all alumni are in range to attend such gatherings... If they want to be an engaged NATIONAL university then consider the alumni outside of Virginia.

This is one reason you try to schedule events like road football games outside of the area ---- like this fall in Houston area. Or last years road game in Charlotte. They are not as much about having an event for folks to travel too as they are about connecting with fans/alumn in that area.

I am not comparing JMU to USC but that is why schools like USC schedule an east coast home-home series with someone. So they can cater to fans/alums outside of the traditional SoCal market. For example when USC played UVA a few years ago there were more USC folks at the game than USC.....and USC rented out large venues on the UVA campus to host events.

What???

BDK, light'n up, he knows SMU is in Dallas. Don't take everything so serious and literal. Everything doesn't have to be absolutely spot on, some people like to add a little color to their postings.

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:37 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I feel like every question we have has been answered except conference realignment (which has nothing to report). Meanwhile, we're given the open, communicative blog post we've been begging for for years and we're STILL bitching.
We're an insufferable bunch, aren't we?

Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

The C-USA and MAC are luxury cars?

(04-24-2015 09:05 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:37 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I feel like every question we have has been answered except conference realignment (which has nothing to report). Meanwhile, we're given the open, communicative blog post we've been begging for for years and we're STILL bitching.
We're an insufferable bunch, aren't we?

Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

The C-USA and MAC are luxury cars?

Compared to the CAA? Maybe not luxury, but lets call them Honda and Toyota while the SBC and CAA are Hyundai and Kia.

That suit you better?

(04-23-2015 04:39 PM)HolyCityDuke Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 03:20 PM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  The reality is that Bourne is damned if he is candid about conference affiliation, and damned if he isn’t as well. He doesn’t want to insult our current conference and its member schools, but doesn’t want to imply that we don’t have our eyes open. It’s pretty clear that Bourne would say, if caught in a moment of candor: “Yes, the revamped CAA sucks, but the Sun Belt would be worse, and, regardless, those at a higher pay grade than mine won’t allow us to join the Sun Belt. I’d jump ship to CUSA or MAC if I could, but we’re not getting an invitation from either anytime soon. So sit back and enjoy the ride.” For that candor he'd get slammed by our existing conference and its members and slammed by those who want FBS at all costs. He walks a fine line, or at least so it seems.

Regardless, it would be nice if emails like this one wouldn’t just ignore the 10,000 lb. elephant in the room.

This is a situation JMU put itself in. As my parents have always said... You reap what you sow. I also disagree with you about the sunbelt. CAA is JMUs worst option. A blind man can see that.

For football, yes. But with 18 sports teams, several hundred away games/matches/meets a season and 10 of 11 conference teams being a plane ride, no.

Throw on the academics that's a 2nd issue.

So unless JMU could get a FB only invite.....

(04-24-2015 09:12 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:05 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:37 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I feel like every question we have has been answered except conference realignment (which has nothing to report). Meanwhile, we're given the open, communicative blog post we've been begging for for years and we're STILL bitching.
We're an insufferable bunch, aren't we?

Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

The C-USA and MAC are luxury cars?

Compared to the CAA? Maybe not luxury, but lets call them Honda and Toyota while the SBC and CAA are Hyundai and Kia.

That suit you better?

Actually the analogy doesn't work because Hyundai and Kia are primed to overtake the Japanese car market.

I'd say a better analogy is that CUSA and MAC are Acuras... The Sunbelt is a Honda Accord. The CAA is a Ford sedan

(04-24-2015 09:26 AM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:12 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:05 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:37 PM)Potomac Wrote:  I feel like every question we have has been answered except conference realignment (which has nothing to report). Meanwhile, we're given the open, communicative blog post we've been begging for for years and we're STILL bitching.
We're an insufferable bunch, aren't we?

Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

The C-USA and MAC are luxury cars?

Compared to the CAA? Maybe not luxury, but lets call them Honda and Toyota while the SBC and CAA are Hyundai and Kia.

That suit you better?

Actually the analogy doesn't work because Hyundai and Kia are primed to overtake the Japanese car market.

I'd say a better analogy is that CUSA and MAC are Acuras... The Sunbelt is a Honda Accord. The CAA is a Ford sedan

oh for craps sake.

It's an analogy people. Substitute as you please.

(04-24-2015 09:36 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:26 AM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:12 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:05 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

The C-USA and MAC are luxury cars?

Compared to the CAA? Maybe not luxury, but lets call them Honda and Toyota while the SBC and CAA are Hyundai and Kia.

That suit you better?

Actually the analogy doesn't work because Hyundai and Kia are primed to overtake the Japanese car market.

I'd say a better analogy is that CUSA and MAC are Acuras... The Sunbelt is a Honda Accord. The CAA is a Ford sedan

oh for craps sake.

It's an analogy people. Substitute as you please.

Analogies gone wild

The CAA is a

The CUSA is a

The MAC is a

(04-24-2015 09:36 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:26 AM)jmu-fan-1981 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:12 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 09:05 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-23-2015 12:45 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  Yea, it's a noted improvement.

But, the biggest question since we went D1 remains . FBS or no FBS. We're no closer to knowing when/if than we were in 2012.

And our old peers (ASU and ODU) continue to accelerate down the road while we hold out our thumbs and turn down rides from anything but luxury cars.

The C-USA and MAC are luxury cars?

Compared to the CAA? Maybe not luxury, but lets call them Honda and Toyota while the SBC and CAA are Hyundai and Kia.

That suit you better?

Actually the analogy doesn't work because Hyundai and Kia are primed to overtake the Japanese car market.

I'd say a better analogy is that CUSA and MAC are Acuras... The Sunbelt is a Honda Accord. The CAA is a Ford sedan

oh for craps sake.

It's an analogy people. Substitute as you please.

I feel your pain...

Is an orange banana better than a yellow? Different but better?

I see things a little differently than those plastic things with wheels you guys are talking about.
P5 = 64 GTO, 69 Camero ZL1, 71 Olds 442
G5 = 56 Bel Air, 65 Continental (2 months till Entourage!)
CAA = Any "muscle car" after 72 excluding late 80's grand nationals
D2 = AMC Gremlin
D3 = 2004 4 spanker Mustang

(04-24-2015 10:34 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  Is an orange banana better than a yellow? Different but better?

I see things a little differently than those plastic things with wheels you guys are talking about.
P5 = 64 GTO, 69 Camero ZL1, 71 Olds 442
G5 = 56 Bel Air, 65 Continental (2 months till Entourage!)
CAA = Any "muscle car" after 72 excluding late 80's grand nationals
D2 = AMC Gremlin
D3 = 2004 4 spanker Mustang

There is no way a Gremlin out does any model Mustang, even if it were to be going against a '78 Mustang II.

(04-24-2015 10:39 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(04-24-2015 10:34 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  Is an orange banana better than a yellow? Different but better?

I see things a little differently than those plastic things with wheels you guys are talking about.
P5 = 64 GTO, 69 Camero ZL1, 71 Olds 442
G5 = 56 Bel Air, 65 Continental (2 months till Entourage!)
CAA = Any "muscle car" after 72 excluding late 80's grand nationals
D2 = AMC Gremlin
D3 = 2004 4 spanker Mustang

There is no way a Gremlin out does any model Mustang, even if it were to be going against a '78 Mustang II.

I mean a Gremlin is different, a funky middle ground (just like D2 ball). Everybody and their little sister gets to drive a 04 mustang (just like D3).

But now that I put some more thought and your reference to the '78, I don't think there were actual 4 cylinder mustangs in this century (I really don't know, I'm bowtie till I die).