Too bad discussion our first game of the season next week is going to be drowned out on here by this. And JMU will continue to remain silent.

http://www.kentucky.com/2015/08/27/40085....html?rh=1

as of this afternoon, USAToday adds:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca.../71322494/

I wish it had been you guys instead

(08-28-2015 12:13 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  

(08-28-2015 11:59 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(08-28-2015 11:28 AM)JMUrcc06 Wrote:  Reading the Sun Belt Conference threads surrounding the expansion and expecting an announcement to happen in the coming days makes me so bummed out that we're not even in the discussion anymore.

This Chicago resident dreams of a MAC invite, but even SBC would be better than current situation.

Don't feel like you are a lone woof. At least there is a huge faction over there who prefer to not invite anyone right now if the two choices are EKU or CCU.

Huge faction? We recently conducted a poll on the board and only 5.8% of responses were to stand pat. The individual race was a tie between CCU and NMSU, with EKU a distant third. Nearly 40% of responses were to add all three, which may happen one we decide what to do with the contract with Idaho that expires next year.

I stand by my statement. That poll included NMSU. I've been reading the SB boards a lot, and a whole lot of you guys are saying, "what is the hurry" and "let's give these two some time to get their programs up to speed."

We know that the pressing need is to place a travel partner with Appy for the Oly Sports. Both of the two schools being considered will fit that need.

Football is an independent animal and bringing in either school to play football anytime in the near future is almost as big of a mistake as was bringing in GA State's football.

EKU will not average 15K fans for a long, long time. CCU will hit 15K once a year as long as Appy and GA South are scheduled for alternating seasons. Even then, the stadium will be split 50/50 with CCU fans and Appy or GA South fans (which ever is the flavor of the season).

CCU had 5K at their home playoff game last year. Let that sink in just a little.

Playoff attendance doesn't tell me much other than the playoffs aren't an easy sell.

When AState was in I-AA we averaged around 17,000 a few times in regular season (with less than 19,000 seats) but playoff games always pulled that way way down.

(08-28-2015 12:49 PM)HeadsetGuy Wrote:  http://www.kentucky.com/2015/08/27/40085....html?rh=1



I wish it had been you guys instead

CCU has almost the exact same article written about them, less the 67 year history: http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-it-comes/

It's definitely not us.

(08-27-2015 11:15 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  

(08-27-2015 11:07 AM)Potomac Wrote:  Why the hell do they keep making more bowls? 5-7 teams are about to start playing in them, with one win being Fcs.
I get that it's about TV ratings driving their desire to keep making them, but I would think that as the playoffs expand, the casual fan will slowly realize the pointlessness of the bowl games.

Capitalism.
Schools want them. Fans seem to like going to them. Cities like the visitors. TV needs the content.

As long as they don't lose $$$...which sometimes happens.

(08-28-2015 12:54 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Playoff attendance doesn't tell me much other than the playoffs aren't an easy sell.

When AState was in I-AA we averaged around 17,000 a few times in regular season (with less than 19,000 seats) but playoff games always pulled that way way down.

Mark my word, should AR State play at CCU on any weekend other than HC or FW, there will not be 12K fans attending and that is being generous.

(08-28-2015 01:03 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(08-28-2015 12:54 PM)arkstfan Wrote:  Playoff attendance doesn't tell me much other than the playoffs aren't an easy sell.

When AState was in I-AA we averaged around 17,000 a few times in regular season (with less than 19,000 seats) but playoff games always pulled that way way down.

Mark my word, should AR State play at CCU on any weekend other than HC or FW, there will not be 12K fans attending and that is being generous.

I've watched AState play FIU in games where a suicide bomber would kill more terrorists than civilians (ie. only himself) in most sections of the stadium at FIU. Ditto seeing UAB on TV (admittedly much larger stadium)
This is Pitt at FIU which ought to be a big draw.

(08-28-2015 09:13 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  My experience (your mileage may vary) is that bowls are much more fun than the playoffs. With the playoffs you find out Sunday if/where you play on Saturday and have to arrange accordingly. If it is a long way to go, you are far less likely to go.

Players and team arrive at the game site (if it is road) the night before, do a walk through and play. It is just another road trip in the season. Players maybe get rings even if not conference champs.

Bowl games you have at least 13 days to plan, sometimes many weeks. Both teams are traveling except in rare cases. They are at the bowl site for at least four days. Players get to do luncheons, they will have fun events for them and tours.

Fans with more time to prepare, are more likely to go. There will be school events to mix and mingle and you get the experience of being in a different city and seeing fans wearing your logo that you've never met.

The bowl is an event and the players pick up around $300 in swag out of the deal. The school gets face time at events with happy donors. It works very well.

The problem with a lot of bowls that even playoff games don't have is weekday games. So like you laid out for the lesser bowls you have about 2-3 weeks to plan.

Now with 2 6-6 to 8-4 G5 teams in a toilet bowl:

-On pretty short notice get 1, 2, or 3 vacation days off mid to late Dec. Even for a weekend game might need a day or 2.
-Right in the middle of the Christmas season when people have office parties, Christmas parties, family gatherings, and all the other stuff people do around Christmas, NY..
-Usually either flying or a long drive. For flying often purchasing airfare around the holidays on less than 3 weeks notice which can = more expensive tickets.
-Rental car, hotel nights, parking, tailgates or pregame, tickets, concessions, etc.
And if its a crappy winter destination like Boise or Detriot (well Detriot would be crappy any time) forget about it.

OR:
Just watch a home maybe with family, friends, sitting in your comfy lazy boy, watching on your big screen HD TV with home theater surround sound.

Thats why your bowl attendance isn't very good.

(08-28-2015 12:25 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  Too bad discussion our first game of the season next week is going to be drowned out on here by this. And JMU will continue to remain silent.

I am looking forward to seeing Appy, ODU, G-South, G-State and now Coastal Carolina football score updates on the BFS Mega-tron.

I assume G5 scores have not been banned.

I'm going to write this...not sure anyone cares, but this will be my last gasp on this topic:

5 weeks ago I wrote an email to the University of Michigan athletic department mentioning that my sons and I were going to be near Ann Arbor, and was there a tour of Michigan Stadium available for us to join on a random Tuesday (8/4)? Well, it turns out that there was no scheduled tours that day, but they would be happy to give my family a tour if we were interested. I of course happily said yes, that would be great. Once my parents heard, we invited them and they tagged along with us.

So, our tour was given by one of their guides, it lasted 3 hours, and was completely all-access. We saw all the things you would expect on a tour - press box, suites, etc. In addition, we were able to explore the home locker room at our leisure, and the finishing touch: 35 minutes to run around on the field where I was able to throw passes to my sons and catch passes from my Dad.

The best part is that the Michigan athletic department doesn't know me from a hole in the wall. I'm not an alumni, have never donated money, I just happen to like their college football team. The amount that they went above and beyond for the five of us was unbelievable to me. I'm sure they have a million things going on, but they took 3 hours out of someone's work schedule to make some random family from NY's day.

After the trip some things kept coming back to me. One was the tour guide mentioning all of the contingency plans in place to add more seats if any other college should ever surpass the seating capacity of the Big House. The planning, and seriousness that was placed on the football program as the lighthouse for the university was easily visible. And sadly, the 2nd thing that kept gnawing at me was the thought that this would never happen at JMU...even though I AM an alumni.

Since that trip...all my kids (ages 7.5 and 4) ask about is when are they going to college at Michigan and when are they going to be able to watch a Michigan game on TV, etc? I ask if they want to go to a JMU game and they ignore me. Now I'm not dumb enough to think that JMU will be on the same level as Michigan, but I wish they would have half the balls that Ann Arbor does. They truly understand how much athletics brings to a university's reputation.

So what's the point of my long rambling story about my road trip through Michigan? I 'm not sure...but please JMU athletic department: swallow your pride, pick up the phone, and get your butt into the Sunbelt. I can't believe that I'm reading articles that Coastal Carolina and Eastern Kentucky are about to pass us into FBS, joining UConn, USF, Marshall, App, WKU, GSU, and whoever else I'm forgetting. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad. JMU's beautiful campus, stadium, and excellent reputation have gotten us the job interview. Now take that entry-level position and start making our way up the ladder!

I just don't care anymore. I've realized nothing was happening after ODU announced back in 2012. Nothing has changed since then. Until there is a change to our President, Vice President of Finance and probably even our Athletic Director, absolutely nothing will ever change at any point in the future.

Just stop complaining and enjoy what we have. Just enjoy college football and stop thinking you're ever going to be Michigan. Some of you will always be inevitably disappointed if you always think about what you don't have instead of what you do have.

I think what frustrates people is the wasted potential and "smoke" that JMU was going to move up. Many people have invested a lot of money and time into the athletic department only to see our rivals and peers move on while we sit idle. Many of us just want a clear picture of what our leaders plan to do. I've heard some of you say if you reach out to Bourne he'll respond. I've emailed him a few times about this topic and have never gotten a response. Maybe I don't give enough money. Who knows?

JMU doesn't have to outwardly say they will do anything to get out of the CAA, but it would be nice to hear communication about where they want to go besides vague "national exposure" talk. A lot of us hoped the strategic plan released a few months ago would tell us something but even that was vague.

I love JMU and still support them at events the same way I would if they were playing Ohio State. But the constant silence and lack of vision is very frustrating.

(08-28-2015 05:12 PM)bridgeforthduke Wrote:  I think what frustrates people is the wasted potential and "smoke" that JMU was going to move up. Many people have invested a lot of money and time into the athletic department only to see our rivals and peers move on while we sit idle. Many of us just want a clear picture of what our leaders plan to do. I've heard some of you say if you reach out to Bourne he'll respond. I've emailed him a few times about this topic and have never gotten a response. Maybe I don't give enough money. Who knows?

JMU doesn't have to outwardly say they will do anything to get out of the CAA, but it would be nice to hear communication about where they want to go besides vague "national exposure" talk. A lot of us hoped the strategic plan released a few months ago would tell us something but even that was vague.

I love JMU and still support them at events the same way I would if they were playing Ohio State. But the constant silence and lack of vision is very frustrating.

They've been pretty clear. Many just don't want to accept it.

(08-28-2015 05:23 AM)atljmualum Wrote:  

(08-27-2015 09:28 PM)jmusuperfan Wrote:  Sunbelt to add #12 next week http://www.myarklamiss.com/sports/local-...2th-school

Still monitoring....

My guess is Coastal for all sports and that is it. That gives them the 12 in football to have the championship game, and I guess 13 for basketball, but I don't think that really matters. Coastal is half the program we are, but I think they will actually grow up pretty soon.

It also allows JMU to basically join whenever we want, even this spring if we pull our heads out of our rears. So, this is probably good news (if it is just Coastal) or at least neutral. IMO, this will make the Sun Belt an even more obvious choice for us. The main negative is that Coastal is probably further away from JMU desired peers than almost any other Sun Belt school.

But by the end of this season, I think the Sun Belt will be looking a lot better to us than it does right now. They finally have several good teams that can attract (for them) a good amount of attention. They will be way ahead of the CAA by December.

(08-27-2015 04:27 PM)NYJMUPIKE Wrote:  I try to go to a bowl game every year. I personally don't care if it's a "lower-tier" bowl. The fans/alumni from both teams are always having a good time, and it sure as **** seems like it matters to the players and coaches.

It absolutely matters to the players and coaches. Not so much that winning or losing the game itself is all that big a deal, but being in a bowl game - even a lower tier bowl game - gives the players and coaches basically another month of practices.

Any coach in the country will say yes to that 100% of the time.

If you told me back in 2007 when Duke Dog and the Chanticleer had their fight on the sidelines that CCU would be going to FBS before us I would have laughed. Now I'm just sad.

I would not feel bad in the least about being in FCS/CAA if it was still 2007 and we were still remotely among our peers and the product was entertaining to watch. But at this point all of our peers (plus the school I laughed at for having facilities that look like a high school's) have left us behind. By standing still you get left behind, that is what we've seen over the past 10 years, and that is what frustrates me.

I've been pretty patient and had faith that JMU was working on something better than the Sun Belt but I have to admit that with news that there is a 12th spot out there and a quick look at the other conferences, the current system, etc. I think JMU should seriously reconsider their position on this. The Sun Belt doesn't get my excited in terms of the teams that are in the Conference (no offense to Sun Belt members) but maybe we share JMU's believe that we are a little better than we actually are. I believe that if we were to go to the Sun Belt we would challenge for conference titles within a short period of time- if not immediately but maybe it's the step we need to take to prove to the bigger conferences what JMU is all about- I think they sleep on us because we are a relatively new, growing University in the Shenendoah Valley. I'm just not convinced that a bigger conference will take a chance on us even though we have the budget, support, facilities, and overal chops to be a good addition to a conference like the MAC or AAC. At a minimum now that it's out there JMU should gather their coaches (Withers, Brooks, etc.) and really kick the tires on this- if they collectively decide that it's not the right fit for good reason they should communicate why to the Fan Base and what the next step is. Use this as an opportunity to get the word out Publicly once and for all of what our intentions are.

You can tell from the majority of my posts that I'm a hoops guy more than a Football guy but I would be excited by the prospect of a Bowl, an FBS schedule and the chance long term for JMU to be ranked Nationally and on TV more Nationally. The Sun Belt isn't much of an upgrade in terms of Basketball but I think the FBS move would create a greater opportunity to see the new Convo come to fruition quicker. This hoops season would be tough in that they would need an at large bid if they stole the Sun Belt spot but it's a sacrifice that I think the JMU fan base would be cool with.

Let's light up Bourne and Alger on email and twitter. Make sure that they know that JMU fans would want them to make a late push for the Sun Belt spot.

EKU or Coastal going to FBS is flat-out embarrassing. I have no faith in JMU anymore. It is shameful that the admin has no faith in its fan base and alumni to make the jump and remain with its peers. This may be the final act that kills my spirit. Way to go Just Monitoring U! ******* ridiculous.

(08-29-2015 06:46 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  I've been pretty patient and had faith that JMU was working on something better than the Sun Belt but I have to admit that with news that there is a 12th spot out there and a quick look at the other conferences, the current system, etc. I think JMU should seriously reconsider their position on this. The Sun Belt doesn't get my excited in terms of the teams that are in the Conference (no offense to Sun Belt members) but maybe we share JMU's believe that we are a little better than we actually are. I believe that if we were to go to the Sun Belt we would challenge for conference titles within a short period of time- if not immediately but maybe it's the step we need to take to prove to the bigger conferences what JMU is all about- I think they sleep on us because we are a relatively new, growing University in the Shenendoah Valley. I'm just not convinced that a bigger conference will take a chance on us even though we have the budget, support, facilities, and overal chops to be a good addition to a conference like the MAC or AAC. At a minimum now that it's out there JMU should gather their coaches (Withers, Brooks, etc.) and really kick the tires on this- if they collectively decide that it's not the right fit for good reason they should communicate why to the Fan Base and what the next step is. Use this as an opportunity to get the word out Publicly once and for all of what our intentions are.

You can tell from the majority of my posts that I'm a hoops guy more than a Football guy but I would be excited by the prospect of a Bowl, an FBS schedule and the chance long term for JMU to be ranked Nationally and on TV more Nationally. The Sun Belt isn't much of an upgrade in terms of Basketball but I think the FBS move would create a greater opportunity to see the new Convo come to fruition quicker. This hoops season would be tough in that they would need an at large bid if they stole the Sun Belt spot but it's a sacrifice that I think the JMU fan base would be cool with.

Let's light up Bourne and Alger on email and twitter. Make sure that they know that JMU fans would want them to make a late push for the Sun Belt spot.

I believe 3+ years ago there were few JMU fans interested in the SB. It wasn't a good fit back then. Even when they first invited GA State it almost solidified that it would not be a good deal for us.

Then along came GA Southern and Appy. Our thought process changed. The foot print of the conference immediately became palatable. These two adds were the type of schools we like to compete against. We watched them compete last year and most have said, we can do this.

We took notice of the other possible conferences in play and there is no room in the inn. After educating ourselves on some of the top teams in the SB, it has become apparent that an association will be a good thing. Our issue is that our admin doesn't seem to have opened their eyes and witnessed the SB transform itself into a good fit for JMU.

It is not perfect, but I can make a one sentence statement about the other nine FBS conferences regarding their short comings (or lack of a fit) for JMU as well. They simply need to re-evaluate this thing and open their eyes.