(06-06-2016 07:54 PM)Dukeman Wrote:  I thought Withers left because of Alger?

Now HH&C tells us the Withers hire was one of Alger's greatest accomplishments at JMU?

To be honest, Withers was a good shot in the arm for the program. It was some of his off the field issues that I struggled with, like dealing with the press, saying he wanted a tougher schedule then watching us sign a home-and-home with NSU, and of course the total lack of a defense. Those two years were needed after so many of the .500, or just barely better than .500, seasons we had been enduring along with many missed playoffs, especially the '10 season where we beat Tech and then laid down for the remainder of the season.

Back when EW was hired, if anyone thought he'd be here longer than two season's then they were delusional. He did exactly what his track record would have predicted and with his having to pay us to get out of his contract, we had a head coach for for two seasons for nearly nothing. We now have the man we were looking for and it's probably good that he didn't follow MM, we would have been constantly comparing the two coaches. Following EW, there will be no comparison as they are radically different.

I thought EW was a good hire too, until the Colgate debacle last year. It was obvious from the beginning that we weren't prepared for that game, it's not just the first time I've walked out of a game before halftime but also the first time I've left a game twice. Got stuck with an extra ticket after someone I bought one for bailed and never paid me for it (those playoffs sure are in high demand), so I left in the 2nd quarter, came back in the 3rd quarter and left again in the 3rd quarter. Never been so disgusted, I had resolved not to buy season tickets this year if he was back (for the first time since 1992). Are we the only team favored by 28 at home to lose last year? Maybe ever?

So, does Alger get credit for the hire and the blame for the outcome? Or do we just get to pick and choose?

We were favored by 28? I must have missed that. I would've said even at the time that that point spread is a stretch.

(06-06-2016 07:54 PM)Dukeman Wrote:  I thought Withers left because of Alger?

Now HH&C tells us the Withers hire was one of Alger's greatest accomplishments at JMU?

He did not leave because of Alger. He left because he wanted to be FBS as soon as possible and the got an offer to double his salary and get into FBS sooner than JMU was able to do so. My point was that Alger fired the coach that brought us a national championship and did not have a losing record. He made the move because he wanted JMU to be back in the discussion as a top FCS school and Withers would have helped us transition to FBS if we had the opportunity to do so. If you look back, it was a good accomplishment.

(06-06-2016 08:17 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  ...
Back when EW was hired, if anyone thought he'd be here longer than two season's then they were delusional...

I gave him three tops, and thought it was safe after the ECU opening was filled. I'm glad Withers is behind us though.

Withers is Gone! I thank him for the memories...LETS MOVE ON!....Looking forward to an Exciting Season this Fall.
"Under new Management" sorta speak.
GO DUKES!

Withers was exactly what this program needed at exactly the right time. If anyone thinks that Vad comes to JMU if Withers isn't the coach is seriously mistaken. Vad brought our program back from mediocrity, almost single handedly. And if Vad isn't here we don't beat SMU, get to 7-0 and host College Gameday (the true high water mark for our football program).

Now, Withers defenses were absolutely awful don't get me wrong and I didn't care for the way he handled himself with the media. But, if Houston has back to back 9 win playoff seasons in his first two years I'll be very surprised. I sure as hell hope he has back to back 10 win seasons and I think he is a homerun of a hire but only time will tell.

Go Dukes!

(06-07-2016 07:14 AM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  

(06-06-2016 07:54 PM)Dukeman Wrote:  I thought Withers left because of Alger?

Now HH&C tells us the Withers hire was one of Alger's greatest accomplishments at JMU?

He did not leave because of Alger. He left because he wanted to be FBS as soon as possible and the got an offer to double his salary and get into FBS sooner than JMU was able to do so. My point was that Alger fired the coach that brought us a national championship and did not have a losing record. He made the move because he wanted JMU to be back in the discussion as a top FCS school and Withers would have helped us transition to FBS if we had the opportunity to do so. If you look back, it was a good accomplishment.

My read of dukeman's comment is that he is suggesting Wither's left because he was hired under false pretenses that JMU would be moving to FBS with 1-2 years. Alger would not accept the invite to the Sunbelt, which was and still is our only option, so Wither's bolted to ..... Wait for it.... Wait for it... The Sunbelt!

Withers elevated the program and was a good hire. I felt like he lost focus the week of Gameday and he appeared to mail it in for the playoffs. Another season of Withers would have been disasterous for both him and JMU.

(06-07-2016 05:37 AM)JMUSteeler Wrote:  I thought EW was a good hire too, until the Colgate debacle last year. It was obvious from the beginning that we weren't prepared for that game......Are we the only team favored by 28 at home to lose last year? Maybe ever?

(06-07-2016 06:15 AM)Potomac Wrote:  We were favored by 28? I must have missed that. I would've said even at the time that that point spread is a stretch.

JMU was -17 at home vs Colgate (-16.5 at some books) and this was the biggest "vegas" upset of the entire 2015 FCS playoffs.

Illinois St was -13 (-12.5 at some books) at home vs Richmond; so Richmond pulled the second biggest upset of the FCS playoffs when they won that game to advance and play NDSU.

Obviously at -17, or even at the incorrectly listed spread of -28, this would not be close to the biggest home upset ever. VT was -33 at home when JMU upset them; so its not even the biggest home upset that JMU has been involved in since 2010.

Just considering major upsets that come to memory at the P5 level... USC -41 at home vs Stanford in 2007. Stanford won with a backup QB who had never started a game, while coming off an 1-11 season, and they snapped USC's 35-game home game winning streak.

update:
This game is regarded as the largest point spread upset in college football history per wiki
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hi...ball_games

Also worth mentioning Appy at Michigan. I believe the spread for this game was Michigan -34 at home.

First ever win for a NCAA Division I-AA/FCS team over a ranked Division I-A/FBS opponent. As a result of the loss, #5 ranked Michigan dropped out of the Top 25 AP poll, marking the first time a team had dropped from the top five to out of the poll in one week. In the aftermath of the game, the Associated Press amended their polling policy to make FCS teams eligible for the AP Poll, which had previously been limited to FBS teams.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hi...ball_games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Appal...tball_game

sorry for the 10 minutes of thread hijacking there.

(06-07-2016 02:42 PM)JMU_Degenerate Wrote:  Also worth mentioning Appy at Michigan. I believe the spread for this game was Michigan -34 at home.

First ever win for a NCAA Division I-AA/FCS team over a ranked Division I-A/FBS opponent. As a result of the loss, #5 ranked Michigan dropped out of the Top 25 AP poll, marking the first time a team had dropped from the top five to out of the poll in one week. In the aftermath of the game, the Associated Press amended their polling policy to make FCS teams eligible for the AP Poll, which had previously been limited to FBS teams.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_hi...ball_games
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Appal...tball_game

The only line I could find after a quick search was an article from Bleacher Report in 2010 saying the game had a 27 point line. The 34 point line was from the rematch in 2014. It is possible I'm missing some info though, so maybe some of the Appy fans that come across this will correct me if I am wrong. Also saw this interesting couple paragraphs from said article, which was entitled "Ten Teams That Could Surpass Appalachian St.'s 2007 Upset Over Michigan":

"The Dukes of James Madison roll into Lane Stadium on September 11, 2010 to face the Virginia Tech Hokies. This game should be over before it starts, but as they say, the game must be played.

The Dukes will be over-matched in every aspect of the game. The chances that James Madison pull an upset is so far off the charts it's unmeasurable. Head Coach Frank Beamer will have his team ready to play when James Madison makes the two and half hour drive to Blacksburg.

If James Madison somehow finds a way to beat Virginia Tech on that Saturday afternoon, it will definitely be an earth-shattering event to Virginia Tech football. It wouldn't be a surprise if it led to Frank Beamer's retirement."

I really thought it was -34, but maybe it closed as Michigan -33 ??

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ss...memor.html

Appalachian State 34, No. 5 Michigan 32
Line: Michigan -33*
Sept. 1, 2007
Ann Arbor
Do we really need to go into detail with this one?
Usually, most Las Vegas sports books do not publish betting lines for Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly 1-A) games against Football Championship Subdivision (Formerly 1-AA).
However, Pregame.com's R.J. Bell confirmed earlier this week that an unofficial line for the Michigan-Appalachian State game was 33 points.
Obviously it was one of the greatest upsets in college football history, and without question the worst in Michigan football history.

Funny that y'all are talking about our Tech Victory. I attended a Furman Camp with a buddy of mine and his son yesterday. At the end of the day, Gillenwater spoke to me , in person as he was speaking to the group and made several remarks about JMU and our program, NCAA Title and Tech Win!

Funny Fruedient slip was Kyle said, "our win at Tech!" Dude , you coach at FU now !