(10-15-2017 07:53 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(10-15-2017 07:40 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  And neither are we. I seriously doubt that at the end of the season anyone on our schedule that we have beaten (hopefully all) will be ranked in the top 10 FCS and then there's ECU. Most likely we won't hit a top 10 team until the third round of the playoffs (our second game). Don't get me wrong, I am good with playing Nova, RU, W&M, UD, UNH, and Maine, they make for game and I enjoy that competition.

Tough conference schedule? The CAA is not that great. It's one of the 3 next conferences below the Missouri Valley. Sagarin actually has us as the 3rd best 1AA conference.

We likely won't have a game in conference we're not sceduled to win by multiple TDs.


Top Teams in the Missouri Valley
43 North Dakota State AA = 76.13
71 South Dakota AA = 68.15
73 Youngstown State AA = 67.52
82 Western Illinois AA = 64.71
84 South Dakota State AA = 64.41
95 Northern Iowa AA= 62.49

Top Teams in the CAA
66 James Madison AA = 70.11
118 Villanova AA = 57.28
128 Richmond AA = 55.15
136 Delaware AA = 53.11
142 Stony Brook AA = 52.33
155 Albany-NY AA = 49.67

The CAA is not near the Missouri Valley.

Of course, this also highlights the weaknesses of rating systems. The MVFC has a great reputation because it has a great reputation. They have 5 of the top ten ranked teams, but they don't have an especially challenging OOC schedule, and now that the reputation is set for the season, while those guys all beat each other up, they're all likely to stay in the top 10 because any losses will be from other "great" teams in the MVFC. (The CAA has benefited from this in the past too.)

Now, the MVFC is good, but they have this reputation (like the SEC does) of being head-and-shoulders better than everyone else, and there aren't many opportunities to change it.

(10-16-2017 09:53 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 09:14 AM)91Alum Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 07:56 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 07:53 AM)Potomac Wrote:  Those aren't even good poll options. They almost don't feel worth answering.

Exactly. Which is why I haven't, and won't.

Judging by the number of times you're replied on this thread, you sure have a lot to say about a poll you're too uppity to respond to.

"Uppity"? No, the choices are just inane.

Inane? No, inane would be the amount of space I'd need to provide the desired option for you and your bosses:

"FCS is comfy, FBS in 50 years if- it's to the ACC Coastal; the move is free; consultants are hired to form a commission; the commission hires consultants; the consultants make recommendations obvious to everyone except us; Bridgeforth is expanded to seat 150,000 in anticipation of move to NFL (which we'll never agree to); league commissioner must screw up TV contract but participate in at least 20 of our intramural sports practices including badminton and ultimate frisbee; team uniform colors can't offend wombats and Phrenologists; administration headgear must be labeled with clear wearing instructions; technology and steaming services to be provided by Chinese 12-year-olds working on a sampan in the middle of Kowloon Bay; and lastly, admin must be given full credit for all successes including championships, national awards, and the discovery of penicillin."

(10-16-2017 11:26 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(10-15-2017 02:39 PM)Potomac Wrote:  Hell look at any recent move up not named app State. Would you trade the state of our program as it stands today for ANY of that? I sure as hell wouldn’t.

Shoot, I'd say specifically look at App State. They're doing great, and they still got a Potato Salad bowl.

Which will out draw your soccer stadium (Cap, 20,500) attendance in the championship game and ratings on TV. Give it another 5 years and the IAA Championship game will be an ESPN3/WatchESPN exclusive.

For the love of god the AAC isn't going to give you a spot and now CUSA and hopefully the Sun Belt doesn't want your ass. You and NDSU can stay and play with about 60% of a division that doesn't fully support their programs.

That's the first time I've heard of "Marshall" in about 21 years.

(10-16-2017 11:38 AM)2Buck Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 09:53 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 09:14 AM)91Alum Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 07:56 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 07:53 AM)Potomac Wrote:  Those aren't even good poll options. They almost don't feel worth answering.

Exactly. Which is why I haven't, and won't.

Judging by the number of times you're replied on this thread, you sure have a lot to say about a poll you're too uppity to respond to.

"Uppity"? No, the choices are just inane.

Inane? No, inane would be the amount of space I'd need to provide the desired option for you and your bosses:

"FCS is comfy, FBS in 50 years if- it's to the ACC Coastal; the move is free; consultants are hired to form a commission; the commission hires consultants; the consultants make recommendations obvious to everyone except us; Bridgeforth is expanded to seat 150,000 in anticipation of move to NFL (which we'll never agree to); league commissioner must screw up TV contract but participate in at least 20 of our intramural sports practices including badminton and ultimate frisbee; team uniform colors can't offend wombats and Phrenologists; administration headgear must be labeled with clear wearing instructions; technology and steaming services to be provided by Chinese 12-year-olds working on a sampan in the middle of Kowloon Bay; and lastly, admin must be given full credit for all successes including championships, national awards, and the discovery of penicillin."

No, inane as in trying to muddy choices by subcategories that attempt to divide JMU fans along lines of where they live. That's unnecessary, divisive, and ultimately pointless.

Hey HerdZoned...David Ridpath sends his regards.

Bourne and Company have a bullet proof vest on right now. Right now, all is good. Will be for another 3 months.

Even to me, I want FBS badly, the three G5s don't look great for reasons beaten to death.

How can we entice Bourne to be transparent about aspirations?

If a regional G5 makes sense, what can/is JMU doing, if anything, to make a regional G5 a reality?

I hope Bourne considers offering more than "if an invite were to fall out of the sky, JMU would watch it fall and maybe fall on top of it but in the meantime we are fat and happy." This may work for a while but at some point we need to be decisive and transparent...leaders.

IF we were going to announce a move any time in the next decade—it will be in the next 9 months. Best exposure possible on ESPN, tied to a timetable for the new arena, which I’m sure was a major hurdle for JMU entering a new conference. Now, the exposure and facilities stars have aligned. I expect nothing, but this is the most attractive JMU has looked IMO.

(10-16-2017 12:59 PM)brizzock Wrote:  IF we were going to announce a move any time in the next decade—it will be in the next 9 months. Best exposure possible on ESPN, tied to a timetable for the new arena, which I’m sure was a major hurdle for JMU entering a new conference. Now, the exposure and facilities stars have aligned. I expect nothing, but this is the most attractive JMU has looked IMO.

I couldn’t agree more. Has the saying “strike while the iron is hot” ever applied more? National championship, 2 CGDs in 3 years, new bball arena coming, and other sports playing at the highest combined levels in quite some time.

(10-16-2017 01:10 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 12:59 PM)brizzock Wrote:  IF we were going to announce a move any time in the next decade—it will be in the next 9 months. Best exposure possible on ESPN, tied to a timetable for the new arena, which I’m sure was a major hurdle for JMU entering a new conference. Now, the exposure and facilities stars have aligned. I expect nothing, but this is the most attractive JMU has looked IMO.

I couldn’t agree more. Has the saying “strike while the iron is hot” ever applied more? National championship, 2 CGDs in 3 years, new bball arena coming, and other sports playing at the highest combined levels in quite some time.

Yep, wait long enough and all that shine will wear off someday, ala Montana and UD, and GSU before them.

If you don’t keep moving forward, you will eventually fall back to mediocrity by default. Even NDSU fans would like to move on to FBS, they are just somewhat stuck at the moment due to geography, stadium, etc.

I’d much rather end up like App St, Boise, or Marshall than Montana or UD in 5-10 years. They’ve all won NC’s and had periods of great FCS success, but some chose to move on, and others to cling to what they had.

(10-16-2017 01:22 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 01:10 PM)Dukes1825 Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 12:59 PM)brizzock Wrote:  IF we were going to announce a move any time in the next decade—it will be in the next 9 months. Best exposure possible on ESPN, tied to a timetable for the new arena, which I’m sure was a major hurdle for JMU entering a new conference. Now, the exposure and facilities stars have aligned. I expect nothing, but this is the most attractive JMU has looked IMO.

I couldn’t agree more. Has the saying “strike while the iron is hot” ever applied more? National championship, 2 CGDs in 3 years, new bball arena coming, and other sports playing at the highest combined levels in quite some time.

Yep, wait long enough and all that shine will wear off someday, ala Montana and UD, and GSU before them.

If you don’t keep moving forward, you will eventually fall back to mediocrity by default. Even NDSU fans would like to move on to FBS, they are just somewhat stuck at the moment due to geography, stadium, etc.

Sounds like fun. So, we going indy in FB with our other programs in the CAA...or, which conference is inviting us in within the next 9 months?

(10-16-2017 11:50 AM)DBJMU2006 Wrote:  That's the first time I've heard of "Marshall" in about 21 years.

Aww, I've got no real problem with Marshall right now. They just creamed ODU and they've got a coach named "Doc" Holliday, which any Tombstone fan can appreciate.

(10-16-2017 12:16 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Bourne and Company have a bullet proof vest on right now. Right now, all is good. Will be for another 3 months.

Even to me, I want FBS badly, the three G5s don't look great for reasons beaten to death.

How can we entice Bourne to be transparent about aspirations?

If a regional G5 makes sense, what can/is JMU doing, if anything, to make a regional G5 a reality?

I hope Bourne considers offering more than "if an invite were to fall out of the sky, JMU would watch it fall and maybe fall on top of it but in the meantime we are fat and happy." This may work for a while but at some point we need to be decisive and transparent...leaders.

When Jeff Bourne retires, his tenure will go down as the greatest stretch athletically in JMU history. The facilities alone will demand it. But, the overall success of all of our teams across the board is unparalleled. He has built a model FCS program that is the envy of all other FCS programs.

(10-16-2017 03:07 PM)QuinDuke Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 11:50 AM)DBJMU2006 Wrote:  That's the first time I've heard of "Marshall" in about 21 years.

Aww, I've got no real problem with Marshall right now. They just creamed ODU and they've got a coach named "Doc" Holliday, which any Tombstone fan can appreciate.

I'll be your Huckleberry

(10-16-2017 03:46 PM)DirtyDukes Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 03:07 PM)QuinDuke Wrote:  

(10-16-2017 11:50 AM)DBJMU2006 Wrote:  That's the first time I've heard of "Marshall" in about 21 years.

Aww, I've got no real problem with Marshall right now. They just creamed ODU and they've got a coach named "Doc" Holliday, which any Tombstone fan can appreciate.

I'll be your Huckleberry

I'm your Huckleberry. Whyyy Johnny Ringo...you look like somebody just walked over your grave.

I'm afraid the strain was more than he could bear.

Oh, Johnny, I apologize I forgot you were there...you may go now.

Also, not Doc, but so good:
You gonna do somethin or just stand there and bleed

SUCH a good movie

"It's true, you are a good woman, then again, you may be the antichrist"

(10-16-2017 12:16 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Bourne and Company have a bullet proof vest on right now. Right now, all is good. Will be for another 3 months.

Even to me, I want FBS badly, the three G5s don't look great for reasons beaten to death.

How can we entice Bourne to be transparent about aspirations?

If a regional G5 makes sense, what can/is JMU doing, if anything, to make a regional G5 a reality?

I hope Bourne considers offering more than "if an invite were to fall out of the sky, JMU would watch it fall and maybe fall on top of it but in the meantime we are fat and happy." This may work for a while but at some point we need to be decisive and transparent...leaders.

This is precisely why we needed to move when we had the chance. What the **** is Bourne going to say or do that will influence events in a football subdivision we aren't in, have repeatedly rejected, and have publicly referred to (Bourne) as "irrelevant"?

At this point, we are completely at the mercy of those who have made the move already, are already at 85 scholarships, and are ready to help a new regional conference from day one. They will absolutely take care of their own first, and I expect that this new conference will find that their is a glut of low-level G5 teams, and not all of them will find a new home - much less an FCS startup.

GameDay was great. The championship is great. And as I've said repeatedly, I am in no position to decide whether a move to FBS would have been a good move or a bad move. But it is clear that our lack of action in the past has painted us into an FCS corner we're not likely to escape.

I hope the next coach can keep the momentum going. We're not too far removed from a string of 6-5 and 7-4 seasons. No success is permanent, and I'm old enough to remember that FCS mediocrity is the pits.