(12-12-2017 08:47 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  This is great news for JMU! I am only a little disappointed in the timing in that it takes away from SDSU focus by the players even if only for a minute.

On the flip side, it may help with recruiting (signing day 1 week from tomorrow)...including potential transfers from D1A programs. HCMH stated he gets calls from several (D1A players) every week seeking out potential of coming to JMU. I also imagine any lost focus by the players is made up by the pump of adrenaline this gives to the program...specifically in the official statement the bold usage of the words "I Believe in...". We believe in him. He believes in us. Let's do this.

Id say they become more focused since the distraction is gone, and the emotional bond strengthened

(12-12-2017 08:55 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  Id say they become more focused since the distraction is gone, and the emotional bond strengthened

+1

(12-12-2017 03:56 PM)JMad03 Wrote:  I told you so, dammit!
There were so many of you that were saying HCMH leaving after this season was a guarantee.
I've said it over and over and over again, but Houston is a man who puts quality of life over quantity. He understands what a special thing he has going here.
Proof of concept:
-When Houston got here, he sat his players down and told them that having 3 coaches in their playing career was very unfair to them. Leaving after this year could have put different players in that same exact spot.
-He's mentioned not having to move his family all over the country. He puts his family first. If they weren't happy here, I'm sure he'd be moving on.
-He's said JMU is a special place. He loves the players he has, his staff, the admin's commitment, and the fan support.

He came here not as a stepping stone. He felt it was a great job. Of course he could still leave, but it sure as hell isn't going to be the same season he signed a 10 year extension. That's a monstrous commitment for a school to give a coach and vice versa. You don't agree to a contract like that if you are just looking for the next best thing.

Leaving Citadel after 2 years did just that to those players.

Makes espn:

http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...-extension

Congratulations to Coach Houston, his family, the assistant coaches, the players and all of our fans for this terrific development and step toward the future success of JMU football!!

What is not being spoken here is that JMU apparently came up with increases for the assistants as well. It is extremely important that we keep our OC and DC in tact. We have the best coaching staff in the country; bar none.

I also think too much is being speculated about moving up to 1A. I believe part of Houston's willingness to stay at JMU is the fact that it puts him in the very best position to have ultra success. Win a couple more National Championships and the sky is the limit. He is in a good place. JMU is in a good place. Let's ride this wave as far as it will take us.

(12-12-2017 10:38 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  What is not being spoken here is that JMU apparently came up with increases for the assistants as well. It is extremely important that we keep our OC and DC in tact. We have the best coaching staff in the country; bar none.

I also think too much is being speculated about moving up to 1A. I believe part of Houston's willingness to stay at JMU is the fact that it puts him in the very best position to have ultra success. Win a couple more National Championships and the sky is the limit. He is in a good place. JMU is in a good place. Let's ride this wave as far as it will take us.

I don't think Mike Houston is happy being a big fish in a small pond. He is a winner. He wants to be a big fish in a big pond, and the best way to accomplish that (given his 10-year commitment) is for JMU to move to the big pond.

Coach Houston's comments and actions indicate that his calculus on a decision involves more than simply one variable, money. Dare I think that this man see's a bigger picture? He states, "James Madison is a special place. Amanda, our boys and I want to be here and consider this home...I've turned down opportunities at the FBS level, and I did it because I believe in James Madison University." We just lost a man of similar metal in Uncle Ron. Did we find a new one? This should balance out some of the more cynical responses. Not a shot at anyone as I have posted that he might leave also. I don't know the man. We can only hope that we now have a better understanding.

Reminds me a lot of when Shaka Smart was at VCU for hoops. Many thought he would never leave and he was entrenched in the community, much like Houston. But when a P5 program comes knocking, it’s too hard to pass up. Hopefully that won’t be the case and we have Coach Houston for years to come. It’s great to have a leader who means what he says after that previous unnamed head coach bolted at the first smell of more money/opportunity. Houston could possibly be a generational football coach and it’s important to understand that it’s more likely than not he will be a P5 coach sooner than later. Nonetheless it’s a great day for JMU and Coach Houston and hopefully there’s plenty more trophies to win

I think we all know this... 2-5 years? Great... more is serious icing. Definite FBS tones in all this... for now, lets kick some rabbit ass!

(12-12-2017 03:06 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  I hope this at least quiets some of the Jeff Bourne is an idiot, we'll never keep HCMH crowd. (You know who you are)

GO DUKES!

Cmon, Tex, that’d shut down half the board...

I just hope Coach doesn’t go all Pete Gillen on us now.

Course, I’d still hire PG today if offered, but yea, that’s just me.

/shrugs *

(12-13-2017 12:28 AM)Jmufan2018 Wrote:  Reminds me a lot of when Shaka Smart was at VCU for hoops. Many thought he would never leave and he was entrenched in the community, much like Houston. But when a P5 program comes knocking, it’s too hard to pass up. Hopefully that won’t be the case and we have Coach Houston for years to come. It’s great to have a leader who means what he says after that previous unnamed head coach bolted at the first smell of more money/opportunity. Houston could possibly be a generational football coach and it’s important to understand that it’s more likely than not he will be a P5 coach sooner than later. Nonetheless it’s a great day for JMU and Coach Houston and hopefully there’s plenty more trophies to win

I think the similarities between Houston, JMU , and the community of Harrisonburg are spot on about when Smart was at VCU, and entrenched in the City of Richmond. What I take from this is Houston will not bolt for the first FBS job offer like EW did but instead will be very selective when considering FBS offers. Additionally, the 10 year contract gives Houston and his agent more leverage when negotiating with serious FBS suitors once they come calling again. At a minimum I feel Houston will be on our sidelines at the start of the 2018 season which is great news and better than I anticipated as I thought he would cash-in after this season with an FBS payday.

If Houston and his family elect to buy a house in Harrisonburg this off season I will begin to get excited as it will represent a sign he is putting roots down in the community. EW rented because in his mind this job was only temporary. Brooks sold his house and chose to rent after JB told Brooks he had hit his pay scale ceiling at JMU.

(12-12-2017 05:40 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  I blame Bourne and Alger for this.

Lol.

Just catching up, but waiting for this.

Nicely done!

You guys and gals will keep looking for reasons why Houston will eventually leave instead of why he will stay. He just signed a 10 year contract extension and came out and said some great things about JMU and his commitment to the University. He basically just told the G5 schools thanks but no thanks. He's smart enough to realize what he has at JMU is special (he said as much) and superior to virtually all of the G5 FBS programs.

There is a difference between Shaka Smart and Steve Alford leaving VCU and New Mexico for Texas and UCLA and the opportunities that Mike Houston will have to move up from JMU. In college football Coaches don't make those types of jumps from Mid Major to Big Time programs. The boosters and fan won't allow it. The P5 opportunities that Houston will have in the future won't be no brainers either- they will be complete rebuilds or schools who have never competed in the P5.

"And who knows where James Madison University is going to be. Will we be FBS one day? I don't know. I think if we are, I think we'd be highly competitive. But I think whatever level we're at, we'll have a program here that is one that everyone can be proud of. "

Sure sounds like a guy who is content with the direction of the program. Maybe the fans of JMU should follow his lead.

(12-12-2017 03:20 PM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  Great news, hopefully this keeps all the G5s away. when the P5 come calling, I will help him pack.

ECU will definitely be looking to hire Houston after next year. Houston makes 375,000 ECU will offer him over a Million in the best conference (AAC)launching pad for prime P5 jobs.

Houston will not go to a Power 5 conference from FCS. ECU will be his best bet in two years.

Good luck in Championship.

(12-13-2017 07:02 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(12-12-2017 03:20 PM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  Great news, hopefully this keeps all the G5s away. when the P5 come calling, I will help him pack.

ECU will definitely be looking to hire Houston after next year. Houston makes 375,000 ECU will offer him over a Million in the best conference (AAC)launching pad for prime P5 jobs.

Houston will not go to a Power 5 conference from FCS. ECU will be his best bet in two years.

Good luck in Championship.

After next year, ECU may be a bigger train wreck than Texas St. Mike Houston will have much better opportunities down the road, and he knows it. He isn’t going to go spend time in purgatory at a losing program like Withers.

(12-13-2017 07:18 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(12-13-2017 07:02 AM)baruna falls Wrote:  

(12-12-2017 03:20 PM)PGJMU2 Wrote:  Great news, hopefully this keeps all the G5s away. when the P5 come calling, I will help him pack.

ECU will definitely be looking to hire Houston after next year. Houston makes 375,000 ECU will offer him over a Million in the best conference (AAC)launching pad for prime P5 jobs.

Houston will not go to a Power 5 conference from FCS. ECU will be his best bet in two years.

Good luck in Championship.

After next year, ECU may be a bigger train wreck than Texas St. Mike Houston will have much better opportunities down the road, and he knows it. He isn’t going to go spend time in purgatory at a losing program like Withers.

ECU has biggest fan base among G5 schools and has a winning tradition. It would actually be a great fit for Houston. In truth though, head coaches are crap shoots so who knows if Houston could be successful at a higher level. Comparing ECU to Texas St is a stretch.

The article had the obligatory "I don't know if JMU will ever be FBS" comment.

What happened to the DC's "it's not if, it is when"?

The admin must have a huddle before talking to anybody to go over what has to be said about conferences.

Purplehazed: keeping the Duke Club accountable since 2012