(04-09-2018 10:17 AM)JMU Wrote: Seems like a top overall program due to the strength of our Women's sports.
Uh oh. This is the pink elephant.
It is a nice to have situation on the women’s side and certainly something for the athletic department, teams, and alumni to be proud of. It is for those closely connected to JMU. However it does not move the needle for revenue, donations, engagement, growth, and prestige of the athletic department. Most of the men’s sports don’t move the needle either.
Not trying to upset anyone, as I enjoy the Olympic sports as much as anyone else. I’ve traveled to see baseball for NCAA playoff games, I’ve traveled to see women’s hoops in the tournament. I routinely check scores for Softball, Lacrosse, volleyball, Golf etc , but I am a JMU sports junkie. The Alum in New York City that has never attended games post graduation and has never donated to the Duke Club won’t suddenly start because the field hockey team wins a national title.
FBS football and Men’s basketball are the only two NCAA programs that have the potential to have a big, wide reaching positive impact. JMU is not in the conversation for either.
In order to elevate the status of the athletic department and/or perception of the University you have to be nationally successful in at least one of these two. This is just a statement of captain obvious and not a stance that those 2 sports are the only 2 that JMU should care about.
Priorities #3 through #17 JMU is doing really good. No doubt.
I would gladly exchange poor results in many of those Olympic sports if it meant JMU could break the ice on the national stage for FBS football or especially Men’s hoops.
Give me a final four Men’s Hoops team and I don’t care if the field hockey team goes 0-20.
Just so nobody gets the wrong message... I am PRO women’s sports. I just don’t see them as the drivers for athletic department advancement in today’s NCAA climate. It feels like the cart is ahead of the horse at JMU.