I see that Arkansas State is hosting Missouri this year on 9/12.

This is a very competitive, public, SEC school traveling to a public, and competitive SunBelt school, not a Vanderbilt, Duke, or Wake.

I simply cannot jump on the issue of conference games being the reason to not pursue the SunBelt. With Missouri coming to Jonesboro, AR (pop. 71,551) I want what they have.

I preach again, its the OOC that makes moving to FBS so appealing. This is what will put butts in the seats of Bridgeforth Stadium. If anyone thinks having a "Missouri" come to Harrisonburg rather than a "Morehead State" will not energize our fans, they are delusional.

(03-27-2015 08:33 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I see that Arkansas State is hosting Missouri this year on 9/12.

This is a very competitive, public, SEC school traveling to a public, and competitive SunBelt school, not a Vanderbilt, Duke, or Wake.

I simply cannot jump on the issue of conference games being the reason to not pursue the SunBelt. With Missouri coming to Jonesboro, AR (pop. 71,551) I want what they have.

I preach again, its the OOC that makes moving to FBS so appealing. This is what will put butts in the seats of Bridgeforth Stadium. If anyone thinks having a "Missouri" come to Harrisonburg rather than a "Morehead State" will not energize our fans, they are delusional.

Preach it, reverend!!

I've always said SB is a destination, not a final resting place. If we were there for good, I could see not being pleased.
I will say that the Sun Belt is not the dumpster fire that we are used to seeing from them. Heck, they actually won an NCAA tournament game.
The fact is the SB is growing stronger and CAA is growing weaker.
JMU needs to apply our moniker and stop living with the status quo. Think outside the box. Staying where we are while it crumbles around us is not being the change.
Good news is there's still time. Bad news is time is running out.

http://footballscoop.com/news/whats-the-...hese-days/

big money for playing away too. look at Idaho's take here

(03-27-2015 09:04 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I've always said SB is a destination, not a final resting place. If we were there for good, I could see not being pleased.
I will say that the Sun Belt is not the dumpster fire that we are used to seeing from them. Heck, they actually won an NCAA tournament game.
The fact is the SB is growing stronger and CAA is growing weaker.
JMU needs to apply our moniker and stop living with the status quo. Think outside the box. Staying where we are while it crumbles around us is not being the change.
Good news is there's still time. Bad news is time is running out.

Not according to Jeff Bourne and Tom Yeager which were both quoted within the past week (DNR) stating the CAA is gaining momentum and will return to glory day status defined as pre all the up and coming programs leaving the CAA for better conferences while JMU monitored the situation...but, but, but, but all that has changed now except for the result, just asks Jeff Bourne in a private room previously checked for recording devices.

(03-27-2015 09:14 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 09:04 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I've always said SB is a destination, not a final resting place. If we were there for good, I could see not being pleased.
I will say that the Sun Belt is not the dumpster fire that we are used to seeing from them. Heck, they actually won an NCAA tournament game.
The fact is the SB is growing stronger and CAA is growing weaker.
JMU needs to apply our moniker and stop living with the status quo. Think outside the box. Staying where we are while it crumbles around us is not being the change.
Good news is there's still time. Bad news is time is running out.

Not according to Jeff Bourne and Tom Yeager which were both quoted within the past week (DNR) stating the CAA is gaining momentum and will return to glory day status defined as pre all the up and coming programs leaving the CAA for better conferences while JMU monitored the situation...but, but, but, but all that has changed now except for the result, just asks Jeff Bourne in a private room previously checked for recording devices.

He's right about the momentum. The easiest momentum is when one goes downhill. The only positive of being in the CAA is it would be easier for us to "return to glory day status" because there won't be anyone left to beat.
Those comments by Bourne are laughable. He truly must think we are stupid.

Can anyone actually point to a specific article that said "the CAA is gaining momentum"? I don't think that was ever said by either Bourne or Yeager.

"Both James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne and Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager say the CAA is "close" to being back to where it once was as a men's basketball league."

"I don't think there's any lack of optimism for where we're at," Yeager said.
Both Bourne and Yeager expressed confidence in the direction the league is heading"

I would say those infer positive momentum. But if you want to split hairs, no, the actual word wasn't used.

(03-27-2015 09:04 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I've always said SB is a destination, not a final resting place. If we were there for good, I could see not being pleased.
I will say that the Sun Belt is not the dumpster fire that we are used to seeing from them. Heck, they actually won an NCAA tournament game.
The fact is the SB is growing stronger and CAA is growing weaker.
JMU needs to apply our moniker and stop living with the status quo. Think outside the box. Staying where we are while it crumbles around us is not being the change.
Good news is there's still time. Bad news is time is running out.

It became exponentially more palatable the day(s) App St and realGSU joined the fun. And the immediate success both those programs had in transition years in football also flies in the face a bit of the concern that we would necessarily wallow in mediocrity, or even worse predictions, be a cellar dweller for decades to come. Both those teams would have been Bowl eligible (and NO I didn't look at what bowls or read the by-laws, give it a rest) and if a fan truly goes to a Bowl game and takes in all that is offered, not just the game for 3 hours, it's a fun time.

Would it match playing for ma title in Frisco? Wouldn't know, never been to Frisco, haven't had a reason...

(03-27-2015 02:38 PM)JMUDunk Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 09:04 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  I've always said SB is a destination, not a final resting place. If we were there for good, I could see not being pleased.
I will say that the Sun Belt is not the dumpster fire that we are used to seeing from them. Heck, they actually won an NCAA tournament game.
The fact is the SB is growing stronger and CAA is growing weaker.
JMU needs to apply our moniker and stop living with the status quo. Think outside the box. Staying where we are while it crumbles around us is not being the change.
Good news is there's still time. Bad news is time is running out.

It became exponentially more palatable the day(s) App St and realGSU joined the fun. And the immediate success both those programs had in transition years in football also flies in the face a bit of the concern that we would necessarily wallow in mediocrity, or even worse predictions, be a cellar dweller for decades to come. Both those teams would have been Bowl eligible (and NO I didn't look at what bowls or read the by-laws, give it a rest) and if a fan truly goes to a Bowl game and takes in all that is offered, not just the game for 3 hours, it's a fun time.

Would it match playing for ma title in Frisco? Wouldn't know, never been to Frisco, haven't had a reason...

Absolutely, agree. You can go back to my posts' back when we were on the Zone and I had no use for the SB. When these two joined, plus about two additional SB teams on a rotating basis and depending on who would be good for the season, then add in 4 OOC games that is up to and including a "William & Mary" type FCS game, now we are up to 8 good games that would draw my interest.

Granted, this would only mean four home games and four away, but it beats the CAA. Just looking at the first three games alone this up coming season, and I have zero interest in attending. Well, maybe Lehigh will give us a good game.

(03-27-2015 12:12 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  "Both James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne and Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager say the CAA is "close" to being back to where it once was as a men's basketball league."

"I don't think there's any lack of optimism for where we're at," Yeager said.
Both Bourne and Yeager expressed confidence in the direction the league is heading"

I would say those infer positive momentum. But if you want to split hairs, no, the actual word wasn't used.

Can we grant Sunbelt academics a credit after the CAA commissioner uses incorrect grammar during a newspaper interview?

Keep up the good work Tommy.

(03-27-2015 03:25 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 12:12 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  "Both James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne and Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager say the CAA is "close" to being back to where it once was as a men's basketball league."

"I don't think there's any lack of optimism for where we're at," Yeager said.
Both Bourne and Yeager expressed confidence in the direction the league is heading"

I would say those infer positive momentum. But if you want to split hairs, no, the actual word wasn't used.

Can we grant Sunbelt academics a credit after the CAA commissioner uses incorrect grammar during a newspaper interview?

Keep up the good work Tommy.

My dear Mom used to smack the back of my head when I'd add the word "at" to the ending of a sentence. Today, I mess up a lot, but not with that one.

(03-27-2015 12:12 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  "Both James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne and Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager say the CAA is "close" to being back to where it once was as a men's basketball league."

"I don't think there's any lack of optimism for where we're at," Yeager said.
Both Bourne and Yeager expressed confidence in the direction the league is heading"

I would say those infer positive momentum. But if you want to split hairs, no, the actual word wasn't used.

Both Bourne and Yeager expressed confidence in the direction the league is heading"...where are they confident the conference is headed, into the toilet?

when and where was that statement made or printed?

(03-27-2015 03:46 PM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  when and where was that statement made or printed?

DNR last week.

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Arch...p_docnum=6

(03-27-2015 12:12 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  "Both James Madison athletic director Jeff Bourne and Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager say the CAA is "close" to being back to where it once was as a men's basketball league."

"I don't think there's any lack of optimism for where we're at," Yeager said.
Both Bourne and Yeager expressed confidence in the direction the league is heading"

I would say those infer positive momentum. But if you want to split hairs, no, the actual word wasn't used.

Don't worry, Deez will still label some of us liars... Carry on.

I think Deez Gets that you guys sometimes embellish things to make your points.

(03-27-2015 07:54 PM)JMUNation Wrote:  I think Deez Gets that you guys sometimes embellish things to make your points.

I posted direct quotes. No embellishment needed.

I guess we all have our roles.

(03-27-2015 08:00 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 07:54 PM)JMUNation Wrote:  I think Deez Gets that you guys sometimes embellish things to make your points.

I posted direct quotes. No embellishment needed.

I guess we all have our roles.

This

More SunBelt:

NMSU to play TX A&M in 2016 with a payday of $1.5M

That is sweet and over 3.5 times what we are getting to play SMU.