(03-27-2015 09:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  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.

What are you so worried about? We have a strategic plan.

(03-27-2015 10:48 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 09:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  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.

What are you so worried about? We have a strategic plan.

I'm not sure whether this or this is more appropriate.

What all of us need to accept, is that our administration only wants a move to FBS if it is the right fit academically, geographically and economically. They are not a sports first administration. With this said, it is unlikely that scenario will present itself in the near future and do not expect for our folks to beat the door down to make it happen. They have made their desires known to CUSA and the MAC. I don't see either of these conferences expanding. In fact, it is just as likely that CUSA will go to 12 like the MAC will do when UMASS leaves.

All of the whining and complaining is not going to change this fact. The focus for now should be on winning the conference we play in not thinking FBS is some sort of magic pill solution for our athletics programs. You guys are pretty smart. Do you not see what I am seeing. Actions speak louder than words. I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on. I hope the rest of you will soon join me.

Spring ball anyone?

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  What all of us need to accept, is that our administration only wants a move to FBS if it is the right fit academically, geographically and economically. They are not a sports first administration. With this said, it is unlikely that scenario will present itself in the near future and do not expect for our folks to beat the door down to make it happen. They have made their desires known to CUSA and the MAC. I don't see either of these conferences expanding. In fact, it is just as likely that CUSA will go to 12 like the MAC will do when UMASS leaves.

All of the whining and complaining is not going to change this fact. The focus for now should be on winning the conference we play in not thinking FBS is some sort of magic pill solution for our athletics programs. You guys are pretty smart. Do you not see what I am seeing. Actions speak louder than words. I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on. I hope the rest of you will soon join me.

Spring ball anyone?

You're right about one thing. People have and will move on. The only problem is that they are moving on from paying attention to and supporting Jmu and the Athletics program as a result of the mismanagement.

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  ... I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on....

You may want to glance back up to post #1.

(03-28-2015 10:43 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  ... I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on....

You may want to glance back up to post #1.

Think he's referring to the original thread on caazone.

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  What all of us need to accept, is that our administration only wants a move to FBS if it is the right fit academically, geographically and economically. They are not a sports first administration. With this said, it is unlikely that scenario will present itself in the near future and do not expect for our folks to beat the door down to make it happen. They have made their desires known to CUSA and the MAC. I don't see either of these conferences expanding. In fact, it is just as likely that CUSA will go to 12 like the MAC will do when UMASS leaves.

All of the whining and complaining is not going to change this fact. The focus for now should be on winning the conference we play in not thinking FBS is some sort of magic pill solution for our athletics programs. You guys are pretty smart. Do you not see what I am seeing. Actions speak louder than words. I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on. I hope the rest of you will soon join me.

Spring ball anyone?

If you are correct Nation you have identified the source of my abhorrence for Jeff Bourne and Jon Alger and at some point, JMU itself which breaks my heart as a alum.

Jeff Bourne and Jon Alger are liars. They can't instruct Duke Club members to tell us with hands wide open, "it's not if, it's when" after alum asks about conference affiliation. If Jeff Bourne knows the only conference invites Alger will accept are not forth coming, the Duke Club is bold face lying to JMU alum.

Is this all we have, posters claiming that they know for a fact the Jeff Bourne would be forthright about conference affiliation but he can't because Jon Alger has no leadership backbone?

How can we expect JMU to move forward academically with the help of our cash if our very own president won't man up and tell us what to expect from the strongest connection between us and our alma mater?

(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.

And every Sun Belt school will be paying the full cost of attendance stipend. In football. AND in college basketball. The Sun Belt may have been 20th in college basketball, but if the CAA doesn't pay the full cost of attendance and the Sun Belt does, what do you think that will do to the recruiting environment over time? By the way, your recruiting rivals in the ACC, the AAC, the A-10, and CUSA will be paying fca too.

Division in D1 basketball is coming. Probably by conferences. It won't be a stated division, but it will be one nonetheless. Sure, every once in a while a team can have a good year from the Patriot or the Ivies, but that will be the exception, not the rule.

By the way, the Sun Belt IS a dumpster fire in college basketball. But with fca, that will likely change in a hurry. Everyone won't be paying it. CAA? No idea but thinking that they might go all William and Mary and say "lets be like the Patriot league"

If only the FBS conferences and a few select basketball conferences (WCC, A-10, Big East, MVC, etc.) go fca, it might mean that the only way to save JMU basketball is to join a FBS conference (because its unlikely that any of the big basketball onlies will be interested in JMU).

I remain optimistic that you guys will be joining us in the Sun Belt as an all sports member at some point. Just makes too much sense for both sides.

But watch out for the impact that full cost of attendance will have on college BASKETBALL. That's the next shoe to drop.

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  What all of us need to accept, is that our administration only wants a move to FBS if it is the right fit academically, geographically and economically. They are not a sports first administration. With this said, it is unlikely that scenario will present itself in the near future and do not expect for our folks to beat the door down to make it happen. They have made their desires known to CUSA and the MAC. I don't see either of these conferences expanding. In fact, it is just as likely that CUSA will go to 12 like the MAC will do when UMASS leaves.

All of the whining and complaining is not going to change this fact. The focus for now should be on winning the conference we play in not thinking FBS is some sort of magic pill solution for our athletics programs. You guys are pretty smart. Do you not see what I am seeing. Actions speak louder than words. I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on. I hope the rest of you will soon join me.

Spring ball anyone?

And this is how leaders get removed from their position. Only the small minority have been in favor of sitting pat and watching our peers leave us over the last 4 years.

It is not unheard of for presidents to be forced out at universities.

(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.

This is a fill in the blank post. Simply fill in (your school name here) for wanting FBS. This is not rocket science. It's common sense, something college prez, admins and ADs can many times use, but often times don't. We all want it!

(03-28-2015 07:07 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 10:48 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 09:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  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.

What are you so worried about? We have a strategic plan.

I'm not sure whether this or this is more appropriate.

Ha, I'm not sure what either of those mean but it was meant to be sarcastic. Sorry, I realize that doesn't always carry over on a message board.

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  What all of us need to accept, is that our administration only wants a move to FBS if it is the right fit academically, geographically and economically. They are not a sports first administration.

I don't think any school should be, but why do the have the image/link to the Strategic Athletics Plan on the home page of jmu.edu? They're not hiding sports. They've also posted it on facebook several times. They realize what sports mean to JMU. The execution part is where it kind of breaks down.

(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.

If you're going to use an example of why JMU should move to the SB, please use someone better than Ark State. On their website their schedule covers 11 seasons 05'-15'.# of public BCS/P5 Ark State hosted in football:
2005: 0 (only 5 home games)
2006: 1 (OK St in Little Rock, only 4 home games in Jonesboro)
2007: 0
2008: 0 (only 5 home games)
2009: 0 (only 5 home games)
2010: 1 (L'ville, only 5 home games)
2011: 0
2012: 0
2013: 0
2014: 0
2015: 1 (Missouri)
http://www.astateredwolves.com/SportSele...EASON=2005

Uless I missed one, only 3 times in 11 seasons have hosted a BCS/P5. 5 of those 11 seasons they had only 5 home games. So basically a P5 once every 4 seasons and only 5 home games every other season (only 5 home games should be unacceptable). If JMU moves up and only hosted 1 P5 every 4 years and had 5 home games every other season that would be piss poor.

People keep talking about OOC for football, and are forgetting about the fact that we're talking about SEVENTEEN varsity sports with probably over 100 away conference games/matches/meets a year, and hundreds in 3-4 seasons. They're not going to do that in a conference where JMU was a geographic outlier with only 1 school to bus to.

(03-28-2015 09:56 AM)JMUNation Wrote:  What all of us need to accept, is that our administration only wants a move to FBS if it is the right fit academically, geographically and economically. They are not a sports first administration. With this said, it is unlikely that scenario will present itself in the near future and do not expect for our folks to beat the door down to make it happen. They have made their desires known to CUSA and the MAC. I don't see either of these conferences expanding. In fact, it is just as likely that CUSA will go to 12 like the MAC will do when UMASS leaves.

All of the whining and complaining is not going to change this fact. The focus for now should be on winning the conference we play in not thinking FBS is some sort of magic pill solution for our athletics programs. You guys are pretty smart. Do you not see what I am seeing. Actions speak louder than words. I am the one who started this thread and I have moved on. I hope the rest of you will soon join me.

Spring ball anyone?

Yep.

(03-28-2015 03:06 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  

(03-28-2015 07:07 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 10:48 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  

(03-27-2015 09:35 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  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.

What are you so worried about? We have a strategic plan.

I'm not sure whether this or this is more appropriate.

Ha, I'm not sure what either of those mean but it was meant to be sarcastic. Sorry, I realize that doesn't always carry over on a message board.

I got the sarcasm, chuckled to myself, and was trying to find away to agree with you.

(03-28-2015 05:53 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(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.

If you're going to use an example of why JMU should move to the SB, please use someone better than Ark State. On their website their schedule covers 11 seasons 05'-15'.# of public BCS/P5 Ark State hosted in football:
2005: 0 (only 5 home games)
2006: 1 (OK St in Little Rock, only 4 home games in Jonesboro)
2007: 0
2008: 0 (only 5 home games)
2009: 0 (only 5 home games)
2010: 1 (L'ville, only 5 home games)
2011: 0
2012: 0
2013: 0
2014: 0
2015: 1 (Missouri)
http://www.astateredwolves.com/SportSele...EASON=2005

Uless I missed one, only 3 times in 11 seasons have hosted a BCS/P5. 5 of those 11 seasons they had only 5 home games. So basically a P5 once every 4 seasons and only 5 home games every other season (only 5 home games should be unacceptable). If JMU moves up and only hosted 1 P5 every 4 years and had 5 home games every other season that would be piss poor.

People keep talking about OOC for football, and are forgetting about the fact that we're talking about SEVENTEEN varsity sports with probably over 100 away conference games/matches/meets a year, and hundreds in 3-4 seasons. They're not going to do that in a conference where JMU was a geographic outlier with only 1 school to bus to.

Arkansas State did not have facilities capable of hosting major conference schools until very recently. We have a football stadium that was built in the 70's with many amenities that were not of FCS quality. Outside of a known relationship we've had with Ole Miss that got us a game in 2001 when we were the Worst team in FBS football, no one would play us here. Heck, very few G5 schools would play us here. I remember when a game with Army here was considered the biggest home game in our FBS history.

In 2011 we finally fired an inept AD who didn't believe in the need to play P5 teams at home. New AD started fundraising. We've installed a whole bunch of new amenities since that time, this past fall started 50 million dollars worth of stadium improvements. The first of these, a new Press Box with modern suites three levels, will be opened for the Missouri game. The second, and Indoor Practicie facility tied into a new football ops building will be opened in stages beginning in April, and continuing for the next 2 years. A Third, which will be removing our end zone seating and turning it into club style seats and tying it into the new football facility will follow soon after, to be hopefully finished by the time Miami arrives in 2017. Since 2010, we have hosted 6 games every season, and it is now a schedule requirement of our current administration.

P5 schools will and do travel to face SBC schools. Troy (Duke, Miss State) , ULL (Kansas State), Texas State (Texas Tech), South Alabama (Miss State) and ULM (Wake) have all hosted P5 schools in recent years. App State (Wake), Arkansas State (Missouri, Iowa State, Miami) have upcoming home games with P5 schools.

Every single one of those games was a sell out crowd...or 90 percent plus capacity. Most set current stadium records.

Generally speaking, P5's will come to G5's school if the game makes sense from a recruiting standpoint, its local enough for fans to attend, AND if the facilities match to the standards they expect. The Majority of the SBC has either a brand new or recently updated stadium. The only exceptions not named NMSU and Idaho are ULM and Georgia State, and Georgia State is working to get an On Campus Stadium in the next 5 years.

(03-30-2015 09:26 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(03-28-2015 05:53 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(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.

If you're going to use an example of why JMU should move to the SB, please use someone better than Ark State. On their website their schedule covers 11 seasons 05'-15'.# of public BCS/P5 Ark State hosted in football:
2005: 0 (only 5 home games)
2006: 1 (OK St in Little Rock, only 4 home games in Jonesboro)
2007: 0
2008: 0 (only 5 home games)
2009: 0 (only 5 home games)
2010: 1 (L'ville, only 5 home games)
2011: 0
2012: 0
2013: 0
2014: 0
2015: 1 (Missouri)
http://www.astateredwolves.com/SportSele...EASON=2005

Uless I missed one, only 3 times in 11 seasons have hosted a BCS/P5. 5 of those 11 seasons they had only 5 home games. So basically a P5 once every 4 seasons and only 5 home games every other season (only 5 home games should be unacceptable). If JMU moves up and only hosted 1 P5 every 4 years and had 5 home games every other season that would be piss poor.

People keep talking about OOC for football, and are forgetting about the fact that we're talking about SEVENTEEN varsity sports with probably over 100 away conference games/matches/meets a year, and hundreds in 3-4 seasons. They're not going to do that in a conference where JMU was a geographic outlier with only 1 school to bus to.

Arkansas State did not have facilities capable of hosting major conference schools until very recently. We have a football stadium that was built in the 70's with many amenities that were not of FCS quality. Outside of a known relationship we've had with Ole Miss that got us a game in 2001 when we were the Worst team in FBS football, no one would play us here. Heck, very few G5 schools would play us here. I remember when a game with Army here was considered the biggest home game in our FBS history.

In 2011 we finally fired an inept AD who didn't believe in the need to play P5 teams at home. New AD started fundraising. We've installed a whole bunch of new amenities since that time, this past fall started 50 million dollars worth of stadium improvements. The first of these, a new Press Box with modern suites three levels, will be opened for the Missouri game. The second, and Indoor Practicie facility tied into a new football ops building will be opened in stages beginning in April, and continuing for the next 2 years. A Third, which will be removing our end zone seating and turning it into club style seats and tying it into the new football facility will follow soon after, to be hopefully finished by the time Miami arrives in 2017. Since 2010, we have hosted 6 games every season, and it is now a schedule requirement of our current administration.

P5 schools will and do travel to face SBC schools. Troy (Duke, Miss State) , ULL (Kansas State), Texas State (Texas Tech), South Alabama (Miss State) and ULM (Wake) have all hosted P5 schools in recent years. App State (Wake), Arkansas State (Missouri, Iowa State, Miami) have upcoming home games with P5 schools.

Every single one of those games was a sell out crowd...or 90 percent plus capacity. Most set current stadium records.

Generally speaking, P5's will come to G5's school if the game makes sense from a recruiting standpoint, its local enough for fans to attend, AND if the facilities match to the standards they expect. The Majority of the SBC has either a brand new or recently updated stadium. The only exceptions not named NMSU and Idaho are ULM and Georgia State, and Georgia State is working to get an On Campus Stadium in the next 5 years.

where did the $50 million come from? Fundraising? Fundraising + State funds? Thanks for the details on what's happening in Jonesboro

(03-30-2015 09:30 PM)Bawlmer Duke Wrote:  

(03-30-2015 09:26 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(03-28-2015 05:53 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(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.

If you're going to use an example of why JMU should move to the SB, please use someone better than Ark State. On their website their schedule covers 11 seasons 05'-15'.# of public BCS/P5 Ark State hosted in football:
2005: 0 (only 5 home games)
2006: 1 (OK St in Little Rock, only 4 home games in Jonesboro)
2007: 0
2008: 0 (only 5 home games)
2009: 0 (only 5 home games)
2010: 1 (L'ville, only 5 home games)
2011: 0
2012: 0
2013: 0
2014: 0
2015: 1 (Missouri)
http://www.astateredwolves.com/SportSele...EASON=2005

Uless I missed one, only 3 times in 11 seasons have hosted a BCS/P5. 5 of those 11 seasons they had only 5 home games. So basically a P5 once every 4 seasons and only 5 home games every other season (only 5 home games should be unacceptable). If JMU moves up and only hosted 1 P5 every 4 years and had 5 home games every other season that would be piss poor.

People keep talking about OOC for football, and are forgetting about the fact that we're talking about SEVENTEEN varsity sports with probably over 100 away conference games/matches/meets a year, and hundreds in 3-4 seasons. They're not going to do that in a conference where JMU was a geographic outlier with only 1 school to bus to.

Arkansas State did not have facilities capable of hosting major conference schools until very recently. We have a football stadium that was built in the 70's with many amenities that were not of FCS quality. Outside of a known relationship we've had with Ole Miss that got us a game in 2001 when we were the Worst team in FBS football, no one would play us here. Heck, very few G5 schools would play us here. I remember when a game with Army here was considered the biggest home game in our FBS history.

In 2011 we finally fired an inept AD who didn't believe in the need to play P5 teams at home. New AD started fundraising. We've installed a whole bunch of new amenities since that time, this past fall started 50 million dollars worth of stadium improvements. The first of these, a new Press Box with modern suites three levels, will be opened for the Missouri game. The second, and Indoor Practicie facility tied into a new football ops building will be opened in stages beginning in April, and continuing for the next 2 years. A Third, which will be removing our end zone seating and turning it into club style seats and tying it into the new football facility will follow soon after, to be hopefully finished by the time Miami arrives in 2017. Since 2010, we have hosted 6 games every season, and it is now a schedule requirement of our current administration.

P5 schools will and do travel to face SBC schools. Troy (Duke, Miss State) , ULL (Kansas State), Texas State (Texas Tech), South Alabama (Miss State) and ULM (Wake) have all hosted P5 schools in recent years. App State (Wake), Arkansas State (Missouri, Iowa State, Miami) have upcoming home games with P5 schools.

Every single one of those games was a sell out crowd...or 90 percent plus capacity. Most set current stadium records.

Generally speaking, P5's will come to G5's school if the game makes sense from a recruiting standpoint, its local enough for fans to attend, AND if the facilities match to the standards they expect. The Majority of the SBC has either a brand new or recently updated stadium. The only exceptions not named NMSU and Idaho are ULM and Georgia State, and Georgia State is working to get an On Campus Stadium in the next 5 years.

where did the $50 million come from? Fundraising? Fundraising + State funds? Thanks for the details on what's happening in Jonesboro

We're still finalizing all of the fundraising. The first 25 Million was all Private donations. The New football facility was turned into a Student Activity center and will be open to all students, it will just house the football offices instead. We are charging a student fee per credit hour to finance some of it. (Not considered part of our Athletic fees)

University of Arkansas controls the state legislature, so not surprisingly, we get next to no money from the state. They would prefer we drop football entirely.

I'm obviously not in charge of athletics at JMU. But, if I was, I would be on the phone with the SunBelt every day trying to get a football-only invite (I know it's not likely). I say that because I totally understand the concerns with sending the women's soccer team to play a game in Texas on a random Tuesday.

More visible 1-A football seems to be one of only two ways that matter to improve the athletic program (High quality MBB would be the other). It's been said a thousand times, but many of us believe increased athletic exposure will be a rising tide for all donations.

You can make a million wonderful transformations to the physical structures and academic programs at JMU. I'm sure the university is doing great things. However, people like me are only going to get a whiff of any of these changes by being on campus. Do you know the only thing that gets me from NY to campus?...A football game

(03-31-2015 09:04 AM)NYJMUPIKE Wrote:  I'm obviously not in charge of athletics at JMU. But, if I was, I would be on the phone with the SunBelt every day trying to get a football-only invite (I know it's not likely). I say that because I totally understand the concerns with sending the women's soccer team to play a game in Texas on a random Tuesday.

More visible 1-A football seems to be one of only two ways that matter to improve the athletic program (High quality MBB would be the other). It's been said a thousand times, but many of us believe increased athletic exposure will be a rising tide for all donations.

You can make a million wonderful transformations to the physical structures and academic programs at JMU. I'm sure the university is doing great things. However, people like me are only going to get a whiff of any of these changes by being on campus. Do you know the only thing that gets me from NY to campus?...A football game

If UAB were to go to the SB (most likely to MVC) then adding us as a FB only school in the East to offset the west having NMSU (I don't think Idaho will stay in the SB) then add MO State for all sports, it would look something like this.

SB Football East - JMU, Appy, GA Southern, GSU, Troy, South AL
SB Football West - NMSU, ULL, ULM, TX State, AR State, MO State

The problem is that they still have two additional western teams for the Olympic Sports in UT Arlington, and UA Little Rock. If Little Rock would side with the East then all is good.