They have the Dukes at #2.

Quote:First-year head coach Curt Cignetti beat the Dukes while at Elon last season and then joined them, replacing Mike Houston, who departed for East Carolina. Cignetti inherits 19 returning starters and all the key specialists. They’re motivated following a second-round ouster in the playoffs. Former Pitt quarterback Ben DiNucci was good, not great, in his first season, but he’ll be protected by an offensive line that returns intact. Plus, the trio of wide receivers Riley Stapleton, Kyndel Dean and Jake Brown is strong. Cornerback Rashad Robinson, the 2018 CAA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, missed last season with a foot injury and rejoins linebacker Dmitri Holloway on an athletic defense.

https://athlonsports.com/college-footbal...op-25-2019

Four other CAA teams in the list.
#6 Maine
#11 Towson
#21 Elon
#24 Delaware

No shocker to me to see us at 2. Top 5 seems pretty fair.
Aside from that a lot of teams I don't agree with being too high. Maine is too high and I would have put Towson over them. Very surprised to see Elon on there.
Weber State is too low IMO. They seem to always be underrated and this year is no different.

2-5 is a toss up for me at this point to start the season and wouldn't be upset if we started at 6. I think our schedule this season is going to be tough enough to get a top 2 seed if we get the job done especially if UNH/Stony Brook climb into the rankings

(06-04-2019 10:17 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  2-5 is a toss up for me at this point to start the season and wouldn't be upset if we started at 6. I think our schedule this season is going to be tough enough to get a top 2 seed if we get the job done especially if UNH/Stony Brook climb into the rankings

While true, there's a chance Maine and Elon take a huge hit this year.

(06-04-2019 10:25 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(06-04-2019 10:17 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  2-5 is a toss up for me at this point to start the season and wouldn't be upset if we started at 6. I think our schedule this season is going to be tough enough to get a top 2 seed if we get the job done especially if UNH/Stony Brook climb into the rankings

While true, there's a chance Maine and Elon take a huge hit this year.

It won't matter for us if Maine drops out since we dont play them and I don't think Elon will be the team they were when we played them but I can see them as a top 25. UNH will bounce back, stony brook will have to figure out their backfield but should have a strong defense, Towson brings back a ton, Chat isnt a pushover and i think W&M will be much improved from last year. Richmond and villanova will probably suck though

Hero's Preseason top 25 has the Dukes at #1

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-2019...5-fcs-ajaj

Quote:Let's face it, the comparison of Mike Houston coming to a strong JMU program in 2016 from The Citadel and Curt Cignetti coming to a strong JMU program in 2019 from Elon is hard to ignore here. It feels like we've seen this show before, and we here at HERO Sports feel like the end result is going to be similar. We feel like JMU looks, on paper, like the best FCS team in the land. North Dakota State is in a rebuilding mode (cough cough, does NDSU really "rebuild"?) and JMU is loaded with talent.

Only 3 other CAA teams on the list.
Maine at #4
Towson at #10
Elon at #12

(06-04-2019 11:26 AM)Ashby Hall Wrote:  Hero's Preseason top 25 has the Dukes at #1

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-2019...5-fcs-ajaj

I like this poll better.





Just within a couple of hours in this thread, we have already moved from #2 to #1.



and yes, I know they are 2 different worthless preseason polls...but, play along :>)

Does that make Colgate #0?

One of the rags I picked up at the bookstore had JMU at around 12. Thing about these rankings is they’re done taking into consideration the incoming classes that may never actually ever set foot on campus, plus some of the transfers occur after they go to press. I’d rather sandbag and come in 5-10 and end up higher, still get the respect and don’t have that baggage/expectation that goes with it where there’s only way to end up and that’s lower.

I keep on seeing JMU with 19 returning starters. Unless there’s been an offseason loss, its 20 returning starters, 10 on each side of the ball. The only 2 positions that lost a starter were at corner and RB.

(06-04-2019 10:49 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  I keep on seeing JMU with 19 returning starters. Unless there’s been an offseason loss, its 20 returning starters, 10 on each side of the ball. The only 2 positions that lost a starter were at corner and RB.

Darrious Carter is probably the other player listed as a departing starter.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

(06-05-2019 07:45 AM)JMUDukes1750 Wrote:  

(06-04-2019 10:49 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  I keep on seeing JMU with 19 returning starters. Unless there’s been an offseason loss, its 20 returning starters, 10 on each side of the ball. The only 2 positions that lost a starter were at corner and RB.

Darrious Carter is probably the other player listed as a departing starter.

Sent from my SM-G950U1 using Tapatalk

Even if he is, Daka has to be listed as a returning starter.

Going by the Defensive stats & 2018 roster, of 13 games:
Defensive tackle: return Greene 13 starts, Atariwa 7 starts, departed Black 5 starts.
Defensive end: return R Carter 13 starts, Daka 8 starts, graduated D Carter 5 starts.

2 ILB positions: return Holloway 13 starts, Landon 7 starts, departed KeShaun Moore 6 starts.
OLB/hybrid position: return Wayne Davis 13 starts.

Corner spot opposite Moreland: Return Tutt 4 starts, McCormick 3 starts, Oliver 2 starts. Graduated Oliver, 4 starts.

Safeties return Smith (13 starts) and Amos (13 starts).

The majority of starts returns at 10 of 11 positions. The only way you count that as 9 starters returning is the 2nd corner spot opposite Moreland. Had 4 guys who started multiple games, and 3 return. Lost no one that started a majority of the games, don’t return anyone who started a majority of games, do return players who started a combined 9 of 13 games.

I’ve seen it reported 19 returning starters, 10 defense, 9 offense. May have been Madia. On offense, outside of RB, the only other position where a senior regularly played was Eldridge at WR, but he wasn’t listed as starting a single game.

Maybe splitting hairs, but I’m seeing returning starters at 20 of 22 positions, and that’s not counting Robinson.

More love from Hero Sports for the Dukes.

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-2019...-hype-bzbz

Quote:The defense alone can take the Dukes a long way, returning 10 starters, 11 if you count future pro cornerback Rashad Robinson coming back from injury. This is a unit that ranked 10th in the FCS in rushing defense (104.4 yards per game), sixth in total defense (289.5 yards per game) and sixth in scoring defense (14.6 points per game).

(06-06-2019 05:45 AM)Ashby Hall Wrote:  More love from Hero Sports for the Dukes.

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-2019...-hype-bzbz

Quote:The defense alone can take the Dukes a long way, returning 10 starters, 11 if you count future pro cornerback Rashad Robinson coming back from injury. This is a unit that ranked 10th in the FCS in rushing defense (104.4 yards per game), sixth in total defense (289.5 yards per game) and sixth in scoring defense (14.6 points per game).

Major props to HeroSports for backing up their prediction with actual information. Many may not agree, but I feel like their explanation was rational.
It is pretty hilarious how NDSU fans are whining that they aren't #1. To lose so many players and to be ranked #2 is a massive compliment. Most programs would have been lucky to be top 10 with the amount that they've lost.
What I like about herosports' analysis wasn't that we were #1 due to what NDSU lost, but justified it by what WE have and have brought back from last season.
Hopefully this team lives up to the hype, and I think they will.

(06-06-2019 07:47 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  It is pretty hilarious how NDSU fans are whining that they aren't #1. To lose so many players and to be ranked #2 is a massive compliment. Most programs would have been lucky to be top 10 with the amount that they've lost.
What I like about herosports' analysis wasn't that we were #1 due to what NDSU lost, but justified it by what WE have and have brought back from last season.
Hopefully this team lives up to the hype, and I think they will.

I agree with most of what you said. I'd be willing to bet though that if JMU won 7 of the last 8 national titles and then were ranked #2 to start the 9th season, there'd be plenty of whining going on around here. So, I guess I can understand their viewpoint.

Definitely agree with your last sentence. Dukes need to take care of what we can control. Get to Frisco. Anything short of that is underachievement IMO.

(06-06-2019 07:58 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-06-2019 07:47 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  It is pretty hilarious how NDSU fans are whining that they aren't #1. To lose so many players and to be ranked #2 is a massive compliment. Most programs would have been lucky to be top 10 with the amount that they've lost.
What I like about herosports' analysis wasn't that we were #1 due to what NDSU lost, but justified it by what WE have and have brought back from last season.
Hopefully this team lives up to the hype, and I think they will.

I agree with most of what you said. I'd be willing to bet though that if JMU won 7 of the last 8 national titles and then were ranked #2 to start the 9th season, there'd be plenty of whining going on around here. So, I guess I can understand their viewpoint.

Definitely agree with your last sentence. Dukes need to take care of what we can control. Get to Frisco. Anything short of that is underachievement IMO.

While you are right, if the tables were turned I would hope we'd have enough sense to not throw a fit over being #2 and not number 1. The year after we won the championship, I believe some had us number 2 purely because we lost some key players (especially on offense!). I have no doubt there were some here that were not happy about it.
Herosports even said they think they would make it to Frisco, which is why they put them #2.
In the case of NDSU, it's the entitlement that I don't like. While they have the resume to back it up, it's a bit crazy to think they won't miss a beat after losing so much, not to mention the head coach responsible for many of those titles.
I honestly hope they make it back to Frisco so we can get some sweet revenge on them.

When we beat that dumpster fire in WV on Aug 31 I think people will stop complaining

(06-06-2019 09:21 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(06-06-2019 07:58 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-06-2019 07:47 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  It is pretty hilarious how NDSU fans are whining that they aren't #1. To lose so many players and to be ranked #2 is a massive compliment. Most programs would have been lucky to be top 10 with the amount that they've lost.
What I like about herosports' analysis wasn't that we were #1 due to what NDSU lost, but justified it by what WE have and have brought back from last season.
Hopefully this team lives up to the hype, and I think they will.

I agree with most of what you said. I'd be willing to bet though that if JMU won 7 of the last 8 national titles and then were ranked #2 to start the 9th season, there'd be plenty of whining going on around here. So, I guess I can understand their viewpoint.

Definitely agree with your last sentence. Dukes need to take care of what we can control. Get to Frisco. Anything short of that is underachievement IMO.

While you are right, if the tables were turned I would hope we'd have enough sense to not throw a fit over being #2 and not number 1. The year after we won the championship, I believe some had us number 2 purely because we lost some key players (especially on offense!). I have no doubt there were some here that were not happy about it.
Herosports even said they think they would make it to Frisco, which is why they put them #2.
In the case of NDSU, it's the entitlement that I don't like. While they have the resume to back it up, it's a bit crazy to think they won't miss a beat after losing so much, not to mention the head coach responsible for many of those titles.
I honestly hope they make it back to Frisco so we can get some sweet revenge on them.

Yep. Looking at it from their point of view, I'm sure during this 8-year stretch of 7 titles and 1 semifinal loss they have had at least one, if not 2 or 3, seasons where they "lost so much" and still won it all.

And, as far as entitlement goes, it exists here. Just look at the folks so quick to dismiss Bitchmond as a rival just because we beat them badly last year. Sample size of 1. It was just 2 seasons ago at BFS we won by 7 pts and the game was tied with 5 minutes to go. And, I hope folks haven't forgotten who spoiled our first appearance on College Game Day.

I just hope we make it back to Frisco...against...anybody.

(06-06-2019 09:32 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-06-2019 09:21 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(06-06-2019 07:58 AM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(06-06-2019 07:47 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  It is pretty hilarious how NDSU fans are whining that they aren't #1. To lose so many players and to be ranked #2 is a massive compliment. Most programs would have been lucky to be top 10 with the amount that they've lost.
What I like about herosports' analysis wasn't that we were #1 due to what NDSU lost, but justified it by what WE have and have brought back from last season.
Hopefully this team lives up to the hype, and I think they will.

I agree with most of what you said. I'd be willing to bet though that if JMU won 7 of the last 8 national titles and then were ranked #2 to start the 9th season, there'd be plenty of whining going on around here. So, I guess I can understand their viewpoint.

Definitely agree with your last sentence. Dukes need to take care of what we can control. Get to Frisco. Anything short of that is underachievement IMO.

While you are right, if the tables were turned I would hope we'd have enough sense to not throw a fit over being #2 and not number 1. The year after we won the championship, I believe some had us number 2 purely because we lost some key players (especially on offense!). I have no doubt there were some here that were not happy about it.
Herosports even said they think they would make it to Frisco, which is why they put them #2.
In the case of NDSU, it's the entitlement that I don't like. While they have the resume to back it up, it's a bit crazy to think they won't miss a beat after losing so much, not to mention the head coach responsible for many of those titles.
I honestly hope they make it back to Frisco so we can get some sweet revenge on them.

Yep. Looking at it from their point of view, I'm sure during this 8-year stretch of 7 titles and 1 semifinal loss they have had at least one, if not 2 or 3, seasons where they "lost so much" and still won it all.

And, as far as entitlement goes, it exists here. Just look at the folks so quick to dismiss Bitchmond as a rival just because we beat them badly last year. Sample size of 1. It was just 2 seasons ago at BFS we won by 7 pts and the game was tied with 5 minutes to go. And, I hope folks haven't forgotten who spoiled our first appearance on College Game Day.

I just hope we make it back to Frisco...against...anybody.

It does exist here. I actually didn't know people were dismissing Bitchmond as a rival. In my eyes they will always be a rival.. even if we beat them 100 times to zero. I think the only thing that could change that is if we were to go FBS and we stopped playing them.
Perhaps it's not entitlement with NDSU, but jealousy or insecurity that I should have said. If someone get the attention that they believe they should have, they like to complain about it. Perfect example was the second time we got GameDay. I recall NDSU saying that they should be the ones to get College GameDay. The year after we won the title, herosports did more articles on us than any other school and NDSU fans were angry about that as well.
I think it's more of a case where they have won so many titles they don't believe any other team should receive any recognition that should otherwise go to them. I don't think we are at that point and I really hope we choose not to go to that level. Do we have a tendency that could lead us there... you bet! I would much rather be apathetic to accolades from other schools than "We should be getting the attention that ____ is getting".

Disclaimer: In no way am I saying all NDSU fans are like this, because they truly do have some great fans and great people.