NDSU's QB runs often. Running QBs get injured frequently. Silly to assume "everyone is playing for 2nd place" next season when you don't know who will be healthy in December/January.

The only certainty is that JMU finished 2nd this season.

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

(01-13-2020 02:46 PM)NC Tribe Wrote:  NDSU's QB runs often. Running QBs get injured frequently. Silly to assume "everyone is playing for 2nd place" next season when you don't know who will be healthy in December/January.

The only certainty is that JMU finished 2nd this season.

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

Yes but we finished 2nd out of 130 teams - great accomplishment

(01-13-2020 02:58 PM)jmudukes Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 02:46 PM)NC Tribe Wrote:  NDSU's QB runs often. Running QBs get injured frequently. Silly to assume "everyone is playing for 2nd place" next season when you don't know who will be healthy in December/January.

The only certainty is that JMU finished 2nd this season.

"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"

Yes but we finished 2nd out of 130 teams - great accomplishment

I wasn't belittling finishing 2nd, it is a great accomplishment.

I was just saying it is silly to think that everyone besides NDSU is playing for 2nd next year.

I am hoping for a W&M and JMU championship game. I don't really care who knocks NDSU out.

They are a strong favorite for sure. To win 8 times in 9 years is not only an amazing amount of success, but also an amazing amount of luck with bounces and injuries.

The dropped pass in 2017, yesterday the missed holding call, or the caught deflection in the second half after the deflection all could of provided different outcomes.

I would say they are the odds on favorites next year, but at some point luck could come to haunt them. If Trey is injured, it would likely bring them back or at least way closer to the pack.

That's what sucks. We had the weapons to go toe to toe this year, like 2017. We don't return 21 starters again next year, and they return the NPOY.

One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

(01-13-2020 05:51 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

I would prefer to play UNC the 1st week instead of a conference game in week 1 though.

(01-13-2020 05:51 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

Completely agree. And it will hopefully give the fanbase a couple weeks to buy back in instead of taking the likely L against an improving Heels team right away. It's also pretty fun to have actual challenges those first two weeks at home and should boost attendance and inject excitement for students instead of Morgan/STFU. That said, opening with Delaware is THE most important (not harder, just important) opening game I can think of in an awful long time. It's an absolute must-have to set up the rest of the way with only an 11-game slate next year. Merrimack, whatever that is, could be a welcome "bye/Week 17-NFL type" game before the playoffs if the Dukes are sitting pretty at 9-1 or 8-2 headed into the finale, but could be almost a non-counter in the eyes of the committee if we're 7-3 or 6-4. Gotta bring it for Labor Day weekend!

(01-13-2020 01:00 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Dolly you say 4 championship appearances in 50 years- what kind of muddies that stat is that JMU has been to 3 championship games in the last 4 years. I guess some may think JMU May revert to the mean and be a perennial playoff team in FCS but championships and championship appearances can not be taken for granted. I think there is a reason why JMU has made 3 of the last 4, has barely lost any conference games or FCS games or games for that matter over that period. It’s transcended coaches and groups of players to this point with plenty of talent remaining with both groups for next year and the years after that.

JMU has reached another level. I’m an FBS guy and I’d be cool with a move tomorrow and get behind it but I think the context is important because it is pretty big time- the type of football JMU played at the beginning of the year vs WVU and at year end on Abc vs North Dakota State. That reflects well on our University and provides a lot of value. I can see why the powers that be aren’t in a rush.

Exactly. You can’t compare JMU football now to JMU football 50, 30, 20, even 10 years ago.

(01-13-2020 05:55 PM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:51 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

I would prefer to play UNC the 1st week instead of a conference game in week 1 though.

Can you imagine what Delaware is saying to themselves about their week 1. I know we graduated a bunch of guys but they have to play at Bridgeforth against JMU. That’s a very tall order for them and a game that I don’t think will even be close.

(01-14-2020 02:52 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:55 PM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:51 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

I would prefer to play UNC the 1st week instead of a conference game in week 1 though.

Can you imagine what Delaware is saying to themselves about their week 1. I know we graduated a bunch of guys but they have to play at Bridgeforth against JMU. That’s a very tall order for them and a game that I don’t think will even be close.

Week one will be an interesting & telling week for us in my opinion.

I would not bet the mortgage on this game. If we were to lose week one at home to UD it could change the outlook for both teams. They are already focusing on us, no doubt. We are not them. If anything most are probably focused on UNC.

I know Sandy and folks believe we'll always be as good each year, but I think next year will be a drop off from the prior 4. Now if we picked up a game changing transfer at QB (like Vad Lee), and perhaps "another" successful stud along the defensive front, as well as another Polk caliber receiver. The roster as it presently exists for next year will be materially weaker than the prior 4 years based on returning players.

Just a lot more unknowns/holes than the prior 4 years.

(01-14-2020 09:10 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 02:52 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:55 PM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:51 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

I would prefer to play UNC the 1st week instead of a conference game in week 1 though.

Can you imagine what Delaware is saying to themselves about their week 1. I know we graduated a bunch of guys but they have to play at Bridgeforth against JMU. That’s a very tall order for them and a game that I don’t think will even be close.

Week one will be an interesting & telling week for us in my opinion.

I would not bet the mortgage on this game. If we were to lose week one at home to UD it could change the outlook for both teams. They are already focusing on us, no doubt. We are not them. If anything most are probably focused on UNC.

I know Sandy and folks believe we'll always be as good each year, but I think next year will be a drop off from the prior 4. Now if we picked up a game changing transfer at QB (like Vad Lee), and perhaps "another" successful stud along the defensive front, as well as another Polk caliber receiver. The roster as it presently exists for next year will be materially weaker than the prior 4 years based on returning players.

Just a lot more unknowns/holes than the prior 4 years.

Disagree. If the positions you’ve outlined as transfers fill in (and some have already signed) I don’t see the team’s returning players being weaker, “materially” or otherwise. OL and interior DL are the same. Amos is at S. Kickers and returners are the same. Are you trying to sandbag everyone?

(10-30-2019 10:58 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  Can we stop the NDSU/JMU vs everyone else?
- 2 of our last 3 playoff losses were to Colgate.
- We have won the CAA only 3 times in this decade (once a 3 way co-champ). NDSU has won or co-won their equal at worse conference, every year except 2010.
- NDSU is a perfect 7-0 in the championship game that we have only reached twice in the decade.
- JMU is only a couple years away from going ~.500 against playoff teams (EW years but I'm not looking this up again to get the exact record). NDSU is like .9 against playoff teams?
- 5 years ago we were 6-6. NDSU has lost 6 games in the last 5 years.

I'd like to add to my notes from 2+ months ago:
- NDSU last lost in November.... of 2017.
- Since 2015, they have only lost to 2 teams - SDSU and JMU .
- They just went 16-0 with a freshman QB (one of kind freshmen no doubt, but still, a freshman).

(01-14-2020 09:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:10 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 02:52 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:55 PM)JMU85 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:51 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  One note about JMU next year. I think the FBS game at UNC coming later is actually a good thing. Normally I would rather play that team in week one because I think as the season goes the program with more talent and depth gains a bigger advantage but in this case it gives the new JMU QB to get acclimated as starter and get a rhythm before that game.

I would prefer to play UNC the 1st week instead of a conference game in week 1 though.

Can you imagine what Delaware is saying to themselves about their week 1. I know we graduated a bunch of guys but they have to play at Bridgeforth against JMU. That’s a very tall order for them and a game that I don’t think will even be close.

Week one will be an interesting & telling week for us in my opinion.

I would not bet the mortgage on this game. If we were to lose week one at home to UD it could change the outlook for both teams. They are already focusing on us, no doubt. We are not them. If anything most are probably focused on UNC.

I know Sandy and folks believe we'll always be as good each year, but I think next year will be a drop off from the prior 4. Now if we picked up a game changing transfer at QB (like Vad Lee), and perhaps "another" successful stud along the defensive front, as well as another Polk caliber receiver. The roster as it presently exists for next year will be materially weaker than the prior 4 years based on returning players.

Just a lot more unknowns/holes than the prior 4 years.

Disagree. If the positions you’ve outlined as transfers fill in (and some have already signed) I don’t see the team’s returning players being weaker, “materially” or otherwise. OL and interior DL are the same. Amos is at S. Kickers and returners are the same. Are you trying to sandbag everyone?

As it exists certainly does would not include potential future transfers. Receivers go from a (Grade) A to a C in my opinion as it exists. QB goes from A to C in my opinion. Running backs stay as strong. TE goes from A-/B+ to C-ish. Offensive line hopefully remains as strong.

The defensive line goes from A+ to B. Defensive backs might will be similar

Special teams should be similar to next (Amos, Harry, etc.)

I did not feel this way following the 2016 & 2018 season. I thought we were going to be better on paper. Following 2017 I thought there would be a fall off (and there was), but not as much as this year.

It's going to require a very good coaching job by Cig to get this team into a top 4 seed this year.

BDK or someone else - go position to position and see if you think it will be better, the same, or worse this year?

Polk
Stapleton
Stapleton
Ben
Mac

On offense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

Daka
Carter
Holloway
Smith
Robinson

On defense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

I like the Minnesota transfer defensive lineman Abi N-Okonji, but at this point he's not played any meaningful downs in college, so fingers crossed.

To me it's just being realistic. I'm not saying we will have a losing season. I'd probably put us in the likely 7-10 range nationally, but who's the QB, the receivers? I think of the 10 players I listed above, the players we are currently projected to take their spot are a significant step back. I see this team being 7-10 points a game worse than this year's team.

(01-14-2020 10:38 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:10 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 02:52 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 05:55 PM)JMU85 Wrote:  I would prefer to play UNC the 1st week instead of a conference game in week 1 though.

Can you imagine what Delaware is saying to themselves about their week 1. I know we graduated a bunch of guys but they have to play at Bridgeforth against JMU. That’s a very tall order for them and a game that I don’t think will even be close.

Week one will be an interesting & telling week for us in my opinion.

I would not bet the mortgage on this game. If we were to lose week one at home to UD it could change the outlook for both teams. They are already focusing on us, no doubt. We are not them. If anything most are probably focused on UNC.

I know Sandy and folks believe we'll always be as good each year, but I think next year will be a drop off from the prior 4. Now if we picked up a game changing transfer at QB (like Vad Lee), and perhaps "another" successful stud along the defensive front, as well as another Polk caliber receiver. The roster as it presently exists for next year will be materially weaker than the prior 4 years based on returning players.

Just a lot more unknowns/holes than the prior 4 years.

Disagree. If the positions you’ve outlined as transfers fill in (and some have already signed) I don’t see the team’s returning players being weaker, “materially” or otherwise. OL and interior DL are the same. Amos is at S. Kickers and returners are the same. Are you trying to sandbag everyone?

As it exists certainly does would not include potential future transfers. Receivers go from a (Grade) A to a C in my opinion as it exists. QB goes from A to C in my opinion. Running backs stay as strong. TE goes from A-/B+ to C-ish. Offensive line hopefully remains as strong.

The defensive line goes from A+ to B. Defensive backs might will be similar

Special teams should be similar to next (Amos, Harry, etc.)

I did not feel this way following the 2016 & 2018 season. I thought we were going to be better on paper. Following 2017 I thought there would be a fall off (and there was), but not as much as this year.

It's going to require a very good coaching job by Cig to get this team into a top 4 seed this year.

BDK or someone else - go position to position and see if you think it will be better, the same, or worse this year?

Polk
Stapleton
Stapleton
Ben
Mac

On offense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

Daka
Carter
Holloway
Smith
Robinson

On defense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

I like the Minnesota transfer defensive lineman Abi N-Okonji, but at this point he's not played any meaningful downs in college, so fingers crossed.

To me it's just being realistic. I'm not saying we will have a losing season. I'd probably put us in the likely 7-10 range nationally, but who's the QB, the receivers? I think of the 10 players I listed above, the players we are currently projected to take their spot are a significant step back. I see this team being 7-10 points a game worse than this year's team.

"As it exists" doesn't account for all the Freshman players and the other transfers that just signed with us. How about those 2nd year guys that were redshirted or didn't see the light of day. Guys like Ayamel who many believed was the best guy in the entire class. Youth doesn't always mean the team is worse. Jalen Green didn't get much time due to how good Carter and Daka were, but he may not be that much of a step down.
I agree that we are losing some big players. But Cignetti is not a guy that will settle for rebuilding. He is fully aware at JMU rebuilding is not on the table. His expectation is to return to the championship next year.
Cignetti isn't going to accept a step back, that's for sure. If there's a position where he feels we need help, he'll bring in someone to fill that need.
It does seem hard to believe we'll be better, but let's face it: this team wasn't perfect. There were plenty of times where this team could have played better. We started games slow. Special teams struggled. While we only lost 1 game, we could have played better.
This coaching staff is only in year 2. I don't think it's impossible to think this team could be better. More youth? Sure, but youth doesn't mean the cupboard is bare.
We're going to be fine.

(01-14-2020 10:59 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 10:38 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:10 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 02:52 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Can you imagine what Delaware is saying to themselves about their week 1. I know we graduated a bunch of guys but they have to play at Bridgeforth against JMU. That’s a very tall order for them and a game that I don’t think will even be close.

Week one will be an interesting & telling week for us in my opinion.

I would not bet the mortgage on this game. If we were to lose week one at home to UD it could change the outlook for both teams. They are already focusing on us, no doubt. We are not them. If anything most are probably focused on UNC.

I know Sandy and folks believe we'll always be as good each year, but I think next year will be a drop off from the prior 4. Now if we picked up a game changing transfer at QB (like Vad Lee), and perhaps "another" successful stud along the defensive front, as well as another Polk caliber receiver. The roster as it presently exists for next year will be materially weaker than the prior 4 years based on returning players.

Just a lot more unknowns/holes than the prior 4 years.

Disagree. If the positions you’ve outlined as transfers fill in (and some have already signed) I don’t see the team’s returning players being weaker, “materially” or otherwise. OL and interior DL are the same. Amos is at S. Kickers and returners are the same. Are you trying to sandbag everyone?

As it exists certainly does would not include potential future transfers. Receivers go from a (Grade) A to a C in my opinion as it exists. QB goes from A to C in my opinion. Running backs stay as strong. TE goes from A-/B+ to C-ish. Offensive line hopefully remains as strong.

The defensive line goes from A+ to B. Defensive backs might will be similar

Special teams should be similar to next (Amos, Harry, etc.)

I did not feel this way following the 2016 & 2018 season. I thought we were going to be better on paper. Following 2017 I thought there would be a fall off (and there was), but not as much as this year.

It's going to require a very good coaching job by Cig to get this team into a top 4 seed this year.

BDK or someone else - go position to position and see if you think it will be better, the same, or worse this year?

Polk
Stapleton
Stapleton
Ben
Mac

On offense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

Daka
Carter
Holloway
Smith
Robinson

On defense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

I like the Minnesota transfer defensive lineman Abi N-Okonji, but at this point he's not played any meaningful downs in college, so fingers crossed.

To me it's just being realistic. I'm not saying we will have a losing season. I'd probably put us in the likely 7-10 range nationally, but who's the QB, the receivers? I think of the 10 players I listed above, the players we are currently projected to take their spot are a significant step back. I see this team being 7-10 points a game worse than this year's team.

"As it exists" doesn't account for all the Freshman players and the other transfers that just signed with us. How about those 2nd year guys that were redshirted or didn't see the light of day. Guys like Ayamel who many believed was the best guy in the entire class. Youth doesn't always mean the team is worse. Jalen Green didn't get much time due to how good Carter and Daka were, but he may not be that much of a step down.
I agree that we are losing some big players. But Cignetti is not a guy that will settle for rebuilding. He is fully aware at JMU rebuilding is not on the table. His expectation is to return to the championship next year.
Cignetti isn't going to accept a step back, that's for sure. If there's a position where he feels we need help, he'll bring in someone to fill that need.
It does seem hard to believe we'll be better, but let's face it: this team wasn't perfect. There were plenty of times where this team could have played better. We started games slow. Special teams struggled. While we only lost 1 game, we could have played better.
This coaching staff is only in year 2. I don't think it's impossible to think this team could be better. More youth? Sure, but youth doesn't mean the cupboard is bare.
We're going to be fine.

There was no bigger fan of signing Green than me. I started a thread about him before the season started. I talked about after hiring Cig the one recruit by far I wanted to make sure he kept was Green. I've probably posted over 30 times about him. That said the reason he did not play him or rotate him in this year is because he was a big step down from what played this year. Green is one of the players I wished he had rotated in more, but he apparently felt we has too big of a step behind the current Seniors.

Cig took the most stacked team JMU has ever had to the NC. Certainly a solid year. This will be a MUCH more challenging situation this year - at least it will be in my opinion.

Out of curiosity is anyone claiming that next year's current returning team is as strong as any of the prior 3 year returning teams?

The 2018 team was losing a lot and had a lot of question marks, I’d probably say more than this team. No doubt the 2017 and 2019 Dukes felt like a much safer bet at this point than the 2020 Dukes do.

2018 we were losing Schor, Cardon, Alls, Miller, Kloo, Hyman, Green, Hawkins, Jordan Brown, Hereford, Stinnie, Simeyon Robinson, Ankrah, Urquhart... Only thing to instill more confidence that year was that we were coming off back to back appearances in Frisco and what felt like it should’ve been back to back championships, and we still had the same coach that took us to those. Roster wise I’d say there’s more to feel good about this year even before any transfers that might be on the way. Before Saturday I also would’ve said I feel like we have a better coach but I’m not so sure I feel that way right now.

Of course 2018 was a massive disappointment so saying we’re better off than then only means so much. Hard to tell how things might’ve gone if Houston hadn’t checked out early though. I don’t think that team was beating NDSU, but I do think they were capable of getting there. Just nowhere near the slam dunk that 2016, 2017, and 2019 should’ve been(and were).

(01-13-2020 01:27 PM)WeAreThePride Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 05:14 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Meh. Can we just move to FBS already. Based on the last couple of posts all anyone is playing for is a conference title anyway.

(01-13-2020 11:41 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 11:13 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 11:04 PM)Ike N. Berry Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 10:45 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  I wish NDSU went FBS.... sigh.

Pardon my ignorance but is that on their radar at all? Maybe as a football-only member somewhere?

I'd say 30-40% of the fanbase wants FBS.
Alot of small town north dakota people think being top dog is the coolest thing ever.

President & AD have said they don't want to move up unless something breaks apart with the power 5 and G 5.

Personally Ive been pushing hard for it since Carson Wentz days! I think the President is close to retirement age and the AD is from Stony Brook and just happy to be here.... so there's not motivation for those 2.

if Mountain West gave us an Invite tomorrow or the American NDSU would say YES right away.

Mac or SunBelt probably not.

Stadium is 19,000 so it meets fbs requirement, but if NDSU built a 30k on campus stadium it would help.
Football Only would probably work easier since travel costs will be biggest deterrant

At what point are the fans/supporters ok with being the big fish in a little pond?

Even our fan base is getting tired of beating up on teams throughout the season. At what point does "how much are we going to beat them by" stop being fun? So assume NDSU has 13 championships is 14 years, I believe some of the pride starts to decline when everyone knows you're playing "down"?

Looks to me like you're the second biggest fish in the pond.

You are correct. NDSU is a very big fish in a little pond, has been for 10 years. JMU is a big fish, not as big as NDSU in that same pond but for a shorter period of time. NDSU has very good reasons for staying FCS, JMU's market is much different and doesn't have the same reasons to remain FCS long term.

Everyone that follows FCS football knows that each year there's only a small handful of teams that have a chance at slaying the FCS giant. For ME: If the tables were turned, JMU being the giant, I don't think I would enjoy the game as much. Close games are a lot more fun that going into a game knowing your going to blow them out by the half.

(01-14-2020 11:26 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 10:59 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 10:38 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:24 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(01-14-2020 09:10 AM)Dukester Wrote:  Week one will be an interesting & telling week for us in my opinion.

I would not bet the mortgage on this game. If we were to lose week one at home to UD it could change the outlook for both teams. They are already focusing on us, no doubt. We are not them. If anything most are probably focused on UNC.

I know Sandy and folks believe we'll always be as good each year, but I think next year will be a drop off from the prior 4. Now if we picked up a game changing transfer at QB (like Vad Lee), and perhaps "another" successful stud along the defensive front, as well as another Polk caliber receiver. The roster as it presently exists for next year will be materially weaker than the prior 4 years based on returning players.

Just a lot more unknowns/holes than the prior 4 years.

Disagree. If the positions you’ve outlined as transfers fill in (and some have already signed) I don’t see the team’s returning players being weaker, “materially” or otherwise. OL and interior DL are the same. Amos is at S. Kickers and returners are the same. Are you trying to sandbag everyone?

As it exists certainly does would not include potential future transfers. Receivers go from a (Grade) A to a C in my opinion as it exists. QB goes from A to C in my opinion. Running backs stay as strong. TE goes from A-/B+ to C-ish. Offensive line hopefully remains as strong.

The defensive line goes from A+ to B. Defensive backs might will be similar

Special teams should be similar to next (Amos, Harry, etc.)

I did not feel this way following the 2016 & 2018 season. I thought we were going to be better on paper. Following 2017 I thought there would be a fall off (and there was), but not as much as this year.

It's going to require a very good coaching job by Cig to get this team into a top 4 seed this year.

BDK or someone else - go position to position and see if you think it will be better, the same, or worse this year?

Polk
Stapleton
Stapleton
Ben
Mac

On offense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

Daka
Carter
Holloway
Smith
Robinson

On defense all 5 of those positions will step back a decent amount with the current roster.

I like the Minnesota transfer defensive lineman Abi N-Okonji, but at this point he's not played any meaningful downs in college, so fingers crossed.

To me it's just being realistic. I'm not saying we will have a losing season. I'd probably put us in the likely 7-10 range nationally, but who's the QB, the receivers? I think of the 10 players I listed above, the players we are currently projected to take their spot are a significant step back. I see this team being 7-10 points a game worse than this year's team.

"As it exists" doesn't account for all the Freshman players and the other transfers that just signed with us. How about those 2nd year guys that were redshirted or didn't see the light of day. Guys like Ayamel who many believed was the best guy in the entire class. Youth doesn't always mean the team is worse. Jalen Green didn't get much time due to how good Carter and Daka were, but he may not be that much of a step down.
I agree that we are losing some big players. But Cignetti is not a guy that will settle for rebuilding. He is fully aware at JMU rebuilding is not on the table. His expectation is to return to the championship next year.
Cignetti isn't going to accept a step back, that's for sure. If there's a position where he feels we need help, he'll bring in someone to fill that need.
It does seem hard to believe we'll be better, but let's face it: this team wasn't perfect. There were plenty of times where this team could have played better. We started games slow. Special teams struggled. While we only lost 1 game, we could have played better.
This coaching staff is only in year 2. I don't think it's impossible to think this team could be better. More youth? Sure, but youth doesn't mean the cupboard is bare.
We're going to be fine.

There was no bigger fan of signing Green than me. I started a thread about him before the season started. I talked about after hiring Cig the one recruit by far I wanted to make sure he kept was Green. I've probably posted over 30 times about him. That said the reason he did not play him or rotate him in this year is because he was a big step down from what played this year. Green is one of the players I wished he had rotated in more, but he apparently felt we has too big of a step behind the current Seniors.

Cig took the most stacked team JMU has ever had to the NC. Certainly a solid year. This will be a MUCH more challenging situation this year - at least it will be in my opinion.

Out of curiosity is anyone claiming that next year's current returning team is as strong as any of the prior 3 year returning teams?

I definitely am not saying that right now. Could we be saying it next year? Perhaps. They could end up being a stronger "team" but it's complete speculation at this point. We have no idea what could happen. Who knows, we could be starting a Sophmore or even a Freshman at some positions and they could be incredible.
All I'm saying is that there are a lot of unknowns that could make next year's team stronger than any of us could think they would be right now. And also a chance we could say next year's team is the best team we've ever had. It's not impossible.
The cupboard isn't as bare as it might feel.

(01-14-2020 11:44 AM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  The 2018 team was losing a lot and had a lot of question marks, I’d probably say more than this team. No doubt the 2017 and 2019 Dukes felt like a much safer bet at this point than the 2020 Dukes do.

2018 we were losing Schor, Cardon, Alls, Miller, Kloo, Hyman, Green, Hawkins, Jordan Brown, Hereford, Stinnie, Simeyon Robinson, Ankrah, Urquhart... Only thing to instill more confidence that year was that we were coming off back to back appearances in Frisco and what felt like it should’ve been back to back championships, and we still had the same coach that took us to those. Roster wise I’d say there’s more to feel good about this year even before any transfers that might be on the way. Before Saturday I also would’ve said I feel like we have a better coach but I’m not so sure I feel that way right now.

Of course 2018 was a massive disappointment so saying we’re better off than then only means so much. Hard to tell how things might’ve gone if Houston hadn’t checked out early though. I don’t think that team was beating NDSU, but I do think they were capable of getting there. Just nowhere near the slam dunk that 2016, 2017, and 2019 should’ve been(and were).

I agree with the assessment....i think better (certainly not worse) than in 2018.

Too much gloom and doom....this is the nature of college athletics.....the next group of key contributors are guys you hardly knew last year.

(01-14-2020 11:47 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(01-13-2020 01:27 PM)WeAreThePride Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 05:14 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Meh. Can we just move to FBS already. Based on the last couple of posts all anyone is playing for is a conference title anyway.

(01-13-2020 11:41 AM)RamDawg Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 11:13 PM)lakesbison Wrote:  

(01-11-2020 11:04 PM)Ike N. Berry Wrote:  Pardon my ignorance but is that on their radar at all? Maybe as a football-only member somewhere?

I'd say 30-40% of the fanbase wants FBS.
Alot of small town north dakota people think being top dog is the coolest thing ever.

President & AD have said they don't want to move up unless something breaks apart with the power 5 and G 5.

Personally Ive been pushing hard for it since Carson Wentz days! I think the President is close to retirement age and the AD is from Stony Brook and just happy to be here.... so there's not motivation for those 2.

if Mountain West gave us an Invite tomorrow or the American NDSU would say YES right away.

Mac or SunBelt probably not.

Stadium is 19,000 so it meets fbs requirement, but if NDSU built a 30k on campus stadium it would help.
Football Only would probably work easier since travel costs will be biggest deterrant

At what point are the fans/supporters ok with being the big fish in a little pond?

Even our fan base is getting tired of beating up on teams throughout the season. At what point does "how much are we going to beat them by" stop being fun? So assume NDSU has 13 championships is 14 years, I believe some of the pride starts to decline when everyone knows you're playing "down"?

Looks to me like you're the second biggest fish in the pond.

You are correct. NDSU is a very big fish in a little pond, has been for 10 years. JMU is a big fish, not as big as NDSU in that same pond but for a shorter period of time. NDSU has very good reasons for staying FCS, JMU's market is much different and doesn't have the same reasons to remain FCS long term.

Everyone that follows FCS football knows that each year there's only a small handful of teams that have a chance at slaying the FCS giant. For ME: If the tables were turned, JMU being the giant, I don't think I would enjoy the game as much. Close games are a lot more fun that going into a game knowing your going to blow them out by the half.

So winning gets old.........sorry I just don't get that one.

It seems like an odd, unique JMU fanbase.........
- Gripe about beating teams too much
- Gripe about by not beating teams by enough
- Gripe when they lose a close game

It is hard to find the sweet spot with some in this fanbase, smh