I m starting to believe if the Belt stays in tact Marshall and USM are going to join

(09-15-2021 03:20 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  I m starting to believe if the Belt stays in tact Marshall and USM are going to join

It feels like the Sunbelt has a plan and everyone is just waiting to make sure that there is no out of left field surprises with the AAC expansion.

(09-15-2021 03:20 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  I m starting to believe if the Belt stays in tact Marshall and USM are going to join

If the Belt stays in tact I hope your right.

If that scenario is true I guess the next question is if we stop at 12 or go to 14

14 team league and depending on the adds, you could possibly have two rivals you play every year then rotate between games. Top 2 in league go to championship game. Leave the divisions for Olympic sports.

(09-15-2021 03:20 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  I m starting to believe if the Belt stays in tact Marshall and USM are going to join

I believe this is a very accurate statement either way. No one wants to remain in C-USA.

(09-15-2021 03:35 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  If that scenario is true I guess the next question is if we stop at 12 or go to 14

I honestly don't see how more than 12 is sustainable for a Gang of 5 conference with non-Power Conference revenue. That has largely been one of Conference USA's problems, but that will soon be alleviated.

I suspect the Mountain West will stay at 12 while the AAC, and Sun Belt will go to 12 while CUSA adds New Mexico State or Liberty to go to 10.

(09-15-2021 03:35 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  If that scenario is true I guess the next question is if we stop at 12 or go to 14

. .. speaking for myself, 12 FB playing members sounds about right, cut LR and UTA loose. I know it’s a different time, but how’d those bigger conferences ( looking at you WAC and you CUSA ) work out in the long run? I’ve long heard CUSA members complain about the number of mouths they have to feed . . .

. . .. go to 12 . . you can always add bodies later should the need and/or financial incentives be there.

I am inclined to agree about 12– in fb play the other 5 division teams every year and 3 cross division games

(09-13-2021 08:35 PM)IslandHerd1 Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 08:00 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 07:34 PM)IslandHerd1 Wrote:  In fact 81 through VA until Front Royal is the most beautiful highway in the US.

That’s a bold statement…and it’s not because you didn’t include Louisiana into your fantasy lineup…lol

I’ve driven everywhere, spent my childhood summers down in Gonzales, La and Grand Isle, La by the way.

Spring/Fall on 81 in VA is breathtaking, not to mention Skyline Drive/Shenandoah NP > than Blue Ridge Pkwy

Louisiana and La Tech both were in my hopeful future conference, and after seeing the fans go at each other on here from both schools im convinced it would be a must see every season. LT talks a lot of **** and I’m glad Marshall football hasn’t let them cash in on it yet. For what it’s worth, couple season back we had LT at home, it was cold as hell and I was right behind the LT bench, they started mouthing off to the fans and I let em have it pretty good; even had an assistant coach talking **** to our section. Saltiness makes CFB better IMO.

Have you ever been to the Monongahela NF?

[/quote]

If the G5 can pull off reducing to a G4 though that would give additional leverage with TV networks for everyone involved.

SBC (Marshall, ODU, JMU, USM)-College towns.

LaTech is in a tough spot. If they do not get into the AAC and they won't go to the SBC they might not have anywhere to go.

Indy: NMSU, LaTech, Liberty, Umass, UConn
[/quote]

ODU and JMU should be either or and not both. UTSA in the west instead of one of ODU/JMU. Go to a 9 game conference schedule so you don’t get stuck playing one team once a decade.

(09-15-2021 03:15 PM)rokamortis Wrote:  

it is imperative we convince Marshall as well if we really want to make a run at top G5 conference.

(09-15-2021 04:05 PM)ballantyneapp Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 03:15 PM)rokamortis Wrote:  

it is imperative we convince Marshall as well if we really want to make a run at top G5 conference.

Boys, I think the only thing that keeps the Herd out is an AAC invite.

(09-13-2021 08:35 PM)IslandHerd1 Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 08:00 PM)Big Buds Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 07:34 PM)IslandHerd1 Wrote:  In fact 81 through VA until Front Royal is the most beautiful highway in the US.

That’s a bold statement…and it’s not because you didn’t include Louisiana into your fantasy lineup…lol

I’ve driven everywhere, spent my childhood summers down in Gonzales, La and Grand Isle, La by the way.

Spring/Fall on 81 in VA is breathtaking, not to mention Skyline Drive/Shenandoah NP > than Blue Ridge Pkwy

Louisiana and La Tech both were in my hopeful future conference, and after seeing the fans go at each other on here from both schools im convinced it would be a must see every season. LT talks a lot of **** and I’m glad Marshall football hasn’t let them cash in on it yet. For what it’s worth, couple season back we had LT at home, it was cold as hell and I was right behind the LT bench, they started mouthing off to the fans and I let em have it pretty good; even had an assistant coach talking **** to our section. Saltiness makes CFB better IMO.

I agree it is easily a must drive for that time of the year. Did some work up in that part of the country roughly 10 years ago.

Louisiana / Louisiana Tech should be an annual game. Too bad they don’t return the calls we make. I wouldn’t piss on those dog killers if they were on fire.

(09-15-2021 04:21 PM)Superanjario Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 04:05 PM)ballantyneapp Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 03:15 PM)rokamortis Wrote:  

it is imperative we convince Marshall as well if we really want to make a run at top G5 conference.

Boys, I think the only thing that keeps the Herd out is an AAC invite.

Or possibly App taking an AAC invite

Apparently the CUSA exit fee is 6 mil and the Belt entry fee is 2 mil. So 8 mil to go from CUSA to the Belt. That s a chunk of change. The Belt can probably work something out on the entry fee but I assuming Marshall or USM would have to come up with 6 mil

(09-15-2021 05:14 PM)GaSoEagle Wrote:  Apparently the CUSA exit fee is 6 mil and the Belt entry fee is 2 mil. So 8 mil to go from CUSA to the Belt. That s a chunk of change. The Belt can probably work something out on the entry fee but I assuming Marshall or USM would have to come up with 6 mil

I know they won’t but the SBC should just waive the entry fee for any C-USA school that would add value and is open to the switch.

(09-15-2021 01:42 PM)2Buck Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 10:25 AM)ericsaid Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 09:06 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 09:00 AM)ODUalum78 Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 08:56 AM)mturn017 Wrote:  This is probably just one of many possibilities being thrown around. Journalists are likely hearing a lot of the same rumors but are less likely to print them until there’s more certainty. A guy on a message board or Twitter who knows a big time donor at those school who was told that their buddy was told that something might happen will write it down as a lock. Somethings going to happen, no doubt about that. When it gets closer to settled we’ll start hearing the leaks from more reliable sources.

The "source" was a suspect anonymous Twitter account, #JMUGameday.
It appears that the information is basically a compilation of speculation from the JMU CSNBBS boards.

I don't believe that JMU is going to move up.

JMU has a huge (for FCS) athletic budget that has very little room for reallocation or manipulation. Audited athletic expenditures in 2020 were $34,145,928.
It is already at the minimum number of sports programs allowed for participation in Div 1, so there is really nowhere to cut expenditures.
A move up would require exit and entrance fees(could be waived), more travel expenses, more scholarships, and more coaches/support staff(football). This would also have the effect of introducing Title IX issues, which could lead to significantly greater expenses.

Further, Virginia law (the Cox Bill) would require JMU to decrease it's reliance on student fees. Presently it relies on student fees to fund about 70% of it's athletic budget.
It would have to reduce that to 55% under the proscriptions of the Cox Bill.

Like most of us, JMU had a Covid related athletic revenue shortfall, $5.5 million in 2020.

JMU has a sweet deal in FCS as one of less than a handful dominant football programs. I suspect the the majority of casual fans, alumni, and the admininstration/BOV are perfectly satisfied with the status quo.

In any event, Virginia law (Cox) requires legislative approval for a program to move up from FCS to FBS, so we will know in advance if anything is coming.

You've parrotted this line for years. The people within the JMU AD are not worried about the Cox bill and say it is a non issue. But please, keep the record spinning if it makes you feel good.

Also, you forgot your beloved

You didn't really rebut anything that was said...

Well, most JMU fans probably feel those statements are so inaccurate they're not worth addressing.

JMU puts certain expenditures under athletics budget that most schools don't. To address the Cox Bill the vast majority of gap would be addressed by simply moving certain expenses to a more traditional (ie FBS) classifications.

JMU isn't rolling in cash, but if you look at our campus and facilities you'll see we've been spending money hand over fist on doubling the size of the school over the last couple decades. We're positioned very well for a G5 (even AAC level) move financially, have been for years.

Most JMU fans have wanted to move out of the CAA for years and up to the FBS level. Not many other "half FBS" stadiums laying around, but that was done with the vision of expanding seating to 40,000+ fans. Even the JMU FCS diehards couldn't possibly think we'd draw that many while still playing at a third tier.

There is nothing inaccurate whatsoever in what I posted. Like any Virginia state college or university, your P and L is an open book (as is ours) for any and all to see.

I am not sure what "traditional FBS" classifications are, but in Virginia (and Tennessee I believe) you cannot "hide" funds under classifications like "general student fund". In Va every penny used by athletics must be accounted for and posted.

If you reclassify the Marching Band and the cheerleaders ( you may need them for Title 9) you are just removing a line item. In Virginia you don't just "get" that money back.

You say you have wanted to go FBS for years, yet around 2014 you turned your only offer down, from this very SBC.

In any event, my figures are accurate as is my reference to the to Title 30 and Title 23-1.2 of the Virginia Code. I can provide links to support whichever part of my statement you feel is inaccurate.

(09-15-2021 04:21 PM)Superanjario Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 04:05 PM)ballantyneapp Wrote:  

(09-15-2021 03:15 PM)rokamortis Wrote:  

it is imperative we convince Marshall as well if we really want to make a run at top G5 conference.

Boys, I think the only thing that keeps the Herd out is an AAC invite.

I agree. If we don't get the AAC invite then I think we will be in the SBC soon.