Ok, so college football is my favorite sport. I eat it up.....the internet talk, the preseason magazines, College Gameday, the huge BCS clashes. when I'm not watching JMU, my saturday's are spent watching other college football.

so, is anyone else beside me taking a much closer look at CUSA, SB and MACtion? I kind of glanced over those conferences in the preseason mags in the past, but i've been reading them word for word this year.

And I barely gave them a glance on TV in the past, but I'm completely looking forward to those Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri games this year to scout out some future conference mates.

Am I alone in this change of thinking?

DD, it is like buying a new car. You instantly find yourself noticing all of the like cars on the road! It is only natural that anyone on here that has an interest in joining one of the conferences would gain a new interest in any and all games played by those teams. Try it out, before you marry it!

I'm a big fan of Tuesday and Wednesday night MAC football, but I feel like we'd suffer from the same 1/2 attendance fate that they all seem to. I mean, would we really get more than 15000 people to a Wednesday night game against Toledo?

(07-31-2013 09:17 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I'm a big fan of Tuesday and Wednesday night MAC football, but I feel like we'd suffer from the same 1/2 attendance fate that they all seem to. I mean, would we really get more than 15000 people to a Wednesday night game against Toledo?

I actually think we would because we get a good student turnout.

our students love being on TV. You get 5,000 of them to show up, it won't be hard to get well over 10,000 others to attend.

I'd guess we'd be over 20k without a problem.

(07-31-2013 09:20 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 09:17 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  I'm a big fan of Tuesday and Wednesday night MAC football, but I feel like we'd suffer from the same 1/2 attendance fate that they all seem to. I mean, would we really get more than 15000 people to a Wednesday night game against Toledo?

I actually think we would because we get a good student turnout.

our students love being on TV. You get 5,000 of them to show up, it won't be hard to get well over 10,000 others to attend.

I'd guess we'd be over 20k without a problem.

I think there would be issues. I have make weekend trips for the games. A middle-week game would be harder for people that live a couple of hours away. They would be looking at having to take time off of work to do it.

I live in Charlotte, would hate them if they were home games, would love them if they were away games. I believe this would be somewhat true of most people who have season tickets live in excess of 4 hours from the 'Burg.

tuesday/wednesday/thursday games <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Saturday games.

there's just no comparison. none. at all.

(07-31-2013 09:01 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  Ok, so college football is my favorite sport. I eat it up.....the internet talk, the preseason magazines, College Gameday, the huge BCS clashes. when I'm not watching JMU, my saturday's are spent watching other college football.

so, is anyone else beside me taking a much closer look at CUSA, SB and MACtion? I kind of glanced over those conferences in the preseason mags in the past, but i've been reading them word for word this year.

And I barely gave them a glance on TV in the past, but I'm completely looking forward to those Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri games this year to scout out some future conference mates.

Am I alone in this change of thinking?

This sums it up for me too. Definitely extra attention this year. Always liked watching the midweek games, though I wouldn't care for them for us.

(07-31-2013 10:04 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  tuesday/wednesday/thursday games <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Saturday games.

there's just no comparison. none. at all.

Exactly.

Tailgate lots should be open at 8 AM- for ALL games.

before this gets entirely sidetracked regarding mid week games, I haven't spent any real time watching SB or MAC games other than the mid week games. As BSBK mentions though, now having somewhat of a rooting interest, I'll be paying a LOT closer attention this fall.

As far as the mid week games go, wouldn't we probably be ion the hook for a max of one home game a season. or so? It's not like they load up one school's home schedule with all the weekday games.

(07-31-2013 09:09 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  DD, it is like buying a new car. You instantly find yourself noticing all of the like cars on the road! It is only natural that anyone on here that has an interest in joining one of the conferences would gain a new interest in any and all games played by those teams. Try it out, before you marry it!

This marriage analogy is great.

Remaining in the CAA is like staying married to a woman after being told of three incidents of infidelity (VCU, ODU, GMU) and watching said wife eat junk food three meals a day and steadily gaining 110 pounds (Elon, Albany, Stony Brook).

At that point, one thinks to himself; "I'm screwed, I just bought an expensive house (BFS) and I already have 4 kids (Olympic Sports). On top of it all, the ***** knows she can't get a good job but my salary can support it all (student fees) but we have nothing left for savings or room to grow.

Add to the mix what happened last week while on vacation (CAA Media Day) I was berated in front of my family; (CAA members)... "go ahead leave me, you can't get any better (Bowls) and that hussy flirting with you (CUSA) is nothing but the expectation of more expensive vacations (1A travel)"

Oh' #### it! I'll stop exercising and get fat myself, nobody cares, why should I care?

In addition to watching all of JMU's recorded televised games, all of the other recorded televised CAA games, a few of the major BCS clashes, some of the Chokies and UVGay (I was born & raised in Va), some Navy games (connection), I don't have the time nor the inclination to watch games from 3 non BCS conferences, one of which JMU MIGHT join, that I have zero interest in. IF/WHEN JMU announces that they are joining one of those said conferences then I might watch some games from that said conference.

(07-31-2013 10:04 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  tuesday/wednesday/thursday games <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Saturday games.

there's just no comparison. none. at all.

Saturday football is fun when people care about it.

I came to a JMU game back in 2001, before all the hype over football, and while the game was on Saturday, no one cared. If at the end of the day we stay CAA, people are going to slowly not care about going as much. Its won't be because they dont love JMU any less but its hard to buy into a water downed FCS product.

I am all about not playing during the week but I will take the OCCASIONAL weekday game (lets not be over dramatic and pretend like week day games become the norm) vs. staying in the CAA and watch our attendance numbers slowly drop to around sub-12,000 fans.

(07-31-2013 12:14 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 10:04 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  tuesday/wednesday/thursday games <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Saturday games.

there's just no comparison. none. at all.

Saturday football is fun when people care about it.

I came to a JMU game back in 2001, before all the hype over football, and while the game was on Saturday, no one cared. If at the end of the day we stay CAA, people are going to slowly not care about going as much. Its won't be because they dont love JMU any less but its hard to buy into a water downed FCS product.

I am all about not playing during the week but I will take the OCCASIONAL weekday game (lets not be over dramatic and pretend like week day games become the norm) vs. staying in the CAA and watch our attendance numbers slowly drop to around sub-12,000 fans.

Talk about being overdramatic. The only way JMU's attendance drops to under 12k fans is if JMU turned in multiple 0 to 4 win seasons in row.

JMU could stay in IAA and if were 7+ wins every season and making the playoffs
every season attendance would stay above 20k.

(07-31-2013 12:26 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 12:14 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 10:04 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  tuesday/wednesday/thursday games <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Saturday games.

there's just no comparison. none. at all.

Saturday football is fun when people care about it.

I came to a JMU game back in 2001, before all the hype over football, and while the game was on Saturday, no one cared. If at the end of the day we stay CAA, people are going to slowly not care about going as much. Its won't be because they dont love JMU any less but its hard to buy into a water downed FCS product.

I am all about not playing during the week but I will take the OCCASIONAL weekday game (lets not be over dramatic and pretend like week day games become the norm) vs. staying in the CAA and watch our attendance numbers slowly drop to around sub-12,000 fans.

Talk about being overdramatic. The only way JMU's attendance drops to under 12k fans is if JMU turned in multiple 0 to 4 win seasons in row.

JMU could stay in IAA and if were 7+ wins every season and making the playoffs
every season attendance would stay above 20k.

I'm with Dolley, staying in the CAA = 11,000 - 12,000 average pumped up by the fish in a barrel parents-weekend. The fcs model very rarely supports 20,000+ sans being in the middle of nowhere and you're literally the only game in town. In addition, the 20,000 have to be locals.... too many JMU fans travel to games for the only game in town variable to work.

This year may tell the tale...CCSU, St. Francis, Albany, Charlotte...ugh.

Not sure I see 12-14 thou, but definitely can see below 20.

I doubt I would make midweek games at all. Too many other commitments during the week. Even getting out on Fridays for the playoff games was a challenge.

I am certainly not a college football junkie. I watch the Dukes and follow the CAA. I care nothing about anything else in college football with the exception of a particularly juicy betting line at times. That -70 at Florida State last year being a prime example... and I would have lost that if it had not been stopped for rain! Otherwise it is NFL and NHL for me. I do watch the occasional Saturday night game if I happen to be home and the matchup looks interesting, but overall I ignore any sport that does not have some sort of playoff or tournament format. Well, with the single exception of NA$CAR I guess. I actually stopped watching that when they went to that stupid chase crap.

(07-31-2013 12:26 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 12:14 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(07-31-2013 10:04 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  tuesday/wednesday/thursday games <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Saturday games.

there's just no comparison. none. at all.

Saturday football is fun when people care about it.

I came to a JMU game back in 2001, before all the hype over football, and while the game was on Saturday, no one cared. If at the end of the day we stay CAA, people are going to slowly not care about going as much. Its won't be because they dont love JMU any less but its hard to buy into a water downed FCS product.

I am all about not playing during the week but I will take the OCCASIONAL weekday game (lets not be over dramatic and pretend like week day games become the norm) vs. staying in the CAA and watch our attendance numbers slowly drop to around sub-12,000 fans.

Talk about being overdramatic. The only way JMU's attendance drops to under 12k fans is if JMU turned in multiple 0 to 4 win seasons in row.

JMU could stay in IAA and if were 7+ wins every season and making the playoffs
every season attendance would stay above 20k.

Completely agree. Winning draws the fans, regardless of classification, and the notion that a winning JMU team that remained in FCS would see attendance atrophy to sub 12k is frankly, stupid.

(07-31-2013 12:53 PM)jmu82 Wrote:  This year may tell the tale...CCSU, St. Francis, Albany, Charlotte...ugh.

Not sure I see 12-14 thou, but definitely can see below 20.

Not worried about the opener (St. Franks) or Charlotte (believe they will travel well and will generate sufficient interest). Albany is Family weekend which takes care of itself. I think the game of most concern attendance-wise is CCSU. But we do have one thing going for us: UVA, Tech and Maryland are all playing on the road that weekend. No excuses for FBS loyalists, split allegiance households or having to go to a game w/ a client.

Sorry, my assumption was based on the other 97% of FCS schools that are averaging below 20,000 fans.

Some of you sound like JMU basketball fans in the 80's and 90's scoffing at anyone that would ever dare suggest JMU basketball would only average 2-3k fans a game.

The more FBS gets watered down with these schools moving up, the even less FCS schools will be respected nationally. On top of that, we now have 3 FBS schools (soon to be 4 with Liberty) competing for time in the media spot light.

Maybe 12,000 was to low (maybe it wasn't) but it won't be long until we are backing to averaging under 15k if we stay in the CAA.