(09-16-2021 07:50 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I hope the AAC trying to expand to the pacific exposes the AAC and its commissioner as desperate and on of the verge of collapse while Appy, JMU, ODU and Marshall arm locked head straight to the SBC and in the future take every opportunity to mercilessly beat the hell out of east coast AAC teams with ECU as the primary target of ***** whippings.

(09-16-2021 08:11 PM)olddawg Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 07:36 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:00 PM)White Hall Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:18 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 11:36 AM)2Buck Wrote:  There is no App St/Marshall/ODU/JMU alliance or block. There's no way any one of those schools would turn down an opportunity beneficial to themselves to insist JMU has to be part of the deal.

We may, however if we're smart, be collaborating with them planting the seeds of JMU as a growth partner. We'd be in a stronger position if we were already FBS and succeeding (it's driving me crazy that a community college startup like Coastal has so much more leverage than us in the football conversations) but through familiarity, hopefully those 3 schools (and historically ODU in the past) are pimping us as much as possible.

Unfortunately, there's a very likely scenario of us being part of an AAC add in a group of 6-8 candidates but falling short due to only 2-4 slots. App St and Marshall at a minimum would be ahead of us in this "block", plus what other candidates might be out there like Rice, UAB, etc.

Just because the bloc (not "block," which is a cube) members are united for power and influence does not mean that they won't act unilaterally in their own interest. They must.

For example, if Marshall is offered a spot in the AAC and are told point-blank that no one else is invited, Marshall may say yes, but they will certainly wait to see where the rest of the bloc goes, which would almost certainly be the Belt. In that case, Marshall would likely go with JMU and ODU to the Belt, where App, Coastal, and the Georgias already reside. A lot also depends on what ESPN and their massive bankroll want.

I'm not saying that that is what I believe is happening. I actually believe that the AAC and Sun Belt are trying to offer all they can to entice the bloc into joining. The conference that loses that battle my dry up and blow away. A lot depends on if App and Coastal plan to stay put. The big lose in all of this, I believe, will be CUSA.

What makes the most sense to me is App and Coastal staying in the Belt, being joined by Marshall, JMU, and ODU. That would make one very strong division in the very best G5 conference and new de facto P6, the champion of which will almost certainly be a perennial CFP selectee.

Imagine going from FCS to CFP in one or two years. Very possible.

Worst case scenario: let’s say the report is partially correct and UAB and Boise St accept the AAC invite, which makes sense as it would be an upgrade for UAB and Boise St can hang out there for a couple of years until the Big 12 invite comes. Remember, there are reports of Boise not being happy with the MWC and vice versa so it would make sense for them to leave now. Now the AAC turns to its next group of targets, which include Marshall, App St., Coastal, and ODU and take some combination of two but not all four (and let’s say along with FAU and So. Miss or UNCC). JMU would definitely get the call up to the SB and CUSA then but both would be missing some of the regional rivalries that make the most sense. Our choices then would be watered down SB or CUSA or remaining in the CAA. Definitely possible. Ugh.

Yeah I'm a little nervous about something like this and wonder what the move would be at that point. If we're left with no invite except to the remnants of CUSA or Sun Belt with no App, Marshall, ODU then I would hope they say "ok let's weigh the options of that vs indy and take the better of the two options." If we stay CAA and wait for a better invite then that pretty much is just hoping and praying at that point imo.

Hopefully all of that is irrelevant and we get to land in a solid Sun Belt with at least one or two of App/Marshall/ODU, but some terrible scenario like that doesn't seem impossible and I sure hope we don't stay CAA if it happens.

In my mind, we would need to be convinced that two of the above 3 schools would be on board in whatever conference we join. The other one we could try to schedule home & home if not all 3 were in the same conference. Hopefully it still includes GA Southern and Coastal too. Charlotte would be a bonus. But if only one of ODU, Marshall and Appy were in our new conference, I'm not sure that accomplishes our goals. Your mileage may vary...

(09-16-2021 08:11 PM)olddawg Wrote:  In my mind, we would need to be convinced that two of the above 3 schools would be on board in whatever conference we join. The other one we could try to schedule home & home if not all 3 were in the same conference. Hopefully it still includes GA Southern and Coastal too. Charlotte would be a bonus. But if only one of ODU, Marshall and Appy were in our new conference, I'm not sure that accomplishes our goals. Your mileage may vary...

(09-16-2021 05:29 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:00 PM)White Hall Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:18 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 11:36 AM)2Buck Wrote:  There is no App St/Marshall/ODU/JMU alliance or block. There's no way any one of those schools would turn down an opportunity beneficial to themselves to insist JMU has to be part of the deal.

We may, however if we're smart, be collaborating with them planting the seeds of JMU as a growth partner. We'd be in a stronger position if we were already FBS and succeeding (it's driving me crazy that a community college startup like Coastal has so much more leverage than us in the football conversations) but through familiarity, hopefully those 3 schools (and historically ODU in the past) are pimping us as much as possible.

Unfortunately, there's a very likely scenario of us being part of an AAC add in a group of 6-8 candidates but falling short due to only 2-4 slots. App St and Marshall at a minimum would be ahead of us in this "block", plus what other candidates might be out there like Rice, UAB, etc.

Just because the bloc (not "block," which is a cube) members are united for power and influence does not mean that they won't act unilaterally in their own interest. They must.

For example, if Marshall is offered a spot in the AAC and are told point-blank that no one else is invited, Marshall may say yes, but they will certainly wait to see where the rest of the bloc goes, which would almost certainly be the Belt. In that case, Marshall would likely go with JMU and ODU to the Belt, where App, Coastal, and the Georgias already reside. A lot also depends on what ESPN and their massive bankroll want.

I'm not saying that that is what I believe is happening. I actually believe that the AAC and Sun Belt are trying to offer all they can to entice the bloc into joining. The conference that loses that battle my dry up and blow away. A lot depends on if App and Coastal plan to stay put. The big lose in all of this, I believe, will be CUSA.

What makes the most sense to me is App and Coastal staying in the Belt, being joined by Marshall, JMU, and ODU. That would make one very strong division in the very best G5 conference and new de facto P6, the champion of which will almost certainly be a perennial CFP selectee.

Imagine going from FCS to CFP in one or two years. Very possible.

Worst case scenario: let’s say the report is partially correct and UAB and Boise St accept the AAC invite, which makes sense as it would be an upgrade for UAB and Boise St can hang out there for a couple of years until the Big 12 invite comes. Remember, there are reports of Boise not being happy with the MWC and vice versa so it would make sense for them to leave now. Now the AAC turns to its next group of targets, which include Marshall, App St., Coastal, and ODU and take some combination of two but not all four (and let’s say along with FAU and So. Miss or UNCC). JMU would definitely get the call up to the SB and CUSA then but both would be missing some of the regional rivalries that make the most sense. Our choices then would be watered down SB or CUSA or remaining in the CAA. Definitely possible. Ugh.

Why would Boise moving make any sense? Exit fee from MW for what more in revenue from the American? Extra travel cost for what upside with the American? Schools don’t just hang out in a conference for a few years- this isn’t fantasy football. It’s a lark IMO just like the idea that the American was going to get a bunch of Big 12 schools to move to their conference.

(09-16-2021 09:05 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:29 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:00 PM)White Hall Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:18 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 11:36 AM)2Buck Wrote:  There is no App St/Marshall/ODU/JMU alliance or block. There's no way any one of those schools would turn down an opportunity beneficial to themselves to insist JMU has to be part of the deal.

We may, however if we're smart, be collaborating with them planting the seeds of JMU as a growth partner. We'd be in a stronger position if we were already FBS and succeeding (it's driving me crazy that a community college startup like Coastal has so much more leverage than us in the football conversations) but through familiarity, hopefully those 3 schools (and historically ODU in the past) are pimping us as much as possible.

Unfortunately, there's a very likely scenario of us being part of an AAC add in a group of 6-8 candidates but falling short due to only 2-4 slots. App St and Marshall at a minimum would be ahead of us in this "block", plus what other candidates might be out there like Rice, UAB, etc.

Just because the bloc (not "block," which is a cube) members are united for power and influence does not mean that they won't act unilaterally in their own interest. They must.

For example, if Marshall is offered a spot in the AAC and are told point-blank that no one else is invited, Marshall may say yes, but they will certainly wait to see where the rest of the bloc goes, which would almost certainly be the Belt. In that case, Marshall would likely go with JMU and ODU to the Belt, where App, Coastal, and the Georgias already reside. A lot also depends on what ESPN and their massive bankroll want.

I'm not saying that that is what I believe is happening. I actually believe that the AAC and Sun Belt are trying to offer all they can to entice the bloc into joining. The conference that loses that battle my dry up and blow away. A lot depends on if App and Coastal plan to stay put. The big lose in all of this, I believe, will be CUSA.

What makes the most sense to me is App and Coastal staying in the Belt, being joined by Marshall, JMU, and ODU. That would make one very strong division in the very best G5 conference and new de facto P6, the champion of which will almost certainly be a perennial CFP selectee.

Imagine going from FCS to CFP in one or two years. Very possible.

Worst case scenario: let’s say the report is partially correct and UAB and Boise St accept the AAC invite, which makes sense as it would be an upgrade for UAB and Boise St can hang out there for a couple of years until the Big 12 invite comes. Remember, there are reports of Boise not being happy with the MWC and vice versa so it would make sense for them to leave now. Now the AAC turns to its next group of targets, which include Marshall, App St., Coastal, and ODU and take some combination of two but not all four (and let’s say along with FAU and So. Miss or UNCC). JMU would definitely get the call up to the SB and CUSA then but both would be missing some of the regional rivalries that make the most sense. Our choices then would be watered down SB or CUSA or remaining in the CAA. Definitely possible. Ugh.

Why would Boise moving make any sense? Exit fee from MW for what more in revenue from the American? Extra travel cost for what upside with the American? Schools don’t just hang out in a conference for a few years- this isn’t fantasy football. It’s a lark IMO just like the idea that the American was going to get a bunch of Big 12 schools to move to their conference.

Agree
Aac posturing west because they know they may be Losing the east coast to the sunbelt
Aac is going to drop big time after this all shakes out IMO

(09-16-2021 09:28 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 09:05 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:29 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:00 PM)White Hall Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:18 PM)Purple Wrote:  Just because the bloc (not "block," which is a cube) members are united for power and influence does not mean that they won't act unilaterally in their own interest. They must.

For example, if Marshall is offered a spot in the AAC and are told point-blank that no one else is invited, Marshall may say yes, but they will certainly wait to see where the rest of the bloc goes, which would almost certainly be the Belt. In that case, Marshall would likely go with JMU and ODU to the Belt, where App, Coastal, and the Georgias already reside. A lot also depends on what ESPN and their massive bankroll want.

I'm not saying that that is what I believe is happening. I actually believe that the AAC and Sun Belt are trying to offer all they can to entice the bloc into joining. The conference that loses that battle my dry up and blow away. A lot depends on if App and Coastal plan to stay put. The big lose in all of this, I believe, will be CUSA.

What makes the most sense to me is App and Coastal staying in the Belt, being joined by Marshall, JMU, and ODU. That would make one very strong division in the very best G5 conference and new de facto P6, the champion of which will almost certainly be a perennial CFP selectee.

Imagine going from FCS to CFP in one or two years. Very possible.

Worst case scenario: let’s say the report is partially correct and UAB and Boise St accept the AAC invite, which makes sense as it would be an upgrade for UAB and Boise St can hang out there for a couple of years until the Big 12 invite comes. Remember, there are reports of Boise not being happy with the MWC and vice versa so it would make sense for them to leave now. Now the AAC turns to its next group of targets, which include Marshall, App St., Coastal, and ODU and take some combination of two but not all four (and let’s say along with FAU and So. Miss or UNCC). JMU would definitely get the call up to the SB and CUSA then but both would be missing some of the regional rivalries that make the most sense. Our choices then would be watered down SB or CUSA or remaining in the CAA. Definitely possible. Ugh.

Why would Boise moving make any sense? Exit fee from MW for what more in revenue from the American? Extra travel cost for what upside with the American? Schools don’t just hang out in a conference for a few years- this isn’t fantasy football. It’s a lark IMO just like the idea that the American was going to get a bunch of Big 12 schools to move to their conference.

Agree
Aac posturing west because they know they may be Losing the east coast to the sunbelt
Aac is going to drop big time after this all shakes out IMO

Had JMU joined the SB back when we had the chance (see Coast football history) we'd not be sweating this deal at all. It'd be gravy right now much the same as it is for Appy. We'd also not have a $1M exit fee to pay the CAA, back then it was $250K, we didn't put up any fight to not increase this fee. Hmmm...

(09-16-2021 09:05 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:29 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:00 PM)White Hall Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:18 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 11:36 AM)2Buck Wrote:  There is no App St/Marshall/ODU/JMU alliance or block. There's no way any one of those schools would turn down an opportunity beneficial to themselves to insist JMU has to be part of the deal.

We may, however if we're smart, be collaborating with them planting the seeds of JMU as a growth partner. We'd be in a stronger position if we were already FBS and succeeding (it's driving me crazy that a community college startup like Coastal has so much more leverage than us in the football conversations) but through familiarity, hopefully those 3 schools (and historically ODU in the past) are pimping us as much as possible.

Unfortunately, there's a very likely scenario of us being part of an AAC add in a group of 6-8 candidates but falling short due to only 2-4 slots. App St and Marshall at a minimum would be ahead of us in this "block", plus what other candidates might be out there like Rice, UAB, etc.

Just because the bloc (not "block," which is a cube) members are united for power and influence does not mean that they won't act unilaterally in their own interest. They must.

For example, if Marshall is offered a spot in the AAC and are told point-blank that no one else is invited, Marshall may say yes, but they will certainly wait to see where the rest of the bloc goes, which would almost certainly be the Belt. In that case, Marshall would likely go with JMU and ODU to the Belt, where App, Coastal, and the Georgias already reside. A lot also depends on what ESPN and their massive bankroll want.

I'm not saying that that is what I believe is happening. I actually believe that the AAC and Sun Belt are trying to offer all they can to entice the bloc into joining. The conference that loses that battle my dry up and blow away. A lot depends on if App and Coastal plan to stay put. The big lose in all of this, I believe, will be CUSA.

What makes the most sense to me is App and Coastal staying in the Belt, being joined by Marshall, JMU, and ODU. That would make one very strong division in the very best G5 conference and new de facto P6, the champion of which will almost certainly be a perennial CFP selectee.

Imagine going from FCS to CFP in one or two years. Very possible.

Worst case scenario: let’s say the report is partially correct and UAB and Boise St accept the AAC invite, which makes sense as it would be an upgrade for UAB and Boise St can hang out there for a couple of years until the Big 12 invite comes. Remember, there are reports of Boise not being happy with the MWC and vice versa so it would make sense for them to leave now. Now the AAC turns to its next group of targets, which include Marshall, App St., Coastal, and ODU and take some combination of two but not all four (and let’s say along with FAU and So. Miss or UNCC). JMU would definitely get the call up to the SB and CUSA then but both would be missing some of the regional rivalries that make the most sense. Our choices then would be watered down SB or CUSA or remaining in the CAA. Definitely possible. Ugh.

Why would Boise moving make any sense? Exit fee from MW for what more in revenue from the American? Extra travel cost for what upside with the American? Schools don’t just hang out in a conference for a few years- this isn’t fantasy football. It’s a lark IMO just like the idea that the American was going to get a bunch of Big 12 schools to move to their conference.

Agree
Aac posturing west because they know they may be Losing the east coast to the sunbelt
Aac is going to drop big time after this all shakes out IMO

(09-16-2021 05:49 PM)JMUPride Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 03:56 PM)jjthebutcher Wrote:  +1

(09-16-2021 02:24 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 02:16 PM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 02:12 PM)Dukester Wrote:  East (10): Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, FAU, FIU, Marshall, Navy, Old Dominion, South Florida

That would piss me off.

Thankfully it won't ever happen but man would it suck to be left out of that.

If that happened - I'm taking a pitchfork to JMU, then PG's house, then Dukedog's house.

Take a pitchfork to anyone that thought we shouldn't goto the SBC when supposedly invited 5+ years ago.

We get left behind for not making small progressive steps... Instead hoping and praying for a huge move up. That just doesn't happen.

We're going to continue trailing liberty, Charlotte, ODU, etc until we move up. ANY FBS conference is progress.

Either you're FCS for life or for ANY type of move up. Anything else, and you just don't understand the landscape.

(09-16-2021 10:06 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  A tweet on the AAC going after Mountain West that I don't think has been shared here:

(09-16-2021 09:52 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 09:05 PM)jmufbs Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:29 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 05:00 PM)White Hall Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 04:18 PM)Purple Wrote:  Just because the bloc (not "block," which is a cube) members are united for power and influence does not mean that they won't act unilaterally in their own interest. They must.

For example, if Marshall is offered a spot in the AAC and are told point-blank that no one else is invited, Marshall may say yes, but they will certainly wait to see where the rest of the bloc goes, which would almost certainly be the Belt. In that case, Marshall would likely go with JMU and ODU to the Belt, where App, Coastal, and the Georgias already reside. A lot also depends on what ESPN and their massive bankroll want.

I'm not saying that that is what I believe is happening. I actually believe that the AAC and Sun Belt are trying to offer all they can to entice the bloc into joining. The conference that loses that battle my dry up and blow away. A lot depends on if App and Coastal plan to stay put. The big lose in all of this, I believe, will be CUSA.

What makes the most sense to me is App and Coastal staying in the Belt, being joined by Marshall, JMU, and ODU. That would make one very strong division in the very best G5 conference and new de facto P6, the champion of which will almost certainly be a perennial CFP selectee.

Imagine going from FCS to CFP in one or two years. Very possible.

Worst case scenario: let’s say the report is partially correct and UAB and Boise St accept the AAC invite, which makes sense as it would be an upgrade for UAB and Boise St can hang out there for a couple of years until the Big 12 invite comes. Remember, there are reports of Boise not being happy with the MWC and vice versa so it would make sense for them to leave now. Now the AAC turns to its next group of targets, which include Marshall, App St., Coastal, and ODU and take some combination of two but not all four (and let’s say along with FAU and So. Miss or UNCC). JMU would definitely get the call up to the SB and CUSA then but both would be missing some of the regional rivalries that make the most sense. Our choices then would be watered down SB or CUSA or remaining in the CAA. Definitely possible. Ugh.

Why would Boise moving make any sense? Exit fee from MW for what more in revenue from the American? Extra travel cost for what upside with the American? Schools don’t just hang out in a conference for a few years- this isn’t fantasy football. It’s a lark IMO just like the idea that the American was going to get a bunch of Big 12 schools to move to their conference.

Agree
Aac posturing west because they know they may be Losing the east coast to the sunbelt
Aac is going to drop big time after this all shakes out IMO

Interesting take- the sky is falling JMU fan thinks see JMU isn’t in the mix and never was but it’s also possible this Dodd guy is in the Americans pocket or being fed this because the American is about to lose some opportunities East/South to the Belt and they are buying time. They know they don’t have a shot at the MW. I guess they will just add Florida Atlantic North Texas Uab and one other and try to spin it as a good thing compared to programs like App JMU and Marshall. I’m not buying it.

(09-16-2021 10:24 PM)Purple Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 10:11 PM)hburg Wrote:  

(09-16-2021 10:06 PM)KickItToScotty Wrote:  A tweet on the AAC going after Mountain West that I don't think has been shared here:

OUCH!

I think it is hilarious that the AAC is considering SDSU while totally ignoring the smelly Bisons.

(09-17-2021 06:17 AM)jmu007 Wrote:  CAA 4 life. Prepare yourselves.

(09-17-2021 06:50 AM)Madison 91 Forever Wrote:  

(09-17-2021 06:17 AM)jmu007 Wrote:  CAA 4 life. Prepare yourselves.

Agreed. The handwriting is on the wall.

AAC is not going to take an FCS school. Their targets are west. That would leave CUSA intact.

SBC is a problem for us because they don't have four of our existing varsity sports. I've yet to hear how we're supposed to enter the SBC when they don't have men's soccer, field hockey or women's lacrosse. Are we going to cut any of those sports? Hell, no.

I'm sick of this whole song and dance, which has been going on without advancement for at least 15 years. TBH whether or not we go FBS will not affect my enthusiasm, regardless.