UR-JMU notes: Matthews mum on potential move
Matthews not sharing thoughts on potential move
JMU coach Mickey Matthews said he has “some feelings about the direction” the school should take concerning staying in Football Championship Subdivision or moving up to Football Bowl Subdivision, but he’s not making them public.
JMU released a consultant’s study last week that didn’t make recommendations, but suggested the Dukes are positioned to move. The report projected a shift to FBS would generate more revenue for the athletic department and lower the percentage of student fees used for athletics.
“I don’t have any strong feeling,” Matthews said. “I do not think what Old Dominion has done should affect what we want to do. At times, I think that has gotten involved. Just because your neighbor buys a Cadillac doesn’t mean (you should).
“We should make our own decision about what’s best for our place.”
Old Dominion is transitioning to FBS.
CAA commissioner Tom Yeager said Saturday he understands JMU’s exploration.
“It’s a topic of public interest for them. They’re doing a lot of research,” Yeager said. “Apart from the university’s analysis, I think the public’s view is, when you talk about a (potential) move, the Rose Bowl, Michigan, Alabama. . .. That’s not what’s on the table.”
With the start of FBS playoffs next season, “it’s going to be the big five leagues,” Yeager said, “and everybody else. And I think in the general public’s view, everybody else is going to be indistinguishable.”
Injuries didn’t help Richmond cause
UR’s Stephen Barnette, the CAA leader in receiving yards (109.8 ypg) heading into the game, played one possession. Barnette jumped for a high pass in the end zone, and came down on his back. He did not return. Barnette has experienced previous back issues.
Richmond coach Danny Rocco said more information regarding Barnette’s status would be available at a later date.
Running back T.J. Moon, UR’s short-yardage specialist, did not play because of a right leg injury suffered in the week of practice. Moon, a redshirt freshman from Stone Mountain, Ga., was Richmond’s second-leading rusher, with 113 yards in five games.
Moon broke his right leg in spring ball.
He broke his left leg before the start of the 2012 season.
JMU makes switch at cornerback
Matthews pulled a surprise to try to counter UR’s passing attack, moving junior wide receiver DeAndre Smith to cornerback in place of redshirt freshman Taylor Reynolds.
Smith played in the secondary in high school.
UR threw for 423 yards, but Matthews said he thought Smith played “pretty well.”
“We felt like at the conclusion of last week’s game, we’re just not very good at corner,” Matthews said. “DeAndre was recruited as a corner. We still may play him some on offense.”
John O’Connor and Tim Pearrell
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