(04-30-2014 11:33 AM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

While we're making stupid apples to oranges comparisons lets also remember that GT beat Duke, UVA, UNC, Syracuse, and Pitt in those ACC games. He couldn't move the ball against Va Tech. They got destroyed by both Miami and Clemson.

Plus do you think the supporting cast at GT is equal to what we have here?

DUKE was legit last year - a very good top 20 team. UNC always has talent. And Clemson destroyed a lot of teams last year.

I think the comparison (apples to oranges hold).....I compared Lee's play against better competition in a one-dimensional offense at GT that also had a porous defense.....to Birdsong against lesser competition in a more pass friendly and balanced offense which also had a porous defense.

Lee was better against better competition.

(04-30-2014 07:20 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  According to US News and Reports "Schools in the National Universities category, such as the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master's and Ph.D. programs. These colleges also are committed to producing groundbreaking research."

I believe I saw somewhere that the magic number is 10(?) PhD programs and that JMU has 8.

http://www.jmu.edu/gradcatalog/13/doctoral.html

BIRDSONG - See now this tangent is back on topic.

I think the DNP doctorate in nursing practice is new. I looked at our list of doctoral programs the other week and it was only 7. It makes me happy to know we're closer to that national reclassification.
I do believe the us news minimum to be national is 10 doctoral degrees.

(04-30-2014 11:55 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 11:33 AM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  While we're making stupid apples to oranges comparisons lets also remember that GT beat Duke, UVA, UNC, Syracuse, and Pitt in those ACC games. He couldn't move the ball against Va Tech. They got destroyed by both Miami and Clemson.

Plus do you think the supporting cast at GT is equal to what we have here?

DUKE was legit last year - a very good top 20 team. UNC always has talent. And Clemson destroyed a lot of teams last year.

I think the comparison (apples to oranges hold).....I compared Lee's play against better competition in a one-dimensional offense at GT that also had a porous defense.....to Birdsong against lesser competition in a more pass friendly and balanced offense which also had a porous defense.

Lee was better against better competition.

The difference in average FCS and FBS talent is notable at any position, but the closing speed of P5 DBs is something that makes a huge difference when comparing CAA and ACC QBs. It's the same reason a lot of very good college QBs bomb in the NFL. The tighter the window, the worse you look. Going from ACC to CAA should make the game much easier for Lee. So it may be apples to oranges, but I don't think it helps your (JMUDukes25) argument.

(04-30-2014 11:33 AM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

While we're making stupid apples to oranges comparisons lets also remember that GT beat Duke, UVA, UNC, Syracuse, and Pitt in those ACC games. He couldn't move the ball against Va Tech. They got destroyed by both Miami and Clemson.

Plus do you think the supporting cast at GT is equal to what we have here?

Lee was 5-4 (regular season) against FBS bowl bound teams (5-5 overall) while Birdsong was 0-3 against FCS playoff teams.

Apples and oranges indeed.

(04-30-2014 11:45 AM)JMU_Newbill Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 11:33 AM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

While we're making stupid apples to oranges comparisons lets also remember that GT beat Duke, UVA, UNC, Syracuse, and Pitt in those ACC games. He couldn't move the ball against Va Tech. They got destroyed by both Miami and Clemson.

Plus do you think the supporting cast at GT is equal to what we have here?

Yea, they beat a Duke team that was in the ACC Championship game and damn near beat Johnny Football in a major bowl game. They were HORRIBLE!

LOL. Love the transitive property in football. If you think GT was a great team last year then more power to you. I never said they were bad though so don't start putting words in my mouth. Just don't act like Vad was tearing through the ACC. Duke won for 2 reasons. The ACC sucked and they had a great offense. Duke's D was terrible.

(04-30-2014 12:25 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 11:33 AM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

While we're making stupid apples to oranges comparisons lets also remember that GT beat Duke, UVA, UNC, Syracuse, and Pitt in those ACC games. He couldn't move the ball against Va Tech. They got destroyed by both Miami and Clemson.

Plus do you think the supporting cast at GT is equal to what we have here?

Lee was 5-4 (regular season) against FBS bowl bound teams (5-5 overall) while Birdsong was 0-3 against FCS playoff teams.

Apples and oranges indeed.

The whole damn comparison is just ******* stupid. FCS sends 24 teams to the playoffs. What was Lee against Top 24 ranked bowl teams? Not sure why some of you have this boner to make Lee better than he was at Ga Tech and make Birdsong worse than he was at JMU.

JMU wasn't losing games last year due to Birdsong. We were losing because our defense was atrocious and our OL wasn't much better. You excel guys that love apples to oranges stats kill me.

(04-30-2014 12:53 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 12:25 PM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 11:33 AM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

While we're making stupid apples to oranges comparisons lets also remember that GT beat Duke, UVA, UNC, Syracuse, and Pitt in those ACC games. He couldn't move the ball against Va Tech. They got destroyed by both Miami and Clemson.

Plus do you think the supporting cast at GT is equal to what we have here?

Lee was 5-4 (regular season) against FBS bowl bound teams (5-5 overall) while Birdsong was 0-3 against FCS playoff teams.

Apples and oranges indeed.

The whole damn comparison is just ******* stupid. FCS sends 24 teams to the playoffs. What was Lee against Top 24 ranked bowl teams? Not sure why some of you have this boner to make Lee better than he was at Ga Tech and make Birdsong worse than he was at JMU.

JMU wasn't losing games last year due to Birdsong. We were losing because our defense was atrocious and our OL wasn't much better. You excel guys that love apples to oranges stats kill me.

Agree, but I'd limit the defensive problem to pass defense. I had no problem with our D-line and LB play last year.

No shame in transferring no matter what the perceived reasons. Dave Wannstedt chose Tyler Palko over Joe Flacco. Flacco transferred, thrived, has a Super Bowl ring and the MVP award from the same game. Palko is pumping gas somewhere. Players can be impatient and coaches can be very stubborn. I hope they both do well.

A classy coach would never trash a departing player. He would simply say he was sorry it didn't work out and wish the player well. A "Classy" coach would.

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:38 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  I pointed out the recruiting stuff to solidify that Birdsong didn't leave cause of the scheme, but I get your point on how that also relates to Lee.

Lee left to run a different scheme, Birdsong left to get playing time, there lies the difference for me. Lets say Lee did "quit". What did he quit? His team? Lets say Birdsong did "quit". What did he quit? The competition AND his team. Fair or not, when you are losing and you stop, some consider you a quitter. When you are winning and stop, most don't consider you a quitter. When you talk about how you are going to win, then you lose, then you leave the team, some will definitely consider you a quitter.

This is a stupid conversation cause we could turn this into the equivalent of saying, MJ didn't "retire" he "quit" cause he couldn't dominate like he once did.

How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.
I really don't think Lee's passing numbers were that bad for an option based QB being he was only allowed to throw when the gameplan was shot trying to play catchup or it was 3rd and 12 and everyone in the stadium knew he would be throwing.

I don't really care who gets labeled what. Birdsong is not a Duke anymore so I don't care at all about his QB play going forward -- if it works out for him great, if not I don't care. I do feel confident that JMU now has a serious upgrade at the QB position with Lee and I think we will be 'ok' with Nittolo and the others backing him up. Think about it the team did not crumble when Jace Edwards with no experience had to fill in for 5 games a few season ago. No team in college football is ever happy with the QB depth if the starter goes down.

You seriously need to go back and read what I wrote because I never said that. I was talking about the quitting label.

But now that you brought it up, Lee will likely be a big improvement over what Birdsong was last year.

I think Lee will be a sleight to moderate improvement over what Birdsong would have been this year, because I expected Birdsong to be vastly improved.

And of course Lee is much more suited to run the Ohio State offense than Birdsong.

(04-30-2014 02:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:38 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  I pointed out the recruiting stuff to solidify that Birdsong didn't leave cause of the scheme, but I get your point on how that also relates to Lee.

Lee left to run a different scheme, Birdsong left to get playing time, there lies the difference for me. Lets say Lee did "quit". What did he quit? His team? Lets say Birdsong did "quit". What did he quit? The competition AND his team. Fair or not, when you are losing and you stop, some consider you a quitter. When you are winning and stop, most don't consider you a quitter. When you talk about how you are going to win, then you lose, then you leave the team, some will definitely consider you a quitter.

This is a stupid conversation cause we could turn this into the equivalent of saying, MJ didn't "retire" he "quit" cause he couldn't dominate like he once did.

How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.
I really don't think Lee's passing numbers were that bad for an option based QB being he was only allowed to throw when the gameplan was shot trying to play catchup or it was 3rd and 12 and everyone in the stadium knew he would be throwing.

I don't really care who gets labeled what. Birdsong is not a Duke anymore so I don't care at all about his QB play going forward -- if it works out for him great, if not I don't care. I do feel confident that JMU now has a serious upgrade at the QB position with Lee and I think we will be 'ok' with Nittolo and the others backing him up. Think about it the team did not crumble when Jace Edwards with no experience had to fill in for 5 games a few season ago. No team in college football is ever happy with the QB depth if the starter goes down.

You seriously need to go back and read what I wrote because I never said that. I was talking about the quitting label.

But now that you brought it up, Lee will likely be a big improvement over what Birdsong was last year.

I think Lee will be a sleight to moderate improvement over what Birdsong would have been this year, because I expected Birdsong to be vastly improved.

And of course Lee is much more suited to run the Ohio State offense than Birdsong.

No sweat - sorry if you took it that way, did not mean it as an attack......Like I said I could care less about all that labelling someone a quitter stuff. I only care about players on our roster.

It was more a rant about everyone thinking Birdsong is a HUGE loss to the program. It is just a minor blip on the radar. JMU has a more capable starting QB now in my opinion.

Dorial Green-Beckham looking at some FCS schools. Maybe we will give him a call.

(04-29-2014 08:03 PM)Mad victory Wrote:  

(04-29-2014 03:53 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(04-29-2014 08:53 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  Playing FBS football is a 'must' for being a national university.

This is one of your dumber posts.

Tell it to Harvard, MIT, or closer to home, tell it to our near, dear neighbor W&M. FB is a "nice-ity" not a "necessity" for raising the academic profile of JMU. A med school would do as much if not more as it reflects and serves to build a school's national identity. Oh, but that's right, alums can't tailgate at a med school. Again, if you want a FBS football program, pay for it...but stop with the "must" have silly argument.

Who are you to tell me that I can't tailgate at a med school. I will tailgate on a boat,with a goat, in the rain, on a train, in a tree, just let me be, with a FOX, in a box, in a house, with a mouse, I will tailgate here, and there, I will tailgate Everywhere

TOUCHÉ

(04-30-2014 06:04 PM)JMUDuke25 Wrote:  Dorial Green-Beckham looking at some FCS schools. Maybe we will give him a call.

Likely heading to EIU

(04-30-2014 03:02 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 02:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:38 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  I pointed out the recruiting stuff to solidify that Birdsong didn't leave cause of the scheme, but I get your point on how that also relates to Lee.

Lee left to run a different scheme, Birdsong left to get playing time, there lies the difference for me. Lets say Lee did "quit". What did he quit? His team? Lets say Birdsong did "quit". What did he quit? The competition AND his team. Fair or not, when you are losing and you stop, some consider you a quitter. When you are winning and stop, most don't consider you a quitter. When you talk about how you are going to win, then you lose, then you leave the team, some will definitely consider you a quitter.

This is a stupid conversation cause we could turn this into the equivalent of saying, MJ didn't "retire" he "quit" cause he couldn't dominate like he once did.

How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.
I really don't think Lee's passing numbers were that bad for an option based QB being he was only allowed to throw when the gameplan was shot trying to play catchup or it was 3rd and 12 and everyone in the stadium knew he would be throwing.

I don't really care who gets labeled what. Birdsong is not a Duke anymore so I don't care at all about his QB play going forward -- if it works out for him great, if not I don't care. I do feel confident that JMU now has a serious upgrade at the QB position with Lee and I think we will be 'ok' with Nittolo and the others backing him up. Think about it the team did not crumble when Jace Edwards with no experience had to fill in for 5 games a few season ago. No team in college football is ever happy with the QB depth if the starter goes down.

You seriously need to go back and read what I wrote because I never said that. I was talking about the quitting label.

But now that you brought it up, Lee will likely be a big improvement over what Birdsong was last year.

I think Lee will be a sleight to moderate improvement over what Birdsong would have been this year, because I expected Birdsong to be vastly improved.

And of course Lee is much more suited to run the Ohio State offense than Birdsong.

No sweat - sorry if you took it that way, did not mean it as an attack......Like I said I could care less about all that labelling someone a quitter stuff. I only care about players on our roster.

It was more a rant about everyone thinking Birdsong is a HUGE loss to the program. It is just a minor blip on the radar. JMU has a more capable starting QB now in my opinion.

Birdsong isn't a huge loss AS LONG AS LEE STAYS HEALTHY. From the look of things, Lee is going to be running a lot. But if Lee goes down losing Birdsong goes from a minor blip on the radar to filling the whole radar screen. Like Hart already said earlier, we are now only a Vad Lee injury away from the season being screwed.

(04-30-2014 11:32 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 03:02 PM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 02:41 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.
I really don't think Lee's passing numbers were that bad for an option based QB being he was only allowed to throw when the gameplan was shot trying to play catchup or it was 3rd and 12 and everyone in the stadium knew he would be throwing.

I don't really care who gets labeled what. Birdsong is not a Duke anymore so I don't care at all about his QB play going forward -- if it works out for him great, if not I don't care. I do feel confident that JMU now has a serious upgrade at the QB position with Lee and I think we will be 'ok' with Nittolo and the others backing him up. Think about it the team did not crumble when Jace Edwards with no experience had to fill in for 5 games a few season ago. No team in college football is ever happy with the QB depth if the starter goes down.

You seriously need to go back and read what I wrote because I never said that. I was talking about the quitting label.

But now that you brought it up, Lee will likely be a big improvement over what Birdsong was last year.

I think Lee will be a sleight to moderate improvement over what Birdsong would have been this year, because I expected Birdsong to be vastly improved.

And of course Lee is much more suited to run the Ohio State offense than Birdsong.

No sweat - sorry if you took it that way, did not mean it as an attack......Like I said I could care less about all that labelling someone a quitter stuff. I only care about players on our roster.

It was more a rant about everyone thinking Birdsong is a HUGE loss to the program. It is just a minor blip on the radar. JMU has a more capable starting QB now in my opinion.

Birdsong isn't a huge loss AS LONG AS LEE STAYS HEALTHY. From the look of things, Lee is going to be running a lot. But if Lee goes down losing Birdsong goes from a minor blip on the radar to filling the whole radar screen. Like Hart already said earlier, we are now only a Vad Lee injury away from the season being screwed.

bingo. and Lee is not the physical specimen Rodney Landers was. i'd be amazed if he doesn't get nicked up at some point. the #2 QB will see time this year

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:38 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  I pointed out the recruiting stuff to solidify that Birdsong didn't leave cause of the scheme, but I get your point on how that also relates to Lee.

Lee left to run a different scheme, Birdsong left to get playing time, there lies the difference for me. Lets say Lee did "quit". What did he quit? His team? Lets say Birdsong did "quit". What did he quit? The competition AND his team. Fair or not, when you are losing and you stop, some consider you a quitter. When you are winning and stop, most don't consider you a quitter. When you talk about how you are going to win, then you lose, then you leave the team, some will definitely consider you a quitter.

This is a stupid conversation cause we could turn this into the equivalent of saying, MJ didn't "retire" he "quit" cause he couldn't dominate like he once did.

How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.

You have to be kidding me! You have your nose stuck in a stats sheet and you base your opinion on THAT? While the rest of us are watching what happens on the field, in the locker room, in the press room, on the sidelines, you are doing some nerdy pencil-whipping of a FORMER JMU record holder (you like stats, check it out) who was shown the door, and somehow you find it reasonable to trash him as some kind of loser? HOLY S**T!

GT's win over Duke last year was also with Anthony Boone out

(05-01-2014 01:51 AM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:38 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  I pointed out the recruiting stuff to solidify that Birdsong didn't leave cause of the scheme, but I get your point on how that also relates to Lee.

Lee left to run a different scheme, Birdsong left to get playing time, there lies the difference for me. Lets say Lee did "quit". What did he quit? His team? Lets say Birdsong did "quit". What did he quit? The competition AND his team. Fair or not, when you are losing and you stop, some consider you a quitter. When you are winning and stop, most don't consider you a quitter. When you talk about how you are going to win, then you lose, then you leave the team, some will definitely consider you a quitter.

This is a stupid conversation cause we could turn this into the equivalent of saying, MJ didn't "retire" he "quit" cause he couldn't dominate like he once did.

How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.

You have to be kidding me! You have your nose stuck in a stats sheet and you base your opinion on THAT? While the rest of us are watching what happens on the field, in the locker room, in the press room, on the sidelines, you are doing some nerdy pencil-whipping of a FORMER JMU record holder (you like stats, check it out) who was shown the door, and somehow you find it reasonable to trash him as some kind of loser? HOLY S**T!

Not trashing him, just stating that we actually upgraded the starting QB position. I watched almost every game last year and Birdsong is an average QB, nothing more.

(05-01-2014 08:41 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(05-01-2014 01:51 AM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:52 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 10:37 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(04-30-2014 09:38 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  I pointed out the recruiting stuff to solidify that Birdsong didn't leave cause of the scheme, but I get your point on how that also relates to Lee.

Lee left to run a different scheme, Birdsong left to get playing time, there lies the difference for me. Lets say Lee did "quit". What did he quit? His team? Lets say Birdsong did "quit". What did he quit? The competition AND his team. Fair or not, when you are losing and you stop, some consider you a quitter. When you are winning and stop, most don't consider you a quitter. When you talk about how you are going to win, then you lose, then you leave the team, some will definitely consider you a quitter.

This is a stupid conversation cause we could turn this into the equivalent of saying, MJ didn't "retire" he "quit" cause he couldn't dominate like he once did.

How do you know Lee didn't quit because of the competition, as already brought up? He was doing a mediocre job of running the option.

Did you label Rasati a quitter in 04'? He left L'Ville solely because of the competition.

GaTech was 5-3 in the ACC last year and 7-6 overall. Went to the Music City Bowl. (one loss was to Georgia in 2OT).
The fact that Lee could lead a team to 5-3 in the ACC speaks volumes to me.

Birdsong led a team that went 3-5 in the CAA and was 6-6 overall and could not make the playoffs at the FCS level.

Given the level of competition each faced in the ACC vs the CAA you seriously think Lee is not a vast improvement at the QB position.

You have to be kidding me! You have your nose stuck in a stats sheet and you base your opinion on THAT? While the rest of us are watching what happens on the field, in the locker room, in the press room, on the sidelines, you are doing some nerdy pencil-whipping of a FORMER JMU record holder (you like stats, check it out) who was shown the door, and somehow you find it reasonable to trash him as some kind of loser? HOLY S**T!

Not trashing him, just stating that we actually upgraded the starting QB position. I watched almost every game last year and Birdsong is an average QB, nothing more.

Should have just stated that up front. I think most believe we have upgraded at QB. One doesn't have to make Vad Lee out to be something he isn't or run Birdsong down to draw that conclusion though.

Birdsong had a lot of issues last year. He was playing injured. He had a terrible OL. He tried to do too much at times but more importantly he just needs to be coached. He's still just two years out of HS.

Let's be clear, not only is JMU a Lee injury away from their season being in jeopardy, so is every other team in CFB or the NFL that loses their starting QB. Very few places have two starting caliber QB's on their roster. There is usually a prospect waiting in the wings who has yet to prove himself. Sometimes they rise to the occasion, sometimes they don't. You won't know until they are thrown into the fire. It is on the staff to work and develop that back up QB to be ready when the time comes. After hearing Withers speak in Richmond, I have complete faith that they will have a second QB ready to go by the first game. This staff has their game face on and are ready to bring this program back to where it belongs.