(11-23-2017 11:27 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I get a chuckle out of fcs fans stating that G5 is irrelevant.

We group think that fcs is like james Madison. How many of us have been to away games? It can be eye opening, showing up at a high school field with portable potties and electrical cords running the score board and these are the good teams. We live in a bubble.

We may as well enjoy being a G5 team playing an fcs schedule.

This is the perspective many need .
Excellent point .


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(11-23-2017 09:02 AM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 06:36 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 02:53 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 08:01 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 06:50 PM)hburg Wrote:  I find it interesting that it is such a big deal to them. For example the writer cannot believe there are empty seats at Foreman field. I guess reality is finally hitting them.

They had a full stadium for nearly a decade but it looks like the last few years have seen fewer people show up. The newness of their football program wore off and more losing didn’t help. This is what would be in store for JMU without consistent 10+ win seasons in fbs. Reality is setting in and they’re not as big of a deal as they think they are. CUSA is still very irrelevant.

Potomac, come on dude, fewer fans show up whether it's FBS, FCS, D2, D3, NAIA, High School, JV, or Pop Warner if you are not winning. Rest assured .500 football at the FBS level will outdraw .500 football at the FCS level. I don't know if you were at our Elon game about four seasons ago, the record book shows 15,793, but there was no more than 12K in BFS and we were a playoff team. I was in the upper deck surrounded by 5K empty seats in the 400 level alone. There wasn't a handful of students, my guess maybe 100. The lower decks looked to be about 50% capacity. We are on a roll now, entering every game with a lopsided opportunity to win, who wouldn't show up for the Dukes with the way we are competing at the moment.

But I keep hearing that a move to cusa will increase attendance and interest and whatever we do at fcs will be better. Seems like this shows that's not that case.

You guys can keep on harping about the irrelevance of fcs, but cusa is just more expensive irrelevance without as good of an end game (playoffs > crapbowl.com>

Duke dawg. How dare you say the taxslayerjumbolaya bowl in Charleston WV is less relevant than winning a championship. It isn’t and I said so!

That’s not a real bowl game.

Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

(11-23-2017 12:54 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

As an outsider who respects the James Madison program and would love to share a conference with you, I have a question.

How many P5 home games do you get as an FCS? No we don't get a ton, but Marshall has been pretty successful with getting P5 teams at home. That alone is worth the move up if you ask me.

(11-23-2017 10:41 PM)herdfan129 Wrote:  As an outsider who respects the James Madison program and would love to share a conference with you, I have a question.

How many P5 home games do you get as an FCS? No we don't get a ton, but Marshall has been pretty successful with getting P5 teams at home. That alone is worth the move up if you ask me.

For one game every few years? We already have higher attendance numbers than Marshall without that. I think for JMU it's either CAA of AAC and that's pretty much the end of the story.

(11-22-2017 08:01 PM)Potomac Wrote:  They had a full stadium for nearly a decade but it looks like the last few years have seen fewer people show up. The newness of their football program wore off and more losing didn’t help. This is what would be in store for JMU without consistent 10+ win seasons in fbs. Reality is setting in and they’re not as big of a deal as they think they are. CUSA is still very irrelevant.

Agree 100%.

(11-22-2017 10:21 PM)2Buck Wrote:  Excuse #47: JMU fans are fairweather fans just like ODU fans, will stop showing up after 2nd loss. Got it, thanks.

How has our basketball attendance been lately?

(11-23-2017 10:41 PM)herdfan129 Wrote:  As an outsider who respects the James Madison program and would love to share a conference with you, I have a question.

How many P5 home games do you get as an FCS? No we don't get a ton, but Marshall has been pretty successful with getting P5 teams at home. That alone is worth the move up if you ask me.

It would be great if we could have a FBS conference of JMU, ODU, APP State, Marshall, East Carolina, Liberty

(11-24-2017 10:20 AM)jmudukes Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 10:41 PM)herdfan129 Wrote:  As an outsider who respects the James Madison program and would love to share a conference with you, I have a question.

How many P5 home games do you get as an FCS? No we don't get a ton, but Marshall has been pretty successful with getting P5 teams at home. That alone is worth the move up if you ask me.

It would be great if we could have a FBS conference of JMU, ODU, APP State, Marshall, East Carolina, Liberty

It would make more sense than the nonsense that are the current G5 conferences, but hey.. logic.. FBS football... yeah, not happening.

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:54 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

(11-24-2017 11:05 AM)White Hall Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:54 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

Define “national recognized” for everyone reading.

If you will, define it once using varsity athletics, and then do it again using academics. Just curious.

(11-24-2017 11:47 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:05 AM)White Hall Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:54 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

Define “national recognized” for everyone reading.

If you will, define it once using varsity athletics, and then do it again using academics. Just curious.

There are 4 universities within a few hundred miles of JMU that used athletic success to springboard academic reputation. VT, GMU, VCU and Maryland. Each had average to below average reputations. After success in athletics something happened to applications and interest in each school. Their administrations took advantage of the increased interest. I'm sure there are many more examples across the country, but these schools are all in direct competition with JMU for local students, supporters...customers. if you don't improve the brand, then you stagnate and atrophy. As much as I appreciate WBB, volleyball, softball, etc they don't move the brand like football and MBB.

Hopefully, the NC and new arena will help. I believe there is a lot more that could be done. Hopefully, the administration and alpha dogs will keep the momentum going.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

(11-23-2017 11:27 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  I get a chuckle out of fcs fans stating that G5 is irrelevant.

We group think that fcs is like james Madison. How many of us have been to away games? It can be eye opening, showing up at a high school field with portable potties and electrical cords running the score board and these are the good teams. We live in a bubble.

We may as well enjoy being a G5 team playing an fcs schedule.

You can barely get into Foreman Field at ODU because of the long line of portable potties, of course they play at the lowest level of FBS.

(11-24-2017 12:04 PM)Rockville Duke Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:47 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:05 AM)White Hall Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:54 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

Define “national recognized” for everyone reading.

If you will, define it once using varsity athletics, and then do it again using academics. Just curious.

There are 4 universities within a few hundred miles of JMU that used athletic success to springboard academic reputation. VT, GMU, VCU and Maryland. Each had average to below average reputations. After success in athletics something happened to applications and interest in each school. Their administrations took advantage of the increased interest. I'm sure there are many more examples across the country, but these schools are all in direct competition with JMU for local students, supporters...customers. if you don't improve the brand, then you stagnate and atrophy. As much as I appreciate WBB, volleyball, softball, etc they don't move the brand like football and MBB.

Hopefully, the NC and new arena will help. I believe there is a lot more that could be done. Hopefully, the administration and alpha dogs will keep the momentum going.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

You’ve not really answered the questions. I asked how you define “nationally recognized”...and you cite four R1 schools (two of which are poorly ranked against their academic peers; GMU & VCU) without explaining why they are examples worth emulating. Are you claiming GMU and VCU are “nationally recognized” because applications are up at these institutions because of their success in varsity athletics? You finished by implying that JMU’s “brand” may be subject to stagnation and atropy because only FB and MBB are capable of improving the brand.

A couple thoughts. Because GMU and VCU dont play FB, by your description their “brand” must be entirely dependent on MBB. Correct? Can you provide some stats regarding their applications for admission, pre-and-post Final Four success and move to the A10? It would be interesting to determine if there was a change. I doubt the change in conferences made much difference, and while the Final Four runs where brilliant, perhaps there are other reasonable explanations in play for their growth (such as investments in Graduate and Professional Programs).

A similar study of applications to Maryland (after its move to the Big 10) and VT’s to the ACC would be interesting. There was an appreciable bump in applications to VT after Vick took them to the mythical NC game nearly two decades ago, but JMU experienced increases in applications during that same time period (and today continues to exceed 20k). I would add that during the last 20 years JMU has experienced a steady and planned increase in enrollment, so “stagnation” or “atophy” don’t seem to be in play, despite suffering through some atrocious MBB.

I’m not discounting the impact of successful varsity athletic programs on the reputation of any university, and in particular how FB and MBB might lead that impression. There are, however, other factors in play, and investments in Graduate and Professional Programs are (to my way of thinking) the biggest difference in why GMU, VCU, VT and Maryland may be thought of as “national” brands.

(11-24-2017 04:32 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 12:04 PM)Rockville Duke Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:47 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:05 AM)White Hall Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

Define “national recognized” for everyone reading.

If you will, define it once using varsity athletics, and then do it again using academics. Just curious.

There are 4 universities within a few hundred miles of JMU that used athletic success to springboard academic reputation. VT, GMU, VCU and Maryland. Each had average to below average reputations. After success in athletics something happened to applications and interest in each school. Their administrations took advantage of the increased interest. I'm sure there are many more examples across the country, but these schools are all in direct competition with JMU for local students, supporters...customers. if you don't improve the brand, then you stagnate and atrophy. As much as I appreciate WBB, volleyball, softball, etc they don't move the brand like football and MBB.

Hopefully, the NC and new arena will help. I believe there is a lot more that could be done. Hopefully, the administration and alpha dogs will keep the momentum going.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

You’ve not really answered the questions. I asked how you define “nationally recognized”...and you cite four R1 schools (two of which are poorly ranked against their academic peers; GMU & VCU) without explaining why they are examples worth emulating. Are you claiming GMU and VCU are “nationally recognized” because applications are up at these institutions because of their success in varsity athletics? You finished by implying that JMU’s “brand” may be subject to stagnation and atropy because only FB and MBB are capable of improving the brand.

A couple thoughts. Because GMU and VCU dont play FB, by your description their “brand” must be entirely dependent on MBB. Correct? Can you provide some stats regarding their applications for admission, pre-and-post Final Four success and move to the A10? It would be interesting to determine if there was a change. I doubt the change in conferences made much difference, and while the Final Four runs where brilliant, perhaps there are other reasonable explanations in play for their growth (such as investments in Graduate and Professional Programs).

A similar study of applications to Maryland (after its move to the Big 10) and VT’s to the ACC would be interesting. There was an appreciable bump in applications to VT after Vick took them to the mythical NC game nearly two decades ago, but JMU experienced increases in applications during that same time period (and today continues to exceed 20k). I would add that during the last 20 years JMU has experienced a steady and planned increase in enrollment, so “stagnation” or “atophy” don’t seem to be in play, despite suffering through some atrocious MBB.

I’m not discounting the impact of successful varsity athletic programs on the reputation of any university, and in particular how FB and MBB might lead that impression. There are, however, other factors in play, and investments in Graduate and Professional Programs are (to my way of thinking) the biggest difference in why GMU, VCU, VT and Maryland may be thought of as “national” brands.

There are absolutely other factors involved but athletics does play a large part. All you have to do is look at VT. 20 years ago VT was clearly behind JMU academically. Now, due to the success of its foootball team, it is now considered a better school than JMU, at least when considered from the applicants’ perspective. VT does not have a med school or a law school and its MBA program is marginal, at best. So it’s its football program and itS engineering school that are carrying the torch for VT. I don’t think there are many outside of the engineering profession who care about VT engineering school. Football is what put VT on the national map.

(11-24-2017 04:32 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 12:04 PM)Rockville Duke Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:47 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:05 AM)White Hall Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

Define “national recognized” for everyone reading.

If you will, define it once using varsity athletics, and then do it again using academics. Just curious.

There are 4 universities within a few hundred miles of JMU that used athletic success to springboard academic reputation. VT, GMU, VCU and Maryland. Each had average to below average reputations. After success in athletics something happened to applications and interest in each school. Their administrations took advantage of the increased interest. I'm sure there are many more examples across the country, but these schools are all in direct competition with JMU for local students, supporters...customers. if you don't improve the brand, then you stagnate and atrophy. As much as I appreciate WBB, volleyball, softball, etc they don't move the brand like football and MBB.

Hopefully, the NC and new arena will help. I believe there is a lot more that could be done. Hopefully, the administration and alpha dogs will keep the momentum going.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

You’ve not really answered the questions. I asked how you define “nationally recognized”...and you cite four R1 schools (two of which are poorly ranked against their academic peers; GMU & VCU) without explaining why they are examples worth emulating. Are you claiming GMU and VCU are “nationally recognized” because applications are up at these institutions because of their success in varsity athletics? You finished by implying that JMU’s “brand” may be subject to stagnation and atropy because only FB and MBB are capable of improving the brand.

A couple thoughts. Because GMU and VCU dont play FB, by your description their “brand” must be entirely dependent on MBB. Correct? Can you provide some stats regarding their applications for admission, pre-and-post Final Four success and move to the A10? It would be interesting to determine if there was a change. I doubt the change in conferences made much difference, and while the Final Four runs where brilliant, perhaps there are other reasonable explanations in play for their growth (such as investments in Graduate and Professional Programs).

A similar study of applications to Maryland (after its move to the Big 10) and VT’s to the ACC would be interesting. There was an appreciable bump in applications to VT after Vick took them to the mythical NC game nearly two decades ago, but JMU experienced increases in applications during that same time period (and today continues to exceed 20k). I would add that during the last 20 years JMU has experienced a steady and planned increase in enrollment, so “stagnation” or “atophy” don’t seem to be in play, despite suffering through some atrocious MBB.

I’m not discounting the impact of successful varsity athletic programs on the reputation of any university, and in particular how FB and MBB might lead that impression. There are, however, other factors in play, and investments in Graduate and Professional Programs are (to my way of thinking) the biggest difference in why GMU, VCU, VT and Maryland may be thought of as “national” brands.

LH. As much as your arguments tend to lean to a complete black/white 0 or 1 result. Nothing is further from the truth. JMU investments in STEM (particularly engineering ) and the college of business have had significant impact on the overall reputation of the school. But as a graduate from over 30 years ago, I can assure you the reputation of JMU has fallen vs the schools I mentioned. Athletics clearly had a big part of that.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

(11-24-2017 11:47 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-24-2017 11:05 AM)White Hall Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 01:04 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:54 PM)jmu007 Wrote:  Here's my point of view on it. JMU provides a top tier gameday experience for fans at a price that everyone can afford. Perhaps I'm in the minority based on some of the posts I've read on this board, but I really couldn't care less about, "competing at the highest level," if it means losing what JMU has today.

Should JMU be presented with an opportunity to join a FBS league that provides competitive and interesting games, reasonable travel, and doesn't result in ticket prices / donation requirements skyrocketing... I'm all for it.

For now, I'm just thankful of what the program has grown into over the past 25 years I've been attending games and will continue to look forward to every game weekend for the foreseeable future.

My thoughts exactly. Well said.

So basically you want JMU to continue to remain a regional university and not become a nationally recognized one so you can continue to afford to go to games? Got it.

Define “national recognized” for everyone reading.

If you will, define it once using varsity athletics, and then do it again using academics. Just curious.

JMU's website state JMU is the #2 public school in the South by US News and World Report. Is that a national ranking? No, it's an embarrassing deception because most students/parents seeing that would think that ranking was at a national level but it isn't. When students/parents see the full list and see the 6 obscure regional schools ranked above us, I'm sure they'll be like wtf?

We're ranked as a regional university. Same as Carnegie Mellon classifies us. CAA/FCS football media and TV coverage is regional, not national. Everything about FCS is regional and the majority of national attention JMU has received is because we are JMU. CAA has done nothing to promote us at the national level and next year's home schedule is about as small-time regional as you can get.

Despite what you think, being within eye-shot of the bubble's perimeter is still regional.

None of the FBS at any cost crowd are listening. You all think FBS is some type of magical pill that results in a “national” rep. Take a look at ODU, or heck, Boise St. for that matter. Are those institutions “national” in your estimation? Again, I’ve asked for your definition of what that term means to those who are ardent in their advocacy for FBS FB.

As for VT’s growth that’s occured over the last 25 years (both academically and athletically), much of that growth occured by being in the right place at the right time (and even then it took a VA Governor putting the squeeze on UVA to leverage VT’s invitation to the ACC). That path was not open to JMU then, and it’s not open now. And the Cox bill now complicates things in a way VT never had to worry about.

Put JMU in the ACC and all kinds of good things would start to happen (just as they did for VT, from alumni giving, to athletic prominence and academic prestige), however, can any JMU fan seriously suggest that membership in a P5 is a real possibility today? Even if JMU was to join the CUSA, a P5 invite is not going to happen, and membership in the CUSA does not make for a “national” rep. That suggests to me that an alternate route to “national” status must be explored and acted upon if JMU is to realize its full potential.

Sidenote: I’ll have to look at what happened to the effort to start a Med School at VT. There was a huge gift from a donor (I’m thinking about 10+ years ago) to start a Medical program at VT. But even without it, the size of VT’s investments in Graduate Programs are several times that of JMU.

(11-25-2017 07:34 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  None of the FBS at any cost crowd are listening. You all think FBS is some type of magical pill that results in a “national” rep. Take a look at ODU, or heck, Boise St. for that matter. Are those institutions “national” in your estimation? Again, I’ve asked for your definition of what that term means to those who are ardent in their advocacy for FBS FB.

As for VT’s growth that’s occured over the last 25 years (both academically and athletically), much of that growth occured by being in the right place at the right time (and even then it took a VA Governor putting the squeeze on UVA to leverage VT’s invitation to the ACC). That path was not open to JMU then, and it’s not open now. And the Cox bill now complicates things in a way VT never had to worry about.

Put JMU in the ACC and all kinds of good things would start to happen (just as they did for VT, from alumni giving, to athletic prominence and academic prestige), however, can any JMU fan seriously suggest that membership in a P5 is a real possibility today? Even if JMU was to join the CUSA, a P5 invite is not going to happen, and membership in the CUSA does not make for a “national” rep. That suggests to me that an alternate route to “national” status must be explored and acted upon if JMU is to realize its full potential.

Sidenote: I’ll have to look at what happened to the effort to start a Med School at VT. There was a huge gift from a donor (I’m thinking about 10+ years ago) to start a Medical program at VT. But even without it, the size of VT’s investments in Graduate Programs are several times that of JMU.

Wasn’t Tech independent and then Big East before they were gifted the ACC?

(11-25-2017 07:50 PM)JMUETC Wrote:  

(11-25-2017 07:34 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  None of the FBS at any cost crowd are listening. You all think FBS is some type of magical pill that results in a “national” rep. Take a look at ODU, or heck, Boise St. for that matter. Are those institutions “national” in your estimation? Again, I’ve asked for your definition of what that term means to those who are ardent in their advocacy for FBS FB.

As for VT’s growth that’s occured over the last 25 years (both academically and athletically), much of that growth occured by being in the right place at the right time (and even then it took a VA Governor putting the squeeze on UVA to leverage VT’s invitation to the ACC). That path was not open to JMU then, and it’s not open now. And the Cox bill now complicates things in a way VT never had to worry about.

Put JMU in the ACC and all kinds of good things would start to happen (just as they did for VT, from alumni giving, to athletic prominence and academic prestige), however, can any JMU fan seriously suggest that membership in a P5 is a real possibility today? Even if JMU was to join the CUSA, a P5 invite is not going to happen, and membership in the CUSA does not make for a “national” rep. That suggests to me that an alternate route to “national” status must be explored and acted upon if JMU is to realize its full potential.

Sidenote: I’ll have to look at what happened to the effort to start a Med School at VT. There was a huge gift from a donor (I’m thinking about 10+ years ago) to start a Medical program at VT. But even without it, the size of VT’s investments in Graduate Programs are several times that of JMU.

Wasn’t Tech independent and then Big East before they were gifted the ACC?

I thought they were in some other conference before the Big East, and even getting into the Big East wasn’t easy. That was back when VT was losing more than it was winning.