(07-03-2019 11:02 AM)FBS Dave Wrote:  It's time for an alliance of Independent teams. Solve UConn's program home proactively before they come up with a less ideal solution. Negotiate a TV deal as an alliance. JMU, Villanova, and Delaware move up together.

Additional cost is negligible for JMU, Nova, and UD. We are already comparable to the MAC. It's Time.

Buffalo and Temple join later, after it's established, as it's a better fit.

That group wouldn’t quality for the CFP unless UConn left the Big East and UMass left the A10. CFP requires eight schools as full member and is a key reason move to FBS happen.

See JMU, Delaware and Stony Brook as attached and Albany and Towson almost as important. Get them to join the ASun, which already has Kennesaw St and Liberty and add another school like Tenn-Chattanooga and you have a viable FBS conference. When FGCU and UNF decide to add football, they have a ready FBS home.

The ASun could get rid of Lipscomb, NJIT, and Bellarmine and it would be a ACC Jr. The Georgia and Florida schools would be critical for football recruiting. UConn, UMass, Army and Villanova can be affiliate members if they choose.

(07-03-2019 10:48 PM)NoDak Wrote:  That group wouldn’t quality for the CFP unless UConn left the Big East and UMass left the A10. CFP requires eight schools as full member and is a key reason move to FBS happen.

It’s not a conference. It is a scheduling alliance of independent teams.

BYU, Notre Dame, and Army are independents.

IMHO, the best thing JMU can do is declare for Indy and get the transition period out of the way. You could fill up a pretty good schedule. Something like:

@ Maryland
@ UVA
Gardner-Webb
@ODU
Marshall
@UMASS
NMSU
Liberty
@ Army
OHIO
@ ECU
Coastal Carolina

Not a bad indy schedule

JMU won't go Indy for the sake of getting the football transition period out of the way. Like it or not JMU takes athletics with a holistic approach. We will never go Independent because of the high costs and the lack of a conference safe haven.

Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

(07-08-2019 06:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

The nod for what?

(07-08-2019 06:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

Some of them are so delusional they think they are better off in the CAA as opposed to CUSA or the Sunbelt.

(07-03-2019 11:02 AM)FBS Dave Wrote:  It's time for an alliance of Independent teams. Solve UConn's program home proactively before they come up with a less ideal solution. Negotiate a TV deal as an alliance. JMU, Villanova, and Delaware move up together.

Additional cost is negligible for JMU, Nova, and UD. We are already comparable to the MAC. It's Time.

Buffalo and Temple join later, after it's established, as it's a better fit.

1. Why the @$%^ would Buffalo ever leave the MAC. The MAC has been a conference since 1947 and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. My guess 72 years from now in 2091 the MAC will still be around with most likely the same core of schools. And why is Temple joining that also.

2. Army doesn't need a scheduling alliance, as of right now they have 9 games scheduled for each year up until 2026 and 7 games up until 2028. They can get almost anyone they want on their schedule.

3. Delaware looks like it's golden years have past them. The 2011 run to the National Title Game seems like a lifetime ago now and in terms of relevance the 2003 National Title is in the category of 'What Have You Done Lately". If Rocco can't get them over the hump then Delaware has a better chance of going to the Patriot League than ever IA.

3. UMass and UConn are horrid football programs. UMass stadium isn't equipped to handle IA and UConn plays in a stadium that is 22 miles off campus. Neither of these schools are an attractive add as a nonconference foe. Again they both have a better chance of being IAA in the near future.

4. Nova is never going to do anything to rock their basketball program and IA would do that if it be in a conference or indy. They just aren't going anywhere new IA.

(07-08-2019 07:11 PM)herdfan129 Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 06:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

Some of them are so delusional they think they are better off in the CAA as opposed to CUSA or the Sunbelt.

In some respects, we are. The grass isn’t as green as you’re trying to sell it as. Don’t take it personal.

(07-08-2019 07:48 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 07:11 PM)herdfan129 Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 06:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

Some of them are so delusional they think they are better off in the CAA as opposed to CUSA or the Sunbelt.

In some respects, we are. The grass isn’t as green as you’re trying to sell it as. Don’t take it personal.

You're right, in some respects. And to be honest, I kinda prefer it. BUT it's also fair to say that if we'd been in CUSA or SunBelt for a few years, we'd probably be on a short list to join the AAC this year.

You are right. The top FCS programs left so now its just you and the guys from Fargo to compete for the National Championship.

Outside of that, there's absolutely no comparison. I was a Marshall fan through the FCS years. I've been on both sides of the fence. FBS is way better, App State, ODU, Liberty, and Ga Southern fans will tell you the same thing. Keep telling yourself whatever you want though.

Also, I'm not saying this as a knock. I'm saying these things as someone who respects the JMU football program and think you would successfully transition to FBS. You have an actual fan base that deserves the chance to move up.

(07-08-2019 06:13 PM)Wear Purple Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 06:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

The nod for what?

You’d probably have been in CUSA for five years and be a prime candidate for the AAC

(07-08-2019 08:21 PM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 07:48 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 07:11 PM)herdfan129 Wrote:  

(07-08-2019 06:07 PM)THUNDERStruck73 Wrote:  Okay, I’ll bet that had JMU been FBS Indy, you'd have gotten the nod over Charlotte and ODU. You might be cutting your noses off to spite your face and that could be a regretful decision.

Some of them are so delusional they think they are better off in the CAA as opposed to CUSA or the Sunbelt.

In some respects, we are. The grass isn’t as green as you’re trying to sell it as. Don’t take it personal.

You're right, in some respects. And to be honest, I kinda prefer it. BUT it's also fair to say that if we'd been in CUSA or SunBelt for a few years, we'd probably be on a short list to join the AAC this year.

That was exactly my point of you all moving up sooner than later.

There is no evidence to support a claim that we would be a "prime" or "frontrunner" for admission to the AAC if we joined CUSA/MAC/SB 5 years ago. We might be in the conversation, but no more than say ODU or anyone else. At the surface the AAC isn't even interested in expanding at this point.

Moving to a conference with the hopes of positioning yourself to be considered a level above that is not the way that Universities should approach moving to another conference. If your programs grow to the point where maybe you outgrow your conference and another opportunity arises so be it but this idea that Jmu would move from the Caa to a conference that they knew wasn’t ideal just to try to move 5 years later is not feasible. It makes for great message board threads but that is not how Universities think or should think. If you are viewing that conference Cusa Sun belt etc through the lens of it May help us get to where we want to be that tells you all you need to know about that conference and why Jmu shouldn’t move there. Put all your chips in moving to the AAC- it’s a conference and membership Jmu could be happy with for decades to come.

(07-08-2019 07:48 PM)HerdZoned Wrote:  

(07-03-2019 11:02 AM)FBS Dave Wrote:  It's time for an alliance of Independent teams. Solve UConn's program home proactively before they come up with a less ideal solution. Negotiate a TV deal as an alliance. JMU, Villanova, and Delaware move up together.

Additional cost is negligible for JMU, Nova, and UD. We are already comparable to the MAC. It's Time.

Buffalo and Temple join later, after it's established, as it's a better fit.

Army doesn't need a scheduling alliance, as of right now they have 9 games scheduled for each year up until 2026 and 7 games up until 2028. They can get almost anyone they want on their schedule.

It's amazing nobody pointed this out sooner.

Army has zero interest in scheduling that many regional opponents. They want to play games all over the county for visibility and recruiting purposes. There's a reason that when Navy joined the AAC for football, they requested to be in the West division so they aren't locked in to only playing on the eastern seaboard.

(07-09-2019 07:55 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  There is no evidence to support a claim that we would be a "prime" or "frontrunner" for admission to the AAC if we joined CUSA/MAC/SB 5 years ago. We might be in the conversation, but no more than say ODU or anyone else. At the surface the AAC isn't even interested in expanding at this point.

I think the ‘evidence’, if you will, that the others are pointing to is that only the Sun Belt and CUSA have shown the willingness to take a school from FCS since 2001.

The American since it reformatted from the Big East has really only poached from CUSA since its inception with the lone exception being the Naval Academy, who were indy at the time. Since the past is a good indicator for future tendencies, I would suspect that if the AAC wants to expand they would consider who in the CUSA they would want to add prior to looking elsewhere. Much like the ACC loved to raid the old Big East for expansion candidates.

(07-09-2019 08:15 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Moving to a conference with the hopes of positioning yourself to be considered a level above that is not the way that Universities should approach moving to another conference. If your programs grow to the point where maybe you outgrow your conference and another opportunity arises so be it but this idea that Jmu would move from the Caa to a conference that they knew wasn’t ideal just to try to move 5 years later is not feasible. It makes for great message board threads but that is not how Universities think or should think. If you are viewing that conference Cusa Sun belt etc through the lens of it May help us get to where we want to be that tells you all you need to know about that conference and why Jmu shouldn’t move there. Put all your chips in moving to the AAC- it’s a conference and membership Jmu could be happy with for decades to come.

Then you should turn down the AAC as well. All of those schools are hoping to use the AAC as a stepping stone to a P5 conference. By all means, stay in the CAA until the SEC, Big 12, Big 10, or ACC send you an invite.

(07-09-2019 09:13 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(07-09-2019 07:55 AM)Deez Nuts Wrote:  There is no evidence to support a claim that we would be a "prime" or "frontrunner" for admission to the AAC if we joined CUSA/MAC/SB 5 years ago. We might be in the conversation, but no more than say ODU or anyone else. At the surface the AAC isn't even interested in expanding at this point.

I think the ‘evidence’, if you will, that the others are pointing to is that only the Sun Belt and CUSA have shown the willingness to take a school from FCS since 2001.

The American since it reformatted from the Big East has really only poached from CUSA since its inception with the lone exception being the Naval Academy, who were indy at the time. Since the past is a good indicator for future tendencies, I would suspect that if the AAC wants to expand they would consider who in the CUSA they would want to add prior to looking elsewhere. Much like the ACC loved to raid the old Big East for expansion candidates.

You are too caught up on labels - they haven’t taken an FCS move up because there haven’t been any with close to JMUs resume or fit for their conference. You are comparing JMU to football startups Odu and Charlotte or Georgia State etc. Jmu brings a ton more to the table than those schools do or did- facilities, brand, history, budget, fan support- all dwarf those schools. Jmu is a different candidate than most FCS moveups. The Dukes are the most ready to move up certainly since App State and probably you have to go as far back as Marshall to find a school ready to compete and fit right away.

This idea that the AAC wouldn’t add Jmu if they were the best option based on perception is silly. A simple press release or interview would explain why the Dukes were added. So you think Joe fan or alum with an AAC school would feel better if the school they added came from the Cusa or Sun belt? I don’t think they are getting a Mountain West school or an Indy like BYU - too lateral so whether we are Caa or Cusa we go to the head of the class.

(07-09-2019 10:08 AM)herdfan129 Wrote:  

(07-09-2019 08:15 AM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  Moving to a conference with the hopes of positioning yourself to be considered a level above that is not the way that Universities should approach moving to another conference. If your programs grow to the point where maybe you outgrow your conference and another opportunity arises so be it but this idea that Jmu would move from the Caa to a conference that they knew wasn’t ideal just to try to move 5 years later is not feasible. It makes for great message board threads but that is not how Universities think or should think. If you are viewing that conference Cusa Sun belt etc through the lens of it May help us get to where we want to be that tells you all you need to know about that conference and why Jmu shouldn’t move there. Put all your chips in moving to the AAC- it’s a conference and membership Jmu could be happy with for decades to come.

Then you should turn down the AAC as well. All of those schools are hoping to use the AAC as a stepping stone to a P5 conference. By all means, stay in the CAA until the SEC, Big 12, Big 10, or ACC send you an invite.

Here’s the reality Marshall wouldn’t move to today’s CUSA from the Mac if they had the choice. Marshall moved to the old Cusa (current AAC) when they were in the Mac. This watered down far flung mess of the Cusa they wouldn’t move to if they had a choice. They were left behind and so now they are kind of stuck there.