(03-23-2020 05:37 PM)Gary Miller Wrote: (03-23-2020 05:23 PM)82hawk Wrote: (03-23-2020 12:20 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote: (03-23-2020 12:16 PM)Gary Miller Wrote: JMU has already had two enter the transfer portal since the announcement. Dwight Wilson and Darius Banks. Solid players but if Byington can keep Matt Lewis that would be huge for them
Conversely, and this has nothing to do with Byington or JMU, but we haven't had any players leave for the portal yet to my knowledge? Am I correct there? If so, that's a great sign. Knock on some wood...
Siddle has some respect and credibilty with everyone at UNCW as a former assistant coach here. Hard for the players to ignore the move from last place to a tie for first place the next year and then two NCAA appearances under Keatts/Siddle. Where else would they go to get a better upside than that? OTH, JMU didn't bring on a coach with any credibility to the current players. No real change in style that might excite them about the future. I actually think they'd have kept everyone if Mike Jones was bringing the press.
I saw a rumor that Mike Jones turned the job down. Which is surprising if true
Never saw that rumor on Mike Jones. A handful of folks wanted him, but the majority did not.
A good number of posters on our board wanted the admin to spend close to
a million dollars on the hire. That was the hill they wanted to die on.
More have come out recently liking the Byington hire. Looks like he is bringing two of his staff from Georgia Southern and picked up an assistant from Mt. St Mary's and one from UMES (Calvin Baker ex mid 2000's W&M Tribe & UVA player). Both those assistants have ties in Virginia/DC/Maryland.
Georgia Southern fans let us know they really liked him and he turned a terrible program in to a top 4-5 Sun Belt team. One thought the admin didn't do enough to help him get over the hump and the school / fans are more in to football for that to have happened.
Most of us are fine with whoever wants to go can go. Give Coach B a clean slate. 2-16 CAA 0-1 CAAT.
Dwight Wilson is going to Ohio to play one year. Darius Banks and DeShon Parker haven't found new homes. At least Parker would have 2 years somewhere.
I think Byington's background will equal success at JMU (above what Matt Brady ever did).
It would be great to see UNCW and JMU raise their level of play again, which will only help make the CAA even more competitive.