(01-01-2021 07:30 PM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 10:32 AM)Dukeman2 Wrote:  Three of JMU's top five donors have refused to support this leadership group. No evidence of this. Not that it matters. Dukebot will continue to lie about it until the next time it short circuits.

Extrapolate that metric across all prior donors. Can't do that. Five is too small a sample size to extrapolate, not a random sample, and you cannot control or hold steady other variables, such as why people donate in the first place, how long they've donated, etc.

FCS football is not designed for alumni, it is for current students and funded 80% with student fees. College sports at any level are for current students, alumni, and a bridge to prospective students as well, so the first two parts of this sentence are debatably wrong. The last part RE: the student fees are unequivocally wrong - student fees are between 50-60% (I don't have the exact figures, but it is not 80% because that would be illegal per the Cox Bill).

Status quo equals failure for a University with the size and resources of JMU Somehow you stumbled into a good point, and I think a lot of people agree with this. Myself included. We must continue to move forward as a university.

I can not confirm Dukeman2’s “three out of five” claim. However, I know for a fact that several big donors (I won’t say how high they are) are not in favor of moving to fbs, and it has nothing to do with disagreement or displeasure with JA, JB, or CK. None of those I mention travel far to get to BFS or the new AUB. JMU games are as much about friends/fellowship/networking as anything else. They all love and support JMU, but they are not as concerned as others about conference affiliation etc. In addition, some of them also support other VA/WVA schools not to be named here. They get their fbs fix and big time college sports fix there. I love them all and are thankful they are JMU fans, but when some of your upper tier donors are ambivalent about a move up it does not help that cause. I have been a vocal move to fbs person all along, but unfortunately my donation simply doesn’t move the needle. $$$$ talks . . .

Are they ambivalent to moving up, or are they against it? Based on the language that you are using, I am assuming these Big Donors are fans or have a rooting interest in P5 schools around us (you don't need to confirm, but let me know if I am wrong). With the gap between G5 and P5, I'm not sure what the difference would be for them. They can support an "up and coming" school in little ol' JMU, while continuing to have the "big name" experience with their other sports teams.

There is no perfect fit for the related post concerning fellow CAA member and UMass hiring away CAA coach reported by Pete Thamel.

Please move or delete if total inapproriate.

Quote:@PeteThamel
Source: UMass is hiring New Hampshire's Alex Miller as the new offensive line coach and run-game coordinator. Miller was co-offensive coordinator and OLine coach at UNH and is prolific recruiter of the DMV. He's a former UMass star center and Oregon GA.
1:01 PM · Jan 1, 2021

An interesting post from DukesofJMU, 10/13/16 and should make your games with UNH a little bit simpler.

Quote:“Offensively, they have a lot of aspects of Oregon with all the formations and all the motions,” James Madison coach Mike Houston said. “Certainly, they’ll put a stress on us from an alignment standpoint and responsibility standpoint.”

The No. 7-ranked Dukes head to Durham this weekend to meet New Hampshire in a clash of two unbeaten Colonial Athletic Association squads.

For three years, Alex Miller served as a graduate assistant under Kelly at Oregon. Since leaving Eugene, he’s been the offensive line coach at New Hampshire.

“When coach [McDonnell], here at New Hampshire, had an opening back in 2011 for the offensive line job, Chip actually recommended me,” Miller said.

McDonnell and Miller’s tie to Kelly has helped New Hampshire maintain his offensive system.

“Most of the run-game stuff has a lot of carry over,” Miller said. “Some of the passing concepts are a little bit different, but the principles of the offense and run game are very similar.”

JMU defensive coordinator Bob Trott faced New Hampshire’s offense in each of the last two seasons when he held the same job at Richmond.

Know the CAA football schedule is out from a post on the Holy Cross board.
Actually think a home and home with Holy Cross would be good stuff. They don't have a lot of parking or tailgating area, but Fitton Field is a steel structure holding 23,500 fans.

Know FBS is not in the immediate cards for you guys and sorry we did not go all in with the MAC and sure you would have been there as well.

I’d love to go to a game at Holy across while we’re FCS.

(01-02-2021 01:00 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 07:30 PM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 10:32 AM)Dukeman2 Wrote:  Three of JMU's top five donors have refused to support this leadership group. No evidence of this. Not that it matters. Dukebot will continue to lie about it until the next time it short circuits.

Extrapolate that metric across all prior donors. Can't do that. Five is too small a sample size to extrapolate, not a random sample, and you cannot control or hold steady other variables, such as why people donate in the first place, how long they've donated, etc.

FCS football is not designed for alumni, it is for current students and funded 80% with student fees. College sports at any level are for current students, alumni, and a bridge to prospective students as well, so the first two parts of this sentence are debatably wrong. The last part RE: the student fees are unequivocally wrong - student fees are between 50-60% (I don't have the exact figures, but it is not 80% because that would be illegal per the Cox Bill).

Status quo equals failure for a University with the size and resources of JMU Somehow you stumbled into a good point, and I think a lot of people agree with this. Myself included. We must continue to move forward as a university.

I can not confirm Dukeman2’s “three out of five” claim. However, I know for a fact that several big donors (I won’t say how high they are) are not in favor of moving to fbs, and it has nothing to do with disagreement or displeasure with JA, JB, or CK. None of those I mention travel far to get to BFS or the new AUB. JMU games are as much about friends/fellowship/networking as anything else. They all love and support JMU, but they are not as concerned as others about conference affiliation etc. In addition, some of them also support other VA/WVA schools not to be named here. They get their fbs fix and big time college sports fix there. I love them all and are thankful they are JMU fans, but when some of your upper tier donors are ambivalent about a move up it does not help that cause. I have been a vocal move to fbs person all along, but unfortunately my donation simply doesn’t move the needle. $$$$ talks . . .

Are they ambivalent to moving up, or are they against it? Based on the language that you are using, I am assuming these Big Donors are fans or have a rooting interest in P5 schools around us (you don't need to confirm, but let me know if I am wrong). With the gap between G5 and P5, I'm not sure what the difference would be for them. They can support an "up and coming" school in little ol' JMU, while continuing to have the "big name" experience with their other sports teams.

I used “ambivalent” because I have not heard them say in direct language or no uncertain terms they are against a move up. The reality is the level we are now, with the club and suites and game day experience that is available, offer the right mix of game action and social interaction. It’s the people and the party , not the level of competition that drives them more at JMU athletic events. I have also heard this group specifically mention the current rivals like RU and W&M being important. They recall the App games with emotion, but are not bothered Appy has moved up. Yes, to the P5 schools around us; they are at their games too. They like the yearly fbs game; they like the playoffs and Frisco. They love and support JMU, but the drive to move up and be in 1A or FBS is not there. My point: If we have some key donors who definitely have the ear of the big three and the Duke Club reps who are satisfied with fcs, I would think it has to impact future planning. For the record: I believe every donor I am referencing would support JMU in a move up when it came down to it. But they are not clamoring for it or pushing in that direction.

Solution;
Name change to VT Satellite Campus - Harrisonburg
Drop all Satellite Campus sports
Become Hokie fans grandfathered to grad date

When do we join the SEC?

(01-03-2021 09:00 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(01-02-2021 01:00 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 07:30 PM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 10:32 AM)Dukeman2 Wrote:  Three of JMU's top five donors have refused to support this leadership group. No evidence of this. Not that it matters. Dukebot will continue to lie about it until the next time it short circuits.

Extrapolate that metric across all prior donors. Can't do that. Five is too small a sample size to extrapolate, not a random sample, and you cannot control or hold steady other variables, such as why people donate in the first place, how long they've donated, etc.

FCS football is not designed for alumni, it is for current students and funded 80% with student fees. College sports at any level are for current students, alumni, and a bridge to prospective students as well, so the first two parts of this sentence are debatably wrong. The last part RE: the student fees are unequivocally wrong - student fees are between 50-60% (I don't have the exact figures, but it is not 80% because that would be illegal per the Cox Bill).

Status quo equals failure for a University with the size and resources of JMU Somehow you stumbled into a good point, and I think a lot of people agree with this. Myself included. We must continue to move forward as a university.

I can not confirm Dukeman2’s “three out of five” claim. However, I know for a fact that several big donors (I won’t say how high they are) are not in favor of moving to fbs, and it has nothing to do with disagreement or displeasure with JA, JB, or CK. None of those I mention travel far to get to BFS or the new AUB. JMU games are as much about friends/fellowship/networking as anything else. They all love and support JMU, but they are not as concerned as others about conference affiliation etc. In addition, some of them also support other VA/WVA schools not to be named here. They get their fbs fix and big time college sports fix there. I love them all and are thankful they are JMU fans, but when some of your upper tier donors are ambivalent about a move up it does not help that cause. I have been a vocal move to fbs person all along, but unfortunately my donation simply doesn’t move the needle. $$$$ talks . . .

Are they ambivalent to moving up, or are they against it? Based on the language that you are using, I am assuming these Big Donors are fans or have a rooting interest in P5 schools around us (you don't need to confirm, but let me know if I am wrong). With the gap between G5 and P5, I'm not sure what the difference would be for them. They can support an "up and coming" school in little ol' JMU, while continuing to have the "big name" experience with their other sports teams.

I used “ambivalent” because I have not heard them say in direct language or no uncertain terms they are against a move up. The reality is the level we are now, with the club and suites and game day experience that is available, offer the right mix of game action and social interaction. It’s the people and the party , not the level of competition that drives them more at JMU athletic events. I have also heard this group specifically mention the current rivals like RU and W&M being important. They recall the App games with emotion, but are not bothered Appy has moved up. Yes, to the P5 schools around us; they are at their games too. They like the yearly fbs game; they like the playoffs and Frisco. They love and support JMU, but the drive to move up and be in 1A or FBS is not there. My point: If we have some key donors who definitely have the ear of the big three and the Duke Club reps who are satisfied with fcs, I would think it has to impact future planning. For the record: I believe every donor I am referencing would support JMU in a move up when it came down to it. But they are not clamoring for it or pushing in that direction.

This seems very odd. Who are these people that are big donors at P5 schools, that are also big donors at JMU and travel for FCS playoffs? Weird.

Not sure those people are big P5 donors. Just P5 alums living in Harrisonburg who are some of JMU’s largest donors.

(01-03-2021 09:00 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  I used “ambivalent” because I have not heard them say in direct language or no uncertain terms they are against a move up. The reality is the level we are now, with the club and suites and game day experience that is available, offer the right mix of game action and social interaction. It’s the people and the party , not the level of competition that drives them more at JMU athletic events. I have also heard this group specifically mention the current rivals like RU and W&M being important. They recall the App games with emotion, but are not bothered Appy has moved up. Yes, to the P5 schools around us; they are at their games too. They like the yearly fbs game; they like the playoffs and Frisco. They love and support JMU, but the drive to move up and be in 1A or FBS is not there. My point: If we have some key donors who definitely have the ear of the big three and the Duke Club reps who are satisfied with fcs, I would think it has to impact future planning. For the record: I believe every donor I am referencing would support JMU in a move up when it came down to it. But they are not clamoring for it or pushing in that direction.

That makes sense. Thanks for clarifying.

A classic example of what sports can mean to academics is Notre Dame.

Football is a huge part of ND’s success story in becoming a National University. It’s tough to get into Notre Dame.

JMU has an acceptance rate of 78%! Even the administrators, professors, and donors that don’t give a lick about football have to be concerned about such a high acceptance rate.

JMU has one of the most successful FCS programs with multiple, and recent, national titles. This success has not moved the needle on acceptance rates. Actually, in spite of FCS success, JMU has actually become less selective. You are trending in the wrong direction!

National level success in basketball or football does increase applications. It does improve your application pool, and it does increase your selectivity metrics.

There are plenty of administration nerds at other universities that were never sports fans themselves but at least intellectually grasp the benefits of sports.

Is FBS the only way to improve academics? Of course not. Richmond and W&M have an academic foundation and will remain more exclusive in the small school model. JMU is missing an opportunity though. JMU is already paying FBS levels and is only generating FCS level interest, which is missing the return on investment to its academic profile.

Where is the return on investment for JMU’s high level of spending?

Yeah, because there is so much in common between Notre Dame and JMU. Notre Dame was de facto team for all Catholics in the US, and would routinely play and beat schools that were symbolic of the powers that kept Catholics down or outright hated in the US. JMU is the de facto team for....?

JMU's acceptance rate is 77%. VCU is 87% (national basketball success tho). George Mason is 81% (a bit more dated Final Four run). VT is 70% (they've been down in football recently, but had a good program; basketball has been ranked recently as well). ODU and Longwood are both at 89%. NDSU is at 94%. UVA and W&M are at 24% and 37%, respectively. Richmond is 28%. My point is looking at acceptance rate is looking at a small corner of picture and trying to figure out what the rest of the picture looks like.

FBS Dave made his case on multiple occasions but I think the last few justifications for FBS Independence have been kind of grasping at straws. For example that Indy is somehow more financially prudent than current or than FBS G5- makes no sense.

Yup. We agree we are better suited for FBS. But that's about it

Don't like FBS Indy, but one offsetting option is that with 12 games you can schedule a few buy games to offset CFP, conferences TV revenue, but you will need to find a bowl tie-in and no conference championship.

You guys have a lot going and since you waited this long, suggest waiting till it makes more sense.

(01-03-2021 04:07 PM)FBS Dave Wrote:  

(01-03-2021 09:00 AM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(01-02-2021 01:00 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 07:30 PM)jmutoml757 Wrote:  

(01-01-2021 10:32 AM)Dukeman2 Wrote:  Three of JMU's top five donors have refused to support this leadership group. No evidence of this. Not that it matters. Dukebot will continue to lie about it until the next time it short circuits.

Extrapolate that metric across all prior donors. Can't do that. Five is too small a sample size to extrapolate, not a random sample, and you cannot control or hold steady other variables, such as why people donate in the first place, how long they've donated, etc.

FCS football is not designed for alumni, it is for current students and funded 80% with student fees. College sports at any level are for current students, alumni, and a bridge to prospective students as well, so the first two parts of this sentence are debatably wrong. The last part RE: the student fees are unequivocally wrong - student fees are between 50-60% (I don't have the exact figures, but it is not 80% because that would be illegal per the Cox Bill).

Status quo equals failure for a University with the size and resources of JMU Somehow you stumbled into a good point, and I think a lot of people agree with this. Myself included. We must continue to move forward as a university.

I can not confirm Dukeman2’s “three out of five” claim. However, I know for a fact that several big donors (I won’t say how high they are) are not in favor of moving to fbs, and it has nothing to do with disagreement or displeasure with JA, JB, or CK. None of those I mention travel far to get to BFS or the new AUB. JMU games are as much about friends/fellowship/networking as anything else. They all love and support JMU, but they are not as concerned as others about conference affiliation etc. In addition, some of them also support other VA/WVA schools not to be named here. They get their fbs fix and big time college sports fix there. I love them all and are thankful they are JMU fans, but when some of your upper tier donors are ambivalent about a move up it does not help that cause. I have been a vocal move to fbs person all along, but unfortunately my donation simply doesn’t move the needle. $$$$ talks . . .

Are they ambivalent to moving up, or are they against it? Based on the language that you are using, I am assuming these Big Donors are fans or have a rooting interest in P5 schools around us (you don't need to confirm, but let me know if I am wrong). With the gap between G5 and P5, I'm not sure what the difference would be for them. They can support an "up and coming" school in little ol' JMU, while continuing to have the "big name" experience with their other sports teams.

I used “ambivalent” because I have not heard them say in direct language or no uncertain terms they are against a move up. The reality is the level we are now, with the club and suites and game day experience that is available, offer the right mix of game action and social interaction. It’s the people and the party , not the level of competition that drives them more at JMU athletic events. I have also heard this group specifically mention the current rivals like RU and W&M being important. They recall the App games with emotion, but are not bothered Appy has moved up. Yes, to the P5 schools around us; they are at their games too. They like the yearly fbs game; they like the playoffs and Frisco. They love and support JMU, but the drive to move up and be in 1A or FBS is not there. My point: If we have some key donors who definitely have the ear of the big three and the Duke Club reps who are satisfied with fcs, I would think it has to impact future planning. For the record: I believe every donor I am referencing would support JMU in a move up when it came down to it. But they are not clamoring for it or pushing in that direction.

This seems very odd. Who are these people that are big donors at P5 schools, that are also big donors at JMU and travel for FCS playoffs? Weird.

Well, “big” is a relative term... but I believe folks would be surprised. They are out there for sure. And what is considered “big” donations at the JMU level is not considered as “big” at the P5 level of which we speak. But it’s all “bigger” than what I am able to do.

(01-04-2021 12:25 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  Yeah, because there is so much in common between Notre Dame and JMU. Notre Dame was de facto team for all Catholics in the US, and would routinely play and beat schools that were symbolic of the powers that kept Catholics down or outright hated in the US. JMU is the de facto team for....?

JMU's acceptance rate is 77%. VCU is 87% (national basketball success tho). George Mason is 81% (a bit more dated Final Four run). VT is 70% (they've been down in football recently, but had a good program; basketball has been ranked recently as well). ODU and Longwood are both at 89%. NDSU is at 94%. UVA and W&M are at 24% and 37%, respectively. Richmond is 28%. My point is looking at acceptance rate is looking at a small corner of picture and trying to figure out what the rest of the picture looks like.

There are a lot of great Catholic Universities. Notre Dame’s football makes some think it’s the de facto Catholic University, but there are Hoyas that would argue for Georgetown. Villanova has had its undergrad business program rated higher. 9 of the Big East teams are Catholic. Boston College is Catholic.

There was a time when Holy Cross (Catholic) was more prominent and famously turned down an invite to the Big East.

I think you are proving my point. I think most consider VCU and George Mason flashes in the pan. Maybe like Loyola (Catholic) a few years ago.

Gonzaga (Catholic) has sustained success and it definitely has put them on the National Map. Villanova (Catholic) definitely saw huge increases in applications in the 1980s after its championship and again with 2 in the last 5 years.

JMU’s acceptance rate is going in the wrong direction. It’s FCS success isn’t moving the needle. Paying FBS costs for no ROI.

(01-04-2021 12:28 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  FBS Dave made his case on multiple occasions but I think the last few justifications for FBS Independence have been kind of grasping at straws. For example that Indy is somehow more financially prudent than current or than FBS G5- makes no sense.

FBS Indy is definitely better for the bottom line than the CAA. Just look at the numbers. What TV revenue do you get with CAA? What post season money do you get with CAA? What national exposure do you get with CAA? What is the buy game rate for a FCS program vs a FBS program?

G5 would also be better than the CAA and there is a reasonable debate to be had for that direction.

Arguing that CAA is JMU’s best position is ignorant. (That’s not a degrading label). Look at the facts and seek to understand.

FBS Dave makes some powerful and provocative statements.

We need more people like him.

Most independent thinkers would agree with him.

(01-04-2021 12:25 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  Yeah, because there is so much in common between Notre Dame and JMU. Notre Dame was de facto team for all Catholics in the US, and would routinely play and beat schools that were symbolic of the powers that kept Catholics down or outright hated in the US. JMU is the de facto team for....?

JMU's acceptance rate is 77%. VCU is 87% (national basketball success tho). George Mason is 81% (a bit more dated Final Four run). VT is 70% (they've been down in football recently, but had a good program; basketball has been ranked recently as well). ODU and Longwood are both at 89%. NDSU is at 94%. UVA and W&M are at 24% and 37%, respectively. Richmond is 28%. My point is looking at acceptance rate is looking at a small corner of picture and trying to figure out what the rest of the picture looks like.

I bet your high acceptance rate is due to many high ranked seniors applying to JMU as their back up school. Admission officials can't afford to not accept all of them for fear they'd lose a few, thus your admission yield is a very low 25%.

(01-05-2021 08:06 AM)Capt Ed Wrote:  

(01-04-2021 12:25 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  Yeah, because there is so much in common between Notre Dame and JMU. Notre Dame was de facto team for all Catholics in the US, and would routinely play and beat schools that were symbolic of the powers that kept Catholics down or outright hated in the US. JMU is the de facto team for....?

JMU's acceptance rate is 77%. VCU is 87% (national basketball success tho). George Mason is 81% (a bit more dated Final Four run). VT is 70% (they've been down in football recently, but had a good program; basketball has been ranked recently as well). ODU and Longwood are both at 89%. NDSU is at 94%. UVA and W&M are at 24% and 37%, respectively. Richmond is 28%. My point is looking at acceptance rate is looking at a small corner of picture and trying to figure out what the rest of the picture looks like.

I bet your high acceptance rate is due to many high ranked seniors applying to JMU as their back up school. Admission officials can't afford to not accept all of them for fear they'd lose a few, thus your admission yield is a very low 25%.

Higher ed in general will continue to see higher acceptance rates, imo. Higher ed has behaved like a bubble for nearly 30 years, and I think the battle for tuition will get really really ugly outside of the 1st tier universities.

The Zags are an example. A dozen years ago their acceptance rate was 78%. The latest USNWR showed 62%.

Is this a coincidence to their basketball success? No, it was actually an investment strategy. They saw the bump they received in their 1999 run.

“In 1998-99, Fr. Spitzer became Gonzaga’s 25th president and basketball took the national stage. His energy and foresight to “grow” the University to become more financially viable, coupled with the catapultlike effect the Zags delivered in March Madness, provided plenty of fuel to raise the University’s profile, begin to draw more students, and lift Gonzaga out of financial woes.

Gonzaga’s trustees and Fr. Spitzer saw the potential benefit of investing in basketball after the team had unexpectedly reached the Elite Eight in the 1999 NCAA Tournament. “Basketball’s continued success helped change the profile of the institution academically, and helped propel enrollment and fundraising,” says Chuck Murphy, Gonzaga’s longtime vice president for finance, and now, chief strategy officer. “The perception of Gonzaga changed, from being a back-up school to now being a primary-choice school for many students.”

When President McCulloh took over in 2009, the need to grow was no longer an issue. He chose to focus on increasing quality and asking how each institutional decision would benefit students.

During these 20 years, more than two dozen buildings were built or renovated, leadership successfully transitioned from a Jesuit president to a lay leader, two highly-successful capital campaigns raised more than a half billion dollars, including nearly $150 million for scholarships, enrollment increased 69% while the diversity of our student body saw a marked increase (from 10% to 25%), and every school was, or became, accredited by its respective bodies.“

https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stor...he-century

JMU isn’t Notre Dame or Gonzaga, of course. But you can learn lessons from others if you open your eyes. Increasing your national profile and your academics through sports isn’t a secret recipe I’m sharing. I’m pointing to the obvious.

Arguing against this is like arguing that the beach isn’t nicer on a sunny day. “But I went to the beach once on a sunny day and it wasn’t crowded”.

Explain away JMU becoming less selective if you want. Accept it as your destiny.