(08-05-2015 10:51 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:12 AM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:36 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:26 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:16 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  JMU's budget would currently top every school in the MAC, Sun Belt, and CUSA (and that's before adding additional scholarships) and it has nothing to do with JMU's accounting.

I need to find some time to do an analysis on this, because at face value, I say that's incorrect (keep in mind, I am flat out saying I haven't compared numbers, so my response could be TOTALLY off base. But given what I know of our own budget, I don't see an FCS budget being tops in the conference just by virtue of the additional scholarships).

Our student fees for athletics are $33 million by themselves. Not counting ticket sales, game guarantees, donations, etc. That number alone would top most MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt programs.

Take a look at the numbers for yourself:

http://www.jmu.edu/financeoffice/fin-sta...aa2014.pdf

Wow, $33 million. Oh what the Cajuns could do with that kind of money.

Exactly. And I don't post those budget numbers to boast. Pointing out that our budget would top those conferences is embarrassing. We're filet mignon money and getting "taco bell ground beef from a bag" in return.

Look at our football facility: http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614&path=

Then look at our new basketball arena: http://www.jmuconvo.com

Now ask yourself why we are content playing Stony Brook and Albany in football and Elon and Charleston in basketball with those facilities. It makes absolutely no sense.

Just so no one misinterprets my comments...I have nothing but praise for the Sun Belt and embarrassed that my alma mater won't pursue an opportunity to be in your conference.

I've been to James Madison University and it is a beautiful campus in a small town surrounded by mountains. The photos of your stadium are deceptive as the home side looks massive, but the visitors side is completely unbalanced. What's the capacity? 24,000?

Please don't take this the wrong way because the Sun Belt would love to have JMU and I'd support the Dukes joining tomorrow but with that kind of money, why don't you dominate the CAA year in and year out?

(08-05-2015 10:56 AM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:51 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:12 AM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:36 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:26 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I need to find some time to do an analysis on this, because at face value, I say that's incorrect (keep in mind, I am flat out saying I haven't compared numbers, so my response could be TOTALLY off base. But given what I know of our own budget, I don't see an FCS budget being tops in the conference just by virtue of the additional scholarships).

Our student fees for athletics are $33 million by themselves. Not counting ticket sales, game guarantees, donations, etc. That number alone would top most MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt programs.

Take a look at the numbers for yourself:

http://www.jmu.edu/financeoffice/fin-sta...aa2014.pdf

Wow, $33 million. Oh what the Cajuns could do with that kind of money.

Exactly. And I don't post those budget numbers to boast. Pointing out that our budget would top those conferences is embarrassing. We're filet mignon money and getting "taco bell ground beef from a bag" in return.

Look at our football facility: http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614&path=

Then look at our new basketball arena: http://www.jmuconvo.com

Now ask yourself why we are content playing Stony Brook and Albany in football and Elon and Charleston in basketball with those facilities. It makes absolutely no sense.

Just so no one misinterprets my comments...I have nothing but praise for the Sun Belt and embarrassed that my alma mater won't pursue an opportunity to be in your conference.

I've been to James Madison University and it is a beautiful campus in a small town surrounded by mountains. The photos of your stadium are deceptive as the home side looks massive, but the visitors side is completely unbalanced. What's the capacity? 24,000?

Please don't take this the wrong way because the Sun Belt would love to have JMU and I'd support the Dukes joining tomorrow but with that kind of money, why don't you dominate the CAA year in and year out?

. . . Same reason the Yankees don't win the World Series every year . .

(08-05-2015 10:56 AM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:51 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:12 AM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:36 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:26 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I need to find some time to do an analysis on this, because at face value, I say that's incorrect (keep in mind, I am flat out saying I haven't compared numbers, so my response could be TOTALLY off base. But given what I know of our own budget, I don't see an FCS budget being tops in the conference just by virtue of the additional scholarships).

Our student fees for athletics are $33 million by themselves. Not counting ticket sales, game guarantees, donations, etc. That number alone would top most MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt programs.

Take a look at the numbers for yourself:

http://www.jmu.edu/financeoffice/fin-sta...aa2014.pdf

Wow, $33 million. Oh what the Cajuns could do with that kind of money.

Exactly. And I don't post those budget numbers to boast. Pointing out that our budget would top those conferences is embarrassing. We're filet mignon money and getting "taco bell ground beef from a bag" in return.

Look at our football facility: http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614&path=

Then look at our new basketball arena: http://www.jmuconvo.com

Now ask yourself why we are content playing Stony Brook and Albany in football and Elon and Charleston in basketball with those facilities. It makes absolutely no sense.

Just so no one misinterprets my comments...I have nothing but praise for the Sun Belt and embarrassed that my alma mater won't pursue an opportunity to be in your conference.

I've been to James Madison University and it is a beautiful campus in a small town surrounded by mountains. The photos of your stadium are deceptive as the home side looks massive, but the visitors side is completely unbalanced. What's the capacity? 24,000?

Please don't take this the wrong way because the Sun Belt would love to have JMU and I'd support the Dukes joining tomorrow but with that kind of money, why don't you dominate the CAA year in and year out?

25,000. What those pictures don't show is how impressive the concourse and club/suites are compared to a lot of other facilities. The stadium is built to expand and could be easily done if needed.

Other than men's basketball, we do dominate the CAA in a lot of ways. Our women's basketball has made the NCAA or NIT every year for almost a decade. Our soccer, LAX, and Field Hockey programs are usually in or just outside the top 25. JMU Football hasn't had a losing season in over a decade. Softball has dominated the last few years since upgrading their facilities and, outside of the last few years, JMU baseball has always had a strong program.

Top to bottom JMU is the best athletic program in the CAA. However, I will be the first to admit we severely underachieve given our facilities and our resources.

JMU would be very fortunate to be a member of the Sun Belt.

(08-05-2015 10:56 AM)ButlerGSU Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:51 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:12 AM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:36 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:26 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I need to find some time to do an analysis on this, because at face value, I say that's incorrect (keep in mind, I am flat out saying I haven't compared numbers, so my response could be TOTALLY off base. But given what I know of our own budget, I don't see an FCS budget being tops in the conference just by virtue of the additional scholarships).

Our student fees for athletics are $33 million by themselves. Not counting ticket sales, game guarantees, donations, etc. That number alone would top most MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt programs.

Take a look at the numbers for yourself:

http://www.jmu.edu/financeoffice/fin-sta...aa2014.pdf

Wow, $33 million. Oh what the Cajuns could do with that kind of money.

Exactly. And I don't post those budget numbers to boast. Pointing out that our budget would top those conferences is embarrassing. We're filet mignon money and getting "taco bell ground beef from a bag" in return.

Look at our football facility: http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614&path=

Then look at our new basketball arena: http://www.jmuconvo.com

Now ask yourself why we are content playing Stony Brook and Albany in football and Elon and Charleston in basketball with those facilities. It makes absolutely no sense.

Just so no one misinterprets my comments...I have nothing but praise for the Sun Belt and embarrassed that my alma mater won't pursue an opportunity to be in your conference.

I've been to James Madison University and it is a beautiful campus in a small town surrounded by mountains. The photos of your stadium are deceptive as the home side looks massive, but the visitors side is completely unbalanced. What's the capacity? 24,000?

Please don't take this the wrong way because the Sun Belt would love to have JMU and I'd support the Dukes joining tomorrow but with that kind of money, why don't you dominate the CAA year in and year out?

Because money doesn't win games, players win games.

Why doesn't Texas win the NC every year???

Looks like these numbers have been updated since I last took a look at this list.

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

On this chart JMU is shown to have a larger budget than not only all MAC, CUSA, and Sun Belt schools but also programs like Houston, East Carolina, and Colorado State.

(08-05-2015 11:18 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Looks like these numbers have been updated since I last took a look at this list.

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

On this chart JMU is shown to have a larger budget than not only all MAC, CUSA, and Sun Belt schools but also programs like Houston, East Carolina, and Colorado State.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but most schools do not count debit retirement in thier athletic budgets.

(08-05-2015 11:29 AM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 11:18 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Looks like these numbers have been updated since I last took a look at this list.

http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/finances/

On this chart JMU is shown to have a larger budget than not only all MAC, CUSA, and Sun Belt schools but also programs like Houston, East Carolina, and Colorado State.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but most schools do not count debit retirement in thier athletic budgets.

So remove the $6.25 mm in debt service....still an insane budget for FCS.

The 2nd HIGHEST $$$ SUBSIDY in the nation, FBS or FCS. $8mm football budget for cost containment FCS football.

It's criminal.

Wasn't there a push to cut subsidies for athletics in VA? Your budget is huge for fcs and g5 level, but it's almost all done with fees.

(08-05-2015 12:05 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  Wasn't there a push to cut subsidies for athletics in VA? Your budget is huge for fcs and g5 level, but it's almost all done with fees.

Yes and it was passed. Division 1 fcs schools cannot have more than 70% of their budget come from student fees. I believe JMU is in the 77% range. G5 schools can only have 55% of their budget come from student fees. ODU is already down to 66% (going off memory) from 72% in 1 year and we have 5 until 2020 or something like that. P5 schools limit is 20% but UVA and Tech are both well under that.

(08-06-2015 02:13 PM)benny_t Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 12:05 PM)trueeagle98 Wrote:  Wasn't there a push to cut subsidies for athletics in VA? Your budget is huge for fcs and g5 level, but it's almost all done with fees.

Yes and it was passed. Division 1 fcs schools cannot have more than 70% of their budget come from student fees. I believe JMU is in the 77% range. G5 schools can only have 55% of their budget come from student fees. ODU is already down to 66% (going off memory) from 72% in 1 year and we have 5 until 2020 or something like that. P5 schools limit is 20% but UVA and Tech are both well under that.

Actually, JMU was able to get certain state mandated line items excluded.

We're currently at 55%. Most expect that FBS costs could be offset with FBS revenue.

(08-05-2015 10:51 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:12 AM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:36 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:26 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:16 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  JMU's budget would currently top every school in the MAC, Sun Belt, and CUSA (and that's before adding additional scholarships) and it has nothing to do with JMU's accounting.

I need to find some time to do an analysis on this, because at face value, I say that's incorrect (keep in mind, I am flat out saying I haven't compared numbers, so my response could be TOTALLY off base. But given what I know of our own budget, I don't see an FCS budget being tops in the conference just by virtue of the additional scholarships).

Our student fees for athletics are $33 million by themselves. Not counting ticket sales, game guarantees, donations, etc. That number alone would top most MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt programs.

Take a look at the numbers for yourself:

http://www.jmu.edu/financeoffice/fin-sta...aa2014.pdf

Wow, $33 million. Oh what the Cajuns could do with that kind of money.

Exactly. And I don't post those budget numbers to boast. Pointing out that our budget would top those conferences is embarrassing. We're filet mignon money and getting "taco bell ground beef from a bag" in return.

Look at our football facility: http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614&path=

Then look at our new basketball arena: http://www.jmuconvo.com

Now ask yourself why we are content playing Stony Brook and Albany in football and Elon and Charleston in basketball with those facilities. It makes absolutely no sense.

Just so no one misinterprets my comments...I have nothing but praise for the Sun Belt and embarrassed that my alma mater won't pursue an opportunity to be in your conference.

All of this is why I would have expect the Sun Belt to just make a move like take on CCU to get to 12 and have the championship FB game (and if it were up to me, replace Idaho with UMass). I would expect those changes and maybe a couple more years would be enough for even our administration to eventually come around. Each year that passes makes it that much more obvious that the SB is a better place for us than the CAA. Eventually, our administration will change its mind, or its membership and come over.

I say replace UMass with Idaho because they are obviously a better choice than Idaho, on the East Coast, better FB than than Idaho, a huge university, in a very populated state, better for TV, etc. All that, plus they have very good academics pulling the SB closer to the CAA in academics, weakening JMU arguments against the SB. And like Idaho, they can be dumped eventually when Missouri State or someone similar finally decides to come over.

Even without JMU, that is a better solution to get the conference in good shape than adding EKU. Better to make the minimum changes and wait out JMU or Missouri State, IMO.

BTW, that picture that started this thread is spot on regarding JMU's leadership. Their current stance regarding the SB is pathetic and stupid.

(08-06-2015 10:41 PM)truthahn Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:51 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 10:12 AM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:36 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(08-05-2015 09:26 AM)TheRevSWT Wrote:  I need to find some time to do an analysis on this, because at face value, I say that's incorrect (keep in mind, I am flat out saying I haven't compared numbers, so my response could be TOTALLY off base. But given what I know of our own budget, I don't see an FCS budget being tops in the conference just by virtue of the additional scholarships).

Our student fees for athletics are $33 million by themselves. Not counting ticket sales, game guarantees, donations, etc. That number alone would top most MAC, CUSA and Sun Belt programs.

Take a look at the numbers for yourself:

http://www.jmu.edu/financeoffice/fin-sta...aa2014.pdf

Wow, $33 million. Oh what the Cajuns could do with that kind of money.

Exactly. And I don't post those budget numbers to boast. Pointing out that our budget would top those conferences is embarrassing. We're filet mignon money and getting "taco bell ground beef from a bag" in return.

Look at our football facility: http://www.jmusports.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=5614&path=

Then look at our new basketball arena: http://www.jmuconvo.com

Now ask yourself why we are content playing Stony Brook and Albany in football and Elon and Charleston in basketball with those facilities. It makes absolutely no sense.

Just so no one misinterprets my comments...I have nothing but praise for the Sun Belt and embarrassed that my alma mater won't pursue an opportunity to be in your conference.

All of this is why I would have expect the Sun Belt to just make a move like take on CCU to get to 12 and have the championship FB game (and if it were up to me, replace Idaho with UMass). I would expect those changes and maybe a couple more years would be enough for even our administration to eventually come around. Each year that passes makes it that much more obvious that the SB is a better place for us than the CAA. Eventually, our administration will change its mind, or its membership and come over.

I say replace UMass with Idaho because they are obviously a better choice than Idaho, on the East Coast, better FB than than Idaho, a huge university, in a very populated state, better for TV, etc. All that, plus they have very good academics pulling the SB closer to the CAA in academics, weakening JMU arguments against the SB. And like Idaho, they can be dumped eventually when Missouri State or someone similar finally decides to come over.

Even without JMU, that is a better solution to get the conference in good shape than adding EKU. Better to make the minimum changes and wait out JMU or Missouri State, IMO.

BTW, that picture that started this thread is spot on regarding JMU's leadership. Their current stance regarding the SB is pathetic and stupid.

I had once hoped to see JMU in the SBC so I mean this sincerely as no offence.
This is an understandable opinion from a JMU supporter that's seeing their program being left behind, not because there was a better candidate out there, but because their school was unwilling to be a candidate in the first place. The CAA ain't that good, to turn their nose up at an FBS slot, what a shame too. Enjoy playing Elon and and Townson.