(03-01-2022 04:26 PM)TroyFootball05 Wrote:  

(03-01-2022 04:02 PM)Cnelson203 Wrote:  In looking at history with SB teams with similar winning tradition transitions, it looks promising for JMU. If my research is right:

Marshall entered FBS in 1997 and went 8-1 (MAC) and won the conference championship and played in Motor City Bowl

Appalachian State came to SB in 2014 and went 6-2 losing only to Georgia Southern and South Alabama.

Georgia Southern came to SB in 2014 took home all the marbles, going 8-0 winning the conference championship but was not yet eligible for a bowl win. Looking forward to our match up in Harrisonburg.

That's a phenomenal record of success, and I recognize that the SB is quite a bit stronger today. But if history is any judge, then anything LESS than 4-4 would be a stumble out of the gate...but the East is going to be tough for all of us.

App State, Georgia Southern, and Marshall were all gods among men in 1-AA football when they made the move to FBS. JMU is close to that caliber, but not quite the same I don't think. I do think they'll be very good if they can find a QB and an OL, though. The east is the best G5 division in the country, however, and that could make all the difference.

I think your dead on about the East being the best G5 division or atleast one of the best, and I think that will have a bigger factor in the number of wins for JMU, than JMU’s talent. I think the odds are they might struggle to reach 6, 7 wins on average the first couple of yrs, but I think long term they are going to be a force.