It is a tough call for the Dukes. Your football program is, at worst, the 2nd best FCS program in the country. Absent one year under Brady in 2013, the basketball program has been a downward spiral since Lefty left more than 20 years ago. With the emphasis on football and the lack of success of the men's bball program, it would be surprising to get an A10 invite. Butler, VCU, and Wichita turned several tourney runs into a program and conference upgrade. You guys don't have that. A Sunbelt or Conference USA invite (like ODU) seems more likely. But, it isn't an easy call like some of you think. It is actually probably easier to achieve true P5 status by making the leap in basketball like Gonzaga, Butler or Wichita State than in football. If you cannot get one of the roughly 64 seats at the P5 table in football, it likely is not worth the financial outlay. Maybe some of the JMU faithful would rather be Liberty as an independent or like ODU with a chance to go to a Dec.18-20 bowl that is very low level. The cost benefit might not be there though and there is the concern about the current trajectory of football in general. I still love and follow it, but there are less people doing that than 10 years ago.

Ironically, both W&M and Hofstra have enjoyed significantly more success on a regular basis the last 10 years than the Dukes in basketball. But, the Dukes have 1 CAA tourney title and the Tribe and the Pride have none. I do miss the days where we all enjoyed multiple games a year with Mason, VCU, ODU, you guys and the Spiders. But those days are likely long gone(at least for W&M). If the administration wants that thru an A10 invite, only non-football success will be relevant. The dream JMU conference would likely be the AAC, but current basketball results might make that a nonstarter. JMU is a great school and far greater than it was 25 years ago. Size and facilities are likely sufficient for a move already. Expecting a Dukes win on Thursday because that is how things usually go in the CAA.