I'm going to Japan this week. I expect to be able to tell you about the great interest that Todai has about joining our prestigious and illustrious grouping of college teams that play sports unlike Beis-bol.

(09-12-2013 03:33 PM)panama Wrote:  Never gonna happen. LOL. Never.

I hope you're right, but never say never!

(09-15-2013 09:32 AM)Wild Bill Kelso Wrote:  I have been told - by someone who should know - JMU plans to release their FBS Study on October 3 and it will recommend they move to FBS. Their BOT will vote to make the jump and CUSA will extend an invite the following day, which will be accepted. I've also been told by someone (who is a high level athletics department administrator with a D-I football playing athletic school) the SunBelt, MAC and AAC are all expressing interest in JMU.

What confuses me is:

CUSA AD's and Banowsky are on record saying they do not want to expand past 14. They are either A - going to add 2 schools for an even 16 or B - know someone is leaving, which may give some credibility to the Southern Miss rumors.

A move to the MAC makes the most sense on two levels. It puts the MAC at 14 schools and from a institutional standpoint JMU blends with that group better than any of the others.

I just don't see the AAC seriously adding a FCS move up. That bunch has fought hard to put themselves on a higher level and adding JMU would knock the pins right out from under that. It also puts them at 13 football playing schools.

Unless the S Miss rumors are true the SB needs JMU. The person I spoke to says the SB would be the better option from a revenue distribution standpoint.

I'd be really surprised if things move that quickly. The consultant report is going to be used to build support on campus for a potential move up. The BOV will discuss the report on October 4, but I doubt they'll take any "action" other than "accepting" the final report and absolving the consultant of any further obligation under their contract with the Univ. The professors are mobilizing to oppose a move, and I suspect President Alger will want to allow time for a public debate/support-building on the issue, rather than alienate the faculty in his first year as President. Then again, I'm not plugged into the campus politics these days, so maybe I'm due for a surprise.

I've seen some on the JMU boards who are convinced a CUSA invitation is coming. That doesn't make sense to me right now. SBC makes more sense, since you guys have a spot open that I think you want filled. Also the MAC might have a spot (depending on who you ask). Any talk of AAC is looney toons.

Does JMU really want to play in awful CUSA? Why not join App and GaSo and build something?

Really don't care JMU. Used to want you guys in the SBC. Do not want any team that would leave us if asked. Want to stabilize the conference.

(09-15-2013 03:30 PM)statefanatic Wrote:  Does JMU really want to play in awful CUSA? Why not join App and GaSo and build something?

(09-15-2013 03:31 PM)GoApps70 Wrote:  Really don't care JMU. Used to want you guys in the SBC. Do not want any team that would leave us if asked. Want to stabilize the conference.

Well I can't speak for JMU (no fan on CSNbbs can), but assuming we'll have a choice (multiple offers), I like the idea of being connected with App and Real GSU. But I can't trust that every single member of the SBC wouldn't jump if asked. We thought we were building something in the CAA, then our friends left us holding the bag. I'm not sure SBC is a stable long-term option either. I have the same concern regarding CUSA as well. I'm not dismissing SBC or CUSA for this reason, but it's a concern. To me, the stability of the MAC is attractive. Not all JMU fans agree.

I think a lot of SBC fans feel JMU has slighted them because we haven't joined by now, or that we're "holding out" for something else. But we haven't gotten to a point yet where we can really entertain any offers from anyone. Our old president was 100% against FBS. Our new president came in nearly a year ago. In that time, the university initiated (and has now completed) a study, and we need time to get a plurality of support behind the idea of moving up. We'll be ready soon, but there's a lot of lost time we need to make up. Don't know where we'll end up, but don't give up on us yet!

If JMU wants to join CUSA, I don't see them not joining as being much of a loss to us. And quite frankly, it would be better because JMU would take a team's place that would go to a good team from the SBC.

If JMU wants to join the AAC, I'm good with that too.

If JMU wants to join the SBC, I think there should be a nice fat GOR or exit fee for new members coming up from FCS. its way too obvious that JMU would rather be in CUSA or the AAC.

If I were CUSA, I wouldn't be extending a bid to them. They have advantages that allow them to retain more money and access even though the football product was dead last during last season, and is likely to be dead last again this year. Adding another move up isn't going to help them. Eventually, the football product problem will start to eat at those advantages.

If I'm the AAC, no way I'm extending a bid to them. They are trying to keep distance between them and the MWC for the best of the rest. Adding a moveup isn't a good move up.

The MAC might extend a bid to JMU, but its still kind of a bad idea for them too. JMU wants to be in CUSA or the AAC. Why import instability into your conference.

How is Missouri State's decision process coming along? Since we have Idaho in the conference, why not see if NDSU wants to join as well. Fargo is easier to get to than Moscow ID.