(09-30-2014 03:38 PM)jmad1son Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:21 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  Have to agree with you on that. This is kind of playing out the exactly the way I feared it might. Each year of inaction is starting to open up more and more seats at Bridgeforth. Our fan base has proven it can be outstanding if you give it a reason to get excited. People are really beginning to vote with their feet and you can't blame them because they've been asked for their feedback a million times and nothing happens. Everyone has their breaking point.

And just in time for Club Seat renewals, which means signing another 4-year contract that requires an increase in donation and higher ticket prices. What is the incentive to renew when the program direction is unclear?

There is literally none that I can think of right now.

The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

I'm sorry, but I call BS on our ability to attract an invite to be based in this criteria. Teams like GA St have been called up that have zero fans in seats while teams like UNCC have been invited without ever playing a game and building a stadium that doesn't even hold our average attendance. As others have stated, we have been deceived and let down by our admin. The fans came through on there end of the 25k strong campaign and supported a mediocre team in droves beyond what any FCS program should expect. The admin should have struck while the iron was hot but didn't.

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

I for one have a hard time believing that the admin are not doing what's best for the University in their eyes. I can't really get mad at appointed leadership leading the way they see fit and it's not a detriment to the University.

The expansion of BFS has lead to a consistent 7k plus positive attendance rate .
JMU was able to attract a coach with a very good resume after firing a long time above .500 coach.
Student enrollment seems to always go up , and at least the student section is full at the beginning of the game. ( compared to MAC conf. where they seem to not show up )

(09-30-2014 04:19 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

Dolley,

I love your posts- and your passion. However, I know for a fact that our administration is working (read: not analyzing, studying, waiting, etc) to move us into the FBS. That's all I can say.

Peace

(09-30-2014 05:26 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 04:19 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

Dolley,

I love your posts- and your passion. However, I know for a fact that our administration is working (read: not analyzing, studying, waiting, etc) to move us into the FBS. That's all I can say.

Peace

Then why the hell can't we be told something? Is the CIA running our athletic department? Is there some harm that I am not aware of in letting your most loyal fans know what the hell is in the works? Other schools do it routinely. They actually respect their fan base. They understand who butters their bread. Why are JMU fans treated like five-year olds?

You say, "That's all I can say" like this is some covert military operation or something. IT ISN'T!!!! We aren't stupid. We deserve to know what the hell is going on.

(09-30-2014 05:36 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:26 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 04:19 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

Dolley,

I love your posts- and your passion. However, I know for a fact that our administration is working (read: not analyzing, studying, waiting, etc) to move us into the FBS. That's all I can say.

Peace

Then why the hell can't we be told something? Is the CIA running our athletic department? Is there some harm that I am not aware of in letting your most loyal fans know what the hell is in the works? Other schools do it routinely. They actually respect their fan base. They understand who butters their bread. Why are JMU fans treated like five-year olds?

You say, "That's all I can say" like this is some covert military operation or something. IT ISN'T!!!! We aren't stupid. We deserve to know what the hell is going on.

I get your frustration. Completely. Some of my "knowledge" is from the athletic deparment and some from the administration. The athletic department was veiled information because I have a son that is a 2015 recruit for another men's sport. At this point, participation spots (not scholarships) are being dialed back and carefully scrutinized. That's probably not top secret information but in the course of the explanation it was apparent something is up.

The admin part is from a source inside that isn't in a position to go public, therefor I can't really either. Maybe the admin will be more forthcoming as things progress? I don't know. I just take some comfort in knowing they're not just doing nothing.

(09-30-2014 05:51 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:36 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:26 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 04:19 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

Dolley,

I love your posts- and your passion. However, I know for a fact that our administration is working (read: not analyzing, studying, waiting, etc) to move us into the FBS. That's all I can say.

Peace

Then why the hell can't we be told something? Is the CIA running our athletic department? Is there some harm that I am not aware of in letting your most loyal fans know what the hell is in the works? Other schools do it routinely. They actually respect their fan base. They understand who butters their bread. Why are JMU fans treated like five-year olds?

You say, "That's all I can say" like this is some covert military operation or something. IT ISN'T!!!! We aren't stupid. We deserve to know what the hell is going on.

I get your frustration. Completely. Some of my "knowledge" is from the athletic deparment and some from the administration. The athletic department was veiled information because I have a son that is a 2015 recruit for another men's sport. At this point, participation spots (not scholarships) are being dialed back and carefully scrutinized. That's probably not top secret information but in the course of the explanation it was apparent something is up.

The admin part is from a source inside that isn't in a position to go public, therefor I can't really either. Maybe the admin will be more forthcoming as things progress? I don't know. I just take some comfort in knowing they're not just doing nothing.

Yeah, I'm not pointing any fingers at you personally. It just seems the admin would be "monitoring" things well enough to know that the natives are restless and are demanding to know what the hell is going on. An occasional, simple, quick, public press release would accomplish that. The cloak and dagger routine is insulting, unnecessary, and completely unacceptable.

We appear to be regressing as a program. The long-range public statements from our admin indicate that athletics is not a back burner concern for JMU, but a completely insignificant concern, so insignificant it requires no mention at all in the long-range plan. Many of us who love JMU and our main tie back to the school we love is athletics, are being told to sit down, shut up, and speak when we are spoken to, and we have been doing that. There may be some here who are happy with continuing that. I'm just not one of them. I want to know what the hell is going on!

(09-30-2014 06:18 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:51 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:36 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:26 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 04:19 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

Dolley,

I love your posts- and your passion. However, I know for a fact that our administration is working (read: not analyzing, studying, waiting, etc) to move us into the FBS. That's all I can say.

Peace

Then why the hell can't we be told something? Is the CIA running our athletic department? Is there some harm that I am not aware of in letting your most loyal fans know what the hell is in the works? Other schools do it routinely. They actually respect their fan base. They understand who butters their bread. Why are JMU fans treated like five-year olds?

You say, "That's all I can say" like this is some covert military operation or something. IT ISN'T!!!! We aren't stupid. We deserve to know what the hell is going on.

I get your frustration. Completely. Some of my "knowledge" is from the athletic deparment and some from the administration. The athletic department was veiled information because I have a son that is a 2015 recruit for another men's sport. At this point, participation spots (not scholarships) are being dialed back and carefully scrutinized. That's probably not top secret information but in the course of the explanation it was apparent something is up.

The admin part is from a source inside that isn't in a position to go public, therefor I can't really either. Maybe the admin will be more forthcoming as things progress? I don't know. I just take some comfort in knowing they're not just doing nothing.

Yeah, I'm not pointing any fingers at you personally. It just seems the admin would be "monitoring" things well enough to know that the natives are restless and are demanding to know what the hell is going on. An occasional, simple, quick, public press release would accomplish that. The cloak and dagger routine is insulting, unnecessary, and completely unacceptable.

We appear to be regressing as a program. The long-range public statements from our admin indicate that athletics is not a back burner concern for JMU, but a completely insignificant concern, so insignificant it requires no mention at all. Many of us who love JMU and our main tie back to the school we love is athletics, and we are being told to sit down, shut up, and speak when we are spoken to, and we have been doing that. There may be some here who are happy with continuing that. I'm just not one of them. I want to know what the hell is going on!

No argument from me! I can only speculate as to why they have chosen this approach. I assume they feel like they are playing poker and don't want to reveal their hand- I don't know?

(09-30-2014 03:38 PM)jmad1son Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:21 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  Have to agree with you on that. This is kind of playing out the exactly the way I feared it might. Each year of inaction is starting to open up more and more seats at Bridgeforth. Our fan base has proven it can be outstanding if you give it a reason to get excited. People are really beginning to vote with their feet and you can't blame them because they've been asked for their feedback a million times and nothing happens. Everyone has their breaking point.

And just in time for Club Seat renewals, which means signing another 4-year contract that requires an increase in donation and higher ticket prices. What is the incentive to renew when the program direction is unclear?

Good point. Money talks and if nothing has changed by the time renewal comes up I wouldn't want to be the one to try to convince those people they should pay that kind of money for this product.

(09-30-2014 06:18 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:51 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:36 PM)bulldogg Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 05:26 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 04:19 PM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  Yea, no offense when commissioners of the CUSA/SBC/MAC turn on the TV and see only 15,000 fans in our 25,000 seat stadium in the third quarter, they are still seeing more fans in our stadium then most the teams in their conference.

If they aren't impressed with a decade of strong support, or even most recent the 24,000 we got for St Francis, then I'm afraid they will never be impressed.

The fact remains that it hasn't been conferences not wanting us that has been the issue...its our administration.

Dolley,

I love your posts- and your passion. However, I know for a fact that our administration is working (read: not analyzing, studying, waiting, etc) to move us into the FBS. That's all I can say.

Peace

Then why the hell can't we be told something? Is the CIA running our athletic department? Is there some harm that I am not aware of in letting your most loyal fans know what the hell is in the works? Other schools do it routinely. They actually respect their fan base. They understand who butters their bread. Why are JMU fans treated like five-year olds?

You say, "That's all I can say" like this is some covert military operation or something. IT ISN'T!!!! We aren't stupid. We deserve to know what the hell is going on.

I get your frustration. Completely. Some of my "knowledge" is from the athletic deparment and some from the administration. The athletic department was veiled information because I have a son that is a 2015 recruit for another men's sport. At this point, participation spots (not scholarships) are being dialed back and carefully scrutinized. That's probably not top secret information but in the course of the explanation it was apparent something is up.

The admin part is from a source inside that isn't in a position to go public, therefor I can't really either. Maybe the admin will be more forthcoming as things progress? I don't know. I just take some comfort in knowing they're not just doing nothing.

Yeah, I'm not pointing any fingers at you personally. It just seems the admin would be "monitoring" things well enough to know that the natives are restless and are demanding to know what the hell is going on. An occasional, simple, quick, public press release would accomplish that. The cloak and dagger routine is insulting, unnecessary, and completely unacceptable.

We appear to be regressing as a program. The long-range public statements from our admin indicate that athletics is not a back burner concern for JMU, but a completely insignificant concern, so insignificant it requires no mention at all in the long-range plan. Many of us who love JMU and our main tie back to the school we love is athletics, and we are being told to sit down, shut up, and speak when we are spoken to, and we have been doing that. There may be some here who are happy with continuing that. I'm just not one of them. I want to know what the hell is going on!

This. thank you.

(09-30-2014 09:07 AM)DolleyMadison Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 08:14 AM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  There are things we control and things we don't control with JMU Athletics. There is a ton of energy spent on this Message Board complaining and I guess that's one of the reasons to have this outlet. The game on Sat was close the entire way but we still had students and alumni leave when the game when it was well within reach. Although I hate to lose more than anyone, the game was exciting. There were big plays from both teams and quite a bit happening between the 20s.

We will get to the next level and I want the fans to be prepared for that move now. We can do that by showing up early for the team walk, being in our seats 30 min before the kickoff and staying to sing the school song with the team at the end of the game. Don't under estimate the power of our energy and the contagious effect on student athletes. Don't get me wrong. Complain all you want on the board if it makes you happy but on game day, show up and stay.

Get involved. Stop saying that the JMU should do this or do that. Volunteer to do it and get involved. There are plenty of opportunities. Numbers count and we all need to get involved if we want to move JMU to the next level.

Let's morph into an FBS fanbase now. If we support it, we will get to FBS.

HH&C - I love everything you post and you give me reasons to be optimistic. I wish the administration communicated as well as you do.

Having said that, I was a freshman in 2005 but fell in love with JMU football during the 2004 national championship run knowing this is where I wanted to go to school.

For 10 years (2004 - 2014), JMU fans have been treating JMU and supporting JMU like it was an FBS program. We tailgated like we were FBS. We talked to our friends and colleagues that went to bigger schools like JMU was FBS. We showed up over the last 10 years against lesser competition because we had hopes of one day being FBS. We saw JMU build an FBS facility and knew that when the national landscape shifted, we would be ready.

And then came the 2-3 years of conference realignment where all of our peers took advantage of the situation but us. Then came a new administration that has yet to set our goal of moving our athletic program to national recognition. Then came the silence from our administration regarding the overall vision for athletics.

For the last 10 years, JMU fans supported their program like no other in order to show both our administration and the entire country that JMU football was something special. That it was something the community, alumni, and students would rally behind.

I'm tired of watching us kick the can down the road. I feel like the JMU Nation held up their end of the bargain by making us one of the top FCS atmospheres in the country (surpassing many FBS atmospheres). Now its the administrations turn to hold up their end of the bargain...

As others have stated, well put, Dolley. This is exactly how I feel about the situation.

The only thing giving me a little hope there is something going on regarding a conference move is that I find it odd that we have absolutely no FB games scheduled beyond next year, with the one exception of a 2018 deal with NC State. To the best of my knowledge, we have always worked on OOC scheduling two and three years out. This even goes for the cupcake OOC games.

This leads to one of two conclusions, (1) JB is sitting on his buttocks or (2) he's in a state of unrest on what to do for fear of a FBS move that will have a chaotic effect on any contracts signed. For example, as an FBS team we will be able to command double or triple what we can receive while playing FCS. Another example is that we will probably need a handful of OOC cupcakes for the two transition years to go along with several P5 games and a few G5 games. Bourne will have his hands full for a couple of years until we are fully integrated into a conference. But this scheduling will have to be done with less than normal time to get deals signed as it will be impossible to accomplish before any announcement.

Let's just say, I hope its not (1).

(09-30-2014 07:17 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  The only thing giving me a little hope there is something going on regarding a conference move is that I find it odd that we have absolutely no FB games scheduled beyond next year, with the one exception of a 2018 deal with NC State. To the best of my knowledge, we have always worked on OOC scheduling two and three years out. This even goes for the cupcake OOC games.

This leads to one of two conclusions, (1) JB is sitting on his buttocks or (2) he's in a state of unrest on what to do for fear of a FBS move that will have a chaotic effect on any contracts signed. For example, as an FBS team we will be able to command double or triple what we can receive while playing FCS. Another example is that we will probably need a handful of OOC cupcakes for the two transition years to go along with several P5 games and a few G5 games. Bourne will have his hands full for a couple of years until we are fully integrated into a conference. But this scheduling will have to be done with less than normal time to get deals signed as it will be impossible to accomplish before any announcement.

Let's just say, I hope its not (1).

I think Bourne is keeping renewed long term contracts with NEC teams from JMU fans as long as possible to prevent a full on email riot and to pump his hopes that attendance at the Elon game > 7,000 going into club seat renewal season. This is if Mr. no comment cares, his $180,000 salary is paid with tax dollars...fug it.

TXGiant,

You said you have a son who is a 2015 recruit from another varsity sport and you garnered some of your veiled athletic info from your son's recruitment. Do you feel it is possible the coaches or those in the athletic department are trying to sell you and your son a bag of empty goods to gain an advantage? We have already heard fellow JMU football recruits talk about how the coaches are telling them we are moving up to FBS football.

BTW... I hope your son becomes a Duke!

(09-30-2014 04:16 PM)atljmualum Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 03:57 PM)HotHamandCheese84 Wrote:  The FBS conference commissioners and ADs all look at how we draw and who stays at games. It hurts us to be on TV and show a half empty stadium in the 3rd quarter. That's one of the points to my post. We control what we do as fans and alums.

I'm sorry, but I call BS on our ability to attract an invite to be based in this criteria. Teams like GA St have been called up that have zero fans in seats while teams like UNCC have been invited without ever playing a game and building a stadium that doesn't even hold our average attendance. As others have stated, we have been deceived and let down by our admin. The fans came through on there end of the 25k strong campaign and supported a mediocre team in droves beyond what any FCS program should expect. The admin should have struck while the iron was hot but didn't.

+1


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(09-30-2014 08:06 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  TXGiant,

You said you have a son who is a 2015 recruit from another varsity sport and you garnered some of your veiled athletic info from your son's recruitment. Do you feel it is possible the coaches or those in the athletic department are trying to sell you and your son a bag of empty goods to gain an advantage? We have already heard fellow JMU football recruits talk about how the coaches are telling them we are moving up to FBS football.

BTW... I hope your son becomes a Duke!

Thanks Rock House, I hope he does too! Unfortunately, it wasn't part of a sales pitch more of an explanation that the rosters are shrinking and not as many opportunities exist. But we're still talking.




Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

(09-30-2014 07:17 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  The only thing giving me a little hope there is something going on regarding a conference move is that I find it odd that we have absolutely no FB games scheduled beyond next year, with the one exception of a 2018 deal with NC State. To the best of my knowledge, we have always worked on OOC scheduling two and three years out. This even goes for the cupcake OOC games.

This leads to one of two conclusions, (1) JB is sitting on his buttocks or (2) he's in a state of unrest on what to do for fear of a FBS move that will have a chaotic effect on any contracts signed. For example, as an FBS team we will be able to command double or triple what we can receive while playing FCS. Another example is that we will probably need a handful of OOC cupcakes for the two transition years to go along with several P5 games and a few G5 games. Bourne will have his hands full for a couple of years until we are fully integrated into a conference. But this scheduling will have to be done with less than normal time to get deals signed as it will be impossible to accomplish before any announcement.

Let's just say, I hope its not (1).

It's not #1. I can guarantee it's not #1.

(09-30-2014 09:25 PM)TXGiant Wrote:  

(09-30-2014 08:06 PM)Rock House Duke Wrote:  TXGiant,

You said you have a son who is a 2015 recruit from another varsity sport and you garnered some of your veiled athletic info from your son's recruitment. Do you feel it is possible the coaches or those in the athletic department are trying to sell you and your son a bag of empty goods to gain an advantage? We have already heard fellow JMU football recruits talk about how the coaches are telling them we are moving up to FBS football.

BTW... I hope your son becomes a Duke!

Thanks Rock House, I hope he does too! Unfortunately, it wasn't part of a sales pitch more of an explanation that the rosters are shrinking and not as many opportunities exist. But we're still talking.




Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Pardon my lack of understanding of college athletics...

What's the correlation between shrinking rosters and a future move to FBS?