Marshall will likely be in the Cotton Bowl if ECU loses again. Yeah, it looked ugly for ODU, but so does barely beating Albany for JMU.

I am still baffled at all these posts about ODU, they aren't our rivals anymore.

(10-04-2014 01:07 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  ODU is getting spanked by Marshall in a transition year, expected, does not change the fact that I just turned to ESPN and saw the the ODU field and heard the announcer say "Old Dominion."

I'll be waiting for an Albany vs JMU in game update on ESPN tonight.

Thought last year was their transition year and they are considered full I-A this year? I believe ODUh is at or close to 85 schollies...

South Carolina there is no conflict between what I wrote and the stated ambitions of Pres. Alger. The conflict exists only in your limited understanding of what it means to be a nationally recognized university (a standard which apparently rests solely on the basis of what level football is played).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(10-06-2014 08:30 AM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(10-04-2014 01:07 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  ODU is getting spanked by Marshall in a transition year, expected, does not change the fact that I just turned to ESPN and saw the the ODU field and heard the announcer say "Old Dominion."

I'll be waiting for an Albany vs JMU in game update on ESPN tonight.

Thought last year was their transition year and they are considered full I-A this year? I believe ODUh is at or close to 85 schollies...

Technically, the NCAA mandates two transition years. We are playing a full FBS schedule (except our Hampton game), but we are not bowl-eligible, except under extenuating circumstances. I'm not sure we have 85 scholarship players, although if not, we are really close. However, it's impossible to deny that we are a still a transitional team. Of the 100 players we have, something like 80 have been with the team about 18 months or less. As was evident on Saturday, we have a long way to go in our transition.

This has turned into an interesting thread. One in which I can clearly see, and largely agree with "both sides". I'm not sure that the points being made are mutually exclusive.

First, living in Texas (Longhorn you should be able to relate) most of the time when I tell people where I went to school I get a blank look in return. I follow it up with- "it's in Virginia". If the person is a "sports fan" I usually get, " oh yeah, you guys made it to the Final Four a few years ago..." To which I have to say, "No, that was George Mason..." I travel to the west coast often and the conversations typically aren't any different. So, yes, moving up to FBS may, I mean MAY, raise awareness of JMU from a National perspective. I say that because, living in Dallas I barely know how University of North Texas fares in its athletic endeavors and it is in the D/FW metroplex. Forget about a school like Texas State- it's never even mentioned. So, I doubt, except for the most hardcore football fan, JMU will show up on their radar. But, I could see how we would have a better chance of recognition than we do know. In my opinion, basketball is the way for JMU to get more recognition than football. JMU will NEVER have a competitive football program on a national level. There is a better CHANCE of making that happen in basketball.

To Longhorn's point, I realize that athletics is not the only way a university is judged as "National" rather than regional. But, athletics is the best ADVERTISING for a school.

To Longhorn's other point, the constant complaining about not playing FBS football and turning every thread into a gripe session about the administration is a joke. We get it, you want to move to FBS. We should have moved to the Sun Belt. Bourne is an idiot. Alger has no leadership. They treat us like we're a bunch of mushrooms, blah, blah, blah. Every thread is somehow twisted and turned into another b**** session. It is juvenile. If you have something new, bring it. Otherwise why waste your time, and ours, regurgitating the same old drivel?

I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  ...I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!"...

Their editor probably has wanted to use that line for months to show how "clever" they are and busted it out at the first opportunity while the song is still fresh enough that people might get the relevance of it.

We also have Virginia Tech coming twice over the next decade and ECU is in the works. These rivalries will grow with time (and bigger faster ODU teams.)

But yeah, I do miss playing JMU. Easy Trip, unlike the CUSA teams (Even Marshall is a 7 hour drive from Norfolk, and they are the closest). Was hoping to see you appear on our basketball schedule.

There are pluses and minuses to being a regional conference like the CAA, but I like where ODU is headed. For the second time this year, I'll be able to turn on the TV (I don't have cable or satellite) and watch an ODU football game..

(10-06-2014 11:43 AM)JMaddy Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  ...I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!"...

Their editor probably has wanted to use that line for months to show how "clever" they are and busted it out at the first opportunity while the song is still fresh enough that people might get the relevance of it.

Hahaha, no doubt. Silly journalists.

Damn, and I wasted a perfectly good joke, dropping it in another predictable whine and cheese party thread cause guess what? *gasp* WE AREN'T FBS YET!!!!! Fire Bourne, Fire Alger, Fire mickey!!!

Tell some of you guys what- I'll refrain from poking our old friends and foe in the nose when something like this happens so as to not set off any of the gentle sensibilities around here.


You, to do your part, please let me and any others that think a sports message board should be a place for actual SPORTS talk as well as some good natured ribbing and banter between fans, let us know what team we are allowed to engage. Would Mason still be okay? Ole Dirty is clearly out. William and Mary? Probably not, I guess, their having that law school and all, hunh?

It gets confusing at times and I don't know where the "You can't poke a little fun at a former rival" rules are posted. Maybe during a respite from the steady drumbeat of "WE AREN'T FBS YET!!!" stuff, some of you could put that list of acceptables together for us(?).

K? Thx.

I definitely miss the rivalries and easy commutes in the CAA. FBS is fun, even in transition because its all so new you can overlook getting beat, but its definitely not the same. I wish JMU and Delaware had moved with us when approached. Maybe we could have convinced Appy to be admitted to wherever we all were (CUSA or MAC) too. Sadly it looks like that ship has sailed. I think ODU made the right call, but its not perfect. Even with the added competition for recruiting, I think it would be better for both ODU and JMU to be in the same conference, or at least FBS, to create more buzz throughout the state and make it more interesting. It would guarantee a sell out each year. So C'mon in to FBS, the waters fine. We'd rather have you than Liberty.

(10-06-2014 10:48 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

Agreed. I've said many times that the reason for moving up is the non-conference schedule. I want us to play UVA, VT, UMd, and NC FBS schools because they are our true peers. I want to be in C-USA because of ODU, but if not C-USA then I don't care because there isn't much difference in interest between playing Akron and South Alabama.

(10-07-2014 11:14 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:48 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

Agreed. I've said many times that the reason for moving up is the non-conference schedule. I want us to play UVA, VT, UMd, and NC FBS schools because they are our true peers. I want to be in C-USA because of ODU, but if not C-USA then I don't care because there isn't much difference in interest between playing Akron and South Alabama.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those schools are hardly our peers athletically or academically. You could make a case that VT and UMD have a handful of similarly ranked programs with similar admissions standards, but overall they are held in much higher regard for the most part.

(10-07-2014 11:57 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 11:14 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:48 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

Agreed. I've said many times that the reason for moving up is the non-conference schedule. I want us to play UVA, VT, UMd, and NC FBS schools because they are our true peers. I want to be in C-USA because of ODU, but if not C-USA then I don't care because there isn't much difference in interest between playing Akron and South Alabama.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those schools are hardly our peers athletically or academically. You could make a case that VT and UMD have a handful of similarly ranked programs with similar admissions standards, but overall they are held in much higher regard for the most part.

JMU is, for better or worse, a regionally classified teaching institute with little research and few post graduate programs.

(10-06-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  Marshall will likely be in the Cotton Bowl if ECU loses again. Yeah, it looked ugly for ODU, but so does barely beating Albany for JMU.

I am still baffled at all these posts about ODU, they aren't our rivals anymore.

Agreed. ODU is looking at us through their rear view mirror. We will soon be miles back. In a couple of years, ODU will look upon our football like VT does VMI. They will be wondering which of the several CUSA bowl games they can go while sitting in their 35K stadium and playing on ESPN. And they won't be wondering about us.

(10-07-2014 12:06 PM)truthahn Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 08:18 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  Marshall will likely be in the Cotton Bowl if ECU loses again. Yeah, it looked ugly for ODU, but so does barely beating Albany for JMU.

I am still baffled at all these posts about ODU, they aren't our rivals anymore.

Agreed. ODU is looking at us through their rear view mirror. We will soon be miles back. In a couple of years, ODU will look upon our football like VT does VMI. They will be wondering which of the several CUSA bowl games they can go while sitting in their 35K stadium and playing on ESPN. And they won't be wondering about us.

If you want an example of what college football and rivalries should be about, go over to the Oduh board and read the comments posted by Marshall and Ole Dirty fans to one another. The focus is on mutual respect and the beginning of a meaningful rivalry. Even though they got badly beaten they understand it will take time and the Marshall fans respect the process too. I hate that we are left in this situation at JMU and can't say it enough, especially when it does not have to be this way. Our admin is our own worst enemy. I suppose we ought to be amped for Towson. they had one year of success with a transfer laden team and are now not very good. I watched them last weekend. It's just hard to get too excited about them, and to make it worse we will probably struggle. Yeah, I feel like Eeyore about JMU athletics right now, women's fh notwithstanding...whoopee

(10-07-2014 11:57 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 11:14 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:48 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

Agreed. I've said many times that the reason for moving up is the non-conference schedule. I want us to play UVA, VT, UMd, and NC FBS schools because they are our true peers. I want to be in C-USA because of ODU, but if not C-USA then I don't care because there isn't much difference in interest between playing Akron and South Alabama.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those schools are hardly our peers athletically or academically. You could make a case that VT and UMD have a handful of similarly ranked programs with similar admissions standards, but overall they are held in much higher regard for the most part.

You're confusing being well known with being held in high regard. Most JMU students would use VT or UMD as back-up schools, but rarely the other way around. I work in industry, so unfortunately I interact with way more VT (and ODU) grads than JMU (or liberal arts) grads, but they hold us in high regard because they know how hard it is to get in, and they all know about our business school and rapid growth over the last decade.

(10-07-2014 01:41 PM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 11:57 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 11:14 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:48 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:39 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  I know at least one ODU fan who misses the old rivalries. He says he would rather ODU played JMU, W&M, UDel and Richmond. I know when ODU beat Rice two weeks ago the Virginian-Pilot Sports page screamed: "Party in C-USA!" and I kind of thought "Who cares? There is no rivalry with a school in Houston." Of course I want us to move up but I just don't think playing so many far-flung schools is going to be the great fun we think it's going to be. Enjoy the playoff runs, because once they are gone we will be left trying to qualify for lower-tier bowls for the next decade.

Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

Agreed. I've said many times that the reason for moving up is the non-conference schedule. I want us to play UVA, VT, UMd, and NC FBS schools because they are our true peers. I want to be in C-USA because of ODU, but if not C-USA then I don't care because there isn't much difference in interest between playing Akron and South Alabama.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those schools are hardly our peers athletically or academically. You could make a case that VT and UMD have a handful of similarly ranked programs with similar admissions standards, but overall they are held in much higher regard for the most part.

You're confusing being well known with being held in high regard. Most JMU students would use VT or UMD as back-up schools, but rarely the other way around. I work in industry, so unfortunately I interact with way more VT (and ODU) grads than JMU (or liberal arts) grads, but they hold us in high regard because they know how hard it is to get in, and they all know about our business school and rapid growth over the last decade.

I agree that JMU is held in high regard, but it simply isn't true that VT and UMD students didn't use JMU as a safety school or as a school of consideration. In terms of pure undergraduate admissions, all three schools are similar with a slight edge going to VT.

JMU is a regional school that doesn't place a big emphasis on post graduate programs (outside of Accounting and a select few others) or research. Tech and Maryland are both held in high esteem nationally while JMU is mostly regional. Those schools do not view us as peer schools and it has nothing to do with undergraduate admissions standards.

(10-07-2014 01:59 PM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 01:41 PM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 11:57 AM)All Dukes_All Day Wrote:  

(10-07-2014 11:14 AM)capn kitt Wrote:  

(10-06-2014 10:48 AM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  Totally agree, but what you seem to forget is next year they have NC State coming to Norfolk as well as Appy. You don't think that will get the juice flowing in Norfolk? If all one thinks about is playing FIU and Louisiana Tech, then he will never see the picture.

Agreed. I've said many times that the reason for moving up is the non-conference schedule. I want us to play UVA, VT, UMd, and NC FBS schools because they are our true peers. I want to be in C-USA because of ODU, but if not C-USA then I don't care because there isn't much difference in interest between playing Akron and South Alabama.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those schools are hardly our peers athletically or academically. You could make a case that VT and UMD have a handful of similarly ranked programs with similar admissions standards, but overall they are held in much higher regard for the most part.

You're confusing being well known with being held in high regard. Most JMU students would use VT or UMD as back-up schools, but rarely the other way around. I work in industry, so unfortunately I interact with way more VT (and ODU) grads than JMU (or liberal arts) grads, but they hold us in high regard because they know how hard it is to get in, and they all know about our business school and rapid growth over the last decade.

I agree that JMU is held in high regard, but it simply isn't true that VT and UMD students didn't use JMU as a safety school or as a school of consideration. In terms of pure undergraduate admissions, all three schools are similar with a slight edge going to VT.

JMU is a regional school that doesn't place a big emphasis on post graduate programs (outside of Accounting and a select few others) or research. Tech and Maryland are both held in high esteem nationally while JMU is mostly regional. Those schools do not view us as peer schools and it has nothing to do with undergraduate admissions standards.

I know way more people who applied to both JMU and Tech who didn't get into JMU and went to Tech than the other way around. In all honesty, I know very few who were not accepted to Tech and I cannot say this about JMU.

I realize that I am a small sample and from VA Tech hotbed, so there are more people applying to Tech from my hometown versus JMU. But, those who do apply to both schools feel as though they just won the lottery if JMU accepts them.