(06-20-2015 07:33 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  I do believe the Belt holds the last ticket out of FCS.

We the fans of JMU do as well. The question becomes, does our admin see the need, or will they have us stay put for 10 more years waiting on another frenzy to take place. They are showing us absolutely nothing one way or the other.

(06-20-2015 08:36 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 07:33 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  I do believe the Belt holds the last ticket out of FCS.

We the fans of JMU do as well. The question becomes, does our admin see the need, or will they have us stay put for 10 more years waiting on another frenzy to take place. They are showing us absolutely nothing one way or the other.

Assuming that a majority of JMU fans want to see the program move up to FBS, is your administration aware of that? If not, why not? One would think if enough pressure was applied that some changes could be produced.

(06-20-2015 08:48 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 08:36 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 07:33 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  I do believe the Belt holds the last ticket out of FCS.

We the fans of JMU do as well. The question becomes, does our admin see the need, or will they have us stay put for 10 more years waiting on another frenzy to take place. They are showing us absolutely nothing one way or the other.

Assuming that a majority of JMU fans want to see the program move up to FBS, is your administration aware of that? If not, why not? One would think if enough pressure was applied that some changes could be produced.

They are very well aware of our desire to play FBS. We have no one willing to push it through. Our growth and desire to be more than a small liberal arts college was initiated and pushed by a president who dreamed big during his 30 years at the helm. Dr. Ron Carrier stuck his neck out in every way possible to push our university to be all that we could be.

He retired in the mid 90's and we have been coasting now with two presidents who are not driven as he was. The one who retired back in 2012, Dr. Rose, stated for all to hear, JMU would not move to FBS on his watch.

Now, we have a president, Dr. Alger, who seems to be okay if we do but equally okay if we stay right where we are and our AD seems to want to float along until his retirement not stepping on any toes. We need a handful of our major donors to put the squeeze on them.

I really believe they will see the writing on the wall when the season gets into full swing this year. I have full confidence that we will be a good football team, possibly only losing a couple of games. We should go to the playoffs. Yet, I believe our crowds will be significantly down due to the competition we are playing against and I hope they receive the message that it will continue to go down until they make a move to FBS where we can play against our peers.

(06-20-2015 10:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  We need a handful of our major donors to put the squeeze on them.

This. If you know any of them personally, or know how to contact them, do so and let your feelings be known.

I recall a buddy of mine and I hiking down to the athletic office many years ago (we were both USL students) and expressing our views about football scheduling to Dr. Terry Don Phillips who was our AD. He was very gracious and gave us about 15 minutes of his valuable time. I don't know if our meeting had any effect on him, but it sure did on us.

TXST was on the fast track to going nowhere fast (athletically). Nobody in FCS even knew who we were. Jim Wacker had tried to get a move towards FBS going when he was the AD but it fell on deaf ears. Then 2005 happened. Our semi miracle season and the best we had in FCS. The students got antsy and they forced a vote on a move with the onus on themselves to increase their student fees exponentially over a 5 year period. TXST had alumni with deep pockets but they held back until something was done to make this move happen.

The stadium was worse than tons of HS stadiums in TX. Baseball and softball were worse that many a sand lot field. The students forced Ties's hand with a yes vote. The Drive to FBS took root and ol Larry had no choice but to (lackadaisically) pursue a conference; as he was dragged kicking and screaming to the FBS table. Problem was, this happened during the FBS moratorium. So...we had to wait. In the meantime, this brought out the donor dollars that saw the BB/SB fields rebuilt, the stadium (initial) upgrades, the new T&F facility and the eventual removal of the track with the NEZ added on.

Point is, fans and students can force this to happen because we witnessed it first hand. Teis had no inclinations to take TXST to FBS. Hell, with our football history, I was kind of expecting to have the same bad seasons, year after year, that TXST historically had in FCS. I don't think Teis wants to be FBS to this day but TXST is and he has to cope.

(06-20-2015 01:39 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-20-2015 07:00 AM)runamuck Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 10:13 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 09:43 PM)The4thOption Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 06:08 PM)Bobcat87 Wrote:  I personally would like JMU in the Conference, and still believe that they're the best option available.

That said, not sure I'm buying that "Superior Academics" excuse ... . .

Now, I do know that Notre Dame does have that particular recruiting problem. But you, JMU are no Notre Dame.

Notre freaking Dame.

Those two $!@#$ coaches deserve each other.

The HC abandons his former team for the most important game of the School's history. The DC is a walking ***** with a mustache. I wouldn't want to be associated with that program. Please don't insult JMU like that. There is NOTHING superior about Notre Dame. Not anymore.

I never said that ND was Superior. I said that they have academic standards which have cost them recruits . . . .

While JMU, at least in a previous post here, tried to use its academic standards as an excuse for not coming to the SBC . . . While I applaud any school for putting academics first, the reality is that JMU would not likely lose recruits for "academic reasons" in the Belt . . . At least not any more or less than any of the rest of us do . .

Now, I like JMU, and I'd like to see them in the Belt, but they're hardly an "academically elite" institution.

pretty much all the p5 schools are better academically and they seem to land enough good players every year.

I disagree with this. Have you looked at Rice's academics, William and Mary, Davidson, and many, many others far exceed the norm for P5 schools. That's without including non-football schools. While I do agree that JMU would not standout as an academically elite university compared to the other SB universities, as Stanford is to the PAC 12, Northwestern is to the BIG, Duke to the ACC, Rice is to CUSA, or Vanderbilt to the SEC, nevertheless JMU would be as UVA and UNC is to the the ACC, and a school the other SB schools should be proud to have an association when academics are the conversation.

well Rice is one of the tops of all colleges. they are only a g5 school by conference affiliation. they dont have a large enrollment and many of those students are the brainiac kind of kids that arent much interested in sports. they had a long history of playing at the highest level of sports until realignment and got left behind. they would still be a p5 school if the swc had not wanted to get rid of them and the church schools back when that conference fell apart.

(06-19-2015 02:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  All that I can tell you is that our administration was very tight lipped after the SB and JMU conversations last year. They absolutely stated no negative comments regarding the SB. What was stated to the public was that we were not ready to leave the CAA. Of course we all know they have been holding out for CUSA or MAC.

I did have a conversation with our HC who put up a wall by saying that he felt it would be challenging to recruit and compete in the SB due to our admissions staff making it difficult on him to get some students accepted that most of the other SB schools would have no problem getting borderline players admitted. Though, I simply believe he was towing the line of those he answers to and playing the delay tactic.

Not publicly. What is stated to the public and what happens behind closed doors are two different things.

(06-23-2015 09:53 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 02:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  All that I can tell you is that our administration was very tight lipped after the SB and JMU conversations last year. They absolutely stated no negative comments regarding the SB. What was stated to the public was that we were not ready to leave the CAA. Of course we all know they have been holding out for CUSA or MAC.

I did have a conversation with our HC who put up a wall by saying that he felt it would be challenging to recruit and compete in the SB due to our admissions staff making it difficult on him to get some students accepted that most of the other SB schools would have no problem getting borderline players admitted. Though, I simply believe he was towing the line of those he answers to and playing the delay tactic.

Not publicly. What is stated to the public and what happens behind closed doors are two different things.

I don't follow. I think you are saying our admin did make some negative comments. If that is what you are saying, then what were they?

There was a comment made from one side only and that was from the SB, specifically Benson, stating that it appears JMU is staying in the CAA or something like that.

I'm not sure how anyone can say that we said something derogatory or that Benson said anything degrading JMU with that remark. I got the feeling that we said, we are not ready, and this is what they have been saying to us for several years.

I think people believe that was posters on a message board say reflect what the administration thinks.


JMU poster: JMU academics is way too good for the Sun Belt
Sun Belt poster: JMU turned down the sun belt because they think they are too good academically.


that isn't how it works.

(06-23-2015 02:04 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 09:53 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 02:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  All that I can tell you is that our administration was very tight lipped after the SB and JMU conversations last year. They absolutely stated no negative comments regarding the SB. What was stated to the public was that we were not ready to leave the CAA. Of course we all know they have been holding out for CUSA or MAC.

I did have a conversation with our HC who put up a wall by saying that he felt it would be challenging to recruit and compete in the SB due to our admissions staff making it difficult on him to get some students accepted that most of the other SB schools would have no problem getting borderline players admitted. Though, I simply believe he was towing the line of those he answers to and playing the delay tactic.

Not publicly. What is stated to the public and what happens behind closed doors are two different things.

I don't follow. I think you are saying our admin did make some negative comments. If that is what you are saying, then what were they?

There was a comment made from one side only and that was from the SB, specifically Benson, stating that it appears JMU is staying in the CAA or something like that.

I'm not sure how anyone can say that we said something derogatory or that Benson said anything degrading JMU with that remark. I got the feeling that we said, we are not ready, and this is what they have been saying to us for several years.

It had nothing to do with JMU not being ready. Let's just say JMU wasn't trying to make friends of the SBC members. I think JMU put all their eggs in the CUSA basket, and now that UAB football is returning it appears to be for naught. While there might not be any public statements about all what transpired, there wouldn't be if they were made in private meetings. Do you think it's just a coincidence that JMU to SBC talk has dropped off considerably? JMU had an invite in hand for a long time, but that time has passed. Things can always change, but for right now there is a reason why you now hear of Coastal Carolina/EKU as candidates instead of JMU.

(06-23-2015 02:04 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 09:53 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 02:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  All that I can tell you is that our administration was very tight lipped after the SB and JMU conversations last year. They absolutely stated no negative comments regarding the SB. What was stated to the public was that we were not ready to leave the CAA. Of course we all know they have been holding out for CUSA or MAC.

I did have a conversation with our HC who put up a wall by saying that he felt it would be challenging to recruit and compete in the SB due to our admissions staff making it difficult on him to get some students accepted that most of the other SB schools would have no problem getting borderline players admitted. Though, I simply believe he was towing the line of those he answers to and playing the delay tactic.

Not publicly. What is stated to the public and what happens behind closed doors are two different things.

I don't follow. I think you are saying our admin did make some negative comments. If that is what you are saying, then what were they?

There was a comment made from one side only and that was from the SB, specifically Benson, stating that it appears JMU is staying in the CAA or something like that.

I'm not sure how anyone can say that we said something derogatory or that Benson said anything degrading JMU with that remark. I got the feeling that we said, we are not ready, and this is what they have been saying to us for several years.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...-fbs-move/

“Consistent with these values and principles and the ongoing issue of conference alignment, JMU will not pursue or accept an invitation from a conference that does not meet our criteria,” James Madison president Jonthan Alger said in a statement released on the school’s athletics website this week. “If we do receive an offer consistent with our established values, we are prepared to review it and make a recommendation to the Board of Visitors. This process is ongoing and will require continued support on the part of the university, students, faculty, staff, coaches, alumni, and fans.”

I think we know what Alger is saying here.

BTW, I'd put USA's admissions department up against JMU's any day of the week. Our various coaching staffs have complained for years about the good players they've been unable to get into the university who have gone on to other programs and had great careers. Either your school compromises it's standards or your coaches work harder and get players that can qualify. It's that simple.

(06-23-2015 02:12 PM)NCeagle Wrote:  I think people believe that was posters on a message board say reflect what the administration thinks.


JMU poster: JMU academics is way too good for the Sun Belt
Sun Belt poster: JMU turned down the sun belt because they think they are too good academically.


that isn't how it works.

This!

(06-23-2015 02:34 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 02:04 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 09:53 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 02:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  All that I can tell you is that our administration was very tight lipped after the SB and JMU conversations last year. They absolutely stated no negative comments regarding the SB. What was stated to the public was that we were not ready to leave the CAA. Of course we all know they have been holding out for CUSA or MAC.

I did have a conversation with our HC who put up a wall by saying that he felt it would be challenging to recruit and compete in the SB due to our admissions staff making it difficult on him to get some students accepted that most of the other SB schools would have no problem getting borderline players admitted. Though, I simply believe he was towing the line of those he answers to and playing the delay tactic.

Not publicly. What is stated to the public and what happens behind closed doors are two different things.

I don't follow. I think you are saying our admin did make some negative comments. If that is what you are saying, then what were they?

There was a comment made from one side only and that was from the SB, specifically Benson, stating that it appears JMU is staying in the CAA or something like that.

I'm not sure how anyone can say that we said something derogatory or that Benson said anything degrading JMU with that remark. I got the feeling that we said, we are not ready, and this is what they have been saying to us for several years.

It had nothing to do with JMU not being ready. Let's just say JMU wasn't trying to make friends of the SBC members. I think JMU put all their eggs in the CUSA basket, and now that UAB football is returning it appears to be for naught. While there might not be any public statements about all what transpired, there wouldn't be if they were made in private meetings. Do you think it's just a coincidence that JMU to SBC talk has dropped off considerably? JMU had an invite in hand for a long time, but that time has passed. Things can always change, but for right now there is a reason why you now hear of Coastal Carolina/EKU as candidates instead of JMU.

This first bold. I repeat, never, not one time to anyone did JMU state until the middle of the FB season last year, that we are now ready. Enough studies and monitoring had been done and they finally opened up. They were and always have been the tightest lipped administration I have ever witnessed.

To the second bold. I totally agree that because we did not make a move towards the SB, the talk has moved beyond us. I also believe that if we will get off our a$$ rather than think the phone is only useful for incoming calls, and we'd make a call to all the presidents and to Benson, we stand a really good chance of getting an invite.

(06-23-2015 09:21 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 02:34 PM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 02:04 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  

(06-23-2015 09:53 AM)SkullyMaroo Wrote:  

(06-19-2015 02:53 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  All that I can tell you is that our administration was very tight lipped after the SB and JMU conversations last year. They absolutely stated no negative comments regarding the SB. What was stated to the public was that we were not ready to leave the CAA. Of course we all know they have been holding out for CUSA or MAC.

I did have a conversation with our HC who put up a wall by saying that he felt it would be challenging to recruit and compete in the SB due to our admissions staff making it difficult on him to get some students accepted that most of the other SB schools would have no problem getting borderline players admitted. Though, I simply believe he was towing the line of those he answers to and playing the delay tactic.

Not publicly. What is stated to the public and what happens behind closed doors are two different things.

I don't follow. I think you are saying our admin did make some negative comments. If that is what you are saying, then what were they?

There was a comment made from one side only and that was from the SB, specifically Benson, stating that it appears JMU is staying in the CAA or something like that.

I'm not sure how anyone can say that we said something derogatory or that Benson said anything degrading JMU with that remark. I got the feeling that we said, we are not ready, and this is what they have been saying to us for several years.

It had nothing to do with JMU not being ready. Let's just say JMU wasn't trying to make friends of the SBC members. I think JMU put all their eggs in the CUSA basket, and now that UAB football is returning it appears to be for naught. While there might not be any public statements about all what transpired, there wouldn't be if they were made in private meetings. Do you think it's just a coincidence that JMU to SBC talk has dropped off considerably? JMU had an invite in hand for a long time, but that time has passed. Things can always change, but for right now there is a reason why you now hear of Coastal Carolina/EKU as candidates instead of JMU.

This first bold. I repeat, never, not one time to anyone did JMU state until the middle of the FB season last year, that we are now ready. Enough studies and monitoring had been done and they finally opened up. They were and always have been the tightest lipped administration I have ever witnessed.

To the second bold. I totally agree that because we did not make a move towards the SB, the talk has moved beyond us. I also believe that if we will get off our a$$ rather than think the phone is only useful for incoming calls, and we'd make a call to all the presidents and to Benson, we stand a really good chance of getting an invite.

Well, You've still got my vote . . . . Welcome to the SBC . . . oooohhh, wait . . .

(06-23-2015 09:21 PM)BleedingPurple Wrote:  I also believe that if we will get off our a$$ rather than think the phone is only useful for incoming calls, and we'd make a call to all the presidents and to Benson, we stand a really good chance of getting an invite.

A really good chance???

(06-16-2015 10:05 AM)CajunAmos Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 02:45 PM)Louisiana99 Wrote:  

(06-15-2015 01:31 PM)GreenHornet33 Wrote:  

(06-13-2015 04:28 PM)CajunFanatico Wrote:  It's the silly season, we gotta talk about something. I always liked this shot of Cajun Field during a game with Southern University of Baton Rouge. They travel well.

"Travel very well" is an understatement. I know that in the SWAC Southern is known for outnumbering schools at their own home stadiums. Folks love to see Southern and Jackson State on the schedule because that means a packed house that particular week. Also fans and students who'll usually skip games come out for SU and JSU. I know that Southern is responsible for breaking the home attendance records at Alabama State, Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Jackson State, Arkansas Pine-Bluff, and Texas Southern.

People go to see Southern's "human jukebox" their bands halftime performance is worth the price of admission. Only games I have ever been to that everyone stays put at halftime and then goes to bathroom and concession after the band finishes. In 2009 they did a michael Jackson tribute... It was f'n awesome.

Human Jukebox at Cajun Field.