(09-08-2016 03:17 PM)Potomac Wrote:  

(09-08-2016 08:39 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(09-08-2016 08:21 AM)ODU BBALL Wrote:  The problem that I see with that line of reasoning is that when JMU was talked to (by ODU) about possibly joining C-USA at the same time ODU was looking into it, ODU was talking (to JMU) about three schools (ODU, JMU, & Delaware) maybe going in from the CAA as a package deal. That would have given C-USA an eastern grouping of schools (ODU, JMU, Delaware, Marshall, & ECU - at that time) that you are now touting, but JMU was apparently not interested in doing that. What is different now?

The main difference is that in April of 2012 (when the F-Burg meeting occurred) we had an outgoing President who said "No FBS on my watch" and a new President who didn't take office until July 1st.

Of course, since that time 4 1/2 years ago, JMU still hasn't given any indication that it's thinking has changed.

Despite 30 some odd communications since then. It's like you don't read these message boards.

I have no idea what will happen if another FBS conference approaches JMU with a membership offer. What I said is true...there has been no indication that JMU covets FBS.

Nebulous statements fail to convince me when the whole "wink wink, nod nod, stroke the check" DC club mantra ended up being hot air.

And to be clear, I really don't care that much anymore. Whatever the level, lets just work on having a better schedule.

An FBS Feasibility Study is a nebulous statement? Cool Story Bro.

(09-08-2016 04:16 PM)Potomac Wrote:  An FBS Feasibility Study is a nebulous statement? Cool Story Bro.

FBS study came out 3 years ago. And yes, it was a nebulous statement. No course of action was recommended.

2.5 years ago, we turned down one of the 3 FBS conferences referenced in that study.

Which speaks louder today? I don't know....hence the "I have no idea what JMU will do" statement. Neither do you.

(09-08-2016 04:16 PM)Potomac Wrote:  An FBS Feasibility Study is a nebulous statement? Cool Story Bro.

Commissioned AFTER the departure of VCU, ODU and GMU in response to the admin receiving many WTF are you doing? questions.

I remember a thread on the CAAZone that lasted months debating why JMU had not commissioned a feasibility study timely a la App State, a much more rural university that is hosting the Miami Hurricanes this season.

(09-08-2016 08:47 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  So based on that article, CUSA West could potentially lose:

UTEP, Rice, _ MW
potentially Tex State, Tex SA - MW
So Miss - AAC

That leaves 1 or 3 teams in CUSA West

Tex State
TX SA
La Tech

Do those teams look to go to the Sunbelt where they would be aligned with Tex State, La Monroe, La Laf ?

If that happens, CUSA takes App, JMU and either Ga. Southern or Ark State

1. W Kent
2. Mid Tenn
3. ODU
4. Fla Atl
5. FIU
6. Marshall
7. Charlotte
8. App
9. JMU
10. Ga Southern / Ark State

Thats a lot of shuffling, but if you are going to do it, now is the time for the shake up.

You have TX State mentioned all through your post. I'm thinking you are getting North TX of CUSA confused with TX State of the SB with a couple of your thoughts.

(09-08-2016 06:58 PM)Purplehazed Wrote:  

(09-08-2016 04:16 PM)Potomac Wrote:  An FBS Feasibility Study is a nebulous statement? Cool Story Bro.

Commissioned AFTER the departure of VCU, ODU and GMU in response to the admin receiving many WTF are you doing? questions.

I remember a thread on the CAAZone that lasted months debating why JMU had not commissioned a feasibility study timely a la App State, a much more rural university that is hosting the Miami Hurricanes this season.

That study was like when your wife is nudging you to wake up early on a weekend and you say "I'm up....I'm up". Then she goes to take a shower and you roll over in the bed and pass out again. That's all that was.

(09-08-2016 08:47 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  So based on that article, CUSA West could potentially lose:

UTEP, Rice, _ MW
potentially Tex State, Tex SA - MW
So Miss - AAC

That leaves 1 or 3 teams in CUSA West

Tex State
TX SA
La Tech

Do those teams look to go to the Sunbelt where they would be aligned with Tex State, La Monroe, La Laf ?

If that happens, CUSA takes App, JMU and either Ga. Southern or Ark State

1. W Kent
2. Mid Tenn
3. ODU
4. Fla Atl
5. FIU
6. Marshall
7. Charlotte
8. App
9. JMU
10. Ga Southern / Ark State

Thats a lot of shuffling, but if you are going to do it, now is the time for the shake up.

FYI, La Tech would rather drop football than play ULM. They turned down a bowl bid (and stayed home) rather than play ULM in a bowl a few years back. I'm not sure the Belt would take UNT back. We have a full voting member in UTA (in the same market). UNT has not been a good program lately and they left on pretty bad terms. The Belt would take UTSA.

Ark State is not interested in leaving the Belt for CUSA, seeing it as a lateral move with no upside.

Also, if CUSA lost Rice and USM, the more likely scenario is that the Belt asks WKU and MTSU if they'd like to return. You'd get your CUSA bid if that happened btw.

(09-08-2016 10:02 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(09-08-2016 08:47 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  So based on that article, CUSA West could potentially lose:

UTEP, Rice, _ MW
potentially Tex State, Tex SA - MW
So Miss - AAC

That leaves 1 or 3 teams in CUSA West

Tex State
TX SA
La Tech

Do those teams look to go to the Sunbelt where they would be aligned with Tex State, La Monroe, La Laf ?

If that happens, CUSA takes App, JMU and either Ga. Southern or Ark State

1. W Kent
2. Mid Tenn
3. ODU
4. Fla Atl
5. FIU
6. Marshall
7. Charlotte
8. App
9. JMU
10. Ga Southern / Ark State

Thats a lot of shuffling, but if you are going to do it, now is the time for the shake up.

FYI, La Tech would rather drop football than play ULM. They turned down a bowl bid (and stayed home) rather than play ULM in a bowl a few years back.

Many G5 programs are going to have to check their egos because hubris can't write checks.

(09-09-2016 09:02 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(09-08-2016 10:02 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(09-08-2016 08:47 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  So based on that article, CUSA West could potentially lose:

UTEP, Rice, _ MW
potentially Tex State, Tex SA - MW
So Miss - AAC

That leaves 1 or 3 teams in CUSA West

Tex State
TX SA
La Tech

Do those teams look to go to the Sunbelt where they would be aligned with Tex State, La Monroe, La Laf ?

If that happens, CUSA takes App, JMU and either Ga. Southern or Ark State

1. W Kent
2. Mid Tenn
3. ODU
4. Fla Atl
5. FIU
6. Marshall
7. Charlotte
8. App
9. JMU
10. Ga Southern / Ark State

Thats a lot of shuffling, but if you are going to do it, now is the time for the shake up.

FYI, La Tech would rather drop football than play ULM. They turned down a bowl bid (and stayed home) rather than play ULM in a bowl a few years back.

Many G5 programs are going to have to check their egos because hubris can't write checks.

I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

(09-09-2016 09:11 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

Well than they better be willing to potentially go the way of Idaho, New Mexico State and UMass and try to navigate FBS without a conference if enough of their CUSA western brethren either leave for greener pastures (AAC or MWC) or say screw this it's a chance to reorganize regionally with other western CUSA schools and western Sun Belt schools. Idaho has already joined the Big Sky in FCS and their program is better off for it.

(09-09-2016 09:11 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

That's a level of hate I can respect and admire. What's the story behind it? I don't know anything about LA university politics.

(09-09-2016 09:58 AM)DooX Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 09:11 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

That's a level of hate I can respect and admire. What's the story behind it? I don't know anything about LA university politics.

The towns are only 33 miles apart. I would bet that has a lot to do with it.

(09-09-2016 09:58 AM)DooX Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 09:11 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

That's a level of hate I can respect and admire. What's the story behind it? I don't know anything about LA university politics.

Basically LTU feels entitled to prominence in North Louisiana. ULM has frustrated every attempt by LTU to stop them on an academic and athletic front.

La Tech has more history and alumni. But ULM is located in the population center and its rise has sucked some of the oxygen out La Tech. La Tech is sandwiched between 4 state schools in the population centers it relies on for most of its students.

Basically, La Tech feels the need to presume some level of 'separation' between themselves and ULM. Playing ULM legitimizes ULM. Remember that ULM has many advantages over LTU going forward. Basically LTU wants to sell itself as 'better' and 'more legitimate' than ULM. There's not a lot of people in N Louisiana and there are FIVE state schools up there (Grambling, ULM, LTU, Southern-Shreveport, and LSU-Shreveport). ULM has a big advantage over the other four (who all share cities with another state school).

Many schools try to do it. But few to the level that LTU has gone. And it has been spectacularly ineffective too.

(09-09-2016 08:34 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 09:58 AM)DooX Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 09:11 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

That's a level of hate I can respect and admire. What's the story behind it? I don't know anything about LA university politics.

Basically LTU feels entitled to prominence in North Louisiana. ULM has frustrated every attempt by LTU to stop them on an academic and athletic front.

La Tech has more history and alumni. But ULM is located in the population center and its rise has sucked some of the oxygen out La Tech. La Tech is sandwiched between 4 state schools in the population centers it relies on for most of its students.

Basically, La Tech feels the need to presume some level of 'separation' between themselves and ULM. Playing ULM legitimizes ULM. Remember that ULM has many advantages over LTU going forward. Basically LTU wants to sell itself as 'better' and 'more legitimate' than ULM. There's not a lot of people in N Louisiana and there are FIVE state schools up there (Grambling, ULM, LTU, Southern-Shreveport, and LSU-Shreveport). ULM has a big advantage over the other four (who all share cities with another state school).

Many schools try to do it. But few to the level that LTU has gone. And it has been spectacularly ineffective too.

For a state with budget troubles and education funding cuts as high profile as Louisiana, how on earth have they not closed/consolidated some of those state schools? I understand history and tradition but my God. It can't be efficient/cost effective to have five state schools in northern Louisiana. How have the two Shreveport schools not been merged and expenses reduced? That just seems crazy. Are there that many students to fill all those schools?

(09-09-2016 10:34 PM)jmu14 Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 08:34 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 09:58 AM)DooX Wrote:  

(09-09-2016 09:11 AM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I'd agree in 99% of cases. But La Tech's hatred of ULM is something special. They've proven that they'll take 100 dollars out of their pocket to deny ULM 1 dollar.

Most schools will swallow the bitter pill of playing with a rival they thought was unworthy if finances dictate it. La Tech ain't swallowing that pill. Regardless of the cost to their program.

That's a level of hate I can respect and admire. What's the story behind it? I don't know anything about LA university politics.

Basically LTU feels entitled to prominence in North Louisiana. ULM has frustrated every attempt by LTU to stop them on an academic and athletic front.

La Tech has more history and alumni. But ULM is located in the population center and its rise has sucked some of the oxygen out La Tech. La Tech is sandwiched between 4 state schools in the population centers it relies on for most of its students.

Basically, La Tech feels the need to presume some level of 'separation' between themselves and ULM. Playing ULM legitimizes ULM. Remember that ULM has many advantages over LTU going forward. Basically LTU wants to sell itself as 'better' and 'more legitimate' than ULM. There's not a lot of people in N Louisiana and there are FIVE state schools up there (Grambling, ULM, LTU, Southern-Shreveport, and LSU-Shreveport). ULM has a big advantage over the other four (who all share cities with another state school).

Many schools try to do it. But few to the level that LTU has gone. And it has been spectacularly ineffective too.

For a state with budget troubles and education funding cuts as high profile as Louisiana, how on earth have they not closed/consolidated some of those state schools? I understand history and tradition but my God. It can't be efficient/cost effective to have five state schools in northern Louisiana. How have the two Shreveport schools not been merged and expenses reduced? That just seems crazy. Are there that many students to fill all those schools?

How about the two state schools in Ruston. Grambling and La Tech are approx 3 miles apart. Yea, I don't see why Shreveport needs two state schools either.

ULM stands off to the side with Monroe all to itself. Ruston is 40 miles west. Ruston is rural. Monroe is urban.

And yes, consolidation is on the table in Louisiana. And the rise of ULM is bad news for La Tech. It ain't about football guys.

Big 12 Won’t Expand
GRAPEVINE, Texas ( AP) — The smallest Power Five conference is not getting any larger. The Big 12 is staying at 10 schools.


So, let's be the best we can be in FCS for now.

(10-18-2016 07:24 AM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  Big 12 Won’t Expand
GRAPEVINE, Texas ( AP) — The smallest Power Five conference is not getting any larger. The Big 12 is staying at 10 schools.


So, let's play against the best we can in FCS for now.

FIFY: We should always be the best we can be no matter who we go up against.