(03-28-2013 07:45 AM)Dukes09 Wrote:  

(03-28-2013 12:29 AM)HawaiiMongoose Wrote:  If I were in charge at JMU I'd try to play the Sun Belt off against the MAC and CUSA to land the best offer I could get. When and if it became apparent that neither the MAC nor CUSA was seriously interested, I'd take the Sun Belt invitation. That may be what's transpiring now.

Yep. I believe this is what happened. They've got a sbc invite locked up, but are trying to leverage it and get into more desirable cusa or Mac leagues. They'll go sbc as a last resort. This is what app state just did, but to no avail.

Lets think about this here: there can be no invitation issued because there is no vacancy at this moment in the SBC. We have 12 football playing schools. Based on the press conference past night Benson is working hard to keep wku in the fold. Having said that I am sure there are schools contacting Benson to consider them as potential members and I have no doubt that jmu is on his radar. But it makes no sense to say they have invitation where there currently is no hole to fill at the moment.

(03-27-2013 08:29 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  Some of our "in the know" fans are claiming that there's next to nothing behind these JMU to the SBC rumors. They say there's something going on with the MAC and maybe CUSA.

Who knows, everyone is an expert on the internet.

I'm nowhere near to "in the know", but the MAC would seem to be a possibility, if the MAC reckon that JMU wouldn't be wanted by Conference USA ... the MAC can offer stability that the Sunbelt can't, but they probably want stability in return, after the UCF, Marshall and Temple experiences.

No reason for CUSA to mess around with promoting FCS schools. If they decide to move to replace Tulsa, they have better already-FBS schools to choose from. But there's never anything to stop them from inviting a school after the school has transitioned with the Sunbelt or the MAC, as long as its a school that fits their current needs.

The wildcard is the New Big East and whether they raid the A10 for two more members ... if JMU had an option of the A10 for Olympic sports and upgrade to FBS in the MAC for football, that might make for a good move for them.

(03-28-2013 01:17 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  Lets think about this here: there can be no invitation issued because there is no vacancy at this moment in the SBC. We have 12 football playing schools.

Yes. The conference commissioner losing a school may be the last to hear before the announcement is made, but they normally DO hear before the press conference. Tulsa just officially announced its acceptance of its Big TBA invite yesterday, so while Conference USA may have been getting ready informally, they'll still have to talk to a school to see if they'll accept an invite, do a conference call to make the invite official, the invited school have to do their formal meeting to formally accept ... that's not going to happen instantly. C-USA's reaction might be announced today, maybe tomorrow, maybe they wait until the NCAA tournament is over. All the Sunbelt can do until the final decisions are made is to put out feelers.

And, obviously, if its UMass, then the Sunbelt wouldn't have to move after all.

BTW, here are a couple concept picture of what Bridgefoth Stadium could look like down the road





Here is what it looks like now




Not that you already didn't know...

Built for FBS, should be FBS.

(03-28-2013 01:36 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-27-2013 08:29 PM)Dukes09 Wrote:  Some of our "in the know" fans are claiming that there's next to nothing behind these JMU to the SBC rumors. They say there's something going on with the MAC and maybe CUSA.

Who knows, everyone is an expert on the internet.

I'm nowhere near to "in the know", but the MAC would seem to be a possibility, if the MAC reckon that JMU wouldn't be wanted by Conference USA ... the MAC can offer stability that the Sunbelt can't, but they probably want stability in return, after the UCF, Marshall and Temple experiences.

No reason for CUSA to mess around with promoting FCS schools. If they decide to move to replace Tulsa, they have better already-FBS schools to choose from. But there's never anything to stop them from inviting a school after the school has transitioned with the Sunbelt or the MAC, as long as its a school that fits their current needs.

The wildcard is the New Big East and whether they raid the A10 for two more members ... if JMU had an option of the A10 for Olympic sports and upgrade to FBS in the MAC for football, that might make for a good move for them.

(03-28-2013 01:17 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  Lets think about this here: there can be no invitation issued because there is no vacancy at this moment in the SBC. We have 12 football playing schools.

Yes. The conference commissioner losing a school may be the last to hear before the announcement is made, but they normally DO hear before the press conference. Tulsa just officially announced its acceptance of its Big TBA invite yesterday, so while Conference USA may have been getting ready informally, they'll still have to talk to a school to see if they'll accept an invite, do a conference call to make the invite official, the invited school have to do their formal meeting to formally accept ... that's not going to happen instantly. C-USA's reaction might be announced today, maybe tomorrow, maybe they wait until the NCAA tournament is over. All the Sunbelt can do until the final decisions are made is to put out feelers.

And, obviously, if its UMass, then the Sunbelt wouldn't have to move after all.

Charlotte, UTSA, and Old Dominion?

The Big East promoted Conneticut from FCS. The Big East was considering Villanova.

The is no difference in adding ODU or JMU.

I'm not sure why it's such a big deal adding a FCS program to the old BE or even CUSA. As already stated UCONN was added from the CAA and Villanova was going to be added from the CAA. If they want, they could do the same by adding a FCS school. Will be tough, but not out of the question.

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(03-28-2013 07:10 PM)jmufan Wrote:  I'm not sure why it's such a big deal adding a FCS program to the old BE or even CUSA. As already stated UCONN was added from the CAA and Villanova was going to be added from the CAA. If they want, they could do the same by adding a FCS school. Will be tough, but not out of the question.

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It is about out of the question as out of the question can be.

Conference TBD has plenty of FBS choices and has chosen Tulsa as the 11th member. While there is a space for number 12, VERY heavy odds are that member will come from the MAC (UMASS) or CUSA.

CUSA, after adding the Tidewater and Charlotte markets, has been adding existing FBS programs ever since. CUSA's only looks now because Tulsa is gone, and they have all but finalized WKU as their next target.

The MAC has the luxury of time. Should Conference TBA pull UMASS, they could very well invite a pair of FCS teams to expand the footprint, but if they keep UMASS, then I strongly believe that they make a power-building move and pull an FBS school from the SunBelt (StAte most likely).

All this could fall apart if any of the AQ conferences expand past current memberships, but I think it is highly unlikely that happens this round. I think these last moves are to get the leagues to full membership which will be followed by a couple years of stability.

How does all this help JMU? At this moment, I see the landscape for perhaps one more FCS move-up until this thing settles down for a while. There are probably 12 FCS schools that want that spot, but only 4 that could make an argument they are truly ready, and fit within possible footprint scenarios. Given the likely team moves above, that move up slot will be in the SunBelt... 90% chance. But I think Benson has a strong case to make to WKU if they will listen... and if he is successful, he could force CUSA to look elsewhere.

(03-28-2013 09:47 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  Conference TBD has plenty of FBS choices and has chosen Tulsa as the 11th member. While there is a space for number 12, VERY heavy odds are that member will come from the MAC (UMASS) or CUSA.

Surely the Big TBA would prefer that the 12th member be Navy, in 2015 as scheduled. If the Big TBA gets an interest from Army, they could expand to 14 with another add all-sports, 12 all-sports, 14 FB ... if they get interest from Army AND Air Force, they expand to 14 FB, stay at 11 all-sports.

(03-28-2013 10:17 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-28-2013 09:47 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  Conference TBD has plenty of FBS choices and has chosen Tulsa as the 11th member. While there is a space for number 12, VERY heavy odds are that member will come from the MAC (UMASS) or CUSA.

Surely the Big TBA would prefer that the 12th member be Navy, in 2015 as scheduled. If the Big TBA gets an interest from Army, they could expand to 14 with another add all-sports, 12 all-sports, 14 FB ... if they get interest from Army AND Air Force, they expand to 14 FB, stay at 11 all-sports.

I must have miss-counted teams. It's hard to keep that conference straight over there. I thought they would be at 11 including Navy in 2015...

I just hope that JMU doesn't squander this opportunity to move up. For me, I would love the MAC because of the all around sports, but would be ecstatic if we had a football only SBC invite, even an all sports invite if it comes to that. Also wouldn't mind being in a conference with ODU.

(03-28-2013 10:51 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  

(03-28-2013 10:17 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-28-2013 09:47 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  Conference TBD has plenty of FBS choices and has chosen Tulsa as the 11th member. While there is a space for number 12, VERY heavy odds are that member will come from the MAC (UMASS) or CUSA.

Surely the Big TBA would prefer that the 12th member be Navy, in 2015 as scheduled. If the Big TBA gets an interest from Army, they could expand to 14 with another add all-sports, 12 all-sports, 14 FB ... if they get interest from Army AND Air Force, they expand to 14 FB, stay at 11 all-sports.

I must have miss-counted teams. It's hard to keep that conference straight over there. I thought they would be at 11 including Navy in 2015...

I think with Tulsa and Navy, the A-12 has 12 teams
If CUSA takes WKU as expected, they will have 12 teams
The MAC has 13 teams (with a unreliable team that may leave in UMass)
Army and BYU are free radicals that may land somewhere
The Sun Belt has 11 teams.

Barring some wildcard, such as the MAC taking ULL/stAte, or CUSA moving to 14 or 16 teams, etc., there may only be one more FCS to FBS ticket on the table.

I think quite a few JMU fans are still hoping for a conference to be named invite. But I really do not see that happening, even though Temple has stated that they want regional teams to be added. JMU would fit nicely with those schools. Just as they would fit nicely in CUSA. SBC now has Appy, which make it appealing, but travel would be rough. The MAC would be great because of like minded schools, but not sure if the MAC is ready to move.

(03-28-2013 10:51 PM)GoAppsGo92 Wrote:  I must have miss-counted teams. It's hard to keep that conference straight over there. I thought they would be at 11 including Navy in 2015...

When the Big TBA announced their TV deal, they announced that they will be adding an 11th in 2014 and going to divisions and a CCG when Navy joins in 2015.

Tulsa is widely expected to be that 11th, though not officially announced, but since the TV deal was announced, the question was not whether, but only who.

(03-28-2013 11:34 PM)Tom in Lazybrook Wrote:  I think with Tulsa and Navy, the A-12 has 12 teams
If CUSA takes WKU as expected, they will have 12 teams
The MAC has 13 teams (with a unreliable team that may leave in UMass)
Army and BYU are free radicals that may land somewhere
The Sun Belt has 11 teams.

Barring some wildcard, such as the MAC taking ULL/stAte, or CUSA moving to 14 or 16 teams, etc., there may only be one more FCS to FBS ticket on the table.

What you described makes 2 ~ if the Sunbelt drops back to 11, they would like 12 and a CCG, to get the CCG winner in the best possible bowl, and the MAC would like a 14th football school for balanced divisions, if they can find one that adds something to markets and some sporting status.

That could be two southeastern/southwestern, one southeast/southwest and one northeast, or one southeast/southwest and one midwest.

Of the two, the Sunbelt would be in a greater hurry than the MAC, with the MAC being able to afford to wait for the "right school".

The MAC probably wishes that Army cared about money because if they did then they might be able to get Army for football only (which with Army is probably the only sport the MAC wants except maybe wrestling if they were interested). Heck that could be part of the waiting process to see if Army decides to join a conference which might be contingent on Navy actually going through with joining a conference.

(03-30-2013 01:03 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  The MAC probably wishes that Army cared about money because if they did then they might be able to get Army for football only (which with Army is probably the only sport the MAC wants except maybe wrestling if they were interested). Heck that could be part of the waiting process to see if Army decides to join a conference which might be contingent on Navy actually going through with joining a conference.

Yes, the MAC would take Army in a heartbeat, but I don't think Army wants to join the MAC, even FB-only.

For the MAC, James Madison all-sports would be fine with me ~ so would Illinois State all sports and Northern Iowa all sports.

(03-30-2013 02:54 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-30-2013 01:03 PM)Sultan of Euphonistan Wrote:  The MAC probably wishes that Army cared about money because if they did then they might be able to get Army for football only (which with Army is probably the only sport the MAC wants except maybe wrestling if they were interested). Heck that could be part of the waiting process to see if Army decides to join a conference which might be contingent on Navy actually going through with joining a conference.

Yes, the MAC would take Army in a heartbeat, but I don't think Army wants to join the MAC, even FB-only.

For the MAC, James Madison all-sports would be fine with me ~ so would Illinois State all sports and Northern Iowa all sports.

You get no say in what the MAC should do as long as you are a Buckeyes fan. Ohio State should shut their program down.

(03-30-2013 03:02 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  You get no say in what the MAC should do as long as you are a Buckeyes fan. Ohio State should shut their program down.

Oh, balderdash, as a MAC alum, I have as much say as most anyone on these boards. Hell, I'll even cheer for my Alma Mater in hockey as they fight to get to the Frozen Four this year. After all, there were hockey players in our dorms.

Indeed, in this part of Ohio, if the Golden Flashes turned away every Buckeyes fan, they'd be getting rid of a big chunk of their fanbase.

(03-30-2013 03:18 PM)BruceMcF Wrote:  

(03-30-2013 03:02 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  You get no say in what the MAC should do as long as you are a Buckeyes fan. Ohio State should shut their program down.

Oh, balderdash, as a MAC alum, I have as much say as most anyone on these boards. Hell, I'll even cheer for my Alma Mater in hockey as they fight to get to the Frozen Four this year. After all, there were hockey players in our dorms.

Indeed, in this part of Ohio, if the Golden Flashes turned away every Buckeyes fan, they'd be getting rid of a big chunk of their fanbase.

Pathetic.

Any Miami alumnus who roots for the Buckeyes, I'd rather not have as a Miami fan at all.


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(03-30-2013 04:04 PM)Miami (Oh) Yeah ! Wrote:  Any Miami alumnus who roots for the Buckeyes, I'd rather not have as a Miami fan at all.

Yeah, but luckily for the "Redhawks", you don't get to decide. Indeed, oddly enough Miami never asked whether I was a Buckeye fan, neither when they accepted my application nor when they cashed my tuition checks.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football...-c-usa-jmu