Dukes Make the Playoffs!
Holy hell, this weekend turned out to be blogging gold here at JMUSB HQ! So as not to bury the lead, the Dukes destroyed UMass Saturday, a slew of other games broke their way, and they made the FCS Playoffs as an at-large team. But then we found out they were somehow (Jeff Bourne) out bid by Eastern Kentucky for the right to host the playoff opener despite enormous attendance this year in BFS and, you know, that 68 million dollar upgrade paid for by VA taxpayers and current student fees. And that’s not even touching on the fact soccer is heading to the Sweet 16 and Women’s hoops took fellow mid-major power Middle Tennessee St. out behind the woodshed!
First things first, Saturday was unreal! We finally found a true home for HQ over at CoachPriz’s, complete with kegerator, where we hooked up the hdmi cable and fired up UNI/Ill. St. at noon before flipping to watch the Dukes pound the Minutemen and then going back in the second half when Northern Iowa and Florida came back as needed against Illinois St. and Furman respectively. When Chattanooga went up big on Wofford, and some other directional Illinois school started pounding Indiana St. we started celebrating as only three middle-aged, unshowered men can. As it turned out, Wofford actually came back to save their season, but aha, so did Missouri St.! The Bears (I think) somehow managed to shake off their 2-8 attitude and storm back to knock off Youngstown St., thus setting off furious discussion of our plans for next week’s trip to the ‘Burg for a game against Albany or Norfolk St. Whoops.
So after that magnificent Saturday, we awoke Sunday suddenly nervous before the Selection Show. Crazy talk from the toll-booth state and of course the always ridiculous Sports Network poll keeping the Blue Hens above the Dukes in the final poll combined with lots of Illinois St. talk had us on edge. When they announced the first half of the bracket, no JMU, but no real surprises either, so still hopeful. Then the moment comes, “Eastern Kentucky/James Madison” flashes on the screen. Woot woot! We got in! Here we go. Tweet it quick. Noon ESPNU EKU in the Burg next week. See other angry tweets, many other angry tweets. What in the living f*ck is going on. What do they mean it’s AT Eastern Kentucky?! Seriously, at Eastern Kentucky?! And then the bashing commenced.
I can only say that we’ve hashed this out over and over today. There are a million ways to look at it, but in the end there is just no defending the administration, in particular AD Jeff Bourne, for getting outbid for a home game by Eastern Kentucky, from Richmond, Kentucky, stadium capacity 20,000, 2011 average attendance just over 7200 (with a whole 3300 in the house for Saturday’s game). For anyone that doesn’t know by now, the FCS playoffs determines home sites for games between two unseeded teams by sealed bidding on revenue guarantees for the NCAA. Both Rob and I are hugely opposed to this racket, but what else do you expect from the NCAA, possibly the country’s biggest scam. To his credit, and whoever in the administration had the brains to point out this was necessary, Bourne issued a statement on jmusports.com that contained an explanation and an apology. We disagree with his 12,000 attendance projection for this week, but it’s Thanksgiving weekend and even if we drew 18k, I understand that issue isn’t good and no one likes the prospect of losing money on this NCAA goat rodeo. But for all those members of JMU Nation who have stepped up their commitments to JMU Football and Athletics with the building of New BFS and showed up all five weeks this year to make the seemingly unthinkable 25k Strong campaign a reality and turned JMU into the school with the third-highest attendance in the nation this season, this feels like nothing short of a kick in the kneecap (a slap in the face just doesn’t do it justice). Spending 68 mil on the stadium was an investment. An investment in the continued building of momentum for JMU football, an investment in the Harrisonburg community, and an investment in the supposed commitment to making JMU the finest FCS program in the country. If a bid required a slightly risky financial proposition, it should have been a foregone conclusion that the risk was simply doubling down on that investment. They had Aces and refused to split them apparently because those in charge didn’t know that was allowed.
Ok, time to move on. And the good news is, the bracket could not have set up better for the Dukes. The Colonels are a weak team from a weak conference (OVC) and if you told me Saturday morning the Dukes would be a) in the playoffs and b) playing EKU, I would’ve gone Michael Flatley on you faster than you can say Riverdance. North Dakota St. is damn good, but whatever seed we drew in the second would’ve been tough and I love the prospect of JMU’s speed in the dome. After that it would be the winner of Lehigh/Towson, and even if rumors on campus of low, or god forbid, no bids, having been submitted for hosting quarter or semi-final games are true, even a trip to Pennsylvania or Baltimore would turn either of those stadiums into virtual home games for the Dukes (anyone remember Williamsburg in ‘o4 or Richmond every year?)!
In other incredible news, Soccer took out Wake Forest 2-0 in the big dance and advanced to the Sweet 16 at UConn next Sunday!
Tons more to come this week and can’t wait to see a HUGE crowd for brunch at Bailey’s next Saturday!
And of course, one last reminder. The only team to win the 1-AA National Championship with a path consisting entirely of road games: the 2004 JMU Dukes!
I bet Delaware is pissed.
This playoff scenario is odd. I’m not 100% sure we should be in since the only team we beat all season that was worth a crap was the Fighting Falwells.
On the other hand, I can name at least 6 other teams that made the field that I know we would beat (and probably blow out 4 of them).
Anyway… glad to be in…. looking forward to Saturday. Go Dukes!
I’m more shocked that we don’t have a home game than I am we got in.
Only person UD can be mad at is whoever keeps scheduling their “rivalry” game vs. D2 West Chester. Glad the chairman called them out on that b/c all we need is that pandora’s box opened and the Ticks and Hens would be scheduling randolph-Macon every year.
“…before flipping to watch the Dukes pound the Minutemen…” (PAUSE)
A lot of people are pissed at the Dukes and the committee. Check out this article from the Daytona News Journal about Bethune-Cookmans “snub”. http://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/
Thanks JP, but that’s ridiculous. Committee made the two-MEAC mistake last year and they both got destroyed. No claim at all.
JMU just gave ODU more ammo on the recruiting trail. ODU’s hosting a royal rumble with Norfolk St…and JMU’s headed to Richmond, KY because, after spending $70m on a new stadium and fueling talks of moving to D-1, they’re afraid of losing a few bucks on a playoff game. Bourne’s apology was weak and breed’s an atmosphere of timidness. If you’re gonna be a bear, be a grizzly.
How do we elect Rob to be Athletic Director?
Hate to say it but, Towson got screwed too. Can’t believe they didn’t get at least a #5 seed.
Everyone points to the West Chester game that hurt UD. How about choking against URI and UMass? UD lost to those teams, which are, coincidentally enough, the last two teams JMU had to beat to get into the field.
Borne continues to show his ineptitude. 12,k attendance # for a school that has 75% of the student body from the state. The longest drive would be 3 hrs. I guess if he couldn’t take out our season by removing the QB for 5 games he thinks sending us to Eastern Kentucky will do the trick!!
Simmer down folks. It’s disappointing, but let’s not jump to conclusions or lose sight of the fact that there is a playoff game to get excited about. I reached out to Bourne and asked if he’d like to try to clarify things directly here on the blog. If he does, we can examine the facts and discuss things all day. Until then, let’s enjoy Thanksgiving and get ready for a big Dukes playoff win!
Jeff Bourne is the guy who built JMU from a regional mary-washington-esque small school into a national contender.
JMU Soccer- Playoffs
JMU Women’s Basketball- Conf. Champs
JMU Men’s B-Ball- finally relevant.
JMU Football- National Champions
JMU Baseball- Conf. Champs
Women’s LAX- Playoffs
Women’s Soccer- Playoffs.
In the last 5 years, JMU has built the some of the most impressive football, baseball, and LAX/FH/Track facilities in the entire country.
Jeff Bourne may have really stepped in it with this one, but let’s not give him the Mickey Matthews treatment so quick. He still deserves a lot of credit for the rise and success of JMU’s athletic programs. At least he admitted his error (ahem….*football coaches*…ahem…)
Very well said 2004. Thankfully Rob talked me into temporarily putting my pitchfork down last night. I just don’t want this swept under the rug until all the facts are truly out there and the JMU community can make an informed assessment of whether or not mistakes were made and if so, what is going to be done about it. Looks like we’ve got a great shot to host down the line but gotta just keep winning games!
…and to be frank, if we’d been 8-3 or 9-2 none of this would matter.
I’m thinking ODU and UNH games right now….
I don’t think 2004 arguments hold water. JMU has been good for the last 20 in a most of the sports listed in 2004’s comments. I agree that football is better now than before he arrived, but he wasn’t the AD for Micky or Spanky’s (baseball) hiring. He was for Kenny Brooks and also Dean Keaner. So he is around 50%. I don’t think he should be canned but I have to say I do hold him responsible for this f up with the bidding and to some extent the severity of the Thrope suspension. Lets face it, if it had been 6 games we probably aren’t having this discussion because the season is over. There was also a huge up roar about how he handled the Title 9 compliance from student body.
Any how Bourne doesn’t walk on water but he isn’t sinking the ship either.
Grade: B