Apparently JMU Is Not Canceling the Football Season
[polldaddy poll=6252521]
I know, it’s true. Despite the seemingly endless amount of energy some people have spent worrying, speculating, and over-analyzing the future of the CAA and FCS football (guilty as charged), JMU has decided to go ahead and play out the 2012 football season anyway. Crazy. And since we’re officially 100 days out from the start of the FCS season, we thought we would at least temporarily turn our attention to the 2012 Dukes. Indulge us for a moment please. We promise we’ll get back to conference realignment talk soon. So save your stories about your best friend’s sister’s boyfriend’s brother’s girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who’s going with the girl who saw Jeff Bourne hold a secret meeting in the Wilson Hall clock-tower with officials from the MAC. We’re sure he did, undoubtedly right before seeing Ferris pass out at 31 flavors (Google it kids).
Where was I? Oh yeah, the 2012 JMU Dukes football team. Todd and I are scarily optimistic about this team’s chances. And it’s not just because we believe in the “every 4 years they make a run” theory. This year’s Dukes team brings a lot of talent back. With Stephon Roberston anchoring the linebacker core, Jakarie Jackson and Dean Marlowe patrolling the secondary, and Sage Harold ready to break out as a pass rushing force, the defense is loaded. And on offense, the Dukes will have more weapons than they’ve had in years. Quentin Hunter will be fully recovered and ready to make plays at wideout. The versatile Andre Coble should continue to mature. Dae’Quan Scott and Jordan Anderson both have 1,000 yard season potential at tail-back. Brian Barlow could be a beast in the red-zone. And we haven’t even mentioned Justin Thorpe, a QB who is 10-1 in his last 11 FCS starts. This team could be good. Really good. But that’s just what we think. Vote in the poll or sound off in the comments to let us know your expectations.
My real goal for the season is to beat ODU. It is hard to live in Norfolk at times like this.
Beware the Dukes on election years…
But seriously, this does feel like now or never (or at least 2 years) for this team with so much returning depth and a 30 year old QB.
I hate to say it, but unless we are SO good to win the National Championship, really I would be okay going 1-10 this year as long as that 1 victory was over ODU. I am SO bitter, I know. But I figure its all or nothing at this poing since a National Championship at the FCS level may be a really neat antique piece the way things are going…..
Goal #1: Humiliate and destroy ODU.
Even if we win another National Championship, if ODU beats us (again) and moves up, we just going to look like a small fry second rate school who picked up the scraps.
Biggest concern: Unless Quentin Hunter and Brian Barlow are going to line up in the backfield, they aren’t going to touch the ball. #throwthedamnball
I’m really exited about some of the younger QB’s and can’t wait to see how they perform against ODU in the 2nd half.
This is kind of funny. I was thinking about adding “Don’t care, just beat ODU” as an option, but I thought folks would accuse me of being bitter. Now I sort of wish I included it.
Rob – Join in the bitterness.
In all seriousness, after having some time to step back from the initial news about ODU, I do get their decision if you consider basketball in the equation. I would probably say they said “hey we are getting an invite from a better basketball conference in CUSA, AND we get to move up in football” which was probably something they were considering anyways just maybe not this soon. JMU’s situation is differnt / unique when you compare GMU, VCU, ODU and others in the CAA. GMU and VCU have no football, ODU has both but better b-ball than JMU and an up and coming football program. I do really believe that if JMU had the bball progam that GMU/VCU/ODU had we would have gotten an invite from CUSA as well as some other lower level FBS conferences. Delaware may be the one and only other school that could possibly be similar to JMU’s situation at least right now. Not a great basketball team but pretty good football team. I think each school has to and will make their own decision based on their unique situation and that is all we can hope / ask for in JMU’s administration.
But I still stand by my priority of beating the #$#@ out of ODU on Nov 17th no matter what else happens this season.