Guest Blogger: Just Win Baby
Scott won last week’s prediction contest and the right to be our guest blogger this week. Here are his thoughts on JMU football and why folks need to show up for the regular season finale against ODU.
First, I would like to start out by saying that when I received the email telling me that I had the closest prediction, I thought.. “This isn’t right, I couldn’t have..” But I do appreciate Rob and Todd for their work every week and thank my Fiancée for telling me a little over a year ago to read this blog because of all the great insight (yeah, she LOVES JMU football). I read it RELIGIOUSLY, plus it is a lot more optimistic than the CAA zone message boards. I hate reading them sometimes because of all the pessimism, and not being so pessimistic is on the list of things I want to change about myself. Unfortunately, sometimes this football team and even the student’s support of JMU in general, make this very hard.
There are several things I felt I could write about, but nothing really sparked any thought. I am an MRD Alum, but I really didn’t want to talk about the band that much, I will say that we had a good time in London two years ago once we got there and the MRDs will be performing in the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade which will be awesome to see JMU represented next Thanksgiving, but this year they have played the same stand tunes over and over and over and the only song we have been able to get into is “A Mis Abuelos”. It is a killer song and very loud which we like! We know that this is not the fault of the band members, as we have many friends still in band, but the fault of its leaders. This is such a great band! It has has so much potential, but it just doesn’t feel right this year.I could also talk about the FCS vs. FBS debate, but that horse has been beaten worse than VT has this season. All I have to say is I am still on the fence because I truly love the FCS playoff system, but I wish sometime soon the CAA will hire better officials, and/or include the use of video replay. This is my only major problem with FCS. It is nice being a big fish in a little pond, especially with the stadium we have, now we just have to fill it!
But anyway, I love JMU and everything about it. I met my future wife in band and since we met we have been to several games, including the 2010 win over VT. We both love JMU football and love telling people we went to JMU. It just doesn’t seem the same anymore mostly because of student support. When talking to current student (because we have become townies) they seem to have no interest in football or have any JMU spirit at all. I remember when I went to community college before coming to JMU and watching the App State game in ’08 thinking, wow, I cannot wait to be there. I just don’t know what else to say other than to tell current students to support their school, come to the ODU game and get ROWDY.
This season has definitely been a decent one and the best season this team has had since 2008. It has almost lived up to all expectations. When at a home game, my family and I just don’t feel like we did last year. We couldn’t be happier with the stadium (well unless we had the other side done) but the students and the crowd just don’t seem that into it. Students that even make it to the stadium, leave early, during a great game! It is hard for me not to get mad, as I am sure many of you get a little upset with the “support” this team gets. But take a deep breath, we just beat a good Maine team on the road, if we can beat Villanova this weekend, this team will more than deserve all the support it can get on November 17. Yes, it will be cold, but nothing that a little, or a lot, of whiskey can’t help with.
Now through this disorganized mess I have written, I just want to make one point, the fans that want to be there for this team should continue to stick by them. Put away your anger, or your problems with the offensive play calling (this one is going to be very hard for me to do), and even the quarterback situation. We are 7-2 with two winnable, but exciting games left just in the regular season! We have a very capable team as displayed this past weekend and I have faith that they can make a deep playoff run if not be a NC contender. Now, in the words of the great Al Davis, “Just win, baby…”
Like the article Scott but you were right in thinking you weren’t the closest…
Am I missing something? Nice article too but the Maine predictions show that he was the closest..
Seeean. what’s his username?
Scott is his name, but his commented under JMUMRD11. Unless I screwed up (which is entirely possible), he was closest.
I had the same questions chip is referring to:
Actual Score: 31-7
JMUMRD11: 31-17 = total of 10 pt difference
Amy: 28-13 = Total of 9 pt difference
Amy happens to be a friend of mine, so I was a little surprised she didn’t win. That isn’t to take away from Scott. I liked the article. I was just a little confused.
Being the spouse of a band geek I completely agree with the comments about the same show over and over and over again (and that it can’t really be the fault of the band members themselves).
I really don’t mean to take away from anyone.I honestly just looked to see for myself, I didn’t even check after they told me. Thanks for all the positive comments about the post, but I guess I really didn’t deserve the honor and I am sorry to Amy for taking it…
I’d think if you correctly guess one of the scores dead on you get a bonus or something.
Sorry for the confusion guys. This isn’t a scientific process and I guess I sort of went with Zac’s logic above. Scott nailed one team’s score correctly and was only 10 points off total. To me, that seemed like a more accurate prediction even if Amy had a lower point differential. I’m sorry if that seems completely arbitrary. We’re not trying to screw anyone here. If it really upsets people, I guess Todd and I can try to figure out exactly how much of a “bonus” you get for picking one score correctly. Honestly though, we’d prefer to just make things a judgement call. We’re talking about a prize of a guest post, not real money or anything.
who really cares….this is all for fun and and fans with some passion. Just roll with it.
GO DUKES!!!!!!!!!!!
What Shady_P said.
Seriously, thank you all very much for reading the blog. Todd and I really appreciate it and don’t mean to appear dismissive or defensive about this contest or anything else. Sometimes we just sort of shoot from the hip because our whole intent is simply to have some fun and provide some enjoyment for you guys. I apologize if by doing that and not laying out some more strict rules for awarding the guest posts upset any of you. Thanks again for reading and Go Dukes!
Don’t really care who won the contest.
“we just beat a *horrible* Maine team on the road,…” Fixed it for you.
I think if I was an MRD alum and not a Football alum, it would be possible to put away anger with playcalling, QB’s etc. Unfortunately, it would be an insult to everything I worked for to NOT get really pissed off when they roll out that $#@%$%&^ pistol on anything-and-1.
Alright enough with the student hating. If we’re gonna put a huge blanket
Over “lack of student support” we’re not the
Only ones who leave early, and there are a decent number who don’t leave at all. We still have averaged at least over 7,000 to at least come this year. Do you know how many schools would kill for that?
Sean…..that is nothing to brag about. Say what you will the student support for JMU athletics is awful and needs to change. I will give you a pass for basketball b/c they have been down for a while…..but football really, they have been pretty dang good year in, year out. There are only 5 to 6 home games each season. I don’t think it is that much to ask. Just ask the football team if they notice the lack of student support and spirit…..but be forewarned you will NOT like the answer.
I appreciate the students that turnout….but it should be sooooo much better than it is. That area should be loud and rowdy all the time.
I’d just like to point out that folks are kind of preaching to the choir regarding student attendance. The students who read the blog are typically awesome supporters of JMU athletics. Sean for instance, was kind enough to introduce himself at a game earlier this year, and I know he’s a huge supporter and one of the guys who does his best to rally other students on campus.
Anyway, maybe energy would be better spent coming up with ways to motivate or entice students to get involved, rather than just lamenting the fact that some of them chose to leave games early. Or just ignoring it and focusing on things you can control.
Shady, other schools dream of 7-8 thousand students. I’m just sayig that until every non student ticket sells out every game and each non student stays the whole game don’t put the blanket statement, students don’t stay.
We have done everything we can as students to get others to stay. I think a better game experience with a standard entrance song, a fourth quarter rallying song and video and things of the nature will involve the students more and make them stay. Last year it was my idea to use “Welcome Home” chant that the band plays as our entrance. 25 thousand chanting would be very intimidating and exciting. They kinda used it but not the end of the song. People still liked it and I’m not sure why they stopped this year. Start Wearing Purple would make a GREAT 4th quarter song, but maybe I should save this for my Villanova prediction victory post 😉
Start Wearing Purple would be awesome. It is great at basketball not sure why the MRD does not use it????
Never really been a fan of “shooting from the hip” to be honest. I like this blog and have found that a lot of the posts make sense but then they forget to make the WVU prediction official and have a winner but don’t announce it, then the winner of the Maine game prediction contest isn’t the actual winner and my interest starts to wane. It just so happens that both times the winner is a girl and that, to me, seems to be quite the coincidence. Now the authors will post “this is just for fun” and “it wasn’t on purpose” but fool me once, etc.
Moving on. 2004Duke you said you were a football alum? Which team, what years etc? I’m curious because I too am a football alum and I’m curious if we crossed paths. I agree with you that under center is better on short yardage situations but for the whole I disagree with everything you’ve said about DQS, JT and most of the team. Just being honest here and really who can ask for more than that. JMU is in Virginia and recruits mostly from the area and thus we compete for OL with UVA, VT and a few FCS schools. That is why we have to run side to side, spread, wing-T and whatever else offense we can come up with to score some points. Its a necessary evil and I’d rather run an I formation with a few PA passed but it won’t happen anytime soon with the OL situation.
Sean/Shady_P: The student support sucks as a rule. Its gotten better. Its gotten worse. Its cyclical with kids this age. When I played the team was horrible but the fans showed up in force early in the season and even when we were winning they left at the half (after the MRDs played of course)! I couldn’t blame them because back then the stadium was cold, boring and had metal bleachers. Bleachers! Anyway the point is that they are kids and have better things to do..JMU is a great party school after all right? Funny thing is that in my five years I only noticed the fans three times. 1: At UMASS when it was the high school band competition weekend and those kids were so loud we couldn’t hear the snap count. 2: At VT when Vick and the Hokies were taking over Lane Stadium. 3: JMU vs UR 1999 when the Dukes won the first conference championship and the students stormed the field (before the game was over) and tore down the goal post. The point is that there’s nothing the university, team, us or anyone can do to get more student involvement.
I think it is funny that people are going out of the way to talk about how Scott wasn’t the real winner. He got the score for JMU right. Seriously, drop it. It’s in good fun. It must take a real man to call out a few guys who run a blog on their error. If you’ve got a problem with the blog and how the guys run it, then don’t read it.
Well since I’ve been talked about in this comment session I feel like I should say something. I understand that I have now been the closest twice with the score but both times was given an excuse as to why I wasn’t the official winner. At first I thought it was because I was a girl to be honest, but now it looks like it is more because there are no set of rules for this contest. I know this blog is for fun and I do enjoy playing the contest each week, etc. My only advice to those that run this contest is to come up with a fair set of rules if you are going to ask people to compete. After all where would football be today if there were no set rules for the competition? It would be madness and probably wouldn’t make sense, so thank goodness football (although a game) has a set of rules! In the end I just enjoy going to the JMU games with my guys and cheering for the DUKES!! 🙂
George he got the score right but wasn’t the winner. That’s the point of the conversation. If you’ve got a problem with that then move on to another blog where winning, losing and competition don’t matter. I commend Scott on his prediction and his article but that doesn’t change the fact that someone else won.
Nicely put Amy
The rules are out of my hands and I was not aware of the fact that Amy has won twice. It just seems that if there is an issue with the “rules” of the blog, that is to be taken up with the people who run the blog, not taken out on Scott. Either way, the issue has been brought to surface.
In other news, go dukes!
Hey Scott- good article. Don’t let these guys get you down. I graduated in 95 and its always good to see alum become involved in the post JMU life. Especially at these mundane and frustrating games. I agree with it all; including the marching band for once. Its a shame that there is all this talent and it’s not being displayed. Same goes for JMU football too I suppose.
Hey Rob- it seems like a clear set of rules would make everyone happy.
Just to be clear again. I’ve never taken out my frustration with the contest out on Scott nor have I disparaged his article. Its as good as any other and makes its point but since there is nowhere else for me to voice my grievances this is where it must take place.
Well Cory has turned this waaaay to CAA Zone. Lighten up dude. I’m sure Rob doesn’t hate women, is that really where youre trying to go with this. This isn’t a feminist rallying point, it’s a mistake on a sports blog. Seems some people are still to into political season mode.
That is just what I was thinking too…..sounds liked someone is disappointed the election season is over and trying to take it out here. Please give it a rest.
Never said Rob hates women, that’s your interpretation of my post. So let me get this right. I post that I disagree with the outcome of the contest and I’m stirring up a political debate of somehow and I’m calling Rob a misogynist? Yet you take my words and turn them around and make me look bad then tell me to lighten up? Its a two way street man.
Let’s drop it guys. And Cory, please do not tell George or anyone else to go read another blog if they don’t like your comments. We don’t appreciate that. And please stop insisting that we somehow screwed Amy over because she “won” the prediction contest for the WVU game. As I explained to you after that game (in response to your MULTIPLE comments and Facebook messages), we did not have a contest that week. Therefore, nobody won. It’s plain and simple. This week we awarded the guest post to Scott because he nailed JMU’s score exactly. As I said before, I judged that to be closer. If you disagree with our methodology, that’s fine. Don’t say that someone else “won” though because you are using different methods. According to our methods, Scott won.
I honestly can’t believe that anyone would get worked up about this, but going forward we’ll just declare that the winner is the person who comes has the lowest total point differential and be done with it. Or maybe we’ll just never do the contest again so that we don’t need to deal with people bitching and moaning.
I just want to thank everyone who read the article and complimented me on it. I wish that people could enjoy the post and hopefully get a couple laughs. It doesn’t sound like but only a few people did. Either way, Thanks Rob and Todd for the opportunity to post something and thank you for the comment Chase.
All I have to say is “Go Dukes!” After all, we all are on the same side here! Now let’s focus our energy to cheering our Dukes on in a pivotal road game and preparing our travel to Harrisonburg and Bridgeforth Stadium for the ODU GAME!
GO DUKES!
Just to be clear Rob I was responding to George’s statement “If you’ve got a problem with the blog and how the guys run it, then don’t read it.” I find the blog as least as interesting as the DNR/BREEZE coverage. I only sent MULTIPLE responses on FB and on here about the WVU game because, as you’ve said before, this is a just for fun blog so I saw no reason that Amy shouldn’t have been able to post a blog after the WVU game. But hey, its your blog so you make the rules right? Speaking of which I’m glad there’s an official rule now to tell who wins/loses/whatever the prediction contest. Glad I could help create change.
My last request is that if you are going to start, update, predict, etc a blog that you don’t tell someone what they should and shouldn’t post. Telling me not to say someone else “won” when you aren’t making the rules clear is the same as fixing the contests. I say someone won, you say someone won and the decision comes down to the rule makers sounds a lot like junior high.
As for ending the prediction contest, if you feel like me posting my opinions and beliefs is enough to warrant cancelling further contests than so be it. I’m sure the 20 or so people that predict the score each week will miss it.
Seriously dude give it a rest already.
Just let Cory and Amy do a blog if that’s what would make their year. If that will satisfy their itch so be it. Who really cares that much anyway.
Please let it go Cory. This is distracting.
Sure a completely quantitative methodology would be great to have, but its a PREDICTION contest. Just like guessing the score isn’t an exact science, either is making a decision on who “wins”. With as many people providing various predictions it isn’t going to be easy unless someone actually picked the exact winner and score for both teams. It IS just for fun. To make fun of Chris Rock, I don’t look in my mail box for my “OJ” prize. (ok, other than the corn hole prize that would have been nice to win). It might be easy to subdue the complainers by just posting the criteria as you guys have decided, since you are the owners of the blog and have complete rights to make it how you see fit.
Rob/Todd – Let’s not let Cory or other haters ruin it.
Love me Jmu football. Just pointing out errors. Don’t get it twisted. Go Dukes! Beat Nova!
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