JMU Makes a GREAT Statement With Withers Hire
If you’ve been following our schoolboy-giddy Tweets at all the last few days, you’ll know that we are thrilled with JMU’s hiring of Ohio St. Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach Everett Withers as the sixth head coach in Dukes history. Yes, there are always nits that can be picked if you work hard enough (including the awkward 24 hour signing/courtship that ended in the media black hole of Friday evening, the fact Withers may very well have been fired by OSU along with the rest of the Buckeyes defensive staff after Tahj Boyd shreds them one more time in the Orange Bowl, and of course the fact he’s an App. St. Mountaineer), but you’ve got to be either really cynical or entirely unrealistic to explain any position that doesn’t involve thinking JMU hit a home run with Coach E. Seriously, James Madison just hired Ohio State’s Co-DC. Just think about that for a second. Ohio St., a school many of us love to take shots at, but one of the absolute big boys of FBS. Also a guy who UNC fans really appreciate for salvaging their season and their dignity in the wake of Butch Davis’ leaving in disgrace. A guy who’s reputation seems to be built on recruiting and having players respect him. A guy with serious NFL experience and a guy who played for Mack Brown during his playing days in Boone.
Most important of all, Everett Withers is NOT a Spotswood Country Club backroom hire. In other words, this didn’t come from the obvious old-school 1-AA thinking that many of us expected from JMU. Look, we were vocally anti-Stinespring because VT fans hate him and he’d been demoted twice, but outside of him, we probably would’ve spun the other known candidates (Barlow, DeFilippo, even lil’ Beamer) positively. Our loose personal connections to DeFilippo certainly would’ve had us excited and none of those coaches would’ve been “awful” hires. But the truth is, as always, we’re just two dumb fans, and despite our interest in college football betting, we have no idea which of these guys would’ve been successful if given the opportunity. We don’t even know for sure that Coach Withers will be any better off than even Stinespring (who is a JMU alum after all so he can’t be all bad). What we do know for sure is that this hire was made differently. THIS hire, at THIS time, was just too important to continue sending the same business-as-usual-monitoring-the-situation message that we’ve all grown so weary of, and this is not that. What we do know for sure is that there was a process and that the process appears to have been handled in such a way that there weren’t a million leaks leading to bad rumors and good candidates jumping ship. We can surmise that the use of Carr Sports Consulting helped cast a wider net and allowed for quietly made calls to coaches outside of the obvious. We know for sure that Coach E has been an FBS, BCS for that matter, head coach before. He was hired and worked for Urban Meyer at Ohio St. Read that one again. Say what you will, but THAT ain’t small time.
We’ll have plenty of time in the coming weeks and months to dive into what the contract details mean about JMU’s future as those details surface, but one thing’s for sure: this hire speaks unbelievably loudly and crystal clearly about JMU’s vision for itself. Bourne and company can do the “this was an FCS hire” dance till their feet hurt, but FCS teams that are content with the status quo don’t hire Ohio St.’s Co-Defensive Coordinator at a rate that blows away what their 15-year-National-Championship-winning coach was just bought out of. And you can bet that any conference with JMU on their radar knows that.
One last thought that we haven’t heard discussed this weekend. For what it’s worth, JMU players and former players seem to be generally pleased. While some of the other candidates may have had stronger ties to Virginia football and recruiting, they also had a few enemies out there because of that. By going outside the Commonwealth’s more obvious candidates, JMU got someone that, for the time being, truly provides a fresh start with very little in the way of preconceived notions. We like that too.
Anyhow, now that we’ve finished the champagne, time to watch Coach E assemble a staff and hit the hustings on the recruiting trail after he finishes up his business in a little game known as the Orange Bowl. Also, only one more game for men’s hoops before Andre Nation returns to the court for the bulk of conference play!
He’d better bring it. I know this is going to sound rediculous, but FCS football is not the “everybody gets a participation trophy” cakewalk that is FBS. In FCS, 6-6 or 7-5 doesn’t get you a “Poulan Weed-Eater Bowl” trophy….it gets you fired.
That being said….in all seriousness coach Matthews would be an outstanding FBS coach. You could bank on going to a bowl every single season. It wouldn’t be a BCS game, but to most FBS schools that doesn’t matter anyway.
I think this is an outstanding hire! Great Job JMU, you have excited the JMU Nation!
04 – Not sure where you’re going with that because it seems highly unlikely Withers and JMU will ever play another meaningful FCS game again. At least we hope not.
Great hire….the current players are very excited about this hire and like the complete break from the old regime with this hire. The players wanted something ‘new’ just as much as us fans/alumni did.
Also glad to hear from the interview that this coach plans to live in the community where he coaches.
I am EXTREMELY happy with this hire. I am a fan of Ohio State too, and everyone criticizes this man for the defense this year at Ohio State, especially after the loss to Michigan St. There are some things we need to keep in mind too about his defense though. When sanctions were put on Ohio St, it crippled recruiting (compared to what it could have been) and the defense was the most affected side of the ball. Also, keep in mind that he was the Co-DC, there was someone else pulling the big strings. And for anyone watching the Michigan State game, you HAVE to put a great deal of blame on the offense for losing that game too, they did next to nothing to help the defense either. That all being said, I don’t care what school he played at or what fellow Ohio St. fans think about him being fired, Coach Withers has had experience and has been on staff with NFL coaches and Urban Meyer. He knows how a top 5 college team and an NFL team is run. He has a good number of contacts and should bring in some good staff members. This is a HUGE hire that has my wife and I stoked for next season and what is to come in the offseason. – From someone who was thinking of giving their season tickets up after the Stony Brook game.
Todd-
What do you mean by your comment that Coach E and JMU won’t play a meaningful FCS game again? You think a move is that imminent?
Schoner – We do. Could obviously be wrong and it doesn’t seem to be entirely in JMU’s control, but we’d bet heavily an announcement is made by early May if not earlier (i.e. whenever Kenny Brooks’ team’s season ends). If that happens, even though JMU would likely play most if not all of their FCS schedule as already set (though curiously not announced) next year, we would be ineligible for the CAA title and playoffs. All signs (this hire, Carr Report, January BOV mtg.) point to this happening soon but as with all things JMU and conference realignment, not sure anyone truly knows.
First game at University of Marayland … oh,my!
I would like to see him keep O’Cain, who has done great things for our offense. Good luck, Coach E.
I am excited about JMU football again, and this is the first time in several years. I think Coach Withers will bring some valuable, big-time football experience (i.e., Top 5 BCS and NFL) to Harrisonburg, and this can only help recruiting which has dropped a little in the Hampton Roads area since ODwho came along. I really like MM and appreciate the foundation he has built at JMU, but this is a potentially great young coach who can take JMU football (and all the other sports that depend on football $$) to the next level. I would love to hear about a conference move with a broad enough window to allow for one last FCS championship.
This may all be ramblings of a fanatic alumnus, but I haven’t felt these things were even possible at JMU for a long time. So if nothing else, the hiring of Coach Withers has breathed life back into the fan base, at least this fan.
’92- It’s going to be tough to have any championship possibilities with a move soon. As far as I understand, the minute we announce the move, we are no longer eligible for FCS and CAA titles. KB and WBB have a VERY legitimate chance at one this year- I hope JB has the sense not to jeopardize that with a FBS move (thats a lot of acronyms… :))
Schoner, I don’t think that is completely true that we would be ineligible for FCS championships if we declare we’re moving up. I think we would be ineligible for CAA champion, but with a good enough record we would still be eligible for FCS playoffs. As much as I hate to say it, ODU went to the playoffs last year, their last in FCS.
Lively- you’re absolutely right about ODU last year. Good point.
It does appear that a home run has been hit with this hire. We need to remember, though, that Carr Sports and Jeff Bourne also brought us Dean Keener as basketball coach, so their track record with recommendations and hires is weak at best. Sorry to say, but I equate this, based on the history of those two variables (Matt Brady included) that it is more of a blind squirrel finding an acorn. Nonetheless, lets take this found acorn and run with it! JMU would be eligible for the FCS title and also post season play with a declaration, just not CAA titles. And to think, our Athletics Administration a year ago voted in favor of increasing exit fees! Still lack of vision with the Administration!
I have been happy with all of Bourne’s hires at the time. Then the product they put on the court (Deener/Brady) has been pretty bad (exception last year). But, JMU hoops doesn’t sniff the NCAA last year if VCU and others don’t leave the CAA. And it’s hard to forgive Bourne on the “not getting a home playoff game” debacle. With all that said, I’m excited about the new hire… now hopefully the product is better on the field than on the court.
Todd-
Until I see an invitation on the table, I have no reason to think that we won’t be “monitoring the situation” for the near future. This hire obviously makes a clear statement about intent, but again….. I don’t see an invitation on the table yet.
…and if the invitation does come, the signs are pointing towards the MAC, which I think would be a major, big-time, horrible mistake. No. No NO.
It needs to be C-USA or bust for us.
2004- unfortunately I agree that MAC would be a no no. I live in the Chicago area and was able to see the MBB team at Northern Illinois earlier this season. Given the game wasnt against NIU, there were about 70 people in attendence. Great facility, no one watching. I hate to think thats the kind of conference we would be getting ourself into. Schickman and I talked at length about it, travel $ would go through the roof without a whole lot extra upside… #MACtion??
Living in Columbus it would be great to be able to see the Dukes more often but I don’t see the fit for us in the MAC either, Too much travel but also not really the same. Level of interest in athletic teams. Not unusual for MAC schools to draw around 4-5000 for football games and that is announced attendance. Basketball attendance can be just as paltry although we have not exactly lit up the turnstiles for BB games lately. This is really Big 10 country-MAC schools get little if any coverage. Unless a MAC school is going undefeated, there usually is not a high level of support. not sure why they would want us either. If MAC is our only FBS option, I would rather us stay FCS.
I completely agree with the anti-MAC sentiments. Without an invitation to a FBS conference that makes sense, then just stay in FCS and concentrate on winning football games. The FCS playoffs are far more interesting and riveting than any of the non-BCS, anyone with a .500 record can play in an empty stadium, none of your fans will travel across the country bowl games that ESPN shoves down our throats this time of year. I would much rather be in Towson’s shoes right now than the Chokies. Plus, if there is a focus on winning championships and dominating FCS, then it may actually happen. Which as we have seen at JMU means that fans will turn out, recruits will sign, and TV will pick up games. And with that type of excitement, then an invitation may come from a meaningful FBS conference. But it all starts with winning football games.