Guess Who’s Back? Realignment!!!
So in case you missed it, Conference USA’s UAB dropped football last week and is most likely going to be kicked out of CUSA for all sports come January per CUSA’s completely rational and reasonable and filled-with-foresight-the-CAA-can-only-imagine decision to be an “all sports or nothing” conference. And in case you needed a reminder, ANY conference at ANY level that has football and non-football members has been crumbling from within for the better part of two decades and the CAA is no different. In related news, the Big12’s split champions, Baylor and TCU, both managed to miss out on the new FBS playoff, thus prompting the Big12 to at least petition the NCAA for permission to have a conference championship game in a conference with less than 12 teams (which is currently the minimum number of conference members required to hold such a game) and possibly go so far as to look to add members that would likely come from the AAC, who would in turn be likely to raid CUSA to backfill. In any case, the “end of realignment” is clearly the unicorn of college athletics and it seems increasingly likely that one if not more slots will be opening in the very near future in the conferences JMU would actually like to join (CUSA and MAC).
Our JMUSB institutional position has certainly changed in the last year from “leave the CAA at any cost” to “it’s still likely anything is better than the CAA” but it would be dishonest to say that isn’t a significant shift. Not sure whether it’s the warm feelings from a team to be proud of with a modern offense, the new Withers era, the playoff berth, or simply the fact that the gap at the FBS level between the P5 and the G5 seems to be widening everyday, but we’re not quite as bullish on a move as we were a year ago. That said, the door has been cracked again and all indications are that for the first time JMU is trying to snake their way into the discussion. And it has to be said that Withers, BFS, the playoff bid, UPark, and a potential new-Convo announcement all seem to indicate JMU continues to resemble a CUSA team a hell of a lot more than CAA pennypinching shitshows like Drexel or Hofstra.
We don’t know what the future holds, we don’t think JMU is any higher than 3rd or 4th on CUSA’s wishlist to begin with thanks to our FCS status (that could’ve been avoided), we have zippy clue what influence or level of control the do-nothings in the Virginia General Assembly have over the decision, we honestly don’t know what Alger’s position on the situation is, and hell – we can’t even come up with a consistent position among our staff of two, but we do know this may be now-or-never time for JMU. It’s not that opportunities won’t continue to present themselves in the future, it’s just that the winds seem to be shifting nationally on the supposed value of such moves and what it means to “provide big-time athletics” in the new NCAA and our guess is one way or another this year will turn out to be the one that defines JMU Athletics for decades to come.
I could also see a fit for the AAC — we’d be a regional counterpart to ECU and the conference does produce some good basketball, especially with UConn in the mix. There is Southeast (FL) and Midwest (TX, LA and OK) presence for football recruiting. WBB would be almost certainly permanently relegated to 2nd place at best, but should be exceptionally competitive with everybody else.
Smaller conference with similar East Coast presence to CUSA.
From a personal standpoint, I am partial to CUSA because it would allow me to see the Dukes much more often as three schools are within 3 hours of home — including WKU, from where my oldest daughter graduated in 2013 and my 2nd daughter will graduate in 2017.
I will, however, keep my stance consistent — FBS or FCS is immaterial, choose one and pursue it with passion. Indecisiveness is unattractive and counterproductive to building the dedicated fan base for which we all seem to clamor.
We should try to beat teams like Delaware and Liberty on a regular basis. Once we do that we can worry about FBS teams. I’m guessing the fan base at UAB is wishing they were able to still watch football right now (even at teh FCS level).
We need to bolt out of the CAA like the building is on fire, especially if we have the chance at a decent conference like CUSA or AAC. The only conference that is a big ZERO is the MAC.
Sorry, but I am not and will likely never pay money to watch JMU play St. Francis, Albany, Stony Brook, et al.
The time is now and JMU needs to take advantage of the first opportunity to join the FBS ranks. I am glad to hear that the administration is FINALLY taking a more proactive stance. Like institutions have made the move so JMU needs to shift its gears and make it happen. Staying in the CAA is NOT an option if we want to strengthen our fan base.
For the first time in forever, I get the impression that JMU is actually serious and being somewhat proactive about getting out of the CAA. This is the opportunity that JMU had wanted all along so now is time to ‘go all in’ by the JMU Admin. I think Bourne wants to move and maybe finally he has Alger’s ear on the matter.
I have said it over and over — can’t get out of the CAA fast enough —- and I don’t care when we announce or what sport may not be eligible for a CAA title because of timing. No matter when JMU would announce that will have an impact on that front.
I agree with Ken that the AAC is a good fit. I would rather see us there than in CUSA. I think the schools in the AAC right now will attract more people to our games than many of them in CUSA.
However, I must disagree about WBB being relegated to 2nd place. I think Kenny Brooks is one of the best coaches in all of women’s college basketball and, once he’s able to present recruits with more national exposure, he’ll get the players to compete against UConn. He knocked Wendy Larry off the CAA pedestal and I have confidence he’ll give Geno a run for his money.
Bob, we’ll have to agree to disagree re: WBB. Coach Brooks? Awesome coach; seems to be a nice guy. Puts together really good teams. He would be able to recruit more talented players and compete at a higher level. But when you consider the only team not named ND(7), Baylor(2) or Stanford(3) to beat UConn since 2007-08 is Rutgers(1), I think you are reaching.
UConn has come into Louisville and repeatedly dismantled the University of Louisville women — with the Cardinals often a top 10 team. UofL is 0-16 against UConn since 2005, with the average margin of victory nearly 22 points. When UofL reached the title game in 2009, they lost 5 games — 3 were to UConn by an average of 30 points…
Not a pessimist, just what history tells me.
I like the enthusiasm, but there is no way JMU is getting an AAC invite. I’d jump at a CUSA or MAC invite, but forget about the AAC; it’s not going to happen.
Retrospect-
Is there anyone feeling like it was:
1. Nice to be nationally ranked (that’ll never happen at the next level)
2. Nice to be on TV. Cheap payouts, but still available to the fans and patrons
3. Nice to be in Post season play (that likely may not happen again for a long time)
4. Nice to have good attendance (go 4-7, 5-6, 6-5 and you lose 10,000 seats. Players and recruits DON’T LIKE EMPTY SEATS) and NO, TV money will not make those empty seats fell any better.
~
5. Frustrating that we couldn’t get people out for the HOME playoff game (you’ll never have to worry about that at the next level)
6. Frustrated not enough students came out to the games? (think they’ll show up for teams away from here? doesn’t matter does it.)
and
(get the students into the game with a different ticket scheme-something that allows them to be more spontaneous-ordering ahead is so not undergrad)
7. Really, REALLY expect more than 10,000 people to show up on a week night in November for a college football game in Harrisonburg, VA? Refer to #6 above.
8. Think players will pay attention to (or appreciate) how much TV money pays if there are 10-15,000 empty seats?
If you go 11-0, 10-1, 9-2, or even 8-3, enter the post season play-offs, host home playoff games, fill your stadium with fans watching a team play quality football.
Can you enjoy the football experience, tailgate, party, enjoy the MRD and say you got your money’s worth?
P.S. JMU will simply never be in the ACC. It isn’t going to happen.