Would You Rather JMU Play an FCS Power or an FBS Team?
[polldaddy poll=9050363]The 2015 college football season got started with a bang yesterday, as #12 Montana defeated #1 North Dakota State in a 38-35 thriller. It was a real treat to see two traditional FCS heavyweights duke it out. The fact that it was nationally televised on ESPN2 and had Brent Musburger on the call definitely added to the excitement. Regardless of the coverage, it was an awesome game and a real treat for football fans.
If you could cast aside any discussion of JMU moving up to FBS (please), it’s hard not to see the appeal of these big intra-FCS matchups. JMU’s upset over Virginia Tech is easily the most memorable moment in JMU football history for a lot of fans. And with good reason. As someone who was lucky enough to attend the 2008 home game against Appalachian State, which at the time was a legendary FCS program, let me tell you that it was about as exciting as any football game I’ve attended. At any level. To say that campus was electric all day wouldn’t be doing it justice. And the game, which featured the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the country, actually exceeded the hype.
On the other hand, there is something particularly enticing about getting a chance to face a larger FBS program. While the chances for an upset against a legitimate power team are small, the victory in Blacksburg proved that it’s amazing when it happens. Of course, there are also games against the relative bottom tier of FBS, which are much more winnable, but probably don’t generate anywhere near the buzz of beating a top P5 program. There’s also the payday element. Playing one game against a top team for a few hundred thousand dollars is nothing to ignore.
Personally speaking, I’d prefer to do a home and home against a top FCS program. Give me a game in Bridgeforth against North Dakota State or a chance to trek out to Montana to take on the Grizzlies over a random FBS game anyday. Beating VT was amazing. Losing to Maryland, Akron, and West Virginia was not. But I’m sure others may disagree though. So vote in the poll and feel free to elaborate in the comments.
To me, it’s a no brainer to challenge top FCS teams; it helps build rivalries and interest in the FCS teams. That said, those FBS games pay for a lot of costs associated with football. Of course, building interest and rivalries would presumably bring fans and money and lessen the need for FBS games…
Tough call. We’re not gonna get a home fbs game, so I’ll take a big fcs game at home; but if i’m going on the road, I’ll go fbs.
To clarify: I’d choose fcs, as long as it was at home.
I voted for an FCS power, but it depends. If we can play VT, UVA, or ODU then I’m all for an FBS game. I’m glad we get a good payday to go to SMU, but in the grand scheme of things, I just don’t think that’s as cool or helpful to the program as playing Montana or NDSU to open up the college football season on ESPN.
I think with Coastal Carolina to the FBS, the only good power OOC teams in the area are Liberty and Youngstown State, and I’d love to see us play one of them again
I was in attendance when we beat UVA back in the 80’s. It was great!
Of course, everyone remembers the recent VA Tech game.
But think of all the FBS losses in between those games.
I’d much rather see us play a FCS power, especially if it’s on ESPN as a season kickoff game, than have a perennial close call against an FBS opponent.
I am all for FCS (and for JMU staying there). I understand that college football is a money game, and FBS=more money, but there are some great programs in the FCS and JMU can be one of them. I’d much rather watch JMU play an FCS great, build rivalries, get better, win games, etc, than watch us lose to FBS teams over and over again.
Full disclosure: I’m the partner of a Montana Griz, and we watched Saturday’s game, and it was, without a doubt, one of the best football games I’ve ever seen. Ever. So I’m pro FCS and pro Montana vs. JMU. 😀
I voted for an FCS power, but I really think we can and should do both each year (especially in years where we don’t play a Power 5 FBS school like this year), if we can get one with a national television audience like the game on Saturday it would be well worth it.
I hope we don’t stop playing FBS schools because it will makes us better to play better competition. having said that it would also be exciting to play an FCS power. I feel like with coach Withers we can do that. Some of our losses to FBS has been coaching before the Withers era. I’m just looking for football to start. watched Saturday’s game it was a good game.
I voted for FBS. I’d rather beat VT and UVA than Montana. It would pay more, and it would help recruiting more.
On the other hand….there is always that issue of coaches saying things like “let’s not get anyone hurt, just run out the clock, and get back on the bus because this game doesn’t count”……. which should result in immediate termination.
Depending on your definition of power team we had this exact situation this offseason. Play nationally ranked FCS Liberty or play a less than great FBS SMU.