Giving Thanks to The JMUSB Community

As hard as it it to believe, it’s been almost six years to the day since we started this project. It’s even harder to believe, and unbelievably surprising to us at least, that we’re still doing it. Harder still for our spouses to believe we’re still doing it, and I don’t mean that they’re happy. We haven’t hung in there for money or notoriety (haha). Never expected to. But the most surprising thing isn’t that it’s enhanced our love for JMU Sports – that was there from the beginning and I’m still not sure that alone would’ve been enough all this time – but rather the completely unexpected community we’ve been lucky enough to become a part of just by regularly writing about mid-major (not a value judgment) athletics at our alma mater. And to that amusing, sharp, colorful, oddball group of folks, we just want to say our sincerest thanks on this day (with all due respect of course…). Some of them we still don’t know in person, some of them we’ve met a few times, some of them have become dear friends, and some of whom we’ve known forever, but you’ve all enriched our middle age immeasurably and we’re grateful.

We’re gonna use twitter handles where we can for the pub and not to out anyone that isn’t a pro. And we also thank each and everyone one of you who’s read over the years, including those of you who’ve taken the time to comment and share your opinions.

The Godfather

@jamiemottram @misterirrelevant – the very first person to know about this, you were right all along

The JMU Folks

@JTPartlow21 – Probably the first person outside those we knew going in that got what we were trying to do. From wondering who this goofy freshman who talked Briar Woods all the time was to relying on you completely for draft analysis, Dukes-in-the-pros news, and translating “young/cool” into “old head/uncool,” we say thanks.

@JMUswag – What can we say, you’ve been there from the beginning, your infinite interests are the best and we’re glad to call you a friend these days.

@bpmarkowitz – Smart, funny representative of a small but growing group of JMU grads that have jobs that allow them to choose to stay in Rockingham County after graduation. Unheard of in our day, great to see now and bodes well for the future of the fanbase. He’s also just into cool shit.

@Michael_2Clutch – the purest form of Guru when it comes to JMU recruiting news.

Magoo and Tremonkey – you know who you are and we miss you both.

@Dukie95 for the reality checks, the MRD knowledge, and the UD road trip (special thanks to A for putting up with us too)

The Koz’s – never thought we’d know anyone more passionate and earnest about this than we are.

Meredith, Dave, and Liz from the Duke Club – for putting up with us, getting what we’re about, listening, and even (thanks Liz) responding patiently to impatient emails when some other administrator has done something to make us sharpen our pitchforks despite the fact we ain’t big enough fish to warrant such professionalism.

@chadreep – Pep Band Prince – a true-purple Duke. We I apologize in advance for whatever thing I say again during the April-July timeframe (i.e. realignment season) that makes you put us back on double-secret probation. Very much deserved. Start Wearing Purple remains genius.

Bo and Austin – Old friends that have bled purple with us through all types of JMU sports times.

@SarahHBerlinger, @Kara_Nunnally, and @taytot03 – from fangirls to running all the shit in JMU Nation!

@CurtDudley – JMU’s admin has absolutely no clue what a brilliant face they have fronting and running their in-house media empire. As good as you’ll find in the biz and we, JMU Nation, are lucky to have him. Perfect balance of toeing the line, promoting the brand, but remaining plugged into the base.

@SteveBuckhantz – from the Boulevard (Rick and Billy) Woodgrill days to now, our only celebrity fan. Thanks for letting us have fun with that JAC card. Dagger!

The Pros – DNR past and present including @MarkRSelig (doing serious work in Missouri these days) and @MatthewStoss (miss the Modcast!) and the new guys @Nsunderland4 and @mattjones36 – all did/do good work when stuck between a fanatical fanbase and a slow-moving, obstinate administration in the small Valley fishbowl.

CAA (and ex-CAA) Traveling Circus (we know our my CAA hate is annoying but nothin’ but love for y’all)

@GheorghetheBlog, @batogato – Our favorite old school William & Mary duo, you make it hard to hate the Pantless Griffons. And of course @wmsportsblog – our favorite new school William & Mary crew who have fully embraced our low-tech, source-free methods!

@defiantlydutch – all things Hofstra, Mets, Isles, and music made before cd’s were invented.

@jcrooklyn – angry Blue Hen, funny guy

@Kevintresolini – UD’s pro reporter

@VaBeachRep – we really hate ODU, but if you’re into Baltimore crime reports, the Bills, fast food discussion, or frugal personal finance, he’s your man! Plus he’s a just a good dude.

@Harry_MiniumVP – he’s an actual ODU pro, and he probably hates us, but somehow we seem to have worked out a mutual unspoken agreement to consider each other reliable sources over the years, mainly cause he always gets it right on ODU/CUSA/conference realignment stuff and we don’t trash student-athletes.

@FairbankOBX – another semi-retired pro we like

@sdearth – This former Duke knows more about tennis in the state of Virginia than anyone. Ever.

@MasonFanatic – We will throw hot dogs at you and “GMCC” will never die, but you do have staying power!

@NUHF – serious man, real job, but still knows everything about the old-school CAA and the Northeastern Huskies.

@BGMull – Pro’s pro. Used to cover UNCW, knows literally everything about CAA, SoCon, and southern college sports in general, great literary tastes too.

@LadySwish – the ultimate expert on women’s college hoops throughout the Commonwealth and beyond. Also plugged into when teams are doing good work off the court. Another labor of love production we admire.

@Brian_Ewart – pro from VUHoops.com, all things Vanillanova, but has never condescended to JMU.

Field Hockey

Coach Antoinette Lucas – our first ever “insider.” Thankfully you’ve become so much more than that. Now quit whining, get outta that mud puddle, and pedal damn it.

@4TWest4 – one of the few five-year players where we’ve seen their entire career. Helped us bridge the gap to the new era and keep us into the program after Coach L got the boot.

@kzarchin – our first Field Hockey intro, way back in our day and now back again

@surfsmurfmama – THE tailgate captain of the most underrated sports-related party for a JMU program.

Grab Bag

@HustleBelt – The MAC with a sense of humor and a long-time to supporter/sympathizer of #JMU2FBS

@SandlapperSpike, @SoConJohn22, and @Dash_Spartan – for some much-needed regional-but-non-CAA perspective. Also, #LetsGoG!

@wzzntzz – You are our Patronus. #badtouch.

The Family

@RichPriz and Uncle Ron – Our original supporters, our friends, JMUSB contributors, and our tailgate partners in crime. Here’s to the long haul.

@ZPriceisRight – our Paduan. Too old to complete the training he is.

Shan and Jess – No words. We really do care more about you than this thing even when we don’t show it or we duck out of family events to make 36 hour road trips to Dayton or Chattanooga or just to the ‘Burg for Gameday. Ok, maybe that’s not really showing it at all, but trust us, we care more.

Finally, all the people we just forgot that we shouldn’t have and hopefully all the crazy folks we have yet to meet if the CAA ever ends up in the rearview. And with that, we say Happy Thanksgiving and get ready to ROOT fer Dukes!