President Rose to Step Down
JMU President Dr. Lindwood Rose announced today that he will be retiring in June 2012. While we weren’t on campus for the majority of his time in office, we will be the first to admit that he did an outstaning job. His predecessor, “Uncle” Ron Carrier had achieved cult-hero status by the time he left office. Following in his footsteps wasn’t going to be easy for anyone.
Dr. Rose will be leaving with quite a resume of his own. He took on the role of Acting President way back when I was in school in 1997 and became President officially in 1999. The university grew tremendously under Dr. Rose’s leadership adding 25 buildings, expanding enrollment to over 19,000 students, and establishing a Phi Betta Kappa chapter.
This is not JMU Adminstration Blog however. It is JMU Sports Blog, so let’s stick to what we know (or at least pretend to know.) The JMU athletic program that Dr. Rose will be leaving is nothing like the one he inherited. The decline of the basketball program is a topic too big to tackle now, but I think everyone would agree that the growth of the football program has been outstanding. The Dukes won the 2004 National Championship and are considered one of the top FCS programs in the country. Perhaps more importantly however, the student body and alumni support of the team has moved beyond anyone’s expectations. JMU gamedays are now events unto themselves. And with the expansion of Bridgeforth, things are only bound to get better.
Which brings us to this. The party line during Dr. Rose’s tenure has always been that JMU has no plans to move up a level to FBS…during this adminstration. Well, now JMU is set to have a new administration in a few years. I’m just saying.
Since VT paid us $400k to come down there and whip their a$$es I say we join the ACC and take everyone Else’s lunch money too!!!
I really think we should just enjoy our place as a elite FCS program with a shot at a national title every year rather than sitting in the Crap-USA with ECU and Memphis with our highest achievement would be the Liberty Bowl.
Everyone imagines a Boise State move up, but for every Boise State there is TWO OR THREE New Mexicos
Sean, I actually agree with your premise. I was just throwing that last line in there as a joke. I’d rather JMU be a perennial FCS playoff contender than just some also ran in a scrub FBS conference.
Admittedly, I’ve probably been more intrigued by the notion of moving up lately because other CAA schools are considering it, and because JMU has had two relatively disappointing seasons. I don’t want JMU to make a rash move and end up ruining a good thing though.
The idea and “temptation” of FBS is always exciting. And the one thing JMU has that would be there is fan support. I think Virginia can also support 3 FBS schools.
I would love JMU to be not just a thorn in Tech and UVA’s side, but a full out competitor.
But for now I am looking to returning most of our defense and our offense becoming another year older. Our offense doesn’t even have to be good, it just has to be ok. 17-20 points a game should get us a 10-1 season, no kidding. 24 points might lead us to undefeated.
25k strong should be in for a strong team.