JMU v. WVU at FedEx Field September 15, 2012 Worth the Investment
The headline says it all. Ok, I’ll give you a second to reread, and another to let it sink in. The Charleston (WV) Daily Mail first reported this morning that the West Virginia Mountaineers have scheduled a “home” game at Fed Ex Field, home to the Washington Redskins, against our very own Dukes during the third week of the 2012 season. To say that I flipped out when I first got a tweet (@jmusportsblog by the way) referencing this on my way in to work this morning would be vastly understating the situation. Near hyperventilation while I waited for my stupid phone to fully load the webpage to confirm it was more than a rumor would be more accurate. Almost immediately I tried to contextualize this with other offseason lightning bolts that came so out of the blue. Gibbs 2.0 announcement (knew already the Skins couldn’t win regardless due to Snyder). MJ returning to the court for the Wiz (knew already the Wiz couldn’t work due to creaky knees and terrifying roster). Basically nothing I can recall from an offseason perspective had prepared me for something so world-view changing. Those other events seemed great but had glaringly obvious downsides and pitfalls. This is the very definition of a win-win. Exposure, money, and opportunity will all be second to none. (although we do need to show up in droves)
What it Means
First, it means serious credibility with recruits and casual alumni and fans. Quick poll in the office and most everyone who normally thinks I’m whackadoodle for my JMU obsessions perked up when you say the Dukes are playing at FedEx. It also means you Skins ticket holders can finally leverage that waste of money into something better than a half-full country show. Next, it means some folks, in this case WVU, has taken notice of the program JMU’s been steadily building. Not just the Tech win or the Nat’l Championship, but the solid fanbase that’s been developing and potential for a solid turnout. Even though WVU’s getting a fat $2M guarantee for taking this home game to the DC area, don’t underestimate the confidence they must’ve had that the Dukes will seriously assist them in selling tix in the huge monstrosity that is the concrete disaster in PG County. Third, it means the folks in the Athletics department down in the ‘Burg have been gettin’ it done!
Lastly, this is an enormous opportunity to essentially have a tryout for FBS conferences, in particular the Big East. After all, West Virginia (and Pitt) is the one who just shot down Villanova’s chance to move up in football due to their weakassed fanbase, lack of facilities, and lack of hunger for the trappings of big-time football (stadium, tailgating, etc.). Needless to say, JMU is fast becoming the antithesis of that profile and should be primed to show off their wares after a year in New Bridgeforth.
Our Take on the Particulars
JMU’s taking down 350k no matter what, but folks are discussing the “incentives” that could take the deal to 500k ($10 per ticket for every seat over 42,500 up to 57,000). Ain’t happening. I’m all for trying and am absolutely giddy about the opportunity to persuade the unconvinced on the magic of JMU football, but 40,000 tickets would be an UNBELIEVABLY unqualified success for the Dukes given our recent history (maybe 5-10k at Maryland and VT), but even 25-30k would be amazing! Yes, we’ve got tons of alums in the area and this will be a glamour matchup, but that will be nearly half the capacity of the now-reduced FedEx Field (party decks debacle brought to you by the danny). Folks were seriously impressed that Boise turned out maybe 25,000 and took over a solid 1/4 of the joint last year and I’ll bet we’ll turn lots of heads by surpassing that number. (editor’s note: I mistakenly interpreted the incentives to read that JMU alone had to sell 42k plus tix while the word we’re getting today – thanks foati – is that 42-57 includes both JMU and WVU tix meaning this could really happen)
Now imagine a less offensive mascot and thousands of purple and gold streamers!
But the great news is as follows. While this won’t be VT/Boise in terms of a tv deal, it should be televised and we can show out some serious purple. I also think the tailgate atmosphere has a great chance to rival anything I saw at VT/BSU last year. I mean seriously, this is James Madison and West Virginia we’re talking about and I say that with pride! Just the excitement of rolling to a game like this with flags and magnets and full coolers and all the accoutrement is unreal and it will be incredible to have our own Dukes involved and see the purple and gold caravan rolling out to Raljon.
Oh yeah, and there will be beers sold DURING the game. Doubt most fans will need them by gametime, but it’s a rare treat for a college game and can make for a serious bowlgame atmosphere.
What Needs to Happen
1) Start spreading the word to anyone and everyone in JMU Nation. Serious stage and HUGE tailgates should be surprisingly strong selling points. Really, there’s no reason at all the tailgate itself shouldn’t be LEGENDARY in terms of JMU events. Did I mention in-stadium beer sales?
1a) When spreading the word, begin warning people that weddings, especially those where Dukes are parties, are absolutely inappropriate on September 15, 2012. Might also want to consider firing up the contraceptives during late December and early January. (over the line? No way, this is Standard T we’re talking here)
2) Buy your tickets from JMU as soon as they go on sale. I cannot emphasize this enough. Forget about the ticket incentives and just focus on the “trying out for FBS” and showing off JMU Nation angles. We only get credit for tix bought through JMU so don’t pussyfoot around and wait for “better deals” on Craig’s List. Yes, they’ll be out there, but you suck if you don’t help.
3) Get down to Bridgeforth and cheer this year. The team will need all the help it can get in the new stadium THIS season and winning games and making the playoffs will go a long way in building momentum for this unprecedented game.
“Quick poll in the office and most everyone who normally thinks I’m whackadoodle for my JMU obsessions perked up when you say the Dukes are playing at FedEx. It also means you Skins ticket holders can finally leverage that waste of money into something better than a half-full country show.”
Spot on.
Great opportunity for JMU, but they should first worry about being competitive in the CAA and making the FCS playoffs.
“Might also want to consider firing up the contraceptives during late December and early January. (over the line? No way, this is Standard T we’re talking here)” – Classic TD…love it.
Isn’t the 42k up to 57k total? Not just the JMU alotment. So if there’s a 42-57k total, we get that $10 a ticket, even if it’s through WVU sales.
That’s the way I read it to DirtyDukes.
Regardless of how the incentives are structured, this is something really fun to look forward to and hopefully a way to attract some of the more casual JMU fans to the program. Folks should prepare by making the trip back to the ‘Burg for some home games this year.
When it comes to football in Virginia, Harrisonburg is NOT the ‘burg…keep going southwest on 81. You’ll see it.
21-16
You mean the ‘burg that JMU beatdown last September that then proceeded to die as the JMU students left Blacksburg? That ‘burg?
Yeah right dude..
As Rob said, 21-16 says it all.
21-16. 21-16. Stanford beatdown. Love Tech, but can’t come on here and ruin our moment. DUKESSSSSSS. They’ll be 25,000+ JMU fans there easily. Time to show America we’re ready for FBS, we’ve got the tailgate seen, the football, the academics, and most importantly, a good looking student body (girls).
21-16. 21-16. Stanford beatdown. Love Tech, but can’t come on here and ruin our moment. DUKESSSSSSS. They’ll be 25,000+ JMU fans there easily. Time to show America we’re ready for FBS, we’ve got the tailgate scene, the football, the academics, and most importantly, a good looking student body (girls).
Harrisonburg will always be ‘The Burg’. Hokies will always be ‘The Chokies’.
If you can’t win championships, at least work on getting hotter chicks at your school…
Ha! Love that all you have to say is…
21-16
jmu’s football program, and their conference for that matter, is a joke. your “college” stadium is smaller than my high school stadium. on another note….big deal if they play at fedex field. penn state played indiana there last fall, nothing new.
bill, I suggest you go visit a blog about another college that has a stadium suitably large enough to impress you. Or maybe you should start your own blog about your incredibly awesome sounding high school. At the very least, please just stop reading this one.
Read this article, walked straight over to a WVU grad in my office and punched him straight in the nose. It’s nothing personal, just building that rivalry atmosphere. He understood.
That’s the spirit Austin!!
Hey guys easy, easy. Not every Tech grad is still in denial as some of us are level headed and can carry intelligent conversations about football. I was there and posted my congratulations on this blog back in September. I’m a loyal supporter of VT football (despite our inability to win big games) and I’m a 2010 grad of VT but, will be beginning grad school at JMU in the fall. I think the idea of playing WVU in FedEx is awesome as I’ll be pulling for JMU and I’m always happy to see West Virginia lose. Keep up the good work guys with the blog. Always a good read!
We went to the last meeting of JMU and WVU (in Morgantown in ’04) and it was a blast. Can’t wait for FedEx! Bill, what high school did you go to that has a 25,000 seat stadium and why are you reading this blog?
Always has been, always will be. THE University of Virginia
Well said Alan! As much as we joke around we have tons of respect for the Tech program (as opposed to say, UVa) and as much as it bugs us, we realize there are many (misguided) JMU alums out there who still pull for the Hokies. But that game was such a huge turning point for so many reasons for Dukes everywhere that we can’t help continuing to discuss. Thanks again and good luck to your boys this season.
Go Dukes. We have reached the point to take on D-I. Our team, our stadium, our alumni, our fans. We are, JMU
As an alumni of JMU and Auburn, it is funny to hear Tech fans bash anyone for being in a weak league. The ACC football conference is a horrible. Try the SEC and bigboy football. JMU is not unlike tech was 20 years ago. How big was Lane Stadium then, 40k? Is it even 70k now? Don’t put down JMU when you had no program before 1990. Travel down south and you will experience real football atmosphere. As for my Dukes, give them time and maybe try keeping them off your always tough non- conference schedule. Go dukes and War Eagle!
i get a kick out of TECH fans, WVU is a SUPERIOR Program over Va Tech anyday of the week…3-0 in the BCS vs Va Tech’s dismal 1-6 in the BCS…End of story. and by the way 27-22-2 all time, and you guys would get beaat worse than the 70-33 beatdown on CLEMSON IN THE ORANGE BOWL, a team that destroyed the lowely HOKIES twice last year..Va tech should of lost to the lowely Yellow Jackets, you offence looked awful to say the least….lol. I wish you CLOWNS would plaay our schedule in 2013. Alabama-Oklahoma-Texas-Ok State- Kansas ST. TCU- Baylor- Texas Tech- and Iowa State…now thats a schedule, even lowely KANSAS beat you in the ORANGE BOWL a few years ago. Lets look at our trophey case we have alot more bowl wins than Tech- All time CF wins over Tech, and our basketball team is superior over Va Tech…not even close under coach HUGGIE BEAR!!!!!!