{"id":8520,"date":"2016-05-01T21:18:38","date_gmt":"2016-05-02T01:18:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=8520"},"modified":"2016-05-01T21:18:38","modified_gmt":"2016-05-02T01:18:38","slug":"avenge-the-mascot-challenge-debacle-by-voting-for-the-founding-fathers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=8520","title":{"rendered":"Avenge the Mascot Challenge Debacle by Voting for The Founding Fathers"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AJWe’re dating ourselves here, but bear with us. Years ago, the Duke Dog qualified for the Capitol One Mascot Challenge. We don’t remember the particulars, but it was some sort of bracket to determine the best mascot in college sports. There was an online voting component and Duke Dog crushed. And we mean he absolutely ran away with the vote. He lapped the competition. Without going back to research it, we’re pretty sure he got 459,374,119 more votes than the next closest competitor. And then he lost.<\/p>\n

He lost because Capitol One had completely rigged the stupid and utterly worthless competition<\/del> implemented some unusual scoring procedures that minimized the impact of the fan vote. It sucked, but it proved on thing beyond any doubt, JMU people are the best at stuffing online ballot boxes for fellow Dukes.<\/p>\n

While we’re not over the Mascot Challenge debacle, we believe we have a way for JMU to avenge the travesty and flex its online voting muscles. We need to get out and vote for The Founding Fathers<\/a> to qualify for The Basketball Tournament (TBT).<\/p>\n

Who are The Founding Fathers and what is The Basketball Tournament? First up, The Founding Fathers is the name given to a team of JMU Basketball alums who are trying to qualify for TBT. \u00a0Former JMU Basketball Manager, Joe Kuykendall, along with former Video Coordinator Kevin Albright, assembled the team. It aims to compete in the Northeast Region taking place in Philadelphia this July. So far, the roster is made up of Ron Curry (2016), Rayshawn Goins (2013), AJ Davis (2013), Julius Wells (2012), and Kyle Swanston (2009).<\/p>\n

This is the second year TBT has been in existence and it’s a pretty cool idea. It’s a 5 on 5 hoops tourney open to 64 teams. It’s free to enter and anyone over 18 and willing to forego amateur status is eligible to compete. This is not some random local tournament for weekend ballers though. For one thing, most teams will feature former college and pro standouts. For another thing, it has a $2 million grand prize.<\/p>\n

So anyone can enter. But here’s where it gets interesting. Teams will qualify for the bracket based on the number of online votes they receive. Which is where you come in. The Founding Fathers need help. Help in the form of online votes, which is something of a JMU specialty. In order to play in Philly, they need to be one of the top 12 vote getters in the Northeast Region. Before you go any further, you need to VOTE NOW<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This is guaranteed not to be some Capitol One Mascot Challenge screw job folks. There’s no other factor to consider for a tourney bid. If The Founding Fathers finish in the top 12 for the Northeast Region, they’re in. It’s that simple. There will be no random other “factor” that leads to a Duke Dog Mascot Challenge like catastrophe. So get out and vote for The Founding Fathers<\/a>. And encourage everyone you know to do the same.<\/p>\n