SB Nation: Sun Belt Eyeing JMU

[BDKJMU]

"Western Kentucky denies C-USA reports, but Sun Belt eying JMU anyway
Will Tulsa's reported move to the Big East set off a chain reaction?

......A Sun Belt source told SB Nation's Jason Kirk that, in the event of a program's exit, FCS member James Madison will be offered and is expected to accept, confirming a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Doug Roberson. SB Nation reported in February that JMU has been considered by the Sun Belt, along with a host of other schools. JMU's athletic director said Tuesday that its program is "actively engaged in a strategic planning process.".....
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... a-sun-belt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Got a feeling JMU will be the next one to go. Probably an announcement this summer. Hopefully not before May 15, or June 1, or whatever the hell the deadline is, so can have one last shot at a playoff run.

[AZGrizFan]

UMass...ASU....GSU....JMU....Well, pretty soon we'll just have to start playing with ourselves....

[grizzaholic]

UMass...ASU....GSU....JMU....Well, pretty soon we'll just have to start playing with ourselves....

I would rather JMU go instead of ASU and GSU.

[UNI88]

UMass...ASU....GSU....JMU....Well, pretty soon we'll just have to start playing with ourselves....

To paraphrase the great Hank Stram ...
Just keep masturbatin' the ball down the field boys.

[BDKJMU]

JMU statement yesterday. Reading between the lines it seems obvious JMU is looking to jump a sinking ship:

"Statement From President Alger and Director of Athletics Bourne On GMU Departure

JMU President Jonathan Alger and Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne comment on the departure of George Mason University to the Atlantic 10 Conference beginning July 1, 2013

In speaking for the institution and many of our fans, we are extremely disappointed in this decision, as GMU, a founding member of the CAA, represents the key characteristics by which we judge our own conference affiliation.

This news comes at a time when instability and movement within conference membership continues across the country. The immediate strategy by the conference involves the CAA continuing to look at potential new members, a process that began earlier this year with the addition of the College of Charleston.

From our internal athletics perspective, we are actively engaged in a strategic planning process as a component of the University’s Madison Future Commission. In pursuing this plan, we are working with Carr Sports Consulting to assist us in establishing a comprehensive strategic plan that addresses all of our programs and long-term actions. While this process is set to conclude this summer, our planning is fluid and will help position and prepare us for important long-term decisions that are in the best interest of our student-athletes, coaches and the institution.

We look forward to working with our many constituents, both on campus, and around the country, in developing and sharing a strategic plan which positions our institution for long-term success.

Jonathan Alger Jeff Bourne
President Director of Athletics"
http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.db ... =206935161" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

Conference realignment: Western Kentucky headed to C-USA, JMU to FBS likely
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... -c-usa-jmu" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Pwns]

Delaware, it's up to you to carry the ECB banner and carry on the conspiracy to keep the west coast and midwestern teams down. We're counting on you.

[Baldy]

"Western Kentucky denies C-USA reports, but Sun Belt eying JMU anyway
Will Tulsa's reported move to the Big East set off a chain reaction?

......A Sun Belt source told SB Nation's Jason Kirk that, in the event of a program's exit, FCS member James Madison will be offered and is expected to accept, confirming a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Doug Roberson. SB Nation reported in February that JMU has been considered by the Sun Belt, along with a host of other schools. JMU's athletic director said Tuesday that its program is "actively engaged in a strategic planning process.".....
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... a-sun-belt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Got a feeling JMU will be the next one to go. Probably an announcement this summer. Hopefully not before May 15, or June 1, or whatever the hell the deadline is, so can have one last shot at a playoff run.

Doubtful, the Belt is going to want 2013 and 2014 to be JMU's transition seasons.
I know the majority of your fans were holding out for the MAC or C-USA, but it will be nice to renew our domination of the Dukes.

[BDKJMU]

Slum Belt works out better for ASU and GSU than JMU. Copy of a post I made in the heated debate going on the JMU board:

"The Slum Belt? Really? God I hope not.

-The travel costs for what will be 18-19 JMU sports teams (after adding 1-2 womens' teams due to Title IX) would be massive.
-Don't have mens' soccer, lacrosse, field hockey.
-Most JMU fans could forget about driving to most away games except for ASU and maybe the 2 GA schools.
-Mostly a bunch of cow colleges.
-The worst I-A conference-A bastardized conference full of teams that can't get into any other conference.
-JMU gets virtually none of its student body from the states the Slum Belt schools are in.

This will be the Slum Belt lineup for 2014, with drive time from Harrisonburg as per Google maps to nearest 1/2 hr (its a hell of a lot worse than the MAC). And remember, the #1 alumni concentration in the DC area can add about 2 hrs to this:

East
Appalachian State (IA in 2014): 4.5 hrs
Georgia Southern (IA in 2014): 8 hrs
Georgia State (Began play in 2010): 8 hrs
Troy (Alabama) (IA in 2002): 11 hrs
South Alabama (Began play in 2009): 12.5 hrs (Mobile)
JMU? (IA in 2014/2015?)

West
Louisiana-Monroe: 14 hrs
Louisiana-Lafayette: 15.5 hrs
Texas State (IA in 2012): 20.5 hrs
Arkansas State (IA in 92'): 12 hrs (Jonesboro)
New Mexico State: 27 hours (Las Cruces) WTF???
Idaho (IA in 97'): 38 hours (Moscow) Holy WTF???"

[BDKJMU]

As far as just football goes, IF could get an annual series going with ODU (which fans of both schools would want), what the schedule would avg:

"Home games every season:
4 Slum Belt: 3 blah, and one biggie with either ASU or GSU (assuming they alternated).
2 OOC: 1 IAA (preferably in state) and either ODU or a usually mid/low level BCS.
That's 2 huge home games a year: ASU or GSU and ODU or a BCS.
Thats a big plus.

Away games every season:
4 Slum Belt: 3 blah, and one biggie with either ASU or GSU
2 OOC games:
-1 BCS
-ODU OR a 2nd BCS OR another non BCS.
Think thats only a "little plus" because:
-every 2 seasons 7 of 8 away Slum Belt games team would likely be flying, the only exception being ASU
-For fans likely would avg 4 of 6 away games to go to would have to fly and/or make LONG drives, with the exceptions being either ASU or ODU, and a regional BCS.
-its not like we're not currently playing @ a BCS most seasons (but would get much bigger paycheck with better chance of winning).

Going to a toilet bowl is a $ loser. I'd rather go to 2-3 playoff games than a toilet bowl. Granted the toilet bowl would likely happen more often than a playoff run of 2-3 games. But I guess more people would rather go to a toilet bowl than the playoffs. And you would have the remote chance of being the 1 of 60 or so teams from the Other 5 conferences that made a BCS Bowl game (or whatever the hell they are going to call what were the BCS bowls).
So a bowl compared to the playoffs most would call a plus (although I still prefer the playoffs).

$$ wise if your JUST looking at football, yeah, the football team would either make $ or at least lose less $, so that would be a plus."

[BDKJMU]

"So going to the Slum Belt for football as I laid out is a plus.

Now look at some of the negatives (I know some of these I or others have already pointed out):

1.You say basketball is a wash competition wise to the CAA? But once you factor in 10 of 11 league opponents would likely fly to, I think that would make it a negative.

2. After adding 1-2 womens' sports due to Title IX, would be up to 18-19 teams. But the Sun Belt has no mens' soccer, no lacrosse, no field hockey. That is a big negative.

3. If going to the Slum Belt for all other sports would mean the remaining 15-16 teams with hundred+ away games/matches/meets would mean mostly flights except for ASU (unless anyone took LONG bus trips to the GA schools (8 hrs by car, probably 9 by bus)). That's a big negative.

4. For fans & family of all sports would suck because most away league games would have to fly or take LONG drives to. Another big negative.

5. JMU gets hardly any students from the states that the Slum Belt teams reside in. A lot of the students have never heard of many of these schools. Don't have any HS classmates, family, or friends that go to any of them. Nothing in common. Another negative.

6. The Slum Belt is an academically inferior conference. Big deal to those making the decisons. Another negative.

7. We already know the negative of the big startup costs.

8. What happens to JMU's NCAA $? All the $ that VCU and Mason left? Lose that on top of the exit fee? Another negative.

Bottom line is a football only move would work (not that I like it). FAR from ideal. I think an all sports move would be a disaster."

[BDKJMU]

As things stand now by 2015 will be 129? I-A schools, 65 in the Big 5 (including ND) and the other half in the Other 5. Big 5 not stopping at 65. They will grab more teams from the Other 5, opening up future move up possibilities.

[BDKJMU]

The JMU fans have been talking mostly about 3 possible move up conferences. As of now, it looks like JMU has no chance at the CUSA, but a good shot at the MAC and Slum Belt.

Here's how I think they stack up from a JMU perspective:

"I Geography compared to JMU (in terms of travel for teams, travel costs, travel for fans, where JMU gets its students from):
Using under 400 miles as driving, over 400 miles as flying:
1. MAC: 9 of 13 flying. Driving are Akron, Ohio, Toledo, Buffalo. BG, MOH, Kent, Mass, EMU all 470-530 miles. Furthest is NIU at 770. JMU gets a lot of students from New England (Umass). Could also add in the strong possibilty of UD joining, adding another driving school & in a region (Philly area (SE PA, S NJ, Delaware)) where JMU gets a lot of students from.
2. C-USA: 9 of 12 flying. ODU, Marshall, UNCC driving. All others over 8+ hrs/500+ miles to 26+ hrs/1800+ miles. Big plus to have in state ODU, but no other state where JMU gets hardly any students from.
3. Slum Belt- noted earlier, 10 of 11 flying, no state where JMU gets hardly any students from.

II Rivals for JMU:
1. C-USA (ODU and Marshall)
2. Slum Belt (ASU and GSU)
3. MAC (UMass. If UD was added I think that would moved them at least on par with the Slum Belt).

III Basketball (I'm not a basketball guy so please tell me if I'm wrong):
1. MAC
2. CUSA
3. Slum Belt

IV All sports:
1. MAC: no lacrosse
2. CUSA: no lacrosse, no field hockey
3. Slum Belt: no mens' soccer, no lacrosse, no field hockey

V Academics:
1. MAC
2. C-USA: alot of academically inferior but do have Rice.
3. Slum Belt

VI Stability:
1. MAC
2. C-USA: sleight edge over the Slum Belt, who is at the bottom of the totem pole.
3. Sun Belt

VII I don't know how the TV & league revenue sharing would work out. I assume there won't be a huge variance between the 3, but could guess:
1. C-USA
2. MAC
3. Slum Belt

So looking at that, of the 3 conferences, the MAC is tops in 5 of those 7 categories. The Slum Belt is last in 6 of 7.

Again, FB only would be tolerable for the Slum Belt. All sports- HELL NO."

[∞∞∞]

III Basketball (I'm not a basketball guy so please tell me if I'm wrong):
1. MAC
2. CUSA
3. Slum Belt

Most agree that overall, basketball will be significantly improving in CUSA. Obviously no one can replace Memphis, but CUSA is adding more quality programs in MTSU, WKU, ODU, La Tech, and Charlotte.

IV All sports:
1. MAC: no lacrosse
2. CUSA: no lacrosse, no field hockey
3. Slum Belt: no mens' soccer, no lacrosse, no field hockey

While the MAC has field hockey, they don't have an automatic bid.

As for distance, MTSU is actually less than an 8 hour drive from JMU, and WKU is just over 8 hours (and ODU, UNCC, and Marshall are all within 5 hours like you mentioned). That gives you five schools that are under or near 8 hours of driving.

[BDKJMU]

As for distance, MTSU is actually less than an 8 hour drive from JMU, and WKU is just over 8 hours (and ODU, UNCC, and Marshall are all within 5 hours like you mentioned). That gives you five schools that are under or near 8 hours of driving.

Google Maps:

MTSU: Harrisonburg to Murfeesboro: 538 miles/7:52 hr. I rounded to 8. That's avg about 67 mph. Sure if you're stepping on it maybe 7 hrs, but once you factor in stops & have any traffic, 8-9 hrs for most people. Probably around 9 on a bus.

WKU: Harrisonburg to Bowling Green: 567 mi/8:28. Add on a 1/2 hr to above. 9-10 hrs on a bus.

Both are those would be flying as far as any sports teams are concerned.

CUSA:
-3 schools under 8 hrs from JMU: ODU (3.5), Marshall (4.5), UNCC (4.5), all driving for teams. Ironically google Harrisonburg to Huntington and Charlotte both 4:25 hrs.
-Already mentioned MTSU and WKU above in the 8 hr range, flying for teams.
-Then UAB at 9 hrs, maybe driveable for some fans, flying for teams.
-Then you have in terms of distance: S Miss, 2 schools in FL, Louisiana Tech, 4 in TX, ranging from 12.5 hrs to 26 hrs.

MAC doesn't have any as close as C-USA's ODU, UNCC and Marshall, but
-10 of 13 (6 Ohio, Mass, Buffalo, E Mich 5.5 to 8 hrs. 4 of those (Akron, Buffalo, Ohio, Kent are under 400 miles, which means teams would bus. That's compared to the 3 bussable schools in the C-USA.
-W Mich & C Mich 9.5-10 hrs
-NIU furthest at 12 hrs.

As I already laid out Slum Belt would have only one- ASU, under 4.5 hrs, and 3 around 8 hrs or less (add GSU and GST).
After that its 5 between 11-15.5 hrs, one at 20.5 hrs, 26 hrs, and 38 hrs

So again in terms of distance from the other schools from JMU, its:
1. MAC
2. CUSA
3. Sun Belt

[93henfan]

You guys should move your campus to DC. Then you would be attractive for mid-major FBS conferences like those you listed.

[bluehenbillk]

We'll miss Mickey throwing the visor.

[BDKJMU]

"Western Kentucky denies C-USA reports, but Sun Belt eying JMU anyway
Will Tulsa's reported move to the Big East set off a chain reaction?

......A Sun Belt source told SB Nation's Jason Kirk that, in the event of a program's exit, FCS member James Madison will be offered and is expected to accept, confirming a report by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Doug Roberson. SB Nation reported in February that JMU has been considered by the Sun Belt, along with a host of other schools. JMU's athletic director said Tuesday that its program is "actively engaged in a strategic planning process.".....
http://www.sbnation.com/college-footbal ... a-sun-belt" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Got a feeling JMU will be the next one to go. Probably an announcement this summer. Hopefully not before May 15, or June 1, or whatever the hell the deadline is, so can have one last shot at a playoff run.

Doubtful, the Belt is going to want 2013 and 2014 to be JMU's transition seasons.
I know the majority of your fans were holding out for the MAC or C-USA, but it will be nice to renew our domination of the Dukes.

JMU making it "official" before June 1 would be the same as ASU and GSU in the following:
-All spring sports ineligible for CAA championships.
-Football ineligible for CAA title or playoffs.

Here's where JMU making it official before June 1 for All Sports would be different:
-Give up hosting CAA baseball tourney.
-Give up 5 years of CAA share of NCAA basketball tourney $$$, including 3 teams in 2011, including VCU's Final 4. (Was told CAA spreads the teams share of conference $$ over 5 years).
-Give up 2 units of NCAA basketball tourney $$ from JMU basketball this season.
-Give up share of GMU's 1 million exit fee.

Making it official before June 1 for all sports would give up much of the above $$$ in addition to JMU's 1 million exit fee, but not as much.

Was a different situation for ASU & GSU because:
-they didn't have a conference with 3 teams make the basketball tourney 2 years ago, including 1 make a Final 4.
-They didn't earn 2 NCAA tourney units like JMU did this season (when was the last time either made the tourney?).
-They didn't have a conference member pay a 1 million exit fee.
-They aren't hosting their conference baseball tourney (are either?).

[Skjellyfetti]

JMU making it "official" before June 1 would be the same as ASU and GSU in the following:
-All spring sports ineligible for CAA championships.

Not true for App (and I'd assume Georgia Southern).

All Spring sports eligible for SoCon championships. All sports (except football and sports not in the SoCon) will be eligible for SoCon championships in 2013-2014 school year.

) Will Appalachian State’s other sports be eligible for Southern Conference championships and NCAA postseason berths in 2013-14?

A) Yes. All of Appalachian State’s sports besides football and field hockey will compete fully in the Southern Conference in 2013-14 and be eligible to win conference championships and earn automatic bids to NCAA Championships. Field hockey will continue to compete in the NorPac Field Hockey Conference and be eligible to earn its automatic berth in the NCAA Championship.

http://www.goasu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?S ... 946378#FAQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BDKJMU]

JMU making it "official" before June 1 would be the same as ASU and GSU in the following:
-All spring sports ineligible for CAA championships.

Not true for App (and I'd assume Georgia Southern).

All Spring sports eligible for SoCon championships. All sports (except football and sports not in the SoCon) will be eligible for SoCon championships in 2013-2014 school year.

) Will Appalachian State’s other sports be eligible for Southern Conference championships and NCAA postseason berths in 2013-14?

A) Yes. All of Appalachian State’s sports besides football and field hockey will compete fully in the Southern Conference in 2013-14 and be eligible to win conference championships and earn automatic bids to NCAA Championships. Field hockey will continue to compete in the NorPac Field Hockey Conference and be eligible to earn its automatic berth in the NCAA Championship.

http://www.goasu.com/ViewArticle.dbml?S ... 946378#FAQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I swore I read a week ago after the news broke (but before it did officially) where someone from or that covered one of the 2 schools that the ASU & GSU spring sports moving to the Sun Belt were ineligible for the So Con titles. Can't remember if it was an article, blog, or one of the boards. Guess someone was putting out bad info.

[Aho Old Guy]

UMass...ASU....GSU....JMU....Well, pretty soon we'll just have to start playing with ourselves....

I would rather JMU go instead of ASU and GSU.

That makes two of us...

The only way to fix this mess is for North Carolina and Virginia to build a new **Mid-Atlantic Coast Conference** for FBS football (and all other sports, too)

South Division
Carolina
Dook
State
Wake
ECU
UNCC

North Division
Appalachian
JMU
ODU
Wahoo U
VPI
Maryland ??

[Purple Reign]

While this process is set to conclude this summer, our planning is fluid and will help position and prepare us for important long-term decisions that are in the best interest of our student-athletes, coaches and the institution.
This seems really vague to me . It could mean we move up or that we cherry pick the best 1AA teams to join the CAA. I think JMU stays in the CAA and the conference is expanded.

[slycat]

UMass...ASU....GSU....JMU....Well, pretty soon we'll just have to start playing with ourselves....

And TXST ::cough cough cough::

Southland matters......right?

[Blue Hen Fanatic]

Delaware, it's up to you to carry the ECB banner and carry on the conspiracy to keep the west coast and midwestern teams down. We're counting on you.

Thank you, and we will be honored to carry on the tradition, as long as NDS gets out of our collective way