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Topic: JMU to the MAC?

Topic: JMU to the MAC?

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OhioCatFan
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Location: Athens, OH
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JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/26/2014 11:36:13 PM

A friend recently sent me this link: JMU to the MAC.

Do these guys know something we don't? Or, is this just idle fan speculation?

Also, there seems to be some "chatter" about Delaware joining the MAC now too?

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

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C Money
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 7:55:53 AM

That pic looks like a video game...........but that being said I wouldn't mind JMU in the MAC for all sports. I'd prefer dropping EMU though.

Ohio69
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 8:45:35 AM

Looks like a good addition for football. Already have more fans than a majority of MAC schools.

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 8:54:43 AM

Someone there suggests an announcement Friday. I'd guess it would be football-only but you never know.

UpSan Bobcat
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:01:07 AM

This story from about a week ago says JMU probably would accept an invitation to the MAC if one was offered:

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/02/odus-broderick-named-vice...

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:08:16 AM

Geographically, this isn't so bad for Ohio, but is quite a haul from the Michigan schools and NIU, etc.

They also just built a very nice, new stadium. Would probably be one of the better facilities in the MAC immediately.

C Money
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:39:55 AM

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Geographically, this isn't so bad for Ohio, but is quite a haul from the Michigan schools and NIU, etc.

I get the sense (from the additions of Temple and UMass) that the MAC would like to push east out of the B1G footprint. If that's the case, might we also be looking at CAA schools like Delaware, W&M, or UNH? Or maybe I'm wrong and they would add a North Dakota State or UNI to balance in the west?

In any event, I don't think it's a bad idea to get out of the shadow of the B1G if possible, but I don't want a 16 team mega-conference. That has never gone well. The conference needs to drop dead weight if we're going to add some.

Robert Fox
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:49:08 AM

JMU is a nice campus. Just visited last June. Has a residential campus feel to it. The architecture is nice and it's in a great location--very pretty drive in that area. The stadium is impressive, but gives you the feel of "half" a stadium. I assume the stadium was built with a "phase" concept, and only one side is complete so far.

colobobcat66
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:50:55 AM

C Money wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Geographically, this isn't so bad for Ohio, but is quite a haul from the Michigan schools and NIU, etc.

A couple comments-hard to get out of the big ten shadow when they're expanding to Maryland and Rutgers next year. I kind of like some eastern additions to the MAC

Mega conferences seems to be where things are moving or at least most are expanding-basically if adding the right members I can see some advantages

If the MAC were to drop someone, I'm guessing it would be EMU but that's not going to happen with the other Michigan schools probably against that and it's a choice EMU would not do of their own accord. Outside of the revenue sports, last time I looked they were not too bad overall or is that not right?

Last Edited: 2/27/2014 12:16:46 PM by colobobcat66

Kevin Finnegan
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:54:05 AM

There was also a recent thread on the site about the academic performance of schools in the MAC. JMU, I have to believe, would be a very positive addition. This moves us geographically in a direction we hadn't yet entered. I wonder what schools could be brought in with them? Would this just be for football, or for all sports?

cbarber357
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 10:09:28 AM

I'd like this if it was football only. All Sports would be cool if UMass was forced to join in all sports too. I don't like the odd number of teams in the conference. Twitter also makes it look like at least some JMU fans would be excited about this, which is cool

Last Edited: 2/27/2014 10:11:08 AM by cbarber357

cbarber357
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 10:18:17 AM

http://hamptonroads.com/2014/02/odus-broderick-named-vice...

This recent article seems to support that jmu wants to move to the MAC. Says they've been talking to the MAC and C-USA and would definitely accept an invitation to the MAC over the C-USA. Take that Marshall

Alan Swank
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 1:51:57 PM

C Money wrote:

Bobcat Love's Sense of Shame wrote:

Geographically, this isn't so bad for Ohio, but is quite a haul from the Michigan schools and NIU, etc.

Unfortunately, according to this, on paper we'd be the dead weight.

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/237509/MAC-An...

Last Edited: 2/27/2014 1:52:27 PM by Alan Swank

C Money
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 2:07:03 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

Unfortunately, according to this, on paper we'd be the dead weight.

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/237509/MAC-An...

(A) Conference expansion is about $$$$, and in the sports that generate $$$$, we are not dead weight.
(B) WMU is below us in both of those rankings, so they would be on the block before us.
(C) By the letter of the rule, if you cannot average more than 15,000 in attendance, you have no place in FBS. And by the spirit of the rule, if you have to play accounting games like "selling" tickets to a corporate sponsor or your alumni group to hit 15,000, you have no place in FBS.

Jeff McKinney
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 3:11:25 PM

James Madison would be a good addition to the MAC. I hope it's for all sports. The only problem for the other sports would be getting around the mountains to travel west. I don't think it would be a direct trip west.

Tyler
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 4:25:07 PM

I'd love to have JMU, but please all-sports or nothing. I'm tired of the football-only schools striking deals with the MAC so they can get into an FBS conference, but only have to play a couple MAC schools a year in basketball.

The Optimist
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 7:21:43 PM

I agree. All or nothing. Would like to see them added along with Delaware. Adding 2 without dropping anyone doesn't make much sense. I would love to see the MAC wish EMU well in their future endeavors.

Would Delaware and JMU convince UMass to come on full-time? I hope so.

edit: when I think about the above scenario... it really bums me out that Temple left. Add them in with UMass, Delaware and JMU and you really have something.

Last Edited: 2/27/2014 7:22:57 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

Brufus
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 7:43:44 PM

JMU did hire a new coach back in December, Everett Withers (former Ohio State DC and North Carolina interim HC). Was that an incentive to get him, perhaps, maybe not necessarily the MAC but a move up to FBS?

TWT
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 8:51:08 PM

This is a solid move. Walking in they're going to have one of the better fanbases in the MAC. They won't be on the level of Miami, EMU and BG with crowds in the 1,000 range in football and hoops. Think more Ohio, Buffalo or Toledo here where they'll draw the league average when bad but excellent when good. They've got strong alumni group out where I live in DC and that will make it fun to do some joint events. A nice road trip for a Saturday football or basketball game. In Viriginia there isn't a statewide T-shirt football following for anyone school. VT and UVA put 60,000 in the stands but that they do barely. Its not like Ohio State where its 100,000 in the stadium and 1,000,000 wishing they could be there. JMU has potential to be a BCS buster if they get the right coach in place.

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L.C.
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:04:19 PM

C Money wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

Unfortunately, according to this, on paper we'd be the dead weight.

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/237509/MAC-An...

The only year I can find ticket revenue for is 2008.

NIU      $2.216m
Toledo    1.602
WMU       1.423
BG    1.142
Miami     1.115
CMU        .881
Ohio .806
Akron      .785
Buffalo    .757
Ball State .756
Kent       .514
EMU        .240

2008 was a bad year for Ohio, and I'm sure the revenue is up considerably for Ohio since then. Meanwhile it was an exceptionally good year for Ball State, who was undefeated up to the MAC Championship, and a good year for Buffalo.

EMU, Kent, and Ball State would seem to be the dead weight here.

Last Edited: 2/27/2014 9:04:55 PM by L.C.

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TWT
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 9:59:59 PM

L.C. wrote:

C Money wrote:

Alan Swank wrote:

Unfortunately, according to this, on paper we'd be the dead weight.

http://www.mac-sports.com/tabid/969/Article/237509/MAC-An...

From the sounds of this article Ohio is over the 1 million line these days in football ticket revenue. Must be over 2 million between football and basketball because we set a conference record in 2012-13.

Overall, the combined football and men's basketball ticket sales revenue generated during the 2012-2013 year represented a 32 percent increase over the previous season. This mark is also the highest combined football and men's basketball ticket revenue on record in Mid-American Conference history.

http://www.ohiobobcats.com/genrel/031113aaa.html

Last Edited: 2/27/2014 10:01:16 PM by TWT

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
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2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
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Pataskala
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 10:20:51 PM

The one drawback for them would be that people might think they're another directional Michigan. Can you imagine schools flying into Detroit only to find out they missed the mark by 500 miles.

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C Money
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 10:46:25 PM

L.C. wrote:

Didn't we nearly sell out our season ticket allotment last year? And we were nowhere near that in 2008, so we have to be in top 3 as of last season.

catfan28
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 11:17:11 PM

College athletic departments (and colleges in general) are notorious for misreporting revenue/expense line items. I'd bet my life's savings that NIU did not generate over $2 million in ticket sales...then or ever. Them (and some of the other schools) are probably counting student fee money or something along those lines in there. Was told last year that, from our athletic department's research, we generated more true ticket sales revenue than anyone in MAC history.

catfan28
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RE: JMU to the MAC?

Posted: 2/27/2014 11:20:03 PM

So, is there any truth to this rumor? It seems like it's just some guy's blog post. Not sure there's much to see here...

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