JMU Bails Out of 2015 Football Game at Liberty for Trip to SMU

[Sly Fox]

It appears the Dukes have bought their way out of their game on September 26th in Lynchburg. This was a game that was scheduled after the Dukes pushed back a 2012 game. Instead JMU will play at SMU on 9/26.

As part of the announcement, JMU revealed that they intend to schedule two FBS games each year moving forward. Perhaps this is a kneejerk reaction to the need for revenue outside of student fees in light of a recent house bill in Virginia.

Bottom line, the Dukes have bailed out on the date and have left us in Lynchburg desperately trying to fill a date just seven months out. Perhaps getting beat in their own crib while overpaying for a home game has stung folks in Harrisonburg a bit more than originally believed.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

SMU's rapidly becoming the second-string cheerleader that trolls the hallways looking for dates before the junior prom.

[knucklehead]

Just sad. Was going to be a huge game, now Liberty is stuck looking for who knows who.

[Uncle Rico's Clan]

This is the second time in the past few years that SMU has been involved with a scheduling change that has left a team scrambling to fill their upcoming schedule.

[NDSUKurt]

Just sad. Was going to be a huge game, now Liberty is stuck looking for who knows who.


From what I have put into the spreadsheet here on AGS, the following teams are open on the 9/26 date:

**Keep in mind some of these teams probably have games scheduled but have not yet announced them.

Portland State
Missouri State
Southern Illinois
Saint Francis
Bucknell
Alabama State
Mississippi Valley State
Central Connecticut State

(Please send me any links showing that any of these teams have games scheduled and I will update accordingly).

[knucklehead]

Bring in Fordham or SHSU or even Mercer and I'll be happy.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Bucknell could be a very intriguing option for everybody, assuming they don't have a game yet.

EDIT: Fordham plays Monmouth that weekend, and I currently don't see Bucknell with a game, or a likely opponent, that weekend.

[Libertine]

From what I have put into the spreadsheet here on AGS, the following teams are open on the 9/26 date:

**Keep in mind some of these teams probably have games scheduled but have not yet announced them.

Portland State
Howard
Missouri State
South Dakota
Southern Illinois
Bryant
Saint Francis
Bucknell
Fordham
Jacksonville University
Mercer
Sam Houston State
Alabama State
Mississippi Valley State
Texas Southern

(Please send me any links showing that any of these teams have games scheduled and I will update accordingly).

Howard has Morgan St in a neutral site game
http://www.morganstatebears.com/schedule.aspx?path=foot&print=true

Bryant is at Coastal
http://bryant.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20150216g0fvye

Fordham hosts Monmouth
http://www.monmouthhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=67823&SPID=7664&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209835760&DB_OEM_ID=14300

Jacksonville is at Marist
http://www.goredfoxes.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27700&SPID=95201&SPSID=638665

Sam Houston is at Houston Baptist
http://www.hbuhuskies.com/sports/2013/4/6/FB_0406134202.aspx?id=84

[nwFL Griz]

From what I have put into the spreadsheet here on AGS, the following teams are open on the 9/26 date:

**Keep in mind some of these teams probably have games scheduled but have not yet announced them.

Portland State
Howard - NOPE http://www.morganstatebears.com/news/2015/1/28/FB_0128151248.aspx?path=foot
Missouri State
South Dakota - NOPE (have not released schedule yet, but 8 mvfc games plus Kansas St, UC-Davis and Drake leaves no room for another game)
Southern Illinois
Bryant - NOPE http://www.bryantbulldogs.com/sports/fball/2015-16/schedule
Saint Francis
Bucknell
Fordham - NOPE, on Monmouth's schedule http://www.monmouthhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=67823&SPID=7664&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209835760&DB_OEM_ID=14300
Jacksonville University - NOPE, on Marist's schedule http://www.goredfoxes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=638663&SPID=95201&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209874737&DB_OEM_ID=27700
Mercer - NOPE, no schedule yet, but 8 SoCon plus Stetson, Austin Peay, Tennessee Tech leaves no room.
Sam Houston State - NOPE, on Houston Baptist's schedule http://www.hbuhuskies.com/sports/2013/4/6/FB_0406134202.aspx?id=84
Alabama State
Mississippi Valley State
Texas Southern - NOPE http://athletics.tsu.edu/news/2015/2/6/FB_0206155605.aspx

(Please send me any links showing that any of these teams have games scheduled and I will update accordingly).


Links added.

[knucklehead]

Liberty's release. http://www.liberty.edu/flames/index.cfm?PID=10869&NewsID=14211&TeamID=

It says Liberty is aggressively seeking an FCS replacement which tells me something is already in the works.

[NDSUKurt]

Howard has Morgan St in a neutral site game
http://www.morganstatebears.com/schedule.aspx?path=foot&print=true

Bryant is at Coastal
http://bryant.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20150216g0fvye

Fordham hosts Monmouth
http://www.monmouthhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=67823&SPID=7664&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209835760&DB_OEM_ID=14300

Jacksonville is at Marist
http://www.goredfoxes.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27700&SPID=95201&SPSID=638665

Sam Houston is at Houston Baptist
http://www.hbuhuskies.com/sports/2013/4/6/FB_0406134202.aspx?id=84

Wow - thanks...I have tries to keep this as updated as possible, but games always slip through the cracks.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I wonder if Bucknell and SFPA are playing that weekend? They may both have byes but if they have a game that weekend it seems like the most likely candidate, with no openings at the inn for nearby PFL schools, Ivy League, CAA or fellow Patriot schools. Unless they are playing a D-II.

About the only other team they could play (and, incidentally, is one you missed) is CCSU.

[BisonFan02]

NDSU has 9/26 open....you guys could come out here for the front end of a H/H and we'll drop our opponent on 9/19 to go back to an 11 game schedule :D

[Daytripper]

Howard has Morgan St in a neutral site game
http://www.morganstatebears.com/schedule.aspx?path=foot&print=true

Bryant is at Coastal
http://bryant.prestosports.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/20150216g0fvye

Fordham hosts Monmouth
http://www.monmouthhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=67823&SPID=7664&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=209835760&DB_OEM_ID=14300

Jacksonville is at Marist
http://www.goredfoxes.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=27700&SPID=95201&SPSID=638665

Sam Houston is at Houston Baptist
http://www.hbuhuskies.com/sports/2013/4/6/FB_0406134202.aspx?id=84


F&%$ing HBU, when we could go up to Dallas and beat SMU! That sucks.

[knucklehead]

NDSU has 9/26 open....you guys could come out here for the front end of a H/H and we'll drop our opponent on 9/19 to go back to an 11 game schedule :D
I like it, but the Bison need to come to Lynchburg so we can have NDSU and Montana here back to back.

[NDSUKurt]

About the only other team they could play (and, incidentally, is one you missed) is CCSU.

After looking at it I see that I put Bryant instead of Central Connecticut State on my original list.

It has been updated accordingly.

[Daytripper]

"As part of the announcement, JMU revealed that they intend to schedule two FBS games each year moving forward."

This could be a problem if more FBS teams stop playing FCS. I wish SHSU would schedule two each year...I just wish it wasn't LSU, TX A&M, and Baylor like we usually get. At least this year we have a fighter's chance against Texas Tech.

[BisonFan02]

I like it, but the Bison need to come to Lynchburg so we can have NDSU and Montana here back to back.

No dice this year....gotta have 6 home games in Fargo. xnodx

[KPSUL]

Classless move by the Dukes.

[Sly Fox]

How does this grid of yours look for openings on Halloween? I hate to lose that bye week in the middle of conference play. But I'd hate to have to play a D2 even more.

[kdinva]

Classless move by the Dukes.

....and Mickey had nothing to do with it....

[knucklehead]

....and Mickey had nothing to do with it....
Well played.

[Professor Chaos]

SMU's rapidly becoming the second-string cheerleader that trolls the hallways looking for dates before the junior prom.
Yup, same school that Montana St ditched NDSU for at the same time of the year two years ago. Perhaps SMU's AD needs some lessons in how to put together a schedule before February. It's not a good situation when schools are left scrambling to fill a schedule they thought was filled with only 6 months to go when most everyone else already has their schedule filled.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

"As part of the announcement, JMU revealed that they intend to schedule two FBS games each year moving forward."

This could be a problem if more FBS teams stop playing FCS. I wish SHSU would schedule two each year...I just wish it wasn't LSU, TX A&M, and Baylor like we usually get. At least this year we have a fighter's chance against Texas Tech.

What a joke. Two FBS games a year? Hopefully they receive regular butt kickings so their scheduling tactics come back to bite. One day these FBS/FCS games will finally go away. Both divisions will be better for it.

[NDSUKurt]

How does this grid of yours look for openings on Halloween? I hate to lose that bye week in the middle of conference play. But I'd hate to have to play a D2 even more.

As of now:

Central Connecticut State
Robert Morris
Sacred Heart
Saint Francis
Dayton
Jacksonville University
Sam Houston State (probably their bye week)
Alabama State
Grambling State
Mississippi Valley State

[dgtw]

Too bad it wasn't 9/19, you could have come to Jax State and we'd go up there next year.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Libertine]

What a joke. Two FBS games a year? Hopefully they receive regular butt kickings so their scheduling tactics come back to bite. One day these FBS/FCS games will finally go away. Both divisions will be better for it.

I think JMU just admitted they need money.

[knucklehead]

Agree Lib

[dgtw]

I think JMU just admitted they need money.

At least they aren't like Furman and coming on here saying they are going to win the FBS game.

[Top Dawg]

"As part of the announcement, JMU revealed that they intend to schedule two FBS games each year moving forward."

This could be a problem if more FBS teams stop playing FCS. I wish SHSU would schedule two each year...I just wish it wasn't LSU, TX A&M, and Baylor like we usually get. At least this year we have a fighter's chance against Texas Tech.

Not sure where your quote is coming from, but that isn't what JMU stated in their release. JMU coach Withers stated that in years with 12 games, JMU would like to schedule two FBS games, not every year. I believe that the next year with a 12-game schedule is 2019.

According to JMU's beat reporter, SMU is paying JMU $425,000, plus lodging, meals, and "buses" (not sure if they'll actually bus from Harrisonburg to Dallas, seems long).

[gumby013]

The last time SMU stole a game, good things happened.

Gameday to Liberty confirmed.

[Gangtackle11]

They will also have to find a team that has a open date & isn't at the 11 game limit.

Will limit the options.

[MR. CHICKEN]

Not sure where your quote is coming from, but that isn't what JMU stated in their release. JMU coach Withers stated that in years with 12 games, JMU would like to schedule two FBS games, not every year. I believe that the next year with a 12-game schedule is 2019.

According to JMU's beat reporter, SMU is paying JMU $425,000, plus lodging, meals, and "buses" (not sure if they'll actually bus from Harrisonburg to Dallas, seems long).

20615....AH'D THINK.....BUSES...FROM LODGIN' TA STADIUM...FO' WALK THRU/GAME DAY....YER FLYIN' INTA BIG D.....xnodx.....BRAWK!

[aceinthehole]

As of now:

Central Connecticut State
Robert Morris
Sacred Heart
Saint Francis
Dayton
Jacksonville University
Sam Houston State (probably their bye week)
Alabama State
Grambling State
Mississippi Valley State

CCSU has a full slate for 2015 (unannounced):

(Sep. 4) vs. Lehigh
(Sep. 12) at Stony Brook
(Sep. 19) vs. Bowie State
(Sep. 26) at New Hampshire
(Oct. 3) at Duquesne
(Oct. 10) vs. Bryant
(Oct. 17) vs. Dartmouth
(Oct. 24) at Sacred Heart
(Oct. 31) vs. Robert Morris
(Nov. 7) vs. Saint Francis
(Nov. 14) at Wagner

[frozennorth]

What a joke. Two FBS games a year? Hopefully they receive regular butt kickings so their scheduling tactics come back to bite. One day these FBS/FCS games will finally go away. Both divisions will be better for it.

If such an awful day comes, I hope the mvfc is long moved up.

[Twentysix]

If such an awful day comes, I hope the mvfc is long moved up.

No kidding, I love the FBS games. They are usually the most exciting game of the regular season for NDSU.

[Bisonator]

Yup, same school that Montana St ditched NDSU for at the same time of the year two years ago. Perhaps SMU's AD needs some lessons in how to put together a schedule before February. It's not a good situation when schools are left scrambling to fill a schedule they thought was filled with only 6 months to go when most everyone else already has their schedule filled.

Yeah been there done that and it is complete horse ****! Is SMU the only FBS school scrambling to fill there schedules? Seems like most are filled out a year or 2 in advance.

[Cocky]

Yeah been there done that and it is complete horse ****! Is SMU the only FBS school scrambling to fill there schedules? Seems like most are filled out a year or 2 in advance.
No, Central Florida was but Furman dropped us last month for a game this year.

[Bison Fan in NW MN]

Yup, same school that Montana St ditched NDSU for at the same time of the year two years ago. Perhaps SMU's AD needs some lessons in how to put together a schedule before February. It's not a good situation when schools are left scrambling to fill a schedule they thought was filled with only 6 months to go when most everyone else already has their schedule filled.



This here.

JMU = Montana State = Classless

[centennial]

Now the FBS schools are starting to only pick schools that they think are easy to beat. If Illinois State beats Iowa this year, I expect them to try to buy out NDSU in 2016. Since G5 won't play us, neither will the Big 10,12 we should start looking at the upper SEC, PAC 12. I know they might not be winnable but the exposure is great and its fun going to the games.
On topic, shame on SMU and JMU, maybe they can both lose.
G5 teams have almost stopped playing MVFC as a whole.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

If such an awful day comes, I hope the mvfc is long moved up.

I think it would really improve the quality of FCS. Some of the broke FCS programs might be forced to shut down which would be a good thing imo. Or, perhaps some schools would make the wise choice and drop to D2. My biggest gripe about FCS are the leaches that try to suck money out of FBS schools. I would love for the AAC to ban FCS games.

[hebmskebm]

I think it would really improve the quality of FCS. Some of the broke FCS programs might be forced to shut down which would be a good thing imo. Or, perhaps some schools would make the wise choice and drop to D2. My biggest gripe about FCS are the leaches that try to suck money out of FBS schools. I would love for the AAC to ban FCS games.

Far more schools would choose to drop football and stay D1 than to drop all athletics down a division to stay on the gridiron. That's because there are more "basketball schools" in FCS than "football schools". More schools that would be more excited to win one March Madness game like NDSU did last year than win 4 straight FCS titles. I know here on the college football internet it sounds insane, but it's sadly true.

[Gangtackle11]

I think it would really improve the quality of FCS. Some of the broke FCS programs might be forced to shut down which would be a good thing imo. Or, perhaps some schools would make the wise choice and drop to D2. My biggest gripe about FCS are the leaches that try to suck money out of FBS schools. I would love for the AAC to ban FCS games.


Be careful thinking the AAC is scheduling patsies for $$$ with FCS schools. I just took a quick look the past 2 years & found a few FCS wins & close losses vs. the AAC.

FCS Wins over AAC:
2013:
Towson 33 UConn 18
McNeese State 53 USF 21
Fordham 30 Temple 29

Close Games:
2014:
UConn 19 Stony Brook 16
USF 36 Western Carolina 31

Competitive Games:
Tulane 35 SELA 20

In fact the only blow out wins for the AAC were mainly over the weak MEAC teams. The stronger AAC teams didn't have FCS teams scheduled in a quick look back.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I think it would really improve the quality of FCS. Some of the broke FCS programs might be forced to shut down which would be a good thing imo. Or, perhaps some schools would make the wise choice and drop to D2. My biggest gripe about FCS are the leaches that try to suck money out of FBS schools. I would love for the AAC to ban FCS games.

Good luck with that. FCS teams will continue to be homecoming opponents because G5 and P5 schools still like to have home games on occasion, and there will be fewer incentives for P5 schools to do home-and-home deals with G5 schools. Unless you like four game home slates, FCS schools are pretty likely the only option. If you think Sun Belt schools are the solution, they'll probably have their hands out too, perhaps even asking for more money.

Furthermore, G5 schools are also in the same marketplace for P5 home games with FCS teams, and FCS schools generally cost less, which is why the G5 is generally a sucky place to be right now.

[hebmskebm]

While I doubt there will ever be an outright ban on FCS games by FBS, I can see a future where FCS games will no longer count towards bowl eligibility, so the only reason they would even be scheduled would be situations like that CCSU game a few years back when the FBS school just really needed a home game.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Good luck with that. FCS teams will continue to be homecoming opponents because G5 and P5 schools still like to have home games on occasion, and there will be fewer incentives for P5 schools to do home-and-home deals with G5 schools. Unless you like four game home slates, FCS schools are pretty likely the only option. If you think Sun Belt schools are the solution, they'll probably have their hands out too, perhaps even asking for more money.

Furthermore, G5 schools are also in the same marketplace for P5 home games with FCS teams, and FCS schools generally cost less, which is why the G5 is generally a sucky place to be right now.

Depends what G5 schools you are. Temple has home games with Penn State and Notre Dame this year and thankfully no FCS opponent. Some of the AAC schools have put together attractive OOC schedules while others are still trying to figure it out.

While I understand that these games likely won't end completely I think it will get to the point where they are fewer and fewer. Hopefully the SEC will stop with the annual FCS slaughter weekend in November.

[Gangtackle11]

Temple plays Villanova in '16 & '17. No FCS game is fleeting occurrence for the Owls in '15.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Temple plays Villanova in '16 & '17. No FCS game is fleeting occurrence for the Owls in '15.

I believe we dropped Stony Brook next year to play the Wildcats which makes sense. The Temple-Villanova games have been competitive and gives both schools good publicity in SEPA. This is one of those unique circumstances where there's a legit, competitive FBS/FCS rivalry. It's a game that both student bodies are genuinely engaged in which rarely happens when it comes to football.

Temple has honestly been smart when it comes to our FCS games. We'll only play regional foes that have SOME name recognition to either Temple alums/fans or those living the Philly area.

[UNHWildcat18]

really wish UNH played closer schools for FBS games, we would have beaten uconn this year if we played them. I dont see why we dont play army cuse buffalo BC UConn hell even rutgers

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Honestly I don't see a lot changing when it comes to scheduling. P5s will still schedule one FCS opponent because it will not harm their eligibility for a CFP spot. P5s will still schedule G5 opponents because they can't schedule 3 FCS schools. There will be the occasional home-and-home deal, perhaps, to allow some of their kids to have a homecoming to a place a little further away from home. None of it should be a business plan to stay afloat.

[Gangtackle11]

I believe we dropped Stony Brook next year to play the Wildcats which makes sense. The Temple-Villanova games have been competitive and gives both schools good publicity in SEPA. This is one of those unique circumstances where there's a legit, competitive FBS/FCS rivalry. It's a game that both student bodies are genuinely engaged in which rarely happens when it comes to football.

Temple has honestly been smart when it comes to our FCS games. We'll only play regional foes that have SOME name recognition to either Temple alums/fans or those living the Philly area.


Agree. It's a win for Villanova & Temple to play in front of a 30k+ crowd. Big financial win for Villanova not bear the travel expenses to go to a BC, Syracuse, or UConn for a FBS payday and they have a chance of a "home" crowd experience. Not to mention it is a game that gets the city focused on college football albeit a brief moment in time.

[nwFL Griz]

As of now:

Central Connecticut State
Robert Morris
Sacred Heart
Saint Francis
Dayton
Jacksonville University
Sam Houston State (probably their bye week)
Alabama State
Grambling State
Mississippi Valley State

As noted in a previous post, CCSU plays Robert Morris. I think it is likely that Sacred Heart plays Saint Francis there as well, the other possibilities for that game are Sep 5 and Oct 10.

Dayton is likely playing Jacksonville on that date, the only other possibility for that game is Sep 12.

That is SHSU's bye week. Their other OOC game is TAMU-Commerce.

Alabama St plays Alabama A&M that week.

MVSU plays Jackson St that week.

[NDSUKurt]

As noted in a previous post, CCSU plays Robert Morris. I think it is likely that Sacred Heart plays Saint Francis there as well, the other possibilities for that game are Sep 5 and Oct 10.

Dayton is likely playing Jacksonville on that date, the only other possibility for that game is Sep 12.

That is SHSU's bye week. Their other OOC game is TAMU-Commerce.

Alabama St plays Alabama A&M that week.

MVSU plays Jackson St that week.

Yep - I got a lot of those this weekend when I had some time to do research.

Do you got a link for the Sam Houston State game with Texas A&M Commerce and the Robert Morris/Central Conn. State games?

[UNH_Alum_In_CT]

really wish UNH played closer schools for FBS games, we would have beaten uconn this year if we played them. I dont see why we dont play army cuse buffalo BC UConn hell even rutgers

UNH has played and beaten Army and Rutgers, you expect to be invited back? I know UConn doesn't want to play us, the horror if they lost to an old Yankee Conference foe now that they're FBS. xlolx I don't think Syracuse has any interest in a game either. From what I heard they never signed a contract after we beat Army, played Maine instead. We were supposed to have played BC in 2014, but that got cancelled. Only leaves Buffalo as a possibility. Not much we can do about it.

[nwFL Griz]

Yep - I got a lot of those this weekend when I had some time to do research.

Do you got a link for the Sam Houston State game with Texas A&M Commerce and the Robert Morris/Central Conn. State games?

Aceinthehole reported the CCSU/RMU game.

I don't keep links in my notes (usually), but if I had to guess, I got it from Katfans.com.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Based on info I was able to gather on the Bucknell message board, it looks like the Bison have a 10 game schedule currently and and opening on that day. However, they allegedly only have four home dates, so it might be a problem to fill the schedule. Duquesne is the tentative 5th home game in Week 2 (9/10?). The other FCS OOC games are Marist (home game, opener), Cornell (away, won't be changed) and VMI (away). They also play Army.

Personally, I think Bucknell heading to Liberty would be a great test for this squad in a fantastic atmosphere. I really enjoyed my time there when Lehigh visited. But it is sort-of late in the game and they already have Army on there.

[Sammy94]

Do you got a link for the Sam Houston State game with Texas A&M Commerce

This game is a go although no official date, 9/12 seems to be the logical date though

[Lehigh Football Nation]

One thing the Bucknell information shows is that St. Francis (PA) appears to at least have a bye week in the schedule on 9/26. Not sure if they have a D-II on the schedule or even a full 11 game schedule yet, so if Bucknell is out, SF PA might be Liberty's best bet.

[Twentysix]

Yup, same school that Montana St ditched NDSU for at the same time of the year two years ago. Perhaps SMU's AD needs some lessons in how to put together a schedule before February. It's not a good situation when schools are left scrambling to fill a schedule they thought was filled with only 6 months to go when most everyone else already has their schedule filled.


If it makes you feel any better when Montana state ****ed us over for SMU their Quarterback broke his throwing shoulder or something at the very end of the game, they lost by 1 point, their season fell apart, and they missed the playoffs, AND we won the National Championship.

Karma xlolx

[knucklehead]

I think we will likely end up with a meac game at LU. Nothing against that st all, but man was I looking forward to that JMU game and the atmosphere it would have fostered. Such a let down.

[Libertine]

I think we will likely end up with a meac game at LU.
Barring someone else getting bought out, it won't be a MEAC. That's the first weekend of conference play and all teams are accounted for.

[knucklehead]

Ah got ya sir. So now what? Haha. Just any FCS at this point .

[nwFL Griz]

SIU
Mo St
St Francis
Alabama St

Those seem to be your options, at this point.

[PAllen]

SIU
Mo St
St Francis
Alabama St

Those seem to be your options, at this point.

St. Francis should be a relatively easy get. Easy bus ride.

[aceinthehole]

St. Francis should be a relatively easy get. Easy bus ride.

Agreed. Not sure who else SFU has a $$ game with in 2015, but as of late they have been playing fully scholly FCS teams for a payday - plus they can bus it.

Over the past 4 years, the Red Flash have played at: James Madison (3 times), Youngstown State (twice), Georgia Southern, Towson, and NDSU.

[knucklehead]

From Chris Lang on Twitter.....

" Oh, and on JMU football game. Barber has been in contact w/ 2 FCS schools as possible replacements. Moving Del. St. game a possibility too."

"Hornets have an open date on Sept. 26, though I wonder if DSU would sign on for not having a bye week."

[ccd494]

What a joke. Two FBS games a year? Hopefully they receive regular butt kickings so their scheduling tactics come back to bite. One day these FBS/FCS games will finally go away. Both divisions will be better for it.

That would be the end of football in Orono, Maine. We need to play two FBS's a year to keep the sport.

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

That would be the end of football in Orono, Maine. We need to play two FBS's a year to keep the sport.

Which would be fine. If schools are that cash strapped when it comes to football then their priorities, imo, are in the wrong place. My biggest gripe with FCS is broke programs/schools that have no business being D1.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Which would be fine. If schools are that cash strapped when it comes to football then their priorities, imo, are in the wrong place. My biggest gripe with FCS is broke programs/schools that have no business being D1.

Maine is not hurting due to mismanagement. Maine is hurting because they started football life in the regional, compact, bus-trip Yankee conference and have seen one state school shutter the sport (Vermont), three other conferencemates shutter football (Hofstra, Northeastern, BU), an entire conference shut down football operations (the MAAC), and two conferencemates join FBS (UConn, UMass). All the while, their former Yankee football conference has expanded with the next-best schools in Albany and Stony Brook, but have also seen the additions of Towson and Elon, distant in-conference road trips.

UNH doesn't have the same challenges as Maine because relatively speaking they are much less remote. Also, UNH has added Patriot League schools as out-of-conference games that are bus trips and home-and-home's, cutting down on costs. Maine's basic challenge is that it's tough to convince people to do home-and-homes because it's a chartered flight to get there.

[Gangtackle11]

Hypothetical keep Maine close to home schedule:

1/2Rotate FBS Opponents:
BC
UConn
UMass
Syracuse

1/2 OOC FCS:
Central Connecticut State
Bryant
Harvard
Brown
Yale


8 CAA
Play Albany, Rhody, UNH, Stony Brook every season
Play Villanova, Towson, Delaware (2 of 3 - 1 away each season)
Play JMU, Elon, W&M, Richmond (2 of 4 1 away each season)

Hypo worst travel schedule:
@ Syracuse (bus or plane)
Bryant
@ CCSU (bus)
@ Albany (bus)
Rhode Island
@Stony Brook (bus/plane)
UNH
Villanova
@Towson (plane to Baltimore)
Richmond
@Elon (plane to Raleigh)

Program goes under due to that travel schedule?

Idk.....you tell me?

[Go Lehigh TU owl]

Maine is not hurting due to mismanagement. Maine is hurting because they started football life in the regional, compact, bus-trip Yankee conference and have seen one state school shutter the sport (Vermont), three other conferencemates shutter football (Hofstra, Northeastern, BU), an entire conference shut down football operations (the MAAC), and two conferencemates join FBS (UConn, UMass). All the while, their former Yankee football conference has expanded with the next-best schools in Albany and Stony Brook, but have also seen the additions of Towson and Elon, distant in-conference road trips.

UNH doesn't have the same challenges as Maine because relatively speaking they are much less remote. Also, UNH has added Patriot League schools as out-of-conference games that are bus trips and home-and-home's, cutting down on costs. Maine's basic challenge is that it's tough to convince people to do home-and-homes because it's a chartered flight to get there.

I know the Maine poster said Maine needs to play 2 FBS games to survive but I don't recall them doing it much. Maine never even crossed my mind when I made the broke comment.

They've played BC and Syracuse recently which are reasonable FBS games. I know they beat Mississippi State several years ago but that type of travel seemed like the exception.

I wish Lehigh would play Maine. I was in York Harbor a few years ago and would love to get back to the Pine Tree State....

[mainejeff]

I wish Lehigh would play Maine. I was in York Harbor a few years ago and would love to get back to the Pine Tree State....

But they won't and THAT is the problem. Patriot League teams refuse to schedule Maine....it's pathetic.

And this talk of UNH being bus travel but Maine being air charter......for who????? Every team in the Northeast is riding a bus to both. Yeah, Orono is 3.5 hours further......a straight shot up I-95. Tell me one school that will bus to Durham but charter a flight to Orono.......????

[mainejeff]

Hypothetical keep Maine close to home schedule:

1/2Rotate FBS Opponents:
BC
UConn
UMass
Syracuse

1/2 OOC FCS:
Central Connecticut State
Bryant
Harvard
Brown
Yale


8 CAA
Play Albany, Rhody, UNH, Stony Brook every season
Play Villanova, Towson, Delaware (2 of 3 - 1 away each season)
Play JMU, Elon, W&M, Richmond (2 of 4 1 away each season)

Hypo worst travel schedule:
@ Syracuse (bus or plane)
Bryant
@ CCSU (bus)
@ Albany (bus)
Rhode Island
@Stony Brook (bus/plane)
UNH
Villanova
@Towson (plane to Baltimore)
Richmond
@Elon (plane to Raleigh)

Program goes under due to that travel schedule?

Idk.....you tell me?

2015 schedule:

@ BC
@ Tulane
Yale

They have 1 conference flight........to Richmond.

They will be earning $750K for playing the 2 FBS games.

[PAllen]

But they won't and THAT is the problem. Patriot League teams refuse to schedule Maine....it's pathetic.

And this talk of UNH being bus travel but Maine being air charter......for who????? Every team in the Northeast is riding a bus to both. Yeah, Orono is 3.5 hours further......a straight shot up I-95. Tell me one school that will bus to Durham but charter a flight to Orono.......????

Lehigh or Lafayette. 6 hr bus ride is doable. 9+? not so much in the NE. That's just part of living out on a corner of the country. Folks in South Florida have a similar problem, except that there are more folks down there.

[yorkcountyUNHfan]

I know the Maine poster said Maine needs to play 2 FBS games to survive but I don't recall them doing it much. Maine never even crossed my mind when I made the broke comment.

They've played BC and Syracuse recently which are reasonable FBS games. I know they beat Mississippi State several years ago but that type of travel seemed like the exception.

I wish Lehigh would play Maine. I was in York Harbor a few years ago and would love to get back to the Pine Tree State....

Way closer to Durham....

Plus we've got a York kid on our roster:)

[ccd494]

Maine's other issue is that it is the only school its size in its region that sponsors football, ice hockey AND baseball. Most chose one or the other (UVM only hockey, UNH dropped baseball, URI no hockey, Albany/Binghamton/Stony Brook no hockey).

Obviously, Maine will never drop hockey (two national titles). For historic reasons, baseball is safe (history of College World Series appearances, Maine's biggest boosters are baseball people first). Maine's hockey program is now woefully underfunded to the point that the Bears are an afterthought on the national scene. Frankly, I would drop football and divide the money saved in half between men's hockey and men's hoop, but that's just me. It's clear though that operating at a huge loss is no longer an option for Maine football, especially now that hockey is at best revenue neutral and likely a loss due to smaller crowds.

[UNHWildcat18]

Maine's other issue is that it is the only school its size in its region that sponsors football, ice hockey AND baseball. Most chose one or the other (UVM only hockey, UNH dropped baseball, URI no hockey, Albany/Binghamton/Stony Brook no hockey).

Obviously, Maine will never drop hockey (two national titles). For historic reasons, baseball is safe (history of College World Series appearances, Maine's biggest boosters are baseball people first). Maine's hockey program is now woefully underfunded to the point that the Bears are an afterthought on the national scene. Frankly, I would drop football and divide the money saved in half between men's hockey and men's hoop, but that's just me. It's clear though that operating at a huge loss is no longer an option for Maine football, especially now that hockey is at best revenue neutral and likely a loss due to smaller crowds.

As much as I hate to say it I could easily see this happening down the road to some schools. URI I can really see them dropping football. Basketball is way better than the rest of the CAA football members Baseball is doing well every year with nice facilities and a lot of alumni want hockey, UNH wont drop football due to success and lack of baseball. I think it would be a stretch to see maine drop football but its very hard to operate those 4 sports with everything else. Personally I wish colleges made track cross country and indoor track all club. Give that money to other mens and womens sports.

[mainejeff]

Lehigh or Lafayette. 6 hr bus ride is doable. 9+? not so much in the NE. That's just part of living out on a corner of the country. Folks in South Florida have a similar problem, except that there are more folks down there.

Have fun on your 6 hour bus ride vs. a 1.5 hour flight then! I'd rather have Ivies on the schedule anyway.

[knucklehead]

Chris Lang says Liberty has replaced JMU with Southern Ill on the road.

"Liberty has replaced its 9/26 home football game with JMU with a road game on the same day at Southern Illinois."
"Flames will play four straight road games in between 9/19 home date with Montana and 10/24 homecoming vs. Kennesaw State"

[kdinva]

Chris Lang says Liberty has replaced JMU with Southern Ill on the road.

"Liberty has replaced its 9/26 home football game with JMU with a road game on the same day at Southern Illinois."
"Flames will play four straight road games in between 9/19 home date with Montana and 10/24 homecoming vs. Kennesaw State"

http://www.siusalukis.com/sports/m-footbl/sched/silu-m-footbl-sched.html

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Great to see that Liberty and SIU made that happen. And it really makes SIU's schedule a great, challenging slate.

Did they boot a D-II game to do it?

[RabidRabbit]

Better a good road test vs a solid measure of a FCS team, than a home < D-I team. This will help both SIU/Liberty. Hope this is front end of a home/home. Or a straight pay game for Liberty.

[knucklehead]

There is a return trip in 2019.

[knucklehead]

Great to see that Liberty and SIU made that happen. And it really makes SIU's schedule a great, challenging slate.

Did they boot a D-II game to do it?
Yes, JMU. Haha

[Libertine]

Great to see that Liberty and SIU made that happen. And it really makes SIU's schedule a great, challenging slate.

Did they boot a D-II game to do it?

No. SIU only had 10 games and back-to-back open dates.

I'm looking forward to visiting Carbondale for the first time. I hear it's non-stop excitement. xrotatehx

[CFBfan]

Have fun on your 6 hour bus ride vs. a 1.5 hour flight then! I'd rather have Ivies on the schedule anyway.

not a very intelligent comment, clearly you are bitter

[Lehigh Football Nation]

No. SIU only had 10 games and back-to-back open dates.

I'm looking forward to visiting Carbondale for the first time. I hear it's non-stop excitement. xrotatehx

I hear it gives Macomb a real run for its money. xrotatehx