Don't think Mickey would leave JMU for a start up program thats going to be playing in the Slum, I mean Sun Belt in a few years, not with the facilties and recruits JMU has coming on right now, probably for maybe around 60k more a year (Matthews made 190.5k last season. I assume South Alabama would pay about 250k unless they landed a big name coach) in a conference that talent wise is the weakest in I-A and is no better than the CAA. This will probably keep JMU honest and provide more pressure for a raise when Matthews contract is up after the 09' season.

http://www.al.com/sports/press-regis...030.xml&coll=3

"Another candidate who could get an interview is James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews. Matthews has been at James Madison for nine years, winning the NCAA Division I-AA national title in 2004.

Before taking over at James Madison, Matthews was an assistant coach under Jim Donnan at Georgia for three years and spent six years as the assistant head coach at Marshall under Donnan.

Gottfried would not comment on Matthews or his candidacy."