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Do you approve of the move to the Patriot League?

Former season ticket holder for 22 years here. This included a time when I was in college (not a student at U of R)

Id rather of us move up with JMU and become a doormat in FBS over the move we made to the Patriot League. Sure, its a delusional thought, but IMO not much more delusional to think a move to the PL is going to elevate our program, especially if Nova/WM stay parked in the CAA.

The CAA isn't what it was, I get wanting to leave....that doesn't mean the Patriot League will turn out like we hope.

Sometimes I don't get our fans. I have regularly seen fans blast terrible administrative decisions and swear off supporting the program because of their small potatoes mindset. Then turn around and are completely supportive of this move, to a league we regularly shit on our athletic department for trying to emulate their ethos, then act like their visionaries all of a sudden.

When schools leave a conference willingly, its almost always for better competition and more money, that was not the case here.

Imagine JMU deciding they had enough of the CAA and went to the Patriot instead of the Sun Belt. And I don't want to hear the comparisons about demographics, the fact is we competed with and regularly beat this school who is played their cards perfectly while we have gone backwards the past 8 years.

I don't know what's more concerning for the future of the football program. That half the fan base applauds this move, or that we only had 50 fans vote on this poll.

If you thought we had trouble selling tickets before playing schools like Hampton, WM, Towson coming to town, just wait until Holy Cross invades The Rob.

Call me negative all you want, but its embarrassing to see how little the admin cares about football and until they're called out on it, will continue.

Do you approve of the move to the Patriot League?

If they do the PL will be the Premier East Coast FCS league.
That is a big IF - lets not forget, we are talking about the Patriot league. This is one step below the IVY league, and they are more concerned about academics and reputation than they are being the best FCS football conference. We fit the profile because we are a small liberal arts college, with a strong endowment, and high academic standards. And while some other schools may fit the profile somewhat - I just don't know if the Patriot league is looking to become a premier league for FCS football. They are very similar to the UR mantra - they like to compete. So maybe they have some good teams here and there that can "compete" in the playoffs. But not sure they are looking to become a destination for schools or large amount of transfers coming to FCS.

Oops

I don't remember ever making it past the lobby of Gray Court.
Three of us did first night back to school when new Gray opened. We were on the second floor welcoming the residents back to school out the window. I believe it was Officer B who met us at the exit door leading to a subsequent meeting with Dean Mateer. We were sentenced to a “double secret probation!”
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Oops

Apparently someone jumping on a trampoline in a dorm room hit a sprinkler head and flooded multiple floors of Gray Court.

We didn't have sprinklers in Wood or Moore halls back in the day. Concrete blocks, baby. I don't remember ever making it past the lobby of Gray Court.
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Do you approve of the move to the Patriot League?

While the FBS is having the number of scholarships increased, they are also being required to reduce
the size of their rosters. Leaving more players available for FCS football.
But, call me naive, but I agree with Gallipolli and think the Patriot League move is based on the
conference’s teams. I believe that W & M and Nova will be showing up as Patriot League teams.
If they do the PL will be the Premier East Coast FCS league.

Do you approve of the move to the Patriot League?

While the FBS is having the number of scholarships increased, they are also being required to reduce
the size of their rosters. Leaving more players available for FCS football.
But, call me naive, but I agree with Gallipolli and think the Patriot League move is based on the
conference’s teams. I believe that W & M and Nova will be showing up as Patriot League teams.

OT: Woj bomb!

I think in some cases, these Power conference schools grab guys as "break glass in case of emergency" type of guys - with the guys transferring in happy - in some cases - to get the NIL money, and play (if very limited) in a big time conference with all the perks and glamour that come along. I do think if they beat a guy out , the coach in most cases will play the best guy. A guy like Matt Knowling - from Yale (and conneticut) I think we talke to. Went to USC. I would bet he has very small role their - but goes to USC - gets NIL buck, southern Cal, plays at sold out BIG away schools, etc. Likely better opportunity at Richmond to play meaningful minutes.
I agree with this - but I think there is also a factor of kids trying to cash in while they can. I mean where else can a kid - who is a good basketball player, likely is a pro overseas somewhere at best - but can now look around while in college and maybe stash away 100-200K.

Imagine not being an athlete, and just being a normal student - but someone wanted to pay you 50K each year to do well in Economics. You graduate, you got some good money in the bank - life is pretty good. And maybe some of these kids, I think especially on the women side - see this as really the only time they will be able to earn money from their sport, so they are cashing in. And I can't fault a 19-21 year old kid for doing so.

Do you approve of the move to the Patriot League?

I know the FBS scholarship limit is increasing for football - I assume the same for 1AA, which has always been slightly less - so yes, I think money is a major factor. Again - UR prides itself as this wealthy school with multi-billion dollar endowment. Which I know you can't use the endowment, but it is a sign of the strong financial backing the school has. But when it comes to spend money on sports or there is a concern of money in sports - we then act like this small school, private, not a lot of students or alumni - so we act like we can't afford anything.
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SEC: Premier Football league

The SEC has taken advantage of NIL. Six of the top 7 spots in the AP Poll are held by members of the South Eastern Conference. This has never happened before. It reflects the amount of money these schools are spending to acquire elite players. The divide between the SEC and other conferences will only grow. The ACC will be left behind.

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