Originally Posted by
JMUSteeler
I don't think I understand the debate. Clearly you are the gold standard of FCS programs, I said it once before but I'll ask again. Why do you spend so much time trying to convince yourself of what the rest of FCS already knows? Anyone who doesn't is either a moron OR a student/young alum with no perspective. When we won it all in '04, without playing a home game and winning 2 games in the final seconds by 1 point in the first 2 rounds, it felt more like lightning in a bottle than any sort of dynasty being formed. But, we thought our time had actually arrived. Then we missed the playoffs in '05, lost to YSU in the first round in '06, had App. St. beat in '07 but fumbled at the 5 yard line with 8 seconds left down 2 (yes, we should have ended their "dynasty" as well), lost in the semi in '08 to Montana at our place after our best player broke his leg and we fumbled 6 times. Then came the end of the Mickey Mathews era where we had great players but no offense, and the (thankfully) brief Withers era where we had lots of O, no D, and a bunch of GAs as coaches playing Madden football on our field every weekend. Suddenly we "feel" like we have a coaching staff that can bring it all together, we get it done in year one and have a chance in year 2, and to those of us who only wear purple & gold glasses it feels like we've finally achieved what we all thought we deserved.
JMU is not NDSU from 2011-2015, and I don't believe anyone else is going to be either (including NDSU part 2). We have a shot at 2 in a row, but like App. St. with 3 and NDSU with 5 to do any more than that is going to require a transition at QB. We were a great team last year on a roll, we're a really good team this year and still on a roll. Programs and dynasties happen when all the pieces are in place (recruiting, coaching, facilities, support, etc) and winning is just a by-product. Right now we've finally gotten the pieces in place, recruiting and facilities have never been the problem but coaching and support have been sketchy at times. Some writers, many with no real understanding of how difficult this really is, are looking for stories that might stir controversy or drive internet clicks. Some JMU fans have gotten ahead of themselves, and some NDSU fans don't seem to like having their position in the pecking order questioned. None of that changes the facts, and the facts are that until someone does it (or does it again) those 5 in a row is the greatest stretch in the history of the subdivision. I never thought anyone would top App. St. and their 3, certainly never thought I'd see 5.