James Madison University

The Richmond recruiting beings for JMU.  Saw this on twitter

Congrats to @kid_singh42 for committing to play baseball at James Madison University! So proud of you Kory! Rapid pride runs deep

Kory: great kid, great family. Congrats!!!

http://jmusports.com/news/2015/8/4/BB_0804154704.aspx

In my twitter feed just a bit ago...

Coach Ikenberry has gathered a top notch young staff in Jackson and Guerra and i feel they are on their way great job so far. 

I have nothing but positive things to say about Coach Ike.  I am a JMU grad from way too many years ago and it's been tough seeing this team not be as competitive as it's been in years past.  I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Ike when he recruited my son for VMI, though the school wasn't a fit.  He was completely honest about the VMI program and it wasn't for everyone.  I also know quite a few of the recruits that did go and are enjoying various levels of success.  With all the baseball talent in VA and his connections to coaches, travel programs, etc I see this as a win for JMU.  Give him some time and the ability to make it his, I'm betting you'll like the result.

It's always interesting to see the subject matter experts on the negative side of positive announcement.  The sign on the front of the institution says "James Madison University" not "JMU Sports Factory"  I'll admit you hire a coach to win to make the alumni base happy, but you want a coach who understands that graduation rate is more important that winning percentage to 99% of the student alhletes and the university as a whole.  Having served as a member of the JMU Board of Visitors I'm very pleased with the decision.

It's just a fact of modern day life that the internet gives disproportionate voice to negativity.

You have to learn to discount all that, if not ignore it entirey.  Otherwise it'll drive you nuts.

Greetings,

A forum is designed to broadly discuss topics.  Not simply illicit mindless chatter about blind support.  i welcome all ideas and have shared but a few of mine.  I am sorry I didn't get in line and drink the cool-aid.  I wish all at JMU the very best.

There are far many things more important then graduation rates.  Character development,pursuit of excellence, and spiritual growth come to mind.   However, since we refuse to study the facts....let's take a look at JMU baseball as it performed during the period 2006-2010.  During that time JMU baseball led the sports institution in GPA, graduation rates and, had zero off-field issues and/or compliance concerns.

Since the Spanky loves his son era this AD allowed intolerable behavior and exceedingly poor performance academically and off-campus.  This AD allowed this behavior and destruction of the program for four years, and yes this is the same department that hired this new coach.  Easy to do....no relocation, 60% salary of any else, and oh by the way, the school uses the software that this coach represented as a business man.  

I like this man but please don't confuse negativity with perspective.  I root for the purple like you. 

"the Spanky loves his son era"

I really hadn't thought of this in terms of the McFarland family connection.  We've had two Cardinals go there, one who's there now and one recruit who enters there shortly.  Neither even mentioned this being a factor.  Nor have I heard any reports of any particular or unusual conduct issues on that team, if that's what you intended to imply.  I would note that I checked on the younger McFarland's performance (stats) over his four years there, and let's just say I think any coach would've loved to have had that kid on the team, at least on game days.

I realize it can cause problems when there's a father-son relationship in the team dynamic.  On the other hand, many schools offer free tuition to faculty or coaches' children, so you can't blame a guy for bringing in his own kid, getting a stud player and saving a chunk of the program's 11.7. 

If the kid had hit .180 and still got 200 AB's, that would be a disaster.  When the kid is a consistent offensive leader, though, I would ask you to have enough self-awareness to realize that snidely worded references to the player's presence on the roster sound like sour grapes to the rest of the world.  I'm left wondering if your kid got stuck on the depth chart behind the coach's son or something.

Good comments and well thought out remarks.  Thanks for sharing.  Perhaps it did sound a bit snarky but no negative reference to the Spank's son should include criticism of his on-field performance.  You are correct he played well.  However there is more to the program than one players stats, and more to the program than on-field behavior. I have no axe to grind and only my hopes for JMU and excellence.

I hate to see us the doormats and perhaps your utopian view of the future of the program is more accurate.  I sure hope so.

"the Spanky loves his son era"

OK Ball, you got a chuckle out of me.  I was in the opposing stands a few times (during this era) and I definetly saw some strange things on the field and in the dugout related to this topic.  No question the son was a good hitter and very good college player at that level but I also think he was allowed to become an overall major team distraction.  I know JMU parents and players (plural with an "s") during that era (starters and bench players) that told me straight up it was a major issue.  They would never say so publically, and the team numbers reflect it during that era.  The point you are making is a valid one....the Adminstration let it go on so you are questioning their judgement. Fair in my opinion.  

Midlo this era was a few years before any of the Cardinal’s you referenced were being recruited.  One of your Cardinal parents was aware of this situation because they asked me about it.  The recruit decided on JMU none the less, possibly because the coaches son had been drafted and left the program.  I’m sure there were other reasons they selected JMU as well.   No doubt there are challenges of a father-coach-son dynamic that some of us have to deal with over the years.  In this JMU case, what it amounts to is a son having (or not having) the maturity to recognize the father is responsible for the success of an entire roster of mid-major D1 college players and program.  These issues went way beyond a father-coach-son dynamic, as it involved 34 other people.

The good news is Coach Ike is now "the man" and he knows how to recruit and run a program.  He'll turn this around.   As always, JMO.