James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA

No answers? I was sort of interested to hear about JMU too... Hoping someone will share.

Josh Futter (RHP Wilde Lake HS)also signed with JMU, after they annouced their fall signees

Walk ons are very tuff @ JMU unless you are a top notch pitching prospect who just wanted to go to this school. Tryouts last a total of 1-2 hours depending on the number of kids coming out. Everyone gets ten cuts, runs a 40, and fields approximately 5 balls at their position. The do not have a legit tryout for walkons in my opinion.

Our friend is a high quality outfielder. They seem to have a dearth of outfielders on their roster, especially in the freshman and sophomore classes, so I'm wondering if they might see this as a need they need to fill.

Good friend of mine had a son who played for the Va Barnstormers that tried to walk on without sucess.
JMU must not like the walk on route.

Most D-I very rarely have walkon's on their rosters--it happens but too frequently

quote:

Originally posted by CHESTERVT:
do not have a legit tryout for walkons in my opinion.

Please explain what exactly is a legit tryout for walkons?

I would think a legit walk on try out would consist of the following
1) 40 times
2) Radar throwing speed from outfield-infield-catcher
3) catcher pop times
4) fielding drills with outfield and infield
5) cage hitting as well as on field hitting
6) situational fielding as well as base running
7) scrimmage games for 2 days to see if the kids have any baseball knowledge

Do not forget this does not cost the team any scholly money. You might find a gem once in a while.
Football teams seem to do this a lot more than baseball

Madison only has 26-27 players on their roster entering the fall. Seems to me if they wanted to have a kid practice with them all fall, they could get a nice, long look at no cost. But, it's up to them how they do it. Does anyone have any experience with how JMU actually does, or does not, do it?

Midlo Dad,

Like I said earlier the tryout last about an hour or two. I think they do it that way just to say they offer a walk on possibility. They do not seem interested in that avenue. Notice most of the recruits are pitchers because that is Spanky's
specialty.

i know they are starting to build a new baseball complex after this summer

The new baseball/softball complex, 9.4 million dollars worth and as gorgeous as one might imagine, is scheduled to be ready for play in 2010. JMU historically hasn't had many walk-ons that made the team. As for an uninvited walk on, meaning anybody who just shows up at the tryout without prior favorable contact with the coaching staff, it's likely a very steep uphill climb. A pitcher throwing gas can get attention quickly but an outfielder, on a team that has a lot of outfielders returning, would have to really look off-the-chart incredible, such as a blinding speed 60 time, or hitting balls out to the interstate...

quote:

Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
We have a friend who may try to walk on at JMU as a freshman in the fall.

Questions for those who may know:

1. Does JMU have any incoming recruits besides the 3 2008 grads and 1 JuCo transfer they announced in the fall? I have seen nothing about any additional spring signees or recruited walk-ons. Four guys seems like a light recruiting class to me, so I'm thinking they must have some other guys lined up that I just haven't heard about.

2. What is the program's attitude towards walk-ons? Is there a fair opportunity?

3. How much of their 11.7 scholarship allotment is funded? Did they take a hit when JMU cut some of its athletics programs 2 years ago? If they aren't fully funded, are they headed that direction, or losing ground?

4. I heard something a while back about a new baseball facility there. Has that happened, or will it happen?

JMU has been a top recruiting school in 2007 and 2008 for 2009 they are rounding out their team that went to the regionals this past year with 4 players. JMU is fully funded and the school has made a major commitment to the baseball program. They are building a new baseball complex. As far as walk ons if a player is exceptional they will give them a shot. Why not but they are already stacked with exceptional players.

They are heading in the right direction.

Why was their 2008 class only 4 guys? Even with a roster of only 25 guys, and in a program where guys leaving to go pro after only 3 years is rare, you need 6-8 per year.

They certainly lose more than 4 guys off their 2008 team to graduation. If they don't recruit walk ons this year, are they downsizing the roster to an even lower level? They were already well below the 35-man limit.

Well, to close out the thread, I regret to report that our friend's experience was as ChesterVT suggested.

Our guy was the 2-year starting CF for 2-time state champion James River. He runs a 6.8-7.0 60, hits well with line drive power and is an outstanding defender with an above-average arm. He is an outstanding young man who will lead any team in the frequency of using the word "sir" and never cause anyone any difficulty on the bench. Consummate teammate. He had signed an NLI with Longwood but ultimately decided he would attend JMU instead for academic reasons (JMU offered a major he was interested in, Longwood did not), so he got his release and headed off to JMU.

Several people who knew the coaches took the trouble to send letters of recommendation, including some current and former players as well as coaches who know the boy.

When he arrived on campus, one of the assistants made a point to chat him up and encourage him to try out. At this point, we have no idea why he bothered.

The tryout was scheduled for only one day. 15 guys went through the paces. Our guy hit the ball all over the field and made several fine OF plays. Head coach did not attend, assistants seemed uninterested and paid little attention. After less than one hour they said, thanks but we're not taking anyone. And that was that.

He's come to terms with it and is now moving on to playing for the club team there.

Bottom line, I don't know that anyone could ever be encouraged to try to walk on at JMU. I guess it's not a big time commitment to try, but in the end it sounds like the whole process is merely a formality. Given that no rule requires them even to hold a tryout, it makes me wonder why they even bothered.

Dont you think the 35 player rule makes it almost impossible to walk on unless on a preferred basis?

That may be a factor at many places, but not at JMU. JMU's 2009 roster as posted has 29 players and one of them is a redshirt, so they actually have only 28. Last year I think they carried 26.

Apparently that's how they like it.

Can't speak for JMU, but I know another DI school in VA who has been given a roster limit below the allowed 35 by school administration.

Can't say that's the case at JMU for a fact, but it is a possibility.....

The cost to the program from adding one more, walk-on player can't be very much. The uniforms are in the closets already, the buses are already going where they're going, the coaches' salaries don't go up with the addition of a player or two.

I don't know that I would add a player who might be a headache to me, but I can't see the downside from adding a solid player with an outstanding team attitude when you have room for him.

quote:

I know another DI school in VA who has been given a roster limit below the allowed 35 by school administration

Why would a school "allow" fewer roster spots? Other than scholarship allocation, does it matter in terms of making the roster smaller as dictated by administration?

Many schools mandate the roster size for sports at their schools

quote:

Why would a school "allow" fewer roster spots? Other than scholarship allocation, does it matter in terms of making the roster smaller as dictated by administration?

It usually boils down to U.S. Currency, dinero, money honey. Less jerseys, less bus tickets, plane ticket, meals, gloves, hats, bats, hats for bats, etc.

TITLE IX also plays a role in some reductions of roster size at the institutional level.

quote:

Originally posted by JT:
TITLE IX also plays a role in some reductions of roster size at the institutional level.

Does Title IX actually affect roster size or just scholarship limits? My understanding was that as a walk on, this player wouldn't have received any scholarship money. I thought that was all that mattered, but maybe I'm wrong.

Travel costs are also not a factor, because you can only travel with 25 whether your total roster is at 35 (the total roster cap) or something less. So if, say, JMU were to add a 30th player, its travel expenses would not increase one cent, because with either 29 or 30 total players they're still going to put only 25 on the bus.

Title IX (as has been more recently interpreted) goes WAY beyond schollys. It also encompasses facilities as well.

Midlo-
You are correct about the travel expenses. That still does not address uniform/equipment costs, which in fact would be incremental.

Bottom line, JMU appears not to be interested in walk-ons. Based on personal experience, it appears VATech has the same attitude......

I am aware of schools which have capped baseball (and other mens' sports) roster sizes due to Title IX.

My understanding at JMU, was that title IX drastically affected men's sports. It is not the number of sports offered, but the ratio of athletes to the general student population that matters. If JMU has 60% female students, then 60% of it's athletes must be female.

Thus, men's swimming, wrestling, etc. were eliminated. Because football commands such a large roster, it would make sense that baseball took a hit in the size of it's roster. Sad though.

Midlo Dad Sorry to see it did not work out. I was very familiar with this situation from talking to past players and coaches. Like you said they do not seem to care but they are losing a great chance
at finding a gem in the rough.Hope your friend will enjoy the academic side of JMU for it is truly
a nice school. Send me email.