Let common sense prevail
JMU’s football team deserves a chance to compete in the postseason
The James Madison University football team welcomes the Old Dominion Monarchs this weekend amid a remarkable season. The 7-0 Dukes are ranked No. 25 in the nation and lead the Sun Belt Conference’s East Division heading into Saturday’s showdown.
Should JMU win its remaining games, it would become the first commonwealth school to complete an undefeated regular season in this highest level of college football since Virginia Tech played for the national championship in 2000.
But dreams of a bowl game or even high aspirations are, for now, just that. An NCAA rule governing teams moving from the lower-division Football Championship Subdivision to the more competitive Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I) prohibits them from playing in the postseason for two years unless there’s a lack of otherwise eligible teams.
If that sounds ridiculous, perhaps you’re not familiar with the NCAA.
As with much of what the organization does, this rule was adopted with the best of intentions. Member schools worried that transitioning to the top tier of college football would be challenging, and wanted to ensure the success of teams who made the jump.
That’s not simply a matter of taking care of young men who may be playing stronger opponents in established programs, though that’s certainly a central factor.
But there are logistical obstacles and other institutional improvements needed that serve both the school and the larger NCAA membership.
But JMU, now in its second season playing FBS opponents, isn’t an ordinary case.
The Dukes were a FCS powerhouse, winning national championships in 2002 and 2016 and losing the title game in
2019. Since moving up to FBS, JMU has compiled a 15-3 record overall and a 10-2 record in the Sun Belt.
The Dukes are one of only three teams outside the major conferences to hold a national ranking.
Yet, the NCAA insists on sticking to its rule, meaning that JMU will only participate in the postseason if the 41 bowl games do not have 82 eligible teams with at least six wins against other FBS teams. The No. 25 could be sitting at home as dozens of teams with lesser records enjoy that recognition.
Arguably worse, though, is a decision by the Sun Belt Conference to rule JMU ineligible to participate in a conference championship game even if the Dukes win their division. That happened last year too when JMU had a 6-2 conference record and finished atop the East Division.
Seeking to encourage common sense to prevail, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares — a JMU graduate — penned a letter to the NCAA that urged the organization to revisit its denial of an April waiver to allow the Dukes to compete in the postseason.
NCAA President Charlie Baker declined Miyares’ request, writing that the “two-year transition period was intended to provide adequate time for schools to demonstrate they have met the necessary requirements to become an FBS member and adjust to the increased requirements for student-athlete support in addition to
FBS competition,” in a letter obtained by The Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg.
But that hasn’t put an end to the lobbying, nor should it. Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas of Portsmouth this week tweeted that “Virginia will go to war” over the NCAA decision, a view echoed by House Speaker Todd Gilbert, a Republican. Miyares, a Republican, is joined in his advocacy by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a Democrat and fellow JMU graduate.
The NCAA may be acting in what it considers the best interest of the sport and its member institutions.
Generally schools moving up a division should be handled carefully, with rules in place to ensure that transition goes smoothly.
In JMU’s case, however, the transition has gone smoothly. The proof is right there on the field, should the NCAA choose to see it. Keeping the Dukes from a shot at a title and the reward of a bowl game is unnecessary and would ultimately harm the students the NCAA claims it aims to protect.