Dear Joe,
Hear us out. We’ve got an idea that will allow the CAA to follow its rules and save face at the same time.
We know the league is disappointed to lose James Madison and we’re well aware of CAA bylaws that prevent a departing school from competing for conference championships. We saw it with Old Dominion and George Mason in 2013 and before that with Richmond in 2001.
We’ve read your words. “We have great respect for JMU as a conference,” said CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio. “… I’ll be honest. It’s not my job to determine whether it makes sense or doesn’t make sense. it’s my job to make sure the bylaws are enforced the way they’re written.”
The presidents of all the remaining schools voted to enforce the bylaw. It was a unanimous vote. You’re following procedure. We get it despite the vision spelled out on the conference website that says, “CAA members are committed to enriching student athlete wellbeing by providing environments and services that promote our vision of nationally competitive college athletics programs that advance a thriving and successful whole person.”
So we’ve come up with a solution, an out, if you will. JMU’s move to the Sun Belt still isn’t official; that’s likely coming as soon as this weekend. That means there’s time on your part to do the right thing. And you can cite precedent. NCAA precedent.
We’re talking about COVID-19. All sorts of things that weren’t allowed prior to COVID are routine now. Whoever thought we’d see Broadway go dark or NBA playoffs in empty arenas? How about a year without March Madness?
It was only two years ago when teams were stoked for their conference championship games only to have the NCAA pull the plug due to the pandemic. As tough as that was, the remedy was to give everyone an extra year of eligibility. The NCAA was flexible. It put student-athletes first despite the rules.
Even with that, last year was hardly normal. Teams played without fans; games were constantly disrupted. This season of college basketball is finally a chance to truly celebrate being together again and all that comes with that, including competing for a conference title.
COVID changed everything. So why not let COVID apply here? The seniors at JMU who have represented your conference so well don’t deserve to have three seasons interrupted. Maybe you can’t change the rule overnight. But you can make a one-time COVID exception. If the NCAA can make exceptions, surely the CAA can, too. Consider this a “due to special circumstances” exception. Because these are special, extraordinary circumstances.
You can’t change bylaws on the fly, perhaps. You can be reasonable and empathetic. You can let JMU play.