James Madison University wants to play the University of Virginia in football. Virginia Tech wants to play JMU. JMU does not want to play Tech. UVA does not want to play JMU. Confused? Good, I am not alone.

In a Sept. 19 article in the Daily News Record, JMU athletic director Jeff Bourne said he wants to add the Cavaliers to the Dukes’ schedule, but has declined two games against the Hokies.

In the article, Bourne is quoted as saying, “We just don’t know that playing a team that’s ranked in the Top 10 is the best thing for James Madison.”

But playing the Wahoos? Well, that’s different … apparently.

So, the Dukes, who have already played a *I-A team this season (a 37-14 loss to UNC), are itching to take on the Cavaliers, but according to UVA AD Craig Littlepage, the Hoos have no interest in playing the Dukes. Specifically, head coach Al Groh doesn’t want to play ANY I-AA opponents, but Littlepage didn’t give specific reasons for Groh’s nondesire to play teams like JMU.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer believes it is important for the Hokies to occasionally schedule an in-state I-AA team because he feels it “is good for football in the state,” according to the Daily News Record article.

Everyone that follows college football has an opinion on I-As playing I-AAs. This year’s shocker in Ann Arbor wasn’t the first big upset by a I-AA team. Last season, Colorado lost at home to Montana State, 19-10. Like Michigan, it was Colorado’s first ever I-AA opponent. These big wins followed by several more close calls has led many proponents of the the interdivisional matchups to say, “see, we’re not just in it for the money!”

Meanwhile, the opponents of having I-AA teams on the schedule, like Al Groh, have more fuel for their argument, which I imagine sounds something like this, “Why take the risk? How did it work out for Michigan and Colorado? If you blow them out, people discredit the win because we were supposed to win. If you win by a touchdown, you get crucified for barely beating an inferior team. And if you lose, your job suddenly becomes a little less secure … isn’t that right Coach Carr?”

The Dukes want to play the big teams (but not too big) for the experience, exposure and, oh yah, the $300-$500 they’ll get for entering the lion’s den. It’s a win-win for the little guys and if they can actually beat a school like UVA, then it is that much sweeter.

But there are some teams like Appy State that will take on all comers. The bigger they are, the harder they’ll fall.

Virginia Tech wants to play a small in-state schools because according to Beamer, it is good football in the Commonwealth.

So many different sides to the different arguments, but no matter how you look at it, from a fan’s perspective, it is always great to witness an upset like the Mighty Mountaineers over the legendary Wolverines.

*For the record: I am aware the NCAA has changes the names of the I-A and I-AA. However, I feel these new acronyms are pointless and confusing; so just as I continued to call Prince, Prince - I am still referring to the divisions as I-A and I-AA.