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It wasn't official yesterday. There was 3 different JMU posters claiming a "reliable source" saying 3 different things...
JMU's Monday press conference Withers would only say he was out for W&M this Sat (JMU then has a bye week before @ UD on 11/14).
Now its official as of this afternoon..
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Ends his career:
Georgia Tech:
2012: Passing: 596 yds, 4 TDs, 3 INTs. Rushing: 544 yds, 9 Tds
2013: Passing: 1,561 yds, 15 TDs, 13 INTs. Rushing: 513 yds, 8 TDs (7-6 as a starter).

JMU: (16-5 as a starter).
2014 (13 games): Passing: 282 of 465 (61%), 3,462 yds, 30 TDs, 7 INT. Rushing: 826 yds, 9 TDs. 3rd Team AP All American, 4th in Payton voting.
2015 (8 games): Passing 164 of 240 (68%), 2,190 yds, 21 TDs, 10 INT. Rushing: 814 yds, 8 TDs.

Against Richmond he was phenomenal with 418 yds of total offense in 3+ quarters till he went down:
19 of 32 passing for 294 yds, 2 TDs, 0 INT, rushing 14 carries for 124 yds, 3 TDs.

If he didn't get hurt was likely going to be a 500+ yd, 7 TD record breaking performance as JMU's backup came in and ran for a TD and threw for a TD.

Coming into the season 3 of the top, if not top 3 Payton candidates:
-John Robertson, won Payton last year, in Sept out for the season.
-Carson Wentz, top pro prospect QB in I-AA, a week+ ago out till at least Dec if not for season.
-Vad Lee, 4th in Payton voting last year, now out for season.

I literally said to someone last week after I read about Wentz that I hope bad things don't come in 3s and that Lee isn't next..

Not to dance on their graves, but it'll be criminal if Kupp doesn't win the Payton at this point...

What really sucks is that from everything I have heard and read (JMU board, media, talking to people) Lee is a class act off the field and a great student athlete ambassador for the program. Total opposite of the prima donna he could have been..

Withers quote:
"If you are a JMU alum, fan, student or supporter and you have gotten to see this young man play in the last 21 games at JMU, you know you have witnessed something special. Vad Lee will finish his career statistically as one of the best quarterbacks to play at JMU, but looking beyond just his impressive stats, Vad Lee was a game changer. He's not only one of the best players in JMU history, but one of the best people I have ever been associated with. Vad will continue to be the vocal leader of this team as we continue to fight for Madison down the stretch."

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Grizalltheway wrote:Not to dance on their graves, but it'll be criminal if Kupp doesn't win the Payton at this point...

Well, Lee did play 8 games, right? It wouldn't be out of the question that Lee could still win the Payton.

Injuries like that suck and they have a tremendous impact.

ot to dance on their graves, but it'll be criminal if Kupp doesn't win the Payton at this point...

I guess to some extent making the playoffs might be a factor and Eastern Washington's chances of making the playoffs are a lot better than Lamar's are at this point. But just in terms of eye popping stats there is at least an argument for Kade Harrington. Kupp is leading FCS in receiving yards and receiving yards per game right now and Harrington is leading FCS in rushing yards per game and rushing yards per carry right now. Harrington is second in total rushing yards but he's played one less game than the leader in that category. Harrington and Cupp are tied right now for 2nd in scoring per game. If both Kupp and Harrington continue on their current paces there will at least be a reasonable argument for Harrington when the season is over.

BDKJMU wrote:Coming into the season 3 of the top, if not top 3 Payton candidates:
-John Robertson, won Payton last year, in Sept out for the season.
-Carson Wentz, top pro prospect QB in I-AA, a week+ ago out till at least Dec if not for season.
-Vad Lee, 4th in Payton voting last year, now out for season.

I literally said to someone last week after I read about Wentz that I hope bad things don't come in 3s and that Lee isn't next..

What an unbelievable trio. All have represented their schools and FCS incredibly well. Lee and Robertson broke the hearts of Tribe fans 3 times. Still hoping Wentz can return this season. Then, would like to see all 3 get an opportunity at the next level.

Best of luck to Lee in his future athletic endeavors.

(He never beat Delaware)

Unfortunate. Prayers up for this great kid and his future!

TribePride wrote:

BDKJMU wrote:Coming into the season 3 of the top, if not top 3 Payton candidates:
-John Robertson, won Payton last year, in Sept out for the season.
-Carson Wentz, top pro prospect QB in I-AA, a week+ ago out till at least Dec if not for season.
-Vad Lee, 4th in Payton voting last year, now out for season.

I literally said to someone last week after I read about Wentz that I hope bad things don't come in 3s and that Lee isn't next..

What an unbelievable trio. All have represented their schools and FCS incredibly well. Lee and Robertson broke the hearts of Tribe fans 3 times. Still hoping Wentz can return this season. Then, would like to see all 3 get an opportunity at the next level.

Robertson and Lee were never, ever going to be NFL QB's. Both had relatively weak arms (for the NFL, perfectly fine for the offenses they ran in FCS football), and both relied far too much on running the ball themselves and were/are pretty small to do that with any success or lack of fear of getting killed in the NFL. Great college QB's that had zero chance of playing in the NFL. Haven't seen enough of Wentz but at least he has the physical build to be an NFL QB.

GannonFan wrote:

TribePride wrote:
What an unbelievable trio. All have represented their schools and FCS incredibly well. Lee and Robertson broke the hearts of Tribe fans 3 times. Still hoping Wentz can return this season. Then, would like to see all 3 get an opportunity at the next level.

Robertson and Lee were never, ever going to be NFL QB's. Both had relatively weak arms (for the NFL, perfectly fine for the offenses they ran in FCS football), and both relied far too much on running the ball themselves and were/are pretty small to do that with any success or lack of fear of getting killed in the NFL. Great college QB's that had zero chance of playing in the NFL. Haven't seen enough of Wentz but at least he has the physical build to be an NFL QB.

Wentz is still the 3rd QB on Mel Kiper's big board for next year's draft, for what that's worth.

GannonFan wrote:

TribePride wrote:
What an unbelievable trio. All have represented their schools and FCS incredibly well. Lee and Robertson broke the hearts of Tribe fans 3 times. Still hoping Wentz can return this season. Then, would like to see all 3 get an opportunity at the next level.

Robertson and Lee were never, ever going to be NFL QB's. Both had relatively weak arms (for the NFL, perfectly fine for the offenses they ran in FCS football), and both relied far too much on running the ball themselves and were/are pretty small to do that with any success or lack of fear of getting killed in the NFL. Great college QB's that had zero chance of playing in the NFL. Haven't seen enough of Wentz but at least he has the physical build to be an NFL QB.

They said the same thing about the 6'1" Taylor Heinicke (like Robertson & Lee listed at 6'1"), questionable arm strength for NFL, and he made the Vikings (3rd string last I saw).

BDKJMU wrote:

GannonFan wrote:
Robertson and Lee were never, ever going to be NFL QB's. Both had relatively weak arms (for the NFL, perfectly fine for the offenses they ran in FCS football), and both relied far too much on running the ball themselves and were/are pretty small to do that with any success or lack of fear of getting killed in the NFL. Great college QB's that had zero chance of playing in the NFL. Haven't seen enough of Wentz but at least he has the physical build to be an NFL QB.

They said the same thing about the 6'1" Taylor Heinicke (like Robertson & Lee listed at 6'1"), questionable arm strength for NFL, and he made the Vikings (3rd string last I saw).

Heinicke was always a better passer than those two guys. Heck, Robertson was basically running the wildcat most of the time. There was Heinicke, a big gap, and then Lee, and then Robertson. And there are plenty of other guys who can carry a clipboard just as well as Heinicke who can fill up that big gap, and more and more of them graduate every year.

Not sure why the negativity continues here. So misplaced ,almost as much as it is inaccurate.

This injury was just such a shame. JMU had a realistic chance at a championship. This QB had a realistic chance at the Payton award.

CAA is snake bit this year. They had 4 teams with a big chance to make a run at the championship. Down to Richmond and W&M now.

vutomcat wrote:Not sure why the negativity continues here. So misplaced ,almost as much as it is inaccurate.

This injury was just such a shame. JMU had a realistic chance at a championship. This QB had a realistic chance at the Payton award.

CAA is snake bit this year. They had 4 teams with a big chance to make a run at the championship. Down to Richmond and W&M now.

Besides Delaware who was the other one?

Rob Iola wrote:

vutomcat wrote:Not sure why the negativity continues here. So misplaced ,almost as much as it is inaccurate.

This injury was just such a shame. JMU had a realistic chance at a championship. This QB had a realistic chance at the Payton award.

CAA is snake bit this year. They had 4 teams with a big chance to make a run at the championship. Down to Richmond and W&M now.

Besides Delaware who was the other one?

Rhode Island. They shutout Delaware

vutomcat wrote:Not sure why the negativity continues here. So misplaced ,almost as much as it is inaccurate.

This injury was just such a shame. JMU had a realistic chance at a championship. This QB had a realistic chance at the Payton award.

CAA is snake bit this year. They had 4 teams with a big chance to make a run at the championship. Down to Richmond and W&M now.

What championship? The National one? Come on, the CAA wasn't winning the national title anyway this year. Have you seen JMU's defense? I mean literally, have you seen it, because no one else has. And W&M got run over by a Delaware team that got it handed to them by mighty Rhode Island.

Richmond's a good team (and JMU is still a good team, even with Vad out), but they're not winning the national title. It just isn't the CAA's year and that was the case before the first whistle to start the year.

bandl wrote:

Rob Iola wrote: Besides Delaware who was the other one?

Rhode Island. They shutout Delaware

Stony Brook got this shiz. Just you watch.

GannonFan wrote:

vutomcat wrote:Not sure why the negativity continues here. So misplaced ,almost as much as it is inaccurate.

This injury was just such a shame. JMU had a realistic chance at a championship. This QB had a realistic chance at the Payton award.

CAA is snake bit this year. They had 4 teams with a big chance to make a run at the championship. Down to Richmond and W&M now.

What championship? The National one? Come on, the CAA wasn't winning the national title anyway this year.Have you seen JMU's defense? I mean literally, have you seen it, because no one else has. And W&M got run over by a Delaware team that got it handed to them by mighty Rhode Island.

Richmond's a good team (and JMU is still a good team, even with Vad out), but they're not winning the national title. It just isn't the CAA's year and that was the case before the first whistle to start the year.

Well outside of the UR game and SMU, the JMU defense looked decent. Granted it was against a bunch of offensive stiffs. Now get best DL back from suspension so we'll see if it bounces how it looks in its last 3 games & at least 1 playoff game.

Now vutomcat was way off by saying at the beginning of the season that there was 4 teams with a realistic shot to make a championship run. There was really only 1, and now there is none.