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JMU Football Continues On the Road at Lehigh, Sept. 6
9/3/2014 9:02:00 PM | Football
2014 James Madison University Football
#RV James Madison DUKES vs. #RV Lehigh MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Lehigh's Goodman Stadium (16,000) ~ Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Saturday, September 6, 2014 ~ 12:30 p.m.
www.JMUSports.com
Full JMU Game Notes (Adobe PDF format)
Continuing On the Road to Start the Year: The James Madison football team will be on the road for the second straight game to open the 2013 season, traveling to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take on Lehigh. Both teams are receiving votes in the The Sports Network and FCS Coaches Polls.
The Coaches: James Madison Head Coach Everett Withers (Appalachian State, '86) is 0-1 in his first season at JMU and his second as a head coach overall with a 7-7 record.
Lehigh Head Coach Andy Coen (Gettysburg, '86) is in his ninth year of coaching the Mountain Hawks and as a head coach overall, starting 2014 with a 59-33 record.
History With Lehigh: This will be the third time that the two schools have met on the playing field, with each team having won once, though both games have been contested at Lehigh. It will be the first time the two teams have played since the 2004 I-AA Playoff First Round game at Lehigh, where the Dukes escaped with a 14-13 victory en route to the program's first national championship. There is a return game scheduled for next September, with the Mountain Hawks making their first-ever trip to Harrisonburg.
vs. Lehigh
Series tied 1-1
(Away 1-1)
Date Location W/L Score
11/1/80 Away L 14-31
11/27/04 Away W 14-13
Withers Takes the Reins: Head Coach Everett Withers has taken over the leadership of the JMU football program for the 2014 season. Withers is just the sixth head coach in the program's 42-year history.
JMU Coaching History
Challace McMillin (1972-84)
Joe Purzycki (1985-90)
Rip Scherer (1991-94)
Alex Wood (1995-98)
Mickey Matthews (1999-2013)
Everett Withers (2014)
Opening the Season Has Mixed Results: As a NCAA varsity program JMU is 22-19-1 in season-opening games, but since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) in 1980, the Dukes are 17-18 in season-openers.
In the FCS, JMU has started a season against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent 11 times (0-11 record), an FCS opponent 17 times (10-7 record) and a Division II opponent seven times (7-0 record).
Head Coach Everett Withers is now 1-1 in his coaching career in season openers, with his win over his current squad, JMU, in the 2011 game when he was interim head coach at North Carolina. Last week, the Dukes were defeated at Maryland.
JMU Football History: The 2014 season is JMU's 43rd season of football, its 41st varsity football season, its 36th season with football scholarship players and its 35th season competing at what is now the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, formerly Division I-AA.
JMU began football in 1972, moved to a recognized varsity schedule in 1974, first awarded scholarships for the 1979 season and moved to Division I-AA in 1980. JMU moved from Division III to Division II in 1979 and to then-Division I-AA for the 1980 season.
JMU's top seasons in addition to winning the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA championship (13-2) have been in 2008 when the Dukes reached the FCS semifinals as the playoffs' top-seeded team and compiled a 12-2 record, 2007 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 2006 (9-3, NCAA playoffs), 1999 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 1995 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 1994 (10-3, NCAA playoffs, second round), 1991 (9-4, NCAA playoffs, second round), 1987 (9-3, NCAA playoffs), 1982 (8-3), 1978 (8-2, No. 9, Division III), and 1975 (9-0-1, College Division).
Can It BE Any Tougher?: JMU sports one of the toughest schedules in FCS football, with four opponents currently ranked in the top 25 of both polls and two others among the receving votes in each.
James Madison Football On TV: The Dukes will be on television seven times this year, with four of the five home games at the friendly confines of Bridgeforth Stadium among that list. The first will be the season opener at FBS Maryland, Aug. 30 as part of the Big Ten Network package.
JMU was picked for six games as part of the CAA's television package, starting with the Sept. 20 game at Villanova televised on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. The following week, Madison returns home to host Delaware Sept. 27, which will be a 4 p.m., kickoff for the CSN broadcast. On Friday night prior to the UD game, the Duke Club will host its annual Duke Club Auction in the Bridgeforth Stadium Club Level.
The final CSN TV game for the Dukes will be the Oct. 11 Family Weekend tilt with defending CAA champion and 2013 National runner-up Towson, a game scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start as the final of three CSN TV games.
The William & Mary contest for Homecoming on Nov. 1 will be a 3:30 p.m. start and the first time JMU will appear on the American Sports Network, a new CAA broadcast partner. Another Madison road contest will be shown, as JMU and Richmond on Nov. 15 will be shown nationally on NBC Sports Network at 12:30 p.m.. JMU will honor its 2014 Hall of Fame class on Nov. 21, prior to the regular-season finale against CAA-newcomer Elon on Nov. 22, shown on ASN starting at noon.
All JMU home games are live videostreamed by MadiZONE HD SportsNete presented by the JMU Alumni Association on JMUSports.com. The ones that are part of the CAA television package are blacked out in the regions that the TV broadcasts will be carried.
Road Challenges: JMU will find the challenges on the road, playing seven of its 12 regular season contests away from home. After the season opener that was played last week at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Maryland, the Dukes will travel to Lehigh, who is also receiving votes in both major Football Championship Subdivision polls. CAA road opponents Villanova (#12/13) and Richmond (#20/24) continue to make the road challenging throughout the season. Of the seven opponents this year, six of them won at least five games last year and had a combined 22-18 mark at their home fields last year.
Taking on FBS Teams Not Kind to JMU: Against NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams that still compete in the division, JMU has a 4-19 record. The Dukes last played an FBS opponent last season, dropping a tough 35-33 decision at Akron.
Opponent JMU Rec. Last
Akron 0-1 2013
Ball State 0-1 1997
Duke 0-1 2008
Maryland 0-3 2014
Navy 2-1 1990
North Carolina 0-2 2011
Virginia 1-2 1983
Virginia Tech 1-6 2010
West Virginia 0-2 2012
Of JMU's 22 games against FBS teams, 11 of the previous contests have been season-openers. JMU started the 1988 season at Navy, the 1991, 1992 and 1999 seasons at Virginia Tech, the 1997 season at Ball State, the 1998 season at Maryland, the 2007 and 2011 seasons at North Carolina, the 2008 season at Duke and 2009 and 2014 at Maryland.
JMU'S FBS Games: JMU's games against Football Bowl Subdivision:
1979 Virginia 69, JMU 9 10/13 at UVA
1980 Virginia Tech 38, JMU 6 9/27 at VT
1982 JMU 21, Virginia 17 9/18 at UVA
1983 Virginia 21, JMU 14 9/17 at UVA
1988 Navy 27, JMU 14 9/3 at Navy
1988 Virginia Tech 27, JMU 6 11/19 at VT
1989 JMU 24, Navy 20 10/28 at Navy
1990 JMU 16, Navy 7 10/27 at Navy
1991 Virginia Tech 41, JMU 12 8/31 at VT
1992 Virginia Tech 49, JMU 20 9/5 at VT
1997 Ball State 24, JMU 6 9/6 at BSU
1998 Maryland 23, JMU 15 9/5 at UM
1999 Virginia Tech 47, JMU 0 9/4 at VT
2003 Virginia Tech 43, JMU 0 9/6 at VT
2004 West Virginia 45, JMU 10 9/25 at WVU
2007 North Carolina 37, JMU 14 9/1 at UNC
2008 Duke 31, JMU 7 8/30 at Duke
2009 Maryland 38, JMU 35 (ot) 9/12 at UM
2010 JMU 21, Virginia Tech 16 9/11 at VT
2011 North Carolina 42, JMU 10 9/3 at UNC
2012 West Virginia 42, JMU 12 9/15 at FedEx
2013 Akron 35, JMU 33 9/7 at UA
2014 Maryland 52, JMU 7 8/30 at UM
Preseason CAA Poll: JMU was picked to finish eighth in the 2014 preseason poll, but did garner one first-place vote. New Hampshire, who finished third in the conference last season, topped the poll with 15 of the 24 first-place votes, while Villanova (two first-place votes) and Richmond (three) checked in at second and third, respectively. William and Mary received the other three first-place votes as the fourth-place pick, followed by 2013 national runner-up Towson, Delaware and Maine, last year's CAA Champion, in fifth, sixth and seventh.
Last Meeting - JMU Wins Thriller at Lehigh In I-AA Playoffs: Justin Rascati and Raymond Hines ran for first-half scores, and JMU got solid defense in taking its first step toward the Division I-AA title.
Rascati scored on a nine-yard scramble during JMU's first series, and Hines ran one yard for a score during the second period. JMU led 14-10 at halftime, allowed Lehigh but 114 second-half yards, and set a team game record with 11 sacks. Hines ran 29 times for 191 yards.
JMU went 91 yards in 14 plays for a score on its first series. Hines started the drive with a 17-yard carry, and Rascati hit on seven of nine passes for 69 yards.
LU got to within 7-3 on its third series on a 43-yard field goal by Matt McNelis and went up 10-7 at 7:40 of the second quarter when Eric Rath capped a 54-yard drive with a six-yard run.
JMU went up 14-10 on Hines' one-yard run on its next series. He set up the score with a 43-yard run to the LU one, and JMU had the ball for 6:39 and went 65 yards in 14 plays.
LU got to within 14-13 on McNelis' 28-yard field goal at 3:55 of the third quarter. The Hawks scored after getting the ball at the JMU 39 when JMU didn't convert on a faked punt try. (Complete recap on page 18.)
Last Time Out - Dukes Lose at Maryland: James Madison struggled to find a flow on both sides of the ball as it opened the 2014 season with a 52-7 loss at Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 45,080 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
Quarterback C.J. Brown led the offensive attack for the Terrapins (1-0) with four total touchdowns, including three on the ground, as the hosts outgained the Dukes (0-1) 471-302 in total offense.
JMU's lone score came following the first career interception for rookie cornerback Jimmy Moreland, which put the Dukes 27 yards away from the end zone. Seven plays later, freshman tailback John Miller plunged in from one yard out for the touchdown in his collegiate debut.
Maryland used a strong running game to set the tone in the opener, as it rushed for 285 yards as a team with five touchdowns. Brandon Ross ran for a game-high 86 yards and a touchdown and Wes Brown accrued 81 yards while C.J. Brown added 61 yards to go with his three rushing scores.
For JMU, sophomore tailback Khalid Abdullah led the team with 67 yards. Redshirt junior quarterback Vad Lee began his JMU career with 141 passing yards on 16-of-37 passing but threw a pair of interceptions. He also ran for 27 yards, which included a long of 34 – the longest play from scrimmage on the day. The Dukes had three players tally nine tackles in senior safety Dean Marlowe, redshirt freshman linebacker Kyre Hawkins and freshman cornerback Aaron Peak. (Complete recap on page 19.)
Marlowe Preseason Honors: Senior Dean Marlowe is one of the top returning player for the Dukes, having earned Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors last season as a safety and third team honors as a punt returner. Selected as an All-CAA safety in each of his first three years, Marlowe recorded 77 total tackles, including 37 solo stops, one interception and eight passes defended last season. He ranked 12th among league defensive backs with 6.4 tackles per game, including a career-high 13 against Stony Brook, and was named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America Third Team earlier this summer.
In 2012, Marlowe earned First Team All-CAA as the only sophomore on the CAA defensive first team and was selected as First Team All-State by both the Roanoke Times and Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. As a sophomore, Marlowe recorded 82 tackles on the year including 44 solos, 5.0 for loss, seven passes defended, a team-high tying three interceptions, one forced fumble and one safety.
Newcomers Making an Impact: Looking at the two-deep for James Madison to start the 2014 season, there are a lot of new faces for the Dukes and first-year Head Coach Everett Withers. On the offensive side of the ball, five slated starters are Football Bowl Subdivision transfers into the program this year, with four total freshmen and eight transfers total (including one junior college) on the two-deep. For the defense, two transfers are among the starters while seven other freshmen add to the depth of the lineup.
For the first game of the year at Maryland, five offensive and five defensive players made their first start for the Dukes, including six making their first ever at the college level. Additionally, 13 others made their debuts with JMU, with 10 playing in their first college football game.
FBS Transfers to JMU on Two-Deep (including former school and year)
Offense: 2 Vad Lee - Georgia Tech (2014)
6 Sean Tapley - North Carolina (2014)
13 Ishmael Hyman - Kansas (2014)
30 Alden Hill - Tennessee (2014)
61 A.J. Bolden - Toledo (2014)
69 Nick Appel - North Carolina (2014)
77 Austin Lane - Syracuse (2011)
Defense: 1 Titus Till - Maryland (2012)
21 Jeremiah Wilson - Maryland (2012)
95 Xavier Gates - Kansas State (2014)
A New But Not Inexperienced Signal Caller: For the third time in three years, the Dukes will open the season with a new quarterback leading the charge, but this one has a strong base of experience to count on. Redshirt-junior Vad Lee transferred to JMU in the spring and went through both spring and fall drills to earn the starting job here. For the past two years, he had been the man under center at Georgia Tech. Coincidentally in 2012, he came in off the bench against Maryland to score a pair of rushing touchdowns and lead the Ramblin' Wreck to a 33-13 victory in Byrd Stadium.
In the 2014 season opener at Maryland, Lee was 16-for-37 for 141 yards and two interceptions through the air and rushed eight times for 27 yards.
Brown Showed His Catches Count: Redshirt-senior Daniel Brown made his presence felt last season. After missing the opening game due to injury, Brown led the Dukes with 42 catches for 665 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranked eighth in the league at 60.5 receiving yards per game. Against UAlbany, Brown had three touchdown catches, tying a school and stadium single-game record. His 98 yards on five catches at Delaware was a personal career best.
His eight touchdowns on the season tied for the second-best single season in school history with David McLeod (1991) and L.C. Baker (2006).
Smith Experienced On Both Sides of the Ball: Senior DeAndre' Smith showed his versatility for Madison in his career, spending significant time on both sides of the football. He tallied his best game of his career at Richmond, Oct. 20, 2012. Smith had six receptions for career highs of 122 yards and two touchdowns. From the 2012 season, Smith was the top receiving returner for last year's squad with 323 yards last year on 29 catches (second among returners) and two scores.
In 2013, Smith had 10 catches for 126 yards with a long of 30. However, he missed part of two and a half games due to an ankle injury. He returned in the CAA opener at Delaware, making four catches for 41 yards.
Due to injuries and depth issues, Smith moved over to defensive back for the Richmond game and remained there. In his five games on the defensive side, he had 17 tackles (11 of them solo) and two interceptions, including an 86-yard touchdown return in a home victory over Villanova.
This fall, Smith has spent time in camp on both sides of the football, with an emphasis lately on working out at wide receiver.
Dukes in the Show: JMU is well represented in the NFL on the 2014 rosters entering the season. The Dukes have four former players that are on the opening day 53-man rosters for their respective teams. Linebacker Akeem Jordan spent his first six years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, spent last year with the Kansas City Chiefs and is now a backup at middle linebacker with the Washington Redskins. Starting his fifth season in the NFL is former defensive end turned linebacker Arthur Moats (Pittsburgh Steelers), who is listed as the backup at both outside linebacker slots. Additionally,second-year offensive lineman Earl Watford is backup at right guard with the Arizona Cardinals. From last year's squad, offensive tackle Josh Wells recently made the 53-man roster with the Jacksonville Jaguars while defensive lineman Jordan Stanton is on the practice squad with the New York Giants.
Former Duke Haley Enshrined in College Football Hall of Fame: Former James Madison football All-American Charles Haley was enshrined in the College Football Hall Of Fame, July 15-16, 2011, in South Bend, Ind. He was the first ever player from a CAA school and sixth person overall (five previous were coaches) to be elected to the Hall.
Haley was a four year starter at JMU from 1982-85. He was a two-time All-American and a three-time Defensive MVP at Madison. As a senior at JMU, Haley was voted a 1985 Associated Press First-Team I-AA All-American and both the Richmond Touchdown Club and Roanoke Times & World News' State Defensive Player of the Year. He leads JMU's all-time tackles list with 506, including three seasons of more than 100 tackles, and his 22 tackles at Shippensburg during the 1983 season still ranks as the eighth-highest single-game total in JMU history. He also added three interceptions and 17 quarterback sacks to his total.
In 1986, after his senior season Haley was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, as he was the No. 96 pick overall, the highest ever in school history. The first ever JMU player to be drafted into the NFL, Haley went on to become the only player in the league's history to win five Super Bowls, two with the 49ers and three with the Dallas Cowboys. He was also selected to five Pro Bowls during his career, as well as being a two-time First-Team All-Pro and 1990 NFC Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his professional career with 100.5 sacks, including a career-high 16 in 1990. He had eight fumble recoveries and scored one touchdown in the NFL. He retired in 1999 before becoming an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions.
Dukes Historically in the NFL: In addition to the former Dukes currently active with professional football organizations, JMU's leading all-time performers include several other players who have enjoyed success in the NFL - placekicker Scott Norwood (1978-81), wide receiver Gary Clark (1980-83), defensive end Charles Haley (1982-85), linebacker Dion Foxx (1990-93), wide receiver Macey Brooks (1993-96), running back Curtis Keaton (1998-99), tight end Ed Perry (1993-96) and return specialist Delvin Joyce (1997-2000).
Norwood received All-Pro honors as a placekicker with the Buffalo Bills. Clark was All-Pro with the Washington Redskins and a member of two Super Bowl title teams and later played with the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He was selected in the first round of the first United States Football League draft in 1984.
Haley was the first player to be a member of five Super Bowl title teams while playing with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. He was the first Duke to be a first-team Division I-AA All-America and the first Duke chosen in the NFL draft (San Francisco, 1986, fourth round). He is JMU's career tackles leader.
Foxx played with the Miami Dolphins. Brooks was with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.
Keaton was with the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints after being the 1999 Atlantic 10 offensive player of the year when he ran for 1,719 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Perry was a tight end and long snapper with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs after being Miami's sixth-round 1997 draft pick and first-team All-Yankee Football Conference during each of his final three collegiate seasons.
Joyce was a return specialist for the New York Giants and New York Jets. He ended his career at JMU as the only player in Division I-AA history with 1,000 yards in each of the career statistical categories of rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns and as the all-time Division I-AA leader in punt return yards and combined kick return yards. He holds many of JMU's career kick return marks and is the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 5,659.
Two other former Dukes saw extensive time during the 2007 preseason with NFL teams, including tailback Alvin Banks (2003-06) with the New York Jets and offensive lineman Corey Davis (2003-06) with the Buffalo Bills. Justin Rascati, JMU's starting quarterback from 2004-06, briefly was with the Chicago Bears. Former tight end Mike Caussin spent time with Buffalo Bills (active) and Jacksonville Jaguars (practice squad) last season.
#RV James Madison DUKES vs. #RV Lehigh MOUNTAIN HAWKS
Lehigh's Goodman Stadium (16,000) ~ Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Saturday, September 6, 2014 ~ 12:30 p.m.
www.JMUSports.com
Full JMU Game Notes (Adobe PDF format)
Continuing On the Road to Start the Year: The James Madison football team will be on the road for the second straight game to open the 2013 season, traveling to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania to take on Lehigh. Both teams are receiving votes in the The Sports Network and FCS Coaches Polls.
The Coaches: James Madison Head Coach Everett Withers (Appalachian State, '86) is 0-1 in his first season at JMU and his second as a head coach overall with a 7-7 record.
Lehigh Head Coach Andy Coen (Gettysburg, '86) is in his ninth year of coaching the Mountain Hawks and as a head coach overall, starting 2014 with a 59-33 record.
History With Lehigh: This will be the third time that the two schools have met on the playing field, with each team having won once, though both games have been contested at Lehigh. It will be the first time the two teams have played since the 2004 I-AA Playoff First Round game at Lehigh, where the Dukes escaped with a 14-13 victory en route to the program's first national championship. There is a return game scheduled for next September, with the Mountain Hawks making their first-ever trip to Harrisonburg.
vs. Lehigh
Series tied 1-1
(Away 1-1)
Date Location W/L Score
11/1/80 Away L 14-31
11/27/04 Away W 14-13
Withers Takes the Reins: Head Coach Everett Withers has taken over the leadership of the JMU football program for the 2014 season. Withers is just the sixth head coach in the program's 42-year history.
JMU Coaching History
Challace McMillin (1972-84)
Joe Purzycki (1985-90)
Rip Scherer (1991-94)
Alex Wood (1995-98)
Mickey Matthews (1999-2013)
Everett Withers (2014)
Opening the Season Has Mixed Results: As a NCAA varsity program JMU is 22-19-1 in season-opening games, but since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) in 1980, the Dukes are 17-18 in season-openers.
In the FCS, JMU has started a season against a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent 11 times (0-11 record), an FCS opponent 17 times (10-7 record) and a Division II opponent seven times (7-0 record).
Head Coach Everett Withers is now 1-1 in his coaching career in season openers, with his win over his current squad, JMU, in the 2011 game when he was interim head coach at North Carolina. Last week, the Dukes were defeated at Maryland.
JMU Football History: The 2014 season is JMU's 43rd season of football, its 41st varsity football season, its 36th season with football scholarship players and its 35th season competing at what is now the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level, formerly Division I-AA.
JMU began football in 1972, moved to a recognized varsity schedule in 1974, first awarded scholarships for the 1979 season and moved to Division I-AA in 1980. JMU moved from Division III to Division II in 1979 and to then-Division I-AA for the 1980 season.
JMU's top seasons in addition to winning the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA championship (13-2) have been in 2008 when the Dukes reached the FCS semifinals as the playoffs' top-seeded team and compiled a 12-2 record, 2007 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 2006 (9-3, NCAA playoffs), 1999 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 1995 (8-4, NCAA playoffs), 1994 (10-3, NCAA playoffs, second round), 1991 (9-4, NCAA playoffs, second round), 1987 (9-3, NCAA playoffs), 1982 (8-3), 1978 (8-2, No. 9, Division III), and 1975 (9-0-1, College Division).
Can It BE Any Tougher?: JMU sports one of the toughest schedules in FCS football, with four opponents currently ranked in the top 25 of both polls and two others among the receving votes in each.
James Madison Football On TV: The Dukes will be on television seven times this year, with four of the five home games at the friendly confines of Bridgeforth Stadium among that list. The first will be the season opener at FBS Maryland, Aug. 30 as part of the Big Ten Network package.
JMU was picked for six games as part of the CAA's television package, starting with the Sept. 20 game at Villanova televised on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. The following week, Madison returns home to host Delaware Sept. 27, which will be a 4 p.m., kickoff for the CSN broadcast. On Friday night prior to the UD game, the Duke Club will host its annual Duke Club Auction in the Bridgeforth Stadium Club Level.
The final CSN TV game for the Dukes will be the Oct. 11 Family Weekend tilt with defending CAA champion and 2013 National runner-up Towson, a game scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. start as the final of three CSN TV games.
The William & Mary contest for Homecoming on Nov. 1 will be a 3:30 p.m. start and the first time JMU will appear on the American Sports Network, a new CAA broadcast partner. Another Madison road contest will be shown, as JMU and Richmond on Nov. 15 will be shown nationally on NBC Sports Network at 12:30 p.m.. JMU will honor its 2014 Hall of Fame class on Nov. 21, prior to the regular-season finale against CAA-newcomer Elon on Nov. 22, shown on ASN starting at noon.
All JMU home games are live videostreamed by MadiZONE HD SportsNete presented by the JMU Alumni Association on JMUSports.com. The ones that are part of the CAA television package are blacked out in the regions that the TV broadcasts will be carried.
Road Challenges: JMU will find the challenges on the road, playing seven of its 12 regular season contests away from home. After the season opener that was played last week at Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Maryland, the Dukes will travel to Lehigh, who is also receiving votes in both major Football Championship Subdivision polls. CAA road opponents Villanova (#12/13) and Richmond (#20/24) continue to make the road challenging throughout the season. Of the seven opponents this year, six of them won at least five games last year and had a combined 22-18 mark at their home fields last year.
Taking on FBS Teams Not Kind to JMU: Against NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision teams that still compete in the division, JMU has a 4-19 record. The Dukes last played an FBS opponent last season, dropping a tough 35-33 decision at Akron.
Opponent JMU Rec. Last
Akron 0-1 2013
Ball State 0-1 1997
Duke 0-1 2008
Maryland 0-3 2014
Navy 2-1 1990
North Carolina 0-2 2011
Virginia 1-2 1983
Virginia Tech 1-6 2010
West Virginia 0-2 2012
Of JMU's 22 games against FBS teams, 11 of the previous contests have been season-openers. JMU started the 1988 season at Navy, the 1991, 1992 and 1999 seasons at Virginia Tech, the 1997 season at Ball State, the 1998 season at Maryland, the 2007 and 2011 seasons at North Carolina, the 2008 season at Duke and 2009 and 2014 at Maryland.
JMU'S FBS Games: JMU's games against Football Bowl Subdivision:
1979 Virginia 69, JMU 9 10/13 at UVA
1980 Virginia Tech 38, JMU 6 9/27 at VT
1982 JMU 21, Virginia 17 9/18 at UVA
1983 Virginia 21, JMU 14 9/17 at UVA
1988 Navy 27, JMU 14 9/3 at Navy
1988 Virginia Tech 27, JMU 6 11/19 at VT
1989 JMU 24, Navy 20 10/28 at Navy
1990 JMU 16, Navy 7 10/27 at Navy
1991 Virginia Tech 41, JMU 12 8/31 at VT
1992 Virginia Tech 49, JMU 20 9/5 at VT
1997 Ball State 24, JMU 6 9/6 at BSU
1998 Maryland 23, JMU 15 9/5 at UM
1999 Virginia Tech 47, JMU 0 9/4 at VT
2003 Virginia Tech 43, JMU 0 9/6 at VT
2004 West Virginia 45, JMU 10 9/25 at WVU
2007 North Carolina 37, JMU 14 9/1 at UNC
2008 Duke 31, JMU 7 8/30 at Duke
2009 Maryland 38, JMU 35 (ot) 9/12 at UM
2010 JMU 21, Virginia Tech 16 9/11 at VT
2011 North Carolina 42, JMU 10 9/3 at UNC
2012 West Virginia 42, JMU 12 9/15 at FedEx
2013 Akron 35, JMU 33 9/7 at UA
2014 Maryland 52, JMU 7 8/30 at UM
Preseason CAA Poll: JMU was picked to finish eighth in the 2014 preseason poll, but did garner one first-place vote. New Hampshire, who finished third in the conference last season, topped the poll with 15 of the 24 first-place votes, while Villanova (two first-place votes) and Richmond (three) checked in at second and third, respectively. William and Mary received the other three first-place votes as the fourth-place pick, followed by 2013 national runner-up Towson, Delaware and Maine, last year's CAA Champion, in fifth, sixth and seventh.
Last Meeting - JMU Wins Thriller at Lehigh In I-AA Playoffs: Justin Rascati and Raymond Hines ran for first-half scores, and JMU got solid defense in taking its first step toward the Division I-AA title.
Rascati scored on a nine-yard scramble during JMU's first series, and Hines ran one yard for a score during the second period. JMU led 14-10 at halftime, allowed Lehigh but 114 second-half yards, and set a team game record with 11 sacks. Hines ran 29 times for 191 yards.
JMU went 91 yards in 14 plays for a score on its first series. Hines started the drive with a 17-yard carry, and Rascati hit on seven of nine passes for 69 yards.
LU got to within 7-3 on its third series on a 43-yard field goal by Matt McNelis and went up 10-7 at 7:40 of the second quarter when Eric Rath capped a 54-yard drive with a six-yard run.
JMU went up 14-10 on Hines' one-yard run on its next series. He set up the score with a 43-yard run to the LU one, and JMU had the ball for 6:39 and went 65 yards in 14 plays.
LU got to within 14-13 on McNelis' 28-yard field goal at 3:55 of the third quarter. The Hawks scored after getting the ball at the JMU 39 when JMU didn't convert on a faked punt try. (Complete recap on page 18.)
Last Time Out - Dukes Lose at Maryland: James Madison struggled to find a flow on both sides of the ball as it opened the 2014 season with a 52-7 loss at Big Ten newcomer Maryland on Saturday afternoon in front of a crowd of 45,080 at Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium.
Quarterback C.J. Brown led the offensive attack for the Terrapins (1-0) with four total touchdowns, including three on the ground, as the hosts outgained the Dukes (0-1) 471-302 in total offense.
JMU's lone score came following the first career interception for rookie cornerback Jimmy Moreland, which put the Dukes 27 yards away from the end zone. Seven plays later, freshman tailback John Miller plunged in from one yard out for the touchdown in his collegiate debut.
Maryland used a strong running game to set the tone in the opener, as it rushed for 285 yards as a team with five touchdowns. Brandon Ross ran for a game-high 86 yards and a touchdown and Wes Brown accrued 81 yards while C.J. Brown added 61 yards to go with his three rushing scores.
For JMU, sophomore tailback Khalid Abdullah led the team with 67 yards. Redshirt junior quarterback Vad Lee began his JMU career with 141 passing yards on 16-of-37 passing but threw a pair of interceptions. He also ran for 27 yards, which included a long of 34 – the longest play from scrimmage on the day. The Dukes had three players tally nine tackles in senior safety Dean Marlowe, redshirt freshman linebacker Kyre Hawkins and freshman cornerback Aaron Peak. (Complete recap on page 19.)
Marlowe Preseason Honors: Senior Dean Marlowe is one of the top returning player for the Dukes, having earned Second Team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) honors last season as a safety and third team honors as a punt returner. Selected as an All-CAA safety in each of his first three years, Marlowe recorded 77 total tackles, including 37 solo stops, one interception and eight passes defended last season. He ranked 12th among league defensive backs with 6.4 tackles per game, including a career-high 13 against Stony Brook, and was named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America Third Team earlier this summer.
In 2012, Marlowe earned First Team All-CAA as the only sophomore on the CAA defensive first team and was selected as First Team All-State by both the Roanoke Times and Virginia Sports Information Directors Association. As a sophomore, Marlowe recorded 82 tackles on the year including 44 solos, 5.0 for loss, seven passes defended, a team-high tying three interceptions, one forced fumble and one safety.
Newcomers Making an Impact: Looking at the two-deep for James Madison to start the 2014 season, there are a lot of new faces for the Dukes and first-year Head Coach Everett Withers. On the offensive side of the ball, five slated starters are Football Bowl Subdivision transfers into the program this year, with four total freshmen and eight transfers total (including one junior college) on the two-deep. For the defense, two transfers are among the starters while seven other freshmen add to the depth of the lineup.
For the first game of the year at Maryland, five offensive and five defensive players made their first start for the Dukes, including six making their first ever at the college level. Additionally, 13 others made their debuts with JMU, with 10 playing in their first college football game.
FBS Transfers to JMU on Two-Deep (including former school and year)
Offense: 2 Vad Lee - Georgia Tech (2014)
6 Sean Tapley - North Carolina (2014)
13 Ishmael Hyman - Kansas (2014)
30 Alden Hill - Tennessee (2014)
61 A.J. Bolden - Toledo (2014)
69 Nick Appel - North Carolina (2014)
77 Austin Lane - Syracuse (2011)
Defense: 1 Titus Till - Maryland (2012)
21 Jeremiah Wilson - Maryland (2012)
95 Xavier Gates - Kansas State (2014)
A New But Not Inexperienced Signal Caller: For the third time in three years, the Dukes will open the season with a new quarterback leading the charge, but this one has a strong base of experience to count on. Redshirt-junior Vad Lee transferred to JMU in the spring and went through both spring and fall drills to earn the starting job here. For the past two years, he had been the man under center at Georgia Tech. Coincidentally in 2012, he came in off the bench against Maryland to score a pair of rushing touchdowns and lead the Ramblin' Wreck to a 33-13 victory in Byrd Stadium.
In the 2014 season opener at Maryland, Lee was 16-for-37 for 141 yards and two interceptions through the air and rushed eight times for 27 yards.
Brown Showed His Catches Count: Redshirt-senior Daniel Brown made his presence felt last season. After missing the opening game due to injury, Brown led the Dukes with 42 catches for 665 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranked eighth in the league at 60.5 receiving yards per game. Against UAlbany, Brown had three touchdown catches, tying a school and stadium single-game record. His 98 yards on five catches at Delaware was a personal career best.
His eight touchdowns on the season tied for the second-best single season in school history with David McLeod (1991) and L.C. Baker (2006).
Smith Experienced On Both Sides of the Ball: Senior DeAndre' Smith showed his versatility for Madison in his career, spending significant time on both sides of the football. He tallied his best game of his career at Richmond, Oct. 20, 2012. Smith had six receptions for career highs of 122 yards and two touchdowns. From the 2012 season, Smith was the top receiving returner for last year's squad with 323 yards last year on 29 catches (second among returners) and two scores.
In 2013, Smith had 10 catches for 126 yards with a long of 30. However, he missed part of two and a half games due to an ankle injury. He returned in the CAA opener at Delaware, making four catches for 41 yards.
Due to injuries and depth issues, Smith moved over to defensive back for the Richmond game and remained there. In his five games on the defensive side, he had 17 tackles (11 of them solo) and two interceptions, including an 86-yard touchdown return in a home victory over Villanova.
This fall, Smith has spent time in camp on both sides of the football, with an emphasis lately on working out at wide receiver.
Dukes in the Show: JMU is well represented in the NFL on the 2014 rosters entering the season. The Dukes have four former players that are on the opening day 53-man rosters for their respective teams. Linebacker Akeem Jordan spent his first six years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles, spent last year with the Kansas City Chiefs and is now a backup at middle linebacker with the Washington Redskins. Starting his fifth season in the NFL is former defensive end turned linebacker Arthur Moats (Pittsburgh Steelers), who is listed as the backup at both outside linebacker slots. Additionally,second-year offensive lineman Earl Watford is backup at right guard with the Arizona Cardinals. From last year's squad, offensive tackle Josh Wells recently made the 53-man roster with the Jacksonville Jaguars while defensive lineman Jordan Stanton is on the practice squad with the New York Giants.
Former Duke Haley Enshrined in College Football Hall of Fame: Former James Madison football All-American Charles Haley was enshrined in the College Football Hall Of Fame, July 15-16, 2011, in South Bend, Ind. He was the first ever player from a CAA school and sixth person overall (five previous were coaches) to be elected to the Hall.
Haley was a four year starter at JMU from 1982-85. He was a two-time All-American and a three-time Defensive MVP at Madison. As a senior at JMU, Haley was voted a 1985 Associated Press First-Team I-AA All-American and both the Richmond Touchdown Club and Roanoke Times & World News' State Defensive Player of the Year. He leads JMU's all-time tackles list with 506, including three seasons of more than 100 tackles, and his 22 tackles at Shippensburg during the 1983 season still ranks as the eighth-highest single-game total in JMU history. He also added three interceptions and 17 quarterback sacks to his total.
In 1986, after his senior season Haley was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, as he was the No. 96 pick overall, the highest ever in school history. The first ever JMU player to be drafted into the NFL, Haley went on to become the only player in the league's history to win five Super Bowls, two with the 49ers and three with the Dallas Cowboys. He was also selected to five Pro Bowls during his career, as well as being a two-time First-Team All-Pro and 1990 NFC Defensive Player of the Year. He finished his professional career with 100.5 sacks, including a career-high 16 in 1990. He had eight fumble recoveries and scored one touchdown in the NFL. He retired in 1999 before becoming an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions.
Dukes Historically in the NFL: In addition to the former Dukes currently active with professional football organizations, JMU's leading all-time performers include several other players who have enjoyed success in the NFL - placekicker Scott Norwood (1978-81), wide receiver Gary Clark (1980-83), defensive end Charles Haley (1982-85), linebacker Dion Foxx (1990-93), wide receiver Macey Brooks (1993-96), running back Curtis Keaton (1998-99), tight end Ed Perry (1993-96) and return specialist Delvin Joyce (1997-2000).
Norwood received All-Pro honors as a placekicker with the Buffalo Bills. Clark was All-Pro with the Washington Redskins and a member of two Super Bowl title teams and later played with the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. He was selected in the first round of the first United States Football League draft in 1984.
Haley was the first player to be a member of five Super Bowl title teams while playing with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. He was the first Duke to be a first-team Division I-AA All-America and the first Duke chosen in the NFL draft (San Francisco, 1986, fourth round). He is JMU's career tackles leader.
Foxx played with the Miami Dolphins. Brooks was with the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears.
Keaton was with the Cincinnati Bengals and New Orleans Saints after being the 1999 Atlantic 10 offensive player of the year when he ran for 1,719 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Perry was a tight end and long snapper with the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs after being Miami's sixth-round 1997 draft pick and first-team All-Yankee Football Conference during each of his final three collegiate seasons.
Joyce was a return specialist for the New York Giants and New York Jets. He ended his career at JMU as the only player in Division I-AA history with 1,000 yards in each of the career statistical categories of rushing, receiving, punt returns and kickoff returns and as the all-time Division I-AA leader in punt return yards and combined kick return yards. He holds many of JMU's career kick return marks and is the program's all-time leader in all-purpose yards with 5,659.
Two other former Dukes saw extensive time during the 2007 preseason with NFL teams, including tailback Alvin Banks (2003-06) with the New York Jets and offensive lineman Corey Davis (2003-06) with the Buffalo Bills. Justin Rascati, JMU's starting quarterback from 2004-06, briefly was with the Chicago Bears. Former tight end Mike Caussin spent time with Buffalo Bills (active) and Jacksonville Jaguars (practice squad) last season.
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