James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
National Champion Dukes Claim 2016 ECAC Lambert Cup
1/19/2017 11:40:00 AM | Football
DANBURY, Conn. – Following a record-setting season that was capped off by winning the NCAA Division I national championship, James Madison was unanimously voted the winner of the Eastern College Athletic Association Lambert Cup, the ECAC announced Thursday.
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It is the third time in school history the Dukes have attained the Cup for the Football Championship Subdivision, having won it in 1994 and 2004.
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JMU finished the 2016 season with a 14-1 overall record, which was a program record for wins in a season. Prior to winning their second national championship, the Dukes captured the Colonial Athletic Association championship for the fifth time after going 8-0 in league play. It was also the second time JMU went unbeaten in CAA play.
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In just his first season as head coach, Mike Houston was named the American Football Coaches Association FCS National Coach of the Year and CAA Coach of the Year. He guided the Dukes to six wins over nationally-ranked opponents over the final seven games and the program now holds the longest win streak in all of Division I, at 12 games.
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A total of 14 players were named All-CAA, headlined by CAA Offensive Player of the Year Bryan Schor and CAA Special Teams Player of the Year Rashard Davis. Seven of the 14 all-conference honorees eventually earned All-America accolades. Joining Schor and Davis as All-Americans were Khalid Abdullah, Raven Greene, Mitchell Kirsch, Taylor Reynolds and Aaron Stinnie.
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As a team, JMU set CAA records for scoring (700), rushing offense (4,125), total offense (7,612) and first downs (380). Nationally, JMU led the FCS in winning percentage (93.3%), completion percentage (70.8%), team pass efficiency (181.69), first downs (380), interceptions had (21) and punt return average (26.65).
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The Dukes will be presented the FCS Lambert Cup on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the 81st Annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet, which will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. To purchases tickets to the awards banquet, click here.
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It is the third time in school history the Dukes have attained the Cup for the Football Championship Subdivision, having won it in 1994 and 2004.
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JMU finished the 2016 season with a 14-1 overall record, which was a program record for wins in a season. Prior to winning their second national championship, the Dukes captured the Colonial Athletic Association championship for the fifth time after going 8-0 in league play. It was also the second time JMU went unbeaten in CAA play.
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In just his first season as head coach, Mike Houston was named the American Football Coaches Association FCS National Coach of the Year and CAA Coach of the Year. He guided the Dukes to six wins over nationally-ranked opponents over the final seven games and the program now holds the longest win streak in all of Division I, at 12 games.
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A total of 14 players were named All-CAA, headlined by CAA Offensive Player of the Year Bryan Schor and CAA Special Teams Player of the Year Rashard Davis. Seven of the 14 all-conference honorees eventually earned All-America accolades. Joining Schor and Davis as All-Americans were Khalid Abdullah, Raven Greene, Mitchell Kirsch, Taylor Reynolds and Aaron Stinnie.
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As a team, JMU set CAA records for scoring (700), rushing offense (4,125), total offense (7,612) and first downs (380). Nationally, JMU led the FCS in winning percentage (93.3%), completion percentage (70.8%), team pass efficiency (181.69), first downs (380), interceptions had (21) and punt return average (26.65).
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The Dukes will be presented the FCS Lambert Cup on Thursday, Jan. 23 at the 81st Annual Eastern College Football Awards Banquet, which will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. To purchases tickets to the awards banquet, click here.
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Players Mentioned
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OL
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