Completed Event: Football at Liberty on September 20, 2025 , Win , 31, to, 13
FB
Final
James Madison
31
at Liberty
13
James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Bourne Dialogue - UVA Strong
9/6/2023 8:57:00 AM | Administration
JMU Nation,
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As Summer turns to Fall and Labor Day disappears into the rearview mirror, we find ourselves amid another sports season at JMU. We've had big performances already with volleyball and men's soccer posting noteworthy wins and gaining attention in national polls, and nothing feels more like Fall than spending Saturday in Bridgeforth Stadium. It's an exciting time to be a JMU Duke!
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Following our opening football victory against Bucknell, week two features our first road contest of the season and a short journey over the mountain to Virginia. It's been 40 years since we last played the Cavaliers. In fact, I'd venture to guess that most of you have never seen JMU play UVA in football. Many folks have been waiting a long time to see this game on the schedule, but my writing today is in hope of maintaining perspective and consideration of the environment we're entering.
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Saturday's game will be the first home contest for Virginia since the lives of three football student-athletes – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D'Sean Perry – were taken on Nov. 13, 2022. We enter a community still grieving and still healing, and we will be grieving alongside them on Saturday. The University of Virginia has declared "UVA Strong" celebrations for the game, and I encourage all JMU faithful to fully participate.
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Virginia will honor the three players, and their families, with a special pregame ceremony that starts at approximately 11:30 a.m. JMU President Jonathan Alger, Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill and I are honored to be invitees on the field as part of this ceremony. I encourage JMU fans to also be in their seats by 11:30 for this ceremony. JMU football will wear honorary helmet stickers, and I'm aware that many JMU fans are planning to add orange ribbons to their purple attire.
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Virginia officials expect Scott Stadium to be near capacity, and it will be a special environment for football in the Commonwealth. While the clock is running, I expect fierce competition, a close game and tough battle between two of the state's best teams. I fully anticipate JMU Nation will be loud and supporting our Dukes, with class, in an important game early in our FBS tenure. We're absolutely going to need your support in the stands! However, we must find the appropriate balance between competition and compassion by standing strong with UVA to offer our support for healing.
Â
I call upon all of JMU Nation, alumni and students alike, to be UVA Strong on Saturday. A special relationship exists among the institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. We've supported each other in the past, we stand with them this week, and we'll be there for each other again in the future.
Â
Go Dukes!
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Jeff Bourne
JMU Director of Athletics
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As Summer turns to Fall and Labor Day disappears into the rearview mirror, we find ourselves amid another sports season at JMU. We've had big performances already with volleyball and men's soccer posting noteworthy wins and gaining attention in national polls, and nothing feels more like Fall than spending Saturday in Bridgeforth Stadium. It's an exciting time to be a JMU Duke!
Â
Following our opening football victory against Bucknell, week two features our first road contest of the season and a short journey over the mountain to Virginia. It's been 40 years since we last played the Cavaliers. In fact, I'd venture to guess that most of you have never seen JMU play UVA in football. Many folks have been waiting a long time to see this game on the schedule, but my writing today is in hope of maintaining perspective and consideration of the environment we're entering.
Â
Saturday's game will be the first home contest for Virginia since the lives of three football student-athletes – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D'Sean Perry – were taken on Nov. 13, 2022. We enter a community still grieving and still healing, and we will be grieving alongside them on Saturday. The University of Virginia has declared "UVA Strong" celebrations for the game, and I encourage all JMU faithful to fully participate.
Â
Virginia will honor the three players, and their families, with a special pregame ceremony that starts at approximately 11:30 a.m. JMU President Jonathan Alger, Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill and I are honored to be invitees on the field as part of this ceremony. I encourage JMU fans to also be in their seats by 11:30 for this ceremony. JMU football will wear honorary helmet stickers, and I'm aware that many JMU fans are planning to add orange ribbons to their purple attire.
Â
Virginia officials expect Scott Stadium to be near capacity, and it will be a special environment for football in the Commonwealth. While the clock is running, I expect fierce competition, a close game and tough battle between two of the state's best teams. I fully anticipate JMU Nation will be loud and supporting our Dukes, with class, in an important game early in our FBS tenure. We're absolutely going to need your support in the stands! However, we must find the appropriate balance between competition and compassion by standing strong with UVA to offer our support for healing.
Â
I call upon all of JMU Nation, alumni and students alike, to be UVA Strong on Saturday. A special relationship exists among the institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth. We've supported each other in the past, we stand with them this week, and we'll be there for each other again in the future.
Â
Go Dukes!
Â
Jeff Bourne
JMU Director of Athletics
Â
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