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Postcard from Boca: JMU, WKU Eyeing Bowl Trophy
12/15/2024 9:20:00 AM | Football
By Mike Barber
JMUSports.com Correspondent
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – James Madison football coach Bob Chesney was the first person off the team charter when it landed in Florida on Saturday afternoon. He deplaned, reached the bottom of the steps and was greeted by the Boynton High School drumline. He smiled for a few photographs.
Chesney was also one of the last people to descend the stairs. The first-year coach had gone back on the plane to help the injured Alonza Barnett III, carrying the quarterback's crutches for him.
It was an illustration of what the Dukes coach thinks is most special about this week's trip to play Western Kentucky in Wednesday's Boca Raton Bowl – more time together with his players.
"We spent a ton of time really involving ourselves in each other's lives," Chesney said. "To have one more run at this and one more chance to spend a little time together, I'm really, really excited."
Both teams arrived in South Florida on Saturday eager to enjoy the trappings of the bowl experience, but also focused on turning out a winning effort in the game itself.
"There will be some downtime, there will be some events that we're excited to partake in," Chesney said. "But ultimately, when it's time to get on the field, and in the meeting rooms and at practice, it's a business trip, when it's all said and done."
Western Kentucky is making its third trip to the Boca Raton Bowl and second under current coach Tyson Helton. The Hilltoppers won their previous two appearances, a fact Helton said he's reminded of each day he goes to work.
"I walk by our trophy case every day coming into the office," Helton said. "And I don't overlook it for one second."
For JMU, Chesney and the Dukes are looking to put their first-ever bowl championship trophy on display back in Harrisonburg.
"Ours come with a little more gravity," Chesney acknowledged. "There's a lot that's behind this."
Quarterback Talk: With Barnett sidelined, Chesney confirmed that redshirt junior Billy Atkins will get the start on Wednesday. Atkins has played in 15 games during his JMU career.
"He's been really our backup for the majority of the year and has really taken a lot of reps throughout practice periods, had a couple of game reps," Chesney said. "I really like the leadership he continues (to bring). He's a mature kid. He's not a freshman or sophomore backup. He's been here for a while. He had his chances at one point to get on the field and play meaningful snaps."
Atkins is 29 for 60 passing for 293 yards and four touchdowns in his time with the Dukes.
Chesney praised Atkins' performance in practice over the week leading up to the team's departure for Florida.
"I'm excited for him to get a chance to have that light shine on him," Chesney said.
On the other sideline, Helton said that star quarterback Caden Veltkamp, the Conference USA Player of the Year, will start for the Hilltoppers on Wednesday, despite placing his name in the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month.
"Caden's going to play," Helton said. "Whether they're in the portal or not, most of our guys are here and they'll be ready to play. Caden's ready to go and I've had quarterbacks in the past that have come before Caden and they've done well and they've handled their business well. I don't expect anything less from Caden."
Veltkamp led the league's most potent passing attack, throwing for 2,806 yards and a conference-best 23 touchdowns. The Hilltoppers average 25.5 points per game, fourth most in CUSA.
"It starts with the quarterback, who just doesn't get frazzled a whole lot," Chesney said. "There's very, very capable receivers. They're on time and they're accurate. They do some really great things."
Busy Arrival Day: The Dukes left Harrisonburg just after 10:30 a.m., bussing to Richmond for their charter flight to West Palm Beach. The team landed just after 5 p.m. and headed to its hotel, while Chesney was driven to the Cox Science Center for a joint press conference with Helton.
From there, the team had a social event at the hotel, eating, receiving their JMU bowl gear and their Boca Raton Bowl gifts, a haul that included logoed hats, shirts and footballs and Under Armour sunglasses.
Sunday's agenda includes a morning practice at nearby Boynton Beach Stadium and a team lunch and beach party.
A Recruiting Trip: An added benefit of playing in the Boca Raton Bowl, both coaches agreed, was the chance to showcase their programs in the always-talent-rich state of Florida. Chesney said the level of the football played in the Sunshine State, as well as the way the programs are run, can make recruits from there more ready to compete at the college level.
"Everywhere I've been this has just been fertile recruiting ground," Chesney said. "There's no question the football that is played here, the caliber of football that is played here, the types of players that come from here, just how serious they take it, a lot of these high school programs are run like college programs."
The Dukes have five Florida players on this year's roster – senior defensive lineman Lloyd Summerall III, senior cornerback Jordan Taylor, redshirt sophomore cornerback Trevell Mullen, redshirt sophomore quarterback Blake Kendall and freshman quarterback JC Evans.
Western Kentucky also has five Floridians on its roster.
Doug Mosley, executive director of the Boca Raton Bowl, said that every team that has played in the game the last 10 years has had at least one player from the region.
JMUSports.com Correspondent
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – James Madison football coach Bob Chesney was the first person off the team charter when it landed in Florida on Saturday afternoon. He deplaned, reached the bottom of the steps and was greeted by the Boynton High School drumline. He smiled for a few photographs.
Chesney was also one of the last people to descend the stairs. The first-year coach had gone back on the plane to help the injured Alonza Barnett III, carrying the quarterback's crutches for him.
It was an illustration of what the Dukes coach thinks is most special about this week's trip to play Western Kentucky in Wednesday's Boca Raton Bowl – more time together with his players.
"We spent a ton of time really involving ourselves in each other's lives," Chesney said. "To have one more run at this and one more chance to spend a little time together, I'm really, really excited."
Both teams arrived in South Florida on Saturday eager to enjoy the trappings of the bowl experience, but also focused on turning out a winning effort in the game itself.
"There will be some downtime, there will be some events that we're excited to partake in," Chesney said. "But ultimately, when it's time to get on the field, and in the meeting rooms and at practice, it's a business trip, when it's all said and done."
Western Kentucky is making its third trip to the Boca Raton Bowl and second under current coach Tyson Helton. The Hilltoppers won their previous two appearances, a fact Helton said he's reminded of each day he goes to work.
"I walk by our trophy case every day coming into the office," Helton said. "And I don't overlook it for one second."
For JMU, Chesney and the Dukes are looking to put their first-ever bowl championship trophy on display back in Harrisonburg.
"Ours come with a little more gravity," Chesney acknowledged. "There's a lot that's behind this."
Quarterback Talk: With Barnett sidelined, Chesney confirmed that redshirt junior Billy Atkins will get the start on Wednesday. Atkins has played in 15 games during his JMU career.
"He's been really our backup for the majority of the year and has really taken a lot of reps throughout practice periods, had a couple of game reps," Chesney said. "I really like the leadership he continues (to bring). He's a mature kid. He's not a freshman or sophomore backup. He's been here for a while. He had his chances at one point to get on the field and play meaningful snaps."
Atkins is 29 for 60 passing for 293 yards and four touchdowns in his time with the Dukes.
Chesney praised Atkins' performance in practice over the week leading up to the team's departure for Florida.
"I'm excited for him to get a chance to have that light shine on him," Chesney said.
On the other sideline, Helton said that star quarterback Caden Veltkamp, the Conference USA Player of the Year, will start for the Hilltoppers on Wednesday, despite placing his name in the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month.
"Caden's going to play," Helton said. "Whether they're in the portal or not, most of our guys are here and they'll be ready to play. Caden's ready to go and I've had quarterbacks in the past that have come before Caden and they've done well and they've handled their business well. I don't expect anything less from Caden."
Veltkamp led the league's most potent passing attack, throwing for 2,806 yards and a conference-best 23 touchdowns. The Hilltoppers average 25.5 points per game, fourth most in CUSA.
"It starts with the quarterback, who just doesn't get frazzled a whole lot," Chesney said. "There's very, very capable receivers. They're on time and they're accurate. They do some really great things."
Busy Arrival Day: The Dukes left Harrisonburg just after 10:30 a.m., bussing to Richmond for their charter flight to West Palm Beach. The team landed just after 5 p.m. and headed to its hotel, while Chesney was driven to the Cox Science Center for a joint press conference with Helton.
From there, the team had a social event at the hotel, eating, receiving their JMU bowl gear and their Boca Raton Bowl gifts, a haul that included logoed hats, shirts and footballs and Under Armour sunglasses.
Sunday's agenda includes a morning practice at nearby Boynton Beach Stadium and a team lunch and beach party.
A Recruiting Trip: An added benefit of playing in the Boca Raton Bowl, both coaches agreed, was the chance to showcase their programs in the always-talent-rich state of Florida. Chesney said the level of the football played in the Sunshine State, as well as the way the programs are run, can make recruits from there more ready to compete at the college level.
"Everywhere I've been this has just been fertile recruiting ground," Chesney said. "There's no question the football that is played here, the caliber of football that is played here, the types of players that come from here, just how serious they take it, a lot of these high school programs are run like college programs."
The Dukes have five Florida players on this year's roster – senior defensive lineman Lloyd Summerall III, senior cornerback Jordan Taylor, redshirt sophomore cornerback Trevell Mullen, redshirt sophomore quarterback Blake Kendall and freshman quarterback JC Evans.
Western Kentucky also has five Floridians on its roster.
Doug Mosley, executive director of the Boca Raton Bowl, said that every team that has played in the game the last 10 years has had at least one player from the region.
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