Weekend Wrap: New Convo on the Way, Streaks, Sapong, and Bobby McFerrin
This beauty could finally be getting replaced.
The Virginia General Assembly voted on a measure to give JMU the green light to proceed with some major capital projects. The most noteworthy of which is an $88 million dollar project to build a new convocation center. I’m sure someone can correct me if I’m wrong, but this doesn’t mean that Virginia is giving JMU the money, just that they’re authorizing the school to take on debt to finance the projects.
C.J. Sapong had an outstanding career playing soccer at JMU and he followed that up by winning MLS Rookie of the Year last year. He’s quickly becoming one of JMUSB’s favorite athletes, due to his success on the field and the way he carries himself off it. Check out this nice piece on Sapong’s special bond with his sister. And his team is undefeated and the class of MLS.
I don’t really care that the Hokies are experimenting with the Pistol formation this spring. I like that it leads to quotes like “I’m still haunted by JMU using it as a vessel for their option and power run game during their last trip to Blacksburg.” though.
The Diamond Dukes seem to be playing for pride at this point, but they’re starting to play some better ball. They rattled off 5 straight CAA wins before dropping a game against ODU on Sunday.
The ladies on the Diamond look at the boys 5 game win streak and laugh. Try a 12 game winning streak on for size fellas. JMU softball was 12-20 a few weeks ago, but now are 24-20 and atop the CAA with a 10-1 league record.
Not to be left out, the JMU women’s lacrosse team has strung together 4 straight victories. They took care of business on Senior Night by knocking off William & Mary 15-11. The women currently are in first place in the CAA at 8-4 (4-0).
JMU Alumni Weekend is good for local business. And to recap, riots are still not.
There are colleges lists and rankings for practically everything. And they’re all notoriously subjective and suspect. Except when they make JMU look good. Then they’re purely objective. JMU is the 10th healthiest college in the US. And the Princeton Review just published a book of the 300 best undergraduate college professors in the country. It “includes 11 professors from Virginia’s James Madison University — but none from Williams College, Johns Hopkins University or Duke.” Seems about right.
And finally, Bobby McFerrin recently taught 2 classes on musical improv at JMU. My other alma mater lists a former president on its faculty, but somehow I find this more impressive.
