JMUSB Game Preview #8: JMU vs. Rhode Island
After a much welcomed bye week, JMU football is back in action this weekend. The fine gentlemen known as the University of Rhode Island Rams come to town for a Homecoming clash with our boys in purple. The Dukes will be looking to get out to a perfect 5-0 in CAA play before facing its two toughest road games of the season. Rhode Island on the other hand, will be hoping to shock the world and make its first CAA win of the season a big one. Let’s jump right in.
The Basics
Match-up: #8 JMU Dukes (6-1, 4-0 CAA) vs. Rhode Island Rams (1-7, 0-5 CAA)
Kick-off: 3:30 PM on Saturday, October 29 in Bridgeforth Stadium
Weather: Sunny with a high of 79
Broadcast: Streaming via Madizone
A Brief Look Into Rhode Island Football History
Rhode Island has been playing football for longer than JMU has existed. And I’m counting that full State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg history dating back to 1908. Yes, Rhode Island played its first football game all the way back on October 24, 1895. Rhode Island won the game, defeating Pawtucket High School 6-0, and cruelly setting fans up to think that the program had a bright future. It did not.
In the 121 years since that first game, URI has struggled to establish itself as a winning football program. Things peaked under head coach Bob Griffin, who put together back to back 10 win seasons in 1984 and 1985. Rhode Island has only 3 winning seasons since.
URI Football Fun Fact
Despite the fact that the URI football serves as the butt of jokes for many CAA fans, the Rams have over twice as many conference wins (13) as Albany (6), and only one fewer than playoff contender Stony Brook (14) in the league’s history.
Not so Fun URI Football Fun Fact
URI has been playing football in the CAA since the league’s first season in 2007, while Albany and Stony Brook joined in 2013.
The Rams’ Dangerous Weapons
I mean, I can’t even. We’re really grasping here folks. Alright though, I’ll give it a go. Please keep in mind that “dangerous” is a relative term.
In the Rams’ lone victory of the season, a 28-13 defeat of Brown, running back Harold Cooper shined. He had 135 yards rushing and 2 TDs. TJ Anderson has been the team’s leading runner for the season though, with 322 yards and 3 TDs thus far.
In last weekend’s 28-21 loss to Maine, one of URI’s best moral victories in years, redshirt freshman QB Jordan Vazzano threw for a career high 347 yards. Unfortunately for the Rams, he also threw 5 picks in the game and has only completed 38% of his passes for the year. Vazzano’s willingness to take risks could go a long way this weekend though. Harold Buckner III is a big 6’3″ target who’s managed to eclipse the 100 yard receiving mark this year against both UNH and Maine. He’s a tough cover for whomever he lines up against.
5 Random Things in Rhode Island More Fun Than Watching URI Football
- Bike rides on Block Island
- Cocktails at Castle Hill
- Eating oysters at Matunuck Oyster Bar
- Sitting on the beach with a nice cold Del’s Frozen Lemonade
- Newport Folk Festival
By playing without a care in the world. I don’t know. The basic fact is this, the Rhode Island Rams football team is not very good at playing football. It’s true. URI averages 12.9 points per game. The Rams are one of only 2 CAA teams that can’t even manage 4.0 yards a carry on the ground. The Defense gives up 33.8 points per game. They’ve got a -9 turnover ratio. We could go on.
Here’s the thing though, all snark aside, the players on the team are still tremendous athletes. With very few exceptions, they’re probably way better at football than anyone reading this. They’re certainly more accomplished than yours truly. They didn’t earn the right to play CAA football by rolling over in the face of adversity.
Yes, it would be a monumental upset for URI to march into Bridgeforth and beat JMU. Upsets happen though. And when you’ve got a QB with nothing to lose, who’s willing to throw it 40+ times like he did last weekend, crazy things can happen. Especially with a defense like JMU’s that while good at times, also has the disturbing habit of taking entire series, quarters, or even halves off.
By not looking ahead and simply executing. JMU has two huge games on the docket after this one. The Dukes are better than the Rams at ever facet of the game, but they can’t overlook them. The old cliche that more games are lost, than won applies. JMU really needs to avoid beating itself. Despite dominating a solid UNH team for 3 quarters, the Dukes almost let the W slip away. They can’t have a similar letdown on Saturday. If JMU protects the ball and gets out to a lead, it will put the Rams on their heels. And that could very likely lead to some turnovers. From that point on, it’s all about seeing if the D can do its job with a lead and successfully stomp on an opponent to close things out.
We like to choose a beer from the opponent’s backyard whenever possible, but Rhode Island isn’t much of a beer state. Grey Sail makes a decent pale ale and I’m certainly not one to turn down a Narraganset tall boy. Neither one are brews I’d recommend going out of your way for though. Plus, it’s Homecoming and we should choose something at least a little bit special. Double Dose IPA meets the mark. It’s a very tasty collaboration from the fine folks at Lawson’s Finest Liquids and Otter Creek Brewing. Like most New England IPAs it’s a bit juicy and pours mores that a bit hazy, with plenty of floating sediment. It’s a solid example of the style and can be found all over Virginia this month. Pick some up for a nice treat.
I think we can win handily, but if any game on the schedule has “trap game” written on it, it’s this one
I think the JMU Alumni team could draw up plays in the dirt with out kids watching on the sideline and still beat Rhodie.
Could someone enlighten me as to why the starters are still in the game?