Guest Post: A Few Thoughts On JMU Football in 2016

As we mentioned last week, we had a tie for the prediction contest for the JMU vs. RU game. Roger was the other winner and here are a few of his thoughts on the JMU football program. 

Oh how sweet it was to go to Richmond and ruin their day inside that little fort they call a stadium.  It may not have been on the same College GameDay stage as last year, but still just as sweet none-the-less.  As we continue on with this exciting season so far with Houston at the helm, I cannot help but still have the same feelings as in recent years.  We can score points as well as anybody in the country, but I am not convinced at this point that our defense is where it needs to be to make the full run through the playoffs.  I certainly hope that I am wrong and they continue to improve each week but giving up so many points when we play quality offenses concerns me.  Regardless, I hope I get to relive my college days when I was a sophomore and was lucky enough to experience that magical run on the road the entire playoffs and then see the Dukes win it all in person!

Stadium Experience

As we head into the playoffs, to which JMU should be a top 4 seed if they win out, I cannot help but hope that we have the right bids in place to get more than 1 home game.  The experience inside of Bridgeforth Stadium is a great one, when all fans are vested in the game.  I know there has been flack given to the students’ lack of attendance throughout a game, but they can bring the noise when captivated.  I think that a solid intro song (Metallica – Battery) will help in improving the overall experience fans get to have at JMU.  There needs to be the same concept of excitement to start a 2nd half of football as well in my opinion (Metallica – All Nightmare Long) to reinvigorate the crowd and get them pumped for the finish of a game.  There may be something like that out there that I do not know about, but either way it could be a new tradition to get going.

Football Unis

The past 3 years has been quite a transition in this area for the Dukes and one that I was initially ready for and then not a fan of.  I am 100% against the branding of “M” and referring to school just as “Madison” in such a large capacity.  It is completely fine to do so here and there but I think it has become too front and center.  I will never refer to school I went to as “Madison”, it will always be JMU for me and that should still be the same on their uniforms.  The purple chromed-out Duke Dog helmets were sick and should still be used in big-time games.  I like the all-white look as a whole but not with the lone “M” on the helmets because nothing about that makes me think of JMU.  With that being said, I think it is fine to evolve uniforms with current style and trends, as it does tend to help in recruiting, but it must be done with the right direction and hopefully JMU will get back to where it should be in that.  

Realignment Talk

As much as I would love to give my thoughts here, I just can’t.  I would ramble on for far too long so I will continue to “monitor the situation.”

Thanks for letting me share some thoughts, especially how important they are haha, on your site and about the school I love so very much.  JMU provided me with an amazing college experience and I look forward to what this football team can produce on the field and what the school is doing to progress athletics as a whole.  The new Convo Center is going to be sick and finally be able to provide a real basketball experience for students and fans.  GO DUKES!!!

-Roger “Rev” Brookes