{"id":7386,"date":"2014-11-30T21:59:08","date_gmt":"2014-12-01T02:59:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=7386"},"modified":"2014-11-30T22:05:03","modified_gmt":"2014-12-01T03:05:03","slug":"dukes-fall-to-liberty-and-crash-out-of-playoffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=7386","title":{"rendered":"Dukes Fall to Liberty and Crash Out of Playoffs"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"tears\"<\/a>Well, yesterday happened. JMU fell to Liberty by the score of 26-21. The loss eliminated JMU from the playoffs and ended the 2014 season. To put it mildly, it was very disappointing. We’ve been putting off writing about it all day. It feels like I could go on for days about the game, yet at the same time I feel like I’m at a complete loss for words. It was just that sort of game.<\/p>\n

In case you missed it, here’s the quick summary. JMU started off slow and fell behind 10-0. JMU came to life and scored 21 unanswered points to take a 21-10 lead into halftime. The Dukes were seemingly in control and on their way to a comfortable win. Then the wheels came off after the half. JMU’s offense was held in check, if not completely shut down. Liberty’s offense was steady, yet not overwhelming, but managed to execute a backbreaking TD scoring drive that lasted approximately 3 days. JMU had a chance to win it late, but couldn’t capitalize. Game over.<\/p>\n

So What Happened?<\/strong><\/p>\n

JMU just got beat. Liberty outcoached and outplayed JMU. It sucked, but it was a just result. The red-hot JMU team that was riding a seven game winning streak showed up for the second quarter. Unfortunately, the mistake prone and inconsistent JMU team we all watched the first month of the season played quarters one, three, and four. That’s not to say JMU was miserable or that the players and coaches choked. They didn’t. They simply didn’t play up to the level that we’ve been accustomed to lately. There were dropped passes, missed tackles, and costly (if questionable) penalties. Short of making a ridiculous 56 yard field goal, Liberty didn’t really do anything spectacular. The Flames just hung in there and made the plays they had to. And with the game on the line, Liberty’s offense kept the ball out of Vad Lee’s hands, used up tons of clock, and marched down the field for what turned out to be the winning TD. JMU got the ball back with a chance to win it. Lee drove JMU down the field all the way down inside the 10 before an unfortunate (and really questionable) flag moved the Dukes backwards. Unfortunately JMU couldn’t punch it in and Liberty held on for the win.<\/p>\n

What Now?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hopefully everyone has cooled down and is done with the venting. In the heat of the moment, lots of fans were second guessing many of the coaches decisions and rehashing call after call. That’s to be expected. A few people seem to be calling the entire program and coaching staff into question based on this one loss. That’s disappointing, but sadly, it’s also expected.<\/p>\n

Todd and I are as bummed as anyone that JMU lost. Liberty deserved to win yesterday, but we still think JMU is the better team. That’s why we’re so bummed actually. JMU let one slip away. One thing we agree on though is that it’s just one game. A very big game and a brutal loss, but one game nonetheless. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but it doesn’t ruin the season.<\/p>\n

JMU was picked to finish 8th in the CAA. Some fans thought the program was moving backwards after the first month. Yet the team rallied, turned it around, put together a terrific winning streak, and treated us to some very entertaining football. We wish the Dukes won yesterday. They probably should have. They didn’t though. We can either cry about it or we can move on. We’re moving on.<\/p>\n

The New Era Continues<\/strong><\/p>\n

By this point, many of you have already dismissed us as Purple Kool Aid drinkers and checked out. That’s fine. Our point isn’t that Coach Withers is the second coming and JMU is destined for greatness. Yesterday’s loss wasn’t a fluke. JMU got outcoached and outplayed in all facets of the game. That happens sometimes. Even to good teams. But the players and coaches will learn from it. Things are pointed in the right direction. The program is in better shape today than it was a year ago. That’s not even a question, is it?<\/p>\n

Withers isn’t perfect, but he’s brought a new attitude to the JMU football program. His assistant coaches are still relatively green, but they improved throughout the season. Hopefully, they’ll continue to get better. Last year at this time, JMU had hit a mediocre plateau. Fan interest was waning. The product on the field was boring and not very successful. Now things are trending up. They’re not when any of want them yet, but they’re getting there. So we can bitch and moan about targeting calls (and non-calls), question the coaches, or howl at the moon. Goodness only knows Todd and I did all of those things last night. Or we can take a deep breath, and we can appreciate the fact that JMU won 9 games. And that Vad Lee is coming back. And that plenty of young players earned valuable reps this season. And that this loss probably hurts the players more than it does us. And that it’s the type of loss that might provide extra motivation. And that it’s only 278 days until football season. Go Dukes.<\/p>\n