Fall Season Kicks Off…

…and thank goodness.  With Field Hockey’s trip to Duke for a preseason scrimmage yesterday, the 2013-14 year in JMU Athletics (at least the portion that shows up on the “upcoming schedule” portion of JMU Sports) is officially underway!  And for those of you suffering through our flailing attempts to avoid constantly falling back to conference realignment arguments the last few weeks, I’m sure you agree that the fact we only have 12 days left till tailgating at Bridgeforth kicks off is welcome news. (Note for B’More Dukes: Men’s Soccer opens competitive play Tuesday at UMBC)

Speaking of good news, QB1 Michael Birdsong, the Ginger Giant himself, was back on the practice field this weekend just ten days after an unexpected appendectomy. Still doesn’t answer the age-old question “who is the backup?” but let’s all hope we don’t have to find out anytime soon.

Since we’ll be previewing football in detail (JMU, CAA, FCS) over the next two weeks leading up to the opener we thought we’d first make a list of non-football items we’re most looking forward to in the fall season.  Let us know if we’re overlooking something good from your own list in the comments:

1) Field Hockey making the NCAA tournament under Coach Lucas

2) Men’s Soccer and Women’s Volleyball, both picked 5th in the preseason CAA poll, exceeding expectations and surprising the league one last time.

3) Promoting our first non-football JMUSB tailgate. We’re open to suggestions on which event but it would help if it’s either Homecoming weekend when we may have an extended ‘Burg trip or anytime in the DC area.

4) Getting a look at the new Volleyball floor in Godwin and the new court in the Convo!

5) Akeem Jordan, Arthur Moats, and Earl Watford all making plays in the NFL.

6) And of course, hopefully some concrete direction one way or another for the future of JMU Athletics following the completion of the Carr Report and however long it takes to explain it to the Board of Visitors.