{"id":3254,"date":"2011-11-17T23:35:29","date_gmt":"2011-11-18T04:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3254"},"modified":"2011-11-17T23:35:29","modified_gmt":"2011-11-18T04:35:29","slug":"dukes-take-on-umass-one-last-time-and-need-lots-of-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3254","title":{"rendered":"Dukes Take on UMass One Last Time (and need lots of help)"},"content":{"rendered":"

We’ll probably know by around 5 p.m. Saturday if the Dukes season is over or they “advance” into the playoffs, we’ll definitely know by 10:30 a.m. Sunday (FCS Playoff selection show is on ESPNU Sunday morning at 10).\u00a0 But the most certain thing about this weekend is that it’s JMU’s last game against UMass as a conference foe.\u00a0 The Minutemen are headed to the FBS next year via the MAC (can you say Wednesday nights in Kalamazoo?!) and have had a bit of a strange season as a result.<\/p>\n

First Things First: UMass<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nothing else matters if the Dukes can’t beat the Minutemen.\u00a0 And don’t let the 5-5 record fool you, UMass is tough.\u00a0 With no postseason or CAA title to play for, it’s been an odd season, but there’s plenty of talent on the roster.\u00a0 And one thing’s for sure, all-everything RB Jonathan Hernandez remains a handful.\u00a0 Yes, that’s the same Hernandez who seems like he’s been in the CAA kes will need to show up on D.\u00a0 Oh yeah, the game’s at 1:00 in New England, somebody should remind the D to wake the hell up as opposed to the sleepwalking first quarter they threw up in New Hampshire a couple of weeks ago.\u00a0 They also have WR Julian Talley, who just passed Victor Cruz (yes, that Victor Cruz), on their receiving list, plus he gets back his starting QB Kellen Pagel from injury this week.\u00a0 And of course All-American LB Tyler Holmes will be wrecking shop on D for the Minutemen as usual and the Dukes may have to, gasp, throw the ball a bit.<\/p>\n

As for motivation, UMass is a bit of a mystery.\u00a0 It’s senior day for a\u00a0great group and they may see this as their bowl game with no postseason to look forward to, but they’ve been up and down this year, at times beating up on conference heavies and at times seemingly throwing in the towel agains the bottom-feeders recently.\u00a0 It’s also their last game at McGuirk stadium as they’ll be playing down the road in Gillette Stadium next year.<\/p>\n

What the Dukes Need to Do<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

We need echoes of the HC performance against the Ticks<\/p><\/div>\n

Play with the intensity and focus necessary under the circumstances, yet not look to their coach for an example of how stressed to be.\u00a0 The Dukes are in the position of needing a win plus help for many reasons but one of them is the lack of understanding on\u00a0how big the moment is.\u00a0 All the other games and all the lobbying for position and all the talk of playoff games at New BFS mean nothing without this win.\u00a0 Show up!<\/p>\n

JMUSB Beer of the Week<\/strong><\/p>\n

Session Fest.\u00a0 Just like the UR game, we’re bring back another Session Lager from Full Sail in hopes those vibes return.\u00a0 Full Sail is making a Session holiday beer called Fest this year and it’s a tasty red lager with great head (twss).<\/p>\n

Soccer and Hoops interlude<\/strong><\/p>\n

Soccer is seeded 14th overall in the NCAA tourney and has a first round bye.\u00a0 They host the winner of Friday’s Wake Forest\/South Carolina game at home Sunday afternoon.\u00a0 You know how bad the Skins game will be, so tune into MadiZone and catch a winning team!\u00a0 Hoops will get their first big road test at LaSalle at 3 p.m. Saturday.\u00a0 Let’s hope it’s just a celebration continued and not a turning of our attention for the long winter.<\/p>\n

The Scenarios<\/strong><\/p>\n

Again, none of this matters if the Dukes don’t win.\u00a0 But in the interest of adding further stress to your Saturday, here are the games you need to keep an eye on.<\/p>\n

Northern Iowa @ Illinois St. (Noon ESPN3) – UNI is a solid favorite even on the road but JMU has to have this one go their way to keep Ill. St. out.<\/p>\n

Furman @ Florida – Just need the Gators to make themselves bowl eligible to knock out Furman.<\/p>\n

Wofford @ Chattanooga (2 p.m.) – Nearly an identical setup to our game with Wofford in the same spot as JMU and Chatty as a dangerous 5-5 team.\u00a0 This is probably JMU’s best hope for a necessary upset. Go Mocs! (that’s Chatty).<\/p>\n

Missouri St. @ Youngstown St. (1 p.m.)\u00a0– YSU’s upset of North Dakota St. last week made JMU’s road a lot tougher, but an unlikely upset of the stupid Penguins by Mizz. St. would more than make up for it and knock out YSU.<\/p>\n

Southern Illinois @ Indiana St. (2:05 p.m.) – Indiana St. a big favorite here too, but an upset would be great for JMU.<\/p>\n

Liberty @ Stony Brook (3:30 p.m.) – Would be nice to have Liberty win this game, which would in turn give JMU their only win of the season over playoff team.\u00a0 Resume’s thin already for the Dukes, but this would help a bit.<\/p>\n

Dukes need UNI and Florida to do what they’re supposed to and one of the trio of YSU\/Ind. St.\/Wofford to lose.\u00a0 If those things happen, we’ll have high hopes for Sunday morning!<\/p>\n

Keep the Faith! Go Dukes!\u00a0<\/p>\n

Prediction<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dukes 35, UMass 13. Statement.<\/p>\n

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