{"id":3591,"date":"2012-02-13T23:00:27","date_gmt":"2012-02-14T04:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3591"},"modified":"2012-02-13T23:00:27","modified_gmt":"2012-02-14T04:00:27","slug":"opening-day-brings-fresh-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=3591","title":{"rendered":"Opening Day Brings Fresh Hope!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Will the Dukes produce even more All-Americans this year?!<\/p><\/div>\n

“Play Ball!” – When an umpire yells those magic words THIS Friday somewhere near Myrtle Beach where the Dukes will be opening the season at Coastal Carolina, we can exhale with relief that\u00a0we can finally avert our eyes, even momentarily, from\u00a0the nuclear aftermath that is men’s hoops this year.\u00a0 The defending CAA Champs and NCAA tourney veteran Diamond Dukes have been picked by the conference’s coaches <\/a>as the preseason favorite for the fourth year in a row and look poised to have another great season.\u00a0 Junior OF\/P Johnny Bladel and Senior LHP Sean Tierney were both selected as preseason All-CAA players.\u00a0 Tierney was also voted a second-team preseason All American and is expected to lead another strong Dukes pitching staff.<\/p>\n

In other news you may not have thought about in a while, check out this gallery from JMU Sports <\/a>of the construction at University Park on all the new facilities and fields for Soccer, Lacrosse, Track, and eventually JMUSB’s favorite, Field Hockey!\u00a0 These fields are located in an area out Port Republic Rd.\u00a0near what feels to old guys like us as if it’s all the way out to Lakeview Golf Course, but to current students is just another part of campus over the hill from UREC.\u00a0 Absolutely hard to believe, but just incredible how much JMU has done from a facilities standpoint the last five years!<\/p>\n

Also, for those who love car crashes like we do, the hoops game tonight (Tuesday) is on ESPN3 at home vs. surprising Georgia St.\u00a0 If you watch the first half and then a) go to bed or b)\u00a0break out the mescaline, you’ll be better off.<\/p>\n