{"id":7380,"date":"2014-11-28T08:08:44","date_gmt":"2014-11-28T13:08:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=7380"},"modified":"2014-11-28T08:08:44","modified_gmt":"2014-11-28T13:08:44","slug":"guest-post-jmu-football-is-a-supernova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jmusportsblog.com\/?p=7380","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: JMU Football is a Supernova"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris Johnson won our preview contest last week and earned the right to guest post. Here’s his take on the New Era and the force that is JMU football. <\/em><\/p>\n

\"supernova\"<\/a>As a 1999 transfer, and 2001 alumnus in History, I am honored to be a guest blogger here. \u00a0I think this blog is so entertaining and informative and I\u2019m just a big fan. \u00a0Rob and Todd do a great job, and the guest blogs are always good too. \u00a0So, I feel some pressure here to be on par. \u00a0\u2013Even more so when I recall that mine was the only History 395 presentation for which no one clapped. \u00a0EVERYBODY else received applause. \u00a0(I\u2019ve managed to put that behind me now after years of therapy.)<\/p>\n

I won last week\u2019s contest by predicting a score of 72-28. \u00a0That may seem bold, whimsical, or incredulous to some. \u00a0The final score, of course 59-27, would tend to confirm that I had over-estimated my beloved Dukes. \u00a0The score at half-time was 45-7. \u00a0I would submit that the Dukes could have put up 100 points if they were so inclined. \u00a0They were not so inclined because they\u2019re cool like that, but still\u2026<\/p>\n

Going into that game, the Dukes had just beaten the infamous Spiders 55-20, and yet the coaches\u2019 poll had the Spiders ranked higher. \u00a0What is more, assuming that we win (and we will), we face #6 Villanova, and Richmond; if they win (don\u2019t really care, just making a point here), would face #7 Coastal Carolina. \u00a0Going into this game, we\u2019re only 1.5 point favorites, at HOME! \u00a0I feel like the Dukes are like the Rodney Dangerfield of the FCS.<\/p>\n

But, you know what? \u00a0I like it that way. \u00a0I like riding the dark horse. \u00a0I cannot wait to see this team\u2019s full potential, because I don\u2019t think they\u2019re there yet. \u00a0They are like the nucleus of a collapsing star ready to explode into a purple and gold supernova.<\/p>\n

The Withers era has just started and the results have exceeded my expectations. \u00a0Yes \u2013 me; the guy that had the Dukes winning 72-28. \u00a0I cannot wait to finally get up to Harrisonburg this weekend and see it in person.<\/p>\n

Few final thoughts, if anyone is still awake: \u00a01. JMU should stay in the FCS for the foreseeable future, I\u2019ve gone back and forth on this one; FBS isn\u2019t ready for us. \u00a02. \u00a0Love the new helmets and uniforms, hate that my purple gear won\u2019t work for a blackout. \u00a03. Vad Lee, transfer (gotta love those transfers), should win the Walter Payton award. \u00a04. Jimmy \u2018effin\u2019 Moreland should win Jerry Rice award. \u00a05. Coach Withers should win the Eddie Robinson award. \u00a06. Taylor Reynolds can straight ball, hope he plays up to his potential. \u00a07. \u00a0I hope our defense continues to execute the fundamentals \u2013you know; tackling. \u00a08. Liking the 2015 schedule. \u00a09. \u00a0Props to all my professors who made me work my tail off and made me a better person. \u00a010. GO DUKES! \u00a0BEAT LIBERTY!<\/p>\n