James Madison Dukes football

The football team, founded in 1972, plays at Bridgeforth Stadium. Originally called JMU Stadium, it was renamed for William E. Bridgeforth in 1990. The JMU football team was rarely the centerpiece of JMU sports until the hiring of Mickey Matthews in 1999. Since then, JMU has gained recognition as one of the top programs in FCS football. They made the NCAA playoffs in his first year with the team and in 2004, the Dukes won the I-AA (now FCS) national championship behind the great play of quarterback Justin Rascati. They returned to the playoffs in 2006 but suffered an early exit to the hands of Youngstown State University. The Dukes went to the playoffs again in 2007, traveling to Appalachian State University in the first round. JMU played well, but fumbled the ball away trying to get the game-winning touchdown at the end of the fourth quarter. The team has a 214-167-3 all-time record. Some notable Dukes who went on to the NFL are Charles Haley, the only player to get five Super Bowl rings; Scott Norwood, known for missing "Wide Right" in Super Bowl XXV; and Gary Clark, a pro bowl wide receiver for the Washington Redskins.

Recently, the Virginia Department of Planning and Budget has approved a $10 million budget to "renovate and expand Bridgeforth Stadium".cite web
url = http://dpb.virginia.gov/Budget/vabud/vabud.cfm?vTable=C&vBiennium=2006-2008&vSecretary=Educa&vSort=N
title = Capital Projects
accessdate = 2007-11-15
format = HTML
publisher = Virginia Department of Planning and Budget
language = English]

Head Coaches

* Challace McMillian (1972-1984)
* Joe Purzycki (1985-1991)
* Rip Scherer (1992-1994)
* Alex Wood (1995-1998)
* Mickey Matthews (1999-Present)

Prominent Alumni

*Alvin Banks
*Gary Clark
*Corey Davis
*Nelson Garner
*Charles Haley
*Akeem Jordan
*Scott Norwood
*Ed Perry
*Justin Rascati
*Bryan Stinespring
*Kelly Wiltshire

References

External links

* [http://www.jmusports.com/Team/default.asp?TeamID=2 JMU Football]