| James Madison Dukes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Current season: 2023 James Madison Dukes
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| First season | 1972 | ||
| Athletic director | Jeff Bourne | ||
| Head coach | Curt Cignetti | ||
| 2nd year, 21–3 (.875) | |||
| Home stadium | Bridgeforth Stadium | ||
| Field | Zane Showker Field | ||
| Stadium capacity | 24,877 | ||
| Stadium surface | FieldTurf | ||
| Location | Harrisonburg, Virginia | ||
| Conference | Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) | ||
| All-time history | |||
| All-time record | 338–218–4 (.607) | ||
| Postseason bowl record | 0–0 (.000) | ||
| Playoff appearances | 17 | ||
| Playoff record | 22-15 (.595) | ||
| Claimed national titles | 2 (2004, 2016) | ||
| Conference titles | 8 (1975, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019) | ||
| Division titles | 3 (1994, 2006, 2020) | ||
| Rivalries | Richmond Spiders William & Mary Tribe Delaware Blue Hens North Dakota State Bison | ||
| Current uniform | |||
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| Colors | Purple and Gold
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| Fight song | "JMU Fight Song" | ||
| Mascot | Duke Dog | ||
| Marching band | Marching Royal Dukes | ||
| Uniform outfitter | Nike | ||
| Website | JMUSports.com | ||
The James Madison Dukes football team represents James Madison University located in Harrisonburg, Virginia. James Madison's first varsity season was in 1972. The JMU football team has been the centerpiece of JMU sports since the early 1990s. Under former head coach Mickey Matthews, the Dukes continued their rise in national prominence, winning the 2004 FCS National Championship. The Dukes won their second National Championship in 2016 and finished as national runners-up in 2017 and 2019. Notable Dukes include Charles Haley, one of two players to win five Super Bowl rings and is also an inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame;[1] Scott Norwood, of the Buffalo Bills; Gary Clark, an All-Pro wide receiver for the Washington Redskins; and Arthur Moats, a linebacker for the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers who is known for delivering the sack that led to the end of the record streak of consecutive starts made by Brett Favre in the NFL.
The Dukes are a member of the NCAA FBS Sun Belt Conference, which they joined in 2022. The Dukes play their home games at Bridgeforth Stadium and are currently coached by Bob Chesney.
Seasons[]
2020s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Bob Chesney | |
| 2023 | Curt Cignetti; Damian Wroblewski | 11-2 |
| 2022 | Curt Cignetti | 8-3 |
| 2021 | Curt Cignetti | 12-2 |
| 2020 | Curt Cignetti | 7-1 |
2010s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Curt Cignetti | 14-2 |
| 2018 | Mike Houston | 9-4 |
| 2017 | Mike Houston | 14-1 |
| 2016 | Mike Houston | 12-1 |
| 2015 | Everett Withers | 9-3 |
| 2014 | Everett Withers | 9-4 |
| 2013 | Mickey Matthews | 6-6 |
| 2012 | Mickey Matthews | 7-4 |
| 2011 | Mickey Matthews | 8-5 |
| 2010 | Mickey Matthews | 6-5 |
2000s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Mickey Matthews | 6-5 |
| 2008 | Mickey Matthews | 12-2 |
| 2007 | Mickey Matthews | 8-4 |
| 2006 | Mickey Matthews | 9-3 |
| 2005 | Mickey Matthews | 7-4 |
| 2004 | Mickey Matthews | 13-2 |
| 2003 | Mickey Matthews | 6-6 |
| 2002 | Mickey Matthews | 5-7 |
| 2001 | Mickey Matthews | 2-9 |
| 2000 | Mickey Matthews | 6-5 |
1990s[]
| Season | Coach | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Mickey Matthews | 8-4 |
| 1998 | ||
| 1997 | ||
| 1996 | ||
| 1995 | ||
| 1994 | ||
| 1993 | ||
| 1992 | ||
| 1991 | ||
| 1990 |
Brief history[]
Just five years after (then) Madison College had become a coeducational institution, the Dukes fielded their first football team. Football was the brainchild of Dr. Ronald Carrier, Madison's president at the time, who was attempting to change the psychology of the campus away from an all-women's teachers college.[2] The first game took place on October 7, 1972 against Shepherd College's junior varsity team at Harrisonburg High School. The team consisted of a few dozen walk-ons and was coached by 30-year-old Challace McMillin.
In 1975, the Dukes had their first undefeated season and won the Virginia College Athletic Association title. Two players, Madison Hall of Fame quarterback Les Branich and offensive guard Jeff Adams, played on both the Dukes' only winless season in 1972 and its only undefeated season in 1975.[2][3]
For the 1980 season, Madison made the jump from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I-AA where they played as an Independent through 1992. After twelve seasons the Dukes would join the Yankee Conference, which would become the Atlantic 10 Conference in 1997, then finally the Colonial Athletic Association in 2007.[4]
Affiliations[]
- 2022-present - Sun Belt Conference (NCAA FBS)
- 2007-2021 - Colonial Athletic Association (NCAA FCS)
- 1997-2006 - Atlantic 10 Conference (NCAA 1-AA/FCS)
- 1993-1996 - Yankee Conference (NCAA 1-AA)
- 1980-1992 - NCAA Division 1-AA independent
- 1977-1979 - NCAA Division III independent
- 1976 - NCAA Division II independent
- 1974-1975 - Virginia Collegiate Athletic Association
- 1972-1973 - Independent
Logos/Uniforms[]
References[]
- ↑ "2011 College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees".
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "JMU – First Football Game", James Madison University.
- ↑ "JMU – Undefeated Season", James Madison University.
- ↑ "College Football Data Warehouse".