This article was originally published following JMU's 36-35 win over UVA in 2023
It has been a not-so-secret narrative among JMU fans that FBS schools in the state of Virginia would avoid JMU and had been doing so since the Dukes beat Virginia Tech in 2010. When Liberty moved up, they never scheduled JMU, but did play Richmond and William & Mary. ODU stopped scheduling the other CAA Virginia schools at the time, but also continued to play the at the time independent Flames. And what was the most glaring of evasions, UVA had not played JMU in 40 years, yet annually scheduled the Dukes former CAA opponents as an FCS out of conference bout. UVA would even play Liberty and ODU once they moved to FBS, but still couldn’t stomach having FCS JMU come to Scott Stadium.
That all changed when the Dukes made the move to FBS. Virginia Tech had scheduled JMU for a 2025 match up before the move was made official, thanks to conference realignment accelerating the de-regionalization of college football. But most of us in college football circles figured if Virginia Tech was scheduling JMU in 2025, the Dukes would be FBS by then. Another side effect of realignment meant that Liberty, now being in CUSA, had to rearrange their schedule to accommodate. That meant UVA had a free date in 2023, and who better to step in than the newly FBS Dukes. At this point, the Wahoos couldn’t avoid Duke Dog any longer.
Saturday’s game was not only a culmination of 40 years of waiting for both teams to meet on the gridiron but was also a memorial for the 3 players killed in a mass shooting in 2022. Presidents from both schools and commissioners from the Sun Belt and ACC were present for the pregame ceremonies. The weight of the moment was not lost on 99.99% of people present, as there are always some idiots who are tone deaf, but what was always going to be a collegial atmosphere struck the proper solemn tone as well.
This should surprise no one as with most in state schools, family members attend different institutions. Grandparents and parents went to UVA and their children and grandchildren go/went to JMU. In some cases, you saw the reverse. That’s something that happens when you bring together in-state rivals with people who actually have academic/family ties to institutions. The rivalry can be heated but is for the most part a family friendly one. From joint tailgates to all manner of JMU fans sporting UVA strong shirts and orange/blue ribbons, the atmosphere and tone amongst fans was as much a testament as to why this game should happen often as the game itself.
I won’t get deep into the game analysis in this article, but the game was objectively entertaining on a weekend where college football had some great games. From JMU storming out of the gate to UVA’s furious 2nd and 3rd quarter swings, the game had it all. Refs made questionable calls at best, while play calling left a little to be desired as well for the Dukes. UVA may have found their future QB, and the Dukes showed their winning mentality coming from behind two scores after a lightning delay that lasted more than an hour.
Though, that weather didn’t stop the 200 plus “pep band” the Marching Royal Dukes brought to UVA yesterday. The Wahoos thought limiting JMU’s band to 40 percent of their number and sticking them in the nosebleeds would negate their impact on the game. Well, the joke was certainly on them. During the rain delay the band played on. As JMU band director Scott Rikkers would say, “When it rains, we get wet”. Afterwards when the stadium was at best 50/50 purple and orange, the band’s energy along with the alumni and current students helped propel JMU to the epic comeback, mentioned in postgame interviews from JMU coaches and players alike.
So, the box score and ESPN bottom line will show JMU won 36-35, a second win in as many tries since 2010 over the state’s flagship institutions. But what it won’t capture is why this game should at minimum be semiannual, if not annual. I mentioned how both schools have many family ties when it comes to alumni, but what is a lesser-known fact is that James Madison also played a prominent role in the founding and running of UVA as well. Traffic jams to get to Charlottesville and fans coming in from DC/Northern Virginia by train for the game is what college football is supposed to be.
You see it when Appalachian State plays UNC, when ECU plays NC State, and many other in-state rivalries. Bragging rights matter and having games where travel is affordable and not a burden creates amazing atmospheres. The Sun Belt leaned into this line of thinking along with programs with winning football traditions when expansion/realignment were happening, and the conference is better for it. UVA and JMU are separated by 45 minutes and a mountain. I made the trip so much in college I know the Mahler Symphony you play from start to finish that perfectly matches up going from JMU’s campus to the UVA grounds.
This in-state rivalry is a no-brainer and should be played as often as UVA can stomach it. I think their fans should demand it, if for no other reason they really don’t want JMU fans holding this win over their heads forever. It may not be annual, but every 2-3 years is not a tall task. When JMU is able to continue Bridgeforth expansion, hell even before, UVA should come to Harrisonburg. If Virginia Tech can go to ODU, UVA can go to JMU. Because let’s be real. As much as it hurts losing to the Dukes for the Wahoos, having Hokies say their team isn’t afraid to go to ODU is going to be a narrative that gets old for UVA fans much quicker and sting a little more.
