Dukes Seek First Bowl Title on Dec. 18 at Boca Raton Bowl

By Mike Barber
JMUSports.com Correspondent

HARRISONBURG, Va. – In 24 years as a college football coach, Bob Chesney has seen and done a lot.

Next week, on Wednesday, Dec. 18 against Western Kentucky at the Boca Raton Bowl, however, he will be experiencing a first – coaching James Madison in a bowl game.

The Dukes hope that one final game together in 2024 results in the program's first-ever bowl victory.

"To have a chance to do this again is really important," said Chesney, whose team remained in the Sun Belt championship picture until the final week of the regular season.

Chesney said he and his staff – some of whom have bowl experience from previous posts – talked with other coaches around the country as they formulated a schedule and plan for the bowl game.

It's a process – spearheaded by assistant athletic director for football administration Matt Transue – that began months ago, as they mapped out possible approaches depending on when a postseason game might be held.

"We often talk, when you do a job well done, and you do good work, often the reward is more work," Chesney said. "This is more work, but we don't want it to feel overwhelming like a preseason camp or spring practice."

There will be plenty that's new for JMU and Chesney next week in South Florida. This will be the first all-time meeting between the Dukes and the Hilltoppers, and the first time JMU has played a game in the Sunshine State since falling at South Florida back in 2000.

But 20 of the team members were part of the roster during last year's Armed Forces Bowl appearance, including seven who started that matchup with Air Force. Add in the six transfers who appeared in a bowl game prior to joining JMU, and the Dukes have plenty of postseason experience on their roster.

"We're all just super grateful for it, super blessed. Still playing ball in December," said wide receiver/kick returner Cam Ross, who played in the 2022 Myrtle Beach Bowl with UConn. "Coach has really been trying to stress going out there, having fun, playing loose."

Here are five other things to know about JMU's bowl matchup:

Who are the Hilltoppers? Western Kentucky came a game away from winning the Conference USA championship this year. It defeated Jacksonville State, 19-17, at home to earn a spot in the title game, only to fall to the same team, 52-12, a week later in Alabama with the championship on the line.

WKU lost a pair of power conference games, opening the season with a 63-0 shellacking at Alabama, dropping a 21-20 heartbreaker at Boston College.

The Hilltoppers were at their best throwing the football. They ranked 32nd in the nation in passing offense.

JMU defensive end Eric O'Neill said WKU's offensive approach is similar to what the Dukes faced in matchups with Marshall and Southern Mississippi.

"We've already played the scheme," O'Neill said. "So, it's nothing new to us."

The Hilltoppers' weakness was their rush defense, which surrendered 221.9 yards per game on the ground, making for a juicy matchup for a Dukes squad that ranked 30th in the country churning out 189.8 yards per game running the ball.

Centerstage for Atkins: JMU's Alonza Barnett III and Western Kentucky's Caden Veltkamp both had strong seasons in 2024.

Veltkamp, who took over as the Hilltoppers' starter in the third game, was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year following a season that saw him toss 23 touchdown passes and run for another seven scores.

Barnett earned Sun Belt Conference honorable mention status after throwing for 26 touchdowns and running for another seven.

Barnett, however, was injured during the Dukes' regular-season finale against Marshall and Veltkamp has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

With Barnett and Washington State transfer Dylan Morris both out, the Dukes will turn to redshirt junior Billy Atkins behind center.

"When he's out there, we all feel confident with him just because of his knowledge of the game and the fact that he wants it," Ross said.

Takeaways could tell the story: JMU forced 26 turnovers this season, tied for sixth most in the FBS, the result of defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill's intense practice focus on takeaways.

Hemphill has 5-6 stations working at each practice that emphasize aggressively attacking the ball. He marks down players' grades when there are practice snaps where defenders don't try to strip the ball at the end.

That focus helped the Dukes lead the nation in turnover margin, at plus-17.

The Hilltoppers, on the other hand, struggled with turnovers, ranking in the bottom third nationally after committing 21 of them through 13 outings.

The Dukes are 8-2 this season when they win the turnover battle, and 0-2 when they don't.

Purple road show: A year ago, when JMU made its bowl debut, Chesney attended the Armed Forces Bowl as an observer. Director of Athletics Matt Roan was still at his previous post, but took note of the Dukes' fan turnout from afar.

Now, Roan is looking forward to see JMU nation make its presence known in Boca Raton.

"Just like the team wants to compete, our fans want to compete," Roan said. "They want to show up and prove to our opponent that we travel better than anybody else."

The Dukes sold out their regular-season season tickets in record time ahead of the 2024 campaign, a sold out Bridgeforth Stadium for five of the team's six home games.

Tickets for the Boca Raton Bowl are still available at Ticketmaster.

Boca Raton Bowl media coverage: Kickoff at the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl is set for 5:30 p.m. at FAU Stadium and will be nationally televised on ESPN.

Radio coverage for JMU is available on the Morris Insurance & Financial JMU Radio Network and ESPN Radio will also be on site for national radio coverage.

TV: ESPN
Online: Watch ESPN / ESPN App (cable subscription required)
Talent: Chris Cotter (play-by-play), Mark Herzlich (analyst), Coley Harvey (sideline)

JMU RADIO: MORRIS INSURANCE & FINANCIAL JMU RADIO NETWORK
Locally: WSVA 550 AM | 92.1 FM
Online: WSVAOnline.com
Mobile: Varsity Network App
Talent: Dave Riggert (play-by-play), Cole Johnson (analyst), Todd Centeio (analyst)

ESPN RADIO
Online: ESPN.com
Talent: Chris Carlin (play-by-play), Freddie Coleman (analyst), Evan Cohen (sideline)

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