James Madison Dukes football

James Madison Dukes football
2024 James Madison Dukes football team
First season1972; 52 years ago
Athletic directorMatt Roan
Head coachBob Chesney
1st season, 8–2 (.800)
StadiumBridgeforth Stadium
(capacity: 24,877)
FieldZane Showker Field
Field surfaceFieldTurf
LocationHarrisonburg, Virginia
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionEast
All-time record377–227–4 (.623)
Bowl record0–1 (.000)
Playoff appearancesDiv. I FCS: 18
Playoff recordDiv. I FCS: 24–16
Claimed national titlesDiv. I FCS: 2 (2004, 2016)
Conference titles10 (1975, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021)
Division titles4 (1994, 2006, 2022, 2023)
RivalriesDelaware (rivalry)
Old Dominion (rivalry)
ColorsPurple and gold[1]
   
Fight song"JMU Fight Song"
MascotDuke Dog
Marching bandMarching Royal Dukes
OutfitterNike
WebsiteJMUSports.com

The James Madison Dukes football program represents James Madison University in the sport of American football. The Dukes compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a member of the Sun Belt Conference (SBC), beginning play within the conference for the 2022 season. The university first fielded a football team in 1972, and the Dukes play at the on-campus Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Dukes are currently coached by Bob Chesney.

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;[2] Scott Norwood, of the Buffalo Bills; Gary Clark, an All-Pro wide receiver for the Washington Commanders; 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 National Football League (NFL); and Aaron Stinnie, an offensive guard for the New York Giants who won a Super Bowl with the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

  1. ^ "Color Information" (PDF). JMU Official Athletics Identity Usage and Style Guide. July 12, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  2. ^ "2011 College Football Hall of Fame Enshrinees". Archived from the original on July 13, 2012.