JMU’s first title team to enter hall with coach
Fittingly, the JMU Athletic Hall of Fame will induct former football coach Mickey Matthews and his 2004 team at the same time.
Matthews coached that squad, which had a massive Hampton Roads contingent, to the Dukes’ first NCAA football championship. It was the most memorable season of his 1999-2013 tenure, and that JMU team — which went 4-0 in the Division I-AA postseason — is the only one ever to win the title at that level without playing a home playoff game.
The Dukes’ run helped fill a bandwagon of support that smoothed the path toward their promotion to the Bowl Subdivision for the 2022 season.
The semifinal was especially memorable because, in order to fill a night-time slot on ESPN2, temporary lights were installed at William & Mary’s Zable Stadium. It was the first night football game in Tribe history, and after seeing the fun that atmosphere can bring, W&M soon installed permanent lights.
JMU beat W&M 48-34, avenging a regular-season defeat in Harrisonburg, before defeating Montana 31-21 on a clumpy field in Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the trophy. The Dukes never have had a losing football season since.
Also to be inducted: softball pitcher Meredith (Felts) Rowland (2006-09), women’s basketball head coach Betty Jaynes (1970-82), women’s soccer forward/midfielder Annie (Lowry) Young (200407), two-sport athlete Julie (Martinez) Bowles (field hockey 1996-99, lacrosse 1997-2000) and baseball infielder/outfielder Greg Miller (1998-2001).
The induction ceremony will be held on Friday, Sept. 6, in the Atlantic Union Bank Center.
CNU standout selected for prestigious program:
Fifthyear senior Katy Rader, one of the top players on Christopher Newport’s ultra-successful program, was chosen for the long-established “So You Want To Be A Coach” program hosted by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association each year.
She will join record-setting Class of 2011 scorer Chelsie Schweers as Captains invited to the program. It will include 55 graduating seniors at the WBCA’s convention on April 4-5 in Cleveland.
College legal perspective: The most meaningful X post (tweet) of the week goes to former Tribe basketball player Mit Winter (@ WinterSportsLaw), who is one of the foremost authorities on college sports’ legal landscape.
He wrote, “There are 2 options for schools to operate college athletics programs moving forward. 1. Recognize athletes as employees and collectively bargain with them to allow for rules that on compensation and movement. 2. Reduce the amount of control exercised over athletes.”
The Peninsula Sports Club recently held a Milestone Night at Joe and Mimma’s Italian Restaurant in York County.
Former Hampton Roads Academy soccer and golf coach Kelly Alford, longtime area broadcaster Greg Bicouvaris and Lafayette multi-sport coach Pat Thompson were the honorees.
Patrick McCormick, one of the founders of the National Wrestling Officials Association and its longtime president, was the featured speaker.