James Madison met the media for the final time Friday before Saturday’s FCS National Championship Game at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Dukes coach Mike Houston, quarterback Bryan Schor, running back Khalid Abdullah and linebacker Gage Steele participated in the NCAA’s press conference.

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- Houston, who took Lenoir-Rhyne to the Division II national championship in 2013, said he was able to take from that experience throughout the week in order to anticipate JMU’s hectic schedule in Frisco. On Thursday, JMU had a practice that was open to the media, had media responsibilities throughout the day and attended a community service event in the evening.

- Houston said his players have handled the three weeks between the national semifinal and title game well. Houston said by the time JMU took off for Frisco on Wednesday that his players were “tired of practicing.” The first-year JMU coach added the change of scenery helped the team refocus.

- Houston added JMU players balanced concentrating when they needed to and enjoying the moment of championship week well. He said the team was “locked-in” for meetings Friday morning and had a “crisp” walk through after the meetings.

- JMU knocked off five-time defending champion North Dakota State to reach Frisco. Houston said playing in Fargo was an excellent experience for the Dukes as they head into the title game. He said it’s difficult to prepare for playing inside the FargoDome, just like it’s almost impossible for players to understand what it’s like to play in a national title game.

- Houston said one advantage he hopes tips in Madison’s favor is “the experience factor.” JMU is an older team than Youngstown State.

- Houston said he expects a pro-JMU crowd Saturday at Toyota Stadium.

- Abdullah said it’s great that JMU fans and alumni are traveling to watch the team play. He said it should benefit the Dukes, but that the team still is approaching it as a road game since it isn’t being played at Bridgeforth Stadium.

- Steele said that, “it’s an amazing thing” that JMU should have such a large fan base in attendance.

- Steele also discussed the defenses’ progression. He said he gives all the credit to the coaching staff for developing a “tremendous plan” to bring all the talented individual the unit had in previous years pieces together. In the postseason, JMU held New Hampshire to 22 points, Sam Houston State to 7 points and North Dakota State to 17 points.

- Schor said Youngstown State’s secondary is still very good, despite missing two starting safeties. He said he knew the two safeties were out against Eastern Washington and said against a great Eastern Washington offense that the two replacements held up well.