In advance of Saturday’s game between James Madison and Elon, Dukes coach Mike Houston held his weekly press conference at O’Neill’s Grill in Harrisonburg. Players also spoke with members of the media following the team’s practice.

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- Houston began his press conference discussing JMU’s CAA championship-clinching win over Villanova. He said Villanova might have the best defense in the country and for JMU to play as well as it did on the road, “it was a special day.”

- Houston said he did not expect to win the league outright on Saturday, but after beating Villanova, it was actually CAA Commissioner Joe D’Antonio who informed Houston that New Hampshire had lost earlier in the day to clear JMU's path. From there, Houston said D’Antonio presented the CAA Championship Trophy to the team in the locker room. Houston added, “to see the looks on the kids’ faces and the way they celebrated, that moment was a special moment for them and us as coaches.”

- Houston said once the team returned to Harrisonburg, it flipped the switch from celebrating the win over Villanova to focus on Elon. The Phoenix are 2-8 overall and 1-6 in the CAA. Houston said his players won’t have a problem not looking ahead to the playoffs because Saturday is senior day and the Dukes have a chance to finish the CAA slate unbeaten.

- JMU will honor its senior class before the game. Houston said the entire group played a pivotal role in helping his staff transition smoothly after they took over for Everett Withers’ regime. Houston pointed out all seniors, from linebacker Gage Steele to cornerback Taylor Reynolds to right tackle Mitchell Kirsch, for being “hard-nosed kids that had been through a lot and that were highly motivated to succeed.”

- On senior running back Khalid Abdullah, Houston said he couldn’t have asked for more than what Abdullah has given him each day since he took over as coach.

- Houston also announced senior safety Raven Greene is now a redshirt junior. Greene was granted a medical hardship waiver, which was approved by the NCAA and CAA, for missing most of his sophomore season with an injury. Greene will now be able to play in 2017 as a redshirt senior.

- Senior cornerback Taylor Reynolds said it’s already hit him that senior day is Saturday. Reynolds said he has plenty of memories at Bridgeforth Stadium, but one memory that stands out is the 51-yard interception return for a touchdown he had as a redshirt freshman against Central Connecticut State in 2013. He said, “that one is probably the most memorable because it started my career.”

- JMU has reached the FCS playoffs in each of the past two years, but has put together its best regular season with this senior class leading the team. Reynolds said JMU has been able to have the success its had this year is because the team has learned how to play together. Reynolds added the group of upperclassmen was able to lean on its experiences to help lead the rest of the team.

- Senior wide receiver Brandon Ravenel said he learned from all three coaches he had during his time at JMU. He said Mickey Matthews helped him learn how to be away from his family and be successful on his own. He credited Everett Withers for teaching him how to survive since Withers was tough. Finally he said, “Coach Houston taught me how to be a man.”

- Ravenel said JMU isn’t taking Elon lightly. He said Elon beat a good William & Mary team and played very competitively at New Hampshire, taking the Wildcats down to the wire.

- The sure-handed pass catcher also said JMU’s offense would ready regardless of who plays quarterback on Saturday. Ravenel added he’s been impressed with Cole Johnson, ever since the freshman got on campus earlier this year. On Johnson, he said, “I have all the confidence in the world in him. I’m not worried at all about him.”

- Fellow senior wide receiver Rashard Davis out of the four JMU teams that he’s played on that “this year’s team is unlike any other.” Davis said this year’s version of the Dukes have great unity and work together well.

- Davis said the fondest moment of his time at JMU was when ESPN’s College Gameday visited Harrisonburg last year.

- Senior defensive tackle Martez Stone had the important interception in JMU’s in at Villanova. Stone and fellow defensive tackle Cornell Urquhart both were in the Villanova backfield all afternoon. Stone said he thought JMU’s defensive coaches schemed up a really strong game plan. He added that him and Urquhart just did their job and their job was to get in the quarterback’s face. Stone said from there the defense was able to roll and that it felt like practice.

- Stone said he would have his family and friends in the stands on Saturday for the senior day ceremonies. He said it would be a very emotional day because, “I never pictured myself coming this far.” He said he would enjoy the day.