Monday morning the Colonial Athletic Association held its weekly coaches teleconference. James Madison coach Mike Houston and Maine coach Joe Harasymiak took questions from reporters on this weekend’s league opener between the two teams. Kickoff is scheduled for Noon on Saturday at Harold Alfond Stadium in Orono.

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- Before discussing the CAA opener, Mike Houston answered a few questions regarding JMU’s loss at North Carolina over the weekend. Houston said he thought his team played very well early on, especially on offense. Like Houston has done throughout the season, he pointed out the success on offense was enabled because of how well JMU’s offensive line played.

- Houston said cohesion between the offensive line and junior quarterback Bryan Schor has given the Dukes stability.

- The first-year Madison coach reiterated what he said following the loss at North Carolina concerning his defense. Houston said JMU made too many “self-inflicted” mistakes, which provided UNC with big play opportunities. Houston added it also is unlikely that JMU would see five offensive skill players as talented as UNC’s Mitch Trubisky, Elijah Hood, TJ Logan, Ryan Switzer and Mack Hollins, for the rest of the year.

- Houston said the team turned its attention to Maine yesterday.

- JMU senior linebacker Gage Steele has missed the past two weeks – Houston said last week, Steele was “banged up.” Going forward, Houston said he isn’t sure whether or not Steele will play Saturday at Maine. Right now the senior linebacker is “day-to-day.” In Steele’s absence, junior Brandon Hereford has emerged as a solid backup. Hereford leads JMU with 28 tackles and three tackles for loss. “Brandon has done a great job,” Houston said.

- Houston called Maine a “disciplined, sound, hard-nosed and physical football team.” Houston said Maine’s defense reminds him of the defense he had at The Citadel.

- In its first two games of the year, Maine faced two FBS teams. Maine fell in a heartbreaking, 24-21 loss at Connecticut and were beaten, 45-3 at Toledo. Harasymiak said he learned his team could play well in great environments. He said he hopes competing in those two games would prepare the Black Bears for CAA play.

- JMU and Maine haven’t met since 2012. Harasymiak said even though the teams haven’t played against each other in more than three years, he’s very familiar with the Dukes since he’s seen them on film frequently.

- From evaluating this year’s JMU team, Harasymiak said Madison’s offensive line has impressed him. He said the offensive line does a great job of staying connected on its blocks to finish those blocks. Running backs Khalid Abdullah and Cardon Johnson are “most impressive” in Harasymiak’s eyes, but he also said quarterback Bryan Schor is a “gamer.” He said Schor makes plays when he has to.

- Saturday is also Maine’s home opener. Harasymiak said, “To be at home with a great team coming in, it’s a great opportunity to see where we’re at and if we can compete with the upper level teams in our conference.”