In advance of Saturday’s game between James Madison and Maine, Dukes coach Mike Houston held his weekly press conference Tuesday at O’Neill’s Grill in Harrisonburg. Players also spoke with members of the media following the team’s practice.
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- Maine has played two games against FBS competition. The Black Bears lost on a field goal in the final seconds to Connecticut in Week 1 and were beaten by Toledo, 45-3 in Week 2. Houston said Maine is a “battled-tested” team since it has played against top competition.
- Maine is coming off a BYE week, whereas JMU isn’t. JMU fell 56-28 at North Carolina on Saturday. JMU will actually play three CAA games where its opponent comes off a BYE week. Next week, Delaware will travel to Harrisonburg off a bye and on Nov. 5, Richmond will host JMU off of a bye. Houston said it is a disadvantage. He added: “I didn’t make the schedule. I inherited it. I don’t know if someone pissed off the CAA years ago, I don’t know, but we’ll play the hand that we’re dealt.”
- For this week specifically, in order to keep his players fresh, Houston said he’s told his players that they need to get sleep and hydration early in the week.
- During the first three weeks of the season Houston's decision to name junior quarterback Bryan Schor his starter prior to Week 1 has paid off. Schor has completed more than 72-percent of his passes for 532 yards and four touchdowns. He also has run for 159 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries. Houston said, “From day one, Brian is always been a guy that’s in the film room, he’s always asking questions and knows what everyone on the field has to do on every single play.”
- Regarding Maine’s offense, Houston said junior quarterback Dan Collins is very talented. He said the Black Bears offensive line is solid too. Overall, Houston said the unit is very experienced.
- Regarding Maine’s defense, Houston said the unit features mostly juniors and seniors. The first-year Madison coach said Maine linebacker Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga is one of the better players at the position in the CAA.
- Junior linebacker Brandon Hereford leads JMU with 28 total tackles, despite failing to earn a starting role during preseason camp. He’s filled in for senior linebacker Gage Steele, who has missed each of the last two weeks with a leg injury. Hereford said he’s tried to play as well as he could in his two starts, in order for his teammates to not miss a beat.
- Hereford said he’s much more comfortable in defensive coordinator Bob Trott’s system than he was in the system under the previous staff. The JMU linebacker added he’s been playing more freely and trusting his instincts as an athlete to get from sideline to sideline to make tackles.
- At practice on Tuesday, Steele was in full pads for the first time in two weeks. Hereford said he thinks Steele is close to returning to the field. Hereford said he believes the coaches will have a good rotation at the position, which will allow for him, Steele and Dimitri Holloway to all see the field.
- On Maine’s offense, Hereford said the Black Bears are an old school, power football team. Hereford said he’s never faced an I-formation team, so he’s excited for a new challenge.
- Offensive tackle Mitchell Kirsch said after JMU’s offensive line paved the way to rush for more than 200 yards against North Carolina, the unit feels it should be able to run the ball against any opponent moving forward. “That’s the mindset you have to have,” Kirsch said.
- Kirsch said preparing for Maine is a little like preparing for a nonconference game. JMU hasn’t played against Maine since 2012. Kirsch, a redshirt senior has never faced the Black Bears. He said, “If I haven’t faced them, no one has.” He said it’s unfamiliar, but there is still the added edge since it is a conference game.
