Madison keying in on VMI Keydets

By Tim Chapman, sports editor   
Posted on September 13, 2007

Since 1839, the nation’s oldest state military college has prospered about an hour southwest, in Lexington, Va. The Virginia Military Institute has prepared students for life after schooling through academics, military training and organized intercollegiate athletics beginning with the school’s first football team in 1891.

Despite not having a winning season since 1981, Keydet football still prides itself on one simple word that not only defines its athletes, but every cadet at VMI: discipline.

And discipline is something JMU will need to embrace as it prepares this week for an opponent that was outscored 63-16 last week against William & Mary.

Madison coach Mickey Matthews vows that his team isn’t taking this game lightly, even though the Dukes handled the Keydets 45-7 last year.

“We take the approach that you only get to play 11 times, this is a chance to play, so we’re gonna take advantage of it,” Matthews said. “Some teams are better than others, but we have a lot of respect for [VMI] Coach [Jim] Reid and the job he does with his program.”

In order to not slip up and lose to Reid’s weaker team, Madison will need to stay focused on defense and hunker down against a deceptive Wishbone Offense.

The run-heavy offense features three backs lined up behind the quarterback, who can fake numerous handoffs in a short amount of time. It is also an ideal formation for running the option to either side of the field.

“It’s just deceptive; you don’t know where the ball’s at,” said JMU senior defensive end Hassan Abdul-Wahid. “You just basically got to key in on your guy and your responsibility and make sure you get to the ball.”

It will be up to Abdul-Wahid and the front four to get the initial pressure on VMI sophomore quarterback Joey Robinson. Robinson will be looking to run, which could be a tough adjustment for Madison’s young defense after having to defend against a true pocket-passer in New Hampshire’s Ricky Santos.

In their first two games, the Keydets attempted only ten passes compared to 117 rushes. In last year’s meeting, the Dukes stuffed the run so well that Reid’s team needed to pass the ball 13 times and actually gained more through the air.

Matthews should feel good about his team’s defense, though, as they noticeably improved from the UNC game and New Hampshire. Madison gave up only 79 rushing yards to the Wildcats, and despite giving up 353 passing yards they did get two interceptions on last year’s Walter Payton Award winner, Santos.

“It’s very difficult to go from them throwing it basically every down to go to the wishbone,” Matthews said of this week’s defensive adjustments. “It just takes a lot of preparation, you got to slow your defensive line down.”

The defensive line may be without its anchor, senior defensive tackle John Baranowsky, who is questionable with a sore ankle. Last week’s Colonial Athletic Association co-defensive player of the week, Justin Barnes, is also day-to-day with ankle problems Barnes totaled 19 tackles to garner the award.

Sophomore defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky is confident that whoever takes the field will understand the importance of playing all-out against VMI.

“Just the fact that you don’t want to be at home and come up with a loss against a lesser opponent,” Skolnitsky said. “So you want to do your best no matter who it is, and I mean a home game is a home game.”

Offensively the Dukes will be without senior tailback Eugene Holloman who suffered a separated shoulder in week one against UNC. Fellow senior Antoinne Bolton is expected to split carries with redshirt freshman Jamal Sullivan. Junior quarterback Rodney Landers will also look to move the chains with his legs after rushing for 128 yards and two scores last week.

Coach Matthews praised his new starter and the improvement he showed in the second game of the season.

“Rodney improved very dramatically during the game, when he started playing with some confidence that he could make plays and throw some balls,” Matthews said. “He’s gonna improve all season.”

Kickoff is at 6:00 p.m. Saturday under the lights at Bridgeforth Stadium.