Game day experience improving

I entered a new decade this weekend, spending my 20th birthday at The Breeze of all places, laying out pages so you have something to keep you awake in statistics class. Let me tell you this: You haven't lived until you've spent your birthday cooped up inside an office on a 70-degree autumn day.

Still, I did have a rather enjoyable weekend, highlighted by watching the JMU football game Saturday night from the stands — not the press box. The Dukes wore out Hofstra University as their offense ran the Pride out of the stadium en route to a 31-21 win.

If there’s one thing even JMU skeptics have to admit, it’s that the atmosphere inside Bridgeforth has changed in 2004. You can chalk it up to the inflatable Duke Dog, the near-completed Athletic Performance Center or those cool 32 oz., fight-song inscribed plastic cups from the concession stand.

Frankly, I think the difference in the game day experience stems from the fans, the product on the field and athletics marketing.

I went to nearly every football and men’s basketball home game last year, decked out in my purple T-shirt with my makeshift JMU megaphone. I tailgated like it was my job, met some of the most dedicated college sports fans at this university and, yes, I stormed the court after men’s hoops defeated George Mason University last February. But after spending Saturday night in the stands, I realized for the first time how much JMU fans love their Dukes.

At 5:30 p.m., a half-hour before kickoff, Bridgeforth Stadium literally was shaking. The estimated game attendance was 9,298; but from my seat, three rows up from the 50-yard line, it felt like there were 30,000 people in my ear — it was glorious.

Streamers were flying everywhere; the noise level was deafening and the jumbo-tron looked like it was about to explode as the Dukes took the field. I felt like I was in the middle of a giant block party, except the snack bar wasn’t serving free Natty and that "from the window to the wall" song wasn’t on repeat over the PA system.

The game day experience has improved — and it’s starting to catch on all over campus. My roommate came back from the bookstore Saturday at 2 p.m. and told me that people already were tailgating in the baseball lot. That’s the atmosphere JMU needs. Athletics marketing has done an outstanding job promoting JMU sports, and the fans are starting to respond.

I’m talking about people walking down the street whistling the fight song and fans getting loud as the Dukes prepare take the field. I’m talking about the possibility of a 14,000-seat stadium filled to capacity every Saturday.

The Dukes are a potential DI-AA powerhouse. They have the talent; now they nearly have the fan base. Saturday night, JMU fans (myself included) finally saw why this team is getting national recognition.

There’s no excuse anymore for the Madison faithful, we came out in droves for this game, and we were rewarded. We finally have a winner to cheer for.

Happy Birthday to me.

James Irwin is a sophomore SMAD major.

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