Loss disappointing, but Dukes still need support in playoff bid

House Editorial

Ladies and gentlemen, it is time to mourn.

Take off your hats. Put on your best black attire. Take out your hankies.

Bring flowers to Bridgeforth Stadium and set them on the sidelines. This is where a wonderful life was brought to a terrible, unexpected halt on Saturday at exactly 3:15 p.m. Those who witnessed the tragedy wore the faces of saddened children — troubled, confused. "What just happened?" they asked each other. No one knew.

After an undefeated season — surely nobody counts the loss to West Virginia University — the Dukes were taken down by the College of William & Mary Tribe, losing their guarantee to an automatic bid, and tearing the hearts of fans in two. This game was huge. And it’s over.

The turnout was impressive, to say the least. If the day before the game wasn’t clouded over with rain and 30-degree temperatures, the outdoor bonfire and pep rally probably would have inspired even more cheering JMU fans to come to the game Saturday. Despite that, the Dukes should be proud to know that followers poured in and were willing to sit in the aisles to pump up a team that, in recent history, never has received such a remarkable fan base. At times, it seemed students took on the excitement of groupies at a Phish concert — minus the illegal aspects, of course.

After you drop off your flowers, it is time to move on. After all, the Dukes still will make the playoffs, and they even may secure a home game. It is likely that JMU will beat Towson University next weekend. However, it requires the University of Richmond to beat William & Mary for the Dukes to secure the automatic bid they lost on Saturday. And the week after, when you’re full of turkey and stuffing, keep in mind that JMU will be battling for a championship title in the first round of the playoffs.

When you see a football player on campus this week, give him a pat on the back. He’s come a long way from last year, and he put up a tough fight last weekend.

It’s important to remember that, while Saturday was a heartbreak, JMU’s season isn’t over, or even stalled. The Dukes are still strong and will continue their championship drive in the coming weeks. They will need the support of the same fans who have gotten them this far. So go to Towson, go on the road to the playoffs if that’s what it takes — even if it’s in Montana. JMU is still setting the bar in Atlantic 10 football and, hopefully, next week will raise it higher.