James Madison QB Dudzik: ‘This Is The Biggest Win In School History’

A friend of mine -- and fellow James Madison alum -- was in Blacksburg on Saturday for JMU’s historic upset of No. 13 Virginia Tech. She’s the one who snapped this picture that made its way around the various social media platforms:

After the game, various messages from her detailed how the JMU fans wouldn’t leave Lane Stadium; described the win as “better than Chattanooga” -- where the Dukes won the 2004 FCS National Championship; and then nearly three hours later: “I’m still in shock.”

Which means she knows exactly how the JMU players and coaches are feeling, because their postgame reactions nearly echo that of Dukes fans everywhere.

Coming into the game, JMU’s head coach Mickey Matthews said the idea of beating Virginia Tech was “comical.” So it comes as no surprise that afterward, Matthews -- a coach with a national championship ring, mind you -- called it “the biggest win in my professional career.“

“I thought we had a great chance to be in the game,” Matthews said. “I don’t think you can ever say I thought we had a great chance to win, with who their personnel is and who are personnel is.”

JMU was 32.5 point underdogs, and in their past two meetings, had been outscored by the Hokies by a combined total of 90-0. It wasn’t even supposed to be close.

The Dukes last beat a FBS opponent in 1990, when they knocked off Navy (something they also did in 1989). Their upset of Virginia in 1982 was previously the program’s biggest win. Note the past tense.

“This is the biggest win in school history,” [JMU QB Drew] Dudzik said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it. Our team, we believed we could win all week. For me, it was obviously the biggest win of my life.”

It marked just the second time ever that a FCS team has defeated a ranked FBS team (Appalachian State being the other).

An historic, program-changing win, while collecting over $400,000 for their efforts ... pretty neat little Saturday for JMU.