James Madison's Sun Belt Resume

James Madison:

 Bridgeforth Stadium and Zane Showker Field

School Founded: 1908

Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Football Founded: 1972

Current Conference: Colonial Athletic Association

Facilities: 25,000 seat Bridgeforth Stadium. Bridgeforth Stadium/Zane Showker Field is home to the James Madison University football Dukes.  The facility was built in 1975, enlarged in 1981, and is currently in the second phase of a major $62 million renovation that will increase seating capacity to approximately 25,000 (25KStrong.com ), add mulitple amenities and make it one of the premier facilities to accompany what is already one of the best gameday atmospheres in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The first phase of the construction began the week following the conclusion of the Dukes' 2009 season.  The second phase started soon after the final whistle of the Dukes' last home game (Nov. 13) of the 2010 season.  The first phase included the demolition of the west stands and reconstruction of the lower level of a two-tiered structure.  Fans enjoyed the usage of the lower  tier, which also includes new restrooms, convenient concession areas, and a fan store, during the 2010 season.

 

Just as during the first phase, progress on the second phase can be viewed via a Webcam installed on the old pressbox on the east side of the stadium.  By August of 2011 the project will have increased the seating capacity with a second deck and by constructing permanent seating behind the north end zone.  The second phase also includes the building of a 1,000-seat club level, 16 suites and a media facility.

In 2004 the facility was enhanced by a new video scoreboard on the north end zone.  That scoreboard was dismantled after the 2010 season to make room for the permanent seating, and a new and much larger video scoreboard will be installed on the south end zone at a height above the Plecker Athletic Performance Center.

The stadium is named for William E. Bridgeforth of Winchester, Va., a long-time JMU supporter and board of visitor member whose family remains very active with JMU.  The playing field, which is Field Turf, is named for Harrisonburg-area businessman Zane Showker, a long-time JMU supporter and university board rector and for whom JMU's business school facility is named.

http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14400&ATCLID=785406

TV Market(s): Richmond (58th TV market).

All-time Record: 256-194-4 4 conference titles.

Claimed National Championships: One

• 2004 FCS National Champions

Rivalries:

• Richmond
• William & Mary
• Delaware

Student Population: 19,927 (18,107 Undergraduate)

Academics: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/jmu-3721

Endowment: $59.6 Million

Athletic Budget:  $31.1 million

FBS Aspirations: Bourne said, without prompting, that he could see JMU becoming a charter member of a conference comprised of upper-level I-AA schools and lower-level I-A schools – schools such as Appalachian State, Delaware, Marshall, Ohio University and Old Dominion.

http://www.championshipsubdivision.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=26185

Old Dominion football coach Bobby Wilder generated a little news when he sat down in the conference room adjacent to his office on Thursday to do a live chat with The Virginian-Pilot.

Wilder broached a subject that many at ODU have hesitated to talk about – he said he hopes that James Madison will join Old Dominion in leaving the Colonial Athletic Association for Conference USA.

“I am hopeful that eventually James Madison will make the move to Conference USA,” he said in response to a question. “I believe, like ECU, that would create a tremendous natural rivalry that would be good for the league and also good for both schools.”

http://hamptonroads.com/2013/02/wilder-would-jmu-join-odu-conference-usa