For the past few weeks, the Towson University football team?s senior class has been thinking about its final run. But Saturday, when Towson?s last class to have played in the Patriot League takes the field at Johnny Unitas Stadium, there will be plenty more on the line than the emotions surrounding the regular-season finale. The No. 24 Tigers, who host No. 7 James Madison, are playing for their playoff lives.
“I think it?s very meaningful for them to extend their season a little more,” Towson coach Gordy Combs said.
This group of seniors fought through a difficult transition from the Patriot League to the top Division I-AA conference in the nation. It?s a group that endured an 0-8 conference record in 2004, their first in the Atlantic 10.
“I think it was the end of oneera, and they got thrown into another whole deal,” Combs said. “Whether it was the first year in the Atlantic 10 or the third year in the Atlantic 10 ? it was that I didn?t want to cheat them. Thankfully, I haven?t.”
Many of those players came to Towson without scholarships and earned scholarships through their hard work. The likes of Eric Yancey, Andrae Brown, Jermon Bushrod, Carlos Allen, George Mitchell and Adjete Wilson serve key roles for Towson in their final seasons.
Saturday?s game not only represents senior day, but also a chance for these seniors to leave campus on a high note ? with an upset win to send the Tigers (7-3, 4-3) into the playoffs. James Madison (8-2, 6-1) has beaten Towson twice since the Tigers joined the A-10. That same season, the Dukes won the I-AA national title.
JMU leads the all-time series, 12-5-1.
“There?s a lot of guys that are on that team that played as sophomores when they won the national championship,” Combs said.
Combs said the Tigers must do the things they do well on offense ? throw the football ? and defensively, they must contain JMU quarterback Justin Rascati.
Either way, Towson?s fate is in its own hands.
“It?s so exciting,” Combs said. “It?s a tribute to [the players] at this juncture in time, in a third year in a terrific league, that you?re playing for something real.”
James Madison (7-3, 4-3) at Towson (8-2, 6-1)
» Where: Unitas Stadium
» When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
» Radio: 89.7 WTMD-FM
