James Madison looking to 'eliminate noise and clutter' amid bowl eligibility questions

It seems unfair that a team could finish the season undefeated and not play for a bowl game, but that’s precisely the situation James Madison could potentially be in. The Dukes are not eligible to participate in a bowl according to NCAA rules because this is only their second season playing in the FBS after moving up from FCS.

However, it’s undeniable they’ve been one of the most exciting teams in college football this season as they currently sit at 9-0. James Madison wrote a letter to the NCAA on Tuesday asking it to consider making an exception considering the success it has had this year.

Even with all the outside distractions that may cause, coach Curt Cignetti is urging his team to remain focused on what it can control on the field.

“I ask the players to eliminate the noise and the clutter throughout the season,” he told On3‘s Andy Staples. “We all know that every week when we continue to win, it grows. The university has our back. President (Jonathan) Alger, (athletic director) Jeff Bourne, who have been great leaders at this university for a very long time. It’s why our program and a lot of other programs here are at a championship level.

“In this day and age, I think everybody reads social media. But the key to preparation as we get into Monday for everyone is to sort of shut it down a little bit and focus on the things that affect preparation and positive performance. …Every day you have a choice. You can choose to do what you want to do or what you need to do. If you want to be average, you’ll choose what you want to do. If you want to be great, it’s what you have to do. The margin of victory in this business is very slim.”

James Madison is currently the second-highest Group of 5 team in the AP poll, coming in at No. 21. It is not eligible for the College Football Playoff rankings as a result of its postseason ban.

Additionally, the Dukes cannot compete in the Sun Belt Conference Championship. However, the league has also sent a letter to the NCAA on behalf of James Madison and would allow it to compete in the conference title should bowl eligibility be granted.

Regardless of what happens, Cignetti is proud of the way his team has performed this season. It’s difficult to stay motivated when you enter the year knowing that there will be no postseason, but somehow the Dukes have never lost that fight. Several times this year they’ve managed to win close games, including a 30-27 victory against Old Dominion this past week.

That’s because of a mindset something Cignetti has instilled in this program the past five season at the helm, leading them to a 50-8 record. But of all those talented teams, this might be his most impressive yet.

“This has been a special group,” he said. “They’re very close. Very united. In our first team meeting, we talked about the things that we could accomplish knowing at that time that we were ineligible for a conference championship or bowl game. But we wanted to make it hard on the decision-makers. These guys listen better than any team I’ve had. We’re not perfect, but we do it really well. They do it really well. Compete hard on Saturday, play disciplined football and really buy into the team.

“There’s been a great culture here for a long time. 54-3 at home, win conference championships every year. So there’s standards and expectations. When the game’s on the line at the end, they expect to be successful and they do the things they have to do to be successful. We’ve been in a number of close games this year. Probably more so than any year that I’ve been here, but we find a way. It’s been a good team to coach.”

The Dukes will aim to keep rolling as they next face UConn at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday.