James Madison University's athletic director Matt Roan stepped onto the field, microphone in hand, during a chaotic game against Troy on Friday night. The scene had grown wild, with Dukes fans throwing snowballs onto the field towards Troy punter Evan Crenshaw.
The unusual weather had prompted several warnings from authorities, and the scoreboard displayed a clear message: "Please be aware that the throwing of snowballs will result in immediate ejection from the game." Still, some fans decided to engage in this unorthodox behavior.
As the officials took action, Roan addressed the crowd, reassuring them that penalties would be enforced. However, his efforts were met with boos from the audience as he handed over the microphone. The scene only intensified, but the team ultimately came out on top, securing a 31-14 victory and their first Sun Belt championship since joining the conference in 2022.
In the lead-up to this game, James Madison University had experienced some notable successes under its Division I FBS banner. Before making the move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022, the team won six Colonial Athletic Association titles between 2008 and 2021, as well as two Division I FCS national championships in 2004 and 2016.
The outcome of this game solidified James Madison University's position as a formidable force within its new conference, further cementing their place among top programs.
The unusual weather had prompted several warnings from authorities, and the scoreboard displayed a clear message: "Please be aware that the throwing of snowballs will result in immediate ejection from the game." Still, some fans decided to engage in this unorthodox behavior.
As the officials took action, Roan addressed the crowd, reassuring them that penalties would be enforced. However, his efforts were met with boos from the audience as he handed over the microphone. The scene only intensified, but the team ultimately came out on top, securing a 31-14 victory and their first Sun Belt championship since joining the conference in 2022.
In the lead-up to this game, James Madison University had experienced some notable successes under its Division I FBS banner. Before making the move to the Sun Belt Conference in 2022, the team won six Colonial Athletic Association titles between 2008 and 2021, as well as two Division I FCS national championships in 2004 and 2016.
The outcome of this game solidified James Madison University's position as a formidable force within its new conference, further cementing their place among top programs.
that was CRAZY!!! I mean, who throws snowballs at the field?! It's like, come on guys, we're here for the game, not to be part of a winter wonderland fight 
. But honestly, it's all good – the Dukes came out on top and got their first Sun Belt championship 
. I'm just glad no one got hurt. As a fan, you want your team to win, but you also don't want the game to turn into a snowball fight 
.
at the game last night! i was like wooo did those fans go crazy or what? snowballs on the field? that's just insane 
i mean i get it the weather was crazy and all, but still shouldn't they have followed the warnings from authorities? it's not like it's a normal thing to do at a sports game. anyway the dukes came out on top which is awesome 
and the scoreboard warning, lol what do u think happens when fans ignore warnings? 
31-14 win for jmu tho, can't deny that 
they're on fire right now! btw, fun fact: james madison university has won 8 division i fcs championships before joining the sun belt conference in 2022 
here's a quick breakdown of jmu's athletic achievements:
gotta love the determination of their fans though 
And then they're booing Matt Roan after he tried to keep the peace? 
It was already wild enough with the snowball fight, didn't need to escalate into this. 
But hey, I guess it's all part of being a fan, right? 
James Madison University totally deserved their win, though! 
. what's even crazier is that their behavior got a reaction from the crowd, leading to more boos and chaos. but in the end, the team came out on top, showing us that sometimes you gotta let go of your own 'winning' mentality and just enjoy the ride 
especially with people getting ejected left and right. 
guess they wanted to add some winter fun to the game 
i'm glad matt roan kept it calm though, tried to keep everyone in check while also celebrating his team's win 
. It's all well and good that they won the championship, but at what cost? 
, but at least I got to see the highlights on YouTube afterwards! 
i guess they really wanted to make it interesting 
in the Sun Belt Conference?! I'm SHAKING 
. We all know JMU's got the talent & the passion 
, I'm SO READY 
That was WILD!!! 
. But for real though, James Madison University totally earned their spot as a top program after that win 
Classy move, even if the crowd didn't appreciate it 