JAN. 15 CITY PARADE CELEBRATES NO. 1 TEAM, COACH

From: Media Relations

January 6, 2005

The City of Harrisonburg will celebrate two local football teams — including the 2004 National Champion James Madison University Dukes and national Coach of the Year Mickey Matthews — with a parade through downtown Saturday, Jan. 15.

The parade, which also will honor Harrisonburg High School's state championship runners-up, will step off at 2 p.m. along South Main Street at Cantrell Avenue. The parade, which is also to feature JMU's Marching Royal Dukes, will continue north on Main Street through downtown to the Rockingham County Administration Center at Gay Street.

Matthews, head coach of the national championship team, was named coach of the year Jan. 11 (see story here).

The Dukes' football team and Coach Matthews — with the 2004 NCAA Division I-AA National Championship trophy — are also scheduled to be recognized during halftime of the JMU Dukes men's basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 12, in the Convocation Center. The hoops game versus William & Mary begins at 7 p.m.

The Dukes defeated the Montana Grizzlies Dec. 17 to win the I-AA national football championship by a score of 31-21 in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Dukes fans may purchase national championship apparel from the JMU Bookstore online at the Web site at www.jmu.bkstr.com.

For more information on JMU athletics, visit the Dukes' fans site at JMUSports.com.

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