DOGGED COMPETITION

JMU'S DUKE DOG WAS NAMED AN ALTERNATE FOR THE 2003 CAPITAL ONE ALL-AMERICA MASCOT TEAM, ranking 13 out of more than 200 entries nationwide. Capital One chooses 12 team members annually based on team spirit, community involvement and good sportsmanship.

Purple Pooch

The purple pooch also made his debut on the Virginia DMV's second JMU license plate. To order a plate with the Duke Dog, visit www.dmv.state.va.us. For every JMU license plate purchased through the Virginia DMV, $15 of the $25 specialty plate fee will go to JMU for scholarships.

Pound Puppies

Everyone knows that kids love Duke Dog, and now the "big dawg" is returning the purple passion. Duke Dog has unveiled the new JMU Dukes Puppy Pound -- an exclusive kids club for ages 4 to 12. Members get special tickets for JMU athletics events, free tickets to select games and hang-time with the Duke Dog. Members also receive a Puppy Pound T-shirt, prize pack, membership card, an autographed birthday card from Duke Dog, discounts at local businesses, invitations to members-only parties and use of the "club house" at www.jmusports.com/PuppyPound. Annual memberships are $25. For more information, call the Duke Club office at (540) 568-6461.

Alumni sluggers seize the capital

The JMU alumni softball team won the 2003 Capital Alumni Network championship beating undefeated and No. 1 seed Virginia Tech in a double-elimination tournament. JMU is the smallest (by enrollment) team to win the CAN championship. The Dukes, led this year by Heather Glynn ('95), joined the 41-member league in 1999. The Capital Alumni Network softball teams play weekly on the D.C. Mall and complete post-season at Bowling Air Force Base. "Thousands of D.C. alums witnessed the spirit of JMU alumni," says shortstop Greg Slang ('00). "Our all-together-one chants carried us through four months, 21 games and hundreds of rallying e-mails."

www.jmu.edu/monty