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James Madison football star empties the quiver in celebration during bowl game win

19 December 2024 at 05:13

James Madison Dukes defensive lineman Eric O’Neill picked up a key sack in a win against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Wednesday night in the Boca Raton Bowl.

O’Neill then celebrated the sack by emptying the quiver on Hilltoppers quarterback Caden Veltkamp. It was not the only time he performed the celebration either, and college football fans on social media noticed.

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O’Neill had three tackles, including one sack, as James Madison won the game 27-17.

"It’s surreal. It’s probably the best moment of my life," he told ESPN after the win. "We got a bunch of (Football Bowl Championship) guys nobody wanted out of high school. Now, finished the season 9-4, winning bowl games at JMU. You can’t even dream of this."

He was asked about the celebrations after the game as well.

"It was just working hard, getting there and the celebration, I’m a big UFC fan so it was one of those," he said, via The Breeze. "I don’t blame them if they … if I’m an offensive lineman and someone did that to my quarterback, I’d probably want to push them."

It was the Dukes’ first bowl win as a Football Bowl Subdivision team. They moved up from the FCS prior to the 2022 season. Curt Cignetti, who is now the coach at Indiana, was James Madison’s head coach for their first two years at the highest level of college football.

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Bob Chesney took over after Cignetti left the team for the Hoosiers and guided the team to the bowl win.

O’Neill, a redshirt-junior from New York, transferred from Long Island University before the start of the 2024 season. He played in his first bowl game with a bunch of other teammates.

He wrapped up his first season at James Madison as a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference defensive lineman. He had 13 tackles and 52 total tackles. He also returned an interception for a touchdown.

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Appalachian State fans pelt James Madison players with snowballs before game

24 November 2024 at 06:14

The rivalry was back on between Appalachian State and James Madison University on Saturday with an added twist.

The Dukes traveled for the teams' annual contest to Boone, North Carolina, where snow had hit the area.

The field was all clear for play, but the stands still had mounts of the white stuff – and the fans took advantage.

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As the Dukes were entering the field from the tunnel, Mountaineer fans bombarded the players with snowballs.

It appeared that some players didn't mind one bit – some even seemed fueled by getting hit.

But maybe the Appalachian State fans had a good plan, as the Mountaineers came away with a 34-20 victory.

Joey Aguilar threw for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and Ahmani Marshall ran for 108 yards in the victory.

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Aguilar threw a 4-yard touchdown to Eli Wilson and a 64-yard touchdown to Makai Jackson to bring the Mountaineers (5-5, 3-4 Sun Belt) into a tie at 17 with 1:23 left before halftime.

After forcing the Dukes to punt, App State came up with a blocked punt and Michael Hetzel returned it 9 yards for a touchdown to give the Mountaineers the lead for good with 40 seconds left before intermission.

With the loss, James Madison (8-3, 4-3) is eliminated from a chance to represent the East Division in the conference championship game.

The game was almost one year to the day the Mountaineers ruined James Madison's perfect season, as the Dukes had considered legal action after being ruled ineligible for a bowl game.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Jason Kelce chugs beers during eventful visit to Appalachian State tailgate

23 November 2024 at 19:24

Former NFL star Jason Kelce got a first-hand look at the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team on Saturday.

Kelce made the trip to Boone, North Carolina, for the Mountaineers' matchup with James Madison. App State was ultimately able to pull off the 34-20 victory. If the Mountaineers pick up their sixth win of the season next week, they become bowl eligible.

But before Saturday's game, Kelce made his way to the tailgate area and was seen chugging beers. The retired Philadelphia Eagles center and seven-time Pro Bowler even took a few minutes to participate in karaoke.Β 

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Kelce also posed for pictures with some fans before he entered Kidd Brewer Stadium.

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Kelce, who signed with ESPN in May and makes routine appearances on "Monday Night Countdown," also addressed the crowd and made a brief appearance on the ESPN+ broadcast.

In April, Jason and his brother Travis received their college diplomas from the University of Cinncinati. Travis celebrated the moment in true Kelce style.

After shaking hands with the university's president, Dr. Neville Pinto, onstage, Travis chugged a can of beer as the Beastie Boys' hit song "Fight for Your Right" played in the arena. Travis would often recite the lyrics to the song following the Kansas City Chiefs' games and during the team's Super Bowl celebrations.

While Travis and Jason previously graduated from Cincinnati, they both missed out on their actual commencement ceremonies, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Travis and the Chiefs play the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte on Sunday. Bank of America Stadium, the Panthers' home stadium, is located roughly 100 miles from Appalachian State's Kidd Brewer Stadium.

Earlier this week, a dispute over an autograph resulted in Kelce having a less than pleasant exchange with a fan.

After filming an appearance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" Thursday night, a man directed a profanity-laced tirade at Kelce over the former Eagles lineman's decision not to sign autographs for a group of people behind a fence. The incident, first reported by TMZ Sports, was captured on video.

Through the shouting, a calm Kelce attempted to explain his reasoning as he was about to get into a vehicle. "I have a habit of not signing for people that follow where I’m going," Kelce said.Β 

The incident with the fan on Thursday comes just weeks after Kelce smashed someone's phone after the unidentified person shouted a homophobic slur about Travis Kelce while Jason was walking near the Nittany Lions' home stadium.

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