Midnight in Chattanooga

During A Five-Year Stretch In The Middle Of The Decade The James Madison Dukes Emerged As One Of The Elite Programs In Fcs Football. Behind A Confident Coach And An Established Recruiting Pipeline The Dukes Steamrolled Their Way To Four Playoff Appearances One National Championship And A 49-15 Record From 2004-2008. The Origins Of This Run However Began Much Earlier - In Critical Moments And Decisions Made During A Long Rebuilding Effort. Madison Football Had Most Recently Been Marked By Poor Attendance Young Players Mediocrity And Tragedy When The 2004 Season Opened. And Yet There Also Existed A Foundation Of Camaraderie Purpose And Talent - The Building Blocks Of A Successful Program. As The '04 Season Got Underway The Backdrop Of An Embattled Coach A Quarterback Controversy And A Family In Pain Gave Way To Thrilling Plays Comeback Victories And A Historic Run That Changed The Future Of The Program. In Midnight In Chattanooga James Irwin Examines The Disparity Between The Pre- And Post-Championship Landscapes Of Jmu Football Giving Readers An Exclusive Look At The Pivotal Season - And Game - That Catapulted The Dukes To The Upper Levels Of The Fcs Arms Race. Fortunate To Cover The Dukes Throughout The 2004 Season Irwin Weaves Through A Powerful Story Of A Group Of Men On The Doorstep Of Their First Championship The Friendships They Developed The Tragedies They Overcame And The Community That Embraced Them.