James Madison quarterback Vad Lee's performance in Saturday's 48-45 win at FBS opponent SMU did more than rewrite record books and earn national honors, it caught the attention of the Worldwide Leader.
Reporter Jeannine Edwards and an ESPN production crew visited JMU's campus on Monday to honor Lee in the network's weekly Big Man on Campus feature segment, which will air during the 6 p.m. SportsCenter on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Lee is the first FCS Player to be selected as the subject of the feature segment.
Beginning around 8 a.m., Edwards and crew followed Lee for most of the day around the Plecker Athletic Performance Center, a class in Miller Hall, the Student Success Center, D-Hall and walking around campus.
Lee broke JMU records for total offense and rushing yards in a game with his performance in Dallas on Saturday. He was named the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Week on Monday while also earning media mentions on ESPN, Fox, Sports Illustrated and other national and regional media outlets.
Edwards raved about her visit, stating of JMU, the experience of the day and Lee:
"What a beautiful campus, I had no idea. What I loved was that it's a smaller school which gave it a very warm, friendly environment. But it had all the bells and whistles of a bigger university. And all the students we came in contact with were pleasant and polite.
"Our shoot could not have gone better. Chris Brooks, Kevin Warner, Coach Withers and their staffs went out of their way to give us everything we needed to make the day a success. I think we got some unique and interesting behind the scenes footage. The kind of stuff football fans never get to see!
"As for Vad Lee... where do I start? My producer, Gregg Mullen, and I are so impressed with this young man. He's humble, warm and genuine. He's one of the many reasons our day was such a pleasant experience. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to share his story with the ESPN audience. They'll be rooting for him and the Dukes from here on out for sure! I know I will."
The ESPN visit came on Monday of game week as the Dukes prepare for Saturday's noon game vs. Stony Brook. Tickets for the Family Weekend event are still available at JMUSports.com/tickets or by calling 540-568-3853.
0 Response to "ESPN to Feature JMU’s Vad Lee as its Big Man on Campus"