"Vad to the bone!", 2015 October 24

The poster is a play on words from George Thorogood's song "Bad to the Bone" to cheer on James Madison University's 2015 quarterback, Lavaedeay "Vad" Monlique Lee.

"Vad smash", 2015 October 24

The poster plays on the popular catchphrase "Hulk smash" and depicts 2015 quarterback, Lavaedeay "Vad" Monlique Lee, as smashing the Richmond's mascot WebstUR the spider. The quote "Hulk smash" was made popular from a series of Marvel movies wherein the comic book character the hulk proclaims "HULK SMASH" before smashing something. While also popular from the comics themselves, the phrase made its way into pop culture references after Marvel began releasing movies with the Hulk often quoting the phrase in them. The poster references how the James Madison University quarterback is going to smash the Villanova football team.

Poster is signed by Jonathan "Jon" Alger, the President of James Madison University, Matt Brady, and Samantha "Sam" Ponder.

"Don't bring a CAT 2 a dog fight", 2017 October 14

The poster revises the common saying "don't bring a knife to a gunfight," popularized by the 1987 film "The Untouchables," to display the superiority of James Madison University's mascot, the Duke Dog, over Villanova's own Will D. Cat, the wildcat. The poster is meant to imply that not only are dogs better than cats but that James Madison University will perform better than Villanova's team.

"You vs. the guy she told you not to worry about", 2017 October 14

The poster follows a popularized internet format, commonly called a meme, to depict how James Madison University is better than Villanova. The image is commonly known as the "You vs. the guy meme" and is meant to be used to show how one guy is superior to another. The format traditionally depicts two images, usually men, side by side with the implication being that the image on the right is better and the more desirable. This poster implies that James Madison University is better and more likely to win, and thus that you should be worried if you are the other "guy" in the image.

"JMU Longer win streak than this guy", 2017 October 14

The poster uses the image of Austin Rogers, a famous Jeopardy player in 2017 who had a 12-game win streak. Known for his quirky yet funny anecdotes on Jeopardy, his image quickly became a househould face for a large portion of 2017. The poster uses his image paired with the saying as a statement on how well James Madison University's season is going. Going into the Villanova game, they had 17 wins in a row, outlasting Rogers' streak on Jeopardy. The poster talks to their successful season and how it will lead them to victory over Villanova. Their final season stats of (14-1; 8-0) displays their successful season and how the James Madison University football team had a longer winning streak than a popular Jeopardy star at the time.

"Your mascot poops in a box.", 2017 October 14

The poster comments on the animosity between cats and dogs by using the fact that domesticated cats use a litter box to make fun of Villanova's Will D. Cat the wildcat as being more domestic and less threatening than James Madison University's Duke Dog. The implication is that Villanova's football team will lose because they, like their mascot, are not threatening enough to beat James Madison University.

"JMU's gameday crowd > Villanova's season attendance", 2017 October 14

The poster discusses James Madison University's high attendance to football games. Villanova's 2017 season had low attendance rates, 5,649 average for their home team attendance. James Madison University's 2017 home team attendance is averaged around 21,724. The ESPN GameDay estimated attendance was around 14,000 people. The poster uses these statistics to show the support for James Madison University over Villanova and their hopes that this will impact the outcome of the game.

"Villanova hates yum-yum sauce", 2017 October 14

The poster uses yum-yum sauce, a Japanese steakhouse mayonnaise sauce, to undermine Villanova. Yum-yum sauce is a popularized condiment for Japanese cuisine in the United States but holds a particular fondness for James Madison University students. Brought to the dining hall, D-hall, around 2017, it was famous on campus to students as the superior sauce choice for stir-fry. This poster functions as a James Madison University inside joke to Villanova by insulting their lack of taste when it comes to condiment choices. It is then implied that their lack of taste will be reflected in how they perform at GameDay.

While popular, yum-yum sauce was a short lived condiment on campus. It was removed from D-hall after a few years and is now remembered fondly by those students who were on campus at the time.

"The costs of being a wildcat", 2017 October 14

The full poster details the specific costs of attending Villanova in 2017. It lists out the prices of tuition and fees, $49,430, room and board, $13,093, and books and miscellaneous items, $3,400. These prices are all added up and the total is stated as "1 a$$ kicking from JMU." The poster is discussing how Villanova's high cost to attend is not reflected in their ability to beat James Madison University at football. The poster is detailing not only James Madison University's lower cost of attendance but is attempting to explain how money at a university does not translate to techinical abilities on the field.

"Hi Mom & Dad", 2017 October 14

The poster functions as a gesture from a student to their parents during GameDay weekend. With GameDay being broadcast on ESPN, this poster is a way for a student to show their family where they are on the broadcast and say hello to them from the crowd.

JMU in hearts, 2017 October 14

The poster features James Madison University's colors of gold and purple with the university letters surrounded by hearts. The poster is made on a Pizza Hut sponsored GameDay poster. In 2017, it was Pizza Hut's third year as GameDay sponsor. These posters were handed out to students to create their own sayings for the football game.

"It's OVA Villanova", 2017 October 14

The poster states how James Madison's successful season, 17 straight wins at this point in 2017, will lead to a victory over the Villanova team. The statement of "it's OVA" is a reference to a common phrase about something already being done. The connotation here is that it is already over for Villanova and James Madison University will win.

The poster is made on a Pizza Hut sponsored GameDay poster. In 2017, it was Pizza Hut's third year as GameDay sponsor. These posters were handed out to students to create their own sayings for the football game.

Distracted Everett Withers, 2017 October 14

The poster uses a popular internet graphic from the 2010s to depict how former James Madison University head coach, Everett Withers is regretting his decision to leave and coach at Texas State University.

An internet meme is a humorous image online that is often replicated and parodied to fit specific situations. The poster uses the popular meme entitled "distracted boyfriend" which shows a guy walking with his girlfriend but looking back at another girl. Traditionally, the meme is used to show how someone is disloyal or regretting a choice they have made. The meme first appeared in early 2017 but by August 2017 was viral online.

The poster uses this viral internet frame to portray Everett Withers as the "distracted boyfriend" in the meme. James Madison University is the girl he is looking back at and Texas State University is his current girlfriend. After coaching the James Madison University football team in the 2015 GameDay, the poster implies his disloyalty to his current team and regret around not coaching James Madison University for their second GameDay. Brought on by James Madison University's strong season in 2017, a 17-game winning streak, it is implying they will not lose at GameDay this time around.

Additionally, the back of the poster has "Hey Papa Waller!" on it. This is likely a message from a student to their family. Knowing that GameDay will be streaming on ESPN, it would have served as a way for their family to see them on TV and say "hey" from the large GameDay crowd.

"This Female Will Talk Routes", 2017 October 14

The poster is in reference to a comment by Cam Newton, then Carolina Panthers quarterback, to reporter Jourdan Rodrigue on October 4, 2017. In response to her question about running routes with wide receiver Devin Funchess, Cam Newton responded "it's funny to hear a female talk about routes." This poster references said comment and undermines Newton's comment about women. The poster has an unknown signature on it.

"Villanova Eats at the Chum Bucket", 2017 October 14

The poster uses a pop culture reference to a popular children's television show to display how bad of a team Villanova is. Referencing the popular show Spongebob Squarepants, the poster is meant to show Villanova's distasteful nature in their choice of restaurant from the show. Notably, the show centers around the restaurant known as "The Krusty Krab", a popular eatery in the show compared to its rival the "Chum Bucket." The Chum Bucket is known for serving poor food, often chum, and is often considered the villain in the show. The poster references how Villanova is viewed in the same regard by James Madison University students. It is also inferred that due to their restaurant choice Villanova will lose the game because they have inferior restaurant tastes compared to James Madison University.

The poster has an unknown signature.

"'I got a national championship ring!' 'I got a rock...'", 2017 October 14

The poster uses a popular image from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" film to represent the superiority of James Madison University's football team over Villanova's. Using the image of Charlie Brown trick or treating in his ghost costume, Villanova is represented as the one who gets a rock in their bag. Paired with James Madison University's character, also dressed as a ghost, stating that they received a championship ring, it is meant to imply their superiority at football. This was a common internet image circulating at the time. It was commonly known as "Charlie Brown Halloween Rock Meme" and is meant to show how one person always gets something less than the other. The poster adds the university logos to each ghost character to further this point of James Madison University being better sports team than Villanova.

Sign reads "Joe Jonas I'm Single (also go dukes)" and is in reference to Joe Jonas's recent separation from Sophie Turner. Created by Olivia Lewis ('23).

The sign suggests that JMU will easily defeat Appalachian State, whose mascot is Yosef the Mountaineer. The hashtag #everythingschool is also included which refers to the JMU's success in numerous sports during the fall of 2023 including football, men's basketball, and women's soccer. While some colleges and universities are historically known to be a "football school" or a "basketball school", JMU conversely was colloquially recognized as an "everything school" by excelling in all things.

Sign includes purple and gold paw prints and a hand-drawn barking Duke Dog. Created by Lydia Endersby ('23).

The sign reimagines a line from the song "Munch (Feelin' U)" by Ice Spice, released in 2023, and presumably refers to Kevin Jonas. Created by Laine Kelly ('25).

Two-sided sign.

The primary side features the Duke Dog standing on the top of a mountain peak saying "Roll Dukes" while Yosef the Mountaineer, the Appalachian State mascot, rolls down on a boulder to the base of the mountain to join the other opponents JMU defeated earlier in the season.

The opposite side requests that Nick Jonas show his Dexcom device, a continuous glucose monitoring system for diabetes management, and the sign-holder will show him theirs. Jonas was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13.

The sign refers to ESPN College GameDay analyst Kirk Herbstreit's Golden Retriever named Ben who frequently accompanied Herbstreit on his trips to call and analyze football games. Ben was in attendance at JMU's College GameDay.

The NCAA's ruling that JMU was ineligible to play in a bowl game because of their two-year transition period from FCS to FBS demonstrates the NCAA's hatred for puppies. The sign features a picture of a crying Duke Dog.

Demands of the NCAA to let JMU play in a bowl game and invokes the Jonas Brothers by using a play on the popular phrase "What Would Jesus Do?"

A sign presumably created for a two-year-old JMU fan and future Duke.

Features the Duke Dog trash talking Appalachian State by making a pun about their mascot Yosef.

Two-sided sign.

One side accuses Applachian State of having pubic lice. Includes the hashtag #RollMotherF*ckingDukes. The creator of the sign was dressed in a crab suit during GameDay.

The second side features a map of Virginia (labeled JMU) and North Carolina (labeled App State) using it as rationale for Appalachian State being inferior to JMU.

During a November 13, 2023 press conference, Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the University of Michigan Wolverines football team, referred to his team as "America's team." The sign offers a counterpoint, asserting that JMU is actually America's team. Created by John Bowen Jr. ('04).

Two-sided sign.

One side features a play on words using the Sun Belt Conference, of which JMU became a member in 2022, and the phrase "fly too close to the sun" which refers to the story of Icarus in Greek mythology.

The second side requests information on Joe Jonas's impending divorce from actress Sophie Turner and follows up with the parenthetical question "Marry Me??"

The sign demonstrates fandom for JMU through the practice of sharing one's pronouns. Includes a graphic of the Duke Dog riding on a flying bald eagle.

The sign uses the lyrics of the Jonas Brothers song "Sucker" to convey the similarities and closeness between JMU and the band. Each of the Jonas Brothers' faces is superimposed on a bowling pin referring to the NCAA bowl eligibility controversy.

Accuses Desmond Howard of stealing Kirk Herbstreit's talking points for ESPN College GameDay. Both are analysts on the college football pre-game show. The sign may also allude to the University of Michigan sign-stealing controversy of 2023 given that Desmond Howard played college football at Michigan.

Features purple and gold "JMU" in bubble letters.

Features an image of Sophie Turner and Taylor Swift taken on the night of September 19, 2023 while the two were out in New York City. Also includes the hashtag #TeamSophie and select lyrics from Swift's song "Vigilante Shit." The sign is an obvious reference to Turner's recent separation from Joe Jonas.

Comments on the success of JMU's football team by making reference to the Jonas Brothers' song "Burnin' Up."

Two-sided sign.

One side declares that JMU (hot) is superior to App State (not).

The second side encourages people to support libraries.

Two-sided sign. Both sides are identical.

Uses lyrics to the Jonas Brothers' song "Sucker" to convey affinity for JMU.

Uses lyrics to the Jonas Brothers' song "Sucker" to convey affinity for JMU.

Demands of the NCAA to allow JMU play in a bowl game.

The sign predicts JMU will have a record of 11-0 after their game against Appalachian State, presuming a victory over the Mountaineers. Also includes the slogan made popular by Apple in 2009 claiming that there is an application for everything.

The sign redefines the NCAA acronym and presumably refers to its decision to not allow JMU to play in a bowl game.

Crossword-style graphic and includes image of embarrassed Duke Dog and football helmet.

The sign redefines the NCAA acronym and presumably refers to its decision to not allow JMU to play in a bowl game. Also includes the hashtag #letjmubowl.

James Madison is universally acknowledged as the Father of the Constitution due to his instrumental role in drafting the Constitution as well as the Bill of Rights. The sign argues that James Madison is also the father of football, a claim likely made due to JMU's dominance in football. Includes drawing of the American flag and the Duke Dog holding a copy of the Bill of Rights with the amendment "JMU shall bowl."

Quotes the Preamble of the Constitution to convince the NCAA to allow JMU to play in a bowl game. Includes image of James Madison wearing sunglasses and bowling pins labeled with each of JMU's opponents up until that point in the 2023 season. Created by Maddy Brendel ('27).

Refers to the two-year transition period the NCAA requires of teams that join new conferences before they're allowed to play in the postseason. Includes each teams' win percentage since 2022 when JMU formally joined the Sun Belt Conference. JMU had an 86% win percentage while Appalachian State's win percentage was 55%.

Demands that the NCAA allow JMU to play in a bowl game by touting the team's undefeated record. Other imagery identifies Appalachian State as losers while JMU are winners.

Printed sign features official JMU letters and an artifical intelligence (AI)-generated Duke Dog with a fierce facial expression and a crown.

Printed sign features JMU logo (Duke Dog on top of JMU letters) with the phrases "Duke Dog's Ready to Pound" and "Welcome to Our House!"

Accuses Appalachian State fans of urinating while standing and therefore being weak or effeminate or any number of other presumed insults associated with that manner of using the bathroom. The attack is likely targeted at men fans who would otherwise stand while they urinate. The word "Pee" is in yellow letters.

Four-sided laminated sign.

1. "Who Let the Dukes Out???" is a reinterpretation of the Baha Men's 2000 song "Who Let the Dogs Out." The song has historically been associated with sporting events.

2. "I'm a Sucker for (JM)U" uses lyrics to the Jonas Brothers' song "Sucker" to convey affinity for JMU.

3. "JMU = Virginia's School" asserts that JMU is the flagship university in the state, not Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, William & Mary, or others.

4. "We Want the Jonas Bros to Stay at JMU Until the Year 3,000?" refers to the Jonas Brothers' 2006 song "Year 3000."

Creator included initials and date to each side - "KEL 2023."

Features a game prediction alongside graphic of Baby Yoda (aka Grogu). The prediction uses the object-subject-verb pattern that is typical of Yoda speak.

Features a photoshopped image of Lee Corso, GameDay analyst, wearing a birthday cake hat. ESPN College GameDay formally celebrated its 30th anniversary as part of the festivities at JMU on November 18, 2023. The program first used a traveling broadcast model for its November 13, 1993 show.

Uses the hashtag #letJMUbowl to plead to the NCAA that JMU should be able to play in a post-season bowl game. The Duke Dog is featured holding a football and appears to be running similar to how a football player rushes for yards.

Features image of Count von Count from Sesame Street on a television screen with the numbers 11-0 to signify what would be JMU's record if they beat Appalachian State.

Two-sided sign.

The primary side of the sign includes a quote and scene from the movie Mean Girls during which Regina George (JMU), played by Rachel McAdams, insults Cady Heron (Appalachian State), played by Lindsay Lohan.

The other side pleads to Barstool Sports, a digital media company, to hire the creator of the sign who will be a 2024 graduate of the School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD) and claims "I need a job." Includes email address for contact.

Compares the average Appalachian State fan to Pinhead Larry, a character played by Patrick Star from the cartoon television show Spongebob Squarepants . Pinhead Larry is depicted as a dimwit and only has one tooth.

Includes official NCAA logo with "Unfair" underneath referring to the NCAA's decision to deny JMU from playing in a bowl game. Created by Riley Isakower ('22).

Crossword-style graphic asserting that JMU should be eligible to play in a bowl game with JMU-Duke Dog logo.

Invokes the popular internet meme "girl math" by using the equation that JMU plus an 11-0 record equals (or should equal) a bowl game. A 10-0 record is crossed out and replaced with an 11-0 record which presumes JMU will beat Appalachian State. The typical concept of girl math is a humorous way of rationalizing extravagent, unnecessary, or impulsive purchases.

Pair of complementary signs each shaped like a foot.

The left foot sign reads "Our Dawgs Are Barkin'" which is a common saying when someone's feet are hurt. It also refers to JMU's mascot which is a dog.

The right foot sign reads "Let the Dawgs Out" is a reference to the Baha Men's 2000 song "Who Let the Dogs Out." It also refers to JMU's mascot which is a dog.

Two-sided sign.

Primary side includes a scene from the television show The Office in which a younger Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, is shaking hands with his then boss Ed Truck, played by Ken Howard. The handshake meme is typically used to illustrate commonalities between two entities. In this case, the act of consistently making horrible decisions and the NCAA are shaking hands and are therefore in solidarity. This refers to the NCAA's decision to not allow JMU to play in a bowl game.

The second side is a black-and-white swirl optical illusion.

Images from the 2012 U.S. Open bowling tournament during which professional bowler Pete Weber bowled a strike during the final frame and subsequently won the tournament. Famously, Weber launched into a celebratory fit and yelled the incoherent phrase "Who do you think you are? I am!" This illogical celebration became a popular internet meme.

One image features Weber in his bowling stance. The NCAA logo is superimposed onto Weber and the JMU logo is superimposed onto Weber's bowling ball. The second image shows Weber's celebration with Curt Cignett's face superimposed onto Weber's face.

Includes the hashtag #letusbowl.

Two-sided sign.

One side has a congratulatory theme due to ESPN College GameDay's 30th anniversary.

The other side identifies the sign creators as both JMU alumni and parents to a student at the University of Auburn.

Refers to the viral Tik Tok motivational catchphrase "Never back down. Never What? Never give up" made popular by Nick Eh 30, an online streamer. Includes graphic of the Duke Dog his muscles.

Refers to the JMU tradition of holding the door for others when entering and exiting a building.

Two-sided sign.

Primary side includes a comparison of the University of Michigan and JMU football teams and concludes that the NCAA does not make sense. Michigan's head football coach, Jim Harbaugh, is noted as having been twice suspended in 2023 for impermissible recruiting and chating while JMU's coach was not suspended at all. Michigan was involved in a cheating scandal while JMU was not. Despite all of this Michigan was bowl eligible while JMU was not thus the argument that the NCAA is an illogical entity.

The second side reads "JMU Duuukes" which is a common chant among fans.

Festive sign that reads "Fans For 40 Years - ESPN College GameDay - Go Dukes! - Beat App State." Created by Kenny Sothoron ('83) and Rebecca Woodcock Sothoron ('85).

Features a scene from SpongeBob SquarePants with Patrick Star and Tattletale Strangler who are both in jail. Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh's head is superimposed onto Patrick Star and the Duke Dog-JMU logo is superimposed on Tattletale Strangler. Patrick Star/Jim Harbaugh is asking Tattletale Strangler/JMU "Hey pal, what're you in for?" referencing Harbaugh's suspension for cheating and presumably JMU's sentence brought down by the NCAA of being bowl ineligible.

Two-sided sign.

One side states that enrolling for a sixth year of college was a wise choice due to ESPN College GameDay visiting campus as well as JMU being superior in all things. Includes "Everything School" logo in JMU colors.

Second side uses a turn of phrase regarding dogs and bowls to argue that JMU, whose mascot is a dog, should be eligible to play in a bowl game. Includes graphic of the Duke Dog and a bowl-shaped trophy with a clip-art picture of a peach on it which presumably refers to the Peach Bowl.