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OCT. 1, 2026 VOL. 105 NO. 7 BREEZEJMU.ORG

JMU faces off against UVA in charity boxing match 10 | Culture

DUKING IT OUT How political are Dukes?

Tight end breaks out in 6th season

NBA should go back to the basics

4 | News

14 | Sports

19 | Opinion

FAMILY WEEKEND SPECIAL EDITION INSIDE

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BREEZE

THE

18 09

CHBS receives $3.5 million donation for expansion

Milk lovers join together on campus

ON THE COVER COVER BY: KIRAH VILLANUEVA

COVER PHOTO: LANDON SHACKELFORD / THE BREEZE

Dukes face Marshall on home turf

13 18

How corporate greed affects sports

A charity boxing exhibition made the crowd roar last weekend as UVA and JMU boxers went head-to-head in Charlottesville. Four Dukes fought at showdown, but UVA came out on top 3-1 in the College Boxing Civil War.

Find out why 10,000

The Breeze is a nationally recognized multimedia organization with a century long legacy of award-winning journalism. On Campus. Online. On Point. Multimedia platforms with tremendous reach to the JMU community offering award-winning innovative marketing solutions

NEWS

EDITORS Charlie Bodenstein & Emma Brown

EMAIL breezenews@gmail.com

Summer Solis / The Breeze

Do Dukes care about politics? By DANNY INAL contributing writer With the 2026 midterm elections just over a month away, the battle for the legislature is reaching a boiling point. The Breeze sat down with Dukes to see how they’re staying informed, how they feel about the election and what issues are driving them to the ballot box. Student perspectives varied in terms of media diet. Those who considered themselves politically informed tended to use legacy media — newspaper, TV and radio —or a mix of legacy and social media to stay informed, instead of relying solely on social media. Colin Schilpp, a sophomore international affairs major, said that when he seeks information, he uses a combination of major news outlets and independent journalists to educate himself on issues. Some students were frank about the fact they didn’t know much about news or politics. Bailey Carroll, a freshman social work major, explained she didn’t have much interest in politics, as she only recently became eligible to vote. “I personally am not … into politics, just because … I haven’t been able to vote until recently … it hasn’t been in my realm of life, if you will,” Carroll said. “But as we are getting close to the election, I do intend to educate myself, see what’s going on.” Across the board, most Dukes said they intend to participate in the midterms. There was a general sense among the interviewees that the election was of great consequence, though some felt underinformed about the subject. Sophia Flynn, a freshman nursing major, was candid about her blind spots and said the midterms seem absent from her media environment. “I don’t know much about the midterms. I feel like it’s recently been harder to keep up with everything that’s been going on,” Flynn said. “I’m not seeing political campaigns when I’m watching stuff, or I’m not seeing stuff about voting a lot.” Among those who felt adequately informed, there was a feeling that they could reverse the current trajectory of the country.

Stephen Kouar, a senior nursing major, was enthusiastic about the capacity for change. “I think that it is always important to vote, but especially this time, because this time we can actually do something about it,” Kouar said. “We can use all of the distaste that we have for what’s currently going on in the world and … how disillusioned and how upset we are, as a way of causing actual tangible change in the world.” Shlipp echoed Kouar’s thoughts, speaking on the potential significance of a Democratic victory this November. “It could be a pretty big shift of power if Democrats win a majority of the seats. It could … change the course of domestic and international politics,” Schilpp said.

an oil tanker … has to bring it all the way over. So I think that’s what’s really at stake is the cost of everything.” The economic concerns don’t stop with gas prices. Josie Kim, a freshman elementary education major, raised concerns about the cost of medical care in the nation. “America has … great resources for doctors, surgeons, all of the above,” Kim said. “It is just out of reach because [of] money.” The interviewed students also expressed concerns for a myriad of other issues, the most prominent being concerns about ICE’s conduct and combating climate change. Read more online at breezejmu.org

The issues students care about: cost of living, ICE and gas prices

CONTACT Danny Inal at inaldm@jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

The prospect of a midterm “blue wave” has its skeptics. Raven Thomas, a sophomore biology major, voiced her criticism of the optimism held by many who oppose the Trump administration. “I don’t think the backlash is going to be nearly as much as people like to play it up to be, just because of the lack of better options at the moment,” Thomas said. “I feel like a lot of people are unsatisfied with their candidate options in general, which I think is going to influence how people vote.” Though most students agreed on the importance of the midterms, there were some dissenting voices. Carter Goodman, a freshman intelligence analysis major, didn’t put much weight on the influence of the legislative branches. “It’s hard for me to see the effect that … the Senate and the House of Reps has on … my life because the only big decisions I see made are by the president,” Goodman said. Many students The Breeze spoke to said the cost of living crisis was at the top of their minds. Will Picardi, a senior accounting major, said that gas prices were his top concern this November. “I think gas prices have been exorbitant. I think that affects everything,” Picardi said. “If you buy something from abroad,

‘I don’t know much about the midterms ... it’s been harder to keep up with everything.’ - Sophia Flynn freshman nursing major

Harrisonburg looks to add passenger rail NEWS

By ISABEL LEWIS The Breeze

Picture this: You’re headed home for the weekend, but not by car, rideshare, bus or plane. Down the tracks, you can hear the hum of your train approaching the station. You step aboard, glancing out at the Blue Ridge Mountains on your way home. The Harrisonburg City Council is attempting to turn this into a reality. The council unanimously endorsed the expansion of a passenger rail in Harrisonburg and has submitted a request to the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) for the project. At this point, the details of the expansion are undetermined, and it is not yet certain whether the project will be approved by Virginia’s DRPT. Every four years, the Virginia DRPT reevaluates its Statewide Rail Plan. This year happens to be a reevaluation year. The rail plan is a framework for where freight and passenger trains will travel throughout the state, and outlines short-term and long term rail projects. By endorsing a passenger rail system and submitting a request, Harrisonburg becomes a location that Virginia’s DRPT will consider, gather research on and explore

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

potential options for Harrisonburg in its Statewide Rail Plan. “There’s a lot of studies to be done, but I think you know a couple things point to Harrisonburg specifically as why it would be a potential good location for Virginia,” Vice Mayor Dany Fleming said. KC Kettler, who works as the coordinator for Livable Harrisonburg and as a planning commissioner for the Harrisonburg Planning Commission, described this stage of the project as “the start of a marathon.” He defined three potential routes that the passenger rail could take. The first option would head northeast through Elkton up to Washington. The second option would travel south to Charlottesville, then northeast to Washington. The third option would also travel to Charlottesville, but instead of heading to Washington, it would stop in Richmond and potentially continue to Newport News. In April, the Virginia Breeze bus line began running a similar route from Harrisonburg to Hampton Roads in Virginia Beach. “When you look at who is moving around in the state by passenger rail, a huge portion of it is students,” Kettler said. Nearly half of Harrisonburg’s population is college students, Kettler said. This is important in defining Harrisonburg’s eligibility to receive a passenger rail as students make up one of the largest demographics of public transportation users. College students tend to “disproportionately” ride transit and rail, and 47% of all Virginia Amtrak ridership came from towns or cities with major college presences in

2025, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Program Manager Gabriel Morey said. Next year, the state will complete a project expanding a passenger rail to Christiansburg, bringing Radford and Virginia Tech within 10 miles of a passenger rail, Morey said. He added that this would leave JMU as the largest four-year public institution in Virginia without a direct Amtrak connection. As JMU continues to expand and has set its enrollment target at 30,000 students by 2040, that could entail 30,000 students commuting in and out of Harrisonburg in a car or bus on I-81. Transportation services in the Valley have seen slow, but consistent growth. Morey, who grew up in Harrisonburg and now lives in Washington, had the initial dream for Harrisonburg to expand its public transportation network. While in undergrad at William & Mary, Morey said he appreciated the availability of multiple daily trains to and from Richmond and Northern Virginia. “I quickly discovered just how convenient that was for being able to get around, and just how pleasant it was to not have to take I-95 everywhere,” Morey said. “When I left William & Mary, I started wondering, ‘Why couldn’t Harrisonburg get back into the state rail network, and what would it take to get there?’” Morey said. Read more online at breezejmu.org CONTACT Isabel Lewis at thebreezesocials@gmail. com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

47% of Amtrak ridership in 2025 came from towns or cities with major college presences. Breeze file photo

Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed (above) endorsed the passenger rail at a Sept. 22 City Council meeting. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

‘How can we support them?’ Potential loss of TPS status leaves Salvadoran immigrants in limbo By BRANDON PORTILLO APONTE The Breeze Salvadoran nationals with Temporary Protection Status (TPS) are finding themselves in a state of limbo after the Trump administration didn’t officially extend or terminate their TPS designation. TPS is a legal designation offered to foreign nationals due to conditions in their home country that prevent them from returning safely. These include ongoing armed conflicts, environmental disasters, and other extraordinary and temporary conditions, according to the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website. On Sept. 9, the U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services website was updated to read, “An announcement on El Salvador’s TPS will be made at the appropriate time. Until such announcement is made, Salvadoran individuals present in the United States under TPS retain protection including work authorization.” Following this announcement, confusion ensued among members of the immigrant community, as the status expired on Sept. 9. Although the status remains until an official announcement is made, many Salvadorans, including JMU students, are unsure of what their families’ futures in the U.S. look like. “I was just really anxious because I was about to have my parents become undocumented,” senior nursing major Valeria Alvarado Martinez

said. “Then they released a statement saying that Salvadorans will be able to continue having TPS, but we don’t know until when, and so it’s just very unfortunate because there’s a lot of uncertainty in the future.” Alvarado Martinez is a first-generation college student, and she expressed the weight that these immigration decisions have put on her shoulders. “I just keep pushing through,” Alvarado Martinez said. “At the end of the day, I’m about to be 21 in April. I got to keep pushing through for my parents because I’m the only way for them to get their citizenship.” The New Bridges Immigrant Resource Center — a non-profit in Harrisonburg — is familiar with cases like Alvarado Martinez’s. It says the impact of this decision has been felt among Harrisonburg locals, and it’s unsurprised, yet saddened by the situation. “Our reaction is often a mix of heartbreak, deep breaths and touching base with what we need to support the mission and how to move forward,” Executive Director Chris Hoover said. “People are still here. They’re still connected to New Bridges. How can we support them? What have they experienced in their country of origin? The answers to those questions usually point us in the direction of what other options may be there for them, legally speaking.” Hoover says they’ve dealt with TPS terminations in the past year, as the Trump administration has ended that status for many

Valeria Alvarado Martinez (above) is a first-generation college student. Brandon Portillo Aponte / The Breeze

groups, including Venezuelan, Honduran and Haitian nationals. “This is not something new to this administration,” Hoover said. “But there’s certainly been an uptick, and it has been very rapid. Some of the systems that we’re used to relying on in our day-to-day work are changing, are shutting down, are closing, and so we feel like we’re constantly needing to assess what resources

we have and how we are able to move forward with the work that we’re here to do.” Read more online at breezejmu.org CONTACT Brandon Portillo Aponte at thebreezesocials@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

JMU receives $3.5 million donation to expand CHBS By JUSTIN BRAUNSTEIN The Breeze

JMU received a $3.5 million gift for the College of Health and Behavioral Studies (CHBS) expansion to help JMU keep up with booming healthcare industry demands, according to the JMU website. Richard Gilliam, the donor of the money, was married to Leslie Flanary Gilliam (‘82), who served on the Board of Visitors, helped establish Madison Trust and

JMU received $3.5 million for CHBS expansion. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

was a member of Women for Madison. In 2016, Leslie passed away after a battle with cancer. “We’re especially glad the Gilliam family made the gift in honour of our longtime board member and alum Leslie Flanary Gilliam,” Vice President of Philanthropy and Engagement Nick Langridge said, who also gave JMU's biggest donation ever a few years ago.

Where’s the money going?

Dean of the College of Health and Behavioral Studies Sharon Lovell said the money will go toward new technologies and simulation labs along with expanding classroom sizes to graduate more students. According to Lovell, the CHBS building will have an entire floor dedicated to the nursing program with skill and simulation labs. Another floor will be used for research and teaching labs for health professions such as kinesiology and dietetics. Also featured on this floor will be dietetics consultation and research, as well as research on human movement and well-being. Lastly, Lovell said JMU will install a new camera system that will be featured throughout some of the spaces in the CHBS building. “There will be a camera system that allows faculty to record students engaging in their

training,” Lovell said. “The students and the faculty can watch what’s recorded, so they can assess their learning and behaviours; that’s a very expensive system.”

Effects on Virginia healthcare workforce

JMU currently admits 113 students into the nursing program per semester, with 226 nursing students graduating each year, according to Lovell. However, beginning next summer, JMU will increase its graduating class to 256 with the BSN-Fast Flex Pathway. By the time the Leslie Flanary Gilliam Building opens, the graduating class will expand to 286 students, Lovell said. “This past summer, we started a different approach to nursing: students are taking classes in the evening and clinic hours on the weekend,” Lovell said. “That, in combination with the new spaces, allows us to graduate more students and help meet workforce demands.” Read more online at breezejmu.org CONTACT Justin Braunstein at braunsjw@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @ TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @ BreezeJMU.

CULTURE EDITORS Bella Arist & Audrey Fletcher

EMAIL thebreezeculture@gmail.com

JMU, UVA students throw down at charity boxing exhibiton match By JUSTIN BRAUNSTEIN & EDISON VRANIAN The Breeze

Bout results

UVA fans roared in the CHS gym in hostility, and JMU lost its first bout. Next, Moore fought in a heavyweight clash. Despite losing by UD, Moore was adamant that he had a great time. “I got caught with the overhand a couple times,” Moore said. “Still my first time. I’m definitely going to learn from my mistakes and come back and put BTA next time.” After JMU lost its first two matches, Bakhat used his jab and crafty footwork to take home a belt and UD victory for JMU. “It was a good moment,” Bakhat said. “Seeing the belt, of course, holding it, pretty heavy, nice material, nice quality, made me very proud of myself.” UVA was leading 2-1, JMU had the chance to tie. It came down to a dogfight between Gardner and a UVA fighter. After a great show of heart from both parties — Gardner lost the last fight by a UD, resulting in UVA reigning victorious over JMU in the College Boxing Civil War, 3-1.

Blood splattered and the crowd roared as two student boxers went toe to toe. The two fighters exchanged fierce combinations back and forth, — and the results came down to the day’s final matchup. JMU and UVA students duked it out in a charity “College Boxing Civil War” on Sept. 26. Street Underdog Warriors fight promotion hosted the event, promoted by Streetbeefs, with a boxing ring and spectators at the Charlottesville High School (CHS) gym.

Streetbeefs, Street Underdog Warriors

Chris Wilmore, known as “Scarface,” is the founder of Streetbeefs and co-owner of Street Underdog Warriors. Wilmore founded Streetbeefs in 2008 in Harrisonburg after a good friend of his was murdered. Wilmore said that was the “spark” that led to the idea. Streetbeefs are unsanctioned mixed martial arts (MMA) and boxing fights that take place in “the scrap yard.” Anyone can participate in Streetbeefs regardless of experience. The fights do not count toward amateur or professional records. “At Streetbeefs, we have people travel from all over,” Wilmore said. “Some want to pursue a career in fighting, and we are giving them a platform to do so; others just want to test themselves.” Street Underdog Warriors, which hosted the event, differs from Streetbeefs because the events are sanctioned with state official referees, including official pro and amateur bouts. However the fights still count toward an amateur or pro record. Wilmore, along with his business partner George Rivera, owns Street Underdog Warriors.

JMU boxers

Four JMU students showed up to fight in the College Boxing Civil War against UVA, along with one employee of Burgers + Fries in Festival Food Court, Jeffery Mycek, 43 — known as “Demon Monsoon” — who has participated in over 47 Streetbeefs fights. “They asked me, ‘Do you want to come out and fight?’ I said, ‘Let’s do it.’ Especially when it’s JMU versus UVA — I’ve got to represent JMU,” Mycek said.

Sentiment of the event

Although Mycek won his fight by a unanimous decision (UD), no points were awarded to JMU since Mycek is not a student. For the JMU students, the experience level varied. Junior mechanical engineering and mathematics major Dylan Moore said he’d been training in boxing for just one day leading up to this event. “It just sounded fun; I signed up five days ago and never fought before in my life,” Moore said. “If I lose, I’m going to return my gloves cause they were $70, and I don’t have that [money] to waste.” Junior computer information systems major Otman Bakhat and senior biology major Raymond Gardner had a little more experience. Bakhat has been training in kickboxing and MMA since February. Gardner is on the club wrestling team at JMU and started training in boxing about one month ago.

UVA reigned victorious over JMU in the College Boxing Civil War, 3-1. Photos by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

Wilmore was an at-risk youth who grew up in a livein boxing facility called Yuri Boxing Academy, where he participated in 43 amateur boxing matches. He said the boxing match that happened between the students were reminicent of childhood memories. “We were young boys growing up in a live-in facility; anytime we’d argue, my coach said we were going to spar till we loved each other,” Wilmore said. “I used to say that sounds ridiculous, but I had seen it happen; I seen it just now. Afterwards, UVA and JMU fighters were hanging out, taking pics together; that’s the brotherhood of boxing.” Proceeds from the event will go to Wartime Fitness Warriors (WFW), a non-profit for at-risk youth that offers mental health support and boxing training. Rivera is the founder, CEO and executive director of WFW. The other half of the proceeds will go to a charity of UVA’s choice that students will vote on. CONTACT Justin Braunstein at braunsjw@dukes.jmu. edu and Edison Vranian at vraniawe@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts, and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

CULTURE

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Opinion | From 15 seconds to a series

By SHISHIRA NAKKA The Breeze

Ki ra h

Vi lla nu ev a/

Th e

Br ee ze

There was a time when getting a television show meant you were talented. You were an actor, singer, or maybe you could survive a competitive, even embarrassing obstacle course with a host who sort of looks like Ken from Barbie. It seems now, however, that all you really need is a few thousand TikTok followers and all of a sudden, you’re important. The entertainment industry has developed an interesting habit of putting people who found social media fame into roles that are not well suited for them. Influencers are getting reality shows, acting roles and entire TV series because it feels like the whole world already knows a version of them. Some feel they need to disprove it, or in some cases, prove it. Charli D’Amelio is one example. After becoming one of the biggest stars and accounts on TikTok, she was whisked away to a spot on “Dancing with the Stars” and made a main character in “The D’Amelio Show” — the audience was meant to watch Charli and the D’Amelio family renegade their way to fame … while already being famous.

Now, it’s Alix Earle with the exboyfriend that everyone knows and the casual top for a bar in Jersey. Her reach extends beyond TikTok and into a new series on Netflix, “Earle Meets World.” I saw a TikTok comment recently that said: “We should make podcast equipment more expensive.” For some reason, that feels apt to bring up here. This recent change in the direction of reality television begs the question: who do we give an even larger platform? There’s no issue with influencers becoming celebrities — it’s more the evolution of the definition of “celebrity” that we’re watching change in real time. A celebrity used to be someone you attached a certain image to — someone from a movie, a band or a show. Now, the person and their identity come first, and the content they create comes second. It used to be “what are they famous for?” Now, it’s “why are they even famous?” This isn’t a bad thing — fame is suddenly more accessible, and every dream seems closer and closer within reach. Are we defined by what we do, or how we make people feel? We’re watching the entertainment industry build stages around people who already have their own platforms. TikTokers can post a random video from their room with an Aritzia haul, an

Erewhon taste test or an edit of “Heated Rivalry” and gain enough traction to take on the world. If the person behind the phone is good enough, someone with a camera team steps in to say, “What if we followed you around forever?” Maybe this is simply what a celebrity looks like now. Someone with a code to use at checkout, an NFL boyfriend, an “anxiety pen” or someone learning a 15-second dance to perform in the corner of their room. If the world deems them worthy, the chances for fame and fortune are endless. And if you’re someone like Charli or Alix, the rest of your life is beginning, and I guess we should all be lucky to witness it? I’ve never looked forward to that person on TikTok telling me to take a scroll break more. CONTACT Shishira Nakka at nakkasl@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts, and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

REEL IT IN Movie review| ‘Resident Evil’ By CALEB BICKMORE

contributing writer

“Resident Evil” (2026) excels at creating tension and delivering great scares, all while including humorous commentary on the ridiculousness of the survival horror genre. Zach Cregger, the director of “Barbarian” (2022) and Oscar-nominated film “Weapons” (2025), succeeds in encapsulating the eerie aura of the “Resident Evil” franchise while still subverting the audience’s expectations. Straying away from its video game counterpart, Cregger used an original script written specifically for the big screen. Franchise favorite Leon Kennedy is not in the film. Instead, our main character is an organ courier charged with delivering what he believes is an organ, but is actually something much bigger than he could’ve ever imagined. Austin Abrams plays the main character, Bryan, excellently. While being chased by zombies and fighting tentacled beasts, Abrams encapsulates the true horror any one of us would be feeling if we were dropped into a zombie apocalypse. He isn’t the perfect protagonist; he scrambles to fight, doesn’t know how to use guns and isn’t a track star. Bryan is a normal guy dropped into a bad situation; through the movie, you watch him grow and maybe even gain some action-hero aura. Some people are interested in the hero’s arc, but the real reason “Resident Evil” will sell most of its tickets is the monsters. The T-virus is not your normal zombie virus. These zombies don’t stumble slowly — they run. To highlight a scene that stuck with me the most after watching the movie, we find Bryan in an abandoned house. He looks out the window at where he had previously escaped a zombie attack. Slowly moving into the wide shot frame, the same female zombie he had thought he killed is running at a full sprint towards him. Immediately, Bryan goes cold and begins to panic. He can’t seem to load his shotgun with shells, and while he’s trying to reload, we see the zombie running, getting closer, until we finally hear it bust down the front door. What makes this movie so good is how it builds tension. In its 90-minute runtime, Cregger uses every second to make the audience feel like it’s trapped. The camera follows the main character over the shoulder, in first-person, and in overhead shots — which was intended to remind audiences of the horror video games it’s inspired by. Cregger is gaining a reputation as one of the best directors in horror, and if you are looking for a good scare and a fun time at the movies, I would recommend “Resident Evil.” Read more online at breezejmu.org CONTACT Caleb Bickmore atyw4jkx@dukes. jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts, and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @ TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

CULTURE

You see how this looks, right?’ Controversy around ‘Primetime’ By JACK MCGUINNESS & RYAN TIBBS

“Primetime” is Lance Oppenheim’s first fictional narrative film. His previous work has been a documentary following bizarre subjects, including a sperm donor with 165 children, a Renaissance fair owner in his 80s who meets women on sugar dating sites and an awards show for defense attorneys making sympathetic videos of their clients to sway judges into lighter sentences. Although he’s entering new territory with his first fiction movie, his unique style remains clear in “Primetime.” This transition is made easier, as he’s brought along composer Ari Balouzian and cinematographer David Bolen, who he worked with previously. They helped maintain his style with eerie soundscapes, cold blue interiors and TV screens that shine like spotlights on characters’ faces. “Filmmakers who have been at it for long enough know that there is no real possibility of filming life without manipulating it,” Oppenheim said to IndieWire. Oppenheim held to this belief in his work by addressing the false reliability of documentaries in his filmmaking process. He builds a trusting relationship with his subjects, and then films recreations of stories from their lives that deliver on the emotions they felt in those moments. With this philosophy in mind, it makes sense why the subject of his first fictional film is a man whose work completely betrays these beliefs. Chris Hansen’s reality show “To Catch a Predator” purposely catches suspected sex offenders with their “pants down” in order to interrogate them. “Primetime” focuses so heavily on this aspect of media being manipulated and weaponized that the characters even mount cameras onto police firearms. Oppenheim also explores what happens when Hansen’s tactics are reversed on him as National Enquirer photographers blackmail him with photos of his affair.

Kirah Villanueva / The Breeze

The Breeze

Although “Primetime” isn’t the typical narrative expected of Oppenheim, it still bears his signatures and may drive audiences to explore his nonfiction work. On Aug. 25, he sent TMZ part of his NDA. I’ll save you all the legal jargon, but according to Hansen, the NDA “releases (all involved) from any and all claims and demands coming out of or in connection with the project, including recipients’ screening of the project.” That same night, Hansen did about the funniest thing he could do: He bought ad space in front of the film to promote his own streaming service, TruBlu. So, viewers get to see the real Hansen before seeing his apparent evil alternate self in the feature. Two Hansens for the price of one. Hansen may have gotten the responses to his questions before he even took his trip to Manhattan. In an email sent to

the Los Angeles Times on Aug. 8, A24 predicted that Hansen would not be a fan of the film. They wrote, “Chris work was an important inspiration for ‘Primetime’. While the film didn’t require individual consultation or permission during production, we’d love to have Chris support of the film to the extent he feels comfortable. If not, we’d certainly understand.” One word in that email gave Hansen the admission he was looking for, whether he’s satisfied with it or not: “Inspiration.” Hansen has never been trying to shut the film down or to make it look bad. In fact, he’s going to inevitably get more eyes on him and his product just because there’s a major motion picture based on him and his work. All he wanted was for A24 to publicly admit that it was loosely based on him, and by no means factual. They did that, even doing so weeks before he walked into that Manhattan office, just maybe not as publicly as Hansen would like. The drama surrounding the film doesn’t seem to have had any effect on how the film will perform in theaters. Indiewire forecasts “Primetime” to nab $16-20 million on opening weekend, potentially making back up to 100% of the film’s estimated $20 million budget. Having Robert Pattinson, a Hollywood darling and certified box office draw, certainly helps. Pattinson himself doesn’t seem deterred by the hubbub, telling The Hollywood Reporter: “Obviously, I hope he likes the movie … There’s something electrifying about him. I would hope, in some ways, the inspiration his character has given a lot of people for years is some kind of compliment.” Clearly, someone hasn’t told Rob the bad news. CONTACT Jack McGuinness at mcguinjr@dukes.jmu.edu and Ryan Tibbs at TibbsRA@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @BreezeJMU.

Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Dairy lovers unite at new Milk Club By SARAH HENDRIX contributing writer

Summer Solis / The Breeze

The new Milk Club at JMU is exactly what it sounds like — a place where students gather to drink milk. Freshman engineering major Josiah Medlin started the year strong, looking to bring people together at JMU with a lighthearted, silly idea. Inspired by his sister, who started the Milk Club at the University of Cincinnati, Medlin brought the family legacy here. “I just thought it was really funny that anybody would be interested in joining a club about milk,” Medlin said. “But people like talking to other people and enjoying themselves.” He started unsure if it could take off here quite like it did at UC, but the plan began to take shape during Weeks of Welcome. Surrounded by a group of random freshmen guys, Medlin found his milk lovers and his vice president. “They were like, ‘You have to make this,’” Medlin said. “I asked, ‘Who wants to be the vice president?’ So this is him, Luke Donovan.” Brought together by chance, the pair hopes to create a valuable club and community. And as of Sep. 30, its GroupMe is thriving with 99 interested students. “Most of what I’ve seen so far is people randomly sending pictures of milk or just cows that they pass in their daily life,” junior graphic design major Emily Jones said. Medlin assured that everyone is welcome. This is not a boycott of alternative milks … mostly. “We do not like soy milk there. That’s it. Soy milk is the only one that we’re like ‘no,’” Medlin said.

The obvious point of the meetings is to gather and drink milk, but it goes beyond simple taste testing. The “milk mile,” a running challenge where participants chug milk while finishing a one mile run, is just one of the amusing ideas members can look forward to. Other ideas included themed discussions with absurd questions such as, “If you were an alien, what kind of milk would you drink?” or presentation nights. Plans are up in the air, but one sounded definitive — milk jousting with a jug and shopping cart. Medlin has hopes of getting sponsorships from local dairy farms to fuel the club’s inventory. Thus far, Fairlife chocolate milk holds the No. 1 spot on his roster, but the president has recently heard of a local creamery with a supposedly better option. “I need to try it,” Medlin said. “I might change my mind.” Medlin is no amateur in the milk community. He has gotten his hands on gallons and udders, but not just the usual kind. He has milked a cow and a goat. The club sounds almost bizarre, but it has generated tons of interest from students. “Just do it,” Jones said. “You’re not going to have anything bad happen from it, so just come for a laugh.” The club has no dues, no required commitment and no rules. Interested students can visit the Instagram page @ Jmumilkclub for information or join the GroupMe and wait in anticipation for after fall break, when it is planned to launch. Medlin is making the final tweaks to the constitution before it can be approved. “It’s growing,” sophomore biology major Adam Berg said. “It would make sense to join on the ground floor to see how you could contribute.” CONTACT Sarah Hendrix at @dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @BreezeJMU.

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Cole Keller finds place with JMU football By LIBBY MERCER The Breeze

After spending four seasons at Division II Washburn, sixthyear tight end Cole Keller said he left on a “whim,” because he got limited playing time and lost two seasons due to injury. He had verbally committed to a school in Washburn’s conference, the University of Central Oklahoma, with the paperwork ready to sign and go. That was until he took a call from ETSU offensive coordinator Cam Aiken, who convinced him to visit. The night before the visit, Keller called to back out, but Aiken kept him on the phone for over an hour to convince him. “If you’ve ever been recruited by coach Aiken, or if he’s ever tried to get you to do anything, he does not understand ‘no, I don’t want to,’” Keller said. “I don’t even know how you get him off the phone. You can say no to him 10 times, and he’s just going to sit there and tell you why you need to come play for him.” At ETSU Keller added 26 receptions for 226 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. Keller said he was looking to make the FCS to FBS jump, but he was prompted by Aiken and ETSU offensive intern Connor Mills leaving to join the Dukes. So Keller followed. The first day the portal opened, Keller said he visited JMU and was the second commit to Napier’s new roster. “I pretty much knew in football you want to play in the same system as many years in a row as you can,” Keller said. “Just like anything else, the more you do it, the better you get at it. If you go to a different system, then things change, and then you aren’t as good of a player.” After following Aiken to spend his final season at JMU in the FBS, Keller has stood out with nine receptions for 128 receiving yards and three touchdowns in four games. “I think we have done a nice job of utilizing him so far,” head coach Billy Napier said. “Look, I think he’s one of the best players we have.” Keller said he owes Aiken “everything.” “There’s not another offensive coordinator that you want to play with,” Keller said. “At some point, he’s going to be a big name in this whole college football thing, if he’s not already.” Keller spent the 2025 season at ETSU with Aiken, so he was able to help his JMU teammates get used to his offensive system early on. “I even think now, as we get into the fine-tuning and the details of [the offense], I think I can help to push us in the

right direction,” Keller said. “Now that I’ve been in it for two years now, you know you get more familiar with things, and you know how it’s supposed to look.” Keller played quarterback in high school then moved to receiver at Washburn before settling in at tight end with ETSU. Playing tight end was always the “goal,” Keller said, but he needed to get to the right weight first. With a background in multiple offensive positions, Keller said he has a “line of sight” and “empathy” into what those positions require. “I think just giving people grief and understanding what those jobs entail,” Keller said. Familiarity with the quarterback position is something Keller shares with his position coach, Bryan Schor. “[Schor] played quarterback at a really high level,” Keller said. “He knows what it looks like from the quarterback’s perspective to throw to a guy that is decisive and what he look[ed] for when he [was] trying to pick someone to throw the ball to.” Keller said Schor’s “overall effort is off the charts.” “My challenge every day is to bring more effort to practice than coach Schor is, and that’s crazy,” Keller said. “He brings it every day … it’s a workout for him too, just because he’s coaching us so hard.” Schor’s motto for the tight end room is “leave no doubt,” — which is exactly what Keller does, he said. “He’s been [good at] attention to detail,” Schor said. “He comes every week with a list of questions on the call sheet … it’s great for him, and it’s great for the rest of the room.” This was an area Aiken wanted to see Keller get better at when he went to ETSU, and he said Keller has “improved dramatically.” “He’s gotten a lot better in two years,” Aiken said. “Really happy for him and pleased with how he’s continuing to play.” Having spent so much time at different levels of college football, Keller said this year at JMU has been his most memorable collegiate season. “I’ll talk about this for my whole life, which is pretty awesome,” Keller said. “I think this year will be something that we’ll all remember and be able to talk about.”

‘I’ll talk about this for the rest of my life’ Cole Keller, tight end

CONTACT Libby Mercer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X at @TheBreezeSports.

Keller has nine receptions for 128 yards and three touchdowns through four games with JMU. At ETSU, he had 26 receptions for 226 receiving yards in 12 games. Photos by Caden Burch / The Breeze

SPORTS

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

What Marshall is saying about JMU football ahead of Week 5 By LIBBY MERCER The Breeze

Marshall football (3-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) held a Tuesday press conference ahead of its Week 5 Sun Belt opener against JMU (4-0, 1-0) this Saturday at 3:45 p.m. Second-year head coach Tony Gibson, redshirt senior tight end Toby Payne, redshirt senior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, redshirt junior defensive back Caleb Clark-Glover and redshirt senior safety Terrente Hinton represented the Thundering Herd. Here’s what they had to say about the Dukes ahead of their Saturday matchup:

Tony Gibson, head coach

While JMU opened Sun Belt play last week, Marshall has yet to play a conference game. “Basically, the preseason’s over,” Gibson said. “Now we’re getting into the real thing. We’ve got eight Sun Belt games, and we get to start off with the reigning champion.” When looking at the tape for all of JMU’s games this season, Gibson said, “Every game in college football is important,” so looking at how they attacked their non-conference opponents is just as important. Noting JMU’s head coaching change, Gibson said new head coach Billy Napier and his staff have done a good job. “He’s familiar with the league; being in Louisiana, [Napier] had a lot of success which led him to Florida and then now he’s back where it all started for him,” Gibson said. “They’re coached very well. They got a great roster, and they’ve got great players.” With fourth-year Camden Coleman starting at quarterback in the wake of third-year JC Evans’ Week 1 injury, Gibson said Coleman “hasn’t missed a beat.” Gibson also mentioned Coleman has players like fifth-year running back George Pettaway, whom he called one of the “best backs in the league,” beside him. “He’s got great people around him, and he manages the game well,” Gibson said. Outside of Penn State — who shut out Marshall Week 1 — Gibson said JMU’s front defense is the best they have seen this season.

“They’re playing with a lot of confidence,” Gibson said. “We have to be able to hang in there and make some plays offensively to put pressure on them.”

Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, quarterback

When looking at the problems JMU’s defense can present to Marshall, Del Rio-Wilson mentioned the front five Dukes. “They like to move a lot,” Del Rio-Wilson said. “Do some slanting. Try to show one thing and then do another.” However, Del Rio-Wilson said the Thundering Herd’s offensive line will “take care of ” any “stunts” or “slants.” “We’re going to execute the whole game,” Del RioWilson said. With this conference game, Del Rio-Wilson said his leadership and timing will be most important during the game. “Keeping everybody in the game, keeping everybody’s energy up the whole game,” Del Rio-Wilson said, “I think that’ll be my main role.”

Toby Payne, tight end

For Payne, Saturday’s trip to Harrisonburg won’t be his first. Payne played JMU at Bridgeforth on Nov. 30, 2024, when he tallied a reception and touchdown for the Thundering Herd. “They draw a good crowd,” Payne said. “Between us and them and probably App State, probably the best crowds in the conference. It’s really exciting to play down there.” When Payne took the road trip down to JMU in 2024, the Thundering Herd came back with a win. The past two times Marshall has visited JMU, the Thundering Herd has won, and they lead the all-time series 4-2. “This is a huge game for us,” Payne said. “Starting conference play against a really good team. I mean, we’ve had success down there, so really looking forward to it.” Payne also mentioned JMU’s defensive front and said the offense has to be just as good up front. “I pride myself on blocking,” Payne said. “They got a good defensive front and good ends. [We] really have to step it up this week.”

Marshall leads JMU 4-2 all-time, including two straight wins at Bridgeforth. Caden Burch / The Breeze

Caleb Clark-Glover, defensive back

While this is Marshall’s first conference game, ClarkGlover said it’s the biggest game because it’s the next one on their schedule. “That’s why it’s important focusing on every week,” Clark-Glover said. “Being where our feet are and just taking care of business.” Clark-Glover said JMU’s competitiveness stands out. “They’ve got a real good defense, and they play complementary football,” Clark-Glover said. “When the defense plays good, and they have good field position, the offense capitalizes.” Looking at Coleman, Clark-Glover said his legs stand out. “He can make plays with his legs,” Clark-Glover said. “He’s a good quarterback, but his legs, I would say, can scare you or jump out at you.”

Terrente Hinton, safety

Hinton mentioned two key players on JMU’s offense — starting sixth-year tight end Cole Keller and Coleman. Hinton brought up that Keller has one of the leading receptions on the team thus far. “I was watching film on them right after the [Gardner Webb game on Sept 26],” Hinton said. “What really stood out to me is their tight end play. They got a very nice tight end.” With Coleman stepping in for Evans, Hinton said you “can’t tell he’s a backup.” “I feel like he’s a good quarterback and you just got to approach him the right way,” Hinton said. Hinton agreed with Clark-Glover that the team will take the same approach to this game as the next. However, there’s still some added pressure. “We’re just going to hit the ground a little harder this week, a little tougher,” Hinton said. CONTACT Libby Mercer at breezesports@gmail.com. For

more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 105, No. 7

JMU football seeks first win over Marshall in Bridgeforth By MADI PERINI The Breeze

Dating back to 1987, JMU football (4-0, 1-0 SBC) is 2-4 against Marshall (3-1, 0-0), with both of its wins coming in Huntington. With the Thundering Herd returning to Harrisonburg, the Dukes look to record their first win at Bridgeforth over Marshall. JMU is coming off a road win at ODU to open conference play, taking down the Monarchs 46-20. Heading into the 2026 season, Marshall had 10 players named to preseason lists, including sixth-year starting quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson, who earned Sun Belt Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. “I have a ton of respect for [head coach] Tony Gibson. They’re tough, they’ve got really good personnel,” head coach Billy Napier said. “Certainly [Del Rio-Wilson] is at the center of that — his arm and his legs are an issue, right? He’s a big physical player.” Through four games, Del Rio-Wilson is 67 of 97 through the air with 783 yards and five touchdowns. On the receiving end, fifth-year wide receiver Xayvion Turner-Bradshaw leads the Thundering Herd with 300 receiving yards across 18 receptions, tallying three touchdowns. “We’ve been doing film study — they have a great quarterback [and a] great offense scheme,” third-year linebacker JT Hooten said. “It’ll be a challenge Saturday, and I think we’re ready for it.” Though the Dukes have struggled in the second half on offense, Napier knows what this offense could be — and that starts with fifth-year running back George Pettaway.

Against ODU, Pettaway took 16 carries for 110 yards. Overall, Pettaway has 291 yards across 60 carries. “I thought he had his best day Saturday — I thought he was decisive,” Napier said. “There’s still room for improvement and growth [and] I think he would admit that as well — [he’s] off to a good start and we’re going to need him to continue to improve as the season goes. The quarterback situation continues to be a headline for JMU’s offense, with third-year JC Evans still considered day-today after taking reps during warmups against the Monarchs. Fourth-year QB Camden Coleman has stepped into the starting role for the Dukes since Week 2. Since assuming the starting role, Coleman has completed 54 of his 84 passing attempts, recording 659 passing yards and throwing nine touchdowns. In terms of the Week 5 starter, Napier said the coaching staff will address that when the time is right. “Cam’s playing at a high level,” Napier said. “We have confidence in not only those two guys but other guys in that room that I think can play winning football as well.” JMU will kick off its Family Weekend game against Marshall on Saturday at 3:45 p.m., which will be broadcast on ESPNU. CONTACT Madi Perini at breezesports@gmail.com. For

more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.

Camden Coleman made his first start at JMU in the Dukes’ 87-3 win over Wagner. Caden Burch / The Breeze

Fifth-year running back George Pettaway leads JMU in rushing yards with 291 through four games. Caden Burch / The Breeze

Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

This week in JMU Athletics Men’s Soccer

1-1 DRAW at South Carolina on Sunday. Up next: hosts Coastal Carolina Friday at 7 p.m.

Women’s Soccer

2-1 LOSS at Marshall on Sunday. Up next: hosts App State on Thursday at 7 p.m.

Field Hockey

2-1 WIN against Kent State on Sunday. Up next: at Longwood on Friday at 5 p.m.

Volleyball

SWEEP of South Alabama Up next: away at Georgia State Friday and Saturday. Read more sports coverage online at breezejmu.org Natalie DeLisle / The Breeze

OPINION EDITOR Katie Mae Yetter

EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com

Corporate greed will ruin fan experiences Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.

An “I’m-stressed” dart to my professors. From someone who’s ready for fall break.

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In recent years, the a l r e a d y profitable business of owning a professional sports team has transformed into a even more efficient LOUIS CATALANO money printer. contributing columnist For reference, every NBA team’s value has increased by a minimum of 18% since February 2026, with topperforming franchises increasing by as much as 25-26%, according to a CNBC article. The same phenomenon has also happened in other leagues. Every single NFL team increased by at least 17% from last season, and NHL teams on average jumped up 15% in value from 2024 to 2025, according to CBS Sports and CNBC. These increases are unusual compared to what was standard in the past, and they aren’t coming out of nowhere. One reason these values are skyrocketing is because of new competitive television deals. In an interview with The New York Times, Erwin Kishner, a partner at Herrick Law Firm and the co-chair of their sports law group, pointed to a new $77 billion NBA TV deal as a major factor behind the increase in team value, according to a New York Times article. While these deals are great for making money, they aren’t as popular among fans. When the NBA released its 2025-26 watch guide, it was met with pushback. One fan was quoted as saying, “This is a clusterf---. You need a PhD to figure out where to watch a game.” The days of simply turning

on the TV and flipping to the same channel every game day are over. Now games are on different networks and streaming services seemingly every night. The NBA’s schedule had games divided between six different streaming services and cable channels, making it hard for fans to watch their favorite team without breaking the bank. For example, the estimated cost of watching every cable Knicks game last season was $85-100 per month, not taking into account games that aren’t on cable or are blacked out depending on location, according to a New York Times article. These outrageous prices are keeping many fans from watching games they normally would have. The cost of watching from home is especially concerning when there’s also a surge in the price of going to games. The average price of an MLB ticket has gone up by over $10 in just 10 years. In the NFL, the Raiders have been able to increase the cost of their game experience (ticket, parking, beer and a hot dog) by over 100% in the same amount of time. What used to cost $95 in 2013 now costs roughly $200. While a portion of these increases in price can be attributed to inflation, these increases exceed the roughly 45% inflation rate from 2013-2026. These spikes in prices are not random, and while increased streaming numbers and inflation play a role in these changes, recent shifts in strategy point to there being more to the story. They are the result of a change in strategy. Sports teams care less about overall game attendance than ever before. Instead of trying to get as many people in the seats as possible, they now prioritize selling premium experiences and exceptionally expensive seats. There’s a consensus across pro sports that there’s

A “you-fumbled” dart to men who don’t respond. From someone who felt ignored.

A “you-suck” pat to the Philadelphia Eagles. From someone who really enjoyed their hate watch.

CONTACT Louis Catalano at catalald@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @ BreezeJMU.

Summer Solis / The Breeze

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more money to be made selling smaller quantities of expensive tickets rather than a large amount of cheap tickets. In addition to this change of mindset, it’s now less likely than ever that a fan will find a good deal on a seat. This is because teams are now able to use technology to dynamically price tickets, ensuring every ticket is listed at the maximum price that they can get away with charging. These changes mean that many fans are going to get priced out of attending games. A cost that teams are willing to pay. However, this may greatly hurt the fan experience. It will be harder to attend games, but if you can afford to go, the atmosphere will be diminished. Part of the allure of going to these games comes from being in a packed stadium. With less emphasis on filling seats, the roar of stadiums will be quieter across all leagues, removing the magic that made so many of us fall in love with the sport in the first place. Finally, it seems that the motive of some of these teams is to make a profit instead of winning a championship. Investigative sports journalist Pablo Torre raised this concern during a podcast with The New York Times, saying, “The problem, of course, is when you realize that profit and growth can exist and be achieved irrespective of whether you win the championship.” One possible example is a recent trade involving Jaylen Brown and the Celtics. Brown, an MVP candidate the past year, was a big part of the Celtics’ success and even helped bring them a championship in 2024, winning Finals MVP in the process. Despite this, after a career year, he was traded away for an aging Paul George and draft picks that would not be useful for years in what many analysts called a horrible trade for the Celtics. ESPN’s Zach Kram even went as far as to say, “It’s utterly strange that the Celtics would willingly take such a giant step back.” It’s clear that the trade wasn’t made for the purpose of winning. It was made for the purpose of saving money. Brown was on a huge contract, and getting rid of him greatly reduced the payroll. This is most likely a side effect of the team’s new owners and their ties to private equity. As pointed out by former ESPN journalist Joon Lee, “Now, teams are treated like Wall Street investments, and if the goal is maximizing the money you make, winning doesn’t always matter the way it used to.” Not only is the greed of these teams making it more expensive to watch and attend games, but they’re also potentially making your favorite team worse on purpose. It is clear the sports world is changing, and now more than ever, profits are taking priority while fans are forced to take a back seat.

The Breeze reserves the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and if material is libelous, factually inaccurate or unclear. The Breeze assumes the rights to any published work. Opinions expressed in this page, with the exception of editorials, are not necessarily those of The Breeze or its staff.

Letters and guest columns should be submitted in print or via e-mail and must include name, phone number, major/year if author is a current student (or year of graduation), professional title (if applicable) and place of residence if author is not a JMU student.

OPINION

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

The NBA should return to the post-up game again It was April 10, 2019, and the Dallas Mavericks were facing off against the San Antonio Spurs. Down 15 points with 50 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, it was LUTHER COVERT an unwinnable Breeze Columnist game for the Mavericks at that point, but that didn’t matter. Waiting at the top of the paint, ready for his last shot ever, was Dirk Nowitzki. The slow-footed, 7-foot-tall German spent 20 years with the Mavericks, and in those years racked up 14 All-Star appearances, an MVP award and an NBA championship. His weapon of choice? His signature post-up fadeaway. This night was no different, as Nowitzki caught the ball with his back to Spurs center Drew Eubanks. He gave a few lumbering jabsteps, then rose with his 40-year-old frame into the iconic jump shot that terrorized the NBA for two decades. Cash. The crowd erupts, despite being a Spurs home game, and a tearful Nowitzki stumbles to the bench as a timeout is called, as one of the last NBA greats to dominate with the postup game leaves the court for the final time. Since the dawn of time, NBA teams have often had “that guy.” A player that they could swing the ball to when his back was to the basket in the midrange area, and then have everyone else get out of his way and watch him go to work. This style of play was efficient when teams simply needed a basket; if there was a mismatch, or if that team had a guy who could score on anyone, it was a surefire way to find a good look. It was legends such as Tim Duncan, who could hit defenders with a crisp jumper off the glass or a hook shot any day of the week. Carmelo Anthony, who could make space in a phone booth with his signature slew of jab steps and lightning-fast release. Shaquille O’Neal, who with a 7-foot-1-inch, 350-pound frame, made other teams bring in boatloads of 7-footers from overseas

Basketball at women’s March Madness game. Caden Burch / The Breeze

just to foul him for 40 minutes a night in a desperate attempt to slow him down. Players like this were the backbone of the league for decades, and this back-to-thebasket archetype of player was common for NBA teams to have on their rosters. The playstyle combines finesse and footwork with physicality and toughness. When these players faced off, the fans lived for the fact that they were watching two grown men duke it out with determination to make the other player look like he needs to get in the weight room. It was a dirtier yet beautiful side to basketball; a contrast to the flashy point guard showing his array of dribble moves and fancy passes. Watching the big men go to battle was half the game. However, nearing the latter half of the 2010s, this became increasingly uncommon, and these post-up powerhouses started to get lost in a surge of fast-paced, perimeter-focused basketball. This change in playstyle across the NBA happened for a reason, thanks in part to the Golden State Warriors in 2014 realizing that shooting 27 3-point attempts per game increased their odds of winning. The Warriors became a well-oiled winning machine for the next half-decade, and two of the key cogs in that machine were Klay Thompson and Steph Curry. They differed from the typical NBA superstars at the time; while the latter’s game depended on isolation scoring, which was abundant in midrange jumpers and inside aggression, Thompson and Curry relied on the fact that if they had a millimeter of space behind the three-point arc, it was going up — and in. The Warriors went on to appear in the NBA finals four times in a row, winning three of them and even breaking the record for wins in a season, going 73-9 in 2015-16. Rightfully so, many teams adapted to this new style of play in order to keep up, and soon enough, the NBA became rampant with smaller lineups that prioritized 3-pointers. Read more online at breezejmu.org CONTACT Luther Covert at covertlj@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @ BreezeJMU.

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Old Dominion University Sept. 27, 2026 Caden Burch / The Breeze

“I have a friend” by Lizzy McAlpine “Long Time Gone” by The Chicks “Hoe Cakes” by MF DOOM “Marijuana” by ADÉLA “Card Declined” by Charli xcx “Since U Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson “Dog Tag freestyle” by Bassvictim “Can I Ride” by SIDEPIECE, 95 South “Deepthroat” by cupcakKe

Quarterback on the Run JMU fourth-year quarterback Camden Coleman escapes the pocket, leading the Dukes to a touchdown on the final drive of their road victory against ODU. Coleman led the Dukes with 243 passing yards and four touchdowns. This game marked the Dukes’ fourth consecutive win under new head coach Billy Napier.

“Coffee & TV” by Blur “Son of Sam” by Elliott Smith

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Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 29, 2026

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol

4 What a child might stand on to watch a parade 5 Get-up-and-go 6 Chapter of history 7 Finnish game developer that created Angry Birds 8 Depleted 9 Casual refusal 10 “Tosca,” for one 11 Welcomed at the door 12 Delete 13 Eyelid irritation 19 Dashed 21 Title for Paul McCartney 25 “Hurt Somebody” singer-songwriter Kahan 26 Christmas season 27 Lattice strip 30 Convenience in many cash-only establishments 31 Thai neighbor 32 Boxing ref’s ruling, for short DOWN 1 Mixed-breed dogs 34 Tropical tuna 2 Everglades wader 36 Sparkling 37 iPhone platform 3 Woolly pack 38 Tried to get animal of elected 5-Across

October 30th, 2026

9/29/26

By Kelly Morenus

Monday’s Puzzle Solved

stumpe

find the answers online

ACROSS 1 Liquefy 5 Lima’s country 9 Pokes (around) 14 Fruit with wrinkled skin 15 Greek Cupid 16 Disconnected 17 Mouse catcher 18 “Show us how it’s done” 20 Some office subs 22 Wedding declaration 23 Ascend 24 “Quit interfering” 28 Britches, informally 29 Pod filler 30 Part in four-part harmony 33 __ carte menu 35 Car in the Beach Boys’ “Fun, Fun, Fun” 40 “Don’t stoop to their level” 44 Large deer 45 Contraction that’s typically followed by “be” 46 Fails to be 47 Corp. VIP 50 House of Lords title 52 “Perfect for me” 59 Junior staffer 60 Charcoal grill residue 61 City with the Heat and the Hurricanes 62 Informal language, or what 18-, 24-, 40-, and 52-Across are examples of? 66 Out of control 67 “Money __”: Netflix crime series 68 Actor Morales 69 “Great” detective of kid-lit 70 Donkeys 71 Credit report category 72 Uno y dos

www.breezejmu.org/ site/crossword_ answers/

39 Pesticide in Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring,” for short 41 __ support 42 Thing 43 Aussie greeting 48 Coup d’__ 49 Removed from power 51 Smash (into) 52 Ceremonial acts 53 Elba of “Cats”

9/29/26

54 Grown goslings 55 Lunar cycle part 56 Rapper Kendrick 57 Act with passion 58 Expression of surprise 59 Girl who befriends a magical star in Disney’s “Wish” 63 Sci-fi figures 64 Chem class site 65 Hobby shop purchase

Thursday, September 17, 2026 | breezejmu.org Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org

Vol. 105, No. 5 Vol. 105, No. 7

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Banking Fit For Dukes!

CommonWealth One is James Madison University’s trusted, full-service financial institution. We’re conveniently located on campus and offer everything you might need financially as a student. What we don’t have? Excessive and unnecessary fees.

Lorem

Our Student Accounts Come With: 4.00% Cash Back with Kasasa Eats® Checking — Feed your stomach and your wallet.1

2.00% APY* with Kasasa Saver® — Make your money work harder.1

Duke Dog Debit Card with access to 80,000 free ATMs — Swipe with pride.

Duke Dog Credit Card with no annual fee and a low, variable rate — Build credit wisely.2

Online and Mobile Banking — Access to your money 24/7.

On-Campus Branch and ATMs — Convenience is steps away, no car required.

Open an account today at cofcu.org/Dukes-Banking!

Student Success Center (Main Floor) The Union (Next to Post Office) Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

@jmucommonwealthone

Annual Percentage Yeld (APY). 1When you qualify. Membership eligibility required. Ask a representative or visit cofcu.org/Dukes-Banking for complete details. 2Credit subject to approval. Federally Insured by NCUA. Equal Opportunity Lender. Kasasa Eats® and Kasasa Saver® are trademarks of Kasasa, Ltd., registered in the U.S.A.

v04.25.25

Vol. 105, No. 7

Thursday, October 1, 2026 | breezejmu.org