CAA NOTES

Coaches realize Landers' credentials

The Walter Payton Award, given to the best player in Football Championship Subdivision, appears to have come down to two quarterbacks: Rodney Landers of James Madison and Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State. Running back Herb Donaldson of Western Illinois is also among the final three for the award, which is chosen by a nationwide panel of sports information directors, writers and broadcasters.

The winner will be announced Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, Tenn., the night before the FCS championship game.

Colonial Athletic Association coaches likely would favor Landers, since they've seen more of the senior, but Edwards has led the Mountaineers to consecutive national titles and is on track to do it again.

Villanova coach Andy Talley watched Landers beat his team 23-19 on a last-second, Hail Mary pass Oct. 25 at Villanova. He knows how difficult it is to defend the 6-1 220-pounder, and his Wildcats (10-2) will have to do it again Saturday in a playoff quarterfinal game at Harrisonburg.

"I think the thing to do is go up to him in pregame and just get your hands on him," Talley said, tongue firmly in cheek. "I think that's what I'll do. I'll go up to him and say, 'Rodney, I want to get my hands on you now because I know the rest of the day nobody on our team is going to get their hands on you.'

"He is that kind of player. He's Superman. He's really unstoppable. I thought we did as good a job as anybody could, and he still beat us. I thought the rain [that day] helped us. Maybe slowed him down a little bit, because in real life, he's ridiculous. He's so good. Nobody has stopped him, and I don't think anybody will.

"He's the player in the world at our level, and in my book, the Walter Payton Award winner."

No rain in forecast for Saturday's rematch

The long-range forecast for Saturday in Harrisonburg calls for a high of 40 degrees and no precipitation for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff. That's a far cry from the wind and blowing rain that made conditions miserable in the first meeting of the clubs.

"It was difficult to do much up there," JMU coach Mickey Matthews said. "For half the game, the wind was howling in your face. It would come and go. It was kind of the luck of the draw. Very tough conditions to play a football game in.

"The No.1 thing you're trying to accomplish is determine the best team and you want to leave the elements out of it. But it's an outdoor game. We don't get to set the thermostat in our sport."

Matthews wasn't happy with the way his team played defensively in the 38-35 first-round squeaker over Wofford, and the Dukes (11-1) were going to endure some tough tackling drills again this week, he said.

Towson fires Combs after 17 seasons

The first CAA coaching casualty was Towson's Gordy Combs, who was fired yesterday after 17 years at the helm and a 92-90 record. Since joining the conference in 2004, the Tigers have gone 9-31 in league play. - John Packett