2008 VMI Keydets football team

The 2008 VMI Keydets football team represented the Virginia Military Institute during the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. It was the Keydets 118th year of football, which began in 1891, and their 6th season in the Big South Conference. VMI was run by first year head coach Sparky Woods, who was previously a head coach at Appalachian State and South Carolina. Woods was a replacement for his predecessor Jim Reid, who departed from the Institute to be linebackers coach of the Miami Dolphins.[1]

2008 VMI Keydets football
ConferenceBig South Conference
Record4–7 (1–4 Big South)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorBrent Davis (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorA. J. Christoff (1st season)
Home stadiumAlumni Memorial Field
Seasons
← 2007
2009 →
2008 Big South Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 14 Liberty $   5 0     10 2  
Stony Brook   3 2     5 6  
Charleston Southern   3 2     7 5  
Gardner–Webb   2 3     5 6  
Coastal Carolina   1 4     6 6  
VMI   1 4     4 7  
Presbyterian   1 4     4 8  
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The Keydets enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in recent years in terms of wins. The year started with a convincing victory over St. Francis 49–0. After a 52–17 drubbing from William & Mary, the Keydets handled another Division-II opponent, Chowan, 69–20. A late second-half surge then pushed Ohio past VMI 51–31 the following week. Another large loss came from Richmond at home, 56–16. The Keydets did, however, get their first conference win since 2005, a 47–20 blowout victory over Coastal Carolina. VMI ended the year with a 49–27 win over future conference member Presbyterian, breaking a four-game losing streak.[2]

Schedule edit

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendance
September 61:30 pmSaint Francis (PA)*W 49–05,123
September 137:00 pmat William & Mary*L 17–5210,624
September 201:30 pmChowan*
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
W 69–206,793
September 272:00 pmat Ohio*L 31–5119,938
October 41:30 pmNo. 6 Richmond* 
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
L 16–567,643
October 111:30 pmCoastal Carolina
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
W 47–208,157
October 251:30 pmat Garnder–WebbL 27–345,600
November 11:30 pmat Charleston SouthernL 21–313,213
November 81:30 pmLiberty
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
L 26–386,813
November 153:30 pmat Stony BrookL 26–402,051
November 221:30 pmPresbyterian*
  • Alumni Memorial Field
  • Lexington, VA
W 49–274,710

References edit

  1. ^ "VMI Head Coach Jim Reid Joins Miami Dolphins Staff". Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  2. ^ 2008 VMI Football Schedule