Sun Belt 2024 Thread

[BDKJMU]

4 day old news.

Now JMU has had both their football and basketball HCs poached by P2s in a 4 months period. Plus the AD is retiring and president leaving for American U in DC.

[BDKJMU]

James Madison hires Morehead State's Preston Spradlin as coach
https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... dlin-coach

Meanwhile:
JMU football loses around 15 to the portal, including 11 of 17 returning starters to (I think 9 followed Cignetti to IU)

JMU basketball: Hold my beer, as almost all the non senior players enter the portal, with only 2 scholly players left.

Man, this portal/NIL sucks.

[AshevilleApp]

The portal can take a toll. App lost 7 players from the basketball team. I hope our coaches can adjust accordingly.

[AshevilleApp]

NC State has opted out of a scheduled game in Boone in (I think) 2025. They claim that the ACC requested no more away games at G5 stadiums.

[BDKJMU]

NC State has opted out of a scheduled game in Boone in (I think) 2025. They claim that the ACC requested no more away games at G5 stadiums.

Just more widening of the gap between G5 and P4.

[AshevilleApp]

A beat down at Clemson. The next two games are East Carolina at Greenville and Liberty in Boone. App could be 1-3 heading into conference play based on how we've looked the first two games.

[AshevilleApp]

The previous post was incorrect, as I omitted South Alabama last night. They kicked our ass 48-14. This may be a long season.

[BDKJMU]

Meanwhile JMU:
-Only 4 starters from last season started 1st 2 games (5th injured). Throttled a shitty UNCC team, sucked big time vs G Webb (only won 13-7) and likely going to get ass kicked @ UNC starting in under an hr.

Meanwhile JMU West in Bloomington (13 JMU transfers, 8 started opener (a 9th would have but season ending injury summer camp)) is 3-0 and won handily @ UCLA last week.

From last yr’s 11-2 team:
Offense: Downgrade at QB, downgrade at OL, downgrade at TE, downgrade at WR, RBs a push.
Defense: Downgrade at DL, LBs a push, secondary a push.

At least upgraded at kicker, have a returning AA punter.
Going to be a long season. Damn the portal and. NIL..

[AshevilleApp]

Meanwhile JMU:
-Only 4 starters from last season started 1st 2 games (th injured). Throttled a shitty UNCC team, sucked big time vs G Webb (only won 13-7) and likely going to get ass kicked @ UNC starting in under an hr.

Meanwhile JMU West in Bloomington (13 JMU transfers, 8 started opener (a 9th would have but season ending injury summer camp)) is 3-0 and won handily @ UCLA last week.

From last he’s 11-2 team:
Offense: Downgrade at QB, downgrade at OL, downgrade at TE, downgrade at WR, RBs a push.
Defense: Downgrade at DL, LBs a push, secondary a push.

At least upgraded at kicker, have a returning AA punter.
Going to be a long season. Damn the portal and. NIL..

And for all that they've hung 70 points on previously unbeaten UNC today. With 4 minutes left to play.

[BDKJMU]

Meanwhile JMU:
-Only 4 starters from last season started 1st 2 games (th injured). Throttled a shitty UNCC team, sucked big time vs G Webb (only won 13-7) and likely going to get ass kicked @ UNC starting in under an hr.

Meanwhile JMU West in Bloomington (13 JMU transfers, 8 started opener (a 9th would have but season ending injury summer camp)) is 3-0 and won handily @ UCLA last week.

From last he’s 11-2 team:
Offense: Downgrade at QB, downgrade at OL, downgrade at TE, downgrade at WR, RBs a push.
Defense: Downgrade at DL, LBs a push, secondary a push.

At least upgraded at kicker, have a returning AA punter.
Going to be a long season. Damn the portal and. NIL..

And for all that they've hung 70 points on previously unbeaten UNC today. With 4 minutes left to play.

I cannot explain it.
Vs UNCC and G Webb 9 1st half points- COMBINED.
vs UNC 53, most 1st half points in program history.

I have never seen a game to game contrast like G Webb to UNC in 40+ years of watching football. At any level. If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it.

[AshevilleApp]

And for all that they've hung 70 points on previously unbeaten UNC today. With 4 minutes left to play.

I cannot explain it.
Vs UNCC and G Webb 9 1st half points- COMBINED.
vs UNC 53, most 1st half points in program history.

I have never seen a game to game contrast like G Webb to UNC in 40+ years of watching football. At any level. If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it.

I agree the extent of the win was a surprise. It's always nice to see the Tar Holes lose though. I read that the JMU quarterback played at my old high school in Greensboro.

[BDKJMU]

I cannot explain it.
Vs UNCC and G Webb 9 1st half points- COMBINED.
vs UNC 53, most 1st half points in program history.

I have never seen a game to game contrast like G Webb to UNC in 40+ years of watching football. At any level. If I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t have believed it.

I agree the extent of the win was a surprise. It's always nice to see the Tar Holes lose though. I read that the JMU quarterback played at my old high school in Greensboro.

Last yr Barnett as an rFr during summer camp beat out the USF/AZ transfer McCloud, whom everyone assumed would be the starter. Opener vs BUCKNELL Barnett sucked so bad got yanked early 3rd quarter for McCloud. McCloud went on to win the SBC Offensive POTY.

This summer Barnett camp beat out the WA transfer Morris, whom everyone assumed would be the starter. (Morris started for the Huskies a couple years ago). 1st half of the opener @ UNCC was like de ja vu. Barnett sucked so bad the pitchforks were out on the JMU board for Morris to start the 2nd half. Barnett stayed in and had a good 2nd half, and the pitchforks got put away.

Game 2 vs GARDNER WEBB (I didn’t watch) by all accounts & stats Barnett again sucked, and the pitchforks were back out. Out of 5 halves of football going back to last season, he had sucked in 4 of them, 3 of them vs FCS.

vs UNC:
Passing: 22 of 34, 388 yds, 5 TD, 0 INT.
Rushing: 99 yds, 2 TDs

How do you suck so bad vs FCS Bucknell and Gardner Webb, then vs UNC who has a bunch of 3, 4, 5 star players you are FBS Nat POTW? Truly bizarre.

[BDKJMU]

After putting up 13 vs Gardner Webb

[BDKJMU]

Halftime of tonight’s ESPN game JMU and former HC Cignetti getting props.

[BDKJMU]

FWIW CCU came into Thur nights game at 4-1, so it’s not like they sucked.

[BDKJMU]

JMU gets 1st home game vs a (sort of) P4/5..

[SuperHornet]

JMU gets 1st home game vs a (sort of) P4/5..

Given the way JMU has played the last few years (following the Liberty/Coastal model of FCS-FBS jumpers, not the "average" jumper) and the way WA State and OR State have of playing to the perceived level of the opponent, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dukes win this game....

[BDKJMU]

JMU gets 1st home game vs a (sort of) P4/5..

Given the way JMU has played the last few years (following the Liberty/Coastal model of FCS-FBS jumpers, not the "average" jumper) and the way WA State and OR State have of playing to the perceived level of the opponent, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dukes win this game....

JMU OOC vs Western opponents over 5 seasons: 6 games scheduled, 4 played vs 3 different schools:
2021 (last yr FCS): W @ Weber St.
2022 (1st yr FBS): Home Week 1 vs Weber St cancelled.
2023: W @ Utah St.
2024: ——-
2025: Home vs Utah St cancelled, Home Weber St, home Washington St.

2025
-Home vs Utah St cancelled, replaced by Washington St. No return game. Not sure of the how or why, but guessing some type of 3 way thing between JMU, Utah St and Wash St.
-Home vs Weber St for FCS game. Not sure if has to do with cancelled 2022 game.

[AshevilleApp]

I haven't checked the standings often this season and didn't notice until yesterday that Marshall is in first place in the east. The last time I looked GSU was in first. Still some drama with one regular season game to go. If App can steal a win at GSU, we would be bowl eligible in an overall down season. GSU needs to beat App and hope JMU beats Marshall.

[AshevilleApp]

Looks like Shawn Clark is out at App. I like the guy, but he's had a target on his back pretty much from the beginning. Of course this is the fan base that screamed for Jerry Moore to be fired after the 2004 season.

[AshevilleApp]

Looks like Shawn Clark is out at App. I like the guy, but he's had a target on his back pretty much from the beginning. Of course this is the fan base that screamed for Jerry Moore to be fired after the 2004 season.

And the new head coach will be Dowell Loggains. I never heard of him, and the initial response from on-line App fans is underwhelming. But he's got some experience. Many years as an NFL Assistant Coach, then 2 years at Arkansas as an AC. The last 2 years he's been the Offensive Coordinator at South Carolina.

[AshevilleApp]

Conference football champion Marshall, after having their coach leave and a majority of players entering the portal, opts not to play in its bowl game.

[BDKJMU]

Conference football champion Marshall, after having their coach leave and a majority of players entering the portal, opts not to play in its bowl game.

The toilet bowls have become nothing more than glorified scrimmages the outcomes of which are almost meaningless. The only thing meaningful is the 2-3 extra weeks of practice.

[BDKJMU]

We’re down to rotating 3rd & 4th string QB- Barnett was injured last play of OT in last game vs Marshall, backup has been injured all season. Had 2 starters DNP, an OL who is portal to Miss St, and an LB for unspecified. + a couple 2 deepers who’d entered the Portal DNP. Unlike JMU, WKU let players who entered the Portal, and even had committed to other schools, play in the game. Don’t get letting players who have stated they don’t want to be there (by entering the portal) play, but to each his own.

[BDKJMU]

And so ends a subpar season by JMU standards. 9-4/4-4 (I’d predicted 9-4/5-3 at the beginning of the season). Of last years 22 starters:
-5 seniors
-10 transferred to Indiana (13 total transfers to IU, 8 of whom started, 6 of who were All Big 10).
-2 transferred to other SBC schools (including the 2023 SBC Offensive POTY)
-1 dnp due to injury.

So only 4 starters back from last season that played at all (2 OL, 2 DB). 58 new players, 31 transfers, entirely new coaching staff. Only 2 full FBS recruit classes, 2023 & 2024 (Since JMU didn’t announce moveup until Nov 21, signing class 2022 majority FCS). So this years results look pretty good all things considered. OTOH in 3 on JMU’s 4 losses (all but loss @ GSU) JMU had 2 score leads in the 1st half. So were either out adjusted at halftime (not a good sign on the coaching staff), or were out depthed. Most of the blame falls on the offense and ST. A lot of the fan base wants the OC fired. We’ll see. Jury is still out in Chesney IMHOP.