Just watched the press conference. You can immediately tell how smart the man is. I’m happy with who they have brought in. I can’t wait to see Dobbs. A four time captain? At this point, I honestly think we’ll be ok because I was very unsure after all our departures. I think we got the right guy and I like what he’s said about his staff on the Riggert podcast.

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

On the note about assistants I think you really correct with old staff. Was talking to Mom of my son's friend the other day whose older son is a 4 star and getting offers from the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma, etc. Also being recruited by Indiana and shared that she really like Kuntz and thought he was a really great guy and that they might take a visit there because of him. He has already taken unofficials to Michigan, Oklahoma, USC so the fact that he might go to IU just because of coach tells you how much the assistant relationship matters. Highly doubt he would go there as he has much better offers and seems to be weighing a big time program vs. a place like Stanford where will be set for life with the education he will receive.

(02-08-2024 10:02 AM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

On the note about assistants I think you really correct with old staff. Was talking to Mom of my son's friend the other day whose older son is a 4 star and getting offers from the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma, etc. Also being recruited by Indiana and shared that she really like Kuntz and thought he was a really great guy and that they might take a visit there because of him. He has already taken unofficials to Michigan, Oklahoma, USC so the fact that he might go to IU just because of coach tells you how much the assistant relationship matters. Highly doubt he would go there as he has much better offers and seems to be weighing a big time program vs. a place like Stanford where will be set for life with the education he will receive.

I do wonder what happens to some of the players if his staff moves on.
A while back he talked about the talent of his assistants. There was one thing he said that stuck with me. While I cannot remember it word for word it went something along these lines: his coaches are good enough that they should be pursued by other places as promotions and in a way kind of expects them to move on to better things. That was how he moved up to where he is.
The fact that some of his guys have been with him for quite a while, I have to imagine someone like Sunseri won't be with him too much longer. While Sunseri has co-OC label, in actuality he will be doing the same thing he did for him at JMU with no change. He will probably be picked up somewhere sooner rather than later. He's a star in the making and will be quite a guy to replace.

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

I really like what I've seen/heard of Chesney, but banking on improvement on an 11-2 season is... ambitious.

Beating UNC is going to be harder than beating UVA was, but then again, hopefully any bowl game we're in would involve less turmoil than 2023 did.

Seriously, if we win 10 games in the regular season, that's a step backwards, but it's still a fantastic year.

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

His method was modeled on that of the GOAT (Saban). More than 1 way to skin a cat.

(02-08-2024 11:00 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  I really like what I've seen/heard of Chesney, but banking on improvement on an 11-2 season is... ambitious.

Beating UNC is going to be harder than beating UVA was, but then again, hopefully any bowl game we're in would involve less turmoil than 2023 did.

Seriously, if we win 10 games in the regular season, that's a step backwards, but it's still a fantastic year.

Yeah but what if it is a 10 win regular season plus an official SBC championship game win?

(02-08-2024 11:30 AM)DoubleDogDare Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 11:00 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  I really like what I've seen/heard of Chesney, but banking on improvement on an 11-2 season is... ambitious.

Beating UNC is going to be harder than beating UVA was, but then again, hopefully any bowl game we're in would involve less turmoil than 2023 did.

Seriously, if we win 10 games in the regular season, that's a step backwards, but it's still a fantastic year.

Yeah but what if it is a 10 win regular season plus an official SBC championship game win?

Pretty great. My point is that a 10-3 season followed by a loss in the SBC and winning, say, the Myrtle Beach Bowl is probably not an "improvement" over this year in terms of numbers, percentages, and the like. But it'd still be really, really good.

(02-08-2024 10:51 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 10:02 AM)jmu98 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

On the note about assistants I think you really correct with old staff. Was talking to Mom of my son's friend the other day whose older son is a 4 star and getting offers from the likes of Michigan, Oklahoma, etc. Also being recruited by Indiana and shared that she really like Kuntz and thought he was a really great guy and that they might take a visit there because of him. He has already taken unofficials to Michigan, Oklahoma, USC so the fact that he might go to IU just because of coach tells you how much the assistant relationship matters. Highly doubt he would go there as he has much better offers and seems to be weighing a big time program vs. a place like Stanford where will be set for life with the education he will receive.

I do wonder what happens to some of the players if his staff moves on.
A while back he talked about the talent of his assistants. There was one thing he said that stuck with me. While I cannot remember it word for word it went something along these lines: his coaches are good enough that they should be pursued by other places as promotions and in a way kind of expects them to move on to better things. That was how he moved up to where he is.
The fact that some of his guys have been with him for quite a while, I have to imagine someone like Sunseri won't be with him too much longer. While Sunseri has co-OC label, in actuality he will be doing the same thing he did for him at JMU with no change. He will probably be picked up somewhere sooner rather than later. He's a star in the making and will be quite a guy to replace.

Shouldn’t make a difference given cig has said in an interview that he’s the reason that his coordinators are successful

Google me

Just watched Cig's most recent press conference. Man, what a contrast to Chesney. Will always appreciate what he did for JMU, but I just love the positive energy that Chesney and his staff bring! Our press must be so happy.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

(02-08-2024 11:00 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

I really like what I've seen/heard of Chesney, but banking on improvement on an 11-2 season is... ambitious.

Beating UNC is going to be harder than beating UVA was, but then again, hopefully any bowl game we're in would involve less turmoil than 2023 did.

Seriously, if we win 10 games in the regular season, that's a step backwards, but it's still a fantastic year.

If you make me guess now I say 8 or 9 regular season wins, and that's not a knock on Ches. I think year two is the year to judge based on what he was left with. Anything that happens in year one is gravy.

(04-10-2024 08:34 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 11:00 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

I really like what I've seen/heard of Chesney, but banking on improvement on an 11-2 season is... ambitious.

Beating UNC is going to be harder than beating UVA was, but then again, hopefully any bowl game we're in would involve less turmoil than 2023 did.

Seriously, if we win 10 games in the regular season, that's a step backwards, but it's still a fantastic year.

If you make me guess now I say 8 or 9 regular season wins, and that's not a knock on Ches. I think year two is the year to judge based on what he was left with. Anything that happens in year one is gravy.

I think 9 is very doable, particularly with the teams we play in West though Southern Miss could be scary as they have a bunch of talent. However, other than App the East has same issues we have with roster turnover and therefore I would say 9 is where we need to be.

If I look at roster and read the tea leaves from spring practice I think our success is going to be about 3 positions: QB, WR, and DL. I think at QB we will be fine if we find some WR's that can get open as Dylan was HM all Pac 12 so we know he has talent. Bigger issue is what do we have on the D line and do we have the depth. The returning guys were ok and I think they will be better particularly if Bush can get in a little better shape. We brought in some new guys with some talent so I think starting guys will be good, just a question if we have built some depth with the guys who did not play last year. We are stacked at RB and I hear very good things about the OL and what we have there so I think running game will be vastly improved from last year and is the one position where I think we really upgraded over the last few years. Defensively we will be strong at LB and on the back end this year so no real worries there.

I am quite optimistic going into this year and think we can have another very strong year.

We're gonna beat UNC....so I've got us at 10 wins minimum...

(04-10-2024 08:34 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 11:00 AM)94computerguy Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:26 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  Based on last year's results, many would say it isn't reasonable based on what we've lost to improve upon last year. A lot of incoming coaches may have tried to temper expectations.
Chesney has constantly talked about things that JMU can do better. And I agree... we can do even better.
In regards to the former HC, his approach is a 180 compared to Chesney. He treated his job as a CEO. He had a plan, and it was up to him to find a staff to help him implement that plan. When it came to the players, he really relied on his assistants to have those relationships with the players. His assistants were far more important than I ever thought. They truly are the glue that keeps it all together. The players stayed because they were winning and had a good relationship with their positional coaches.
His method obviously worked, but I really, really like Chesney's approach better. I've seen videos of him interacting with the team on the field and I love his passion and energy. He truly seems to care about everyone.
Chesney is definitely a coach I would love my son to play for. Only time will tell if it will translate to FBS wins, but I truly believe it will.
I know this is way too early, but I do hope we can keep Chesney around. He's a guy I want to lead this program. I hope our admin does as much as they possibly can to keep him around as much as they reasonably can.

I really like what I've seen/heard of Chesney, but banking on improvement on an 11-2 season is... ambitious.

Beating UNC is going to be harder than beating UVA was, but then again, hopefully any bowl game we're in would involve less turmoil than 2023 did.

Seriously, if we win 10 games in the regular season, that's a step backwards, but it's still a fantastic year.

If you make me guess now I say 8 or 9 regular season wins, and that's not a knock on Ches. I think year two is the year to judge based on what he was left with. Anything that happens in year one is gravy.

I often find your views very pessimistic, but think this is a fair take.

I look at this year as somewhat equivalent to SBC season 1 under CC. 8+ wins is a successful year. Far more is possible, but would indeed be gravy, and not where we should set our expectations for 2024.

(02-08-2024 08:00 PM)bcp_jmu Wrote:  Google me

When Cig is 4 - 8 with a fcs win, he will be googled

Last year many of us felt that year two in FBS would be an extremely important “statement” season for JMU after a super-successful debut year. Obviously last year was incredible, and cemented JMU’s so-called transition to FBS as the most successful in D1 history. Our reward as JMU fans was the loss of our HC & staff, plus a good number of starters that followed Cig. So what happens now?

That leads me to believe that year one for Chesney may be the most important moving forward. Another successful year (defined as a winning season, bowl bid, and perhaps JMU’s first bowl victory) would maintain JMU FB’s positive momentum, and signal that JMU will retain its “shine” as a media fav.

With a new Prez, AD and FB HC it’s gonna be a whole new ballgame…literally and figuratively.

Go Dukes!

(04-10-2024 02:20 PM)Longhorn Wrote:  Last year many of us felt that year two in FBS would be an extremely important “statement” season for JMU after a super-successful debut year. Obviously last year was incredible, and cemented JMU’s so-called transition to FBS as the most successful in D1 history. Our reward as JMU fans was the loss of our HC & staff, plus a good number of starters that followed Cig. So what happens now?

That leads me to believe that year one for Chesney may be the most important moving forward. Another successful year (defined as a winning season, bowl bid, and perhaps JMU’s first bowl victory) would maintain JMU FB’s positive momentum, and signal that JMU will retain its “shine” as a media fav.

With a new Prez, AD and FB HC it’s gonna be a whole new ballgame…literally and figuratively.

Go Dukes!

Don't disagree, but FB HC & MBBHC are the whole new ball game. The Pres and AD better not screw it up.