Jeremy Harper Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Football, G5, Georgia Southern Eagles, Georgia State Panthers, James Madison University, Marshall, Old Dominion

Day 1 of 2024 Sun Belt Media Days: Eastern Promises

For Part One of FunBelt Podcast at Sun Belt Media Days, click here.

For Part Two of FunBelt Podcast at Sun Belt Media Days, click here

For Part Three of FunBelt Podcast at Sun Belt Media Days, click here

Hello There, Fellow Sun Belt Coaches

If Robert “Bob” Chesney is experiencing any butterflies on his first Sun Belt Media Days, he isn’t showing it. Coach Chesney, the newly anointed top cheese for James Madison football, came from a winning tradition at Holy Cross. Speaking to a cadre of journalists, radio personalities and podcasters doesn’t exactly phase him. Nor do the expectations at JMU, who entered the Sun Belt in 2022 and immediately fortified their standing as an athletics powerhouse.

Chesney is a talkative guy. He projects confidence and vigor. He’s 47, but he looks ten years younger. His narrative is a mixture of coach speak, personal philosophy, and positive affirmations directed to his staff and players. He bears the energy of a thousand protein shakes. In six seasons at Holy Cross, Chesney was 44–21 with his team finishing first in the conference for five straight years. While his demeanor isn’t intimidating like that of his predecessor Curt Cignetti, his record of success is familiar.

Head coaches Bob Chesney and Dell McGee bring different approaches to the Sun Belt.

Georgia State head football coach Dell McGee is a quiet man. At 51 he’s coached positions at Georgia Southern, Georgia and Auburn. As head coach of the Panthers, however, he is the focus now, and he seems more comfortable recruiting and instructing players than explaining his weltanschauung to a room full of men and women he doesn’t know.

The Panthers’ 2025 recruiting class is already a success, featuring 15 3-star talents and ranking among the best classes in the Sun Belt. It’s quite a feat considering the sudden departure of former head coach Shawn Elliot in February. But for now, McGee is focused on the 2024 team, projected to finish dead last in the Sun Belt East. One gets the feeling he doesn’t mind being overlooked as he gets to work.

No Pressure on the Preseason Players of the Year

The Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year and the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year are both found in the Sun Belt East – and present for Day 1 of Sun Belt Media Days. Jason Henderson, the hard hitting tackle monster from Old Dominion, bears a resting-intense face but also a disarmingly calm and thoughtful demeanor for a guy whose job is laying out running backs. When asked if he had designs for breaking the college record for total tackles currently held by Troy legend Carlton Martial, Henderson said he had no appetite for records. Only hits.

Jason Henderson (Old Dominion) and Joey Aguilar (Appalachian State) are clearly feeling the pressure of expectations. Clearly.

Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar drops a dapper drip bomb on a room filled with slovenly dressed reporters. His tie and pocket square are perfect. So are his answers to a litany of questions, which he delivers with a soft voice and a wry smile. When asked why he chose another year with Appalachian State over plying his wares for a more monied program, Aguilar mentions his love for his coaches, his teammates and Boone.

Sun Belt Media Days Changed Venue

This isn’t really news, but SBC Media Days switched from the Sheraton on Canal Street to the Marriott in the Warehouse Arts District. In most ways, the move was lateral, though the breakfast was definitely a level up. Sadly, the media room was kept too warm for wearing smoking jackets.

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