Head Coach Charlie Huff, formerly of Marshall and currently of Southern Miss, isn’t talking about a reset or a rebuild or a reimagining of the Golden Eagles. Neither is his quarterback, Braylon Braxton, who followed Huff first from Huntington to Hattiesburg, then from Hattiesburg to New Orleans for Sun Belt Media Days. Both bear the body language of a contender, though Southern Miss finished 1-11 last season are are picked to finish fifth in the competitive Sun Belt West.

“You marry into a dysfunctional family and one that maybe a little crazy – like coming into a team that’s 1-11,” joked Coach Huff.

Braxton, picked the Sun Belt preseason offensive player of the year, likes the proverbial disfunction, expressing appreciation for Hattiesburg hunger for football. It’s a consuming hunger, one that chewed up and spit out Will Hall. Neither Braxton or Huff are feeling the molars just yet. They’re only feeling the vibe.

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“Last year, our goal was to win six games. This year our goal is to win the Sun Belt.”

Of course, Coach Bryant Vincent, then in his first year at ULM, failed to win that sixth game, was stuck at five victories before closing out the season on a grinding six game losing streak. Still, Coach Vincent was feeling confident, expressing praise for the university’s new president and shrugging off the portal loss of Ahmad Hardy, the conference’s break-out running back last year. Only Troy has more returning production than ULM, and that clearly relieves Vincent.

Also in his second year, Troy head coach Gerad Parker is hearing fewer mispronunciations of his name. It helps to have ended last season on a positive cleat, winning three of his last four. It was the start of the season that had some calling coach Parker a variety of names – the first eight game registered seven loses. Coach Parker blamed himself, but said things finally clicked by year’s end. With a healthy Goose Crowder set to return behind center, Parker feels the team is ready to pick up where they left off.

People are still butchering Michael Desormeaux’s name. “It’s Des-ah-Moh,” says the fourth year head football coach for the Ragin Cajuns. Long ago, I just went with “Coach D” and ran with it. Meanwhile, Coach D could care less how you pronounce his name, just so long as you recognize the Cajuns’ skills as the West’s team to beat. After enduring two dreadfully mediocre seasons at the helm, last year delivered a very fine 9-4 record that included a bowl victory over Western Kentucky.

At his second Sun Belt Media Days, South Alabama head coach Major Applewhite projects the energy of a Samsonite suitcase: He cannot be scratched, punctured or dented. He bears twice as many facial expressions as the Egyptian Sphinx. Is he pleased? Pissed? Nobody knows. From what I understand, he prefers to remain guarded around the press, especially members he doesn’t really know. I think he likes what he sees from his team. I think, he believes the Jags can win the West – a feat tantalizingly just out of reach for many seasons now. The only thing I know for sure is that he’d rather be in Mobile supervising cone drills than taking questions in New Orleans.

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Arkansas State head coach Butch Jones is in a good mood. He and Charlie Huff seem particularly chummy, trading barbs about NIL spending while horsing around on Matt Stolz & Kara Richey’s radio show. When Jones first arrived to the Sun Belt, he carried himself with almost Nixonian uptightness – arms crossed, head down, with nothing but the script emerging from his tightly pursed lips. Entering his fifth season, Jones is relaxed, surrounded by people he knows.

The Red Wolves have 60 new faces on the roster, but Jones is clearly pleased with retaining key members from last year’s team – namely quarterback Jaylen Raynor, running back JaQuez Cross, and wide receiver Corey Rucker.

If he has a gripe, it’s with Power 4 scheduling: “We don’t buy four wins,” he says, noting the difference between A-State’s non-con (SEMO, Arkansas, Iowa State and Kennesaw State) and the notoriously soft schedules found in the BIG10 and SEC. Ironically, it’s one of those paid wins that Jones credits for the program’s turnaround.

“I call it The Oklahoma Experience,” said Jones, referring to what he calls the most miserable coaching day of his life when in 2023 the Red Wolves lost to the Sooners 73-0. “After that game, the team came home, met in the weight room, and worked out for an hour and a half,” recalled Jones. “That day, our culture won.”

I’ve heard this story before but it’s a good story. Butch Jones believes deeply in “player led” teams. To see his team come together beneath the weight of such a devastating loss is clearly a milestone moment for him. He then segues by emphasizing the three things he focuses on in 2025: Character, Style of Play and Connection. Jones likes to funnel his seasons into themes, so I suspect these three attributes will be brought up throughout the year.

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Nobody really wants to talk about Louisiana Tech, unless it’s to voice the opinion that the Bulldogs are a good fit who slips right into the conference’s footprint. Those covering Sun Belt Media days probably wanted a juicer quote, but the coaches were focused on their team and their season. Among them, Texas State head coach GJ Kinne, who is doubly focused on 2025. Picked to finish second in the competitive west, Kinne had his eyes set on winning the division and the conference – before, you know.

“We’re just focused on 2025,” says Coach Kinne. The players be brought, offensive lineman Dorion Strawn and defensive lineman Kalil Alexander nod in agreement. They’re very big men, so I don’t press the issue. Besides, Coach Kinne isn’t really thinking about making that long trip to Boise State. He’s more about his home opener with Eastern Michigan. Throughout the day, Commissioner Keith Gill is very gracious to Texas State, wishing them the best as they leave for the PAC(ish)12. In turn, Coach Kinne says the right things, removing anything that could be awkward before it got uncomfortable.

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