Barber: JMU Finishes Chesney’s First Season with Momentum and a Bowl Championship

By Mike Barber
JMUSports.com Correspondent

BOCA RATON, Fla. – In an era of change, James Madison offensive linemen Cole Potts and Tanner Morris have been constants.

So it was fitting that Wednesday night, as the clock reached zero to officially certify the Dukes' first-ever bowl victory, it would be Potts – a fifth-year guard – and Morris – a sixth-year center – who turned over the Gatorade jug, dousing coach Bob Chesney in celebration.

"It means everything," Potts said after JMU's 27-17 win over Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl. "We've been through so much together. To make history and be put on that wall for everyone to see is an opportunity and a lifetime memory I'll have forever."

Indeed, a year after falling to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl, the Dukes were back in a postseason game. But 2024 was anything but a continuation of previous success. Long-standing anchors like Potts and Morris notwithstanding, Chesney effectively was starting over in his first year with JMU.

He began laying the foundation for his program in Harrisonburg this season. Wednesday, in South Florida, his players cemented that foundation.

"I felt like we've set the tone for what the Chesney era will look like here at JMU," said senior linebacker Jacob Dobbs, one of four players who followed Chesney from Holy Cross to help him establish his program at JMU. "We faced some adversity. He rebuilt an entire roster. He put a coaching staff together. But we're not in the business of making excuses.

"Next year, I guarantee this team will be competing as that Group of Five team in the College Football Playoff. Because I know what that man, this staff and those guys in that locker room will do next year."

Chesney proved that his approach, which produced winning programs at Division III Salve Regina, Division II Assumption and FCS Holy Cross, could also succeed at the FBS level.

He's building a program that thrives on energy and positivity. From an x's and o's standpoint, Chesney values turnover margin as much as any stat. Offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy runs a system that aims to be balanced, with big-play capability, while protecting the football.

Defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill employs a defensive scheme designed to create leverage and limit explosive plays, while aggressively pursuing takeaways on every snap.

The results in 2024 were impressive. JMU led the nation in turnover margin, a factor in Wednesday's bowl win, as well.

The Dukes forced three takeaways while not turning the ball over once, despite playing the game with a pair of backup quarterbacks.

Behind Billy Atkins and JC Evans, JMU scored a trio of touchdowns, and it rushed for 212 yards.

Defensively, it smothered Western Kentucky, holding the normally-potent Hilltoppers to just 12 rushing yards while recording three sacks and 11 tackles for loss, matching its season high.

Now, Chesney and the Dukes seek to use that victory as a springboard.

"It's momentum," Chesney said. "We talk about recycling energy all game, every game, every play and not letting it die down. We have unbelievable fans. We have an unbelievable community. This continues to add to that momentum of this program."

There were no shortcuts in year one for Chesney, not that he would have taken any anyway. The road through 2024 was undeniably rocky at times, but ultimately satisfying.

It started with surprisingly competitive games against Charlotte and Gardner-Webb and continued with a headline-grabbing win over North Carolina.

And that was just the first month.

Road losses at ULM, Georgia Southern and App State, plus a single home loss to Marshall in the regular-season finale, left the Dukes short of playing for a Sun Belt championship.

But a Thursday-night dismantling of Coastal Carolina and a three-game conference winning streak in the second half of the season assured the Dukes of their shot at history – becoming the first JMU team to hoist a bowl trophy.

"This is obviously a transactional, fast-paced world," Chesney said. "It's a week to week business and you love us, and you hate us depending on how we do the week before. And I just think that when we know in that locker room what we are and who we are as people. That matters the most."

Bowl champions are who they are. And that gives their fans a lot to love.

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