On this episode of Word on the Belt, sports editor Madison Hricik joins the Ragin Review podcast from Louisiana. The group shares what fans need to know about Ragin Cajun football, baseball, softball, and what it’s like in the west division of the conference.
As JMU football enters its first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Sun Belt Conference, The Breeze surveyed fans to get their thoughts on the step up in competition. Staff writer Will Moran broke down the data from 428 responses, which showed most fans expect the Dukes to make a bowl game within a few years but might not reach too big of heights anytime soon.
In this episode, Breeze TV anchor Joshua Dixon interviews Thomas Sherrill, a reporter at the Warangal Democrat and the News reporter, about App State, 2022 season outlooks and his thoughts on JMU entering the Sun Belt.
JMU men's and women's golf, like most other JMU programs, are entering a new era in the Sun Belt Conference in 2022-23. However, unlike other JMU squads, both golf programs aren't seeing Sun Belt action for the most part until the spring, after playing tune-up tournaments in the fall and many non-Sun Belt schools leading up to the conference championships in mid- and late April.
JMU can't compete for a bowl game or conference championship berth this season as they transition from the FCS to the FBS. Sports editor Grant Johnson talked to head coach Curt Cignetti at Sun Belt media days and JMU players, who said that motivation shouldn't be an issue in 2022 despite no hardware waiting on the other end of the season.
As the east division of the Sun Belt gathered Tuesday in New Orleans for the first of two conference media days, one overarching theme reigned supreme: The Sun Belt's East Division is loaded. Sports editor Grant Johnson details the scene in the Big Easy from when coaches took the main stage and one-on-one interviews.
In this episode of Word on the Belt, sports editor Grant Johnson interviews Jamie Arrington, host of the To The Top Talk, a podcast that dishes about Southern Miss athletics, about the Golden Eagles' history, 2022 season outlooks and his thoughts on JMU entering the Sun Belt.
In this episode of Word on the Belt, sports editor Grant Johnson interviews Cameron Jett, the editor-in-chief of The Hawkeye, ULM's student newspaper, and Jonah Bostick, The Hawkeye's sports editor, about ULM's athletic history, 2022 season outlooks and their thoughts on JMU entering the Sun Belt.
JMU men's soccer is coming off its first season in four years not making the College Cup. In a more competitive, revamped Sun Belt Conference, staff writer Craig Mathias explains why JMU's experienced starting lineup needs to be leaned on more than ever.
In this episode of Word on the Belt, sports editor Grant Johnson interviews Tyler Kennett, former sports editor of the Parthenon, Marshall's student newspaper and Justin Zimmer, sports director of Marshall's student-run radio station, WMUL, about Marshall's athletics history, 2022 season out…
JMU women's basketball released its schedule Wednesday afternoon. It features two stretches of three or more road games in a row, as well as a three-game homestand from Jan. 12-19.
The Sun Belt Conference announced JMU men's basketball's conference matchup dates for its inaugural season in the conference Tuesday afternoon. The schedule begins and ends with Georgia State on Dec. 29 in Atlanta and Feb. 24 in Harrisonburg, respectively.
JMU baseball is diving into an unknown future, like mostly all of JMU's athletic programs, in the Sun Belt. Graham Skinker looks into the history that the Diamond Dukes already have with multiple now-conference foes.
Word on the Belt is a video series presented by The Breeze, in which student and professional media members from across the Sun Belt are brought on to help JMU Nation get accustomed to all the teams in the Dukes' new conference. In the first episode, sports editor Grant Johnson talks with Ka…
As JMU football embarks on a new journey in a new conference, there are still some opponents on the 2022 schedule that the Dukes are familiar with. Staff writer Zach Mendenhall dives into JMU football's history with its 2022 Sun Belt Conference opponents, both matchups with history behind them and impending first-time meetups.
Before earning the commissioner position, Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill was an athletic director for Richmond and American, including a solid relationship with JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne. Gill saw it all, helping guide the Dukes to their new era. He looked at JMU’s geographical…
In preparation for his first season in the Sun Belt Conference, JMU women’s basketball head coach Sean O’Regan hired two assistants with vastly different backgrounds.
For nearly a decade, there have been circulating rumors about whether JMU would make the jump to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Once the Dukes made the announcement Nov. 6, there were many steps along the way that shaped the Sun Belt’s new look.
Sports Editors Madison Hricik and Grant Johnson write a letter about Step into the Sun's inspiration, why it's being released July 1 and what change means for both them as reporters and JMU Athletics.
On July 1, JMU officially became a member of the Sun Belt Conference. Last year, that same day was the first that college athletes could profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL).
JMU will be joining multiple former foes from its CAA and FCS days in the Sun Belt. Staff writer Will Moran details JMU's past battles with Appalachian State in football, Georgia Southern in football and Old Dominion across multiple sports.
JMU's FBS jump opens up new revenue streams, but also more expenses related to travel and coaches' salaries. Sports editor Grant Johnson lays out how JMU's finances specific to its move will look in the next seven years.
Realignment got confusing, quickly. Sports editor Grant Johnson provides a beginner's guide to why JMU left the CAA and FCS as a whole for the Sun Belt Conference.
While JMU Athletics has recently been no stranger to the spotlight, the Dukes have previously struggled to find a streaming service to launch JMU into a national brand. As the Dukes transition to the Sun Belt, JMU joins the conference’s partnership with ESPN, earning the university about $10…
JMU Athletics Director Jeff Bourne addressed a wide range of topics — Name, Image, Likeness, bolstering in-state rivalries, revamping baseball and softball facilities and bowl eligibility — Monday before JMU’s Sun Belt move becomes official Friday.
After months of anticipation, Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill announced the renewal of men's soccer as a Sun Belt sponsored sport. Sports editors Madison Hricik & Grant Johnson take a look at what the announcement means for JMU.
The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) announced Wednesday morning that it will sponsor men’s soccer as a full Sun Belt sport beginning fall 2022, following JMU, Marshall and Old Dominion’s (ODU) realignment to the conference.
With JMU Athletics move to the Sun Belt Conference (SBC), things are changing for the Dukes. Here are some updates on where the facilities stand and what projects may come their way in the future.
Walk through JMU’s campus on a Saturday during a football gameday, and you’ll see fans residing under tents, cooking food, talking and getting ready to head inside Bridgeforth Stadium. The parking lots for the tailgating span across Main and East campuses, and the traffic lines on Exit 245 m…
The main event is the game itself, but tailgating is just as popular. With JMU fans arriving hours ahead of kickoff just to enjoy food and drinks together in anticipation, a lot can go wrong.
As the music blares through the speakers inside Bridgeforth Stadium, thousands of fans leave their tailgating fun behind and turn toward the main event: football. As the gates close and the Dukes run out onto Zane Showker Field, Harrisonburg public safety hands the responsibility over to JMU…
JMU football announced it's first FBS schedule in program history Tuesday. Games include trips to Old Dominion, Georgia Southern, Arkansas State and App State while the Dukes are home for Coastal Carolina, Marshall, Georgia State and Texas State.
JMU Nation, meet the Dukes’ esports team.
UPDATE (10:37 a.m., Feb. 19):
“SBC will grow to be the most dominant Group of Five conference in the FBS as a byproduct of realignment.”
JMU lacrosse announced Friday that the program is moving to the American Athletic Conference since it isn't sponsored by the Sun Belt Conference. Sports Editor Savannah Reger details how the team reacted and what to expect from the AAC.
JMU athletics announced Friday that JMU lacrosse will join the American Athletic Conference (AAC) beginning July 1, 2022. This is the first non Sun Belt sports to find a home and the Dukes join three other school who made the 2021 NCAA tournament.
JMU Athletics held a press conference Wednesday and announced future Sun Belt changes along with how scheduling will work for JMU in the Sun Belt Conference.
Ever since the ban on JMU athletics' postseason conference play, JMU student-athletes have fought back against the ruling. Sports Editors Savannah Reger and Madison Hricik share the coaches and athletes' story on how everything happened.
JMU Athletics officially announced its realignment with the Sun Belt on homecoming weekend. So, what does this mean for JMU? Sports Editors Savannah Reger and Madison Hricik break down the biggest takeaways.
UPDATE (10:00 p.m., Nov. 10):
JMU Athletics is officially in the Sun Belt and Commissioner Keith Gill, Athletic Director Jeff Bourne and JMU president Jonathan Alger all met with the media. The Breeze's Sports Editors and News Editor share sights and sounds from the media day.
Hours after receiving unanimous approval from the Virginia General Assembly to join the Sun Belt Conference, JMU officially accepted an invitation. The Dukes join Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Mississippi in moving to the Sun Belt.
JMU met with the Virginia General Assembly and the Intercollegiate Athletics Review Commission to discuss the move to the Sun Belt conference. The vote was unanimous and JMU has no more roadblocks to its announcement.
On Friday, the JMU Board of Visitors (BoV) unanimously approved to move JMU Athletics from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision and join the Sun Belt conference. The emergency meeting began and “was immediately voted into closed session to discuss ‘contract…
On Wednesday night, the Richmond Times-Dispatch said that the CAA is banning JMU from conference championships if the Dukes announce a move to the Sun Belt.
As potential realignment opportunities arise for JMU, questions come up about specifics if JMU were to make the jump. Sports Editors Savannah Reger and Madison Hricik quick hit the storyline.
Conversations regarding JMU Athletics and possible conference realignment have heated up over the last week. Scenarios about the Dukes moving to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) were first reported by Yahoo! Sports, and Friday. Yet JMU Athletics spokesperson Kevin Warner didn’t offer any …
JMU Athletic Director Jeff Bourne addressed the media Thursday during JMU Basketball Media Day on recent realignment rumors. The press conference was a part of the media day schedule, but Bourne answered some questions regarding JMU’s position in the CAA.
