CBS

Curt Cignetti leads a JMU program used to title contention into an unprecedented FBS transition year.

Still, there is absolutely an acknowledgement that the move to an FBS schedule has changed the margin for error when it comes to wins and losses. Now, that ingrained culture of success will be a key in helping the Dukes stay focused on excellence while the competition, and expectations, change with this move. The defensive line is a position of strength, and while the quarterback battle is not yet settled heading into fall camp, Cignetti is confident that he has three guys (Colorado State transfer Todd Centeio, Billy Atkins and freshman Alonza Barnett) that can all get the job done. That success paved the way for his hire at JMU, where he's upheld the standard of national championship contention and now faces the challenge of raising the bar for the program again with a step up in competition. The Dukes have also lost the edge of being a preferred destination when NCAA rules necessitated a player move down a level to avoid sitting out a season when transferring out of an FBS program. Examples set by Appalachian State and ODU can give some guidance into navigating that roster management transition, but JMU is entering a transfer and recruiting environment that is as unprecedented as the one-year transition itself. On the other end of the spectrum, Cignetti has experience at smaller schools from his time as an assistant at Davidson, Rice and Temple in the late 80s and early 90s. He started at IUP, where his father was the head coach from 1986-2005, and totaled a 53-17 record while leading the Crimson Hawks to three Division II playoff appearances and a conference title in 2012. While the move provides some familiarity, JMU is transitioning to the FBS in unprecedented fashion. In joining the Sun Belt, JMU lines up with old FCS foes Appalachian State and Georgia Southern, while also establishing new regional rivalries with fellow Sun Belt newcomers Old Dominion and Marshall, both of which are joining the league from Conference USA. The on-field success and school's location have made JMU a frequently mentioned candidate for FBS expansion in years past. Sitting in the western part of Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley, the Harrisonburg-based campus and its athletic department have seen rapid growth in the 21st century.