Josh Phifer is getting goosebumps out in Westwood, and he’s not talking about the LA weather. Nah, this is about a whole new vibe taking over the UCLA Bruins, one that has the tight end literally saying, “holy s–t, it’s happening!” He told California Post writer Ben Bolch that the energy in the program right now feels like “JMUCLA,” and honestly, that’s wild. Bruin fans should be stoked, because if it’s anything like what Bob Chesney built at James Madison, things are about to get real.
The JMU Magic Is Here
First-year head coach Bob Chesney isn’t playing around. He brought that James Madison magic straight to the West Coast, hauling over a bunch of his old Dukes players through the transfer portal. Phifer is one of those guys, and he’s feeling a direct connection between the championship-level success at JMU and what’s brewing at UCLA. Remember, Chesney led James Madison to a conference championship and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025. That’s not just a good season; that’s a *statement*. He’s been laying the groundwork, bringing over not just players, but coaching staff and a whole set of values to make this transition as smooth as possible. This isn’t just a coaching change, it’s a full-on culture transplant, and it looks like it’s already working.
No More Ghost Towns in the Locker Room
It’s not just Phifer feeling the shift, either. Kicker Mateen Bhaghani totally backed up that “JMUCLA” talk when he spoke about the difference from last year’s program. Bhaghani said that walking into the locker room last year, “sometimes it would be a ghost town” because people would “get in and get out” and it wasn’t a “let’s hang out” type of deal. But this season? It’s a whole different energy. Chesney isn’t just bringing winning ways; he’s building a *team* in every sense of the word. That’s huge for any program trying to find its identity and get everyone pulling in the same direction. When players want to stick around and be together, you know you’ve got something special.
So, can Chesney really pull off the same trick he did at James Madison, where he led them to a conference title and a College Football Playoff shot in 2025? We find out Saturday when the season kicks off. This isn’t just about winning games, it’s about seeing if this “JMUCLA” magic is for real and if the Bruins can translate that goosebumps-level excitement into dominance on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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