HARRISONBURG — James Madison hosted more than a championship football game Friday night.

Thanks to a coaching carousel accelerated to Formula One speed by the earliest national signing day in history, Dec. 3, an unquenchable thirst for postseason’s financial windfalls, and the payroll obligations inherent with athlete compensation, the Dukes staged a Harrisonburg farewell to Bob Chesney.

They made his final game at Bridgeforth Stadium tense, bruising and indelible.

Most important, in their fourth year of membership, they hoisted the Sun Belt Conference championship trophy after a 31-14 victory over Troy.

Redshirt junior tailback Wayne Knight rushed for a career-high 212 yards, 73 on a second-quarter touchdown dash, and quarterback Alonza Barnett iced matters when he weaved 26 yards for

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