CCU’s Grayson McCall couldn’t care less about Sun Belt’s preseason football poll
Coastal Carolina’s football team is not listening to the skeptics.
After finishing first in the Sun Belt Conference Eastern Division last year, the preseason coaches poll for had them coming in third again.
First-year head coach Tim Beck, quarterback Grayson McCall and linebacker JT Killen took the main stage Wednesday at the Sun Belt Conference media day in New Orleans for Coastal Carolina to answer questions about the upcoming season.
McCall, CCU’s senior quarterback, said the Chants don’t care about the results of the poll.
“It’s about the same thing every year,” McCall said. “When we won the conference (in 2020) we got picked to finish last. So, I don’t put much thought into it.”
McCall added that the team had a good offseason and needs to continue that momentum into training camp.
One thing that CCU has thought about is its identity as a unit. When the three were asked about the character of the team, Killen said, “I got it coach,” and answered.
“We’re going to be tough; we’re going to compete ... and we’re going to finish,” he said.
Beck agreed with the linebacker’s sentiment.
“When times are hard, we’ve got to battle through,” Beck said. “We’re going to play with unbelievable relentless effort.”
Beck also talked about the offense heading into the 2023 season, saying the team’s had 14 practices so far and the offense is still growing.
“There’s going to be some differences to it, but there will also be some elements of things we’ve done in the past,” Beck said. “We will continue to do what Grayson (McCall) and our players do best.”
The super senior threw for 2,700 yards and 24 touchdowns with only two interceptions in 2022. His 70% completion rate led the Sun Belt Conference.
Beck finished by flashing the “Chants Up” hand sign, and with it, the Sun Belt football media day concluded.
Coastal is entering 2023 following a strong 2022 season. The team finished 9-4 and lost to East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl
The Chants’ opener will be against UCLA on Sept. 2. The game will be live on ESPN from Pasadena, California and kickoff will be 10:30 p.m. EST.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to correct the location for Coastal Carolina University’s season game opener. The Chanticleers will face UCLA as the away team Sept. 2 in Pasadena, California. (Updated: 9:40 a.m. 07/27/2023)
This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 5:46 PM.
