cbo

Love it and so will the players/recruits. Good work here.

There's a reasonable argument to be had about how much the spring game shows. But typically you put your returning QB1 in a position to succeed. So he looks better than he is more often that worse than he is. He should be very comfortable in a scrimmage where he can't get hit. Thorne is still holding the ball too long, he's still inaccurate (even throwing to the flat), still has no zip on the ball, still makes questionable decisions. He didn't throw one decent deep ball. His TD pass to Coleman was a bad pass that should have been intercepted. I truly hope Thorne improves this season, but it's foolish to expect it. Here's every Thorne dropback from the spring game. Which throw excites you?

Honestly, I wasn't thinking specifically of Freeze. My comment applied to most college coaches. But since you asked, Freeze clearly struggled managing coaching vs recruiting this past season. And he had trouble managing the recent portal. He needs to learn to delegate better. And I don't care what he says at a press conference. I care about the obvious results. I will add that Freeze came into a mess. Combine that with the NIL and the portal and Freeze had a helluva big job. As long as he corrects his mistakes, no one will care about year one. Some think he will, some think he won't.

I still think we add a transfer QB. Salter makes the most sense. Better late than never, I guess. Coleman will help any QB. But he can only do so much.

You’re not excited that Thorne looks a little better than last year and is clearly QB1!?

I thought I disliked Freeze until you came around haha

The good news is the rules are the same for everyone. No HC has to manage this entire mess perfectly. You just have to do it better than the guy in front of you. Maybe the real advantage will go to the coach who quits whining about it and focuses on effective management of his large staff and budget.

It comes down to football. Basketball is better than it’s ever been, even if we are still pissed about the last game. Most people don’t care much about the other sports. Football has been bad for several seasons and it’s difficult to tolerate with the amount of fan support. Freeze seems to think he will get another pass for the upcoming season but he needs to start winning games.

Would have been nice to see NIL instituted without the wide open transfer portal at the same time.

I get your point, but I think it’s a good mix overall. Hunter has the experience and I like what I’ve seen from Alston and Cobb (in that order) in limited opportunities. Maybe not an elite group, but above average. The problem for years has been zero downfield passing threat. Or really no passing threat at all. Never much room for the RBs.

I know. Just messing with you. Enjoy your good teams.

UConn is special. But it's not rare for a team that looks like an all-time great to lose a game they shouldn't. We will see.

Your team made the final 4 and you posted to an AU board within 5 minutes? I'm not saying that's bad but I am saying that's weird.

I don't see it. Hope I'm wrong!

Pearl is that guy on the basketball side. For football, I'm guessing we get another shot 2 seasons from now.

Harsin damaged our minds as well as our football program. It wasn't a bad idea to look outside the south. It was actually a very good idea to look outside the good ol' boy network. We just hired the wrong guy. The right coach can recruit anywhere.

Of course. I said in this thread that relationships matter. I was asking what gives Freeze a unique advantage in this current era where relationships matter less, at least when it comes to recruiting. Maybe I am missing your point.

You nailed it. It's a gradual process, but it tipped about a year ago and continues to move in only one direction.

Completely agree on Coleman. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say he could be the best AU WR of all time. But I wish he was at a position that can impact the game without help from another position. No one has ever said, "games are won at wide receiver." If Lewis wants to come, I agree it's a blank check. Give him what it takes. We need a top notch QB so badly.

Thanks, 50. You're a good dude. How's recovery going? Feeling alright?

You make a good point. It's a tough call for a coaching staff. Typically, QBs have committed early and stayed firm. But that's changing now. Longstreet is committing soon and loved his recent visit. Lewis seems worth waiting for. What do you do.

I wonder if Salter might be an option again in the fall?

This is a good point and actual evidence that Freeze may be adjusting well to the current times. Thanks for answering my question instead of pointing out HS recruiting for the millionth time, which we all agree is going well.

No, you didn't say "any other coach." I said that as a way of making it easier for you, as in "tell me how Freeze is better equipped for this era than any other coach." You never once explained that or answered my one very simple question. Except maybe the part that you feel like he has more patience. So that's fine. Sorry I lost your interest but I agree we should wrap it up. Good night!

I agree relationships still matter. I want a coach that builds relationships with his players, for many reasons. But relationships clearly matter less than before. So this still doesn't answer my only question from the beginning: What makes Freeze equipped for this era vs. any other coach?