AUwent

There undoubtedly HAS to be a record improvement. 8 wins will most definitely be enough. 7 I think would, but with the amount of seniors this year I’m just not sure how capable we’d be of improving on that in ‘25 (again, heard JLee mention how ‘25 is the year).

No one’s going to mistake me for a pumper but we are still well ahead of where we were last year (and yes I know he’s been here for a year but yeah).

Yeah, we might legitimately need 8 this year—my goal had been 7 wins in 24 and 8 in 25 but the more time goes on the more likely I think the reverse is. Fearing, though, that we just go 6-6 three straight years, and I don’t think that recruits here will have the patience Mizzou’s did. At very least we’d better have the will and ability to go get a quality transfer QB come December if Walker still isn’t ready. : /

Alright, so please hear me out. Let’s say by October’s end, we’re *less* than 5-3. This would in all likelihood mean that we will not show any improvement. Keep in mind, this would be despite potentially having as few as EIGHT non-seniors in the starting lineup (O and D). So, the question is. In that scenario, should we try to give the youth starting experience? Given that any patience amongst the fandom will be gone if no improvement is shown record-wise, CHF is going to need to set up to take a big step in year 3. I recognize how unfair it would be to punish all the senior leadership all because we don’t have a sports mgmt program (imo at least), but something’s going to need to give.

It’s like a quote I remember hearing about Barry Bonds—“you don’t know which runs he got specifically because of steroids but you know that he wouldn’t have had as many without them.”

Maybe, I was more asking those who share that view to explain why. Oh yeah we should definitely be more talented with each passing year, but plenty of very talented AU recruiting classes started out slow (2007 and 2011 for instance).

Again, I still don’t understand why beat writers/pundits (Hoke and Bud Elliott of On3) are saying next year is the year if we only are going to return nine starters. Can someone explain?

Excellent to hear. Next order of business, start a freaking sports mgmt program.

Let’s say we NEED a transfer QB after this year. Does Gus’s buyout period finally being over at the end of 2024 mean that we’ll be able to drop a more of a bag if need be?

Right now this year feels like 2016–which for coach’s second year would totally suffice.

In reality, all three teams deserved a shot at the natty. Choosing #4 would’ve been just as hard (sums up most years of the BCS, tbh).

Yeah, and good coaches are going to be chomping at the bit to take a job where they’ll be compared to that 24/7 LOL (not aimed at you, but those who think we could easily land some elite hire if only the boosters would allow it).

With the roster inherited year one was going to be pretty rough, regardless of the coach. The quantifiable goal was to get to a bowl and sign a top 10 recruiting class and we did that. I *feel* like he understands that improvement will be needed in year 2. (Edit: I feel like if he truly were feeling he’s getting a free pass this year, he wouldn’t be starting so many seniors.) I can’t tell you how many successful coaches whose head you would’ve been calling for (Sark) after their first years.

I’m talking about when they fired Solich thinking he was dragging them down to mediocrity and that they could do better. Surprise surprise it took six weeks for anyone to take the job and it wasn’t anyone good. They would give an arm for Solich’s results now. To a lesser extent Pelini. And yeah I know they’re not exactly in fertile recruiting grounds. Guess what, they also weren’t/aren’t up against the two best programs in the country. Different sport but the fact that a lot of people are melting down after a CONFERENCE TOURNEY TITLE because of what our arch rival is doing says it all. Yeah, but the better question is WHY our donors are so unique in this regard (if they even are, which I’m HIGHLY skeptical of).

While it seems like he won’t be ready this year, is Walker at least showing potential? I had heard (seemingly) bad things about him on the subreddit, unsure how reliable.

After what happened when we fired Gus how much can you really blame them? I know I bring up Nebraska a lot but it truly is a cautionary tale.

We don’t offer sports management. Correct me if I’m wrong, but everyone else in the league besides Vandy does. Regardless, it kept us from getting both Grayson McCall and Kaidon Salter.

For me it’s almost paradoxical. Not pleased with QBs and hate how at least in one aspect we have harsher academic standards than almost everyone else in the conference leading to us being handicapped with the portal—but also very excited about literally everything else on offense.

Thx Zeek. We have GOT to get a sports management program set up.

Can someone explain exactly how apparel impacts recruiting? I’m sure it does but I’d love to hear the…mechanics of it. After tonight I would love to believe that especially in basketball we’ve been playing with a handicap that’s about to be rectified.

MOST of Gus’s teams were better than their record. Having a top five toughest schedule every year will make lots of teams look worse than they are. I’ve come to really regret firing him tbh, but still believe CHF can get us back to that level (which would get us a playoff berth every couple years). Our problems by and large stem from factors out of our control. For Pete’s sake, we just won the SEC tourney. The vast majority of teams would be on cloud 9 regardless of the NCAA tourney. But because of the literal elephant in the room it feels like we had finished bottom of the league. It’s why *a part of* me has been open to abandoning traditional rivalries…they’re making us crazy across the grid. Which is a big part of why in terms of job desirability, we’re not very high on the SEC totem pole. What’s the point if in both football [EDIT: no I’m not talking about this year, I’m specifically thinking of 2017] and basketball you can have a really good season and the fans will still be on the ledge? /rant

It isn’t just us, it seems. My guess is that people are turned off by a lot of the changes to the sport, which makes sense.

Neither could Kirby. 🙄

If the season ends up not going well we need to be starting as many non-seniors as possible by the end. The problem is aside from the first four games, when could Walker be thrown in without risking his confidence being destroyed? QBs feel like a Catch-22 sometimes.

Alright, even though I’d much rather be continuing on in the tourney, time to turn our attention to spring ball.