(11-20-2017 03:17 PM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  

(11-20-2017 03:06 PM)stxrunner Wrote:  The problem with our expectations vs reality this year was that we thought that the problem was simply coaching. I don't think we understood the absolute disregard Tubs had for our program. He didn't recruit and he didn't establish a culture of anything.

The light has been shined in the dark corners of our program now. Reality: We didn't have a very good team no matter if Bear Bryant was pacing the sidelines. Unfortunately, in football, that means a multiple year rebuild because young players usually can't come in and fix things right away. I don't know if Fickell is the answer, but I do know that his question wasn't answered this year. The only thing we found out this year is that our squad was neglected for a long time. I think there might be talent in that locker room, but they weren't developed for years. You can't make that up in 1 year.

Next year should be progress, but more like .500 +/- 1 with better visuals. This simply isn't a quick fix.

F*** Tuberville so much for what he did to this program. It's a crime.

Yeah... But...

The painful reality that there hasn't even been visible progress from this staff, with these kids, on the BASICS of the game. So, I know you're not going to ever get Carter Jacobs to look and play like Darrell Revis, but on things like stupid, ticky-tack penalties...I think most of us would like (and we expect) to see a reduction in those type of things. Especially, when the Head Coach says things over the "bye week" like "We're going to do 'discipline' through the end of the season..."

Carter Jacobs... sucks. Got it. Hayden Moore... sucks. Got it. We have a bunch of slow, stone-hands at WR. Got it. We don't have a PK... Got it. The OLine is undersized and under-powered. Got it. And I could, sadly, go on and on. But you've got to do something with these guys.

It's not so much the record alone that is frustrating. It is HOW they are losing that is really frustrating. Butch went 4-8 that first season, but that team was fundamentally sound...if inept. I'm not seeing the soundness here. Is that the "Previous Coach's"* problem? Yes...but...Coach Fickell has been here now for almost a year.

You only get to blame "the last guy"* for so long.


(* Tommy F****** Tuberville)

If we’re getting better game by game but still have less talent, and the competing getting better game by game at about the same pace or better with better talent, what makes you think week 11 will look appreciably better than week 3?