Next year we need to show we have brains in charge of our team.

1. We do not try to run out of the end zone on KOs when the kick is 5 yards deep.

2. We do not run from the shot gun when we have the ball on our own 1 yard line.

3. We recognize that a run requires the opponent to use up their last time out.

4. We do not run up the middle when we cannot.

5. If we are 3rd and short and we know we are going to go on 4th - we do not go deep.

6. We do not yell about turnovers and then turn the O off to a RS Frosh.

If basic common sense rules - we will be far better off. Last year IDIOCY reigned.

Bob

We've gotten worse 4 years in a row. As long as we don't get worse, I'm happy.

In terms of Wins, at least 9 including the bowl game.

(12-13-2016 07:59 PM)Bearhawkeye Wrote:  In terms of Wins, at least 9 including the bowl game.

That's a high mark for just about any first year head coach. I'm with a lot of people here. I just want to be competitive this year. .500 with a good bowl showing would be great for this team next year with continual improvement. Keep growing, get to 8/9/10/11/12 wins as each year goes.

(12-13-2016 11:33 PM)MercerCo_BearCat Wrote:  That's a high mark for just about any first year head coach. I'm with a lot of people here. I just want to be competitive this year. .500 with a good bowl showing would be great for this team next year with continual improvement. Keep growing, get to 8/9/10/11/12 wins as each year goes.

In terms of wins, that's what I'm looking for out of the first year. Honestly, I'm looking more at the health of the program overall and I want to see a big change of course and step in the right direction. I want to see ZERO BLOWOUTS. We can lose by a couple TDs to a team like Michigan, but I would prefer to not lose by 40 or 50.

What I'm looking for more than wins:
- Pride/Passion
- Discipline
- Fundamentals
- Offense and Defense utilizing personnel strengths
- Recruiting, especially locally

(12-14-2016 08:46 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-13-2016 11:33 PM)MercerCo_BearCat Wrote:  That's a high mark for just about any first year head coach. I'm with a lot of people here. I just want to be competitive this year. .500 with a good bowl showing would be great for this team next year with continual improvement. Keep growing, get to 8/9/10/11/12 wins as each year goes.

In terms of wins, that's what I'm looking for out of the first year. Honestly, I'm looking more at the health of the program overall and I want to see a big change of course and step in the right direction. I want to see ZERO BLOWOUTS. We can lose by a couple TDs to a team like Michigan, but I would prefer to not lose by 40 or 50.

What I'm looking for more than wins:
- Pride/Passion
- Discipline
- Fundamentals
- Offense and Defense utilizing personnel strengths
- Recruiting, especially locally

All good, I agree with your list. If that is realized, I see them winning seven games next year and being competitive in a bowl game. That alone would be a breath of fresh air!

Seeing this four win season in the rear view mirror, I think there were easily three games that could have flipped if not for poor tackling, special teams disasters and a feckless offensive game plan. I think the turnaround to seven or eight wins might come quickly and he builds from there.

(12-14-2016 08:46 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-13-2016 11:33 PM)MercerCo_BearCat Wrote:  That's a high mark for just about any first year head coach. I'm with a lot of people here. I just want to be competitive this year. .500 with a good bowl showing would be great for this team next year with continual improvement. Keep growing, get to 8/9/10/11/12 wins as each year goes.

In terms of wins, that's what I'm looking for out of the first year. Honestly, I'm looking more at the health of the program overall and I want to see a big change of course and step in the right direction. I want to see ZERO BLOWOUTS. We can lose by a couple TDs to a team like Michigan, but I would prefer to not lose by 40 or 50.

What I'm looking for more than wins:
- Pride/Passion
- Discipline
- Fundamentals
- Offense and Defense utilizing personnel strengths
- Recruiting, especially locally

This is a great list.

I am going to be honest, watching UC football has been painful the past few years--- and I am a huge fan. I can only image what it was like for the casual fan. There was simply no passion on display, no discipline, stupid mistakes, turnovers, poor play, no adjustments by staff/players, etc.

I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

(12-14-2016 10:39 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

That really says it all doesn't it? Despite a lot of scoring the prior year, it's just not been an energizing brand of football to watch the past two seasons. Sitting in Nippert and knowing the opponent would usually convert on 3rd and 18 didn't inspire much confidence. I really believe marginal improvement on offense, defense and special teams execution and some passion from coaches and players on the field will deliver surprising improvement in year one.

(12-14-2016 10:14 AM)CliftonAve Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 08:46 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-13-2016 11:33 PM)MercerCo_BearCat Wrote:  That's a high mark for just about any first year head coach. I'm with a lot of people here. I just want to be competitive this year. .500 with a good bowl showing would be great for this team next year with continual improvement. Keep growing, get to 8/9/10/11/12 wins as each year goes.

In terms of wins, that's what I'm looking for out of the first year. Honestly, I'm looking more at the health of the program overall and I want to see a big change of course and step in the right direction. I want to see ZERO BLOWOUTS. We can lose by a couple TDs to a team like Michigan, but I would prefer to not lose by 40 or 50.

What I'm looking for more than wins:
- Pride/Passion
- Discipline
- Fundamentals
- Offense and Defense utilizing personnel strengths
- Recruiting, especially locally

This is a great list.

I am going to be honest, watching UC football has been painful the past few years--- and I am a huge fan. I can only image what it was like for the casual fan. There was simply no passion on display, no discipline, stupid mistakes, turnovers, poor play, no adjustments by staff/players, etc.

This was never more evident than the loss at Houston last year. Compare passion with the Houston sideline. Moreover look at the discipline, stupid mistakes, turnovers, poor play, no adjustments by staff/players.

(12-14-2016 10:39 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

Right. Want to see the scrappy underdog team that punches above its weight class. Don't think we have a chance against Michigan in week 2 but it sure would be nice to give them some sort of scare.

(12-14-2016 11:58 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 10:39 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

Right. Want to see the scrappy underdog team that punches above its weight class. Don't think we have a chance against Michigan in week 2 but it sure would be nice to give them some sort of scare.

I don't want scrappy underdog. I want the swag we used to have where we come in and steamroll a team, kinda like the beatdown we put on Rutgers to start the 2009 season or the way we kicked the crap out of OSU at home in 2007.
Winning used to be an expectation. I want that back.

(12-14-2016 12:07 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 11:58 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 10:39 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

Right. Want to see the scrappy underdog team that punches above its weight class. Don't think we have a chance against Michigan in week 2 but it sure would be nice to give them some sort of scare.

I don't want scrappy underdog. I want the swag we used to have where we come in and steamroll a team, kinda like the beatdown we put on Rutgers to start the 2009 season or the way we kicked the crap out of OSU at home in 2007.
Winning used to be an expectation. I want that back.

Amen. First three games of that 2007 season (SE Mo. State, Oregon State and Miami) we outscored our opponents 140-16. Granted, two of the three were FCS teams, but that's how I like to win games.

(12-14-2016 02:15 PM)MickMack Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 12:07 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 11:58 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 10:39 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

Right. Want to see the scrappy underdog team that punches above its weight class. Don't think we have a chance against Michigan in week 2 but it sure would be nice to give them some sort of scare.

I don't want scrappy underdog. I want the swag we used to have where we come in and steamroll a team, kinda like the beatdown we put on Rutgers to start the 2009 season or the way we kicked the crap out of OSU at home in 2007.
Winning used to be an expectation. I want that back.

Amen. First three games of that 2007 season (SE Mo. State, Oregon State and Miami) we outscored our opponents 140-16. Granted, two of the three were FCS teams, but that's how I like to win games.

I much prefer nailbiters to UT Martin. I like to get my money's worth.

A successful 2017 season will be on in which I am excited about going to football games instead of it being a chore. 2015 was when I started to feel this way. I was excited for the opening game and Houston this past season, after that, I didn't care.

If CLF can put a competitive product on the field week 1 and not struggle to beat an FCS team, I'll be full steam ahead for the season. Hell, if the team looks motivated to play in the Spring Scrimmage, I'll be on board.

This is coming from a guy who went to 11 of the 13 games in 2012.

(12-14-2016 12:07 PM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 11:58 AM)AeroCat Wrote:  

(12-14-2016 10:39 AM)JackieTreehorn Wrote:  I just want back that sense of swagger we used to have.

Right. Want to see the scrappy underdog team that punches above its weight class. Don't think we have a chance against Michigan in week 2 but it sure would be nice to give them some sort of scare.

I don't want scrappy underdog. I want the swag we used to have where we come in and steamroll a team, kinda like the beatdown we put on Rutgers to start the 2009 season or the way we kicked the crap out of OSU at home in 2007.
Winning used to be an expectation. I want that back.

agree but we were set back years by coach clown so....baby stepping it, we may have to 'settle' for scrappy underdog for a year or two first. Scrappy Underdog is still 100x better than that BS we have watched the past four years....

(12-15-2016 01:24 PM)djtothemoney Wrote:  This is coming from a guy who went to 11 of the 13 games in 2012.

That was easy. How many did you go to this year?