it hit me at the half yesterday. no matter how much i bitch about the dreadful special teams play and the complete lack of an offensive philosophy and the inexplicable personnel decisions and the giant step back that the d-line has taken, it all comes down to one basic fact:
we just don't have enough d-1 athletes to be competitive. when your starting lineup is filled with a bunch of guys who were slated for redshirts or who were never expected to get beyond the role of contributor, you are not going to win at this level.
basically, this year has been the "disaster" scenario that our team needed to avoid in order to keep building. we needed a lucky break or 2. we didn't get it.
unfortunately, luck plays a role in which programs succeed and which fail. hawkins needed a year where the starters stayed healthy. had that happened, the Buffs would probably be looking at 8+ wins, despite all the coaching complaints i have.
it is a tough break, but that's where we are. support for the program is eroding and belief in hawkins is fading. recruiting is going to be challenging.
so, fast forward to next season. with all margin for error now basically erased for this staff, they have to win and make some real noise next year, no matter what.
i am frustrated as all hell, but i am good, i guess, with one more season to see what happens. they need to deliver, regardless of the breaks or we need to get a new staff in here. next year = job year, imho.
we just don't have enough d-1 athletes to be competitive. when your starting lineup is filled with a bunch of guys who were slated for redshirts or who were never expected to get beyond the role of contributor, you are not going to win at this level.
basically, this year has been the "disaster" scenario that our team needed to avoid in order to keep building. we needed a lucky break or 2. we didn't get it.
unfortunately, luck plays a role in which programs succeed and which fail. hawkins needed a year where the starters stayed healthy. had that happened, the Buffs would probably be looking at 8+ wins, despite all the coaching complaints i have.
it is a tough break, but that's where we are. support for the program is eroding and belief in hawkins is fading. recruiting is going to be challenging.
so, fast forward to next season. with all margin for error now basically erased for this staff, they have to win and make some real noise next year, no matter what.
i am frustrated as all hell, but i am good, i guess, with one more season to see what happens. they need to deliver, regardless of the breaks or we need to get a new staff in here. next year = job year, imho.