Monday Thoughts - The Danger with Expectations

I guess this is something I need to get off my chest while it's still fresh. Expectations. So, we got our new HC, and he seems to know what he's doing in building the team around him. However, NCAA programs are full of stories of coaches whose careers died in the first or second years because of the expectations. Hell, everyone here knows that our expectations are in the outer atmosphere when it comes to football. So, that said, how about we give CKS a few years to get this jalopy rolling again. It's not that I don't think he's off to a great start. It's also probable that Georgia hits its stride during his first year. It's just that, if we stumble, do we allow time for growing pains? I say yes. I've always said that new hires in NCAA football should always be given 5 year contracts at the get go. This allows them to clean slate the program and build their own before they suffer for the misdeeds of their predecessors. What if next season is a dud? Will we be sharpening knives, or will we allow CKS the benefit of the doubt that he needs time to fix the mess? Thoughts?

LimeyDawg,

Good topic and believe it or not, one I was thinking about today.

Allow me to draw from a historical football time I lived through and I think you'll see incredibly similar parallels.

I remember back during the Tony Dungy days in Tampa Bay, he was incredibly adored, an upstanding man, and turned a football team that was a perpetual embarrassment into a real contender. He changed the culture for the Bucs and brought respectability year after year. Eventually though, as the story goes, he just couldn't get the team over the hump. Finally, the Bucs fired him and the fan reaction was emotionally charged, much like we are experiencing with Georgia firing Richt. Jon Gruden rolled into town and in short order, retooled the team and in his first season, led them to a super bowl victory with a vast majority of Dungy's players, plus the free agents Gruden brought in. In essence, he got more out of the same players than Dungy did because of his mindset and his demands.

I see this period of Kirby coming in to Athens in a much similar light. Do I have the expectation of him winning a national championship in year 1? Absolutely not. I think it's going to take 2-3 seasons to see that happen. Do I think it could happen in year 1? Yes. I think it is entirely possible we could see it happen.

My expectations out of Kirby, each season, is progressive and dramatic improvement in the areas of our deficiencies, because with each dramatic improvement, it moves us closer to hoisting up the hardware in January. I think season 1 for him is going to be changing the culture in Athens. And I mean a thorough overhaul of what has been the status quo for the last fifteen years. That won't happen overnight. Culture is a massive deficiency in this program right now, and that will be a year 1 change I completely expect to see happen.

I won't judge Kirby until year 3.

I don't expect us to win a title next year, it wouldn't surprise me if we did, but I don't expect it to happen.


For me personally I have a 3 year wait plan for coaches, we will be able to see where we stand by then.

Some coaches can come in and work miracles, Kirby could do that, but I wouldn't expect it. Heck Saban only won 6/7 games his first season with the tide.

But you better bet your ass if next season we only win 6 or so games, the Pro Richt crowd will be out there saying told ya so.

BullDawg2010 wrote: I won't judge Kirby until year 3.

I don't expect us to win a title next year, it wouldn't surprise me if we did, but I don't expect it to happen.


For me personally I have a 3 year wait plan for coaches, we will be able to see where we stand by then.

Some coaches can come in and work miracles, Kirby could do that, but I wouldn't expect it. Heck Saban only won 6/7 games his first season with the tide.

But you better bet your ass if next season we only win 6 or so games, the Pro Richt crowd will be out there saying told ya so.

^^^^^yep^^^^^

SouthernDawg, you and I could have a long conversation about Jon Gruden and how it started with his hire and the reason he is now working for ESPN.

I think the team buys into Kirby Smart yesterday.
Considering we were beaten by Tn and Fla, two teams we should have beaten.
Hell yes, I want results.
I am too old to expect less.