Monday Thoughts - The Danger with Expectations

yankeedawg,

I think the reason why there are so many bowl games is because the "lesser schools" (no disrespect intended) use them as a big fundraising opportunity. And I do agree with Buc, that all these bowl games smack of everyone getting a trophy. I'm not trying to make blanket statements to the effect that there aren't competitive bowl games.

Are there good college bowl games amongst the plethora of them played? Of course. Every college program has the ability to have exciting games and the feel-good effort to go out with a win to whet the whistle of the fan base for the the following season. But I ask you seriously, does it matter to anyone who plays in the St. Petersburg Bowl on ESPN 161 or whatever number they're up to now? What does it really mean? I was at a restaurant yesterday and they had one TV playing the St. Petersburg Bowl and they didn't even have the sound on. That pretty much says everything as to what these bowl games mean. Let's just call it for what it is - corporate sponsorship helping fund college programs that need funding. If the NCAA is going to stick with more bowl games, at least put some kind of meaning into them, like say, the winner of the bowl gets two extra scholarships to offer to recruits for one season. Something.

I'll watch some of the big name bowl games starting at the end of this week, but it'll be more or less for spectator purposes and just to watch a little more football before the long drought begins in a few weeks until next season.

I dunno, maybe I'm missing the boat here, but I think there are far too many bowls. Growing up, it was never this way. Probably just one more aspect of yesteryear that I yearn for that ain't never coming back.

Yes there are too many bowl games....but

To use one of mine and the Lady Sports Writer favorite

Sayings....It is what it is....the good old days are just

That..... While there are too many games there are teams

Who still do not play so while it has become a diluted

Endeavor....there is still cream at the top...

Length of the list has been added to the bottom thus far

Expand the number of teams in the playoffs and the

Number at the top will increase...

Field of 64 in March Madness....excessive???

Then toss in the. NIT....... All comes down to money

And the entertainment draw for television.....

Trying to get a handle on Kirby Smart and “his way” of building for the future.

Posted video of Breon Dixon who is a 2017 D1 prospect

Appears to me that Smart has already let it be known that he plans to “build a program”, not going to be a coach that is “short sighted”. Not to be ugly, I can speak or post to what “I” have watched for many years covering the Red and Black.

Media and the coaching staff prior to the “big change over” played up the 5* thingy. Press gets involved, many folks believe what they read, believing that one or two 5*'s will get us to the promised land.

A word of caution from where I sit.

The gators at this point have 13 or so 3* recruits for the 2016 Class. Might be a good thing for us to remember that these young players bodies and attitudes change from high school to college.

A solid head coach that served his apprenticeship under a coach that has proven “methods” in the SEC and elsewhere excites me.

Quite frankly, we have been a team that is and has been a “wanna be”. Not going too deeply into the coaching, but . . . . the main drawback in my opinion has been the lack of coaching at a “much higher level”.

Kirby Smart will have a lot of pressure from the media, they however are much like those that they influence . . . . I have been known to call them “bleeding hearts”. Spent time on that side of the fence, understand “their methods”. Press and fan side.

I am one that looks at “leadership” . . . . that has been the “missing link” in the Classic City. Would love to have a “National Championship”, would also love to be in the “Final Whatever” trying to win a “Natty”.

Bet this . . . . the two lines offensive and defensive will no longer be a thing of the past. Kirby Smart understands that, how do I know . . . . Tracy Rocker has one side and quickly Kirby Smart hired “leadership” on the offensive side.

Stop with this . . . . Hard not to believe that UGA has finally realized what was needed and are now truthfully getting “our house” in order.

Go Dawgs

Great and relevant topic. Just my four cents.

1. I said day 1 on this board after the KS hire I expected 8-4 year 1. Why? freshmen QB's (true, not red shirted) just do NOT usually win in the SEC. Fact.

That said, I can now tell you how I will judge KS and it will be a 3 year process for me:

1. It takes 2 years of hard work in the weight room before KS's vision will be seen. he starts in two weeks. A 19 year old OL man will not go from 290 to 330 and go from 400 to 650 in the squat by August. It is a process.
2. Year1: I want to see better special teams and better tackling.
Year 2:I want to see a big attitude difference in the OL in year two. I think it will take 2 seasons to go from soft to bad a**. Year 2 I also want to go into the last SEC game of the year with a chance at the East title.
Year 3: SEC East champs. Winning or losing, having a chance in the SEC title game. No blow out loss. Lose to bama or LSU 24-17, I can live with that.

3. Year 4: A team loaded with 330 lb OLmen and OL with NFL days ahead of them. A DL that rotates players who will also be drafted in the first 3 rounds. Quality depth.

If KS gets the DL/OL straight, the rest will fall into place.

Year 4-Year 12: In the conversation every year as one of the top 5-8 teams going down the wire towards playoffs. 1-2 national titles would be nice.



Of course, we could do what UF did and win the east in year 1 but I just don't see us doing that with a new offensive approach and freshman QB in year 1.

Buc .....spot on

Bulldogshannon going to be fun again watching the

Process. Unfold...

Wouldn't be surprised to see our defense carry us

Further than many might expect....offense.....

That doesn't turn the ball over...ST. that can play...

And as Buc has correctly pointed out forever...

Leadership....starts with HC....and that we have now...

Go Dawgs

Hard to beat conversation like I have read above.

Comes a time when those with the power and those of us that actually hold much of the power make an impression.

Kirby Smart was one step away from becoming the head coach of the Gamecocks.

Will Kirby Smart turn our program around, meaning a true contender in the SEC? That will be the "64 million dollar question" on most of the links that "most" of us read.

I have no doubts that our board is focused, can say that from reading the posts on December 27, 2015 on this board.

This I know, Nick Saban is so into 2017 and 2018, 2016 he is sure of. That is what Kirby Smart brings to Athens, along with a "system" that has been proven by one of the best ever in college football.

Talent is one thing, coaching talent has been a mystery in Athens for many years, say again, way the heck before Mark Richt.

Good reads folks . . . .