So, we gave up four scores. Meh. Normally, this would be pause for concern, but I saw a couple of things tonight that added to my feeling that we are seeing a,great change in Athens.
Let's face it, we put up Xbox numbers tonight. We also saw the emergence of Air Fromm. If there were any concerns about Jake's ability to sling the pig, I think this game put many if those to rest.
Now, the secondary got exposed in the first half. To be fair, though, Missouri has a solid passing game. However, what impressed me was the way both sides of the ball stepped up. The second half was pretty much lights out. No more huge plays on the defense, and the offense ground the life out of the tigers. I saw, or rather heard, something in a post game interview with Roquan Smith and Sony Michel that confirmed the idea of a culture shift. Rather than tout the O or D performance, both of these DGDs spoke of how each unit felt the need to support the other when one struggled. I'm not sure if I've heard this before. It's humility. Synergy. The concept of the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. This seems to be a message being spoon fed to these men. It w was refreshing.
I'm reluctant to give in to the giddiness I feel building from what I see in Athens. However, I feel it time to put aside the notion of token changes, and replace it with the realization that this team is firmly on the road to greatness. It may not be this year, but our time is coming.
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