Post by putter1 on Oct 15, 2018 15:00:28 GMT -5
- There's a fine line between positivity or optimism, and outright denial or excuse-making. A few of the Purplest of Purple on here continue to say "we fought hard," or "we didn't quit," or "at least we came back." I would rather play like sh*t and win. I would rather blow the doors off the other people and show lots of stupid, bone-headed mistakes, and win. Moral victories don't count anywhere except apparently on Crossports.
- In anticipation of what are certain to be apologist replies to my first point above, I know HC is supposed to find, coach, and graduate "fine young men, representative of the student body." We can also find, coach, and graduate winning football players. Don't make the two mutually exclusive.
- Freshman. Underclassmen. Is it a foregone conclusion that they are all terrible? As in, every senior is better than every freshman simply because of age and experience? Why isn't Eli Manning 10x better than Patrick Mahomes? He's older and more experienced. Yes, obviously... size, strength, skill, experience, confidence all can come with age, but again, they're not a guarantee. There is still a chance that an underclassman, or group of them, can meaningfully contribute, if not outright win their role or side of the football. There's a reason why you play on the field and don't just compare class sizes and allocate a winner. So many of you, and Chesney as well, are using freshman players as an excuse. Do they not practice? Do they not get scholarships? Do they just not have enough magic sprinkled on them until 3 years elapse and they are "seniors" and then we can all now expect them to be able to play this game at the D1 level?
- Coach Chesney was certainly hamstrung by having to select a new OC just before the season started. Perhaps if the prior coach did not leave for greener pastures at the professional level, we'd see a lot of these close situations, or botched situations, swing in our favor. Nevertheless, I think that a lot of folks bought into the hype that a D3 coach was selling, having never experienced that success at the D1 level. Only recently have folks been able to say that the hype train may have out-kicked its coverage. 6 games do not a career make, so the jury is absolutely still out. But let's not say that Chesney's success is a foregone conclusion with the passage of time similar to point # 3 above.
Bill Walsh