Long post, but this is why we are where are today.
In 2018, we hit rock bottom. Bobby Petrino quit on our team. The players hated him. The coaches were dejected. There was no pride.
Bobby took over Charlie’s roster that was built for 12 game P5 seasons. Bobby’s roster building was short term and CUSA/Big East type. He ignored the lines and defense and just assumed he could put score the rest and those other units could get up for big games. Lamar covered it all up and finally it crashed and burned.
It’s why in 2016 we looked amazing early. The Mid-Major power type program Bobby liked was get up for the big games and then we could coast against the lesser teams. In Power 5, it can’t be done like that. We played some bad teams, then just got up and punched Florida State. Then we put our all into beating Clemson. After that, we weren’t built to last. We struggled against a bad Duke team and that crap UVA team should’ve beaten us. We were losing 12-10 to Wake before a 34 point 4th quarter from an amazing Lamar. Then Houston and sUcKs just punched us in the jaw.
But on to 2019. The roster was dead. Scott was brought in to motivate the team. And they had 3 NFL talents at skill positions and a great athlete at QB. A first round NFL Offensive lineman. Scott had never had talent like this and thrived. He sold those guys on playing hard and out scoring everyone else. Sometimes a new coach does better with someone else’s roster. (Charlie Weiss at ND).
If you look closely at the year, a lot of it was some good luck. I really think we were overlooked and had motivation to avenge the losses. Satt knew the defense was crap. Every game felt the same. Come out fast out of the gate and out of halftime. Shock people with out skill players. Then hold on in the 4th quarter when we were out of gas.
1. We played ND close. Came out with fire in game 1 and shocked them. But they settled down and took over. Gave us confidence.
2. Had FSU beat, but then just gave it away down the stretch of the game
3. Beat BC on a last second field goal. But they also lost their starting QB to injury that game.
4. Wake Forrest was a shootout. And they honestly had one amazing comeback with 28 points in the 4th and if replay was clear, they possibly recovered that onside kick and would’ve scored.
5. UVA was a solid win in the 4th quarter. A home win that was inspired. UVA wasn’t an offensive power and it worked well.
What that year did was make us think he could work magic. The roster wasn’t that bad. It would all work. He bought in the hype. That Bryan Brown and his system just needed time. He could win his way with his guys. It didn’t work.
The problem is the same as ever, he has that same mid-major mentality. Get up for one game and dog it in other games. Notice that’s what our trend it under Satt, fall flat against Georgia Tech but then get up and take Notre Dame to the last whistle.
I do fear that Brohm has that same mentality. Big games matter, but then they’re down for others. Brohm at Purdue has shown he doesn’t really value defense. He’s built his staff with “his guys” and doesn’t really have some amazing staff of connections. He still operates the way he did at WKU and Purdue is fine with it as long as they make 6 win bowls.
In 2018, we hit rock bottom. Bobby Petrino quit on our team. The players hated him. The coaches were dejected. There was no pride.
Bobby took over Charlie’s roster that was built for 12 game P5 seasons. Bobby’s roster building was short term and CUSA/Big East type. He ignored the lines and defense and just assumed he could put score the rest and those other units could get up for big games. Lamar covered it all up and finally it crashed and burned.
It’s why in 2016 we looked amazing early. The Mid-Major power type program Bobby liked was get up for the big games and then we could coast against the lesser teams. In Power 5, it can’t be done like that. We played some bad teams, then just got up and punched Florida State. Then we put our all into beating Clemson. After that, we weren’t built to last. We struggled against a bad Duke team and that crap UVA team should’ve beaten us. We were losing 12-10 to Wake before a 34 point 4th quarter from an amazing Lamar. Then Houston and sUcKs just punched us in the jaw.
But on to 2019. The roster was dead. Scott was brought in to motivate the team. And they had 3 NFL talents at skill positions and a great athlete at QB. A first round NFL Offensive lineman. Scott had never had talent like this and thrived. He sold those guys on playing hard and out scoring everyone else. Sometimes a new coach does better with someone else’s roster. (Charlie Weiss at ND).
If you look closely at the year, a lot of it was some good luck. I really think we were overlooked and had motivation to avenge the losses. Satt knew the defense was crap. Every game felt the same. Come out fast out of the gate and out of halftime. Shock people with out skill players. Then hold on in the 4th quarter when we were out of gas.
1. We played ND close. Came out with fire in game 1 and shocked them. But they settled down and took over. Gave us confidence.
2. Had FSU beat, but then just gave it away down the stretch of the game
3. Beat BC on a last second field goal. But they also lost their starting QB to injury that game.
4. Wake Forrest was a shootout. And they honestly had one amazing comeback with 28 points in the 4th and if replay was clear, they possibly recovered that onside kick and would’ve scored.
5. UVA was a solid win in the 4th quarter. A home win that was inspired. UVA wasn’t an offensive power and it worked well.
What that year did was make us think he could work magic. The roster wasn’t that bad. It would all work. He bought in the hype. That Bryan Brown and his system just needed time. He could win his way with his guys. It didn’t work.
The problem is the same as ever, he has that same mid-major mentality. Get up for one game and dog it in other games. Notice that’s what our trend it under Satt, fall flat against Georgia Tech but then get up and take Notre Dame to the last whistle.
I do fear that Brohm has that same mentality. Big games matter, but then they’re down for others. Brohm at Purdue has shown he doesn’t really value defense. He’s built his staff with “his guys” and doesn’t really have some amazing staff of connections. He still operates the way he did at WKU and Purdue is fine with it as long as they make 6 win bowls.
