1. The sky is NOT falling. Our (far and away) most important player missed the vast majority of the game and Villanova is an elite FCS team. Our offense was facing the worst realistically possible scenario and 'Nova was amped up for the game (whereas we probably overlooked it a bit) and the game took place at the beginning of the year. The fact that this is a week 1 game matters because scholarship limit isn't really felt yet (players aren't tired and/or injured) and 'Nova had all off season to prepare for this game. It wasn't pretty, but we held under pressure, and pulled out the W. That counts for something and it's unfortunately easy to forget the important silver linings and look at this game as "just" a narrow win over a FCS team. Don't fall into that trap.
2. That said, we were not anywhere close to as prepared as we should have been. I honestly think that HCSS is the right guy. I just think that he is way to nepotistic. Our assistant coaches are MAC level, and it has shown in the past, and it showed tonight. We aren't a Mickey Mouse program. Those of us who remember before the fall of Coach P/start of the Grob years know that, and those of us who only recently jumped on the train can appreciate that we were the first team picked in the 2nd BIG EAST raid (in fact, we were Va. Gov. interference short of being the 2nd team picked in the first raid), and we are the program that was a Mayoral vote short of lining up a new $500 million stadium from outside money, on top of our current substantial facilities improvement projects (i.e. IPF, locker room renovations, student center renovations, weight room, rehab facilities, field improvements, etc.). We have the desire, the support, and the heritage. We just need to start directing that towards personnel. MAC-level assistant caches won't cut it in the ACC.
3. We have great conference affiliation, great history (win, NC's, Heisman, Maxwell, HoFers, etc.), and a great product (support, education, facilities, traditions - like the yearly Fort Drum trip). There's no reason why we can't field a great team. Its easy to look at the Grob teams and forget who we are. Don't fall into that trap.
2. That said, we were not anywhere close to as prepared as we should have been. I honestly think that HCSS is the right guy. I just think that he is way to nepotistic. Our assistant coaches are MAC level, and it has shown in the past, and it showed tonight. We aren't a Mickey Mouse program. Those of us who remember before the fall of Coach P/start of the Grob years know that, and those of us who only recently jumped on the train can appreciate that we were the first team picked in the 2nd BIG EAST raid (in fact, we were Va. Gov. interference short of being the 2nd team picked in the first raid), and we are the program that was a Mayoral vote short of lining up a new $500 million stadium from outside money, on top of our current substantial facilities improvement projects (i.e. IPF, locker room renovations, student center renovations, weight room, rehab facilities, field improvements, etc.). We have the desire, the support, and the heritage. We just need to start directing that towards personnel. MAC-level assistant caches won't cut it in the ACC.
3. We have great conference affiliation, great history (win, NC's, Heisman, Maxwell, HoFers, etc.), and a great product (support, education, facilities, traditions - like the yearly Fort Drum trip). There's no reason why we can't field a great team. Its easy to look at the Grob teams and forget who we are. Don't fall into that trap.
