Are we better?

[SURules]

The people that are “too sold” on the offense with Angeli, remember that he wasn’t here for Spring ball and even though he had some degree of significant playing time at ND he still was a relatively inexperienced starter at the beginning of the season. They also remember things clicking for Angeli in the 4th quarter of the UConn game which was only the second game of the season, and that from then on he played well enough to lead the nation in passing. Yes we all know the teams we played, but that’s how most teams start the year.

Angeli got better every game and like you said, things started to click at the end of the UConn game. Hopefully he comes back 100% and now with time in Nixon’s offense now, he can thrive. Angeli was learning the offense on the fly.

 

[sufandu]

Vs. UConn JRS had 5 catches and 2 TD's, including a dandy in the front corner of the end zone in OT.

Oh yeah. I missed that. He had a good game too. I may have incuded him in that other post I made weeks ago. Another "what might have been" had Angei not been hurt.

 

[Oakland]

I saw Connolly’s final S&P rankings today. We finished 115th, only Ok State was worse amongst P4 teams. 4-8 Bowling Green and 4-8 Wyoming were ahead of us. Yes, we will be better

Supposedly, Boone Pickens donated $265 mil to the OKSt athletics in the early 2000s; maybe it wasn’t well spent.

 

[djorange1989]

Supposedly, Boone Pickens donated $265 mil to the OKSt athletics in the early 2000s; maybe it wasn’t well spent.

Yeah it was for a long time but not the last two years for sure

 

[Dcuse]

We should have beaten UNC and BC. As bad as Collins was, why did he not get to play a single down against the only two sub. 500 teams after Angeli got hurt? Might have helped his confidence and given us a better evaluation of some of the younger guys.

Meanwhile, for next year, ND, SMU, and Louisville are already in preseason top 25s. That is 1/2 of our home slate. I think 2026 may end up being tougher schedule than 2025. We are going to need to be better than we were in Games 1-4 in 2025 to get to a bowl.

I was understanding of trying Filardi on Halloween. But running him out there after seeing what you had after that game? My only major criticism of Fran to this point. Obvious to anybody with eyes that Joe was overmatched at this level.

 

[Ozone!]

I believe we are…​

I trust in HCFB and first his new coaching hires are upgrades in player development
I believe many of the new portal players will help us improve
I believe in supporting our coaches and players!

 

[Chip]

I was understanding of trying Filardi on Halloween. But running him out there after seeing what you had after that game? My only major criticism of Fran to this point. Obvious to anybody with eyes that Joe was overmatched at this level.

I wouldn't have run him out there in the 2nd half of UNC. He was something like 1 for 10 at that point. You proved your point that there is something worse than Rickie, so give him the 2nd half.

Rickie was 17/29 for 224, 1 TD, 0 INT the previous week. Rushed for 41 yards. Not great, but still, not the time to go to the lacrosse player either on national TV against Belichick and his improving defense (at the time).

 

[SU94]

The floor was raised

Not eye popping, but raising the floor is absolutely a viable route to improving a football team YoY.

 

[NKR1978]

This year they don’t lose Angeli they win 7 or 8 even with the defense

This schedule is not any harder and harder games are at home

And they were playing really good football when Angeli went down. There's no reason to think that wouldn't have continued. I could see up to 9 wins, but think 8 is more realistic. I'm super optimistic for next season.

 

[NKR1978]

The people that are “too sold” on the offense with Angeli, remember that he wasn’t here for Spring ball and even though he had some degree of significant playing time at ND he still was a relatively inexperienced starter at the beginning of the season. They also remember things clicking for Angeli in the 4th quarter of the UConn game which was only the second game of the season, and that from then on he played well enough to lead the nation in passing. Yes we all know the teams we played, but that’s how most teams start the year.

I've can't recall seeing someone go from awful to great so quickly. He was brutal to watch for the first 3/4 of that game and then something really did just click. That was fun.