New Special Teams Coach: Ricky Brumfield

[NJCuse97]

I don’t believe the program is as well positioned financially as many think they are and I think the lack of portal activity is a huge mistake.

No problem with you having the opinion you have, and I can easily understand where it comes from. It’s a fair analysis give what we “know”. I think many others have the opinion we should give the coaches the benefit of the doubt given their recruiting prowess, and last season’s results. I think I am more in the latter camp, but I too agonize over every transfer that doesn’t make it to the visit, or chooses somewhere else. I am absolutely concerned about the narrative that we aren’t competing in the NIL game, but I also believe there is some legitimate strategy (about how we spend what we have). I just wish we didn’t NEED to utilize strategy like this. That said, if we don’t have the money, as you say, then there is no mistake to make.

 

[orangepassion]

Well clearly you have an issue with the way the team is being built, and Fran is the one building the team, so therefore you do have an issue with Fran.

I don't think it has to be all or nothing. Unless you're part of a DART cult, you can appreciate and admire what Fran did last year and also be objective about what you think is or isn't a good move (It is a message board). Remember everyone thought Dino could do no wrong after his 10-win season with an excellent QB?

 

[SuFTW]

I don't think it has to be all or nothing. Unless you're part of a DART cult, you can appreciate and admire what Fran did last year and also be objective about what you think is or isn't a good move (It is a message board). Remember everyone thought Dino could do no wrong after his 10-win season with an excellent QB?

No it doesn’t have to be all or nothing, but the claim was no issue whatsoever, which really doesn’t seem quite accurate.

 

[NJCuse97]

Exact same take. It’s amazing how people get all worked up with this. Everyone loves Fran but not acknowledging that the approach from 2024 recruiting to 2025 changed is a bit weird. He totally crushed it in 2024 in a very short time . Nobody is saying to pound the portal but not recognizing that we may need at OT and a couple LB’s is putting a lot of trust in a HC and program that we have had over the last 20 years. I love the culture Fran is implementing but we also had one of the best QB’s in the country and still had to fight and scrap for a 9-3 regular season record with a very manageable schedule. Whoever the QB is next season you can pretty much guarantee it’s going to be a step back. It also seems like people are punting on next season because of the brutal schedule and numerous roster question marks. Fran doesn’t seem like a guy who would punt on anything. The portal OT that Maryland bought and multiple LB’s that were bought shows that we are not even close to compete in the current NIL landscape. Fran obviously identified those are positions of need or he wouldn’t have went after them. All i’ve ever wondered is if we went away from a recipe that worked last season on purpose, or because of NIL competition. Also, not being able to admit this class, HS/Portal combined, has taken a step back. I’ve also never heard a HC who said he wasn’t excited with the guys he currently has signed and on the roster. Again, I love Fran, but if we didn’t have Kyle we probably win 6 games this year with one of the more manageable schedules we’re going to see. There were huge questions on defense and special teams that I really didn’t see fixed. Expecting next year is going to be a developmental year in todays CFB landscape is wishful thinking. We finally have some momentum. Being able to follow up on that to show it wasn’t a fluke or just because of Kyle would go a long way.

Again, all good with the big picture of your take, and your want for a balanced view of last year to this, but I think there is a lot of contradiction in your post. You say we are a 6 win team against an easier schedule without a unicorn like Kyle, but we somehow need to show it wasn’t a fluke by hitting the portal harder to find another unicorn? I’m sure you’re thinking “I didn’t say we need a unicorn” but at its core, that is what you’re saying. If Kyle was the difference in 4 more wins, what is an LB or an OT going to do? Maybe it was a fluke to do that well, but maybe it gave Fran more time to establish a culture and depth that will get us 2 wins above that same Mendoza line.

 

[Idiocuse22&]

Im with all of you on the dip in portal recruiting compared to what was done when Fran first got here. NIL is $, $ is something you just cant worry over...Action is what is needed and if this program cant produce that action, ~shrug~ We are what we are, maybe thats why we hired the best recruiters bc NIL is our weakness.
But,
Im thinking that the team Fran inherited and the team we have now are 2 very different things. When he first arrived he had a ton of work to do to get us àn actual P4 roster.
We kept the quality core, worked portal hard and worked on HS recruits. We have a huge class coming in, continue to flip over whats needed and get what we can from the portal.
HCFB specifically said he would be workîng the portal carefully, Year 1 obviously would be somewhat differént than hopefully all years moving forward based on the roster he inherited. Now retention becomes most important if we are seriously lacking in the NIL funds. Its a tug o war thats never been tugged. I trust Fran to be successful figurîng all that stuff out.
Im chilling now, if being worried becomes a thing...it wont be until this coming December 2025.

All hands on deck raising NIL funds.
JW i believe will do the best job possible. Also, Im a very loyal, committed fan that has given to NIL funds. However, the only support I can give from now on is buyîng tix etc and cheering them on. Any actual NIL funds donated from me would have to be from somethîng creative. I would never expect more from the typical loyal fan that doesnt use cash for kindling. Im not just throwing cash at the players like I did for the season ticket lottery takeover event. FuForget that.

 

[OrangeTarheel]

Fran made a comment in one of his late season press conferences about he needed his coaches to stay patient, that they didn’t need to hit the portal right away this year. Must be a strategic consideration in part. Also we still have players entering the portal from playoff teams still … and JUCO as well right?

 

[djorange1989]

Fran made a comment in one of his late season press conferences about he needed his coaches to stay patient, that they didn’t need to hit the portal right away this year. Must be a strategic consideration in part. Also we still have players entering the portal from playoff teams still … and JUCO as well right?

Just OSU and ND guys can still portal from the CFP teams ant this point. Juco guys usually become more clear in the spring when their grades/eligibility become more known. Also, if a head coach leaves then all players on that team are eligible to portal. Then there is the spring portal too. Hopefully we get the guys we need to fill some holes through all these possibilities

 

[kcsu]

I want everyone who has posted in this thread to take a deep breath