Programs suffering from Little Engine Syndrome
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orangenauburn
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VaTech 100%. They are already struggling recruiting their traditional areas, had the 14th ranked class in ACC in 2020 and 10th in 2021, 9th in 2022, and 6th so far for 2023. A bad season this year will really put pressure on next, and if they can't turn it around next year, where they will probably have tougher schedule, then they are toast.
GaTech with right coach could turn it around. Being in Atlanta helps.
Dukes never been a big time football program, but again like GaTech, with the right coach it could become a consistent winning program with low level bowls.
South Florida had their chance. A dynamic coach could land some big recruits based on location - just don't see them recapturing their moment in the sun again.
Ohio caught lightning in a bottle with Solich. In a talent rich area, the right system and right coach with connections could help them maintain competitiveness in the MAC.
I just don't think Kansas will be able to get to a level where they are a consistent 7-9 win program over an extended period of time. KState and other programs seem to pilfer the regional talent.
UConn has the right coach, but without the funding and a conference home, they are dead men walking. If Mora shows signs of bringing them to life, he will be poached.
Bowling Green - again, need a unique system or dynamic coach (who will be poached) to get them competitive.
Buffalo has shown some abilities to be consistent, somewhat competitive, program. They need the right coach and system. I can see the State helping them with the funding. They did a good job identifying talent with prior coaches who went on to greener pastures.
I would add Nebraska, UMass, and Oregon State to the list.
GaTech with right coach could turn it around. Being in Atlanta helps.
Dukes never been a big time football program, but again like GaTech, with the right coach it could become a consistent winning program with low level bowls.
South Florida had their chance. A dynamic coach could land some big recruits based on location - just don't see them recapturing their moment in the sun again.
Ohio caught lightning in a bottle with Solich. In a talent rich area, the right system and right coach with connections could help them maintain competitiveness in the MAC.
I just don't think Kansas will be able to get to a level where they are a consistent 7-9 win program over an extended period of time. KState and other programs seem to pilfer the regional talent.
UConn has the right coach, but without the funding and a conference home, they are dead men walking. If Mora shows signs of bringing them to life, he will be poached.
Bowling Green - again, need a unique system or dynamic coach (who will be poached) to get them competitive.
Buffalo has shown some abilities to be consistent, somewhat competitive, program. They need the right coach and system. I can see the State helping them with the funding. They did a good job identifying talent with prior coaches who went on to greener pastures.
I would add Nebraska, UMass, and Oregon State to the list.
IthacaBarrel
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Syracuse would be in there if someone was writing this who wasn't a Syracuse fan. Now, I don't necessarily believe that nor do I think the right coach can't win at any of those Mac schools, or at So Florida or Ga Tech, Va Tech
I think you will see Bill O'Brien or Doug Marrone as the next GA Tech head coach.
Look at what the GREAT Sean Lewis did at Kent St. MAC Schools can be turned around in a couple years with the right coach and scheme. These type coaches are tough to retain though and I don't think the MAC is what it use to be. IMO, Lewis needs to play these P5 teams a bit tougher if he wants a bigger job. they were boat raced once again by a very average Washington team just the other night. They simply can't defend versus the bigger schools and can't score enough to stay even competitive in these games.
Everyone of the programs listed ( other than maybe Va Tech) as well as Syracuse has significant road blocks that make it tougher to win than many other programs though.
The ceiling on all of these schools is somewhat limited as well
I think you will see Bill O'Brien or Doug Marrone as the next GA Tech head coach.
Look at what the GREAT Sean Lewis did at Kent St. MAC Schools can be turned around in a couple years with the right coach and scheme. These type coaches are tough to retain though and I don't think the MAC is what it use to be. IMO, Lewis needs to play these P5 teams a bit tougher if he wants a bigger job. they were boat raced once again by a very average Washington team just the other night. They simply can't defend versus the bigger schools and can't score enough to stay even competitive in these games.
Everyone of the programs listed ( other than maybe Va Tech) as well as Syracuse has significant road blocks that make it tougher to win than many other programs though.
The ceiling on all of these schools is somewhat limited as well
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Chip
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Virginia Tech just needs to open the check book for a coach. Everything else is in place. If Shane Beamer succeeds at South Carolina, he’s logical to step in. Doubt they ever have the success of the Vick years, but a consistent 7-9 win team shouldn’t be hard there.
Georgia Tech sits in a hotbed of talent. They’ll always be 2nd place in their state and probably won’t be challenging for ACC titles but no reason they can’t be a consistent bowl team.
The rest, sure. And we may belong on that list. When you look at us this century, the good years seem like outliers. Not easy to recruit here.
Georgia Tech sits in a hotbed of talent. They’ll always be 2nd place in their state and probably won’t be challenging for ACC titles but no reason they can’t be a consistent bowl team.
The rest, sure. And we may belong on that list. When you look at us this century, the good years seem like outliers. Not easy to recruit here.
orangenauburn
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IthacaBarrel
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yeah if I were looking at any of these jobs Va Tech would be at the top at Ga Tech a clear 2nd.
orangenauburn
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But would Shane go to VaTech, even with the intense bond of his father's legendary status there, and his own time there?
If he has success as South Carolina, they will throw everything they can to keep him, to the point only Bama, Clemson, Georgia, Texas, type programs could afford him.
orangenauburn
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If GaTech got Bill or Doug, they'd be able to become a winning program again within a couple years. Those guys would do well there and if the school was smart, would stay out of their way and get them what they asked for.
Chip
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No clue, but it just seemed logical to me, that's the program he grew up on.
I just don't get why they cheap out on coaches. That program has everything one needs for success.
IthacaBarrel
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dollarbill44
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I really don't see Doug Marrone coaching college football again. He didn't like it.
Admiral Koga
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I think that both Techs are just a coach away from being 'back'. I think that Duke made a really good hire. The Techs, not so much. The flavor of the year mid-major coach doesn't work as much as many seem to think that it does (add Louisville to this too). Now VaTech turns around and hires a coordinator that recruited Va...they better find a QB from the HS ranks...
orangenauburn
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Maybe they don't have the booster money we think they do? Or the admin isn't quite willing to go all in?
Chip
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I think they just don't have the balls.
orangenauburn
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So they're essentially us, circa 2000. Just putting some scotch tape on a gushing wound
orangenauburn
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Hindsight being 20/20 opinion here.
The school realistically should have started planning and fund raising for the program around 1995-96, after our down year and when the program was starting to show a slight decline from the 87-92 peak.
Investing in the program and facilities then, or at least starting the process, as well as keeping Ps assistant funding pool financed would have extended his tenure and success at least another four or five years, and ultimately the programs success as well.
The huge drop off from 2001 also wouldn't have been so stark had these things been going on already.
Woulda coulda shoulda I know.
Now we are in an environment where you need to be smarter, work harder, and invest more to keep those massive checks coming in yearly.
The school realistically should have started planning and fund raising for the program around 1995-96, after our down year and when the program was starting to show a slight decline from the 87-92 peak.
Investing in the program and facilities then, or at least starting the process, as well as keeping Ps assistant funding pool financed would have extended his tenure and success at least another four or five years, and ultimately the programs success as well.
The huge drop off from 2001 also wouldn't have been so stark had these things been going on already.
Woulda coulda shoulda I know.
Now we are in an environment where you need to be smarter, work harder, and invest more to keep those massive checks coming in yearly.
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You’ve said the same about Umess. The CFN poll, which ranks all 131 teams, has Umess at……131.
CousCuse
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UMASS and Kansas are 2 different animals. Don Brown will get UMASS on the right track. Last week was a bad matchup for them as Tulane has Willie Fritz on notice and they probably would have fired him after the game had they lost. Also Fritz is an option coach and that is what Brown wants to run there. It will take some time. I think Kansas is already on the way, see how they do at WVU this week.
