OK, how in the heck did we do this?

[ULGrad@HOU]

_ There is no substitute for talent... but I do believe in Damon's theory of coaching up the existing talent. That is why I am very confident in immediate results. We will have most of the returning players being a substantial part of the next couple of years. You say our prior coaches brought us close to the brink of a bowl. If talent on the field is going to be 90% of the future success, as you say, it was already 90% of the past success. Our past coaches weren't any more or less of the outcome than Hud and staff will be. We are simply going to see it all go up.

Our cupboard is no where near bare. We may have some holes in talent... and a hole here and there makes a world of difference... but we should not be dogging the returning players. We have some serious talent... and it is only going to get better as tighter competition gets into action. Small changes here and there, in coaching AND in talent utilization... make a collective world of difference.

There will not be a grandfatherly approach to practice and performance. The love will come from being great in all things. Hud's energy and approach to the game will have an overwhelming impact... immediately. Don't discount that change. He wouldn't be recruiting better right now... if that aspect alone were not in play.

Additionally... I'm still not sure where the overwhelming injury issues that plagued us during more than half of the Bustle years were sourced. But, that is a component that has to go away as well. _

Agree with you 100% J1M. Unlike Basketball (not trying to knock anyone), we do have several players on the football team that with a few added guys and an uptick in coaching we can have a better team immediately. The only issue I see, is that it sometimes takes a while to get the team up to speed with the new offensive and defensive schemes and it might be a slow start. We, no doubt, should see improvement on the field (not necessarily wins), that's what I'm expecting....exciting times for football. Coach Hud will get us where we all want to be.

[CajunZ1]

Our cupboard is no where near bare. We may have some holes in talent... and a hole here and there makes a world of difference... but we should not be dogging the returning players. We have some serious talent... and it is only going to get better as tighter competition gets into action. Small changes here and there, in coaching AND in talent utilization... make a collective world of difference.

In order to be dominant in the sun belt, it takes 2-3 incremental good players/year to what we currently get.

You are correct. We have good players. In the short term, a more aggressive coach can turn out immediate results.

My allusion to Hud's recruiting success as being 90% is entirely related to these 2-3 incremental players we don't get (but should get) each year.

And, in my opinion, Hud's ability to get those 3 extra difference-makers a year will turn this program around for the long term much more so than his coaching style (provided he isn't a disastrous X & O guy, which he isn't as far as we know).

[ULGrad@HOU]

_ In order to be dominant in the sun belt, it takes 2-3 incremental good players/year to what we currently get.

You are correct. We have good players. In the short term, a more aggressive coach can turn out immediate results.

My allusion to Hud's recruiting success as being 90% is entirely related to these 2-3 incremental players we don't get (but should get) each year.

And, in my opinion, Hud's ability to get those 3 extra difference-makers a year will turn this program around for the long term much more so than his coaching style. _

Z1, you make a very good point. I see (jmo) the increment being more in the 7-8 player range with the way Coach Hud is able to recruit, and may only get better. Recruiting is HUGE, and the single biggest factor in improving the team. It's just going to take a little while for the results to really show.