First, if we can't be optimistic before the season, we will never be optimistic.
The last 3 years we have been poor. Blame schedule or talent all you want. But game day coaching played a huge part in the cumulative record (8-28) as well. There were at least 10 games over the 3 years that could/should have been won but were not. Poor offensive decisions and poor defensive decisions made us 0-10 in those games. Obviously, win all 10 and the record looks way different.
Just as obviously, it is probably not realistic to assume that any coach would have won all those games. But I do not think it is unrealistic to expect experienced coaches to be better on game day.
So taking care of the games we ought to take care of (UNI, San Jose, Kansas) and winning some of the games that look to be competitive on paper (Iowa, K-State, Tech) and making better decisions in a couple of games that will probably be competitive that, on paper, wouldn't appear to be gives us a chance at more wins. Of course that is a hope and we will have to see the "proof in the pudding." But it does give me some optimism.
The last 3 years we have been poor. Blame schedule or talent all you want. But game day coaching played a huge part in the cumulative record (8-28) as well. There were at least 10 games over the 3 years that could/should have been won but were not. Poor offensive decisions and poor defensive decisions made us 0-10 in those games. Obviously, win all 10 and the record looks way different.
Just as obviously, it is probably not realistic to assume that any coach would have won all those games. But I do not think it is unrealistic to expect experienced coaches to be better on game day.
So taking care of the games we ought to take care of (UNI, San Jose, Kansas) and winning some of the games that look to be competitive on paper (Iowa, K-State, Tech) and making better decisions in a couple of games that will probably be competitive that, on paper, wouldn't appear to be gives us a chance at more wins. Of course that is a hope and we will have to see the "proof in the pudding." But it does give me some optimism.
