Fair questions and analysis. The question of when the wheels began to come off is easy to answer in my opinion. 2015. We went from an 11-3 season, 6-2 in the conference, and #8 ranking to 3-9, 1-7. This was with Justin Thomas a returning QB - his completion percentage plummeted to 41,7% with yardage and TD’s down and interceptions up. We simply played uninspired. CPJ bristled at the media and fan base criticisms. His enjoyment in coaching seemed to wane. We saw the 18 year non-losing regular season and bowl streak end, the second longest streak in the country. Our confidence ebbed.
The team played better in ‘16, then had another losing season and no bowl in ‘17. They were barely above .500 in his last season. We were 24-25 his last four seasons. Two decades of being a consistent, winning, bowl bound program under O’Leary, Gailey and early CPJ came to an end. This is when the wheels began to come off. I think diminished confidence and lagging enthusiasm was more the real reason for the program decline than recruiting problems and running the spread option.
Collins tries hard to turn around perceptions. Recruiting is better. But, the on the field results are not there so far, and we are in year three. O’Leary, Gailey and Johnson were good football coaches. The jury is out on Collins. I wish him well. But, the start of decline preceded his arrival. That begin in CPJ’s last four years.
