How far will we go with CG at the helm?....

[bugboy]

This is something to fill the time until spring starts. I think CG can take us a long way and I'm interested in other opinions.

First of all, I'm just gonna focus on the next 4 seasons. I think he'll be around at least that long and hopefully longer.

I think that within the next 4 years, we'll win an ACC title and we'll beat FSU. We should have defeated FSU last year, given our talent level, but things didn't work out for us.

But I think CG has what it takes to bring us to that elusive next level. I'm talking ACC titles and BCS bowls. Not gonna mention the MNC because it's too political. But the ACC is something we can win on the field.

Oh yea, I almost forgot...we'll continue beating UGA, at least 50/50 over the next 4 years. And I expect that we'll win our share against Clemson as well.

What does CG bring to the table that GOL didn't? I think he brings a better defense. And hiring Tenuta will really boost up our performance on that side of the ball. CG will turn our weakness into a strength.

O'Leary's strength was recruiting. I think the assistants that CG hired can keep us in on just as many good prospects as with GOL. I don't think recruiting will be a liability at all under CG. This last year was a throwaway year with all the tumult and turnover. Also, we only had about 15 schollys to give. Next year, CG AND his assistants will do just fine.

It won't be easy to win the ACC because there are a lot of good quality coaches in this league right now. But FSU is looking vulnerable, and unlike GOL, I think CG can take advantage of that.

What do some of you guys predict? Beeware, where do you think CG will take us during the next 4 years? Ahso, Law, Axe, Culb and everyone? Any and all comments are welcome?

 

[GT98]

I think that your point in the thread "...an interesting question," summed up why I am excited about the team's immediate future--"The present coaching staff is better than last year's, period." I agree wholeheartedly, and that is the source of my enthusiasm.

The one coach that I thought needed to be let go, was Crossman. Our DB's haven't been coached well since Edsall left for UConn. Further, I think that the defensive side of the ball will have a better scheme in place and I'm keeping my fingers crossed about improved play at the DT spots.

However, I think that the biggest difference between Gailey and O'leary is that Gailey has shown the he is more than willing to ADAPT his scheme to fit the talent that he is working w/, whether it is Elway, Stewart or Fiedler. It is very frustrating to realize that if O'leary wasn't so stubborn and would have quit trying to be a "power" football team, we would not have lost 5 freakin' games.

I thank O'leary for what he was able to do here (w/o getting into the w/ or w/o Fridge debate), but I think that Gailey has the background necessary to take us into the Top 10. Also, I think that our staff has a good mix of veteran and young coaches that have recruiting ties to the fertile states of GA, FL, LA and TX.

Can't wait to see the spring game.

 

[Culb]

Ok, I'll give it a shot.

I can't talk about Tech's future without talking about the changing competition first, though.

UGA is getting better under Richt. He's a great coach and a class guy, the kind we hate to see in Athens. He is learning about the bonehead mistakes he made this past year, and will get better. But this is Athens. They will hit a 10 win ceiling, and not win an SEC championship.

FSU will lose Bowden in the next 5 years, I think. Their program will take a slight downfall, then come back up, but not to where it has been. If they hire Richt back, then they get better and UGA gets worse. Hooray for us.

UVA and MD I'll group together. They are both coming up strong, but for different reasons. MD has a great coach and the talent is blurry at best. UVA has great talent, but we don't know about the coach yet. Just on a hunch, these are consistent 8 win teams. They will continue to upset us at least once or twice.

Clemson will stay the same. Nothing ever changes for them. Next year they fall hard after losing Woody, and will be lucky to see a bowl.

Rest of the ACC, we should be able to take them out.

Next year we'll win at least 7 games. We'll go to a mid level bowl, much like last year. Right now, it's too soon to say how good we'll be for sure, because we don't know who the QB will be. Or how good he'll be. Or how he'll fit into Gailey's scheme. Too many unanswered questions at that position make me hesitate on predicting next year.

Over the next few years, though, I think we'll see a steady improvement of at least 1 more win per year. However, keeping in mind that our competition has dramatically improved in the ACC and UGA is looking stronger, I have to say we might plateau at 10 win seasons. But those seasons will get us a couple of BCS bowls, and a couple more Gators. Like I said before, I'm optimistic about the team. I think 4 years down the line, after gailey gets a QB he wants, and the staff feels really comfortable with each other, we can talk about National Championships. But not until then.

 

[jacketguy]

Good job Bugboy... and this is a good filler till spring... my take...

I think we are going to see a fundementally stronger team over the next four years.. I too expect our defense to really improve, and agree with GTFAN about the DB situation... we have been really weak in that area since Edsall left... I think we are going to see the conference as a whole get stronger over the next four years... the upper tier teams will be FSU, GT, MD, Va, with Clemson being on the fringe, (Bowden will come under pressure and maybe replaced over the next 4 years).. I do think Gailey fully intends to win a NC here, but hope the seas will calm alot for him so he doesnt get too frustrated.. he has had one helluva first 5 weeks on the job...
I expect us to beat GA next year, not sure about the next, and recruiting will determine the years following... if Richt continues to bring in (and keep !!) classes similar to this past class, Georgia will transform from a 7-4 or 8-3 team to a 9-2 or 10-1 team... Spurrier leaving is a big boost to the Dawgs...

I think in time, Gailey will prove to be a better recruiter than GOL... the past few weeks are not indicative of things to come in recruiting... I believe we can expect Tenuta to be here 2-3 years.. he is very ambitious and has his goals set on the pros... our defense should be strong the next two years... Tenuta uses this as his ticket to the pros...

I agree that Gailey will probably be much more flexible, adaptable, etc... than GOL... but more than that, I think he will be more approachable in regards to the team... I had lunch yesterday with a former GOL pupil... while he had good things to say for GOL, he was quick to add, "if you were in his dog house, you didnt exist" I think Gailey will handle things much better in that regard...

Over the next four years, I predict that next year, we are going to surprise alot of people... no worse than 8-4, no better than 10-2... the years following are tough to predict, they will be dependent on our recruiting, and Gaileys first class is an abberation (not discounting the class, you guys (and gals) know what I mean... he only recruited these guys for 4 weeks.... their hearts were probably made up anyway... ) his second class wont be evident on the field until 2004 or 2005.. probably more like 2005...

Gailey ticket to success? Its just like everyones... if you have the players, you usually win... if we win the recruiting wars, or do our homework and find the George Godseys and Kelly Campbells that everyone seems to overlook... the current staff in place will coach us to a championship...

I do believe that we are on the right track... and believe that Gailey will prove us well...

 

[bellyseries]

These posts all make good points. My only real differing point is that I think we're going to be really good next year and be in the 10 win range.

GOL left the cupboard full, unlike the way he found it, and I'm thinking CG is going to show us what can be done with talent and unselfish coaching. And that will help recruiting over the next 4 years.

Plus let's face it, guys, UGA and FSU both have tougher schedules than we do. If we get close to their talent level (and we already are with UGA) we should have that advantage over them.

Other words, I'm feeling golden about the next 4 years.

 

[bugboy]

Belly,

I'm not sure if UGA's schedule is tougher than ours. It's possible, but very subjective at this point. They do play UF and UT. We play FSU. After that, it's hard to tell. They do play alot more emotional rivalries than we do and that will take it's toll on them.

 

[bellyseries]

UF and UT are of course who I was thinking of. And you're right, UGA's SEC rivalries are more intense than our ACC ones, especially UF and UT. If we had a home and home with ND year in an year out, and if we alternated Auburn and Tenn year in and out, (not both in the same year) then we'd have a hell of a tough schedule, with rivalries as old and intense as theirs.

 

[law_bee]

Originally posted by bugboy:
Belly,

I'm not sure if UGA's schedule is tougher than ours. It's possible, but very subjective at this point. They do play UF and UT. We play FSU. After that, it's hard to tell. They do play alot more emotional rivalries than we do and that will take it's toll on them.

<font size="2" face="Arial, Verdana, Sans-Serif">Ugag plays UF, UT, Auburn, SC, every year and some years LSU too

we added auburn but they added clemson

that is way tougher than ours. After FSU we have great shot of winning every game.

And you just cant look at playing any one of those teams. It is the combination of playing them back to back. Also the stadiums are full every game.

The ACC has improved and we are getting there but we would have to add Miami or VT or both to really make strides.

 

[FHstinger]

We've added Auburn to the schedule for the 2003, '04 and '05 seasons, but then they disappear from GT's schedule again. IMHO Auburn should be a permanent opponent as the first or second game of the year. I can't wait to avenge the nine game loosing streak we have against them(1979 to 1987). I witnessed live and suffered through the last seven of those nine.