To Belly and others. My point was the act of "patience and moving on" started long ago. When I watched O'leary and Roof stand stubbornley as Clemson ran the QB draw 6-8 times without making an adjustment. When we made numerous little league mistakes like Joe Burns running out of bounds vs. Maryland. Our annual missed shot vs. FSU capped by a lackluster performance vs. UGA at home. I moved on.
When Gailey was hired that was me amongst 15 or so regulars watching spring practice. I was amazed at the nonchalant attitude and pep coming off a fantastic effort in the Seattle Bowl. But, I said to myself this is just spring practice, give the guy a chance to move in.
UConn and Vandy told me nothing. But Clemson and Wake Forest surely did. This team did not lose games due to lack of talent but some questionable play calling, horrendus personnel decisions, lack of cohesive clock management or bench control (too many players on the field, plays coming in late, timeouts needing to be called after a timeout, and even calling timeout for Tommy Bowden allowing him to score a touchdown vs. a field goal!) Wake Forest's staff put on a coaching clinic, showing exactly what how a less talented team can perform on the road (see Tech Vs. Ga 2002).
Tenuta's defense kept us looking far more competitive than we usually were. They tackled and fundamentally performed better than previous years. They could not hold the dam back vs. Georgia against the offensive ineptness and turnovers.
NC State was an aberration. Hindsight shows State was overhyped. Virginia was the highlight of the year.
Some 7-5 years are fine. If you are Wake or another program on the upswing. Coming off of Lewis, O'Leary at least instilled some fight so that win or lose, you never went to a game expecting that debacle in Athens last Saturday to take place. This 7-5 year is not fine. Supposedly we hired someone who had the credentials and experience to keep things running at least at a competitive level. 51-7 and a blowout to Maryland - both coming after off weeks is not indicative of improvement.
As for what could have been or can be, look at Georgia and Ohio State. Donnan had all the Atlanta media up in arms about his departure after an almost .800 winning percentage. Ohio State always went after the big names, until finally right under their nose they gave an up and coming young guy from Youngstown State the ball. Look at where they both are now. Ok, so we dont have the academic license, facilities nor resources those two do. Let's look at someone right up the road. I've seen Wake Forest, with 4,000 students, no crowds and no tradition beat Tech with Joe Hamilton, and this year Grobe has established himself and staff as the best in the conference with the possible exception of Groh at Virginia. These are schools that hired well. Coaches are out there.
Again, I began moving on long ago, but as the years go on there fast becomes a place where there is nothing to move on to except the crap heap. I think it is great we have a golf team that is good and I am a fantastic baseball fan. But this is football, and I don't think going out and getting in basketball arguments with people erases 51-7. Like Paul Revere, I and a few others were amazed at the lack of intensity BEFORE the game and before the season. I just kept waiting, trying to give this staff the benefit of the doubt, and they never give the public anything to hang onto.
People are different with different opinions and credentials. Some of you guys are content to move and try to forget. I guess I would like to move on also, to a better place. A place where we never, ever again witness 51-7 to Georgia of all people. If you think that was just a "bad day at the office" and things are really OK behind the scenes and Tech will beat them next year, well, forget it. I may be the last one out here, but I know TECH can beat their ass, and certainly should beat Wake, and certainly can recruit a coach on par with Virginia. Some may be fine and dandy paying to see a once proud program slop the field vs. Duke, but as a long time supporter expect better - and again, I'm not going away so get used to a different viewpoint.
