For the record, I wasn't trying to be condescending. I just felt that you were kind of dismissive of my own opinions!
You may be right, we shall see. At least you are sure not to be disappointed! :biggthumpup:
My perspective comes from these facts:
1. GT was the youngest team in the country last year, yet still won 9 games and was the ACC's best team statistically from scrimmage.
2. This year GT returns 18 starters, tied for the most in the BCS leagues. PJ has never returned 18 starters before. Hell, one year at Navy he returned 5 starters and still went 8-4.
3. GT's returning starters have far more upside for improvement than anyone else's. First of all they're all sophs and juniors, so they're younger and still have more improvement to go. And second, they're only in the second year of their new systems.
4. Every program PJ has ever been associated with improved dramatically in his second season there. On offense they imrpove by an average of 50-60 yards per game, and they turn the ball over about 40% less often. That's a HUGE difference.
5. The GT coaches and GT practice watchers, including Wes Durham and former players, are all raving about how much better GT is gonna be this year than in 2008.
6. The 2009 schedule, given who we play and that we only have 6 home games, sets up very close to ideally. We'll have our best team in 2010, but the schedule will be considerably harder.
Now it's true we won 3 net close games and got wiped out by LSU. I personally don't think those things outweigh all the above factors, although I have let them dampen my enthusiasm by a game or so.
